"Finally, we're back!"
After traversing countless mountains and rivers, they had at last returned to the imperial capital of Heaven Dou.
Standing before the gates of the Dugu Estate, and thinking back to the long year of hardships—from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well to the Star Dou Great Forest—Ye Yu couldn't help but feel a wave of emotion.
Although he had suffered through quite a bit...
In the end, it had all been worth it. His body had undergone a complete transformation.
"Time for a proper bath, then a good long sleep!"
After returning to the estate with Dugu Bo, Ye Yu first took a relaxing bath and then fell into a deep sleep.
They had returned around noon—
And Ye Yu didn't wake up until the evening.
Meanwhile, at Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, after finishing her training at the Martial Soul Simulation Training Grounds and reading in the library with her best friend Ye Lingling, Dugu Yan finally returned home.
Upon arriving back at the estate—
She discovered that her grandfather, Dugu Bo, had come back. Her exquisite and heroic face immediately lit up with excitement and joy.
"Grandpa! You're back!"
"Yan Yan, it's been months—did you miss your grandpa?"
Dugu Bo gently stroked his snowy white beard with one hand while keeping the other behind his back, a mischievous smile on his strange-looking face.
He thought his granddaughter would be so overjoyed that she'd throw herself into his arms.
But in the next second, Dugu Yan asked excitedly—
"Grandpa, before you left, you said you were taking Ah Yu to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt spirit rings."
"Is Ah Yu back too?!"
Dugu Bo: "..."
The moment Dugu Yan said that, Dugu Bo's old face collapsed. His expression darkened.
She really got a boyfriend and forgot her grandpa!
Fuming inside, Dugu Bo let out a sigh, then replied—
"Xiao Yu is back too—he's resting in the side room."
No sooner had she heard this than Dugu Yan spun on her heel and dashed toward Ye Yu's room.
"Ah Yu!"
The moment she pushed open the door—
She saw the familiar figure she had longed for day and night, sleeping peacefully on the bed.
Overcome with emotion, Dugu Yan's beautiful eyes turned red as she cried out, overwhelmed by feelings that had built up for so long.
At that moment, Ye Yu, who had been sleeping, was startled awake.
Due to the survival instincts developed during the hunt for spirit beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest, he instinctively sat up sharply as soon as he opened his eyes.
Turning toward the source of the voice—
A fragrant breeze blew past as a violet figure threw herself into his arms.
"Ah Yu, you're finally back! I missed you so much!"
Feeling the soft body in his embrace and hearing that familiar voice choked with emotion, Ye Yu couldn't help but feel a deep warmth and love surge through him. He held the woman in his arms even tighter.
Gently stroking her silky purple hair, he spoke softly—
"Silly girl, I'm back now, aren't I?"
"I didn't want to leave you either, Yan Yan. But to be able to protect you in the future, and to gain Grandpa's full approval..."
"I had to train hard, to seize every opportunity to grow stronger!"
"Everything I did was for our future happiness."
In that room—
The two of them clung to each other tenderly, pouring out all the emotions they had kept bottled up.
When Dugu Yan learned that Ye Yu had actually reached Rank 47, she was overjoyed beyond words.
"Ah Yu, you're already at Rank 47? That's amazing!"
"I knew it—you're the best!"
"Even if your martial soul is Blue Silver Grass with only innate Rank 1 spirit power, no one can stop you from becoming strong!"
"Once you return to the academy, let's see if anyone still dares to talk nonsense!"
As if something occurred to her, Dugu Yan clenched her delicate fists and waved them angrily.
"Yan Yan, what happened at the academy?"
Hearing her words, Ye Yu sensed that something had gone wrong at Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. He frowned and asked.
"Here's what happened..."
Dugu Yan sighed in frustration, then recounted everything that had happened while Ye Yu was away.
Turns out, after Ye Yu had taken leave to train his body in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, a new student had enrolled at the academy—placed directly into their second-year Class One in the Intermediate Division.
The new student was from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and none other than the grandson of the clan master Yu Yuanzhen. His name: Yu Tianheng.
Even in an elite academy like Heaven Dou Imperial, Yu Tianheng was considered one of the top-tier "tall, rich, and handsome" types.
And for some reason—
Yu Tianheng had taken a liking to her and began to pursue her fervently.
She had clearly told him she already had a boyfriend.
But Yu Tianheng refused to give up.
After learning about Ye Yu, he even insulted him, saying that a trash like Ye Yu—with a Blue Silver Grass martial soul and innate Rank 1 spirit power—was unworthy of Dugu Yan, even if his martial soul had undergone one mutation.
Even worse, many students and even teachers agreed with him.
People began crowding around her, urging her to break up with Ye Yu and be with Yu Tianheng.
It was unbearable—noisy, annoying, and completely infuriating!
"Ah Yu, once you show your true strength at the academy tomorrow, you've got to slap their faces hard!"
"Let's see if they dare to keep running their mouths!"
With arms crossed before her chest, Dugu Yan imagined the scene that would unfold the next day, and her valiant, beautiful face was filled with satisfaction and glee.
"Yu Tianheng, huh?"
So, while he had been training in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, a love rival had appeared?
Ye Yu's eyes narrowed slightly, and he snorted coldly in his heart.
Trying to steal Ye Yu's woman? Looks like you've got no idea who you're dealing with.
That said, while he had reached Rank 47 and entered the Soul Ancestor realm—
At only thirteen years old, that kind of power was too eye-catching.
A thirteen-year-old Soul Ancestor at Rank 47 would draw too much attention!
So Ye Yu decided that going forward, when using his Blue Silver Domain to disguise his spirit ring colors, he would also hide the number of rings.
He would conceal his fourth spirit ring—
And present himself as having only three rings: a Rank 31 Soul Elder.
He shared this plan with Dugu Yan—
And told her not to reveal his true level to outsiders, only say he was Rank 31.
"Mm, Ah Yu, you're right."
"A thirteen-year-old Soul Ancestor is just too conspicuous. It could easily lead to unnecessary trouble—or even assassination attempts!"
"But a thirteen-year-old Soul Elder? That's much safer!"
Hearing this, Dugu Yan wholeheartedly agreed.
The next morning—
Having completed his body transformation and successfully obtained new spirit rings—
Ye Yu no longer needed to be on leave. Together with Dugu Yan, he was ready to return to Heaven Dou Imperial Academy.
"Ye Yu!"
As they arrived at the Nine Heart Begonia Clan's estate to wait for Ye Lingling—
Ye Lingling spotted Ye Yu from afar. Her long, deep-blue hair flowed like a waterfall, and the eyes beneath her long bangs sparkled with excitement and surprise.
"Ye Yu, you already finished obtaining your spirit rings?"
She clenched her hands tightly and quickened her steps, her elegant and refined face unable to hide the longing she felt. Her normally cool voice carried a trace of joy.
"I've already finished. Lingling—guess what level I am now."
Ye Yu stood tall and straight, his black hair cascading over his shoulders. A faint smile graced his handsome face as he asked with a lighthearted tone.