Na'er: Gu Yue, How About a Bet?

"My Lord, she has been brought here."

In the secluded park, invisible Spiritual Power had long since sealed off everything. Several figures gathered together, respectfully watching the silver-haired girl standing beside the fountain.

Following Bi Ji all the way here, Na'er felt her heartbeat growing faster and faster. When she finally saw the girl before her with the same hair color, she was visibly stunned.

"You may all leave," Gu Yue said softly, her eyes suffused with a gentle elemental glow.

"Yes." Everyone withdrew.

The surroundings suddenly fell silent.

Na'er became wary. Then, when the girl before her turned around, her expression froze.

Looking at that face, somewhat similar to hers yet seemingly completely different, she blurted out, "Have I seen you somewhere before?"

A smile curled Gu Yue's rosy lips. An invisible radiance burst from her deep eyes and, in an instant, shot into Na'er's eyes.

Na'er became like a soulless puppet, standing there blankly.

"Let me see what exactly you experienced in the human world." Gu Yue walked over and pressed her forehead against Na'er's.

Learning the memories of the human world from her Subordinate Personality had been part of Gu Yue's plan from the start. That way, when the primary personality awakened, she would not enter human society knowing nothing at all.

Brilliant elemental light converged from every direction, enveloping them both.

In Gu Yue's mind, countless memories flooded in as though time and space had been crossed. Everything was normal at first, but gradually, an indescribable mix of embarrassment and irritation appeared in her calm eyes.

"I sent you into the human world to familiarize yourself with it. I never told you to become attached to a human."

A moment later, Gu Yue staggered back several steps, breathing rapidly with a flushed face. She actually could no longer reclaim and reuse the Subordinate Personality.

Struck by Na'er's memories of being with Nan Liujing, Gu Yue herself was thrown into turmoil. Her thoughts became unstable. Every time she closed her eyes, she could feel the firm sensation of Nan Liujing holding her body, as well as the pleasant feeling of him gently rubbing her head.

That comfort from the depths of those memories had nearly shaken her resolve. It took several deep breaths before she recovered, but the memories were lodged in her mind and simply would not go away.

"If I became attached to Brother, then ultimately, I have you to thank for it. Who told you to stuff me full of childhood memories of being a beggar?" Na'er had opened her eyes at some point. The innocence from earlier was gone from her pure purple eyes.

Gu Yue wanted to obtain her memories, but likewise, Na'er would gain the memories belonging to the primary personality. From this moment onward, Na'er truly became an existence possessing thirty percent of the Silver Dragon King's power.

Suppressing the strange emotions brought by those memories, Gu Yue said coldly, "Since I can implant memories into you, I can erase your memories as well."

"You are welcome to try."

Na'er frowned slightly. With a flick of her jade-like hand, silver light flashed, and a silver spear materialized in her grasp. The spear looked rather slender, pale silver dragon scales winding around its entire body. Under the moonlight, it radiated a pure, gentle glow.

The spear tip pointed at Gu Yue, dripping with cold light. "Over these past few years with Brother, I have already come to see myself as human. I have my own life now, and no one can take it from me."

"Besides, you may be able to erase my memories as a human, but I can also ignite this personality and erase your memories as the ruler of all soul beasts. At worst, we both perish together and leave you forever stuck at the Limit Douluo level."

"You dare!" Gu Yue cried in shock and fury.

"I do!" A defiant smile appeared on Na'er's elegant, otherworldly face. After confronting Gu Yue for a moment, she softened her tone. "Come to think of it, as the Subordinate Personality, I feel that you are really stupid. You inherited the Dragon God's world-shaking wisdom, after all."

Veins bulged on Gu Yue's forehead as her jade-like hand clenched tightly.

"I am not talking nonsense," Na'er continued on her own. "Yes, your old injuries have not fully healed, but you still possess the cultivation of a main god. The so-called plane restrictions cannot stop you at all. You could clearly maintain god-level combat power, look down upon humanity, and even easily wipe them out. Yet you did not. Instead, you insisted on ordering yourself into the human world, sealing your cultivation, claiming it was to understand humans, and then cultivating from scratch. Aren't you just making trouble for yourself?"

"I am guarding against the God Realm. What do you know?" Gu Yue said coldly.

Na'er snorted. "The God Realm has disappeared to who knows where. Guarding against what, loneliness?"

Gu Yue's knuckles had turned slightly white from clenching too hard. She snorted coldly. "How could you, a Subordinate Personality, understand the perfect plan I devised? I cannot be bothered to say more to you."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Na'er was not truly some sweet little girl. She was only obedient and well-behaved in front of her brother.

Hearing that sarcastic tone, Gu Yue's eyes nearly spat fire. "Do not force me to do this the hard way. At worst, we really will both suffer."

"Ahem." Na'er coughed lightly. "Anyway, this is how things stand now. What do you want to do?"

"For the future of the soul beast race, you must willingly merge with me immediately."

Gu Yue's face darkened. She had not expected the Subordinate Personality to become attached to that somewhat special human and break free from her control. When she had just accessed those memories, she discovered that she could not merge with Na'er at all. Some kind of mental feedback was violently rejecting her, and the two personalities were utterly incompatible. If she forced it, they could only both suffer.

Di Tian had tried to persuade her back then, but unfortunately, she had not taken it seriously.

"Impossible." Na'er shook one slender, fair finger.

Gu Yue frowned. "Then what do you want?"

Na'er's eyes rolled as an idea came to her. "Simple. Let us make a bet."

Gu Yue felt that this routine seemed rather familiar. "What are we betting on?"

Like a cunning little fox, Na'er smiled and said, "You want me to willingly let you merge with me. Fine, but you have to accomplish something first. Otherwise, even if you force me, I will not submit."

"What is it?" Gu Yue asked.

Na'er said, "You dislike that I became attached to Brother, and I have explained that human emotions are not so simple. Since that is the case, why not personally get to know my brother? If you can make him become attached to you, I will merge with you unconditionally without a word of complaint."

Gu Yue said indifferently, "I am the Silver Dragon King, ruler of all soul beasts. Why would I lower myself to pursue feelings with a human? Ridiculous."

"Are you afraid?" Na'er stared straight at her.

Gu Yue laughed in anger. "Stop trying to provoke me."

Na'er said nothing, merely continuing to stare at her.

Gu Yue pressed her lips together and pondered for a moment. "You keep pressing me. For the future of the soul beast race, this bet is not impossible. But you must complete a task I designate."

"What task?" Na'er asked, her crimson lips parting slightly.

Gu Yue said in a grave voice, "I will have Bi Ji take you to Shrek Academy. Then, you will voluntarily ask Yun Ming to accept you as his disciple. The goal is that Golden Ancient Tree. I suspect it is Douluo Star's Life Core. Once I control it, I will certainly be able to fully recover from my injuries and return to my peak."

Na'er had no interest in the Golden Ancient Tree, but after thinking it over, her brother was also in Shrek City. If she really stayed at Shrek Academy, that seemed rather nice.

"Fine, I agree. The bet takes effect now."

"Hmph." Gu Yue snorted, clearly giving her answer.

"There is one more thing." Na'er abruptly changed the subject. "The gift you gave Brother was a Silver Dragon Scale, right?"

Gu Yue's pupils contracted. Receiving the other party's memories went both ways. She had forgotten about that.

Na'er said coldly, "Once a Silver Dragon Scale is used, a Silver Dragon Mark will be planted on the user. From then on, they may appear normal, but in truth, they will completely become your follower. If you do not want me to fight you to the death, then obediently disperse the mark inside it."

Gu Yue's gaze darkened. "You are more deeply immersed in human emotions than I imagined."

Na'er's rosy lips curved into an elegant smile. "Believe me, once you experience it yourself, you will fall even deeper than I have."

Gu Yue merely smiled without speaking, dismissing it with disdain.

Once again entering the Heaven Spirit Tower that pierced the clouds, Nan Liujing followed Bai Haoze through the crowd of people getting off work. They took the elevator to the ninety-ninth floor.

Leng Yaozhu normally lived here. The levels above belonged to the Tower Master.

Stepping forward, Bai Haoze casually scanned his face, and the doors automatically slid open to either side.

The two entered one after the other.

The entire residence was no different from a large flat. Its decor appeared minimalist, but every material used was the best of the best.

Suddenly, Bai Haoze stopped, forcing Nan Liujing to stop as well.

He looked ahead, his gaze slightly unfocused.

Leng Yaozhu sat quietly on the sofa. The bright moonlight added a gentle, tranquil beauty to her fiery red hair, which was as blazing as flames.

An indescribable tenderness rested on her beautiful jade-like face. On the coffee table before her lay a black object.

Nan Liujing recognized it at a glance.

It was the cloth bracelet on Leng Yaozhu's right wrist. Its style looked like something made by a beginner, utterly lacking in refinement.

For a Limit Douluo to be so engrossed in it, its maker must have shared an immense connection with her.

He thought of someone: Leng Yulai, one of the Holy Spirit Cult's Four Heavenly Kings, known by the title Dark Phoenix.

Compared to her older sister, that woman was genuinely yandere—the kind who would really chop you up.

"You are here."

Only after a while did Leng Yaozhu return to her senses. She put the bracelet back on and rose to look at Bai Haoze and Nan Liujing.

"Your Excellency."

"Teacher."

The two addressed her in turn.

Leng Yaozhu nodded at Bai Haoze. "Sorry to trouble you."

"You are too polite." Bai Haoze smiled. "This subordinate will take his leave."

"Staying with Zhen Hua has indeed done you good. Your Spiritual Power, vitality, and even your Soul Power aura have all far exceeded my expectations." Left alone with her disciple, Leng Yaozhu began her usual inquiries. "What is your forging rank now?"

Nan Liujing replied, "Teacher, I have just reached Spirit Forging."

Leng Yaozhu was visibly taken aback. "Spirit Forging?"

"Yes." Showing off a little before his top-tier mature beauty of a teacher, Nan Liujing remained calm. After all, he had advanced so quickly only because of the Plane Imprint, so there was truly no need to feel smug.

There was not the slightest sign of deception on Nan Liujing's face. Leng Yaozhu suppressed her inner shock and teased, "It seems Zhen Hua's retirement will come sooner than expected."

After chatting briefly, Leng Yaozhu led Nan Liujing to sit on the sofa and got straight to the point. "Your great-grandfather asked me to give you something."

As she spoke, she took out a special soul tool card and placed it on the coffee table.

"Your martial soul is the Coiled Dragon Staff. Logically, it would be better for the Qian Gu Family to guide you, but for certain special reasons that are inconvenient to explain, your great-grandfather asked me to do so. This card contains insights into Staff Intent. Inject a trace of Soul Power to unlock it, and you will be able to see it."

Nan Liujing picked up the card. Before he could examine it closely, Leng Yaozhu continued.

"I have drawn up a cultivation plan for you. It will begin tomorrow."

"Yes." Nan Liujing answered.

With business concluded, Leng Yaozhu directly had Nan Liujing sleep in her large flat.

It was spacious enough, with plenty of rooms.

After taking a refreshing shower, he looked at the message Ye Xinglan had sent him.

He had thought it might be good news, but after reading it, his expression could not help turning strange.

Ye Xinglan: I am so pissed off.

Nan Liujing: ?

Ye Xinglan was apparently truly furious, sending a rapid string of messages.

I was wandering around Shrek Inner City and came across a Huo Yuhao's Grilled Fish shop with soul. I got there late, and there were only two fish left. I wanted one for myself and one for my dad. I had already paid, and the owner had finished grilling them and was about to give them to me when someone beside me snatched them away. Then he threw a few bills at me and said something like, "No change needed. This is your reward."

When has Ye Xinglan ever suffered such humiliation? I drew my sword and fought that bastard. I have to admit, he had some skill, but he was no match for me. After I stabbed him with a sword, he ran off. I thought that would be the end of it, so I wandered around eating my fish. But who would have thought that bastard would call for backup? Four or five people surrounded me. If I had not run fast, I would probably have been black and blue.

Nan Liujing's mouth twitched as he read her little essay. After thinking for a moment, he replied: Then you definitely ran into Shrek students.

Ye Xinglan: Judging by their age and strength, they really were students. But are Shrek students all this arrogant? Do they just steal other people's things whenever they feel like it?

Nan Liujing: Shrek Academy has an old saying passed down for twenty thousand years: those who dare not cause trouble are mediocrities. So people at that academy have all been influenced by it to some extent.

Ye Xinglan: Those who dare not cause trouble are mediocrities... Hmph. If they meet someone they cannot afford to provoke, will they not still have to tuck their tails and run?

Yes, Dugu Bo gives you a like!

Nan Liujing smiled. Their two and a half years together had apparently succeeded in changing some of Ye Xinglan's thinking. He replied: All right. Next time you come to the Spirit Pagoda, I will carry you to a higher rank. Let the unpleasant things pass.

He had taught her both "bastard" and "carry you to a higher rank." Since neither phrase existed in common use, they were little secrets shared only between them, which Ye Xinglan seemed quite pleased with.

Ye Xinglan quickly replied with a thumbs-up emoji, along with a few letters: OJBK!

Oh no. She had not learned the good things, but this girl picked up the bad ones instantly... Nan Liujing smacked his forehead.

Putting down his phone, Nan Liujing finally picked up the card and examined it.

A wisp of dark blue Soul Power entered it. The card activated, releasing a gentle glow.

"Identity verification successful!"

As the electronic voice sounded, a beam of light shot upward from the card and flowed into Nan Liujing's eyes.

Intense Spiritual Power fluctuations began to boil. A moment later, Nan Liujing blinked.

"Words engraved with Spiritual Power are hard to forget. As expected, the methods of passing down teachings change with the times."

With just a thought, the insights into Staff Intent would immediately appear in his mind, incomparably clear and even accompanied by all kinds of annotations.

Nan Liujing immediately entered a meditative state and devoted himself wholeheartedly to comprehending the insights into Staff Intent.

Never give up any opportunity to improve oneself. That was a truth that would never be wrong.