Ten days later, as the sunset's golden glow burned the horizon red, two dusty figures—an old man and a child—finally appeared on the horizon. The Grand Elder had a ruddy complexion, dressed in blue robes, looking like an immortal with white hair and a youthful face. But the child behind him had cheeks reddened by the mountain winds, with stray hairs stuck to his sweat-dampened forehead.
But the child's gaze was fixed on the gradually clarifying town ahead. The town nestled at the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest, with low wooden houses scattered about, wisps of smoke rising slowly from chimneys, like a warm invitation to the traveling pair, unconsciously lightening his originally heavy steps.
"Whew—, finally here. Heaven knows how I got through these past two days."
Chen Yi let out a long breath. According to the Grand Elder's speed, they should have arrived two days ago, but in the previous city, the old rascal insisted on properly training Chen Yi's perseverance, leaving him alone there and just watching as Chen Yi ran to the town. During that time, aside from food, Chen Yi was treated like a complete stranger.
The Grand Elder flashed to Chen Yi's side, a bright smile on his face: "Not bad, not bad, has my style from back then. Looks like we can move to the next item."
Looking at this disrespectful old rascal, Chen Yi rolled his eyes irritably. How had he not noticed the old man's... personality before?
"Why not go straight in? We still have food with us; no need to resupply."
Hearing Chen Yi's confusion, the Grand Elder just chuckled, pointing toward the town with anticipation in his eyes:
"No, no, kid, we'll be in the Star Dou Great Forest for at least seven days next. Naturally, we should eat something good on this last night."
"Besides, many dishes here are local specialties; you can't get this good stuff outside!"
Chen Yi's mouth twitched. So the so-called resupply was for eating!
The next moment, Chen Yi's face also showed anticipation. Something the Grand Elder was so fixated on must be good; he had to try it.
"Hehe, let's go, let's go. Today, us grandpa and grandson will have a good meal. The Yun Tian Mountains are all wild game; this old man's long tired of it."
With that, he pulled him toward the town.
The two wove through the crowd; the Grand Elder ignored the surrounding noise and headed straight to a small tavern.
"Fourth Grandpa, no signboard even—this place legitimate?"
"Hah, in this day and age, who comes for legitimate?"
Saying that, the two picked a spot with an excellent view, and a waiter came over.
"What would the two guests like? Our shop just got a batch of top-quality five-colored brocade chickens; the flavor is incredibly fresh!"
The Grand Elder waved dismissively. "Don't try to fool me with this junk. Bring all the popular small dishes from these days; money's no issue."
The waiter was stunned, his expression turning more serious, then respectfully said, "Right away."
Chen Yi looked oddly at the Grand Elder: This is your so-called illegitimate tavern?
The Grand Elder explained casually: "Kid, don't judge this unassuming shop. It's actually opened by some mercenaries who roamed the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest for years and retired. On the surface, it's a restaurant, but really, they sell soul beast information. The soul rings you picked are too rare; if we search slowly, we'd be in the Star Dou Great Forest for a month."
Chen Yi nodded thoughtfully. So these were intelligence dealers. Soul beasts usually had specific habitat requirements, plus strong territorial instincts; even if discovered by humans, most wouldn't migrate.
"So, we're here to buy information?"
"Pretty much," the Grand Elder said casually. "One of the founders is your Tenth Aunt Grandma. The sect has some ties with them over the years, so they're willing to help with small favors. Plus, the small dishes here are indeed good."
"Tenth Aunt Grandma?!"
Chen Yi nodded slightly after hearing. The Body Sect focused on body martial souls, but non-body martial soul soul masters were also cultivated, usually to Soul Ancestor level in the sect or sent to external soul master academies as peripheral forces. This Tenth Aunt Grandma seemed to be one of them.
But he hadn't seen this Tenth Aunt Grandma in these years.
Seeming to see Chen Yi's confusion, the Grand Elder smiled faintly: "If peripheral disciples find a home outside, the sect won't stop them, but they must swear on their martial soul not to leak sect secrets."
At that moment, a middle-aged man came over with several small dishes, set them down, and bowed slightly to the Grand Elder:
"Li Yu greets Fourth Uncle!"
Looking at the middle-aged man and glancing at his slightly frosted temples, the Grand Elder sighed: "Just five years unseen, and even you've aged."
Li Yu didn't comment, looking at the Grand Elder and saying, "Fourth Uncle looks younger than ever; your vitality is incomparable to before. I suppose you've taken that step."
"Just got some opportunities," the Grand Elder didn't dwell, changing the subject: "Your kid should be starting soul master academy this year, right?"
Hearing this, Li Yu's smile brightened; clearly, his son was his pride.
"Little Kai reached level 20 before turning 12 recently and was admitted to Oakland Advanced Soul Master Academy."
"Oakland Academy, not bad. A 12-year-old Great Soul Master; Soul Emperor is achievable, Soul Sage possible." The Grand Elder stroked his beard.
"Hehehe," Hearing the Grand Elder, Li Yu showed a childlike smile. Though others had said the same, how could they compare to a Titled Douluo? Glancing aside, he finally noticed Chen Yi and asked the Grand Elder:
"Uncle, this child is?"
Chen Yi stood and replied, "Nephew Chen Yi, son of Chen Zhen, greets Uncle."
"So it's Second Brother Zhen's son. Six years ago, Changyou mentioned Second Brother Zhen had a precious son; didn't expect him to grow so big in a blink." Li Yu's face showed nostalgia. Back when they faced hardship, they relied on his mother's legacy to ask the Body Sect for protection, and it was Chen Zhen and others who came. Seeing the son of an old acquaintance now, he couldn't help but sigh at the changes of the world.
"Since you're at Uncle's place, treat it like home. I don't have much good stuff, but wild game is plenty."
The Grand Elder didn't hold back, picking up a mushroom slice while saying, "If these mountain delicacies aren't good, what is? Even the royal family can't eat this every meal. Xiao Yi, try it too. Mmm, that's the taste!"
"Hahaha, as long as you like it," Li Yu was pleased seeing the Grand Elder enjoy it and Chen Yi giving rave reviews, then looked at the Grand Elder and asked:
"You're here for Xiao Yi's soul ring? Is Xiao Yi innate full soul power?"
The Grand Elder looked at Chen Yi, who was devouring food, with gratification: "Correct."
Those casual words made Li Yu suck in a cold breath, his gaze toward Chen Yi heating up. Innate full soul power, barring midway death, guaranteed Titled Douluo; even Super Douluo had decent odds. With Chen Yi's innate talent and the Body Sect's protection, he was already booked for the continent's peak powerhouse ranks.
Though his mother hadn't leaked much Body Sect info back then, from years of contact, he knew it was a behemoth no weaker than the Upper Three Sects.
Suddenly, an old man appeared in the shop with a little girl, immediately drawing the two's attention.
PS: First heroine's appearance?