Star Luo City
The 12-year-old Ji Lin was cultivating. A white-haired, blue-eyed youth, around 1.6 meters tall, sat cross-legged under a large tree in the courtyard. His body was slender and his appearance was strikingly handsome—like a celestial being descended to the mortal world. Sunlight bathed his figure, reflecting a faint golden glow.
Just then, Xu Jiujiu arrived beside Ji Lin.
"Xiao Lin, the person you asked me to send to monitor the White Tiger Duke's estate has returned. They reported that a boy around eleven or twelve years old has left the estate, heading toward the Star Dou Forest."
Xu Jiujiu didn't know why Ji Lin was keeping an eye on the White Tiger Duke's estate or why he was paying attention to a boy's movements.
But she didn't need to know. All that mattered was that Ji Lin wouldn't harm her or do anything that would endanger the Star Luo Empire. She didn't pry further.
As a princess raised with elite royal education, she understood well: she couldn't keep Ji Lin too tightly bound, asking questions about everything.
She needed to give Ji Lin enough personal space and freedom. As long as he held her in his heart, that was enough.
Otherwise, if she became too clingy, he would eventually grow tired of her.
Upon hearing Xu Jiujiu's words, Ji Lin stood up from under the tree, brushing the dust from his clothes.
"Is that so? Then I should be setting off as well. It's time to head for Shrek Academy."
"I knew it. Xiao Lin, I've already prepared your things."
Xu Jiujiu handed Ji Lin a soul tool storage device, filled with enough resources for a year of cultivation, daily necessities, and several soul tools.
Ji Lin took a look: among the soul tools were a level-four milk bottle (used for soul power recovery), a soul power-charging device, and a rare soul tool that replenishes soul power—requiring high-quality materials and a stable core.
There was also a level-six invincible shield—based on the Invincible Golden Body. It's a one-time use item. Even the lowest tier starts at level five and requires the Sun Moon Empire's rare golden crystals as a catalyst. When infused into the core formation, it produces an extremely strong defensive force. A level-five invincible shield can block attacks from Soul Douluo under eight rings for three seconds, while a level-six version can resist the attack of a standard Title Douluo for three seconds.
Another tool was the Wall of Tenacity, a level-six soul tool similar to the invincible shield. It's activated and sustained by a soul master's power. Though slightly less defensively powerful, the Wall of Tenacity isn't a disposable item. The defense is triggered on impact but continuously consumes soul power while active.
There was also a flying soul tool.
Xu Jiujiu had prepared only defensive and support soul tools. Ji Lin didn't need offensive ones—his Ultimate Fire and the Judgment of Shamash were enough for that.
Over the past three years, Ji Lin's soul power had reached level 39. The 8,000-year-old Purple Sword Bamboo he absorbed three years ago had only advanced his level by one, and he had spent the past three years gaining eight more levels.
Though he had long known that cultivating from level 30 to 70 with an ultimate elemental attribute was like a turtle crawling, even with ample resources and the aid of Tai Xu Sword Qi, he could only improve about two and a half levels per year. That's still faster than ordinary soul masters.
Especially considering he had Tai Xu Sword Qi to accelerate his cultivation.
He had spent these years focusing solely on cultivating soul power and had paid little attention to soul tool studies. He had barely reached level-three soul tool master according to the Star Luo Empire's standards. If judged by the Sun Moon Empire, he would only be at level two.
But Ji Lin wasn't in a hurry.
He knew his own role well—a soul master first, soul tool user second. He didn't need deep mastery of soul tools, just enough to understand and use them effectively.
After packing his belongings and bidding farewell to Xu Jiujiu, Ji Lin called for Chi Yuan, who had been waiting for a long time, and together they left Star Luo City toward the Star Dou Forest.
This time, Ji Lin didn't ride on Chi Yuan. Instead, he used his flying soul tool to fly alongside her.
Although he had Fire Dragon Wings that allowed him to fly, they consumed more soul power than the flying soul tool.
Along the way, Ji Lin took two cards out of his storage soul tool, hesitating before ultimately deciding to use them.
These two cards were treasures obtained from the treasure chest system.
He suspected these were custom-made for him by the system—timely gifts akin to help in a snowstorm.
He'd been uncertain whether his plan would work out this time.
But now, he was full of confidence.
Because the two cards he had just used included one called Dimensional Shielding Card. As the name suggests, this card blocks observation and interference from the Douluo Divine Realm, preventing gods from acting in or even communicating with the lower plane.
This card came from his eleventh treasure chest—clearly meant to defend against Tang Shenwang.
With this card, Tang Shenwang would believe it was the plane's own will that severed the Divine Realm's connection to Douluo.
He would blame everything on the plane's consciousness. And he wouldn't dare forcibly break the shielding—after all, the Divine Realm wasn't ruled solely by him. The God of Destruction, who disagreed with him, was watching his every move.
This card came just in time, because Ji Lin didn't know if Tang Shenwang was already watching Huo Yuhao. After all, this favored son of destiny seemed to be under divine surveillance from the moment he was born.
If Ji Lin contacted Huo Yuhao—or seized his opportunity—would Tang Shenwang notice?
Especially considering the Tang Princess had a trace of Tang Shenwang's divine consciousness in her spiritual sea.
But now it was fine—the dimension had been shielded, and Tang Shenwang likely could no longer see him.
As for the divine consciousness inside Tang Princess, Ji Lin had ways of dealing with that too.
The second card came from his twelfth treasure chest—Destiny Modification Card.
It allows him to change a person's destiny once—whether his own or another's.
Ji Lin had just used it to modify the destinies of himself and Huo Yuhao.
He altered the event where Huo Yuhao was supposed to encounter the Ice Silk Worms—changing it so that he, Ji Lin, would be the one to encounter them.
Everything was ready. All that remained was the final piece.
That's why Ji Lin wasn't in a hurry to catch up with Huo Yuhao. He trusted the Destiny Modification Card given by the treasure chest system. He would definitely encounter the Ice Silk Worms.
At the same time, in the Divine Realm of Douluo, right as Ji Lin activated the Dimensional Shielding Card...
A gentle glow—like a mother's touch—caressed the clouds. Though illusory, the space felt tangibly real. In the haze, a grand palace seemed to loom in the distance, appearing ethereal and substantial under the soft glow.
A figure stood quietly in the mists, gazing into the endless horizon, lost in thought.
He had long, waterfall-like azure hair that flowed to his feet. If not for his imposing stature and broad shoulders, one might have mistaken him for a woman from behind.
His elegant blue robe shimmered like rippling water. A closer look would pull one's eyes into the depths of blue—as if one's very soul were drawn into that oceanic abyss.
Though he appeared to be in his twenties, his gaze was ancient and profound. Occasionally, a trace of violet flickered in his eyes—beautiful and deadly—like a glimpse of life and death condensed into a single breath.
"Hm? What's going on? Why can't I perceive the fate of the Douluo Continent anymore?"
The man frowned and muttered in confusion.
"Is the Douluo plane's consciousness blocking my senses? Sigh—Even the divine sense I left in Xiao Qi is unresponsive now. Thankfully, Da Ming and Er Ming are still on the continent. I hope they can protect Xiao Qi. Lately, Destruction has been watching me too closely. I can't intervene... otherwise... sigh."
He sighed again, face filled with melancholy.