Chapter 188: The Final Handover | Breaking Through to Soul Ancestor

"Huh?" Yu Tianheng, Yu Tianxin, Yufeng, and the others were all stunned; none of them had expected that after yesterday's events, Ning Feiliu would directly withdraw from the Spirit Fighting Battle.

They could only assume, of course, that it was because his true identity had been exposed.

But... even if he was the son of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect Sect Master, what did that have to do with participating in the Spirit Fighting Battle?

Yu Tianheng, Yufeng, and the others had actually intended to use this opportunity to continue persuading Ning Feiliu to join the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy; after all, Ning Feiliu's status as the son of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect Sect Master made him the perfect candidate for the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy.

And now, Ning Feiliu had chosen to withdraw from the Moon Emperor Team directly.

"Feiliu, would you be willing to join our Heaven Dou Imperial Academy?" Just then, Yufeng asked suddenly, unwilling to give up.

"No interest," Ning Feiliu refused directly.

It was the same old story: whether it was the upcoming Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament or the next one in the original plot—the one that offered three soul bones as a reward for the final champion—the ratio of benefits to risks was something Ning Feiliu looked down upon.

He felt that completing the task of traveling across the Douluo Dalu might allow him to improve his strength faster.

"But... won't you really reconsider? With you joining us, we could definitely even defeat the Spirit Hall," Yufeng said again.

Regarding the matter of defeating the Spirit Hall Team, Ning Feiliu also believed that after joining the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, he could absolutely do it.

Whether it was this tournament or the next, he had that confidence.

The three members of the Spirit Hall Golden Generation in this tournament hadn't broken through to Soul King yet; the Spirit Hall Team lacked Soul King-level combat power, and he could easily crush them once he reached the Soul Ancestor realm.

After all, he had two blessing soul skills: 【Summoning of the God of Casting】 and 【Summoning of the God of Ice and Snow】.

Beyond that, there was the powerful might of Ning Feiliu's Crescent Moon Divine Weapon, as well as his even more formidable physical constitution gained from repeatedly absorbing higher-level soul rings after Exploding Ring; this physical constitution was equivalent to his base stats.

To describe Ning Feiliu's current situation in gaming terms, he was a "mechanics monster" plus a "stats monster."

The power and the versatile, comprehensive mechanics of the Crescent Moon Divine Weapon were already enough to trouble opponents of the same level.

Add to that Ning Feiliu's "base stats" at the Soul Elder level being equivalent to a Soul Ancestor, and his "base stats" as a low-level Soul Ancestor being equivalent to a high-level Soul Ancestor—he was practically like the old-version Irelia when she first came out.

He was a monstrous existence destined to be nerfed by the designers a dozen times.

Unfortunately, there were no designers in reality.

This destined Ning Feiliu to be inherently overpowered.

Under these circumstances, Ning Feiliu was very confident that he could easily wipe out the Spirit Hall Golden Generation, who were merely background characters that San Ge had barely managed to defeat.

And most importantly, could he still be just a Soul Ancestor six years from now?

With the added cultivation speed boosts from Presence of Mind, Sunlight Breathing Method, Moonlight Breathing Method, Upgrade Potion, and the travel tasks, it would be sheer laziness if he were still just a Soul King in six years.

Although his cultivation speed would slow down later on, Ning Feiliu was still confident that he would achieve the cultivation of a Soul Emperor in six years!

With the status of a Soul Emperor and his numerous abilities, he wouldn't even be afraid of the three Soul Kings of the Spirit Hall Golden Generation, even if Xie Yue and Hu Liena could unleash combat power approaching a Soul Saint through their Spirit Fusion Skill. (According to the original plot settings, the Shrek Seven Devils' Seven-in-One Fusion Skill "Pseudo-Clear Sky Hammer True Body" and Xie Yue and Hu Liena's Spirit Fusion Skill "Demonic Charm" both approached Soul Saint-level combat power.) But what was the point of showing off at the Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament?

"No need to say more, I don't have that intention, and I will be traveling across the Douluo Dalu very soon," Ning Feiliu said directly.

"Traveling... the Douluo Dalu?" Yu Tianheng and the others were all stunned.

"That's right, the Douluo Dalu is vast, I want to go see it, and my future goal is... to travel the Northern Territory of the Douluo Dalu!" Ning Feiliu said.

The travel task required choosing one region from the east, south, west, or north of the Douluo Dalu, but the Southern Territory of the Douluo Dalu was the territory of the Star Luo Empire.

As the son of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect Sect Master who explicitly supported the Heaven Dou Empire, Ning Feiliu certainly couldn't run off to the Star Luo Empire; after all, it was better to be safe than sorry.

He looked at the current map of the Douluo Dalu again—

(A map of the continent pieced together from scenes in the Douluo Dalu animation found online, but the novel remains the primary reference.) The Eastern Territory of the Douluo Dalu didn't seem to have much worth traveling to, and the Western Territory led to the Balake Wangguo, which also didn't have much worth traveling to.

He simply chose the Northern Territory, which was the closest and was directly under the jurisdiction of the Heaven Dou Empire.

"I probably won't be back for a few years, so forget it," Ning Feiliu shook his head and said.

"Is that so..." Seeing that the matter was settled, Yufeng and the others had no choice and said with some regret.

From then on, the two sides parted ways.

However, Ye Lingling's eyes flickered slightly after hearing Ning Feiliu's words just now.

After Yu Tianheng and the others left, the silent Ye Lingling finally spoke up, "Are you really going to leave Heaven Dou City to go out for training?"

"Yes, I don't want to be confined to Heaven Dou City; I want to go out and see the world," Ning Feiliu nodded and said.

"What about the medical clinic?" Just then, Ye Lingling asked suddenly.

"Close it, I suppose. Actually, I've already felt there's no need to keep the medical clinic open," Ning Feiliu shook his head and said.

The medical clinic was originally opened to gain Dugu Bo's trust by grinding Pharmacology knowledge; he didn't count on the clinic to make money, nor was he kind-hearted enough to treat those innocent people.

Now that he had obtained what he wanted, there was really no need to keep the clinic running.

However, over the past year or so, his clinic had still saved many people.

At the same time, he had actually taught these commoners a lot of medical knowledge; because he allowed the use of medicinal herbs to offset medical fees, many commoners had learned to recognize many herbs and knew what effects these herbs had.

They also learned some hygiene habits summarized by modern medicine: drink boiled water, wash hands before eating, bathe and wash frequently, and avoid cross-infection when patients are present.

It was just that untreated herbs certainly didn't have the same efficacy as the purified, crystallized medicine Ning Feiliu used.

There were also the antibiotics and Alchemy Potion that Ning Feiliu had developed, which ordinary people didn't know about.

But as the saying goes, he wasn't that kind-hearted; he couldn't bear to see every death and tragedy that occurred before his eyes.

This world was meant to be this way; he could only help as much as he could, but he would not abandon his true goal for it—to become stronger, and then reach the pinnacle of this other world! However, Ye Lingling was very agitated, her voice, which was usually calm, suddenly rose, "Why close the medical clinic?"

"Uh..." Ning Feiliu looked at her with some surprise.

This was very rare; Ye Lingling, who was always as emotionally stable as a goddess, was so agitated. Ye Lingling also seemed to notice her loss of composure, but she quickly said, "If you don't want this medical clinic, then give it to me."

Ning Feiliu thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "Fine. After I leave, the clinic will be yours. But Lingling... I suggest you bring some guards when you see patients, otherwise, if I'm gone and you happen to run into some desperate criminals..."

"I know," Ye Lingling took a deep breath and said, "But I still don't understand why you have to leave Heaven Dou City to go out for training... Isn't it good to just keep cultivating and living here?"

"It is quite good..." However, contrary to Ye Lingling's expectations, Ning Feiliu nodded and said hesitantly.

Actually, from the perspective of playing it safe, cultivating in Heaven Dou City under the protection of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and his cheap teacher Dugu Bo was the best option.

After all, once he went out, who knew what kind of things he might encounter.

Although the Spirit Hall maintained order in this era, the current Douluo Dalu was truly very peaceful, and safety was guaranteed. (According to the original plot settings, Ning Fengzhi personally certified this.) At the very least, it wouldn't be like the Peerless Tang Sect era, where bandit groups and Evil Soul Masters were, if not running rampant across the continent, at least forcing Shrek Academy to be on full alert whenever they went out.

One can only say... after the destruction of the Spirit Hall, Shrek Academy replaced the Spirit Hall as the strongest force on the Douluo Dalu, yet what they did was completely inferior to the Spirit Hall.

As for the Soul Beasts, one can only say there was no choice, because an ultimate fierce beast, Beast God Di Tian, and an Imperial Auspicious Beast suddenly appeared, causing the Soul Beasts to rise up directly; but what can you say about the Evil Soul Masters and the Holy Spirit Cult? The Fallen Ones, who were driven to a dead end by the Spirit Hall during the first era of Douluo and had no choice but to enter Slaughter City, were further transformed into "Evil Soul Masters."

And the Holy Spirit Cult, which originally had no real role and didn't dare to show its face, has completely grown, to the point where they almost dare to challenge Shrek Academy.

If this were the Spirit Hall... one can only say that if the Holy Spirit Cult dared to raise their voice even a little, the result would be the Spirit Hall leveling their land entirely.

So, regardless of how much the Spirit Hall is hated by heaven and men, at this moment, the public security of the Douluo Dalu is truly impeccable.

He shouldn't encounter any danger when going out, but what if? Like the wolf bandit massacre of the village that the Shrek Seven Devils encountered when they went to sea in the original plot, what if he encounters danger? His strength is not considered very strong; it would be fine if he met a Soul King or Soul Emperor, but if he met a Soul Saint with higher cultivation, he would definitely not be able to win.

Holding the thought that it is better to be safe than sorry, it is still better for Ning Feiliu to stay tucked away in Heaven Dou City.

However, because Ning Feiliu triggered a mission, and the mission content is exactly this, he must go out to gain experience if he wants to become stronger faster.

But no matter what, this ability of his is not mandatory; there is no system urging him, and he can even make it disappear if he wants to.

So, in the final analysis...

Ning Feiliu still wants to go out and see, rather than just seeking stability and continuing to cultivate like this in Heaven Dou City.

In his past life, he was not a person who sought stability, and having arrived in this world, perhaps because he absorbed and fused with the original owner's Spirit Soul fragments, he is also more youthful and spirited in his daily life.

Yes, he wants to go out and see, so he will go out and see!

Even if it is a bottomless abyss, he wants to step forward and take a look first.

Always being afraid of this and that is completely meaningless; he just wants to see this extraordinary world that is different from his past life!

"But I want to go out and see," Ning Feiliu said with a smile, "Life is only a few decades long; it is a pity to always sit in one place and view the sky from the bottom of a well. Moreover, I also want to see what other herbs, what other Soul Beasts, and what kind of cultural scenery this world has."

"That is why I decided to set off."

Upon hearing this, Ye Lingling was somewhat speechless, but she still asked, "But you have your family and friends here..."

"I am just going out to gain experience, not dying, and Bei Jing is not far from Heaven Dou City," Ning Feiliu said with a smile, "I might come back once a year; don't worry, I am a Battle Soul Master, not an ordinary person, so a trip is very fast."

Like the group from Shrek Academy in the original plot, running from Soto City, the second-largest city in the Balake Wangguo in the west of the Douluo Dalu, to Heaven Dou City, they could reach Heaven Dou City in a week even with resting and participating in a Spirit Fighting Battle along the way.

It is not far for him to return to Heaven Dou City from Bei Jing either.

He also does not intend to disappear for several years because of the experience mission; instead, he will write a few letters every few months to send back to Heaven Dou City to ensure his safety, and then return in person once a year.

Ye Lingling was silent for a moment. After a long time, she looked at Ning Feiliu again, her beautiful eyes flashing with stubborn light, and said, "Then... you promise me, you must come back once a year."

Ning Feiliu said with a smile, "Don't worry, this really doesn't count as anything; I will definitely come back."

"Then when do you plan to leave?" Ye Lingling took a deep breath and asked again.

"In a month," Ning Feiliu thought for a moment and said, "I still have some things to do, and I plan to break through to Soul Ancestor and obtain a Soul Ring before leaving."

His soul power is getting closer and closer to level forty, and with the help of the Calm Rune, his chance of breaking through is even greater.

So he plans to break through to the Soul Ancestor realm and obtain a Soul Ring before leaving.

And the most critical thing is whether the upcoming blooming of the Blooming Spirit Flower can allow Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan to see Dugu Yan's deceased parents.

Regarding this matter, Ning Feiliu actually does not have absolute certainty, and in his heart, he only guesses there is a fifty percent probability of success.

After all, the situation in the Douluo Dalu is different from Ionia; a world where even the Underworld and the Underworld God do not exist is very different from a place like Ionia that is closely connected to the Spirit World.

Oranges grown south of the Huai River are oranges, but grown north of the Huai River, they become trifoliate oranges.

Whether the Blooming Spirit Flower is useful is really not certain.

But no matter what, he wants to try.

He wants... to let Dugu Yan let go of her inner knot as much as possible.

"Is that so..." Ye Lingling said in a low voice, "Alright, but before you leave, you must explain all the matters of the medical clinic to me thoroughly."

"Don't worry, I will explain everything to you before I leave," Ning Feiliu said with a smile.

Thus, in the following month, while completing the research and development of the last type of brand-new Alchemy Potion and waiting for the Blooming Spirit Flower to bloom, Ning Feiliu explained everything about the medical clinic to Ye Lingling in great detail... including his experimental equipment.

After all, he cannot conduct experiments while outside, so he will leave it all to Ye Lingling.

At the same time, he also carefully taught Ye Lingling his "Alchemy Pharmacy Theory" and some of his other unfinished research.

Meanwhile, he was also working hard to cultivate. By taking Upgrade Potions, holding the Calm Rune, and alternating between the Sunlight Breathing Method and the Moonlight Breathing Method, the growth rate of his soul power became faster and faster, directly charging toward the bottleneck of the Soul Ancestor realm.

Until noon on a certain day...

"Bang..." Ning Feiliu seemed to hear the sound of glass shattering inside his body, and his soul power aura instantly broke through and grew stronger.

He opened his eyes and said with a smile, "Finally succeeded..."

Next is the plot of obtaining the Soul Ring and summoning the soul, and then—I'm off! (End of chapter)