"Hehe, Little Lin, what are your plans next?"
"Why don't you come visit this old man's place for a while?"
Dugu Bo smiled cheerfully as he spoke.
If anyone else saw the expression on his face right now, they'd never believe this was the same eccentric and moody Poison Douluo.
Qi Lin blinked, slightly caught off guard.
Is Dugu Bo trying to take me to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well?
That classic spot every transmigrator checks off their list?
He did feel a little tempted to go, but then thought better of it. There was no rush. He'd have plenty of chances in the future.
Besides, if he didn't return tonight, what if Xiao Wu and the others couldn't find him and started to worry?
Qi Lin smiled apologetically. "Senior Dugu, thank you for your kind offer, but I'll pass this time."
"I need to head back to Heaven Dou Academy today. Otherwise, my friends might get anxious."
Hearing that, a trace of disappointment flashed in Dugu Bo's eyes, but he still chuckled and said, "Alright then. But make sure you bring Yan Yan to visit me next time."
Qi Lin laughed. "Of course! I'll definitely come visit with Yan Zi when we get the chance."
"Hahaha!"
Dugu Bo burst out laughing. "Good! It's better with Yan Yan around anyway!"
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Qi Lin was about to leave when Dugu Bo asked, "Little Lin, would you like this old man to send you back?"
Qi Lin shook his head with a smile. "No need to trouble yourself, Senior. We can make it back just fine on our own."
"Oh, and when you return, tell that girl Yan Zi to take good care of herself. I'll come see her again when I get the chance."
Dugu Bo needed the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well to suppress the rebound of toxins in his body, so he couldn't stay at Heaven Dou Academy for long.
Luckily, Qi Lin had just treated him.
Although Qi Lin's level wasn't very high, the healing effect was surprisingly good. If he secluded himself for a few more days, he'd be stable for a while and prevent another outbreak of poison.
More importantly, Dugu Bo now saw a genuine hope—a possibility of fully curing the backlash of his body's toxins.
Qi Lin nodded at his words and then turned to Gu Yuena.
"Sister Na, let's go back."
"Okay."
Gu Yuena responded with just one word, grabbed Qi Lin's hand—
And in the next second, the two vanished from sight.
Dugu Bo's pupils contracted sharply as they disappeared.
Thinking of the cold, quiet woman just now, Dugu Bo immediately flew into the air and scanned the area.
One thousand meters... two thousand... three thousand...
"Was that some kind of teleportation soul skill?"
"But what kind of teleportation soul skill can be that terrifying? To cover such an enormous distance instantly, and even bring someone else along?"
"Besides… she didn't even release any soul rings..."
"Just who the hell is she?"
Dugu Bo's expression flickered between suspicion and shock. He even wondered if that mysterious woman was some rejuvenated Titled Douluo in disguise.
---
On the other side, Qi Lin and Gu Yuena had already returned to Heaven Dou Academy.
Back in his dorm, Qi Lin planted the Blue Silver Emperor seed from the Sun Moon Continent into a flowerpot and placed it alongside Ah Yin in the courtyard behind the dormitory.
After positioning them properly, he released a soul skill—Life Photosynthesis—toward both Blue Silver Emperors.
Ah Yin received two rounds, while the Blue Silver Emperor from the Sun Moon Continent, now named Blue Moon, received three.
After all, Qi Lin's fifth soul ring was a result of her sacrifice.
As the bluish-golden light showered over both plants, the two Blue Silver Emperors suddenly started growing at an astonishing speed.
Ah Yin instantly reached the hundred-year level, while Blue Moon's spirit age surged to one hundred fifty years.
One was now a meter tall, the other one and a half meters—both appearing like vibrant vines.
Aside from their height difference, there were clear differences in appearance as well.
Ah Yin's leaves and branches were laced with brilliant golden veins. Blue Moon had them too, but hers were dimmer, far less dazzling than Ah Yin's.
That was because Blue Moon's Blue Silver Emperor bloodline wasn't as pure as Ah Yin's.
As their spirit ages increased, the two Blue Silver Emperors seemed to regain much of their consciousness.
Sensing that their rapid growth was thanks to Qi Lin, both plants moved their bodies closer to him. The tips of their vines even curled down to affectionately brush his cheeks.
Watching them grow so wildly, Qi Lin rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"At this rate… they might be able to take human form in just two or three years."
---
The Next Morning
At the crack of dawn, Xiao Wu and the other two girls were already knocking on Qi Lin's dormitory door.
But it wasn't Qi Lin who opened it—it was Gu Yuena.
Standing there in a flowing purple dress, with silver hair and violet eyes, her face flawless like sculpted jade—
A wave of oppressive pressure instantly swept toward Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong.
Even Zhu Zhuqing lowered her head involuntarily, unable to meet Gu Yuena's gaze.
Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong exchanged glances. In each other's eyes, they saw the same thought—
Alliance.
Now was not the time for infighting!
Just then, the door behind Gu Yuena opened again. Qi Lin stepped out, yawning and still in pajamas, clearly half-asleep.
Seeing the trio, Qi Lin stretched and smiled lazily. "You girls are up early."
Xiao Wu huffed. "Early? You're the only one still sleeping!"
"We're here to get you to train us, of course!"
Qi Lin rolled his eyes. "Didn't I already teach you all the basic training methods? Can't you train without me?"
Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong chuckled awkwardly. Of course they could train on their own... they just wanted to spend more time with him.
Zhu Zhuqing had the same idea, though she didn't make it as obvious.
Qi Lin said, "Alright. This place isn't like Shrek. From now on, you'll each have to find your own mimicry training environments. Once you've made progress, come find me again."
Mimicry environments were places where soul masters could train in areas that matched their soul power attributes—extremely helpful for cultivation.
After a simple breakfast in Qi Lin's dorm, the three girls set off to their respective training spots.
Qi Lin, meanwhile, stayed behind, idle.
When he wasn't reading or refining his soul cultivation methods, he was playing games with Gu Yuena or teaching her to cook and be a "housewife."
His days were peaceful and leisurely.
Until—
Qin Ming suddenly came knocking.
"Teacher Qin Ming? What brings you here?" Qi Lin asked curiously.
Qin Ming's gaze swept past Gu Yuena, then turned to Qi Lin and said, "His Highness the Crown Prince heard about you. He's come to Heaven Dou Academy and wishes to meet you."
"The Crown Prince wants to see me?"
Qi Lin raised an eyebrow.
The Crown Prince... that's Qian Renxue, isn't it?
She wants to meet me?
Qi Lin had always been curious about that hopeless romantic from Douluo Continent.
"Let's go then," Qin Ming said. "We shouldn't keep the Crown Prince waiting."
Qi Lin nodded. "Alright, let's go."