Chapter 58: The Troubles of Fame
Zhu Zhuqing's talent, while exceptional among ordinary people, still paled in comparison to true prodigies, let alone those with the potential to become gods.
Therefore, if she was to be properly trained, the first step had to be fundamentally altering her innate talent.
The simplest method was immortal herbs.
In the original story, it was precisely because she consumed an immortal herb that she was able to break through her natural limitations and eventually become a Title Douluo. Later, she even managed to secure a god position through her connection with Tang San.
But in Ye Cheng's eyes, that method alone wasn't enough. Her martial soul's foundation was too weak even with immortal herbs, it wouldn't bring a fundamental transformation. At best, the herbs would compensate for her flaws, elevating her to the level of an ordinary top tier martial soul.
The only way to truly maximize the power of immortal herbs was to first transform the essence of her weak Netherworld Civet martial soul. Only then would the full medicinal potential of the herbs be unleashed, paving the way for greater achievements!
After all, he was Ye Cheng. How could he allow his disciple to be anything less than god king material?
And as for how to transform Zhu Zhuqing's martial soul, Ye Cheng had already provided a blatant hint while fabricating the future videos.
The key to everything lay in a very special soul beast.
Now, Ye Cheng was taking Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong to hunt this beast.
Their destination Star Dou Forest!
…
In the courtyard, Ye Cheng flicked his sleeve, and an intense white sword aura surged forth, coalescing into a gigantic solid sword!
This enormous sword, made entirely of condensed sword energy, was about eighteen meters long and three to four meters wide large enough for more than twenty people to stand on without feeling cramped.
"Get on."
Ye Cheng leaped onto the flying sword first and then controlled it to descend slightly, making it easier for the two girls to step aboard.
"Wow, Brother, this is way cooler than Sword Grandpa's flying sword technique!" Ning Rongrong excitedly pulled Zhu Zhuqing onto the sword. It felt as steady as solid ground. She even jumped a little and found that compared to Sword Douluo's sword, this one was not only bigger but also incredibly stable.
Sword Douluo, as a renowned master of the sword martial soul, possessed a soul skill called Sword Flight, which allowed him to enlarge his martial soul into a flying platform. As the treasured princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Rongrong had experienced it many times.
But after this comparison, she realized that Ye Cheng's flying sword wasn't just bigger it was also far more stable. Unlike Sword Douluo's flight, which was shaky and gave the feeling of almost falling off, this was rock solid.
"Hold on tight."
Ye Cheng smirked, then focused his mind. A barrier of soul power immediately formed around the flying sword, enveloping it completely in a protective layer. The sword then gently lifted off the ground…
As the landscape below shrank, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing curiously moved toward the edge, only to feel an invisible wall blocking them. They reached out and touched it, confirming that it was a protective barrier preventing them from falling.
The massive flying sword soared higher and higher, soon reaching 10,000 meters in altitude.
Standing at the edge, the two girls looked down, watching as the world below shrank to the size of tiny ants. Thanks to the protective soul power barrier, they didn't feel the harsh winds of high altitudes, allowing them to enjoy the breathtaking view with zero fear.
"Here we go~!"
With a mental command, Ye Cheng accelerated the sword, launching it forward in a streak of white light!
The massive flying sword glided through the sky, occasionally cutting through clouds, leaving behind a trail of clear openings. Whenever a thick cloud blocked their view, Ye Cheng simply waved his hand, unleashing a slash of sword aura to cut a clean path through the sky.
From the ground, many people looked up in shock as they saw a perfectly straight gap appear in the clouds as if the sky itself had been sliced open like a piece of fabric.
Star Dou Forest was located in the southeastern region of the Balak Kingdom, with a small portion bordering the kingdom itself. Since Soto City was also in the southeast, it wasn't too far from the forest.
With Ye Cheng's sword flight, they would reach the destination in no time.
As for why he wasn't using spatial transfer to teleport directly to the forest
It was because his spatial technique required a pre marked location. Since he had never been to Star Dou Forest before, he had no spatial marker there and couldn't teleport.
Thus, the only option was to fly there manually.
After some time in the air, Star Dou Forest finally appeared in the distance.
However, Ye Cheng glanced at the sky and noticed that nightfall was approaching. Given that they had departed in haste, they hadn't brought any survival supplies for the forest.
He decided to stop and rest for the night in a nearby small town.
This would allow them to purchase necessary supplies before heading into the forest at dawn.
Choosing a secluded area, Ye Cheng brought the sword down to land. Since the location was remote, no one witnessed the three of them descending from the sky.
The moment they touched the ground, the massive flying sword dispersed into sword energy and vanished.
Yet, both Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing looked disappointed clearly unwilling to end the exhilarating experience.
Flying above the clouds, witnessing the vast sky and the rolling sea of clouds, was an unforgettable sight for them. They couldn't get enough of it.
"It's getting late."
"We'll find an inn for the night and pick up some supplies for tomorrow," Ye Cheng said.
Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing nodded in agreement without hesitation.
The three of them walked toward the small town, Ye Cheng leading while the girls followed closely behind.
As they walked, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing suddenly noticed that Ye Cheng's face was changing. A layer of mist covered his features, and when it cleared, his once strikingly handsome face had become completely ordinary.
"Eh? Brother, why did you change your face?" Ning Rongrong asked curiously. Zhu Zhuqing, though equally puzzled, wasn't surprised she knew there were countless soul skills and artifacts capable of disguises.
"Sigh… Thanks to that mysterious Q&A, my face is now widely recognized across the continent. Everywhere I go, people look at me like I'm a disguised emperor, treating me with fear and reverence. Even shopkeepers refuse to take my money…"
Ye Cheng shook his head helplessly. "Being too famous is a real hassle."
Once everyone knew who you were and what you looked like, your movements were no longer private. Everywhere you went, people would report your location, and those with ulterior motives would always keep tabs on you.
More than anything, Ye Cheng found it suffocating like being a monkey in a zoo, constantly watched by the crowd, with zero privacy.
That's why, whenever he traveled, he used his Dream Mirage Illusion to mask his appearance, avoiding unwanted attention.
"I see…"
Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing finally understood.
This was the trouble of being famous.
(End of chapter)
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