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Chapter 426.

Ning Rongrong held one of the wooden carvings in her hands, her eyes fixated on it. It was the carving of the six-ringed Soul Emperor.

Hearing this revelation, Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong froze in shock. Even Tang San was momentarily stunned. Ma Hongjun, Oscar, and Dai Mubai hadn't reacted fully yet, but they were already starting to piece things together.

"You... where did you encounter him?" Ning Rongrong asked, her voice trembling with a mix of disbelief and excitement. Her heart was racing—faster than when she had first laid eyes on the two wooden carvings.

"The grove over there," the student replied hesitantly, pointing towards a distant forest.

Without hesitation, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing dashed in the direction the student indicated, their figures blurring as they moved. The others quickly followed, their curiosity and anticipation mounting.

"What's going on?" Ma Hongjun muttered in confusion. "Why are Rongrong and Zhuqing so worked up? Isn't this Six-ringed Soul Emperor just a friend of the Grandmaster? Wait—could it be... Brother Feng?"

"Exactly," Tang San said as he quickened his pace toward the grove. His tone carried a calm certainty. "The Six-ringed Soul Emperor is almost certainly Brother Feng. Zhuqing and Rongrong must have realized this a long time ago, likely when they first saw the carvings. I suspected it back then too. At the time, I thought the Six-ringed Soul Emperor was the mysterious Jiu Yikai, but later it became clear that Jiu Yikai was none other than brother Feng all along."

Hearing Tang San's explanation, the group exchanged astonished glances. The Six-ringed Soul Emperor had left a profound impression on all of them.

"If that's true," Ma Hongjun said with a bitter smile, "then during our time in the Sunset Forest, Wang Feng was with us the entire time... and we didn't even realize it. Honestly, who else could possess such strength besides him?"

The revelation hung in the air as they hurried toward the grove. Soon, they arrived at a familiar place—one they all knew well. This small forest had been their –training ground countless times before. In its center lay a serene lake, flanked by a simple wooden house and a modest clearing.

Standing quietly by the edge of the lake was a lone figure.

The figure wore a pristine white robe, contrasting sharply with the black mask that obscured their face. The attire was the exact opposite of the black robe and white mask associated with Jiu Yikai—a detail that had likely fueled Tang San's suspicions about the Six-ringed Soul Emperor's true identity.

The air was thick with tension as they stared at the figure, each of them brimming with questions and emotions that could no longer be contained.

In the past five years, the Six-ringed Soul Emperor didn't seem to have changed at all.

"Wang Feng!"

Ning Rongrong couldn't hold back any longer. The moment she saw the figure, she shouted excitedly, her voice carrying a mix of joy and relief.

Beside her, Zhu Zhuqing struggled to restrain her own emotions, her body trembling as she fought the overwhelming urge to rush forward. Her eyes misted over with unshed tears, and her hands clenched tightly.

'He finally appeared!

I knew he couldn't have met with disaster!

That silhouette—it was so familiar', so deeply etched in her memory.

The rest of the group exchanged glances, their expressions a mixture of disbelief and cautious joy. Ning Rongrong, however, couldn't wait. She rushed forward without hesitation.

But just as she was about to close the distance, the Six-ringed Soul Emperor turned around. His calm, measured voice cut through the moment like a cold blade.

"Stop. You've got the wrong person."

The words froze Ning Rongrong mid-step, and the others hurried to catch up. Zhu Zhuqing was the first to reach her, grabbing her arm to steady her.

"I'm only here to find the Grandmaster," the Six-ringed Soul Emperor continued in the same detached tone. "I didn't expect to encounter any of you here. It's been more than five years, and it seems you're all doing well. As for Wang Feng? I'm sorry, but I'm not him. Ning Rongrong, you've mistaken me for someone else.

"And haven't you already heard the announcement from Soul Hall? Wang Feng, also known as Jiu Yikai, is dead."

His words landed like a hammer, leaving the group stunned.

"Impossible!" Ning Rongrong shouted, her voice trembling with disbelief. "You must be Wang Feng! How could you forget the secret we shared that night?"

Her outburst startled Zhu Zhuqing and Tang San. Both turned to look at her, their shock evident. Did Ning Rongrong also have a private encounter with Wang Feng that night?

The Six-ringed Soul Emperor shook his head. "I don't know what secret you're talking about. But think carefully, Ning Rongrong—did the Wang Feng you're referring to ever admit to being me?"

Ning Rongrong's body stiffened as his words struck a chord. She remembered that night clearly, yet it was true. Wang Feng had never explicitly admitted anything. He had remained silent, letting her assumptions fill the void.

Had it all been her own wishful thinking?

Zhu Zhuqing's heart sank as similar doubts crept into her mind. Her situation mirrored Ning Rongrong's. She had relied on her instincts, convinced that the Six-ringed Soul Emperor was Wang Feng. But in truth, there had never been a confession—no tangible proof.

It had all been intuition.

Breaking the tense silence, Tang San suddenly spoke. "Senior, more than five years ago, in the Sunset Forest, you taught us invaluable lessons that changed us profoundly. We've benefited greatly from your guidance. Could you advise us once more?"

His words were carefully chosen, and Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong immediately understood his intent. Tang San was testing him.

If this Soul Emperor was indeed Wang Feng, his fighting style would give him away in an instant. But if it wasn't then their hopes and assumptions were nothing more than a misunderstanding.

"Senior, would you be willing to guide us again?" Ning Rongrong asked, her gaze fixed on him with unwavering determination.

She refused to believe otherwise. He must be Wang Feng! Yet doubts swirled in her heart. If it's true, why is he trying to hide it? What –could possibly prevent him from admitting it?

A tense silence filled the air.

"I..." The six-ringed Soul Emperor coughed lightly. "I'm afraid I can't keep up with you anymore. Consider this old man retired from giving advice."

"Senior, you're too modest," Tang San replied quickly. "Five years ago, you defeated all seven of us without even using your martial soul or soul power. Surely, your strength has only grown since then."

The group exchanged knowing glances. Five years ago, they had been utterly helpless before the Six-ringed Soul Emperor. If this truly was Wang Feng, there would be no hiding it once they engaged him.

"Enough talk! Take this!"

Without hesitation, Ma Hongjun activated his martial soul and charged directly at the Six-ringed Soul Emperor, his movements decisive and unrelenting.

Whoosh!

In an instant, the Six-ringed Soul Emperor vanished from his spot. His speed was astonishing—too fast for anyone to follow. Before Ma Hongjun could react, a well-placed kick sent him flying backward.

"I told you," the six-ringed Soul Emperor said calmly after a brief silence, "I really can't beat you. Let's just drop it."

Ma Hongjun picked himself up from the ground, his face covered in dirt and his expression one of utter disbelief.

"There was no fluctuation of soul power," Tang San said gravely, his sharp gaze locked on the six-ringed Soul Emperor. "It really is him—the Six-ringed Soul Emperor from before. Everyone, be on guard!"

"Activate your martial souls! Let's go!" Dai Mubai commanded with a roar. His golden eyes gleamed with determination as he stepped forward, taking the lead. "I'm sure of it—he's Wang Feng! He's testing our strength after all these years!"

His words galvanized the group into action. Though five years had passed, their teamwork remained as seamless as ever.

Beams of radiant light from Ning Rongrong's Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda descended on Dai Mubai, enveloping him in a shimmering glow. Over the years, her augmentation ability had grown immensely powerful.

The boosts she provided now were nothing short of extraordinary. The single amplification rate from her Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda had surpassed an incredible 100%!

Simultaneously, Ning Rongrong used her advanced distraction control technique to distribute her enhancements across the team. Multiple beams of light fell upon them, augmenting their strength, defense, agility, attack power, and overall attributes.

With these enhancements, the five surged forward with renewed vigor, their combined might on full display as they closed in on the Six-ringed Soul Emperor.

......

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