After obtaining his new summons, Lev began petting them one by one before turning his attention toward Zhu Zhuqing and Tsunade.
This was probably their first time seeing creatures like these. After all, there were no beings quite like them anywhere on the Douluo Continent.
With a smile, Lev began introducing them.
"You see, these five came from the world of Max Level Newbie. They are known as the Five Elemental Spirits."
"Undine, the Water Spirit. Gnome, the Earth Spirit. Sylph, the Wind Spirit. Salamander, the Fire Spirit. And lastly, Whisp, the Light Spirit."
As he introduced each one, Lev pointed toward them one by one.
"Don't let their cute appearances fool you. This is actually their normal mode. They also have a battle mode that greatly changes their appearances and abilities. I'll let you see it later."
Lev knew about their battle forms because he had once read the webtoon.
"So, they're not spirit beasts from this world but are called Elemental Spirits in their own world instead?"
Zhu Zhuqing looked at the five creatures curiously.
"How strange."
She still couldn't bring herself to think of them as spirit beasts. Their existence was simply too different from anything she had encountered on the Douluo Continent.
Lev couldn't help but laugh.
He could understand why Zhu Zhuqing would think that way.
As someone who had grown up on the Douluo Continent, she naturally regarded any extraordinary non-human creature as a spirit beast.
With that in mind, Lev began explaining the general concept of Pokémon to her, hoping that it would help her better understand the existence of different creatures and species across other worlds.
Half an hour later, both Zhu Zhuqing and Tsunade had sparkling eyes.
"Is there really such a world?"
Their voices were filled with surprised.
"Yes."
Lev smiled.
"And there are worlds that are even more interesting than that."
As he spoke, Lev continued petting the Elemental Spirits.
Despite knowing the power they possessed, he couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by their cuteness.
Seeing them in person was completely different from looking at illustrations on Earth.
They were simply much cuter in real life.
After that, Lev, Tsunade, and Zhu Zhuqing continued spending time together as they talked about the various worlds Lev knew about.
Meanwhile, the five Elemental Spirits happily played around the area, occasionally returning to Lev whenever they wanted attention.
The five goblins, on the other hand, were completely left unattended.
They wandered around the unfamiliar territory on their own, curiously exploring their new surroundings and trying to figure out exactly where they had ended up.
**********
—Two days later—
Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well,
It had already been two days since Lev, Tsunade, and Zhu Zhuqing had settled in Dugu Bo's territory.
Having nothing else to do, they had already explored nearly every corner of the area just to keep themselves occupied.
This time, however, something different was happening.
Zhu Zhuqing sat cross-legged on the ground with her hands resting over her abdomen, quietly absorbing the medicinal effects of the herb she had consumed.
"Just what kind of herb is that, Master?" Tsunade, who was sitting beside Zhu Zhuqing, curiously asked. "How come Zhuqing is still like that even after several minutes?"
The two had been having a normal conversation earlier, but their discussion had shifted when Lev brought up the medicinal herbs growing throughout the area.
"Hmm. That's called Daffodil Jade Flesh Bone."
Lev gently caressed Tsunade's head as he explained.
"Its main function is to strengthen and soften the muscles, repair the bones, and clear the eight extraordinary meridians. Consuming it will greatly improve Zhuqing's physical foundation and help her become stronger."
It was only now that Lev remembered that Dugu Bo's medicinal garden contained many of the precious herbs he had been looking for.
Since they were already here, there was no reason for him to let such treasures go to waste.
He had immediately chosen one suitable for Zhu Zhuqing.
As they waited for her cultivation to stabilize, Lev suddenly sensed two familiar presences approaching from outside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
He quietly turned his head in their direction.
After waiting for a moment and recognizing one of the spirit signatures, Lev smiled.
Not long afterward, two figures appeared at the edge of the medicinal garden.
"Young Master, Dugu Bo has returned."
The person who had just arrived was none other than Dugu Bo.
Beside him stood another familiar figure.
Dugu Bo respectfully bowed before his gaze shifted toward Zhu Zhuqing, who was still meditating.
"Mmm."
Lev nodded before looking toward the person beside Dugu Bo.
Just as he had promised Dugu Yan before, they had indeed met again.
"Yan, greet the Young Master immediately."
Dugu Bo looked toward his granddaughter.
Seeing that Dugu Yan was still standing there in slight surprise, he immediately reprimanded her.
After all, Lev was the person who would be saving her from the poison that had plagued their bloodline for generations.
"Lev, it's nice to see you again."
Dugu Yan quickly snapped out of her daze.
She calmed herself before greeting Lev with an excited smile.
She never expected to see him again so soon.
In fact, ever since they had parted ways at the Great Spirit Arena, she had felt strangely unmotivated.
Seeing him again immediately lifted her spirits.
"Yan, what are you saying?! You should call him Young Master!"
Dugu Bo reprimanded her after hearing how casually she had addressed Lev.
He then glanced at Lev, ready to apologize for his granddaughter's behavior.
"It's fine, Senior Dugu."
Lev interrupted him with a smile.
"I haven't told you this before, but Yan Yan and I actually met again back in Suotuo City."
Dugu Bo froze.
"What?"
This was the first time he had heard about it.
He immediately turned toward his granddaughter in disbelief, wondering why she hadn't mentioned such an important detail during their journey.
Lev simply smiled at the grandfather-granddaughter pair.
Now that he was seeing them together, he could clearly see the resemblance between the two.
"To stay true to my word..."
Lev took out one of the remaining vials of Angel's Tears.
"...this belongs to you now."
He handed the vial to Dugu Bo.
Since they were now on the same side, Lev had already decided to help both of them.
He wasn't planning on saving only Dugu Yan.
Having another Titled Douluo on his side would also be extremely beneficial for his future plans.
"Drink this."
Lev then turned toward Dugu Yan and took out another medicinal herb from his inventory.
"And consume this as well. I guarantee that it will greatly improve your strength."
He handed the herb to her.
With both Dugu Yan and Zhu Zhuqing undergoing their respective transformations, Lev was confident that they would become completely different people once they finished cultivating.
"Thank you, Young Master."
Dugu Bo immediately expressed his gratitude.
Seeing that his granddaughter would soon be freed from the shackles of their cursed bloodline, he felt as though the greatest burden of his life was finally being lifted.
However, he still wouldn't allow himself to rest.
He had to repay Lev for everything he had done for him and Yan Yan.
Lev then explained to Dugu Yan how she should consume the medicinal herb, while Dugu Bo added his own advice based on his knowledge of medicinal herbs and cultivation.
After making all the necessary preparations, Dugu Yan sat down and entered meditation, following the instructions given by both Lev and her grandfather.
"Senior Dugu, I'd like to discuss something with you while we're waiting."
Lev looked at Dugu Bo seriously.
Now that everyone was settled, it was finally time to discuss his plans for the coming years.
Dugu Bo nodded.
"Of course, Young Master."
With that, Lev and Dugu Bo left the area together, leaving Tsunade and the summoned creatures behind to watch over Zhu Zhuqing and Dugu Yan while they cultivated.
*****
Hot Spring,
Taking a dip in the hot spring, Lev and Dugu Bo felt a sense of bliss as they finally had some time to relax. For a while, the two completely forgot about everything else, simply enjoying the tranquility of the place.
However, after some time, Lev finally brought up the matters he wanted to discuss.
"Senior Dugu, I will be leaving this place soon, and I don't know when I will return. So, I plan on leaving Zhu Zhuqing in your care while I'm gone. If you still don't know, she's actually part of the Star Luo Empire's royal family," Lev said with a smile as he looked at Dugu Bo. He knew that Dugu Bo was unaware of this, mainly because the old man had never shown much interest in such matters.
"Also, I would like you to take care of them as well."
As soon as Lev finished speaking, he summoned the five goblins, causing Dugu Bo to widen his eyes in surprise.
Lev couldn't help but feel a little guilty when he thought about them. He hadn't taken the goblins outside even once during the past two days. After all, their appearance was simply too ugly for him to look at for long.
Still, they were his summons, and he would never abandon them merely because of their appearance. If anything, he wanted them to become stronger.
"Take this as well."
Lev wasn't finished yet. He took out a spatial ring from his inventory and casually tossed it toward Dugu Bo.
"Inside that spatial ring are treasures I've accumulated so far. You can do whatever you want with them. Give the appropriate ones to Zhu Zhuqing and Dugu Yan while I'm away. There should also be some things inside that might be useful to you."
Dugu Bo carefully listened to every word, not wanting to miss anything. Although he was curious about the sudden appearance of the five goblins, he wisely decided not to question Lev about them.
However, when he examined the contents of the spatial ring, his eyes immediately widened.
Inside were numerous treasures, including several soul bones of different ages.
Even Dugu Bo, who had lived for many years and possessed considerable knowledge of the cultivation world, couldn't help but feel shocked by the sheer amount of resources Lev had casually entrusted to him.
"Young Master, these..."
Dugu Bo looked at Lev with complicated emotions.
He could clearly understand the significance of what Lev had just given him. These treasures alone were enough to make countless powerful soul masters fight desperately over them.
Yet Lev had handed them over without the slightest hesitation.
"Just make good use of them," Lev said casually.
Dugu Bo nodded solemnly.
"Yes, Young Master. I will."
With that, Lev and Dugu Bo continued their serious conversation in the hot spring.
Lev began explaining his plans for the future, including what he intended to do after leaving this place and the direction he planned to take once he returned.
Dugu Bo listened carefully while occasionally offering his own opinions and information. The two exchanged ideas throughout their conversation, gradually forming a clearer picture of the path Lev intended to follow.
Although their plans were still subject to change, they had at least established a general direction for the years ahead.
**********
—Night—
Inside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, a small gathering could be found sitting around a table and enjoying a meal together. The group consisted of humans and various creatures, yet despite their differences, the atmosphere was surprisingly harmonious. Smiles could be seen on everyone's faces as they enjoyed the food laid out before them.
Dugu Bo was absent, however, as he had an urgent matter to attend to. Because of this, Lev decided that it was finally time to reveal his secrets to Dugu Yan, especially regarding his true identity and the existence of his summons, including Tsunade and the others.
"Right, I completely forgot about something."
Lev suddenly spoke as he remembered something. He looked toward Zhu Zhuqing and Dugu Yan before immediately summoning two more of his summons.
A flash of light appeared, and two strange creatures suddenly materialized beside them.
Zhu Zhuqing and Dugu Yan immediately looked at them with curiosity and surprise.
"Zhuqing, Yan'er, these two are also my summons. Their names are Matatabi and Saiken. They came from the same world as Tsunade."
Lev pointed toward the two young Tailed Beasts.
Since Matatabi and Saiken had spent most of their time inside the summoning space, their growth had barely progressed. However, that was about to change. Lev had already made plans for not only the two of them but also his other summons.
"From now on, they will become your companions. Zhuqing, Matatabi will accompany you, while Saiken will go with Dugu Yan. The two of them compliment you quite well, so take good care of them on my behalf."
Lev then instructed the two Tailed Beasts to approach their respective new masters.
Zhu Zhuqing and Dugu Yan were initially surprised, but their expressions soon softened when Matatabi and Saiken greeted them.
What surprised them even more was the fact that the two beasts could actually speak.
After getting over their initial shock, the two girls quickly began interacting with their new companions, and before long, they were already getting along surprisingly well.
"Zhuqing, Yan'er, those two were among the strongest beasts in my world," Tsunade suddenly reminded them as she looked at Matatabi and Saiken. "They may look young now, but once they mature and become stronger, their power will be enough to destroy an entire nation. So don't hold them back."
Hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing and Dugu Yan couldn't help but gulp.
They looked at the two adorable creatures beside them with completely different expressions.
Although they didn't know much about Tsunade's world, they knew that she wouldn't lie about something like this. More importantly, Lev didn't show any intention of correcting her words, which only confirmed that Tsunade was telling the truth.
The thought that the cute creatures they were now taking care of could one day possess enough power to destroy a nation was simply difficult to comprehend.
Nevertheless, they soon relaxed and continued interacting with their new companions.
With that, Lev, Tsunade, Zhu Zhuqing, Dugu Yan, and the summoned creatures continued enjoying the meal Lev had prepared to their heart's content.
Throughout the night, the girls found time to talk and learn more about one another, gradually becoming more familiar with each other's personalities and experiences.
Meanwhile, Lev and Tsunade started drinking together while enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.
For once, there was no fighting, no schemes, and no enemies chasing after them.
With smiles on their faces, everyone eventually retired for the night and peacefully fell asleep.
*****
Spirit City,
Inside the Supreme Pontiff Palace, a beautiful woman with fair skin and a flawless complexion sat comfortably upon her throne. An air of noble radiance surrounded her, further accentuated by her black, gilt-lined luxurious robes.
A nine-tipped purple-gold crown rested atop her head, while a scepter more than two meters long, adorned with countless precious gemstones, rested in her hand.
"I heard that Renxue's plan was discovered."
The woman calmly spoke as she looked at the two Titled Douluos standing respectfully before her. She already knew their identities and positions, as both of them were firmly under her control.
"Yes, Supreme Pontiff."
The two Titled Douluos immediately lowered their heads and answered respectfully.
"Hmmm. Then tell me what happened."
The woman calmly ordered.
With that, the two Titled Douluos began explaining everything that had happened in Heaven Dou City in detail.
They told her about Qian Renxue's exposed identity, Lev's involvement, the confrontation in the restaurant, and how Lev had managed to escape despite being surrounded by several Titled Douluos.
An hour later, after hearing the entire story, the two Titled Douluos were dismissed and immediately withdrew from the palace, leaving the woman alone with her thoughts.
'This failure will greatly reduce our chances of completely unifying the mainland. Heaven Dou Empire will undoubtedly take precautions now that Renxue's identity has been exposed.'
The woman frowned slightly as she carefully considered the situation.
'If Heaven Dou Empire manages to establish an alliance with the Star Luo Empire, things will become even more troublesome. We need to accelerate our plans before that happens.'
After making her decision, the woman calmly waved her hand.
Two mysterious figures suddenly appeared in the palace and immediately knelt before her.
"Find this young man for me."
The woman ordered as she calmly looked ahead.
"As you wish, Supreme Pontiff."
The two figures respectfully responded before disappearing from the palace without another word.
The woman remained seated on her throne for a moment, her beautiful eyes narrowing slightly as she recalled the information she had just received.
"Lev, huh?"
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"Interesting."
The woman possessing such immense authority that even Titled Douluos respected and feared was none other than the Supreme Pontiff of the Spirit Hall—
Bibi Dong.
**********
—The next morning—
On the outskirts of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Lev could be found standing together with Dugu Bo, quietly talking to each other. As he had already decided, Lev would be leaving this place and heading toward his next destination.
"Senior Dugu, I'll leave all the explanations to you when they wake up," Lev said as he looked at Dugu Bo.
He had deliberately chosen to leave without saying goodbye to Zhu Zhuqing and Dugu Yan. He knew himself well enough to understand that if they insisted on following him, especially Zhu Zhuqing, he might find it difficult to refuse.
However, the place he was heading toward was far too dangerous, and he wasn't willing to risk Zhu Zhuqing's safety by bringing her along. Leaving her under Dugu Bo's protection was undoubtedly the safer choice.
"There's no need to worry, Young Master," Dugu Bo replied confidently. He had already been informed of everything he needed to do while Lev was away.
Although Dugu Bo had also felt the urge to accompany Lev, he understood that his presence might only hinder the young man's growth. Therefore, he decided to remain behind and focus on carrying out Lev's instructions.
"Then, let's meet again when the time is right."
Lev paused before remembering something.
"Right. Take this."
With a faint smile, Lev handed something to Dugu Bo.
After taking one last look at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Lev finally bade his farewell.
In the next instant, his figure disappeared without a trace, leaving Dugu Bo alone in the area.
"I wish you good luck, Young Master."
Dugu Bo bowed slightly in the direction Lev had disappeared before looking down at the object in his hand.
His eyes immediately widened in disbelief.
Inside his palm was a familiar vial containing a golden liquid.
Angel's Tears.
Dugu Bo's expression changed completely.
He immediately turned his head toward the direction Lev had departed, intending to express his gratitude.
However, it was already too late.
There was not even a trace of Lev's presence left behind.
Dugu Bo could only stare into the distance while tightly holding the precious vial in his hand.
"Young Master..."
He murmured softly before carefully putting away the Angel's Tears.
For the first time in many years, Dugu Bo felt that perhaps the fate of both himself and his granddaughter had truly begun to change.