Targeting a Soul Emperor is one thing, but dealing with a Soul Emperor protected by at least a Soul Saint is a different challenge altogether. By the time he found the right opportunity, Kendall would likely have already reached the Soul Saint level.
You Chen's gaze lingered on the "Longevity Technique" reward for a long time, but ultimately...
After much deliberation, he decided to give up.
You Chen evaluated the risk and reward and found them disproportionate; no matter how tempting the reward, it had to be abandoned!
To gain something, you must first let go!
This task wasn't entirely impossible for him to complete.
Setting aside the "chance of success" mentioned earlier, if he were willing to bide his time for a few more years, he could entirely advance to Soul Emperor and possess the strength to contend with a Soul Saint!
But... would he really wait years just to ensure the completion of this task?
He was well aware that not all task targets were weaker than his current self.
There were undoubtedly those whose talents far surpassed his, both past and present.
This meant that over twenty years later, these individuals might not only be his equals but possibly far stronger!
Even among geniuses, there are differences!
Take Jiang Liu, for instance, who was still a Soul Ancestor in his thirties.
And Kendall—You Chen wasn't sure if this person had some fortuitous encounters or if his soul ring absorption had been perfectly serendipitous. At 36, he was already considered a prospective Soul Saint.
He wasn't too far off from Qin Ming, a recorded second-fastest cultivation genius in the original work.
Whether Kendall would become a Titled Douluo depended on luck, but becoming a Soul Douluo was almost certain.
Such cases, while not ubiquitous, weren't unheard of on the Douluo Continent.
Even among high-grade martial spirit soul masters, some possessed cultivation talents rivaling top-tier martial spirit soul masters.
Top-tier martial spirit soul masters might have low innate soul power, with martial spirits rated at high-grade levels upon evaluation rather than top-tier.
In their thirties, a soul master could still experience a meteoric rise.
What You Chen referred to as "it's starting" was the beginning of encountering task targets he couldn't easily defeat within a short time, tasks that couldn't be completed simply.
Consequently, many tasks might take years, even decades, to complete.
Because during his waiting period, these geniuses wouldn't remain stagnant; they too would grow stronger!
Additionally, as the task targets' levels increased, so did their status and position in the world.
This meant that You Chen had to consider not only the question of whether he could defeat them.
Those classmates and teachers willing to attend his banquets did so because of mutual ties of camaraderie and respect for his status as a theoretical master.
But for someone like Kendall?
If You Chen approached him for a duel, Kendall would likely respond with, "Who the hell are you?"
Moreover, there was You Chen's own power to consider.
He hadn't forgotten the old hag keeping an eye on him.
Thus, preparing for these targets was essential for task completion.
Such preparations might take a month or two, or even a year or two, which was entirely possible.
You Chen organized these thoughts, making a silent decision.
Unless a task could significantly enhance his strength or increase his potential and foundation, he would abandon it if the risk was too high or the estimated completion time too long!
Besides the excessive uncertainty, there was another reason to abandon this task...
"You Chen, your fish is about to burn!"
Xiao Wu's anxious reminder pulled You Chen from his thoughts.
Despite Xiao Wu's warning, You Chen maintained a confident expression: "With my skills, even if I grilled it with my feet, it wouldn't burn. It looks like it's burning, but I'm just giving it a crispy touch. It might be a bit black on the outside, but—"
"Wow, it's burning! It's burning!"
"Tsk."
Watching Xiao Wu's antics, You Chen shook his head but chose to flip the fish anyway.
Not long after.
"Here, take it. Yours is done; I'll grill mine. If it burns, it's not your problem, right?"
You Chen casually handed the grilled fish to Xiao Wu.
"Yay!"
Xiao Wu's eyes sparkled as she grabbed the fish You Chen had prepared, immediately chomping down.
She looked less like a carrot-loving rabbit and more like a gluttonous cat.
After all, how could Xiao Wu, who had lived in the forest for so long, know the power of human world seasonings?
Especially when the fish was grilled under You Chen's expert control, making it perfectly cooked.
Xiao Wu happily munched away, occasionally smacking her lips. She suddenly noticed You Chen's silent gaze, blushing as she glared: "Focus on your fish, don't stare at me while I'm eating!"
"Alright, alright." You Chen chuckled, turning his head away.
However, that warm smile made Xiao Wu's heart feel a little warmer.
Compared to her initial anxiety upon entering the human world, the time spent with You Chen felt like being back in the Star Dou Forest.
Whenever she threw tantrums or acted up, Da Ming and Er Ming would look at her with similar eyes.
'There are good people among humans too...' Xiao Wu thought, her lips curling up, making the grilled fish taste even better, eating faster.
This was her first time feeling genuine kindness from humans.
However... she didn't know that You Chen's gentle gaze was more like how one would look at a pet rather than a little girl.
"We'll reach Nordin City soon. Xiao Wu, do you have any plans?"
You Chen asked while tending to the fire and flipping his fish.
"Huh? Plans, I haven't—"
Xiao Wu almost blurted out but remembered her initial excuse to You Chen that she was headed to Nordin City, causing her eyes to dart around: "Hmph, you perverted uncle, are you trying to probe me to make a move? Clever Sister Xiao Wu won't fall for it!"
"What kind of nonsense is in that little head of yours..."
You Chen sighed, giving Xiao Wu a sidelong glance: "You didn't have a destination from the start, did you?"
Xiao Wu glanced around, whistling nonchalantly.
Appearing to play dumb, she was actually quite nervous.
'No way, right? Could this guy be a bad person, deliberately lowering my guard to find my weaknesses!?'
Xiao Wu's mind raced like never before, although without an omniscient perspective, these thoughts were mere imagination, albeit clever ones.
As she brainstormed, her body began to sway slightly.
"If you have no place to go, how about enrolling in school at Nordin City?"
Amid Xiao Wu's internal drama, You Chen casually suggested.
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