129: Teachers and students

Time slowly passed in silent, arduous healing.

Instructor Ruo Lin's daily water-attribute Dou Qi nourishment had astonishing effects.

Mo Yuhan's shattered body recovered at a speed far exceeding common sense.

New flesh covered the gruesome wounds, leaving indelible deep purple scars, like medals etched onto his young body.

His strong Dou Qi and Soul Power foundation allowed him to gradually adapt to his body, regaining balance and strength.

The depleted Dou Qi in his body, nourished by the residual medicinal power of Reincarnation Grass and his own cultivation, not only fully recovered but also became purer and more condensed, like refined steel repeatedly hammered, subtly touching the barrier of a five-star peak Dou Master.

As for his Soul Power, under the nourishment of the Xuan Huang Purple Flame's origin and this life-and-death tempering, it naturally broke through the level 50 bottleneck.

He was only one spirit ring away from becoming a true Spirit King.

The morning mist had not yet completely dispersed, flowing slowly through the forest like milky white gauze.

At the edge of the cliff, Mo Yuhan, clad only in a simple short skirt sewn from beast hide, exercised his robust upper body, engaging in restorative training.

His new skin glowed healthily in the morning light, and the gruesome deep purple scar from his left chest to his shoulder blade resembled a lurking fierce beast, not only failing to detract from his overall aesthetic but adding a touch of wildness and power to his slightly slender yet smoothly contoured physique.

He clenched his fists, muscles bulging, veins subtly protruding like small snakes beneath his skin.

He performed profound footwork, precisely the Low-Grade Profound Dou Skill—Phoenix Flight Step.

His figure darted and weaved within a small area, leaving blurred afterimages and stirring the whistling wind.

Each punch, though a simple jab or hook, carried a sharp whooshing sound, and the air produced dull explosions.

Sweat trickled down his chiseled jawline, dripping onto the rocks beneath his feet, splashing tiny droplets.

Instructor Ruo Lin sat on a relatively flat bluestone not far away, holding a soft beast hide dampened with stream water.

She was wiping a crude spear made of tough hardwood and sharpened flint—her tool for adventuring and hunting small Spirit Beasts on the forest edge these past few days.

Her gaze, however, involuntarily drifted, again and again, towards the figure sweating profusely in the morning light.

The young man's body displayed astonishing explosiveness and resilience during high-speed movement.

The muscles of his back rippled with his movements, like flowing mountains.

Sweat trickled along his taut waistline into the edge of his beast hide shorts… Instructor Ruo Lin's heart skipped a beat, uncontrollably.

She abruptly lowered her head, vigorously wiping the wooden spear in her hand, as if to completely remove non-existent stains.

Her cheeks, however, flushed slightly, and a strange heat rose from deep within her heart.

"Teacher, how is my Phoenix Flight Step recovering?"

Mo Yuhan stopped, breathing slightly, and turned to look at Instructor Ruo Lin, his face bearing a hint of anticipation and the unique desire for approval characteristic of a young man.

Sweat trickled down his well-defined chest, flowing over the deep purple scar, reflecting a faint glow in the morning light.

Instructor Ruo Lin looked up, her gaze meeting his sweat-drenched, vibrant chest.

The scar was so close, silently reminding her of the unforgettable despair and protection she had felt.

Her eyes flickered slightly, a complex, inexpressible emotion fleetingly crossing them, which she then forcibly suppressed, replacing it with the gentle approval characteristic of an instructor.

"Your footwork is agile, and your force application is much steadier.

It seems you're recovering well," her voice struggled to remain calm, even carrying a hint of gratified smile.

"Five-star peak Dou Master, level 50 Soul Power… Yu Han, you've recovered faster and stronger than I imagined."

She paused, her gaze becoming solemn, "It's time to consider your fifth spirit ring.

This Star Dou Great Forest is full of dangers, but it's also the best place to obtain powerful spirit rings.

Do you have a target in mind?"

At the mention of a spirit ring, Mo Yuhan's eyes instantly sharpened, like a drawn sword.

He walked over and sat beside Instructor Ruo Lin, picked up another water pouch, and tilted his head back to drink several gulps of cool stream water, his Adam's apple bobbing with each swallow.

"Yes," he said, putting down the water pouch, a flash of purple-gold flame light in his eyes, carrying an undeniable resolve, "Xuan Huang Purple Flame, combining the profound origin of Xuan Huang Flame with the tyrannical beast fire of the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King.

My fifth spirit ring must further strengthen its 'incineration' and 'power' characteristics, preferably fire or earth attribute, and its age… thirty thousand years!"

After Mo Yuhan's explanation, Instructor Ruo Lin also learned about the various aspects of the Douluo Continent.

His gaze finally rested deeply on Instructor Ruo Lin's face, containing unyielding determination, a belief in protection, and a hint of… an inexpressible warmth.

Protection… the person he wanted to protect…

A strong mix of sourness and warmth simultaneously rushed to Instructor Ruo Lin's nose, making her eyes sting slightly.

She looked at the unwavering flame in the young man's eyes, at his straight back, at the scar on his chest symbolizing humiliation and unyielding spirit…

All her worries eventually transformed into a long sigh and a resolve bordering on resignation.

"Good," she softly uttered a single word, her voice somewhat hoarse.

She put down the wooden spear and beast hide in her hand, stood up, and walked in front of Mo Yuhan.

This time, she did not avoid his gaze; her sky-blue eyes looked deeply into his, filled with an unresolvable worry, the strictness of an instructor, and, more importantly, a heavy entrustment.

"Since you've decided, I'll accompany you."

She extended her hand, not to touch his scar, but to gently, yet incredibly firmly, press it onto Mo Yuhan's uninjured left shoulder.

The warmth and sense of strength from her palm clearly transmitted through his skin.

"But you must promise me, prioritize your own safety above all else!

If things become impossible, retreat immediately!

Teacher… cannot lose you again."

The last few words were as light as a sigh, yet heavier than a thousand catties.

The warmth from her palm and the weighty sense of entrustment instantly tensed Mo Yuhan's body.

He looked at Instructor Ruo Lin so close to him, at the worry almost overflowing from her eyes and the undeniable will to protect, and a strong impulse surged in his heart again.

He wanted to firmly grasp the soft hand on his shoulder, wanted to pull her into his embrace, wanted to tell her with his actions that he would definitely succeed.

But he only nodded forcefully, his Adam's apple bobbing, suppressing all the surging emotions into a low, deep response: "Mm!"

Sunlight pierced through the gaps in the trees, casting mottled shadows on the two of them.

The wind from the cliff still carried the scent of the forest, but it seemed unable to disperse the silently permeating, heavy bond and unspoken undercurrents that transcended the boundaries of teacher and student in this small space.

The perilous journey to hunt a thirty-thousand-year-old Spirit Beast, before it even began, was already colored by a resolute and ambiguous undertone, intertwined with promises and gazes of protection.