Heading North Out of the City

"You can go back now."

Although Xu Yu's embrace was warm, it was not where she belonged.

Zhu Zhuyun broke free from Xu Yu's arms and walked away without looking back.

After walking some distance, Zhu Zhuyun turned around to look at Xu Yu's dejected back. She sighed and forcibly suppressed the stirrings in her heart. Though she was heartless, she was still human.

Whether it was Xu Yu saving her life and caring for her on Sea Island, or their daily life in Spirit City, the mingling of body and soul, she had not reached the point of being able to turn a blind eye to it all. But she could not stay here any longer.

If she stayed here, by Xu Yu's side, Zhu Zhuyun could feel herself becoming increasingly dependent on him. That was not the outcome she wanted. She still wanted to build a life of her own.

And this leaf... who gave someone a leaf as a gift? Zhu Zhuyun smiled faintly, beautiful and generous, but unfortunately, Xu Yu had never seen that smile.

What Zhu Zhuyun did not know was that in the days to come, this leaf never showed the slightest sign of withering. Only then did she truly confirm how extraordinary it was. Nor could she have imagined how much help it would bring her, even helping her consolidate her position in the south.

Upon returning to Spirit City, Xu Yu thought it was time for him to leave as well.

A few days later, a convoy leisurely headed north.

Inside the carriage, Xu Yu focused on reviewing the roster of personnel for this journey. Golden Goose leaned against his shoulder, bored and dozing off. She was the typical kind who created trouble for him just because she had nothing better to do, making his arm go numb.

"Where's that little girlfriend of yours? Why didn't she come along?"

"She left. We're just ordinary friends." To keep Golden Goose from nagging, Xu Yu cut off her urge to pry in advance.

But the more he said that, the more interested Golden Goose became. "Hmph, ordinary friends? Then why did you agree to crawl into her bed?"

Did she think she did not know? She had heard it all perfectly clearly.

"Enough about that. What's the deal with this Third Elder? Why did he come along?"

The other two Titled Douluo were two of the Six Grand Worshippers, pillars of Spirit Hall and Qian Daoliu's trusted subordinates. Xu Yu could understand why they had come to hunt down Tang Hao, but what was the Third Elder doing here?

More importantly, how had the Shrek people ended up mixed in with him?

"The Elder Hall's Nine Elders are among the most senior figures in Spirit Hall. Although later generations have also advanced to Titled Douluo, the titles of the Nine Elders have barely changed. Only after the previous holder of a title dies can someone else take their place. The Third Elder joined Spirit Hall long ago, and his strength ranks among the very best in Spirit Hall. His Soul Power has surpassed Level Ninety-Five."

"As for why he came along, that is strange."

Back then, Qian Xunji had publicly claimed that Tang Hao had beaten him to death. Given Golden Goose's status as the Ninth Elder, she naturally knew about it. Still, she found it strange that the Third Elder had come along as well.

Third Elder, Titled Douluo, Shrek.

Could it be... Xu Yu understood.

Dai Mubai had once said that Shrek had produced countless outstanding young talents, and the most accomplished among them had broken through Level Ninety and become one of Spirit Hall's elders. Could that have been this Third Elder?

No wonder Zhao Wuji, Tailong, and the others were willing to follow him. As for Oscar and Ma Hongjun, they naturally had not gone. Those two possessed exceptional talent, and even if the Third Elder had asked for them, Bibi Dong would not have agreed.

As for why this Titled Douluo had remained inactive in the original story, Xu Yu could understand that too. Shrek had always been beaten down, and later they had even been killed once. If they had not cheated their way into resurrection, Spirit Hall would have held the advantage all along. It was perfectly normal for the Third Elder to remain silent.

As for why he had stepped forward now, it was entirely because Shrek had yet to become a force to be reckoned with and was not taken seriously by Spirit Hall at all. In the end, Shrek was not an enemy in the eyes of today's Spirit Hall, merely an ant that could be crushed at any time. Who would treat an ant as an enemy?

Xu Yu nodded in realization. He understood.

Golden Goose, who had been explaining everything to him, was completely baffled. What was going on? Had she said why the Third Elder had come along?

She had not said anything. She did not even know. How did he know?

"You don't need to know. You just need to know how to fight."

"What do you mean?" Golden Goose felt that her intelligence had been insulted, and her gaze turned unfriendly.

Xu Yu smiled awkwardly. "I didn't mean anything by it. I was talking about you, Sister Yan. Pure and flawless, peerlessly beautiful. A crude man like me can think about those things. A celestial maiden as pure and elegant as you has no need to. Let me massage your shoulders so you can sleep comfortably."

When traveling, it was best to have a Titled Douluo protecting him!

And Golden Goose was easy to coax. Once he flattered her until she was floating on air, things would be much easier.

Golden Goose was very satisfied with Xu Yu's behavior. The only thing she was dissatisfied with was that he stopped after massaging her for barely a minute or two.

Lying in the carriage, Golden Goose looked at Xu Yu, who was still studying those materials, and asked, "What should we do now?"

"What else can we do? Of the whole convoy, only the two of us are high-ranking Soul Masters. The rest are from Spirit Hall and the Elder Hall. What can we do?"

"Did Bibi Dong get her head caught in a door last night? What kind of arrangement is this?" Xu Yu continued complaining, frightening Golden Goose so badly that her face turned pale. She hurriedly covered his mouth to stop him from speaking. This was practically asking to get her killed.

If anyone heard that, he might survive, but she would be finished.

Being chopped into mincemeat and fed to pigs would be the best possible outcome.

"Reporting to the Papal Envoy, several elders wish to discuss important matters with you. May I ask if the Papal Envoy is available now?"

The person outside seemed to be from Spirit Hall. Golden Goose warned Xu Yu once more not to talk nonsense, then had him take her over.

"Papal Envoy, Ninth Elder, this way."

The convoy had already set up camp on the spot, and it was clearly divided into three factions. Xu Yu's side was the most shabby of them all.

Xu Yu's expression darkened slightly. He did not know whether it was because the Pope's Palace had been given such a low-grade setup, or because no one had informed him of the order to make camp. No matter what, he was the overall person in charge of this operation.

"Please, hehe." The man who had come was grinning and laughing. Xu Yu snapped, "Insolence. Take him down."

"Cripple him."

What? The man's expression changed drastically. Xu Yu glared at Golden Goose behind him. This time, she did not hesitate any longer. With a casual strike of her hand, how could a mere Soul Saint withstand the force of a Titled Douluo?

Pfft. He spat out blood and collapsed, unable to rise. Several people behind him hurried over to help him up. After checking him over, their faces darkened as they looked at Xu Yu, but they did not dare curse him, because a Titled Douluo behind him was watching them like a tiger.

"What happened? Why did they start fighting?" After Xu Yu and the others left,

the nearby Spirit Hall Soul Masters immediately began discussing it.

"Isn't it because that unlucky fool was gloating right in front of him? He may be young, but he is still the Papal Envoy."

"So what if he's the Papal Envoy? I could do it too." Someone was unconvinced.

The person who had answered earlier looked at him disdainfully. "He's a teammate of the Golden Generation. What about you?"

"That still doesn't mean he can throw his weight around and bully people."

"Idiot. Mocking him is the same as mocking Your Excellency the Pope. If he didn't react, he'd be in for it once he returned to Spirit City. I can't be bothered talking to you. I'm going to suck up to the Papal Envoy."

Everyone: "..."

Meanwhile, Xu Yu arrived at a tent, intending to discuss stopping in Heaven Dou City for a few days to rest and resupply before heading to the Extreme North to capture Tang Hao.