After finishing his cultivation, Yu Yan's spirit power had reached 32 % of rank 13; one more full-moon night and he could Breakthrough to rank 14.
Even with mental preparation, Yu Yan was shocked by how fast he was improving.
His speed rivaled the normal Genius Zhang Lexuan from ten millennia later in Douluo 2, though he still lagged behind the cheat-laden Huo Yuhao.
Zhang Lexuan—the ceiling of ordinary Geniuses in Douluo 2—possessed Innate Full Spirit Power at six and became a Spirit Douluo at twenty, averaging five ranks a year; in the early stages she might even gain ten-plus ranks annually.
A Companion Spirit that surpassed the era, a cultivation speed that surpassed the era—Yu Yan puffed up, already fantasizing about pummeling Tang San and venting his grievances.
Huo Yuhao was even more outrageous, but the man was loaded with hacks and endless opportunities; Yu Yan would never compare himself with the son of the plane.
Not long after Yu Yan finished cultivating, Xiao Wu also stopped.
Seeing her finish, Yu Yan asked, "How was it? Can you absorb purple qi and the Essence of Sun and Moon?"
"No, I can't sense the purple qi at all. I can absorb the Essence of Sun and Moon, but pure moon essence works better."
Xiao Wu truthfully described her results with purple qi and the Essence of Sun and Moon.
"Looks like you resonate more with moon essence. On future full-moon nights I'll channel more of it to you and skip sharing the Essence of Sun and Moon."
Her situation was within Yu Yan's expectations; he wasn't surprised and laid out the plan for future full-moon nights.
"If you give me more moon essence, will it slow your own progress?"
Xiao Wu was grateful but voiced her concern.
She didn't want to hinder him for her sake.
"The Essence of Sun and Moon benefits me most, followed by purple qi and moon essence. Overall the impact is minor. Besides, we're close; your growth helps us both—helping you is helping me."
Yu Yan explained the logic; it was the best choice after weighing everything.
"Fair enough. Since you put it that way, I'll gladly enjoy the moon essence you send me."
When she said it, her smile was unmistakable; besides her family, Yu Yan was the first to care for her so much.
"Don't act too smug. Since you can absorb moon essence, work on sensing it yourself. Once you can absorb it alone, that'll be perfect."
"I'll do my best." After her sweet reply she changed tack: "By the way, how do you even sense purple qi and moon essence?"
Having tasted moon essence's wonders, Xiao Wu was intensely curious how Yu Yan could sense the two energies.
"Maybe because I'm… special?"
It was the best answer he could give; any deeper and he couldn't explain.
Relative to this World, he was indeed special—everything happening to him could be summed up with that.
"Special? You really are different from everyone else."
Hearing that, Xiao Wu immediately thought of his extremely unusual Spirit, unlike anyone else's.
The thought doubled her joy again.
That uniqueness made Xiao Wu—who was already special compared to humans—feel a kinship.
"Everyone in the World is different; every person is unique."
"Yu Yan, don't say weird things at a time like this!"
"I'm just telling you: everyone is different; everyone is special."
"You infuriating Yu Yan, you—"
"You infuriating Xiao Wu, you—"
Amid their usual banter, the two set off toward Vast Sea City… Four days later, the pair on foot arrived near the coastal Vast Sea City.
"So this is the sea? It's magnificent!"
From a rise outside the city, Xiao Wu gazed at the endless ocean, visibly thrilled.
The boundless water merged with the sky; sunlight sprinkled across the blue surface, forming shimmering scales… "Yes, truly spectacular."
It was Yu Yan's first time seeing the ocean, and he too was awed.
The sea was nothing like rivers or lakes he'd seen; only witnessing it conveyed the feeling.
They stood there until the view lost its novelty, then headed into Vast Sea City.
Vast Sea City, a city born from the sea, the largest coastal city in the western Heaven Dou Empire—over eighty percent of its affairs tied to the ocean.
Entering, Yu Yan caught a faint salty scent carried by the ocean breeze.
Walking the streets, he spotted many marine creatures rarely seen inland.
The king crabs exorbitantly priced in Balak City were over three times cheaper here, and the pearls were big, round, and inexpensive.
Coastal fruits were also very affordable.
While enjoying the sights, they asked where to find high-quality, aged Whale Dragon.
When Yu Yan learned of a source and the informant glanced at him and Xiao Wu, an odd, subtle expression appeared.
Xiao Wu, hearing him inquire about Whale Dragon, also looked strange; well-read, she knew exactly what it was used for.
Flustered by the stares, Yu Yan thanked the man and quickly pulled Xiao Wu away.
"Um, the thing I said would benefit us in Vast Sea City is Whale Dragon. You'll understand when you see it. I'm buying it absolutely not for that reason—and I don't need it."
"The more I explain, the worse it sounds. Anyway, you'll see."
After running off, Yu Yan tried to clarify.
"Oh~~?"
Xiao Wu knew his purchase wasn't for that, but she couldn't resist teasing him.
At her drawn-out "oh", Yu Yan, black-lined, tapped her head and dragged her toward the Whale Dragon vendor.
He hadn't told her precisely because he foresaw this reaction.
She hadn't been like this when they first met; had she picked up his bad habits? No way…
Recalling how he often teased her, Yu Yan's mental "No way" suddenly lacked conviction.