Chapter 296: Smile for Me, Little Lady

Su Cheng walked slowly through the forest.

Huge ancient trees, tall enough to block out the sun, were everywhere in this place. The Blue Silver Grass, a type of spirit beast that was considered extremely rare elsewhere, was surprisingly abundant here.

Although the sunlight was mostly blocked by the canopy, the plants around him emitted a faint blue glow, creating a unique and wondrous aesthetic, even in broad daylight.

Stepping back into this Blue Silver Grass Forest, Su Cheng felt exceptionally relaxed.

The first time he came here, it was to rely on his own strength to condense a spirit ring. At that time, the peculiar atmosphere of this self-contained world made him extremely vigilant.

The second time, he wasn't here for himself but to help Zhu Zhuqing advance to the level of Spirit Emperor. By then, with his strength, he no longer regarded this seemingly self-contained small world as a threat.

But this time, Su Cheng's feelings were somewhat different compared to before.

The Blue Silver Grass Forest still appeared as a small world, but it no longer seemed vast to him.

If necessary, he could even utilize the power of this world in battle, even though he neither possessed the bloodline of the Blue Silver Emperor nor belonged to this small world.

This was the difference in realms.

The Su Cheng of today was no longer who he once was.

His energy flowed seamlessly through his body, his soul continuously merging with his physical form, and their union became increasingly harmonious.

Without expending any effort, he could keep himself in the best combat state at all times, while also remaining in the most relaxed and restful state.

Moreover, his strength continued to increase naturally, almost every moment.

Although the increase was gradual and steady, he now possessed god-level strength. If compared to spirit master levels, his growth wasn't just by one or two levels.

It could be said that the gap between a powerful third-level god and a weaker third-level god was even greater than the difference between a peak Douluo and an ordinary person.

When the day comes that his soul fully merges with his body, when his instincts and consciousness become indistinguishable, that will be the moment of his next qualitative change.

Using his extended external senses, Su Cheng quickly located where Ah Yin was, though she hadn't sensed his presence.

To the simple senses of the Blue Silver Grass spirit beasts around him, he wasn't much different from the other Blue Silver Grass.

Unremarkable, except for his faster movement speed, there was nothing special about him.

Su Cheng walked at a leisurely pace, a faint smile on his face.

His feelings toward Ah Yin had always been positive.

Though this elder sister was a bit naive, she was kind and brave, possessing qualities that most people in this world lacked.

These flashes of humanity were rare, even though she wasn't strictly a "human."

If it weren't for what happened during the finals of the Spirit Master Tournament, their relationship might have already progressed further.

But it's not too late.

By now, Su Cheng's mindset had begun to change slightly.

This was unavoidable.

The so-called elevation of one's realm didn't merely refer to strength. If it did, he wouldn't have named this newly acquired power of his "True Power."

Natural by nature, returning to simplicity, moving with the world—this is the true essence.

And it was precisely because his strength had increased, giving him more confidence, that his tolerance for many things had also grown.

The Su Cheng of that day acted so decisively out of caution.

Perhaps Ah Yin truly meant what she said at the time—she only wanted to save Xiao Wu's life without considering other matters.

But to him at that moment, he couldn't afford to leave such a potential risk by his side.

He wasn't strong enough to take that risk, nor could he gamble.

A person's magnanimity and tolerance are directly related to their strength.

To pretend to be broad-minded without any backing is often just self-consolation.

This backing might be strength, background, or other opportunities.

The Su Cheng of the past had a cheat code, the simulator, and knew some future events, giving him a sense of destiny.

But those things weren't his true strength, and external threats always existed.

Even after comprehending Innate Power, he had to guard against the prying eyes of the Divine Realm, to avoid being crushed in the cradle by powerful deities.

It wasn't until now, with his thoroughly stabilized strength and realm, that he finally felt truly relaxed. He could now observe many relationships from a higher perspective.

Whether this change in mindset was good or bad, Su Cheng himself couldn't say for sure.

He certainly hoped to always maintain those pure intentions, but he also understood that it was something exceedingly difficult to achieve.

Because human nature is such.

Whether due to changes in the external environment or one's own status and strength, thoughts will always change accordingly.

All he could do was try to maintain his truest self, at least in terms of emotions, to keep that original sincerity.

Su Cheng's pace wasn't particularly fast, but it only took him half an hour to reach the deepest part of the forest.

Passing by two massive ancient trees, whose trunks would require several people to encircle, a stunning scene unfolded before him.

On a large boulder stood a graceful figure, dressed in a blue-gold palace gown, her eyes distant, lost in thought.

Her smooth blue hair flowed down her back, reaching her waist and hips, gently swaying in the breeze, giving her an otherworldly aura.

To Su Cheng, Ah Yin at this moment looked like a divine being, detached from the world, pure and noble, as if she could depart from this scene and ride the wind at any moment.

He was momentarily stunned.

Ah Yin had always been elegant, combining the grace of an orchid in a secluded valley with the softness of clouds and jade, but she had never reached such a level, truly exuding an unparalleled and otherworldly charm.

But...

"Hey, little lady, smile for me."

For some reason, Su Cheng suddenly felt like disrupting this serene beauty, pulling the goddess down from her pedestal.

"?"

Hearing the familiar voice and teasing tone, Ah Yin snapped out of her reverie.

She turned around, slightly puzzled, and immediately saw the young man standing not far away, smiling at her.

In an instant, various emotions welled up inside her, but when she tried to pinpoint them, she couldn't quite make them out.

She suddenly understood what the Blue Silver King meant before.

Why make such clear distinctions about certain things?

Wasn't this joy and satisfaction what she had longed for when she left the forest and ventured into the human world?