The following day, I woke up with a burning desire to return home. After spending two years away, there was nothing more I wanted than to see Grandpa again. As soon as I left the city limits and ensured no prying eyes were around, I released my second martial soul, the Dragon Slaying Saber, and used it to take flight.
The feeling of soaring through the sky was exhilarating. With my current cultivation level, it only took three days to reach home. I arrived early one morning, just as the sun was beginning to rise, bathing everything in a soft golden glow. Remembering Grandpa's routine, I knew he would soon open the window of his bedroom. I guided the Saber to hover near the second-floor window, grinning as I planned to surprise him.
It took only fifteen minutes of waiting before the window creaked open. As soon as Grandpa poked his head out, I leaned forward with a shout. "Good morning, Grandpa!"
The reaction was priceless. First, he screamed in fear, nearly falling back into his room. Then came the look of surprise, quickly followed by pure joy. "Bei'er! You brat! You nearly scared me to death!"
Laughing, I landed smoothly on the balcony. "Come on, Grandpa. Don't act like you're some frail old man. You're a Titled Douluo! You'll outlive us all."
He crossed his arms, feigning indignation. "Doesn't mean my heart can take surprises like this! But…" His expression softened, and he pulled me into a hug. "You've grown so much."
I rolled my eyes at the blatant lie. "Grown? Grandpa, I saw kids in the city taller than me! My genes may have given me incredible martial souls, but they're not helping with height."
Grandpa laughed heartily. "Height isn't everything, Bei'er. But… perhaps I'll add some milk to your diet. That might help."
We spent the entire day catching up. Grandpa started by sharing updates about the academy. "I've secured the perfect location in Heaven Dou City," he said, a twinkle in his eye. "Remodeling is well underway, and everything should be ready within a year. But I'm not telling you any more than that. I want it to be a surprise."
His excitement was infectious, and I could already imagine the academy coming to life. Then he added, "Oh, and if you need more Whale Rubber, I got some more."
I shook my head. "Thanks, but no. My body's improved significantly on its own, and I think it's better to save that resource for future academy students."
Grandpa nodded approvingly before delivering the best news of all: "I've reached rank 93 and am well on my way to rank 94. The Immortal Herb I took is still working its magic, accelerating my cultivation."
I couldn't hide my excitement. "Grandpa, that's incredible! Soon you'll be unmatched."
"Soon?" he said with a smirk. "I'm already unmatched! But enough about me. Tell me about your journey."
So, I did. I told him everything, starting with my arrival in Suotuo City, the places I visited, and the restaurants I explored. "City food was a revelation," I said, grinning. "No offense to Uncle, but our family's cooking could use some improvement."
Grandpa laughed. "I'll make sure he hears that."
Then I recounted my hunts in the Sunset Forest and Star Dou Forest, describing every spider I killed and how the battles strengthened my body, martial soul, and external bone, as well. Finally, I told him about my encounter with Liu Erlong and how she'd massacred a group of criminals.
Grandpa's eyebrows shot up. "Liu Erlong? That's a name I haven't heard in years. You've certainly had an eventful time."
"It's not over yet," I said, leaning forward. "I'm going to need your help for my sixth spirit ring. I found a Mutated Spider Emperor that's unlike anything I've encountered. It's not a 100,000-year-old soul beast, but it feels like it's pretty close."
Grandpa's expression grew serious. "A Mutated Spider Emperor? We'll plan carefully. But first…" He sniffed the air dramatically. "Are you going to cook for me, or not? You've been bragging about your city cooking skills for hours now."
I laughed, standing up. "All right, Grandpa. Tonight you'll taste one of the dishes I learned in Suotuo City. Get ready to be impressed!"
It was good to be home.