Gu Yuejin's Plans, Asura Field

"Master, aren't you going to seize the moment and hunt for your Eighth Soul Ring?"

Huo Yuhao watched from the side, his heart surging with excitement, those Purple Gold Double Pupils brimming with admiration.

In his eyes, given Master's current state, heading to the Extreme North or Star Dou Forest to hunt a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast was no challenge at all—it would be like picking something out of a pocket.

"No rush."

Gu Yuejin waved a hand, not letting the surge of power cloud his judgment. He closed his eyes, finely sensing the endless, surging vitality flowing from his left leg bone.

It was the nascent form of "Life Origin" granted by the Nineteen-Thousand-Year Blue Silver Emperor Leg Bone.

Nourished by this force, every meridian and bone in his body underwent microscopic restructuring and reinforcement. His cells seemed to cheer, greedily devouring this life energy.

"You eat a meal bite by bite, walk a road step by step."

Gu Yuejin opened his eyes, his gaze deep as an abyss:

"Right now, though my soul power is sufficient, my body still needs time to adapt to these two Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings."

"It's like someone who's just eaten—if you force another whole ox down their throat, they'll only burst."

"Without a solid foundation, forcing a breakthrough is just building castles in the air. My goal is the supreme throne of the gods; I can't afford the slightest flaw."

Hearing this, Ye Guyi's eyes trembled slightly.

If anyone else had said this, she might have dismissed it as an excuse. But looking at this man, so young yet so composed, she felt only awe.

To maintain such clear-headed rationality in the face of immense temptation—that was the mindset of a true powerhouse.

On the return journey.

Gu Yuejin swirled a glass of crimson wine in his hand, his gaze fixed on the scenery blurring past outside.

"Soul tools..."

He murmured the name to himself, his fingers tapping lightly on the table.

This trip had been fruitful.

Not only had Huo Yuhao obtained a perfect Third Soul Ring, but he himself had acquired a top-tier configuration for his Second Martial Soul, and had even casually brought back an Angel Girl with boundless potential.

But that wasn't enough.

"The Hongchen Family may be my allies now, and that old fox Jing Hongchen has indeed shown me plenty of respect."

"But living under someone else's roof is no long-term solution."

Gu Yuejin knew well that Xu Tianran, that madman, was a ticking time bomb, and the Hongchen Family might not stay safe in the coming storm.

To truly seize the initiative, he had to build his own core strengths.

Beyond absolute combat power, that meant—technology and wealth.

"In this era, soul tools are the truth."

"They're not just powerful weapons; they're the bridge to endless wealth, resources, and influence."

Gu Yuejin's mind conjured the terrifying existences from the later chapters of Douluo's history.

Four-Word Battle Armor, Humanoid Mechs, and even the legendary God-Slaying Soul Tool, said to be capable of annihilating a deity in a single strike.

"I may have top-tier martial souls and a system, but that doesn't stop me from mastering this craft."

"If I can combine some concepts from my past life with this world's Soul Tool Technology, and replicate even a prototype mech ahead of time..."

At this thought, Gu Yuejin's lips curled slightly, a spark of ambition flickering in his eyes.

"By then, even those lofty God Kings up in the God Realm would have to think twice when facing a Steel Tide."

"Looks like my next focus, besides training those little brats in the Reserve Team, will be on learning."

"More skills don't weigh you down—especially a skill that can print money."

Several days later, Mingdu, Hongchen Mansion.

As Gu Yuejin stepped through the gate with Huo Yuhao and Ye Guyi, Jing Hongchen, who had already received word, greeted them with a beaming smile.

"Haha, Brother Gu Yue, you've been away quite a few days!"

Jing Hongchen's face was ruddy, clearly in a good mood. His gaze first swept over Huo Yuhao, sensing the stable and profound aura of a Soul Elder, and a flicker of surprise and satisfaction crossed his eyes.

"Not bad, not bad. This kid's aura is even more refined now—looks like this trip was quite rewarding."

Then, his gaze passed Huo Yuhao and landed on Ye Guyi, standing at the back.

Golden hair cascading like a waterfall, a face of stunning beauty. Though she wore plain clothes and hadn't revealed her martial soul, the bone-deep aloofness, nobility, and sacred charm were impossible to hide.

In this metal-tinged Mingdu, she was like a lily standing apart from the world.

"Oh?"

Jing Hongchen raised an eyebrow, his smile instantly turning a bit suggestive.

He sidled up to Gu Yuejin, nudged him with his shoulder, and lowered his voice with a wink:

"Brother Gu Yue, this is...?"

"Another one of your 'apprentices'?"

He put deliberate emphasis on the word "apprentice," wearing an expression that said, We're both men, I get it.

"Go out once, not only do you refine your soul power, but you also bring back such a stunning beauty. Brother, you know how to live."

"Tsk, with that aura, she's no worse than those royal princesses."

Gu Yuejin glanced at this old rogue, his expression calm as he casually made something up:

"Hall Master flatters me."

"Picked her up on the road."

"Picked her up?" Jing Hongchen's eyes went wide. "You think that's like picking up cabbage?"

"It really was picking her up."

Gu Yuejin explained with a straight face:

"She was being hunted by enemies. I saw she had good talent, a promising prospect, so I saved her on a whim."

"The Reserve Team's lineup is still a bit lacking, so I brought her back to fill a spot, as a substitute."

Gu Yuejin didn't directly reveal Ye Guyi's Holy Angel Martial Soul.

Such a top-tier martial soul was too sensitive, especially in the Sun Moon Empire, where the forces of the Evil Soul Masters lurked in the shadows.

If Xu Tianran or the Holy Spirit Cult found out, it would invite endless trouble.

At that moment, Ye Guyi stepped forward. Though nervous facing a Titled Douluo, she still bowed with neither arrogance nor humility:

"Greetings, Hall Master Jing. This junior is Ye Guyi. Thank you, Hall Master, for taking me in."

"Alright, alright, alright. Since Gu Yue brought you back, you're one of us."

Jing Hongchen grumbled verbally, but inwardly he knew Gu Yuejin had a sharp eye. Anyone this Monster took a liking to was no mere decoration.

"Enough, don't stand around at the door."

Just as Jing Hongchen was about to invite everyone inside, his expression shifted slightly, and a look of amusement crept onto his face.

"But Brother Gu Yue, bringing her back is easy enough. Settling her in, though—you'd better be careful."

"Careful about what?" Gu Yuejin was caught off guard, not quite following.

Jing Hongchen jutted his chin, signaling him to look behind, his tone teasing:

"Careful not to start a fire in your own backyard."

No sooner had he spoken.

At the end of the corridor, a silver figure rushed over like a whirlwind. Before her face was even visible, a voice brimming with joy had already filled the front courtyard.

"Brother Gu Yue! You're finally back!!"

Meng Hongchen, wearing a carefully matched short skirt, darted like a cheerful lark, ignoring everyone entirely as she charged straight at Gu Yuejin.

"I've been so bored without you for so many days... Huh?"

She was about to throw herself into a warm hug, arms already spread wide, when she stopped three meters away from Gu Yuejin as if frozen by a spell.

A woman's intuition was often sharper than a Titled Douluo's Spiritual Detection.

Especially when facing a peer of the same age whose looks and aura were no less than her own—and who even had a slight edge in figure.

The smile on Meng Hongchen's face instantly froze. In her beautiful wine-red eyes, the initial joy turned into a sharp, alarm-bell-ringing wariness.

She turned her head and stared fixedly at Ye Guyi, who stood behind Gu Yuejin.

Blonde hair, long legs, cold beauty, mature woman vibe.

And most importantly—this woman had come back with Brother Gu Yue!

"Zzzzz—"

It was as if electric currents were colliding in the air.

Meng Hongchen looked Ye Guyi up and down, her gaze instantly sharpening, filled with scrutiny and hostility.

Ye Guyi, in turn, keenly sensed the animosity directed at her. As a Holy Angel Soul Master, her pride made her instinctively straighten her back, meeting the stare without flinching, her eyes cool and clear.

"Brother Gu Yue..."

Meng Hongchen pointed at Ye Guyi, her voice turning shrill, thick with sour jealousy:

"Who is she?!"

"Why did she come back with you? What were you two doing?"

The overwhelming jealousy in the air made Huo Yuhao, standing nearby, involuntarily shrink his neck and quietly sidestep a few paces, afraid of getting caught in the crossfire.

In his heart, he silently lit a memorial candle for his master.

Was this the legendary... Asura Field?

As for Jing Hongchen, he clasped his hands behind his back, looked up at the sky, and wore an expression that said, What lovely weather we're having today. Clearly, he intended to stay out of it and enjoy the show.

Facing this sudden interrogation, Gu Yuejin remained completely unruffled, even taking the time to straighten his sleeves.

"A new team member."

His tone was flat, as if he hadn't noticed the gunpowder in the air at all.

"Ye Guyi, also a Power Attack System. Solid strength."

"Meng, since you're here, take her to get settled and fill her in on the team rules."

"What?! You want me to take her?"

Meng Hongchen's eyes went wide as she pointed at her own nose, hardly believing her ears.

Take her rival to get familiar with the place?

Was that something a person did?!

"Is there a problem?"

Gu Yuejin shot her a glance, carrying an undeniable authority.

"She's a new member of the Reserve Team. You're a veteran—looking after newcomers is your responsibility."

"Or would you rather go to the Training Ground for another fifty sets of drills?"

At the words "fifty sets," Meng Hongchen's face paled, and the protest on her lips was swallowed back down.

"N-no problem."

She ground out through clenched teeth, then turned to Ye Guyi with a smile that didn't reach her eyes and made a "please" gesture.

"Miss Ye, right this way!"

"I'll be sure to explain the rules thoroughly!"

Ye Guyi raised an eyebrow, as if she found this amusing, and replied coolly:

"Then I'll trouble you."

Watching the two women walk away, the air seemed to crackle with lingering sparks.

"Tsk tsk tsk, Brother Gu Yue, your skill at handling people—Old Man here has to admire it."

Jing Hongchen sidled up, giving a thumbs-up.

"Not at all, not at all."

Gu Yuejin smiled faintly, then his expression turned serious as he turned to Jing Hongchen.

"Hall Master, jokes aside, I have real business."

"A word in private—I'd like to visit the academy library to look up some materials."

"About... advanced theories on Core Formation."