His gaze was sharp like an eagle, locking tightly onto Fang Ling.
There was clear suspicion in his tone.
"If you said you were a soul master, that would be one thing. But you're only born with level one innate soul power, how could you possibly reach Grand Soul Master at your age?"
His voice carried a trace of detachment and an undercurrent of danger.
Just like Zhu Zhuqing, he seemed to suspect Fang Ling was a fallen soul master.
Fang Ling sensed the shift in atmosphere. He let the suspicious stares wash over him and remained calm.
He smiled faintly and said in a composed voice, "It's entirely possible, just take part in life-and-death battles."
Then, he pulled out his silver-level Battle Soul Arena badge and handed it over.
"Senior, please take a look. This is my silver badge from life-and-death battles in the Great Battle Soul Arena."
"I know my innate talent isn't good, but I've developed some skill in combat."
"They say there is great terror between life and death, but that fear also pushes humans to tap into more of their potential."
"I don't believe that low-level innate power means I can't become a powerful soul master. So I chose to challenge myself in life-and-death combat, and I became a Grand Soul Master."
"Silver badge from life-and-death battles… How many matches have you fought?"
The black cat soul master examined the badge and was surprised to find it genuine.
The badges from the Great Battle Soul Arena are crafted with unique techniques and are extremely difficult to forge.
And sure enough, this was a rare silver badge awarded only for life-and-death battles. It even had Fang Ling's name engraved on it, just like the certificate from the Spirit Hall.
"Over thirty matches."
"Many were consecutive wins… Aren't you afraid of dying?"
Fang Ling's expression flickered slightly. Then he replied casually,
"Afraid? Of course I'm afraid."
"Some battles were truly close calls, I nearly died. But compared to death, I fear living in obscurity even more. I fear not being able to leave my mark on the brilliant world of soul masters!"
"Even knowing your talent is lacking? Even knowing human potential has limits?"
Zhu Zhuqing couldn't help but ask, her voice trembling slightly.
"I know my talent is lacking, but I believe there's no such thing as an impossible task, only people who give up."
Fang Ling clenched a fist over his chest.
It was as if all his passion and determination were being channeled into that one gesture.
His eyes shone like the rising sun, radiant and unwavering. That unwavering light pierced the cold air and struck straight into the softest part of everyone's hearts.
His voice was low but powerful. Every word rang clearly in the ears of the listeners and landed like a heavy hammer on their chests.
It stirred emotions and touched hearts.
In that moment, time seemed to freeze, and all was silent.
Everyone's gaze was unconsciously drawn to Fang Ling's brilliant eyes.
If he were just a soul master, these words would sound like a joke.
But after surviving so many deadly matches and still managing to advance to Grand Soul Master…
Even escaping pursuit by a two-thousand-year-old soul beast… this was proof enough.
"There's no such thing as an impossible task, only people who give up…"
Even as strangers, people would still feel genuine admiration for someone willing to risk death for a greater goal.
The members of the soul hunting team were moved. Zhu Zhuqing was no exception.
Why was it that someone like Fang Ling, who shared a martial soul fusion skill with her and had poor innate talent, was so determined, while Dai Mubai, blessed with outstanding talent, was so cowardly that he abandoned even his beautiful fiancée?
She felt a heavy bitterness in her heart, unsure what to say. All she could do was silently wish Fang Ling well.
The black cat Soul Saint, who had intended to recruit Fang Ling, quietly gave up the idea.
Pushing potential through life-or-death combat might work in the short term, but it wasn't sustainable.
The human body had limits. One misstep meant death.
Besides, people with unwavering will and single-minded focus like him were extremely hard to control.
Recruiting him wasn't worth the risk.
Still, they didn't let Fang Ling leave immediately.
Not because they wanted to harm him, but because they wanted him to join the soul hunt.
Aside from his injuries and broken martial soul, the Star Dou Great Forest was too dangerous.
More importantly, they didn't want the news of the royal fiancée joining the hunt to leak out.
Just like when Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo led a mission to hunt Xiao Wu and Tang San accidentally discovered them, they had the same concerns here.
If this secret soul hunt were exposed, and something went wrong, who would take responsibility?
Could a mighty Soul Saint not handle a mere level-20 soul master?
Three days later, the hunt ended. Fang Ling accompanied the group to the Star Luo Empire.
Nothing went wrong.
Everything Zhu Zhuqing worried about, Fang Ling had already thought of.
The secret was kept. Neither of them brought it up again. They acted as if the fusion skill incident had never happened.
There was no further communication between them. That brief encounter passed like a fleeting glimpse, unnoticed by the others.
Given his recent streak of bad luck, Fang Ling didn't want to risk running into another unmanageable thousand-year beast. He chose to leave the Star Dou Forest with the group, then take a detour through the Star Luo Empire back to Heaven Dou.
After all, luck couldn't always be on his side.
Even though he'd nearly been killed by a massive multi-legged dragon, he'd survived in the end, and even encountered Zhu Zhuqing, whose martial soul had resonated with his.
So maybe… he was lucky, after all?
Taking the safe route, Fang Ling traveled two to three days and circled hundreds of kilometers before returning to the small soul-hunting town.
He headed straight to the inn where he had stayed before.
There, he found his teacher still waiting, his face numb and emotionless. A wave of warmth flooded Fang Ling's heart.
He hurried over, waving his hand and shouting,
"Teacher, I'm back!"
"?"
Upon hearing that familiar voice, Lin Tianyang's heart trembled, and he shot up from his chair.
He stared wide-eyed, then broke into an indescribable grin and rushed forward to embrace Fang Ling tightly.
"I knew you brat wouldn't die so easily in the Star Dou Forest!"
He practically roared the words, pounding Fang Ling's back with joy he couldn't suppress.
The other students had returned long ago. Only Fang Ling, the strongest, hadn't.
As the days passed, hope for his survival grew fainter.
Lin Tianyang had stayed, waiting without much hope. But now, Fang Ling had really come back alive!
Fang Ling returned the hug.
"Sorry to make you worry, Teacher."
"Don't apologize. It's enough that you're alive," Lin Tianyang said with a smile, full of relief.
"Come on, let's head back to the academy. Your grandmaster and mistress are still waiting for you."
"This time, your father said he's prepared a surprise for you. Considering the path you're going to take, he plans to use our family's connections to get you into an excellent academy, one with teammates perfectly suited to you."
"Then you can tell me what kind of trouble kept you away so long?"
For someone like Fang Ling, who had obtained his second soul ring and grown stronger, to take this long to return, something serious must have happened.
"Let's just say I had bad luck."
Fang Ling gave a bitter smile.
As the two walked, he began recounting the events of his journey.
"It all started when I encountered a thousand-year One-Eyed Giant Horned Antelope…"
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