Douluo Continent: My name is Yang Jian, and I achieved sainthood through my physical body

Shui Bing'er stood there watching his retreating figure. After a moment, she bent down, took out a few gold soul coins from her bosom, stuffed them into the woman's hand, and whispered, "Go quickly."

He then quickly caught up with Yang Jian.

They left the forest.

The afternoon light became bright and warm again, making one's back feel slightly warm, and the light on one's face felt like being gently touched by a warm palm.

Shui Bing'er stood at the edge of the forest, gazing at the boundless fields ahead and the smoke rising in the distance.

The smoke from the chimneys rose straight up in the still air, like gray pillars standing between heaven and earth.

She knew she had to go.

I already owe Yang Jian enough; I can't keep following him like this.

She meant to say, "Then I'll be going now," but what came out of her mouth was, "Next... which way are you going?"

Yang Jian didn't answer, and randomly chose a direction to start walking.

That direction neither deliberately avoided her nor deliberately waited for her; it was just an ordinary road.

Shui Bing'er hesitated for a moment, then took a step and followed.

She herself didn't know why she didn't say goodbye, but the sense of security she felt when she was by his side made her not want to pick up the stone she had already put down again.

A breeze blew from behind her, gently pushing the ends of her hair forward.

As darkness fell, they arrived at the edge of a sparse grove of trees.

Yang Jian jumped onto a large tree with thick branches, sat on a horizontal branch, leaned against the trunk, and closed his eyes.

Shui Bing'er looked up at him for a while under the tree, then jumped onto the horizontal branch of another tree next to her, bent her knees, and rested her chin on her knees.

Night fell from all directions, and moonlight filtered through the sparse branches and leaves, casting tiny, silvery-white spots on the ground like scattered beads.

The woods gradually quieted down, with only the sound of the wind and the distant chirping of insects floating gently in the night.

The sound was soft, yet continuous, like the night itself breathing.

Shui Bing'er turned her head and glanced in that direction, only to see a blurry outline sitting in the shadows where the moonlight couldn't reach.

Chapter 226 The New Emperor Ascends the Throne

The next morning, when Yang Jian opened his eyes, it was already bright outside.

The light in the woods gradually transitioned from the deep blue of the night to the bright pale gold of the morning.

The dappled sunlight filtering through the layers of leaves moves slowly across the ground, changing shape like tiny, living golden fish swimming in the green water, their course shifting with the wind.

Birdsong emanated from the surrounding tree canopy, clear and bright, chirping and chattering in a chorus.

The sounds, high and low, long and short, intertwined to form a morning song that, though without a conductor, was perfectly orderly.

The air was filled with the moist scent of dew and vegetation, fresh and slightly cool. As you breathed it in, it seeped into your lungs, and as soon as you woke up, it felt like you had been washed clean, feeling refreshed from the inside out.

He didn't sleep much all night, but he wasn't sleepy.

My mind remained clear and stable throughout, without feeling tired or groggy after waking up early.

He sat on a horizontal branch, leaning against the rough trunk, his gaze sweeping across the gradually brightening forest. He watched the dappled sunlight move from one tree root to another, and the morning mist slowly dissipate among the branches and leaves.

He moved his neck, and his bones made a slight cracking sound.

The sound was very soft, yet exceptionally clear in the quiet morning woods.

He then pushed off the branch with both hands and jumped down.

The feet landed almost silently, and with a slight bend in the knees, they stood firmly on their feet.

He patted the withered leaves and wood chips stuck to the hem of his robe, his movements calm and natural, and turned to walk out of the woods.

My footsteps rustled softly on the dew-covered grass.

Each step left a brief footprint on the grass, which was quickly covered again by the bounced grass.

At the same moment, Shui Bing'er opened her eyes on the tree next to her.

She wasn't fast asleep either; curled up on the horizontal branch, she kept a close eye on the outside world in a half-dreaming, half-awake state.

In an unfamiliar environment, her body's instincts prevented her from fully relaxing.

My eyes are closed, but my ears are awake.

She vaguely caught the sounds of the wind, the chirping of insects, the soft rustling of nocturnal animals scurrying through the leaves in the distance, and the steady breathing of the trees next door.

Hearing the sound of Yang Jian landing, she instantly came to her senses.

Like a string that has been touched, vibrating violently, all drowsiness vanished in an instant.

She quickly sat up from the branch, her robes still wrinkled from the night before, her hair disheveled with a few stray strands sticking out.

He jumped down with one hand, landing much more clumsily than Yang Jian.

He had to bend his knees to barely stand, and his clothes got caught on a tree branch. He had to tug at it to free himself.

By the time she looked up, Yang Jian had already walked several steps.

She quickly quickened her pace to catch up, following a few steps behind without saying a word, just quietly following along.

The two walked in silence for a while, crossing the fields in the early morning.

The rice stalks were still covered with glistening dewdrops, which shimmered in the rising sunlight like countless tiny diamonds scattered among the green leaves.

A thin mist floated along the ground, like the earth's first breath in the morning, pure white and light, slowly being dissipated by the sunlight.

From the village at the edge of the fields, the sounds of roosters crowing and early risers opening their doors drifted in from afar, one after another, before fading away again.

By the time they reached a small town, the sun was already high in the sky.

The town is small; it's only a few hundred steps from one end to the other.

The houses are low and clustered together, with walls mostly made of gray-white adobe or light gray bricks, and roofs covered with dark gray tiles.

In the early morning, wisps of smoke rise from the chimneys of every household, drifting straight up in the windless weather, like gray pillars standing on the rooftops, before being dispersed into thin smoke by the wind at higher altitudes.

The stone-paved road at the entrance of the town has been worn smooth and shiny by the footsteps of passersby, exuding a warm luster polished by the years.

The vendors at the morning market have already set up their stalls.

Vegetable vendors neatly arranged their greens and radishes in bamboo baskets, meat vendors laid out neatly cut pieces of meat on their cutting boards, and steam rose from the steamers selling breakfast.

The aroma of steamed buns and mantou wafted through the town entrance, mingling with the scent of earth, the sweetness of green vegetables, and the distant smell of livestock, creating the unique aroma of the town in the early morning.

As Yang Jian entered the town, he noticed several new notices posted on the roadside wall.

The paper was still snow-white and flat, with no curled edges, clearly indicating that it had just been pasted on recently.

The ink was fresh, with the subtle sheen characteristic of ink.

The characters on each notice were neat and upright, with even ink, clearly indicating that they were printed by the government.

A large crowd, including men, women, and children, had gathered in front of the notice, craning their necks to see it and whispering among themselves.

Some people read the contents aloud, while others whispered and exchanged views with others, creating a noisy and lively atmosphere.

Yang Jian walked over, slowed his pace, and focused his gaze on the notice.

The notice contained only a few lines, but it held information that could change the landscape of the Heavenly Dou Empire.

Three days later, Crown Prince Xue Qinghe will ascend the throne as the new emperor.

The top of the paper read "Announcement of the Deceased Emperor" in large characters, followed by the dates and times of his death and ascension to the throne. The characters were written in a solemn and neat style, and the paper ended with the seal of the Heavenly Dou Empire.

The red ink blotted out a clear and complete outline on the paper, as if drawing an unalterable period to the message.

The townspeople watching had various expressions.

Some people, with joy on their faces, hoped that the new dynasty would bring new prospects, and whispered to the person next to them, "With the new emperor's ascension to the throne, perhaps the taxes can be reduced."

Someone sighed softly, shook their head, and recited, "The late emperor has been on the throne for so many years," as if reminiscing about the old days.

Some people remained expressionless, simply watching the spectacle, glancing at the scene before turning and leaving.

Below the notice were several small pieces of paper with brief descriptions of the new emperor's benevolent policies, such as reducing taxes, reforming the bureaucracy, and allowing the people to rest and recuperate; the wording was earnest and solemn.

Although the font is small, it is still neat and tidy, showing that the new dynasty is trying to create a good impression.

Yang Jian stood in front of the notice for a while, his gaze slowly sweeping over the few lines of text before he looked away.

It felt like something gently tugged at his heart, a very light touch.

Like a tiny pebble thrown into a calm pond, it creates a barely visible ripple that quickly subsides.

It turns out that several days have already passed.

He wandered aimlessly outside, time never stopping to wait for him.

Emperor Xueye is dead, and everything is proceeding according to the predetermined trajectory.

Someone drafted this notice in a room deep within the city, printed millions of copies, and sent them by fast horses to every town, where they were posted on every wall.

Qian Renxue will soon ascend the throne of Tiandou, and the Spirit Hall's plan to unify the continent is only a few steps away.

Everything is moving forward, like an invisible river flowing day and night.

He wandered around for a few days, and as the sun rose and set, the outside world had quietly changed.

He withdrew his gaze and did not look at the detailed rules of good governance below.

Turning around, I walked back the way I came, my steps neither fast nor slow, but my direction had already reversed.

Chapter 227 It turns out to be His Holiness the Pope

Shui Bing'er was standing in front of the sugar cake stall at the entrance of town, staring curiously at the golden and crispy pastries.

The sugar cake was coated with glistening syrup, shimmering with an amber glow in the morning light, and its aroma wafted over in waves. She hesitated, wondering whether to buy one and try it.

Noticing Yang Jian turn around, she paused for a moment, her gaze shifting from the sugar cake to his back as he turned away.

She quickly jogged to catch up, a piece of sweet cake already clutched in her hand. She took a bite and mumbled, "Why are we turning back? Weren't we supposed to go forward?"

Yang Jian didn't answer, didn't stop walking, and didn't even turn his head.

Shui Bing'er followed quickly while chewing on a sugar cake, making soft chewing sounds.