Douluo: When the piano sounds, the hidden weapon returns to the factory

Chapter 20 Soto City

Under Dugu Bo's guidance, Feng Yao quickly found a four-thousand-year-old Soul Bamboo. At this point, the Soul Bamboo was emerald green like jade, with a faint aura of soul energy flowing between its nodes, clearly indicating its age.

"That's it." Feng Yao killed it without hesitation, then sat cross-legged and began to absorb the soul ring that was emitting a bright purple light.

As the soul power poured in, Feng Yao's face gradually became tense, and fine beads of sweat oozed out of his forehead. It was obvious that the absorption process was not easy.

"Grandpa, Xiaofeng, is he okay?" Dugu Yan clenched her sleeves, her green eyes full of worry.

Dugu Bo stood with his hands behind his back and said calmly, "Don't worry, this kid's physical strength is even stronger than that kid from the Landian family. A mere 4,000-year spirit ring won't be a problem for him."

When Dugu Yan heard her grandfather mention Yu Tianheng, she snorted unconsciously and turned away.

This subtle reaction naturally did not escape Dugu Bo's attention. He frowned slightly and asked in a deep voice: "What? Did that kid make you unhappy again?"

Dugu Yan pursed her lips, a trace of grievance flashing in her eyes. Taking advantage of Feng Yao's concentration on absorbing the spirit ring, she whispered, "No, I slapped him."

Then, she told Dugu Bo everything that happened that day.

“Well done!” Dugu Bo’s eyes flashed with a cold light, and his voice was filled with chilling coldness. “You ignorant little bastard! If he really loses to Feng Yao, not only will he not be able to gain a foothold in the academy, even the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex Sect will not tolerate him! By then—” He snorted coldly, “Even if the old dragon protects him, he can’t keep this useless heir!”

Dugu Yan remained silent, squatting beside a rock with her knees hugged, her fingertips unconsciously fiddling with the gravel on the ground. The afterglow of the setting sun shone on her, stretching her slender figure out into a long shadow.

Dugu Bo's stern expression gradually softened as he watched his granddaughter's dejected face. His rough hands gently stroked Dugu Yan's head, his voice low and gentle, "Yanyan, Grandpa was inconsiderate. When I brought you and that kid together, I was thinking..." The old man's voice suddenly choked, his fingertips trembling slightly. "If Grandpa ever can't suppress the poison in his body, at least the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex clan can protect you."

"Grandpa!" Dugu Yan suddenly raised her head, tears glistening in her emerald eyes. She clutched Dugu Bo's sleeve tightly, "Don't talk nonsense! You will live a long life!" Her voice trembled a little, "And Xiaofeng has already thought of a solution. You will be fine."

Dugu Bo's eyes flashed with relief, and he stroked his granddaughter's hair gently: "Well, grandpa will be fine. He still has to watch our Yanyan grow up, get married and have children." As he spoke, his eyes unconsciously drifted to Feng Yao who was absorbing the soul ring at the side, and suddenly his eyes lit up.

"Yanyan, it's better not to have that little bastard from the Landian family." Dugu Bo narrowed his eyes meaningfully, "But since this matter started with that brat, it's better not to..."

Sensing the teasing in her grandfather's words, Dugu Yan's pretty face immediately turned red. She stood up and stamped her feet in embarrassment: "Grandpa! What nonsense are you talking about? If that's the case, wouldn't it confirm those suspicions?" Her voice became smaller and smaller. "And I'm not that kind of person."

As she spoke, Dugu Yan unconsciously lowered her head, her slender white fingers intertwined. She herself couldn't explain her feelings towards Feng Yao, but she felt a mess in her heart.

"Hmph! Who dares to say anything? I'll skin him alive!" Dugu Bo's eyes flashed with coldness, and then he smiled kindly. "But I think this guy is much more reliable than that little beast from the Lan Dian family."

"Grandpa!" Dugu Yan's ears turned red with embarrassment. She was about to say something to change the subject, but suddenly -

"Buzz!" A powerful soul power wave burst out from Feng Yao!

"It's almost done!" Dugu Bo's eyes focused, with an anticipation on his face.

The purple soul ring slowly merged into Feng Yao's body. The soul power fluctuations around him continued to rise, finally stabilizing at a new level. The powerful soul power that permeated the air caused the surrounding vegetation to tremble slightly.

Feng Yao slowly opened his eyes, and what caught his eye was the focused gaze of Dugu Bo and his grandson. He was about to stand up and thank them, but he noticed that Dugu Yan's fair cheeks were flushed unnaturally, and even her words became stammered:
"Congratulations, Xiaofeng." The pair of usually lively green eyes were dodging at this moment, not daring to look him in the eye.

Feng Yao blinked in confusion: "Sister Yan, what are you doing?"

"Ahem!" Dugu Bo was about to speak, but was interrupted by Dugu Yan in a panic: "No, nothing! I just didn't expect you to succeed so quickly." She twisted the corner of her clothes, her voice getting smaller and smaller, "I'm very happy for you"

Although Feng Yao felt a little strange, he still smiled gently: "It's just luck. If it weren't for the help from senior and you, I wouldn't be so successful." As he said that, he solemnly bowed to Dugu Bo.

Dugu Bo stroked his beard and waved his hand with satisfaction: "Alright, alright, stop with all the formalities." He looked at Feng Yao meaningfully and said, "Please help me take care of Yanyan in the academy."

Before he could finish his words, a sharp glare shot at him from the side. Dugu Bo coughed lightly and quickly changed his words: "Ahem. Just take care of Yanyan's health."

Feng Yao was stunned at first, then nodded hesitantly: "Don't worry, senior, this is my job." He had a gentle smile on his lips, but his puzzled eyes unconsciously drifted to Dugu Yan who was pretending to be calm.

Dugu Yan took a few steps closer, pretending to be calm, but her emerald eyes couldn't hide her concern: "Are you feeling unwell after absorbing the spirit ring? Do you want grandpa to check you out?"

Before he could finish his words, Dugu Bo, already unable to contain himself, had already grasped Feng Yao's wrist. The old man's withered fingers placed their precise pulse points, his spirit power sifting through his meridians like a thread. A moment later, a gleam in his eyes, and he nodded in satisfaction. "Not bad, the spirit ring absorbed perfectly. Not only did it not leave any hidden injuries," Dugu Bo suddenly smiled meaningfully. "In fact, it has stimulated the accumulated medicinal power within the body, allowing him to directly break through to level 33."

"Level thirty-three?!" Dugu Yan exclaimed softly, covering her lips with her hands, her green eyes wide open.

Dugu Bo's eyes flashed with admiration: "Not only did this kid absorb a spirit ring beyond his level, but he also has some medicinal power that wasn't fully refined before. It's only natural that he's broken through two levels more than the average spirit master."

Feng Yao heard this and bowed solemnly: "I have to thank you for your cultivation, senior."

"Hahaha!" Dugu Bo laughed loudly, glancing meaningfully at his granddaughter beside him, "Why are you thanking me? If you want to thank someone, thank Yanyan. If it weren't for this girl meeting you in Yuexuan..."

Dugu Yan's pretty face suddenly turned red, and she stamped her feet in embarrassment and interrupted, "Grandpa! You are talking nonsense again!" But the corner of her eye unconsciously drifted towards Feng Yao, and a trace of imperceptible entanglement flashed in her green eyes.

"Okay, okay, Grandpa won't say any more." Dugu Bo stroked his beard and smiled, his eyes full of doting. "Let's go, I'll take you back to the academy." Dugu Yan snorted and nodded, a faint blush still on the tips of her ears. Feng Yao looked at the grandfather and grandson with doubt, his brows slightly furrowed. During the time he was absorbing the spirit ring, something seemed to have happened that he didn't know about.
As the sun set and dusk settled in, Dugu Bo escorted the two to the gates of Tiandou Imperial Academy. The saffron afterglow cast a warm golden hue over the academy's ancient gatehouse.

After Dugu Yan and his grandfather bid farewell, Feng Yao also bowed respectfully. Just as he was about to leave with Dugu Yan, a soul power transmission suddenly sounded in his ears:

"Boy, next time if you have the chance," Dugu Bo's voice was filled with ruthlessness, "teach that little bastard from the Landian family a lesson. I will bear the consequences for you!"

Feng Yao paused, a flash of understanding flashing in his eyes. He tilted his head slightly, nodded imperceptibly, and raised the corner of his mouth in a smile of understanding.

Dugu Yan saw Feng Yao suddenly stop and couldn't help but look sideways, with a puzzled look in her green eyes: "What's wrong?"

Feng Yao came back to his senses, a faint smile appeared on the corner of his lips, and he shook his head gently: "It's okay, it's just that..." His fingertips unconsciously stroked the zither case in his arms, "I suddenly thought of a key point in the music score."

Dugu Yan stared at Feng Yao in a daze. The young man's handsome profile was gilded with a soft golden edge in the setting sun. His faint smile was like a spring breeze blowing across the lake of her heart, rippling circles of light. She forgot her words for a moment, only to feel her heart skip a beat. Her emerald eyes reflected the sunset glow, shimmering with a tenderness she hadn't even noticed.

Time slipped by quietly. Feng Yao's life gradually settled into a fixed rhythm—during the day, he would constantly play the qin to refine his martial soul and himself, at night he would hone his soul power in the simulated training ground, and occasionally go to Yuexuan to practice etiquette, day after day, without slacking off.

A month later, when Feng Yao finished his training and stepped out of the mimic training field, a familiar figure suddenly appeared in the morning light.

"Good morning, Teacher Qin," Feng Yao greeted with a hint of surprise.

"Good morning, Xiaofeng." Qin Ming smiled gently, and the morning breeze ruffled his light-colored robes. "You've been practicing very hard."

"With such conditions, we should work hard to become stronger." Feng Yao said with a smile.

Qin Ming nodded and said with emotion: "If the academy can recruit more students, I am afraid that more talents will emerge in the empire."

Feng Yao noticed that Qin Ming seemed to be looking for him for something, so he couldn't help but ask, "Teacher, why are you here?"

"The Royal Fighting Team has received an invitation from the nobles of Soto City," Qin Ming explained, "to go to the Soto Grand Fighting Arena for a few exhibition matches. You've been in the game for a long time, and it's time to test your skills in real combat. Besides," he said with a far-sighted look, "this is also preparation for the upcoming Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Competition. We will set off today."

Feng Yao nodded in understanding: "Since it is the teacher's arrangement, the student should obey." After saying that, he looked back reluctantly at the simulated training field where he had been with them day and night.

"If you don't have anything to pack, just come with me." Qin Ming stood with his hands behind his back, the morning light casting a soft glow on his warm face.

"Students can set off at any time." Feng Yao replied with a bow, a hint of anticipation in his eyes.

During this period of intensive training, Feng Yao was deeply intoxicated by the joy of improving his strength. However, confined within the walls of Tiandou Royal Academy all day long, his young heart could no longer suppress its yearning for the outside world.

"Soto City," Feng Yao silently repeated the place name in his mind, and several strange yet familiar figures loomed in his mind. A meaningful smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

The early morning sun shone on the magnificent gate of Tiandou Royal Academy. When Feng Yao followed Qin Ming to the gathering place, the members of the Royal Dou Team were already ready.

"Everyone, sorry to have kept you waiting." Feng Yao nodded to everyone with a gentle smile on his face.

Yufeng waved lazily: "Good morning~" The sunlight danced on his short golden hair; the always serious Osro just nodded slightly, and no emotion could be seen on his cold face; the Shi brothers grinned naively, revealing their signature simple smile; and Ye Lingling stood quietly aside, with a faint curve at the corner of her lips under the gauze.

"Let's go, Xiaofeng," Duguyan jumped to Feng Yao's side, her green hair fluttering in the morning breeze. She naturally took Feng Yao's arm and said, "Take a car with us. It will be a good way to relieve boredom on the way."

Seeing this, Ye Lingling pursed her lips and smiled, then followed with light steps. Yufeng looked around, looking at the taciturn men around him, and sighed exaggeratedly: "Well, it seems that following the girls is more interesting." As he said that, he hurried to catch up.

Yu Tianheng stood there, his knuckles clenched white. He stared intently at the retreating figures, a sinister glint in his eyes. The morning breeze ruffled his dark blue robes, but it couldn't dispel the chill that clung to his body.

Qin Ming naturally observed Yu Tianheng's clenched knuckles and gloomy gaze. He sighed softly as he watched the others board the carriage, a trace of worry crossing his brow.

"It seems..." Qin Ming thought to himself, "the rift between Tian Heng and Feng Yao is much deeper than I imagined."

He shook his head, the sunlight stretching his figure. As a mentor, he understood better than anyone else that some conflicts couldn't be resolved simply by time. Especially when they were mixed with the most sensitive emotions of youth.

Seven days later, when the Royal Fighting Team's carriage slowly drove into Soto City, the setting sun was casting a golden afterglow on this prosperous city.

"We're finally here!" Yufeng was the first to jump off the carriage. He stretched lazily, his short golden hair swaying gently in the evening breeze.

Dugu Yan did not get off the car immediately, but looked at Feng Yao beside her thoughtfully: "Xiao Feng, you don't seem to be very happy on this journey?"

"Yanzi, you just realized it?" Yufeng turned around and leaned against the shaft of the cart, winking mischievously, "Without the mimicry training ground, even meditation isn't that interesting, is it?"

Feng Yao chuckled upon hearing this, his fingertips unconsciously caressing Fuxi in his arms: "Indeed, the carriage is bumpy. Such training efficiency..." He shrugged helplessly, "It's better to sleep. It's just..."

Halfway through his words, he glanced at the carriage behind him with a hint of embarrassment: "It's not good to actually fall asleep in Sister Yan and Sister Lingling's carriage."

(End of this chapter)