Chapter 174 - Home Sick (Part 1)

Inside a small restaurant in the town of Marshstop were three individuals sitting down and eating.

"So...Why did you come out of the lake again?"Questioned Xu Lizhi with his lips twitching while recalling the scene before.

"Ah, right!" Exclaimed Xu Xiaoyan after swallowing a meat bun that she stuffs in her mouth a few seconds earlier.

"Remember when I told you guys that I was going to visit Skyorder Star Ocean Academy?" Questioned Xu Xiaoyan, who then smiled after receiving a nod from Tang Wulin and Xu Lizhi.

"Well, it all started when I went there and began using their observatory." Said Xu Xiaoyan with a sigh.

She went there to cultivate in the private observatory to increase her cultivation speed and gain some insight on the stars. Of course, this required her to get an approval form from both the Skyorder Star Ocean Academy and Shrek.

It was only through Yali that she was able to gain an approval form to enter. Since Yali also believed her going to the place was immensely beneficial to her cultivation journey.

She was right, as after just three weeks Xu Xiaoyan was able to increase her cultivation up to rank 70 Spirit Sage. She chooses not to try and get a Spirit Soul right after she hit that mark because she was still in the middle of slowly comprehending the stars above.

She stayed for another week, to fully condense her cultivation and try to gain even more insights on the stars. While she was doing this, she was using and learning from the book that Wulin gave her before she left.

"You gave her a book?" Questioned Xu Lizhi with his eyes widening in surprise.

"Yes." Said Tang Wulin with a slight nod.

It was a book that was made by Zeref who had an encyclopedic knowledge of mages that used Star Magic. Inside of the book were notes from a wide arrangement of Star Magic from back in Fiore that he studied during his decades of traveling the world.

Every so often it made Tang Wulin sigh in a bit of awe at how many magics Zeref has studied and mastered. It's not wrong to say, Zeref could produce hundreds of books that were filled with magic and still have the knowledge to create even more.

With the help of the book of Star Magic, Xu Xiaoyan was able to increase the speed and refine her knowledge in the stars. To say she was shocked at the in-depth knowledge that the book contained would be an understatement.

Just from reading only a few pages, she could already tell her understanding was improving tremendously. This meant just a few pages of this book were able to help her way more than all of the teachers in the Skyorder Star Ocean Academy!

These were the same teachers who have put most of their time and effort into trying to uncover the secret of the stars. Yet compared to the book that Wulin gave her, the difference in knowledge and understanding was too far apart.

This wasn't because the Douluo Continent didn't care about the study of the stars or outer space. It was because compared to Fiore, the number of people who use stellar energy was far too small.

With the additional fact that magic was more lenient and easier to comprehend.

As there were other-worldly beings who were willing to spread their teachings. No one knew why they did this and most didn't try to question it. Zeref and Tang Wulin who were some of the few who knew the reason would always chuckle whenever the question was brought up.

After the end of the month, she decided to leave and head toward the Spirit Pagoda in Eastsea City to get her next Spirit Soul.

The Spirit Pagoda were already rebuilding most of their buildings, with them making the Spirit Souls area the first priority. Fortunately for her, she also received a special pass from Yali and also Gu Yue recommendation.

Making it so it was easy for her to get one that was over a hundred thousand years. Yali also supplied her with the money needed to get the Spirit Soul.

"In my trip towards Eastsea city, on the way, I felt a fluctuation of stellar energy around the Moonlight Valley." Said Xu Xiaoyan.

The moonlight valley was a place that was filled with countless fractured stone pillars. It was a place that lacked all greenery and vegetation, yet that did nothing to take away its beauty. As for some reason, it had an unusual way of drawing the star lights towards it.

From the words of one of the teachers at the Sky Order Star Ocean Academy, the Moonlight Valley was a place that was filled with too many profound mysteries.

She told them, she began following the fluctuation after thinking about the opportunities that she may be able to gain. Of course, she still held a sense of caution while moving through the valley. As she moved through the valley, she started to see trails of stellar energy.

It was leading the way towards a cave in the valley, which was closed off and yet the trail was still phasing through it. She thought she would have to break open the and so she summoned her martial spirit.

But it was then the stellar energy began shining as if it was reaction to her staff before opening up an entrance for her.

As she moved through the cave, she came up to a place where there was a spectral spirit beast. To her surprise, it was a large moonlight lion that had stellar energy coiling around it.

The lion informed her. It went through tribulation to become a five hundred thousand-year-old beast but in the end, it failed. Yet to Xu Xiaoyan shock, the lion told her it was able to continue staying in this world because of its potent essence.

The lion called itself the Sky Devourer, Orion. Orion told her, only someone with a large amount of compatibility with with either ice or stellar energy could enter.

"I guess she was talking about your ultimate ice and stellar energy?" Questioned Tang Wulin.

"Most likely." Said Xu Xiaoyan before continuing.

Xu Xiaoyan had a crazy idea but it was a idea nonetheless. As from what she could see, the Orion had a look of reluctance on her face.

She told Orion about the contract of a Soul Spirit, which to the joy of Xu Xiaoyan she quickly agreed to.

"Just like that? You got somone like Orion as your spirit soul so easily!" Shouted Xu Lizhi in shock.

"More or less, I was surprised too." Said Xu Xiaoyan with a light laugh.

Xu Lizhi's shock wasn't unfounded. The odds of someone randomly finding a cave that had a Spirit Beast who was willing to be its spirit soul was rare.

It was even lower when that same Spirit Beast was over five hundred thousand years old. Anyone would be surprised, and shock at Xu Xiaoyan god sent luck.

Hell it was more like a miracle if one thought about it. As the amount of Spirit Beast that were strong as Orion could be counted on one hand.

"I guess she didn't want to die." Said Tang Wulin after hearing the condition of Orion.

"Who does? But yea, that was the main reason she selected me."Said Xu Xiaoyan as she finishes up her story.

and then Xu Xiaoyan began absorbing her. Of course, since her body wasn't strong enough to fully hold an existence like Galeo, she was restricted from using the Spirit Ring full power.

It was only because Xu Xiaoyan was able to reach far into the Spirit Abyss Realm a few months ago that allowed her to do this. As even if someone had a strong body, they needed a high enough spiritual power to even withstand the spiritual difference.

Someone with the Spiritual Power of the Spirit Abyss Realm was able to absorb any type of Spirit Rings. Which was why she was able to withstand the spiritual shock of a being like Orion, who also help her withstand it also.

"After which caused my cultivation level to skyrocket too. At the moment, I haven't fully taken in all of her power as my body is far too weak to withstand it."Said Xu Xiaoyan with a big smile causing Tang Wulin and Xu Lizhi to sigh at her luck.

How many people could claim they were able to experience an opportunity like Xu Xiaoyan? She explored a cave and then coming out of that with a spirit soul with a cultivation that was over five hundred thousand years.

Even if most of the powers were restricted from her lack of body strength and cultivation. Just having a spirit soul like that, meant Xu Xiaoyan's future potential would be terrifying!

The number of people who could claim to have a spirit soul that was over two hundred thousand, let alone five hundred thousand is almost non-existence. Probably only Huo Yuhao and Tang San could claim they had a spirit like that.

Xu Xiaoyan told them before the ring was restricted, it quickly flashed into a brilliant silver and light blue color before turning into a red ring. This caused Xu Lizhi to lightly sigh in amazement before blinking his eyes as a thought appeared inside of his mind.

It wasn't just him but Xu XIaoyan also fell silent for a few seconds.

"Wulin.."

"Big brother..."

"Is that multicolored-ring similar to Xioayan/Mines?" Questioned both of them after thinking about it for a bit and comparing the ring.

"Yes." Said Tang Wulin causing Xu Xiaoyan and Xu Lizhi to lightly sigh but then their expression turns into shock after his next words.

"Except, it's a million-year spirit ring." Said Tang Wulin simply as if it wasn't a big deal. Yet his lack of care did nothing to stop Xu Lizhi and Xu Xiaoyan from shivering at the incredulous of it.

Yet, that incredulous passed by after a few seconds after they realized this was Wulin they were talking about. Impossibility and weirdness go hand and hand when it came to him.

'He also mentioned killing a god before.' Thought Xu Lizhi with his lips twitching.

"Is that your only abnormal ring?"Questioned Xu Xiaoyang after a few seconds of thinking and wondering as she didn't recall him every summoning his sixth spirit ring.

'At least they shouldn't be another million years one.' Thought both Xu Xioayan and Xu Lizhi as they awaited Wulin's answer.

It's not like the heavens will actually allow something like this.

Right?

"No, my sixth and seventh are also one million years." Said Tang Wulin.

".."

".."

#

After finishing their food, the group began journeying towards Eastsea City. With them reaching the place in a matter of days after trekking through the occasional towns that passed by on the way.

"So where are we going again in here?" Questioned Tang Wulin as he and Xu Lizhi were following being Xu Xiaoyan.

"Didn't I mention it before? We're going to visit my home, in the city."Said Xu Xiaoyan with a faint smile.

"Oh right, you told us you hadn't seen them or contacted them ever since we left for the Body Sect base." Said Xu Lizhi while he was glancing around the city and taking in the sights.

It wasn't amiss to say Xu Lizhi barely traveled outside of Shrek unless it was for tournaments or a special class assignment. This could be considered one of the rare times he ever went to a city without any motives.

It was strangely enjoyable, as he didn't need to worry about anything else and just enjoy the new scenery. His lips also twitch from the astonishing amount of glances that Tang Wulin and Xu Xiaoyan was receiving.

"Yeah...They are most likely worried."Mutter Xu Xiaoyan with a forlorn look, as she knew she was going to get an earful from both her mom and dad.

Xu Lizhi lightly laughs at Xu Xiaoyan's expression as he could somewhat understand what she was going through. As he knew his big sister Ye Xinglan, would always give him an earful whenever he didn't report back to her as kids.

"Still, I wonder how they are going to react to the fact you got a boyfriend." Said Xu Lizhi as he glances at Tang Wulin and causing Xu Xiaoyan lips to twitch.

'Crap. I knew I was forgetting something.' Thought Xu Xiaoyan in dismay before turning towards Tang Wulin, who only shook his head.

"We will deal with it when it comes." Said Tang Wulin causing her to sigh but still nod her head.

It didn't take them long to reach their destined location. The Xu family house was in a nutshell, a mansion with two small buildings a bit apart from it and a huge courtyard behind it. Even from far away, Tang Wulin and Xu Lizhi could see tons of people moving inside of the house.

They both glance at each other before turning back to see Xu Xiaoyan opening up the gate in front and moving inside of the house.

As Xu Xiaoyan was moving towards the door, it instantly burst open.

"My Baby girl is home!" A voice rang out as a man with l_u_s_trous blue hair ran out of the house and dashed towards Xu Xiaoyan.

"...Hey dad."Mutter Xu Xiaoyan as she was enveloped in a fierce hug.