Chapter 35 — Five Years Later: Xiao Wu Wants to Stay with Lin Qingmo at a Couple's Hotel
Time passed like a white steed glimpsed through a crack.
In the blink of an eye, five years had gone by.
At the city gates of Suo Tuo City, located in the heart of the Balak Kingdom—
A striking young body and a girl walked side by side, instantly drawing the attention of passersby along the street.
The boy looked about twelve years old, his figure tall and straight like a stalk of green bamboo.
A silver earring on his right ear swayed gently along with his blue, slightly tousled hair in the breeze.
His sapphire-like eyes were clear and bright, a roguish, carefree smile hanging at the corners of his lips.
Lin Qingmo had finally arrived at the nearest major city to Nuoding City—Suo Tuo City.
He wore a simple cyan combat outfit, sunlight outlining his handsome features with a hint of sharp heroism.
On the ring finger of his left hand, the ring-shaped storage soul tool given by his master glimmered faintly under the sun.
Five years of time had completely washed away his childish immaturity.
In its place was a calmness and edge rarely seen among peers his age.
His actual soul power had already reached Rank 40—Soul Ancestor.
The only thing holding him back was the fact that he still hadn't found a suitable fourth soul ring.
Beside him walked a girl who also appeared around twelve.
Her brown hair was tied into a lively ponytail that bounced lightly against her shoulders.
A pair of spirited rabbit-like eyes shimmered with innocent, radiant joy.
Xiao Wu wore a pink dress, the hem fluttering gently in the wind.
She looked like a fluttering pink butterfly—adorable and lively.
After five years of diligent cultivation, her childishness had faded, leaving her slender and graceful.
Her soul power had reached Rank 32, far surpassing her original canon progression.
Over the past five years, nothing earth-shattering had happened on the Douluo Continent.
Lin Qingmo's life was simple yet fulfilling.
Every day repeated the same routine:
Cultivating with the rabbit, chatting in the group, and occasionally violently beating Tang San.
As for soul rings—every time Lin Qingmo broke through a realm, his master would always appear on time, having already prepared the most suitable soul beast.
His second soul ring came from a five-thousand-year-old "Emerald Thousand-Thread Mushroom."
This plant-type soul beast wasn't strong offensively, but its vitality was terrifyingly robust.
[Second Soul Skill — Thousand Threads Entwined]
Blue Silver Grass growth speed increased by 100%.
After activation, Blue Silver Grass can instantly split into five strands, each possessing 50% of the original's strength.
(The number of splits increases with soul power.)
At first glance, it looked like a simple splitting effect.
In reality, its practical combat value was extremely high.
The third soul ring came from a nine-thousand-year "Rejuvenation Willow."
Another plant soul beast with extraordinary vitality.
[Third Soul Skill — Blue Silver Spirit Tree]
Blue Silver Grass toughness increased by 100%.
After activation, Blue Silver Grass fuses and grows into a Blue Silver Spirit Tree, its vines lashing surrounding targets like willow branches.
The Spirit Tree generates a 150-meter Rejuvenation Field (range increases with soul power).
Rejuvenation Field Effects:
- Self: +50% life recovery, +50% soul skill recovery, +50% mental power.
- Selected allies: gain 30% of the same effects.
This soul skill combines martial soul enhancement, mental power amplification, offense, and support into one.
Lin Qingmo was extremely satisfied with these two soul skills.
Even without a top-tier soul ring like the Emerald Swan, the advantage of over-limit absorption of thousand-year soul rings was more than enough to compensate for any bloodline gap.
The biggest variable during these five years was Tang Hao's fate.
He had been discovered again by Spirit Hall near Suo Tuo City.
After a world-shaking battle, Tang Hao managed to escape—but at a terrible cost, falling into endless pursuit.
From then on, he no longer dared to appear near Tang San.
When Lin Qingmo heard this news, he finally let out a breath of relief.
With no Titled Douluo secretly watching—
He could finally "bully" Tang San without restraint.
"Ah Qing, Suo Tuo City is so big!"
Xiao Wu clung to Lin Qingmo's arm, her eyes shining with excitement.
She curiously scanned her surroundings, excitement even seeping into her breathing.
"It's way livelier than Nuoding City! Look at those street stalls!"
The streets bustled with traffic and noise.
The bluestone road had been worn smooth by time, shops lining both sides in neat rows.
Shouts of vendors and bargaining voices overlapped, thick with the warmth of everyday life.
The sweet scent of candied hawthorns and the smoky aroma of grilled meat drifted through the air, teasing the appetite.
"Of course."
Lin Qingmo raised a hand and rubbed Xiao Wu's head, fingers brushing through her soft hair.
"Although Suo Tuo City is a border city, it's several times larger than Nuoding City."
"Where do you want to go?"
After five years together, Xiao Wu had long grown used to sticking close to Lin Qingmo.
Their relationship had long surpassed that of mere companions—intimate and inseparable.
Hearing his question, Xiao Wu excitedly stood on her toes and pointed ahead.
"I want to eat that! The red candied hawthorns—they look so sweet!"
Her gaze then drifted toward a nearby jewelry shop, eyes sparkling.
"And that jewelry store, too! The pink jade hairpin in the display is so pretty!"
"You little glutton."
Lin Qingmo chuckled and pinched her cheek.
"Let's eat first, then go shopping. Sounds good?"
Xiao Wu nodded vigorously, her cheeks flushed with excitement.
Just as they were about to step forward, Lin Qingmo suddenly stopped.
A cold, piercing gaze had locked onto him.
He calmly turned his head, eyes sweeping toward the shadowed corner of the street.
There stood a youth dressed in black.
His brows carried a gloomy edge, eyes filled with jealousy and hatred.
It was Tang San.
Five years had passed, and Tang San's soul power had reached Rank 27.
After successfully absorbing his second soul ring, his strength had indeed improved.
But his obsession with Xiao Wu had never lessened.
Watching Xiao Wu cling to Lin Qingmo day after day, that jealousy and resentment grew like poisonous vines in his heart.
Over the years, he had challenged Lin Qingmo again and again.
Trying to prove himself stronger, trying to reclaim Xiao Wu's attention.
But the result never changed—every time, he was beaten into miserable defeat.
To this day, he still had no idea what Lin Qingmo's true soul power or soul ring configuration was.
Because Lin Qingmo had never released his martial soul or soul rings during their fights.
Repeated failures twisted Tang San's temperament further.
His gaze grew colder, filled with distorted hatred.
"Again, it's him."
Xiao Wu also noticed a malicious stare.
Disgust immediately flashed across her face as she tugged on Lin Qingmo's sleeve.
"Ignore this annoying guy. Let's go—don't let him ruin our mood."
Thinking about Tang San's constant harassment over the years made her frown.
Why is this guy so sticky? Like chewing gum you can't get rid of.
Lin Qingmo nodded, contempt flickering in his eyes.
After five years of "repeated education," Tang San was nothing more than a clown to him.
"Let's go buy the candied hawthorns first."
He took Xiao Wu's hand and was about to move—when Tang San burst out of the shadows, blocking their path.
"Lin Qingmo, stop right there!"
Tang San's voice trembled with suppressed rage, fists clenched so tightly they cracked.
"You dodge me every time. Are you scared now?"
He stared at Lin Qingmo, eyes filled with unwillingness and provocation.
Yet inside, doubt gnawed at him:
'How strong is he really?'
'Five years… Why can't I even touch the corner of his clothes?'
"Scared of you?"
Lin Qingmo raised a brow, a mocking smile curling at his lips.
"Tang San, in these five years, the only thing you've grown is your age—and your shamelessness."
He sized Tang San up lazily, his tone full of ridicule.
"Didn't you learn your lesson the last time I sent you flying?"
Xiao Wu snickered and added helpfully:
"And you were unconscious the entire morning!"
She recalled Tang San's struggle back then, her eyes curving with amusement.
"If Ah Qing hadn't been soft-hearted and notified your trash teacher, you'd have been bitten full of bumps by mountain mosquitoes."
"I—!"
Tang San was stabbed right in the sore spot, his face instantly flushing red.
Rage surged straight to his head, his soul power erupting uncontrollably—
—
End of Chapter