**Chapter 72: Haotian Team**
"…"
Facing Bibi Dong's questioning, Gu Ziyi suddenly felt nervous.
"Your Highness, the Holy Maiden, I was speaking with our younger brother last night, as I went to see him myself!"
Before Gu Ziyi could think of a response, Li Chanfei, who had been listening on the side, smiled and answered first.
Meanwhile, Yu Long was also a bit surprised.
Did Li Chanfei actually visit Gu Ziyi personally last night?
"Did Sister Fei really go to see our younger brother last night?"
After hearing this, Bibi Dong quickly turned to look at her, frowning slightly.
"Yes, little sister, I asked him for help with my training!"
"You may not know this, but thanks to his help last night, I reached Level 85!"
When Li Chanfei saw Bibi Dong's expression, her beautiful eyes sparkled slightly, hiding her thoughts, and she answered with a smile.
"So, Sister Fei asked our younger brother to help with her training…"
After hearing Li Chanfei's explanation, the uncomfortable feeling in Bibi Dong's heart disappeared immediately.
"What?"
"Li Chanfei, you've reached Level 85?"
Bibi Dong's attention was focused on Gu Ziyi's visit, but Yu Long, who had been left out of the conversation, suddenly exclaimed.
He had just heard that Li Chanfei's Soul Power level had increased overnight!
He knew that, like him, Li Chanfei had only reached Level 84 the previous year, so advancing another level in less than a year was unusually fast at their cultivation stage.
"Well, my Soul Power contains the properties of Supreme Fire, which can assist Sister Fei!"
Gu Ziyi nodded and confirmed at this point.
"Your Highness's ability can help me too?"
Yu Long looked at Gu Ziyi expectantly.
His gaze was full of sorrow, as if he were protesting against the unfairness of it all.
Who was supposed to be her protector? Her or him?
"Don't worry, Elder Yu Long. If I find anything that could help you in the future, I'll certainly let you know!"
Gu Ziyi's response was essentially telling Yu Long that the method he used to help Li Chanfei wouldn't work for him.
"Yes, thank you very much, Your Highness!"
When Yu Long heard this, he didn't seem disappointed but expressed his gratitude.
After this brief interlude, Gu Ziyi and his companions continued on their journey to the Heaven Dou Empire.
On the way, whenever they had an opportunity to rest at night, Li Chanfei, who began to enjoy the benefits of the training, would secretly approach Gu Ziyi and ask for his help with training on as many nights as possible.
Afterward, he would use his Purification Talisman to clean both their bodies and clothes to ensure that no scent lingered on them.
"Are you being so cautious because you're afraid that Her Majesty the Holy Maiden will find out that her dear younger brother is having an affair? You like her, don't you?"
The first time Gu Ziyi used his talismans, Li Chanfei teased him relentlessly.
After drawing him into her bed, she realized just how clever Gu Ziyi was, so she knew he probably harbored thoughts of possessing Bibi Dong.
"Sister is so beautiful; I'm not blind to it!"
In front of Li Chanfei, Gu Ziyi naturally wasn't afraid to admit it.
"Then why don't you make a move? Don't tell me you haven't noticed the affection the Holy Maiden shows you!"
Li Chanfei immediately asked him.
"Of course I noticed, but Sister is still young, and our teacher definitely wouldn't want her to delay her cultivation at this stage!"
Gu Ziyi explained.
"That's true!"
Li Chanfei also found his explanation quite reasonable. That bastard Qian Xunji would likely feel the same way.
…
A week later, Gu Ziyi and his group finally arrived in the Imperial Capital of the Heaven Dou Empire and headed straight to the arena where the Soul Master Competition was taking place.
That arena was the renovated Great Spirit Arena of the Heaven Dou Empire!
"Up next is our most popular team, the Haotian Team!"
"Their opponents will be the Elephant Team!"
"Let's welcome the members from both sides!"
After Gu Ziyi's group entered the central arena, they found that the Haotian Team's match was about to begin.
"It's the Haotian Team…"
"Haotian! Haotian!"
"Haotian! Haotian!"
"…"
When the announcer finished speaking, the entire audience suddenly burst into applause. It was clear that the Haotian Team was very popular at this event.
"It's actually the Haotian Team!"
"Perfect timing to see how strong their team is!"
Bibi Dong suddenly became excited when she realized that the Haotian Team would be competing as soon as they arrived.
She then pulled Gu Ziyi along and hurried to the best spot in the front of the stands to watch.
Gu Ziyi was also curious to see the Haotian Team's performance. After moving to the front, he watched the ring while standing protectively beside Bibi Dong.
"Tang Yuehua..."
When the Haotian Team members appeared, Gu Ziyi's gaze was first drawn to one of the girls on the team.
After all, he couldn't forget her since they had been together briefly in their youth.
Tang Yuehua, now 19 years old like Gu Ziyi, still possessed the same beauty as before, though her figure and temperament had improved greatly over the years.
Seeing her, Gu Ziyi's emotions inevitably stirred a bit.
However, the feeling quickly passed!
He wasn't short on options for companionship now, so he no longer had any need to dwell on her.
His initial interest in her had simply been to gain support from the Haotian Sect.
At the time, he had thought that the Haotian Sect would be easy to approach, but reality had quickly corrected him.
Tang Yuehua, standing in the ring, seemed to sense an unusual gaze on her, raising her head to look in Gu Ziyi's direction.
"Is it him?"
The moment she saw him, Tang Yuehua's beautiful eyes trembled slightly.
The Gu Ziyi before her now looked quite different from the boy she knew in the past. After years spent within the Spirit Hall, his demeanor had changed significantly. After consuming the Ice Fire Immortal Herb, Gu Ziyi's appearance had also improved compared to before.
The current Gu Ziyi barely resembled his former self!
So, when Tang Yuehua saw Gu Ziyi, she felt he resembled her first crush somewhat, but she wasn't sure it was him.
"Sister, what are you looking at?"
It wasn't until Tang Hao called her that Tang Yuehua returned to her senses and joined her team to prepare for the battle.
Yet, deep inside, she couldn't help but wonder if that person really was Gu Ziyi.
"Little brother, was that girl who looked at us just now Tang Yuehua?"
Bibi Dong, standing next to Gu Ziyi at this moment, had clearly noticed that Tang Yuehua had been looking in their direction—or rather, specifically at Gu Ziyi.
After slightly frowning, she then directly questioned her younger brother.
She knew that Gu Ziyi and Tang Yuehua had been classmates in the past, and she also knew that he had once helped solve Tang Yuehua's cultivation problem.
At first, she hadn't thought it was a big deal, but later she realized just how difficult the problem had been. Her younger brother was a genius for finding a solution for her.
"Yes, that's her!"
"I wonder if she recognized me."
Gu Ziyi smiled slightly. He was well aware of how much he had changed over the years, so he wondered if she still recognized him.
But judging by Tang Yuehua's expression just now, it seemed clear she had.
"And that's Tang Hao!"
"Our strongest opponent in this competition!"
Gu Ziyi didn't say much about Tang Yuehua and turned to look at another man leading the Haotian Team, introducing him to Bibi Dong.
Today, Tang Hao was already a Soul King of Level 54.
He had the highest Soul Power level among all known teams in this competition.
…
(End of chapter)
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