Douluo: Unlocking the Great Secrets of the Human Body, Becoming a Heavenly Demon — Chapter 15

This method had a much higher success rate than having the Golden Dragon King and Silver Dragon devour each other.

But she would not use such a method, nor would she fall in love with the son of a God King.

"Love is what humans usually call liking—an inexplicable emotion Tang Wulin once developed toward Senior Ouyang."

"Na'er wants to bind me through love? So that I won't be able to bring myself to kill Tang Wulin?"

"Where does she get that confidence?"

"Or does love truly hold such great power?"

Gu Yue had guessed something. Bai Xu had said not to underestimate human emotions—friendship, love, and family affection.

With that in mind, Gu Yue looked again at Xu Xiaoyan, who was sleeping soundly against her shoulder. Her skin was fair and tender, her sleeping face peaceful. Then Gu Yue recalled how the four of them had constantly practiced together over the past month or so. Before she knew it, the corners of her lips lifted slightly.

The killing intent she had deliberately stirred in her heart slowly melted away. She gently stroked Xu Xiaoyan's cheek and chuckled. "Perhaps it truly is that mysterious."

"But I also understand something now. Some matters cannot be resolved through love alone. There are many things more important than love—responsibility, faith. When the two come into conflict, one must be abandoned."

"Bai Xu was right. Hesitation only makes people disgusted. So after understanding so many principles, what do you want? What are you pursuing?"

Most soul beasts were simple-minded. Take Xiong Jun, for example. He usually looked utterly unconvinced by Di Tian. If he and Di Tian were at the same level of strength, he would definitely jump out immediately to challenge him and drag Di Tian down from the Beast God's throne.

They did not understand the complexity of human nature. They hastily entered human society, constantly learning from it and making themselves more human.

But how could one's nature, shaped into habit over countless years, be changed by a mere few decades of human life?

Only Xiao Wu and Ah Yin had been relatively fortunate. The ultimate fate of more transformed soul beasts was to become hundred-thousand-year soul rings, serving as stepping stones for others before reaching the end of their own lives.

Unlike Eastsea City, Skysea City had many mountains. Thus, many buildings had been constructed on the mountainsides, making the city appear more layered and undulating. Some skyscrapers were even built atop mountains, giving them the feeling of piercing straight into the clouds.

Bai Xu and the others were brought to a luxurious hotel. The hotel was quite distinctive, with half of it built over the sea. Every room offered a view of the ocean, giving one the feeling that they could embrace the sea itself.

"The scenery really is nice!" Bai Xu felt refreshed and at ease.

Ding-dong!

The doorbell rang, leaving Bai Xu puzzled. Teacher Leng had gone to coordinate with the competition committee. Tomorrow would be the opening ceremony of the Sky Sea Alliance Competition, along with the drawing ceremony, followed by the matches.

Who could it be at this hour?

With that question in mind, Bai Xu opened the door. A cool, aloof figure entered his sight. "Gu Yue?!"

Gu Yue showed little reaction. "I saw you and followed you over. Are you free now?"

"What is it?"

"Let's go out for a walk and discuss matters between us while we're at it."

"Sure."

Bai Xu locked the door and left with Gu Yue. There were many contestants that day, and the hotel lobby was packed. The streets outside were also clogged with passenger buses carrying competitors.

The two of them headed toward the seaside without prior agreement.

Bai Xu was somewhat confused. Gu Yue's change in attitude had come rather quickly. Could something have happened?

So he tested the waters. "Aren't you spending time with Tang Wulin at this hour?"

The sea wind howled, tossing Gu Yue's black hair into slight disarray. She casually tucked her hair behind her ear, and her cool temperament gained several more points. This really was a world that judged by appearance.

"He went to the Blacksmith Association with Mu Xi. Why are you asking about him?"

"Nothing. What did you want to say? Are we going to cultivate in the Star Dou Core region?" Bai Xu felt awkward asking further and changed the subject.

"Regarding your cultivation in the core region, I have already spoken with Di Tian. There will be no problem. This time, I wanted to ask you something—about my other incarnation, Na'er." Gu Yue stared into Bai Xu's eyes, wanting to see even the slightest hint of surprise.

Yet Bai Xu was not the least bit surprised upon hearing Na'er's name. He even responded with certainty, "What do you want to know?"

He knew everything. Perhaps his ability to see through the past and future was not an empty claim. Whether such an existence was good or bad for the Douluo Continent was impossible to say.

"Several years ago, Na'er and I made a bet. You should have learned of it through your ability to see through the past and present."

Bai Xu nodded. "I know."

"After speaking with you that night, I truly understood many things. She wants to use human love to bind me, so that I cannot bring myself to kill Tang Wulin. But now that I know Tang Wulin's true identity, I will no longer be as ignorant as before."

"What are you trying to say?" Bai Xu asked in confusion.

"But I am afraid. Na'er is the human emotion I separated from myself. She is more human than I am and possesses richer emotions. Moreover, the day she returns will eventually come.

"I am afraid that after merging with her, I will no longer be myself. I am afraid that afterward, I truly will not be able to be ruthless toward Tang Wulin. I will hesitate, and in the end, everything will conclude miserably."

"Today, on the bus here, I tried to kill Xu Xiaoyan. But I could not do it. A trace of tenderness rose in my heart, and I unconsciously recalled the days we spent together. That feeling was very beautiful."

"Human emotions truly are richer than anything we ever possessed. But you are different. You are like a spectator. Though you came carrying emotions and experienced the things humans should experience, I can feel that your heart is not bound by this mortal world. Or rather, no one can truly enter the depths of your heart."

"I want to ask you to teach me. At the very least, help me avoid Na'er's influence when we merge in the future."

Gu Yue walked along the seaside path, her eyes full of sorrow and melancholy. There was even a trace of pleading as she looked hopefully at Bai Xu.

Bai Xu stood stunned for a long while. Helplessly, he walked in front of Gu Yue, leaned against the railing by the path, and gazed out at the sea. "Emotions are difficult to explain. They are the bonds between humans, and also a trial you must undergo if you wish to integrate into human society."

"Emotions are the attitudes and experiences people develop toward objective things based on whether they satisfy their needs. You are conflicted now because you are experiencing the things around you. From every small action to every major event, everything can help you experience more emotions, gradually enriching and perfecting yourself."

"But that is only temporary. Once you spend a hundred years in the human world and experience joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness, once all your family and friends around you have passed away, leaving your emotions with nowhere to rest while you alone remain alive in this world, the only thing you will feel is loneliness."

He turned to face Gu Yue. The sea breeze blew against his face beneath his wild hair, and his expression was solemn and sincere. "In your life spanning hundreds of thousands of years, you must understand your place, clarify your direction, and remain firm in your convictions.

"Just like this brief human life, countless soul masters persist in cultivation. Some persist because of responsibility, some because of love, and some because they seek to go further.

"Gu Yue, you may be lost for a while, but you cannot remain lost forever.

"Persist in what you believe is right. Shoulder the responsibility upon you, and carry it through to the end. That way, you will not disgrace yourself as Gu Yue Na, the Silver Dragon King.

"Once you understand these principles, whether Na'er returns or not will have little effect on you."

Gu Yue's eyes widened slightly. Crystal tears glimmered in them, revealing her most vulnerable side.

The feeling was like someone pointing out a direction amid a boundless sea, allowing you to stop wandering, stop feeling lost, and move forward with unwavering determination.

She stood there blankly for a long time, thinking and reflecting. Then she nodded heavily at Bai Xu, as though she had understood everything.

She left with light steps. Even if fate hemmed her in, even if the God King plotted against her, even if the burden on her shoulders weighed a thousand pounds, even if one wrong step would lead to an abyss ten thousand fathoms deep, she still chose to shoulder the responsibility of the Master of Soul Beasts and restore soul beasts to glory.

But after walking more than ten meters away, she paused, turned back toward Bai Xu, and smiled lightly. With curiosity in her eyes, she seemed like a genuine ten-year-old girl.

She asked, "What about you?"

Bai Xu smiled. "My path is not here. If you can recover your strength in the future, you will see that day."

"Thank you."

"No need. Just remember to give me more Life Gold!"

Hearing what sounded like a joke, Gu Yue curled her lips and muttered something reproachful under her breath. Bai Xu did not hear it, and then she left.

Bai Xu spread his arms into the sea breeze, freely enjoying this moment of freedom. After his round of counseling, the Silver Dragon King's resolve had become much firmer. At the very least, she would no longer waver from side to side as she had in the original story.

But even if she made up her mind, she still could not kill Tang Wulin. Tang San's spiritual imprint and Tang Hao, the Lord of the Plane—those two alone ensured that the Silver Dragon King could not kill Tang Wulin before recovering her strength.

So what was Bai Xu's purpose?

He did not consider himself a good person. He had long since formed his own plans.

"I only wish to become a true moon in this life, rising from the Heavenly Mountain, playing among the sea of clouds, illuminating past and present, and walking above the dark myriad heavens."

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The next day

In the morning, the broadcast echoed throughout the venue.

"Today marks the beginning of the Sky Sea Alliance Competition. We have specially invited a team from Shrek Academy to exchange pointers with the champions of our previous competition. Given Shrek Academy's formidable strength, this exchange will be conducted across age groups. Our Skysea Alliance Youth Division's seven-person champions will challenge Shrek Academy's seven-person junior team. Now, please welcome both sides onto the stage."

Pitting the youth team against the junior team gave Shrek plenty of face, while also indirectly informing the audience of Shrek Academy's strength.

It truly was the academy where the continent's finest young talents gathered, and it was also the hardest academy to enter.

Shrek Academy had three admission requirements. First, applicants had to be recommended by major cities. Second, they could not be older than fifteen. Third, their Soul Power cultivation could not be below rank twenty-five.

This undoubtedly represented the solidification of class. Nearly all recommendation slots from major cities went to geniuses from local soul master clans, with only a very small number of outstanding commoner soul masters able to obtain one.

For example, without his connection to Leng Jiuming, Bai Xu would have had almost no connections to fulfill the first admission requirement. Naturally, he would not have been able to enter.

Just as Bai Xu was thinking, Leng Jiuming slapped a large hand onto him and laughed heartily. "Did you see that? It ended in a single strike. This is Shrek!"

Following his gaze, Bai Xu saw lightning condense into a thunder dragon on the stage. In a flash of electric light, the match had ended.

Overwhelming strength!

"If you faced a Shrek disciple, how do you think you'd do?" Leng Jiuming asked.

Bai Xu's eye twitched. With his extremely high magic penetration Mental Attack, even that Evil Soul Master Soul Emperor could not withstand it, let alone these students.

In summary: instant kill on sight.

"Not bad. We'd be evenly matched," Bai Xu said modestly.

"Then I'm rather looking forward to it! By the way, those just now were all disciples of Shrek Outer Court, not the elite students of the inner court."