Huge Thank You And Welcome To Our New Patron: MorningBlues!
New story! Please support by adding to your collection! Thank you :)
------------------------------------------------------
A few days later, Chen Junting and Ning Tian emerged from the outer fringes of the Great Star Dou Forest. At that moment, Elder Zhang Ming—who had been silently shadowing them—stepped forward and stood beside them.
At their feet lay two fallen Jade Scale Horses, trembling slightly.
Clearly, these soul beasts had been personally captured by Elder Zhang.
Chen Junting and Ning Tian looked at the shivering horses and couldn't help but feel a flicker of wry amusement. These poor creatures—barely ten years old in cultivation—had earned the dubious honor of being hunted down by a Title Douluo himself, plucked from a herd of thousands like prized trophies.
Meanwhile—
"Your trial is over," Zhang Ming said, giving the two weary travelers a slight nod of approval.
This soul-hunting expedition hadn't just been about securing Ning Tian's second soul ring—it had also served as the second formal assessment of Chen Junting's progress after two and a half years of training.
"I'll report everything to Elder Brother," Zhang Ming continued, his gaze settling on Chen Junting. His tone remained calm, matter-of-fact. "He'll adjust your next phase of training based on this."
"I understand," Chen Junting replied without hesitation.
After all, it was his own master. He wasn't about to steer him wrong.
"Then let's depart."
A flash of light from the storage-type soul-guided device at Zhang Ming's waist—and a magnificent soul-guided carriage materialized before them. One of the finest models crafted by Sun-Moon Empire soul engineers.
And pulling it? The very same two Jade Scale Horses, now hastily harnessed.
Once both Chen Junting and Ning Tian boarded, Chen Junting noticed Elder Zhang still standing outside. He moved to offer his seat—but Zhang Ming waved him off.
Instead, the elder strode to the front, tied the reins, and took the driver's seat. "We don't have a coachman, so I'll drive."
With a sharp crack of the whip, the soul-guided carriage rolled smoothly toward the Tian Hun Empire.
Under the steady hand of a Title Douluo, even these untrained Jade Scale Horses moved with uncanny grace. Combined with the carriage's built-in shock absorption, the ride was perfectly smooth—no jostling, no discomfort.
Once they crossed into Tian Hun territory, Ning Tian—who had been gazing out the window—suddenly turned, her eyes alight with quiet yearning.
"Are we heading straight back to the sect?"
Chen Junting, who had been meditating with eyes closed—mentally reviewing the shortcomings of his Star Dou Forest journey—slowly opened his eyes. He met Ning Tian's gaze head-on.
And in that moment, it struck him.
Since joining the sect, he'd rarely seen her truly relax.
She was always studying. Always training.
Leisure? For her, it was a luxury.
"Where would you like to go?" he asked softly, a trace of tenderness slipping into his voice.
"I want to go to Tian Dou City," she said, a rare spark of girlish excitement flashing in her eyes—like an eight-year-old dreaming of adventure. She quickly tempered it, adding, "It's an ancient imperial capital, tens of thousands of years old… and I've never seen it. Plus, there's a top-tier auction coming up in a few days."
Chen Junting nodded, then called out toward the front of the carriage.
"Elder Zhang—can we detour to Tian Dou City?"
Up front, Zhang Ming's hand on the reins paused for just a heartbeat. Without a word, he turned the carriage onto a new path.
Inside, the two exchanged a knowing smile.
…
Tian Dou City—the ancient metropolis that had stood for millennia—had served as the capital for two successive empires, bearing silent witness to the rise and fall of both the Tian Dou and Tian Hun Empires. Its walls, though sturdy, bore the weight of time; echoes of war and peace seemed etched into every stone. The streets were broad and orderly, as if the clamor of past glory still whispered through the air.
As the soul-guided carriage halted just inside the city gates, two figures stepped out and took in the historic city.
Timeless. That was the only word that fit.
"This is so different from Nine Treasures City!" Ning Tian said, hands clasped behind her back as she leaned playfully against Chen Junting's shoulder, tiptoeing to get a better view. "It feels like stepping into a museum of old relics!"
Her voice brimmed with childlike wonder.
"That's because Nine Treasures City is the exception," Chen Junting replied, having just bid farewell to Elder Zhang. He picked up where she left off. "Go ahead—Elder Zhang said he's heading to Nine Treasures Pavilion, so the rest of the day is yours." He gazed out over the cityscape, as if trying to drink in its entire history. "Let's explore this ancient capital together."
With that, he led Ning Tian into the bustling streets. She looped her arm through his, a gesture both natural and affectionate.
Stalls lined both sides of the avenues—selling everything from traditional handicrafts to modern fashion. For once, they set aside the burdens of cultivation and fatigue, weaving through the crowds, pausing to admire trinkets, sampling street snacks, laughing like ordinary children.
Now, Ning Tian's attention was caught by a vendor's display of jewelry. To the heir of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, these pieces were neither rare nor refined—but in this moment, she wasn't a sect princess. She was just a girl enjoying simple joy.
Her fingers traced over the baubles, feeling their texture, catching the light.
Chen Junting watched her, warmth blooming in his chest at the sight of her smile.
"Look at this hairpin," she said, picking up an ornate piece and trying it in the mirror. She turned suddenly. "Brother Junting—what do you think?"
Caught off guard—this was the first time a girl had ever asked him such a thing—Chen Junting's mind went blank. After a moment of frantic thought, he offered hesitantly, "Uh… it's beautiful. It really suits your…demeanor?"
"Mm!"
Ning Tian beamed, choosing to ignore the awkwardness in his praise. She set the hairpin down and picked up a delicate necklace instead. "This one's nice too."
This time, Chen Junting seemed to understand instinctively.
He stepped closer, gently took the necklace from her hands, and fastened it around her neck. He adjusted the chain with careful precision until it rested perfectly against her collarbone. Then he stepped back, taking in the sight.
"You look stunning."
The sincerity in his voice made her glow.
Without haggling, she placed five gold soul coins into the delighted vendor's palm and walked away wearing her new treasure.
The two of them—like golden boy and jade girl—drew admiring glances from passersby. He, with his flowing white hair and cool, refined features; she, golden-haired and radiant, her smile bright as sunlight, brimming with youthful vitality.
They strolled through the central plaza—until they stopped before a grand estate.
This was once the ancestral home of the Tang Sect.
But now…
"Ironblood Sect?"
Ning Tian frowned at the three bold characters on the plaque. She glanced around, confirming she hadn't taken a wrong turn, then looked to Chen Junting. "Brother Junting… wasn't this supposed to be the Tang Sect?"
She'd hoped to visit the legendary Tang Sect—the once-mighty order founded by Tang San, the Sea God himself. But instead, it had been replaced by some obscure "Ironblood Sect."
"You're not mistaken," Chen Junting said quietly, his eyes fixed on the sign.
'So the Tang Sect has already lost its legacy… That means Tang Ya must be at Shrek Academy now.'
"It seems the Tang Sect has fallen into decline."
"What a shame," Ning Tian murmured—but her tone held little real sorrow. After all, relations between the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and the Tang Sect had frayed beyond repair four thousand years ago, during the Holy War.
They let the matter drop, treating it as nothing more than a passing footnote in history. Hand in hand, they continued their wander through Tian Dou City—until nightfall draped the ancient capital in velvet darkness.
------------------------------------------------------
Double Chapters Chapters Ahead: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)