Douluo Continent: Tonight, a Fairy Tale Descends

Lin Wan walked effortlessly through rows of bookshelves and arrived at the section labeled "The Secrets of Dangerous Places in the Geography of the Mainland".

He took a thick ancient book from the bookshelf, found a quiet spot by the window, and sat down, immersing himself in it.

He read very quickly, his eyes focused, his long fingers occasionally tracing over the obscure words or ancient illustrations on the pages.

The original novel of Douluo Continent focuses almost entirely on the protagonist Tang San's growth, grudges and affections, and the battles between top powerhouses. The countless details, history, geography, species, and even lost civilizations contained in this vast world are only briefly mentioned, or not mentioned at all.

But today, we live in a truly real world. Knowledge that is glossed over or doesn't even exist in books may conceal unexpected opportunities or dangers.

For example, the book he is currently reading, "Ancient Echoes Beneath the Northern Glaciers," mentions that deep in the far north, there may be a remnant of an ancient ice god worship, which may be related to the origin of ice and snow-type martial spirits.

This made him think of the Snow Queen, whom he had banished to the far north, and wondered how she was doing now.

For example, another book, "An Ecological Study of the Southern Swamps of the Star Luo Empire," details several plant-type soul beasts with strange spiritual attributes. Their characteristics reminded him of his second soul skill, Phantom Thousand Tracees, and his third soul skill, Fox Spirit Soul-Breaking Needle. Perhaps he could find inspiration from them to further develop the power of his soul skills.

In Lin Wan's view, while strong strength is fundamental, profound knowledge and a clear mind can often play a decisive role at crucial moments.

Meanwhile, at another location within the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy.

Two young girls were walking side by side on a flower-lined path. One of them was tall and slender, dressed in a light green outfit. Her short green hair gave her a lively and playful look, and her face was beautiful. She was Dugu Yan, the granddaughter of Poison Douluo.

After several days of recuperation, Dugu Bo's health improved significantly, and Dugu Yan's mood also brightened as if the rain had stopped, and she regained her former radiant spirit.

"Lingling, hurry up! I heard he often goes to the library at this time. If you go too late, you might not be able to see him!" Dugu Yan grabbed her friend's hand, her tone excited and anxious.

The girl she was pulling was dressed in black, with a relatively petite figure, a cool and beautiful face, long black hair hanging straight down, and eyes as calm as a deep pool, as if she had little interest in anything.

It was Ye Lingling, the owner of the Nine-Heart Begonia Martial Soul.

"Yanzi, is it really necessary?" Ye Lingling's voice, like her personality, carried a faint chill.

"He's just a boy. No matter how handsome or talented he is, what does it have to do with us?"

"Oh, I'm just curious!" Dugu Yan blinked her big eyes.

"Just think about it, a twelve-year-old Soul Master! And he has a unique set of Soul Rings! You probably can't find another one like him in the entire empire, right? And I heard he's... well, exceptionally handsome! More handsome than any girl! I bet you're not curious!"

Ye Lingling sighed helplessly. She was already used to her friend's impulsive and always eager-to-watch-the-fuss personality.

However, deep down, she did harbor a slight curiosity about the rumored exceptionally talented freshman.

After all, it's hard for someone like that to go unnoticed.

The two arrived at the library area but did not go inside. Instead, they sat down in a small garden pavilion not far from the library. This was the only way to reach the library.

Dugu Yan's big eyes darted around, staring intently at the library door.

Ye Lingling sat quietly to the side, taking out a notebook about precise control of soul power and reading it silently.

Time passed little by little.

Just as Dugu Yan was getting a little bored and started fiddling with the vines hanging down by the pavilion, the heavy doors of the library were pushed open a crack.

A figure slowly walked out.

In an instant, it seemed as if all the surrounding light converged on that person.

Chapter 77 Daily Life at Xingluo Academy

Her silver hair flowed like moonlight, her blue eyes were like crystals from the deep sea, and her perfect features combined to resemble the most outstanding work of art by the Creator.

Lin Wan wore a simple Tian Dou Royal Academy school uniform, yet she managed to exude a noble and aloof aura.

Dugu Yan, who was in the pavilion, held her breath instantly, her eyes wide open. She instinctively covered her mouth with her small hand to prevent herself from exclaiming.

Even Ye Lingling, who was always aloof and indifferent, raised her head from her notebook. When her cold gaze fell on that figure, she couldn't help but pause slightly, a hint of surprise flashing across her face.

"Oh my god!" Dugu Yan murmured breathlessly, "Lingling, did you see that? That...that really is..."

She couldn't find the right words to describe it. She had always thought that rumors were exaggerated, but now she realized that words were so pale and powerless in the face of true amazement.

Ye Lingling did not answer, but silently closed her notebook, her gaze still fixed on Lin Wan, as if she was thinking about something.

Lin Wan was unaware of the two girls watching him from the pavilion. He was pondering a conjecture he had just read in a book about spirit-type soul beasts and the construction of illusions, and slowly walked towards the dormitory area.

Only after his figure disappeared at the end of the road did Dugu Yan let out a long breath and excitedly grab Ye Lingling's arm.

"Lingling, did you see that! Did you see that! I told you! It's so handsome! And the way he was thinking just now... wow, it's not just handsome, it's also a bit unfathomable?"

Ye Lingling gently withdrew her arm, nodded, and unusually agreed, "Yes, it is indeed very special."

It wasn't just his appearance; his calm and reserved demeanor, as if containing countless secrets, was completely different from the flamboyant or arrogant geniuses in the academy.

Dugu Yan stared in the direction Lin Wan had disappeared, her eyes gleaming with excitement and intense interest: "This Lin Wan truly lives up to her reputation! Interesting, very interesting!"

Ye Lingling looked at her friend's expression as if she had discovered a new continent and shook her head helplessly, but only she knew the slight ripple of curiosity in her heart.

……

The Star Luo Empire, Star Luo City.

The atmosphere at the Star Luo Royal Junior Soul Master Academy is completely different from that at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

The atmosphere here is one of iron-bloodedness, discipline, and competition. The academy's architecture is more rugged and robust, with huge beast sculptures everywhere, and the students' eyes are mostly sharp and wolf-like.

The atmosphere in the freshman class was somewhat subtle.

The teacher was explaining the most basic knowledge of soul power guidance on the podium, and most of the students below were listening attentively.

The competition in the Star Luo Empire begins in childhood, and students who can enter the Royal Academy basically dare not relax easily.

A little boy sat by the window in the classroom. He had dazzling short blond hair, which was neatly combed. He wore a white school uniform with gold trim specially made by Star Luo Royal Academy. He sat upright, and his face showed an arrogance and composure that did not match his age.

His pupils were a rare dark gold, and he always looked at people with a condescending and scrutinizing air.

He is none other than the Frog Prince Levin, whose martial soul is the Golden Frog, and who possesses innate full soul power.

At this moment, he seemed to be listening attentively, but his eyes kept glancing at an empty seat diagonally in front of him, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly. That empty seat belonged to Pinocchio; the guy was late again.

The thought of Pinocchio gave Levin a headache and a feeling of disgust.

That guy who was randomly placed near him by the system, who was also detected to have innate full soul power, and who was specially recruited into the Star Luo Royal Academy together, was simply the biggest source of noise in his academy life!

He talks a lot, is a chatterbox, and nine and a half out of ten sentences he utters are exaggerated boasts or blatant lies. Moreover, his martial spirit is a special lie puppet, which can increase his cultivation speed by lying.

Levin had absolutely no desire to have anything to do with this kind of guy; he felt it would lower his own status.

However, fate always seems to love to play tricks.

Because they were all born with full soul power and were among the most outstanding freshmen this year, they were not only assigned to the same class, but also arranged to live in adjacent dormitories.

This greatly disturbed Levin, who preferred peace and quiet.

Just then, the classroom door was suddenly pushed open, and a figure rushed in.

"Teacher! I'm so sorry I'm late! It's all that big tree at the academy gate's fault. It kept telling me its story of living for three hundred years, and I was so engrossed in listening that I was late!"

A boy with a very fast speaking speed, a loud voice, and a slightly comical tone stood at the door and spoke loudly without batting an eye.

He is Pinocchio.

His nose seemed to have grown a little longer than when he first awakened his martial soul, and it was slightly red from running. He was wearing the same school uniform, but it was obviously not as formal as Levin's. His eyes were darting around, making him look exceptionally clever.

The teacher on the podium was clearly used to this scene. He sighed helplessly and waved his hand: "Pinocchio, go back to your seat. Don't make up this kind of thing again... uh, don't be late again."

"Thank you, teacher! You look so handsome today, like a majestic fire lion king!"

Pinocchio grinned and offered a poorly executed compliment before dashing off to his seat, winking at Levin as he passed by.

Levin turned his head away expressionlessly and looked out the window, completely ignoring him.

Pinocchio sullenly touched his slightly itchy nose and sat down obediently.

On Levin's other side sat a little girl.

She looked very young, and seemed to be thinner than her peers. She was wearing a well-fitting school uniform, sitting upright, but her expression was unusually aloof, even carrying a hint of precociousness and melancholy that was out of place with her surroundings.

She had long black hair and pure black eyes, like deep pools. Her small oval face already showed the beginnings of a beauty, but she always kept her lips tightly pressed together and rarely showed a smile.

She is Zhu Zhuqing, the eldest daughter of the Zhu family in the Star Luo Empire, and also Dai Mubai's fiancée.

Levin had a good impression of Zhu Zhuqing. Although she was also quiet, her silence was completely different from Pinocchio's noisyness; it was a quietness carrying a heavy pressure.

Moreover, although her talent was not as high as Levin's, she trained extremely hard and always had a tenacious spirit in her eyes that she refused to admit defeat, which Levin, who was equally proud and pursued strength, greatly admired.

Occasionally, they would have some simple exchanges during sparring sessions or theoretical discussions.

Levin discovered that although Zhu Zhuqing was a man of few words, she often saw things in the heart and had her own ideas about cultivation. She was a worthy opponent and classmate to watch.

Chapter 78 Zhu Zhuqing's Desire

As for that noisy Pinocchio?

Levin just wanted to get as far away from him as possible.

He just hoped that this guy wouldn't cause any more trouble, or that one day his Lie Puppet Martial Soul would malfunction because he had lied too much, although he knew that was impossible.

The teacher on the podium continued lecturing, and Levin snapped out of his reverie and refocused his attention on the lesson.

His goal in coming into this world was to become stronger, until he stood at the top, and he had no time to waste on boring people and things.

……

As night fell, the majestic outline of the Starry Imperial City appeared even more solemn and oppressive under the sparse stars and cold moon.

Zhu Zhuqing's slender figure blended into the thick night and silently returned to the Zhu residence.

High walls and deep courtyards, strict rules and regulations, every brick and stone here is imbued with the coldness and cruelty unique to the Star Luo Empire.

She was used to using the side door, habitually concealing her presence and minimizing her own intimidation, like a wary kitten struggling to survive on the edge of a predator's territory.

However, tonight's chance encounter seems unavoidable.

Just as I passed through a corridor, a figure turned around in the dim light ahead.

It was a girl a few years older than her, with a shapely figure, wearing a gorgeous purple outfit that accentuated her mature curves beyond her years.

She bears a striking resemblance to Zhu Zhuqing, having inherited the Zhu family's excellent genes, with black hair, black eyes, and a pretty face.

But in those eyes that looked at Zhu Zhuqing, there was no warmth that sisters should have, only an unyielding cold indifference, and even a hint of hostility.

It was her older sister, Zhu Zhuyun.

The air seemed to freeze for a moment, and the lanterns under the eaves cast a dim yellow light, elongating and twisting the shadows of the two sisters on the cold stone floor.