Chapter 12 A Glimpse of Strength
In the wind and snow, the bright moon slowly descended. She was still dressed in white, her long hair tied up, appearing capable and elegant. But at this moment, her eyes revealed an unprecedented murderous intent.
She stood before Ye Feng and his companions like an insurmountable mountain, shielding them from all the storms.
"Mingyue!" Kumu's pupils contracted slightly upon seeing the newcomer, but he quickly regained his composure. "Hmph, who do we have here? A mere five-ring Soul King dares to meddle in my affairs? Do you think you alone can withstand so many experts from my Snow Demon Sect?"
At this moment, besides Kumu, the Soul Emperor, there were three Soul King elders at level fifty-something standing behind him. Mingyue, on the other hand, was alone.
As for the city lord's guards, although they were numerous, they were clearly suppressed in terms of high-level combat power. The commander in charge, Iron Commander, was not present; there were only a few Soul Master-level adjutants, who also looked troubled at this moment.
"A five-ring Soul King?" Mingyue's lips curled into a playful smile. "Kumu, your information is too outdated."
Before she finished speaking, a dazzling light suddenly burst forth from Mingyue's body.
Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black...
Five spirit rings slowly rose up.
Kumu scoffed, "It's still five, what's the difference?"
However, his smile froze the next second.
Because above that black spirit ring, another spirit ring, as black as ink, actually rose up!
Sixth spirit ring!
"Six...six rings?! You've broken through to Soul Emperor?!" Kumu exclaimed in shock.
How is this possible? Half a year ago, Mingyue was only at level 53. How could she have jumped seven levels in just six months?
Mingyue didn't explain. She suddenly unfolded the folding fan in her hand, and the fan surface was no longer the landscape painting as before, but a clear and cold bright moon pattern appeared.
"I'm not very talented. I just broke through to level 60 last month and haven't had time to get certified by the Spirit Hall yet," Mingyue said calmly. "Although I've only just entered level 60, it's enough to deal with an old piece of trash like you who relies on drugs to get there."
"Sixth Soul Skill - Moonlit Sky Strike!"
Without any further ado, Mingyue unleashed her ultimate move.
Suddenly, she swung her folding fan upwards, and a huge crescent-shaped blade of light shot into the sky. This blade of light was not a simple energy attack, but contained a kind of spiritual pressure, making the Snow Demon Sect disciples present tremble in their souls.
Kumu was shocked and hurriedly activated his Azure Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul to defend himself.
"Sixth Soul Skill - Ten Thousand Serpents Devour the Heart!"
Countless green, venomous snake phantoms rushed towards the crescent-shaped blade of light.
"boom--!!!"
Two powerful soul energies collided in mid-air, creating a massive explosion. The shockwave rippled outwards, scattering all the surrounding snow.
When the dust settled, everyone was shocked to find that Kumu had taken three steps back, a trickle of blood escaping from the corner of his mouth. Mingyue, however, remained standing motionless, dressed in pristine white.
The difference in quality is immediately apparent!
Although both are Soul Emperors, Mingyue's Martial Soul quality and Soul Power purity are clearly far superior to Kumu's.
"roll."
Mingyue closed her folding fan and uttered only one word.
Kumu's expression shifted between anger and uncertainty as he stared intently at Mingyue, then glanced at Ye Feng and the others behind her, who remained unharmed. He knew that killing and stealing the treasure was impossible today. Mingyue's strength was beyond his expectations, and if he really fought desperately, the city lord's reinforcements would arrive soon.
"Fine, fine, Bright Moon, fine, Northern Academy." Kumu nodded through gritted teeth. "Mountains may change, but rivers will. This debt will be remembered by the Snow Demon Sect! Let's go!"
After saying that, he waved his sleeve and, along with the unwilling Xue Li and his disciples, slunk away from the canyon.
"We won! Long live the teacher!" Ye Shaotian shouted excitedly.
Mingyue turned around, and the domineering aura she had just exuded vanished instantly. She coughed lightly, clutching her chest, her face slightly pale.
"Teacher, are you alright?" Ye Feng quickly helped her up.
"It's nothing. I just broke through not long ago, and my realm is still a bit unstable. I overexerted myself by forcibly activating my sixth soul skill just now." Mingyue waved her hand, then her gaze fell on Ye Feng and Ye Shaotian, her eyes full of relief. "However, seeing you come out safely and cause such a commotion, this injury was worth it."
She glanced at the Myriad Manifestations Umbrella in Ye Feng's hand, and then at the still-present sharpness emanating from Ye Shaotian.
"It seems you have all made remarkable gains."
[The City Lord's overtures and Ye Feng's plans]
At this moment, the adjutant leading the team from the city lord's mansion walked over with Tie Long and Tie Hu.
"Lord Mingyue, thank you for your help." The adjutant bowed respectfully. In this world, the strong are respected, and Mingyue's displayed Soul Emperor strength was enough to earn everyone's respect.
Tie Long then pulled his sister and bowed deeply to Ye Feng and Ming Yue: "Teacher Ming Yue, Brother Ye, I will never forget your life-saving grace today. When I return to the city, I will definitely report to my father and thank you all profusely."
Mingyue smiled and said, "It was nothing. However, you really should thank Ye Feng. If it weren't for him, you two would have lost your lives long ago."
Ye Feng waved his hand: "We're teammates, it's only right that we help each other."
"Brother Ye, take this." Tie Long took out a black iron token from his pocket, with the character "Iron" engraved on it. "This is my father's personal guard token. Seeing the token is like seeing the man. In Northern Border City, as long as you take out this token, no one will dare to touch you. Even if the Snow Demon Sect wants to cause trouble, they'll have to think twice."
Ye Feng accepted the token without hesitation. It was very useful to him now; after all, he had completely offended the Snow Demon Sect, and having an extra protective charm was always a good thing.
"Alright, we shouldn't stay here any longer. Let's go back to the academy first," Mingyue said.
[Returning to the "Secret" with Grandma]
It was already late at night when they returned to the Northern Junior Soul Master Academy.
Ye Feng and Ye Shaotian bid farewell to Mingyue and dragged their weary bodies back to their dormitory. Although physically exhausted, their spirits were exceptionally high.
This trip to the hidden realm was incredibly rewarding.
Ye Feng not only obtained his first spirit ring, but his Thousand Manifestations Umbrella also evolved into two forms: the Battle Spear and the Ice Phoenix Spear. His spirit power also jumped three levels, reaching level thirteen. More importantly, the "Tear of the Ice God" fused within his body was like an inexhaustible treasure, subtly improving his aptitude.
Ye Shaotian also successfully obtained the 450-year-old Ice Blade Mantis Soul Ring, acquired the powerful Soul Skill "Frosty Sword Qi", and his Soul Power reached Level 11.
"Boss, I feel like I can take on ten Flame Tigers right now!" Ye Shaotian lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling and grinning foolishly.
"Don't get carried away." Ye Feng poured cold water on our enthusiasm. "The outside world is vast, and with our current strength, we can barely protect ourselves. The Snow Demon Sect won't let this go easily. In the days to come, we must cultivate even harder."
"Understood, boss."
The next day was the weekend, and the academy was on holiday. Ye Feng and Ye Shaotian decided to go back to Emperor Soul Village to visit their grandmother.
When the two returned to the familiar little courtyard with bags full of gifts (bought with money plundered from the Snow Demon Sect), Grandma was feeding the chickens in the yard.
"Grandma! We're back!"
Grandma heard the voice, looked up, and her wrinkled face instantly blossomed into a smile: "Oh my, my dear grandsons are back! Let Grandma see if they've lost weight?"
Grandma held their hands, looking them over from left to right, her eyes full of love.
"You haven't lost weight, you've gotten stronger!" Grandma nodded with satisfaction. "I heard from the village chief that you did quite well at the academy? You even beat up that... city gate guard?"
Ye Feng was a little embarrassed: "That was all a misunderstanding..."
"Well done!" Grandma suddenly slapped her thigh. "We, the Ye family, can't be bullied! Back in the day, your grandfather..."
At this point, Grandma suddenly stopped, as if realizing she had let something slip.
"What happened to Grandpa?" Ye Feng asked curiously. He had never seen his grandfather before, nor had his parents ever mentioned him.
"It's nothing, it's nothing, let's eat." Grandma quickly changed the subject.
But during the meal, Ye Feng keenly noticed that his grandmother's gaze towards them was somewhat different. Especially when Ye Feng inadvertently demonstrated the new form of the Thousand Chance Umbrella, there was no surprise in his grandmother's eyes, but rather a hint of... nostalgia?
After finishing his meal, Ye Shaotian ran to the village entrance to chat with his old friends.
As Ye Feng helped his grandmother clear the dishes, he suddenly asked, "Grandma, you used to be... a Soul Master, right?"
Grandma's hand trembled slightly, and the bowl almost fell to the ground.
"What nonsense are you talking about? Grandma is just an old country woman." Grandma turned around, not daring to look Ye Feng in the eye.
Ye Feng didn't expose her. In fact, from the first day he transmigrated, he felt that his grandmother was extraordinary. How could an ordinary old woman from the countryside raise two children all by herself in such a harsh and cold place as the Northern Border? Moreover, although his grandmother's gait was unsteady, her breathing was deep and even, clearly indicating that she had a foundation in internal martial arts.
Most importantly, there was the "two Soul Emperors" the village chief inadvertently revealed last time. If the village chief is one, then the other...
"Grandma, no matter who you are, you will always be my grandma." Ye Feng gently hugged her thin shoulders. "Now that I'm all grown up, it's my turn to protect you."
Grandma's body stiffened for a moment, then went limp, and tears welled up in her cloudy eyes.
"Good boy...good boy..."
[A New Journey: The Preliminaries of the Continental Elite Soul Master Tournament]
After the holiday, Ye Feng and Ye Shaotian returned to the academy.
As soon as I entered the school gate, Mingyue called me to her office.
"I have some information to tell you." Mingyue sat behind her desk, her expression somewhat serious. "It concerns your upcoming arrangements."
"According to the academy's rules, you were supposed to stay in the junior academy for six years. However, your current strength far surpasses that of your peers, and continuing to stay here would only be a waste of time."
Mingyue took out a file: "So I applied to the higher-ups, recommending that you graduate early and participate in the intermediate soul master academy examination in Northern Border City. And..."
She paused, a hint of fervor flashing in her eyes: "Three years from now, it will be the Continental Elite Tournament of Advanced Soul Master Academies. It is the highest-level competition in the entire Douluo Continent, a stage for all young soul masters to make a name for themselves."
"My goal is for you to represent the North and stand on that stage three years from now!"
"The All-Continent Elite Soul Master Tournament?" Ye Feng and Ye Shaotian exchanged a glance, both seeing the fire in each other's eyes.
That's where Tang San, Dai Mubai, and the others once fought.
That's where the legend began.
"Shall we go?" Mingyue asked.
"Go!" Ye Feng said without hesitation. "Why not?"
Now that we've come to this world and possess the Thousand Chance Umbrella, wouldn't it be a waste of our time if we didn't go to the highest stage to meet the heroes of the world?
"Very good." Mingyue smiled. "However, before you go to the intermediate academy, I need to add one more course for you."
What class?
"A class called 'Practical Combat'." Mingyue pointed out the window, towards the Northern Great Soul Arena. "Starting today, you will all go to the Soul Arena every night to participate in the competition. You will be allowed to graduate when you obtain the Silver Soul Badge."
Ye Feng's lips curled up slightly as he clenched his fist.
The Great Soul Arena?
That suits me perfectly.
The legend of the Thousand-Machine Umbrella will truly begin to spread from there.