Chapter 520

The next day, Tang Wulin and Huo Yutong went to the people of the Spirit Pagoda to explain the situation and returned the hotel room.

The person in charge of liaising with them seemed to be a fan of Huo Yutong, and upon seeing Huo Yutong he was so excited he could not speak.

Afterwards, they also stopped by the Blacksmith Association in Tiandou City, where they learned that Zhenhua had gone to another city and was not here.

However, Tang Wulin did obtain another thing that Zhenhua prepared for him, namely a sixth-rank blacksmith badge.

With this, it means he has officially become a sixth-rank blacksmith, and can freely accept tasks to forge spirit alloys from the Blacksmith Association.

After putting away the blacksmith badge, Tang Wulin and the others finally sought out Long Yeyue.

Unlike them, Long Yeyue did not stay in the highest-grade hotel; she lived in a small cottage in the suburbs, with a very tranquil environment.

Huo Yutong asked her why she didn't stay at the big hotel, and the answer was that this place resembles the environment of Shilake Academy's Sea God Pavilion, making her feel more at ease.

Upon seeing the few people, she didn't waste words and went straight to the point.

"Are you ready?"

"Hmm."

"Alright, let's go."

Long Yeyue had little to pack; she simply stuffed some items into a storage soul conductor device and then left the cottage with Tang Wulin and the others.

After bringing them to a deserted place, Long Yeyue looked at them and asked lightly:

"Can you fly with your parents?"

Tang Wulin was somewhat surprised.

"It's possible… but aren't we supposed to take the soul-powered train?"

Normally, when ordinary people are present, it's obviously more comfortable to take the soul-powered train.

Long Yeyue snorted.

"That's too slow; recently the pavilion master returned, he's very curious about your existence and wants to meet you, so it's best not to waste that much time. Besides, given your current fame, taking the soul-powered train could cause trouble."

"... That's true."

Tang Wulin then realized that he and Huo Yutong are now big names; even though the turmoil has faded somewhat compared to two months ago, it's not a situation where they can casually take the soul-powered train.

Of course, given their situation, whether using disguise techniques or simulating soul skills, they could easily fool others, but judging by Long Yeyue's demeanor, Zang Xin probably didn't tell her that Tang Wulin could disguise himself.

Moreover, he also heard a key word.

"Has the Heavenly Titled Douluo returned?"

"Does that mean he wasn't at Shilake Academy before?"

Long Yeyue glanced at Tang Wulin, seemingly guessing his thoughts from his expression, and explained: "The pavilion master recently went to hunt Evil Soul Masters; do you know the Holy Spirit Sect?"

"!"

In an instant, Tang Wulin and Huo Yutong's expressions changed.

They of course knew that just a year before crossing over, they had just wiped out the Holy Spirit Sect's headquarters from ten thousand years ago in one fell swoop.

Why bring up this anti-human organization composed entirely of Evil Soul Masters here? Could it be that in this timeline where Huo Yutong hasn't met Tang Wulin, she failed to annihilate the Holy Spirit Sect's headquarters? Long Yeyue didn't wait for their answer and continued speaking lightly:

"Within the Holy Spirit Sect, the highest level is called One Emperor, Two Emperors, and Four Heavenly Kings; the Four Heavenly Kings are merely Titled Douluo level, but as the Two Emperors, the Ghost Emperor and the Nether Emperor have reached the quasi-god level; as for the legendary Devil Emperor, no one knows what level he has reached, because people don't even know his true form."

"Quasi-god?"

Tang Wulin and Huo Yutong looked puzzled.

"What does that mean? How come we've never heard of this realm?"

Long Yeyue was also somewhat surprised.

"Turns out there was no such realm division ten thousand years ago; alright, before we set off, I'll explain it to you."

She said lightly:

"Limit Douluo actually means humans cultivating to the limit; that's what the concept originally meant. But as time passed and humanity developed, after reaching the Limit Douluo level, it was further divided into smaller stages, yet these smaller stages actually represent different levels of cultivation within the same Limit Douluo."

"For example, those who have just entered Limit Douluo and begin transformation are called quasi-half-gods, also known as false half-gods. Once the transformation stabilizes, they can gradually join the ranks of half-gods; the vast majority of Limit Douluo are actually at this level, like me, who is still at the half-god level, as are the chief and deputy sect masters of the Tang Sect, the Ruthless Douluo and the Affectionate Douluo; however, due to their special circumstances, when they fight together they can unleash combat power far surpassing that of ordinary half-gods working together."

"But there are also some Heaven's Pride who, through continuous effort and insight into the Grand Dao, make another breakthrough, entering another realm—that is the quasi-god or false god level. Only upon reaching this level does lifespan increase again, allowing one to live over three hundred years. The Guan Yue you two saw two months ago has most likely entered the quasi-god level; although he keeps a low profile and spends most of his time in secluded cultivation, making his true cultivation unknown to outsiders, Yun Ming once told me that Guan Yue's cultivation, even compared to him, is probably not far off."

"Of course, among quasi-gods there are also differences in strength; for example, your two combat powers are clearly much stronger than Guan Yue's, and you have most likely reached the same level as Yun Ming. At your level, the distinctions among Limit Douluo stages are no longer important; what you should consider is how to become a god."

"But..."

Long Yeyue looked Tang Wulin and Huo Yutong up and down.

"Your cultivation hasn't actually reached the Limit Douluo level yet, right?"

She could faintly sense that although the two's strength is unbeatable among Limit Douluo, their soul power fluctuations still have a certain gap from Limit Douluo.

Regarding this, Tang Wulin and Huo Yutong did not hide it and nodded together.

Long Yeyue's eyes instantly flashed with a strange light.

"To have such strength without even reaching the Limit Douluo level… it seems you two might truly be able to break through the god-level limit."

In that case, that child Yun Ming should be very pleased.

Tang Wulin asked curiously:

"How big is the power gap between these three realms?"

If I remember correctly, Long Xiaoyao and Ye Xi Shui are both already close to three hundred years old, yet they appear perfectly fine; even Mu En, who is of the same generation, died only a few years ago due to severe injuries.

I don't know whether they possess quasi-god strength.

Long Yeyue said lightly:

The gap between quasi-half-god and half-god is roughly 1:2, while the gap between half-god and quasi-god is about 1:3.

"I see..."

Huo Yutong nodded in understanding.

She then said that's why earlier, Zang Xin and the others gave her a feeling that paled in comparison to Guan Yue—Zang Xin and his three companions are merely half-gods, while Guan Yue is a quasi-god, making the difference enormous.

But coming back to that, why would Zang Xin and the Tang Sect sect master, the Ruthless Douluo, experience a surge in combat power when they fight together? Could it be that they have a Soul Fusion Technique?

Thinking of the two people's titles that are full of association just by hearing them, Tang Wulin and Huo Yutong thought that even if this guess wasn't correct, it was probably not far off.

Long Yeyue raised her eyebrows, urging: "Anything else you want to ask? If not, get ready to depart."

"Nothing."

The two of them shook their heads together.

Actually, they still wanted to learn more about the Holy Spirit Sect, but such questions could be asked of any top expert on the continent; it would be better to ask Yun Ming, who had just finished the pursuit operation, after arriving at Shilake Academy.

Tang Wulin waved at his parents.

"Dad, Mom, come over here." Tang Ziran and Lan Yue, somewhat nervous, came to his side.

Unlike Tang Wulin and Huo Yutong, they were still quite nervous facing such a top expert as Long Yeyue.

Tang Wulin waved his hand, a green light flashed by, and instantly the two figures disappeared together.

He sent them into the Life God Realm.

Inside the Life God Realm, it was not only safe and comfortable, but also filled with extremely rich life force, which was greatly beneficial to them as ordinary people; if it weren't for the fact that Tang Wulin was taken to see Zhen Hua the day after they met, he would have long wanted to let them go in and sit for a while.

Moreover, many of the immortal herbs inside still possessed spiritual awareness; although after You You left there was no longer such a chatty presence, at least they wouldn't feel bored.

Seeing Tang Wulin's action, Long Yeyue blinked in some surprise.

Having reached her level, her vision was no longer on the same plane as ordinary people's, so she could instantly see that Tang Wulin had placed his parents inside a small space.

That in itself wasn't a problem—Yun Ming could also do something similar—but the issue was that the moment the small space opened, the life force that burst out was incredibly dense.

Long Yeyue was no longer young; unlike her peers among the top experts, she was still only a demigod, so she had to maintain this aged appearance, but after absorbing that life force, she suddenly felt her lifespan had been extended a bit.

Although not much, for an Ultimate Douluo of her age and strength, even extending her life by a few months is immensely precious; if placed outside, some aging powerhouses would probably pay a fortune to obtain it.

And this was only a tiny wisp of that aura; although Long Yeyue didn't know what was inside that small space, there was no doubt that the life force within would be thousands or even tens of thousands times denser than the little bit that leaked out.

No wonder they could possess such strength at such a young age; it seems they indeed have the capital for it.

Long Yeyue hid her thoughts, saying coldly: "Since you're ready, let's depart; follow close behind me."

Having said that, she spread her dragon wings, took off from the spot, and flew swiftly toward the horizon.

Tang Wulin and Huo Yutong hurried to follow.

Perhaps because she trusted their strength, Long Yeyue's flight speed did not slacken at all; she was practically at full speed the whole way.

All three were Ultimate Douluo-level experts, so travel time couldn't be measured by ordinary standards; not long after, they had already flown to the location of Shilake City.

But Long Yeyue didn't bring them flying into the city; instead, she landed on the ground just before reaching Shilake City and said to them:

"Let's go; the rest of the journey we'll take by vehicle."

"Understood."

Tang Wulin and Huo Yutong didn't ask her why; they both knew that in a place like Shilake City, under normal circumstances top experts are not allowed to fly in the airspace, otherwise chaos would ensue.

Tang Wulin released Tang Ziran and his wife from the Life God Realm, then took a vehicle with Long Yeyue, while Huo Yutong activated a simulated soul skill to alter their appearances, and they headed toward Shilake Academy.

The driver was also a talkative person; upon seeing their group composition, he laughed.

"Yo, are you a family of five? Are you preparing to travel and sightsee at Shilake Academy?"

It's no wonder he thought that; Long Yeyue is an elderly person, Tang Ziran and Lan Yue are middle-aged, plus Tang Wulin and Huo Yutong are young—no matter how you look at it, that's a family of five.

Long Yeyue didn't respond, Tang Ziran didn't dare to speak casually, and finally Tang Wulin smiled and replied: "Yeah, we'd like to come tour Shilake City; could you introduce us to some places we should know about here?"

This time they came, they indeed brought a bit of sightseeing; using this opportunity to get a preliminary understanding of Shilake City ten thousand years later was not bad.

"Haha, of course no problem—leave it all to me!"

The driver laughed heartily, patted his chest, and said:

"I've been driving here for ten years; I know the sights inside out—you've found the right person!"

Tang Wulin smiled gently:

"Then I'll trouble you, driver."

"Mm!"

The driver started the soul-powered vehicle and began heading toward Shilake Academy.

As he drove, he said: "Shilake City, as the name suggests, is the city where Shilake Academy is located; this city has a history exceeding ten thousand years, and it is currently the largest city on the continent, holding an important position in the Federation—even the headquarters of the Spirit Pagoda is here. Do you see that tall tower on the left? That is the Spirit Pagoda's headquarters."

Tang Wulin and the others hurried to look out the window at his words, and indeed saw a tower that seemed to pierce the clouds; because it was far away, they could only see its middle and upper sections, which stood tall and majestic, shimmering with a faint silver light, the tower having eight sides, its top already lost in the clouds.

The driver laughed and said:

"You know? The Spirit Pagoda headquarters is the tallest building in the entire Federation; it's not that we lack the ability to build higher, but the Federation has stipulated that no building may exceed the Spirit Pagoda's height, as a sign of respect for it."

If one were to say the most mysterious organization on the continent is the Tang Sect, the one with the deepest foundation is Shilake Academy, then the most powerful organization is undoubtedly the Spirit Pagoda.

Thanks to the existence of artificial souls, the Spirit Pagoda possesses the finest research talents and experts, as well as vast wealth comparable to a nation's, giving it a pivotal position in the Federation.

Besides the distant Spirit Pagoda headquarters, the buildings outside the window had also undergone some changes—there were antiquated structures as well as modern ones; unlike Tian Dou City, which is entirely ancient or even primordial architecture, and unlike Dong Hai City, a newly risen city wholly metallic in feel, Shilake City gives a sense of inclusiveness and vastness, a huge city whose bounds cannot be seen at a glance.

Upon learning that the Spirit Pagoda's headquarters was also established in Shilake City, a thoughtful look rose in Tang Wulin's eyes.

The place he had been considering these past two days for his parents to settle down—he seemed to have found the answer.

Shilake City not only has Shilake Academy, a powerful organization wielding the continent's strongest expert, the Heavenly Emperor Douluo, but also the Spirit Pagoda, the continent's strongest overall force; it's hard to imagine any city being safer than this one.

As long as they manage to obtain residency rights in the Sea God Pavilion, the parents' safety concerns would largely be alleviated.

Surely no one would be blind enough to invade the Sea God Pavilion, where Yun Ming, Tang Wulin, and Huo Yutong might be present.

Along the rest of the way, the driver mentioned many famous sights of Shilake City, all of which Tang Wulin kept in mind, deciding that if the opportunity arose, he would definitely bring his family to tour them.

"All right, we've arrived."

After saying that, the driver stopped the vehicle and pointed ahead at the gate.

"Look, this is Shilake Academy."

Upon seeing Shilake Academy, Tang Ziran and Lan Yue couldn't help but widen their eyes in surprise.

Because calling it an institute is an understatement—it is essentially a small city.

Endless buildings stretch as far as the eye can see, with various towers and skyscrapers rising up, making it hard to imagine this is merely an academy.

Driver smiled and explained: 'Quite surprising, right? Actually, in ancient times, the present Shilake Academy was originally Shilake City. Later, due to the establishment of the Spirit Transmission Tower Organization, the first-generation Spirit Transmission Tower Tower Master, Spirit Ice Battle Spirit Huo Yuhao, proposed expanding Shilake City, which gave it the scale of the largest city on the continent today. The original Shilake City was completely merged into Shilake Academy, becoming a city‑sized academy… Ah, right, it's already Huo Yutong now, correct? Haha, it's really not that easy to change the way of speaking.'

The driver, a bit embarrassed, scratched his head and laughed, but everyone's gaze toward Huo Yutong turned somewhat strange.

The person in question is right here.

Huo Yutong coughed once and asked:

"How much?"

Because Tang Wulin had entered a deep meditative state during this period, Zang Xin had been directly handing the money to her, and Tang Wulin hadn't yet had a chance to take out the money from the black card that Zhen Hua had given him, so she was the wealthiest person on the vehicle aside from Long Yeyue.

The driver smiled and said:

"One hundred and four federal coins, just count it as one hundred federal coins for you."

"Okay."

Huo Yutong didn't stand on ceremony with the driver, handed over one hundred federal coins, after which everyone got off the vehicle and headed toward Shilake Academy.

(End of chapter)