Su Yuntao laughed and said, "This is Grandmaster Ma Xiunuo's office. Xiao Zhang, you've been gone for seven years—do you still remember this place?"
Yin Zhang chuckled, a nostalgic smile appearing on his face.
"Of course I remember. Back then, I followed you, Brother Tao, to this very door. After going in, Grandpa Ma Xiunuo personally took me to the Soul Hunting Forest to hunt for my spirit ring. Thinking about it now, it really makes one nostalgic. Seven years passed in the blink of an eye. Brother Tao, what level is your spirit power now?"
Su Yuntao's face immediately flushed.
Over the past seven years, his spirit power had barely improved. Due to his own lax attitude, it had only risen by six levels, leaving him still stuck at the Spirit Grandmaster realm.
This was Su Yuntao's helplessness—and, in truth, the helplessness shared by most low-level Spirit Masters. Their innate aptitude was limited, and after becoming Spirit Hall deacons, they were constantly burdened by trivial affairs, leaving little time to cultivate. As a result, many remained stagnant for life.
He coughed lightly and said, somewhat embarrassed,
"I'm still a Spirit Grandmaster."
After speaking, Su Yuntao raised his hand and knocked on the door.
Knock, knock—
"Who is it?" came the voice from inside. Ma Xiunuo turned his head as he asked.
"Grandmaster Ma Xiunuo, Xiao Zhang has returned!" Su Yuntao called out loudly.
When there was no immediate response, Su Yuntao assumed Ma Xiunuo hadn't heard him and hurriedly shouted again,
"Grandmaster Ma Xiunuo, Xiao Zhang is back! It's the Xiao Zhang who was taken away seven years ago by Her Majesty the Supreme Pontiff and two Titled Douluo Elders! He even brought his girlfriend back! You must open the door quickly—we're all waiting here!"
The moment Su Yuntao finished speaking, the door flew open with a whoosh.
Ma Xiunuo, who had already leapt to his feet the instant he heard Xiao Zhang's name, rushed forward. Because he was too excited, he couldn't even speak for a moment.
Seeing Ma Xiunuo—who had visibly aged, now leaning on a cane—Yin Zhang's eyes instantly grew moist.
"Grandpa Ma," Yin Zhang said with deep emotion, "seven years no see. You've aged quite a bit."
Standing to the side, Hu Liena noticed the change in Yin Zhang's expression and immediately understood just how important Ma Xiunuo was in his heart.
She stepped forward and greeted him as well.
"Hello, Grandpa Ma Xiunuo. I'm Xiao Zhang's girlfriend, Hu Liena. You can just call me Nana."
Only then did Ma Xiunuo notice Hu Liena. Her appearance carried a naturally alluring charm, but setting that aside, her figure and looks were both outstanding. He nodded at her with a warm smile.
Then he turned his gaze back to Yin Zhang.
Yin Zhang had left Nuoding City at the age of seven. The past seven years were precisely the period of most rapid growth.
Back then, Yin Zhang had been only around one meter four tall. Now, at a glance, he stood nearly one meter nine, handsome and imposing, with a kingly, domineering aura between his brows that carried a faint trace of dragon might—enough to make even ruffians instinctively retreat.
Yin Zhang felt his throat tighten. Seeing tears begin to well up in Ma Xiunuo's wrinkled eyes, he spoke with difficulty,
"Grandpa Ma… Xiao Zhang is back."
Ma Xiunuo's eyes reddened as well, his voice choking slightly.
"It's good that you're back… it's good that you're back! Xiao Zhang, seven years—after seven long years, you've finally come back!"
Ma Xiunuo led the two of them into the office. Su Yuntao tactfully turned around and left, clearly understanding that this was a long-awaited reunion and not something he should intrude upon. As for Hu Liena, being Yin Zhang's girlfriend, she naturally had the right to stay.
Clatter—
Hu Liena gently closed the door behind them, and the room fell quiet.
"Grandpa Ma." Yin Zhang sat down opposite him, guided by Ma Xiunuo. Under Ma Xiunuo's careful scrutiny, he felt a bit uneasy—an instinctive reaction most people had when facing their elders.
Ma Xiunuo carefully examined Yin Zhang's attire and bearing, sighing inwardly at how wonderful youth truly was. More than that, he urgently wanted to know what realm Yin Zhang had reached and what he had experienced over the past seven years.
Had Xiao Zhang suffered any grievances in Spirit Hall?
Recalling the faintly hostile attitude that Bibi Dong had shown back then, Ma Xiunuo felt a sharp pang of heartache.
He asked,
"Xiao Zhang, how have you been in Spirit Hall these past seven years? Back then, Her Majesty the Supreme Pontiff's attitude toward you seemed… off. Did you suffer any grievances? You can tell me. Even if I can't help, I can at least listen."
Yin Zhang was deeply moved, but he simply waved his hand.
"It's fine, Grandpa Ma. These seven years in Spirit Hall have been very good for me—life has been quite comfortable. As for Her Majesty the Supreme Pontiff… heh, she can't do anything to me now, because I belong to the Hall of Worship faction."
"Grandpa Ma, you should also know that Spirit Hall currently has two factions—the Supreme Pontiff Palace faction and the Hall of Worship faction."
"Her Majesty the Supreme Pontiff leads the Supreme Pontiff Palace. After I arrived at Spirit Hall, I was taken in as a disciple by the Second Consecrator of the Hall of Worship. He is my teacher. So even if Bibi Dong wanted to interfere, she wouldn't have the authority."
After hearing this, Ma Xiunuo felt an indescribable sense of unreality.
Was this real?
The Hall of Worship, as far as he knew, was a place filled with Titled Douluo-level experts.
"Xiao Zhang," Ma Xiunuo asked carefully, "are you talking about the Hall of Worship that's made up of Titled Douluo? Is this Second Consecrator… also a Titled Douluo?"
Yin Zhang smiled and nodded.
"Yes. My teacher, the Second Consecrator, is indeed a Titled Douluo. However, Grandpa Ma, there's one thing you misunderstand. The Hall of Worship isn't entirely composed of Titled Douluo—only a few Consecrators and Elders are at that level."
"Among them, my teacher, the Second Consecrator, is the strongest person below the High Priest, the former Supreme Pontiff Qian Daoliu. My teacher is a level ninety-nine Limit Douluo."
"Level ninety-nine… Limit Douluo?!" Ma Xiunuo exclaimed, losing his composure.
Yin Zhang nodded with a smile.
"Yes. A level ninety-nine Limit Douluo."
Hu Liena, standing quietly to the side, was still dwelling on Yin Zhang's tone when he mentioned his teacher earlier. Her previously bright heart couldn't help but dim slightly.
Ma Xiunuo was utterly shaken.
"A level ninety-nine Limit Douluo… I never imagined someone with such power could exist on the Douluo Continent—and to think he's your teacher, Xiao Zhang. You've truly done well."
Yin Zhang chuckled lightly.
"Ahem… it's nothing special."
Far above the land surrounding Slaughter City, a massive dragon circled through the skies.
Looking closely, a figure could be seen standing atop its back.
It was a Golden-Eyed Black Dragon.