Making Things a Little Harder for Tang Hao and Ah Yin

On the way back, the Soul Guidance Vehicle drove steadily toward Wu Family Manor.

Wu Sidu remained silent the entire time, lost in thought.

Nan Liujing took it all in. A faint glow of Soul Power quietly lit up in his left hand, condensing a fairly transparent candy out of thin air. He then deliberately waved it beside her.

A familiar fragrance drifted over. Wu Sidu twitched her delicate little nose and turned her head toward it like a kitten searching for food.

At that moment, Nan Liujing swiftly grabbed her fair little hand and forcefully placed it in her palm.

"My Candy Martial Soul hasn't obtained a soul spirit yet, nor do I have any soul skills. This fake candy condensed from Soul Power only has a bit of fragrance. Don't mind it," Nan Liujing said with a smile.

Wu Sidu froze. Looking at the candy in her palm, which had been specially shaped into a little cat, her gaze immediately softened. Much of the disappointment in her heart was soothed away. She tossed the cat-shaped candy into her mouth and chewed it, opening up again. "Why didn't you get a soul spirit for your second Martial Soul just now?"

"No rush." Nan Liujing smiled. "Soul spirit fusion needs to be done step by step."

Hmph~ Wu Sidu pursed her rosy lips and pretended to be disgusted. "Sure enough, it doesn't have any flavor at all. It's not tasty."

"I told you not to dislike it," Nan Liujing said irritably.

"I don't care." Wu Sidu huffed. "Who told your Candy Martial Soul not to fuse with a soul spirit?"

"Then once I have a soul spirit, I'll make candy for you to eat again?" Nan Liujing could easily tell that she was only pretending to dislike it, and he happily played along.

"You said that yourself." Wu Sidu smiled, anticipation gleaming in her unusual eyes. "You owe me a candy."

Nan Liujing readily smiled. "Fine. I owe you a candy."

Star Luo Continent, Star Luo City.

The sky was dark and oppressive. Deep clouds pressed steadily downward, creating the sense that a storm was about to destroy the city. Howling winds swept through with scattered raindrops, washing away the city's oppressive heat.

Rumble!

Lightning flashed amid the dark clouds, leaving afterimages across the sky like branching veins.

The streets were packed with pedestrians walking beneath umbrellas, while streams of vehicles flowed like light along the roads.

Before a floor-to-ceiling window several hundred meters above the ground, Zhang Geyang, one of the vice tower masters of the Spirit Pagoda, held a glass of red wine as he took in the entire city through the glass. He gently swirled his wrist, and the amber-like liquid in his cup released a rich fruity aroma with every motion.

Suddenly, Zhang Geyang frowned and murmured inwardly, "You want to absorb heavenly lightning to restore your cultivation?"

Within the spiritual sea of this Netherflame Douluo, an extraordinary plant gently swayed its vines, as though answering him.

Zhang Geyang fell silent for a moment. "Fine. You stripped away a portion of your origin bloodline this time, so your losses were considerable. Absorbing some heavenly lightning to recover isn't impossible. But remember not to overdo it. If there are any signs of breaking through to the fifty-thousand-year threshold, I won't be able to protect you."

As his words fell, he tore open the space before him with a wave of his hand and stepped through. When he reappeared, he was already in the sky, facing the thunderclouds head-on.

Soul Power surged as ghostly blue flames coiled around his body, making him look especially dazzling. Immediately afterward, a faint figure quietly appeared behind his head. It was that extraordinary plant.

Facing the clouds booming with Shocking Thunder, the plant's flower bud gently swayed, as if it were saying something. Yet Zhang Geyang failed to notice.

Night fell.

A grand banquet was being held in the brightly lit Wu Family Manor.

The brightness of the crystal chandeliers had been specially adjusted. Reflected light spread throughout the first-floor hall, blanketing it in a gentle glow.

Elegant music blended with the lively atmosphere in every beat, as intoxicating as wine.

Graceful gentlemen and elegantly dressed ladies displayed their finest bearing.

Most of them were young people under the age of thirty-five, outstanding members of their respective factions in Star Luo City.

A banquet was not merely a tool for the host family to publicize its affairs. It was also an important occasion for people to build "relationships."

Meanwhile, in the second-floor reception room, Star Luo City's true powerholders had shut the doors and were holding discussions suited to their status.

The moon hung in the sky like a silver disk. Gauze-like clouds were caught by the wind and gradually drifted away.

After showing herself before the guests, Wu Sidu brought Nan Liujing to a garden on one side of the manor. The two looked up at the bright moon as the lingering fragrance of flowers filled their noses.

"The banquet isn't interesting at all. This kind of quiet environment is much more comfortable." Wu Sidu sat on a long bench, her feet dangling in the air and swinging because they could not reach the ground.

Nan Liujing admired the moon. He did not like crowded places either.

Seeing that the guy beside her had not spoken for ages, Wu Sidu could not help starting a conversation. "Are you leaving for Mingdu tomorrow?"

"Yes." Nan Liujing nodded.

"Oh." Wu Sidu responded, then fell quiet again. A few seconds later, her eyes lit up as she came up with an idea. "Nan Liujing, how about you dance with me?"

"Me?" Nan Liujing pointed at himself blankly. He said helplessly, "Do I look like someone who knows how to dance?"

"It's fine if you don't. I can teach you. Once you learn, it might come in handy someday."

Wu Sidu became interested. After hopping off the bench, she lifted the hem of her exquisite gown with one hand, bent slightly at the waist, and extended her other hand toward Nan Liujing in invitation. A faint smile appeared on her fair, lovely face. "It's my first time dancing with a boy. You won't refuse, right?"

Under the moonlight, the girl's stunning mismatched eyes carried an expectation that was impossible to refuse. Nan Liujing sighed. "Don't blame me if I step on you later."

"How could I? I'm definitely a patient and good teacher," Wu Sidu promised.

Half an hour later.

Wu Sidu looked at her shoes, now covered in quite a bit of dust, then at her feet, which ached slightly. Her fair and exquisite face gradually reddened.

Nan Liujing suddenly understood.

So this was what a girl's embarrassment looked like—like she had overheated.

The next morning.

After Sun Kong bid farewell to his old brothers, he left Wu Family Manor with Nan Liujing.

The hovering Soul Guidance Vehicle drove along the highway toward the Star Luo City administrative center. As the former chief administrator, Sun Kong had some matters to discuss with the new chief administrator who had attended last night's banquet.

"You want to go to the seaside?" Sun Kong turned toward his nephew in surprise after hearing his sudden request.

"Yes." Nan Liujing nodded.

"Give me a reason." Sun Kong did not refuse outright.

"I suddenly want to see the sea." Nan Liujing fell silent for a moment before saying, "People online say the vastness of the sea is the most relaxing thing."

Sun Kong likewise fell silent. Just as the Soul Guidance Vehicle was about to merge onto the main road into the city, he said to the driver, "Turn toward the airport."

"Understood." The driver immediately turned the steering wheel, and the Soul Guidance Vehicle smoothly entered another lane.

"Pick a place." Sun Kong pressed some button inside the vehicle, and a twenty-seven-inch light screen projected down from the ceiling.

It displayed a map of Douluo Continent.

Nan Liujing swept his gaze across it. It looked like he was choosing, but he had already made up his mind. A moment later, he reached out and tapped one of the coastal cities glowing blue—Eastsea City. "This place."

Sun Kong casually glanced at it and immediately took out his phone to dial a number.

Nan Liujing looked at him in confusion as the call quickly connected.

"Your Excellency Heavenly Thunder." A respectful voice sounded from the other end.

Sun Kong smiled faintly. "My nephew is coming to Eastsea City. Please look after him, but don't take excessive care of him. You know my habits."

The person on the other end laughed. "No problem. Leave it all to me. About when will he arrive?"

"I'm not sure exactly how long it will take. I'll have him call you once he gets there," Sun Kong said with a smile.

The two chatted briefly for a few more moments before hanging up.

After making arrangements on that end, Sun Kong handed Nan Liujing a wristband. "This man is the tower master of the Eastsea City Spirit Pagoda. Contact him directly once you arrive. He'll arrange your food, clothing, lodging, and transportation."

"As for this wristband, it will sense any harm you may encounter and automatically release a Soul Power shield comparable to that of a seven-ring defensive Battle Soul Sage. As long as its internal energy source is not depleted, the shield will not break."

Nan Liujing accepted the wristband, his mind left with only one thought.

He was going to cling tightly to his uncle's thigh for the rest of his life—preferably with industrial-strength glue, the kind that could not be pulled apart no matter what.

Suddenly, Nan Liujing realized something and hurriedly asked, "Uncle, that person called you Your Excellency Heavenly Thunder?"

Sun Kong said, "On Douluo Continent, any nine-ring Titled Douluo is qualified to be addressed as Your Excellency. That rule has existed since the ancient era twenty thousand years ago."

"As it happens, I am a Titled Douluo."

Nan Liujing's heart stirred. "Heavenly Thunder... Then your Martial Soul is Lightning Element as well?"

Sun Kong nodded. "My Martial Soul is called the Heavenly Thunder Umbrella. It was precisely because of our shared attribute that your father and I became acquainted. Later, after experiencing many things together, he acknowledged me as his elder brother."

"So that's how it is." Nan Liujing understood.

Sun Kong glanced at Nan Liujing, his tone carrying an unclear meaning. "Besides being a Titled Douluo, I have another identity. Once you finish having fun on this trip, I'll tell you about it."

His tone then turned more serious. "By then, you won't be as relaxed as you are now."

Nan Liujing respectfully said, "I won't disappoint you."

"Aren't you curious about what I want you to do?" Sun Kong asked.

A smile appeared on Nan Liujing's handsome face. "No matter what it is, it will surely benefit me. Honestly, what I have now is already something countless people can only dream of."

"From here on, I'll use the foundation you built for me to construct things step by step, rather than lose myself in wealth and status until everything ends in a mess."

Sun Kong's eyes brightened slightly. He smiled and patted Nan Liujing on the shoulder. "Enjoy this trip. And remember, be careful."

"Yes, Uncle." A smile rose at the corner of Nan Liujing's lips.

Eastsea City.

Located in the eastern part of the Sun Moon Federation, it was the second-largest city along the Eastsea coast, with a permanent population of more than three million.

It possessed several deep-water ports, and its maritime transportation industry was extremely developed. It was a typical city built around developing ocean resources.

Living off the sea had also made the entire city economically prosperous. It counted as a first-tier city within the Federation, though it ranked near the bottom.

At Eastsea Airport, crowds surged back and forth.

In this era, when people mainly traveled by Soul Guidance high-speed rail and Soul Guidance Vehicles, flying was undoubtedly a luxury.

"Dear passengers..."

Announcements continued to sound beside his ears. Looking at the bustling crowd, Nan Liujing easily found the two people who had come to receive him. Just as Sun Kong had instructed in advance, the entire pickup was kept extremely low-key.

Both men were Soul Masters in their early forties, and neither spoke much. After exchanging a few polite words with them, Nan Liujing fell silent. His visit to Eastsea City was merely a cover. Before his true target was confirmed, he had no interest in building relationships.

Their Soul Guidance Vehicle left the airport along with countless others. After some time, once they entered the city limits, Nan Liujing spotted a structure almost at a glance even from far away. It resembled the Spirit Pagoda in Star Luo City, though it was somewhat shorter.

Like the one in Star Luo City, this Spirit Pagoda was a Heavenly Pillar-grade Spirit Pagoda. That should have been fortunate, but compared to Star Luo City, Eastsea City was in an awkward position. In recent years, the overall quality of the younger generation of Soul Masters produced here had worsened year after year.

This had left the Eastsea City Spirit Pagoda's tower master with rather embarrassing performance results. After all, if the Spirit Pagoda wanted to grow stronger, it needed to continuously absorb fresh blood. With Eastsea City's Soul Masters lacking in quality, even Spirit Pagoda Headquarters was increasingly reluctant to send powerful soul spirits here.

There were even rumors that if Eastsea City were not so prosperous, and if the industries established here by the Spirit Pagoda did not generate huge amounts of money every year, the local branch might have been downgraded already.

If that truly happened, local Soul Masters would have to travel to neighboring cities to buy powerful soul spirits from their Spirit Pagodas. It would not matter much to ordinary Soul Masters, but for the powerful local Soul Master families, it would be rather humiliating.

After briefly taking in the scenery along the way, Nan Liujing took out his phone and began browsing the internet. Suddenly, a text message notification popped up on the screen.

He instinctively tried to swipe it away, but his hand slipped and he accidentally tapped it open.

"Tch." Nan Liujing cursed inwardly and casually scanned the message. His expression changed drastically. Without the slightest hesitation, he directly asked the driver and the other Soul Master, "Excuse me, is today Eastsea Academy's opening day?"

The two men receiving him were both stunned. Earlier, they had seen that Nan Liujing was not particularly interested in conversation, so they had not disturbed him much. Now, hearing the boy whom the tower master had specifically ordered them to receive suddenly ask a question, the middle-aged Soul Master in the front passenger seat respectfully replied, "Yes."

Nan Liujing said, "I saw online that Eastsea Academy's opening day was still a few days away."

The middle-aged Soul Master in the front passenger seat answered, "It was originally a few days away, but apparently something happened out at sea, and a typhoon may arrive unexpectedly. The authorities decided that Eastsea City and its affiliated cities would begin school early."

Nan Liujing's heart sank. He lowered his head to check the time. It was nearly three in the afternoon.

"Do you want to go to Eastsea Academy?" the middle-aged Soul Master in the front passenger seat asked. "The tower master said we are to follow all your instructions."

Nan Liujing kept his face calm and denied it. "I came to Eastsea City to see the sea, but I didn't expect a typhoon might be coming. According to my plan, my first stop is a place called Aolai City. Is there time to get there?"

"Yes." The driver turned on the signal light. "Aolai City is a little over an hour's drive from Eastsea City, so it isn't too far."

"Then I'll trouble you."

The driver smiled. "You're too polite. However, we need to report the situation to the tower master."

"Of course."

The Soul Guidance Vehicle changed direction. More than ten minutes later, it entered a coastal highway built along the sea.

The weather was still very clear. The sky resembled an azure mirror, and sunlight spilled across the boundless sea. As the waves rose and fell, patches of shimmering light rippled over its surface.

There was no sign at all of an incoming typhoon. That was strange.

An hour later, after passing through a three-hundred-meter tunnel, a small city resembling a secluded paradise came into view.

Nan Liujing looked at the noticeably lower buildings, his gaze deepening.

Having met Wu Sidu ahead of time, he had essentially confirmed the timeline of his arrival. So he revised his plan. The purpose of this trip was to try and change the original course of events—at the very least, to keep Na'er and Tang Wulin from ever coming into contact.

If the course of events changed, what would the future become?

Without this encounter, he could not say how the Silver Dragon King would treat Tang Wulin. But without a doubt, it would make things a little harder for Tang Hao and Ah Yin, who would not truly appear until the very end.

As for Tang Wulin himself, the danger he faced might increase, but it would not be fatal. After all, one strand of Tang San's Spiritual Sense had always remained within his spiritual sea.

The only problem right now was that the school opening date had changed. That was extremely frustrating, since he could not make arrangements in advance.

He would take things one step at a time.

Some readers have asked whether he will go to Shrek Academy, so I need to explain something here.

Dou San is quite special. Aside from the Eastsea City arc, the next several hundred chapters all take place at Shrek Academy, followed by the Star Luo Empire. If I do not follow the Shrek route, that means I would need to create several hundred chapters of original plot while constantly connecting it to the original story. I do not have that ability. If I did, I would certainly rather write original material. So he will definitely go to Shrek Academy, though I have already figured out how things will work after he enters.

The male lead's true background is the Spirit Pagoda. That will not change.

I wanted to explain this in advance. To those readers willing to continue once the story enters Shrek, I thank you for your support. Readers who are unwilling can also stop early, so you will not need to curse at me later.