Dugu Residence.
Ning Rongrong lay bored on a stone table in the garden, looking utterly lifeless, while Dugu Yan was lost in thought not far away, as if missing someone.
Ye Lengleng glanced at Dugu Yan without speaking, then looked at Ning Rongrong: "What's wrong? Missing your Brother Li Qing again?"
Ning Rongrong turned her head to look at Ye Lengleng and said, "It's been four years. Besides coming back once to hunt for his sixth spirit ring, he's been in that dreadful Death Canyon all this time. Don't you miss him?"
Ye Lengleng fell silent upon hearing this.
Miss him?
Of course, she did, but what was the use?
They couldn't stay long in that dreadful Death Canyon, and she couldn't possibly ask Li Qing to give up improving himself just to keep him by her side.
Missing him was pointless.
Seeing this, Ning Rongrong looked at Dugu Yan again and asked, "Don't you miss him?"
"Huh?"
Dugu Yan was startled, then her small face flushed, and she retorted somewhat guiltily, "What are you talking about? How could I miss him? Do you think I'm like you two?"
"Tsk!"
Ning Rongrong said disdainfully, "You can fool others, but can you fool us? If you say you don't miss Brother Li Qing, then who are you thinking about when you keep spacing out?"
"I, I, I—"
Dugu Yan said anxiously, "I was thinking about cultivation matters. I was thinking about how to choose my sixth spirit ring."
"Hehe!"
Ning Rongrong just smiled without speaking.
Ye Lengleng said helplessly, "You two, I don't know what to say to you. One is timid to death, useless even when given a chance, and the other is incredibly tsundere, clearly likes him but doesn't dare to express it."
"If you two keep going like this, it'll be tough to win him over."
"Don't say I didn't warn you. Some things, once missed, are gone forever. When he no longer has feelings in that regard, don't come crying and making a fuss."
Ning Rongrong mumbled softly, "Who, who's timid?"
Dugu Yan remained silent.
Habit was a terrifying thing. She had long grown accustomed to Li Qing being by her side. Now that he was suddenly gone, Dugu Yan felt uncomfortable all over.
Especially at first, sometimes when she encountered a problem, she would instinctively call out to Li Qing.
Although she had overcome this problem now, when she quieted down, she would still instinctively think of him and recall the days when he was by her side.
She didn't know if this was love.
"Where did that damned Li Qing run off to? He hasn't been seen for years, and now the Soul Master Competition is about to begin. Am I going to have to participate in the competition with this bunch of trash?"
Tang San's face was extremely grim.
To get him into the first team, the Sect had specially brought out two Spirit Bones, allowing his spirit power to rise to forty-first rank within just four short years.
Unfortunately, his Uncle had approached the three great educators multiple times, but they all refused, citing Li Qing's absence and the need for him to make the final decision upon his return.
As for the second team, the highest-ranked in spirit power was Dai Mubai, who was only thirty-eighth rank, and the lowest, Ma Hongjun, hadn't even reached Spirit Elder. How were they supposed to compete against other academies?
Forget about the finals; they probably wouldn't even make it past the first round.
Although they were still young and could participate in the next competition, with a gem like Li Qing having come before, what was the use even if they won the championship next time?
People would only say that this competition was far inferior to the previous one.
And as long as he could join the first team, even if he was just a lucky winner, his name would undoubtedly be remembered by the world, and if he could play some crucial role...
He might even be able to participate in the reward distribution.
One should know that the reward for the Soul Master Competition champion was Spirit Bones, and seven of them at that. Although they were only thousand-year level, he was still very envious.
After all, he had already tasted the wonders of Spirit Bones.
Not only could they increase spirit power, but they could also grant an additional Spirit Ability. Although each person had a limited number of Spirit Bone slots, Spirit Bones were even rarer than the slots themselves. Where would he find them if he missed this opportunity?
He dared not hope that the Sect would provide him with all the Spirit Bones he needed.
Tang Yuehua looked at the gloomy-faced Tang San and shook her head, comforting him, "Little San, don't worry. The Soul Master Competition is about to begin, and Li Qing will definitely return."
"Whew!"
Tang San let out a heavy breath: "What if he doesn't allow me to join the first team? After all—"
Tang Yuehua smiled: "He won't. The Upper Three Sects are united. They need our Clear Sky Sect's support to resist Spirit Hall. He has no reason to refuse."
"Alright."
Tang San didn't know if his aunt was telling the truth, but he could only pray that it was so.
On the other side.
Dai Mubai and the other two lay bored in the courtyard, sunbathing. They knew about Tang San's application to join the first team.
Whether he succeeded or not, they couldn't do anything about it.
As for the Soul Master Competition, with the level of their second team, they would be lucky to survive the first round. They didn't even dare to think further. This Soul Master Competition, they were destined to just go through the motions.
They could try the next one, though.
"Oh, right!"
Ma Hongjun suddenly remembered something and asked, "Boss Dai, how's that girl you're pursuing? I've never seen you so serious before."
Two years ago.
While Dai Mubai was strolling with them in Heaven Dou City, he coincidentally met a girl who was not old but had a very hot figure and an exceptionally outstanding appearance.
Since then, Dai Mubai had suddenly become well-behaved.
He stopped going to Heaven on Earth, and even stopped playing with the girls arranged for him by the Heaven Dou Royal Family. He pursued that girl like a sycophant.
However, the results didn't seem to be very good. He was constantly anxious and spaced out, as if possessed by a ghost.
He hadn't mentioned her for a while, so Ma Hongjun didn't know if he had won her over or completely given up. However, Ma Hongjun thought the latter was more likely.
After all, given his usual behavior, if he had won her over, he would definitely bring her to show off.
Dai Mubai heard this, turned his head to look at him, and said coldly, "If you don't mention her, we're still good brothers. If you dare to mention her again, do you believe I'll break your leg?"
Well, it seemed like there was no chance at all.
Ma Hongjun was quite secretly pleased. After all, if Dai Mubai didn't go to Heaven on Earth, he wouldn't have money to go either, so he could only play with the two girls the Heaven Dou Royal Family had given him, whom he was already tired of.
"Boss Dai, it's not me talking, but why do you have to pretend to be pure when you could be living a carefree life?"
Dai Mubai glared at him: "What do you know?"
Oscar suddenly sat up: "Boss Dai, I can feel that you're different about that girl. Is there something fishy between you two?"
Dai Mubai fell silent, then after a long while, he said faintly, "She's my fiancée."
"What?"
Oscar also sat up, stunned, looking at him with disbelief.
This scoundrel had such a beautiful fiancée, and he was still messing around outside. No wonder she didn't pay attention to him. Even as good brothers, they could only say he deserved it.