Na'er

Chapter 41: Na'er

Spirit Pagoda Headquarters.

Na'er sat on a carved railing, her toes swinging lightly.

Her silver hair brushed over her shoulders in the cool breeze. Her Violet Eyes gazed eastward, as though reflecting the distant point where sky and sea met.

"My Lady, the special Soul Guide Train is standing by at Platform Seven." The Spirit Pagoda attendant's respectful yet measured voice carried through the morning mist.

Na'er immediately flipped over the railing and jumped down, her pink dress making her snow-white skin stand out.

A soft smile still rested on her lips, like a little fox that had just woken up. "Got it. Thanks for the trouble."

The sweet note of gratitude made the attendant shudder for no reason. He hurriedly bowed deeply, not daring to raise his head.

As she passed through the headquarters hall, Na'er's steps were light, and even the tips of her hair bounced along with her.

Several young Spirit Pagoda members secretly stole glances at her breathtaking face and those Violet Eyes. But they only dared to sneak a look.

No one dared approach her to strike up a conversation.

This seemingly sweet and adorable girl was notorious within the Spirit Pagoda as the unruly "little witch."

Not long ago, a genius had wanted to challenge Na'er. Anyone with eyes could tell it was a test from one of the Spirit Pagoda's factions.

There were too many geniuses in the Spirit Pagoda and only limited resources to distribute, so some people wanted to use this opportunity to probe Na'er's true talent and prepare accordingly.

By the "rules," Na'er should have defeated him to prove herself, but she did no such thing.

Na'er could not be bothered with him. She simply went crying to her teacher and dragged Leng Yaozhu into it, using power to suppress him.

Tests? Doubts? If someone upset Na'er, she would act cute and beg her teacher to smash the whole place up.

Na'er kept saying that connections were meant to be used. Leng Yaozhu spoiled her endlessly and granted every request. She truly could not withstand Na'er's pleading.

Over the past few years, Na'er had truly run wild in the Spirit Pagoda, doing whatever she pleased.

When she arrived at the Soul Guide Train station, Na'er spotted a fiery red figure at once.

She walked over with a sweet voice. "Teacher, why are you here?"

"Hmph, and you have the nerve to ask why I'm here?" Leng Yaozhu looked displeased. "You were preparing to travel far without saying a word. Do you even have room for me as your teacher in your eyes?"

"Oh, I forgot." Na'er hugged her teacher's arm and swayed it from side to side. "Besides, you promised me that you'd let me go back after three years."

"What do you mean, let you go back?" The little padded jacket she had warmed for three years had revealed her true colors, leaving Leng Yaozhu feeling utterly defeated. "Am I some kind of prison?"

"Hehe." Realizing she had misspoken, Na'er stuck out her tongue and began acting cute and foolish.

"Fine, fine." Leng Yaozhu sighed. "I'm not here to stop you. My disciple is going on a long journey, so as her teacher, I have to be here."

She was not overly worried about Na'er's safety. She knew Na'er was going to find Su Qiu. All she needed to do was notify Su Wuyan and ask him to keep an eye on her.

Within the Federation, Dragon Sparrow Douluo was most famous for his investigative abilities and control over the bigger picture. Even though Leng Yaozhu's cultivation was higher than his, she did not dare claim to surpass him in that regard.

"Thank you, Teacher!" Hearing that Leng Yaozhu was not there to stop her,

Na'er immediately let go and skipped into the Soul Guide Train.

"Goodbye, Teacher!"

Leaving Leng Yaozhu standing there alone, like an empty-nest elder.

The Soul Guide Train compartment was simply furnished, with only one window facing the scenery outside.

The train started almost soundlessly. The buildings outside rapidly receded, and before long, it left the inland region and sped toward Eastsea City.

Na'er leaned by the window and lightly tapped the glass with her fingertips. Su Qiu's figure flashed through her mind.

Then came a message from Gu Yue.

She had already integrated the Golden Dragon's power within her body and adjusted it into the most perfect and natural state.

Everything was ready.

Golden Dragon King.

Today's lesson began with combat training.

Wu Changkong spoke coldly. "You all share a common problem: a severe lack of practical combat experience and technique. This will be the focus of the upcoming practical combat classes. I am not referring to combat experience using Martial Souls and Soul Skills. You have shortcomings in that regard as well, but they are not fatal. What you truly lack is basic combat ability without using Martial Souls."

"Su Qiu has done very well in this regard." Wu Changkong changed the subject, his tone complicated. "He has already surpassed me in this aspect."

Everyone turned to look at Su Qiu. They knew he was extremely capable in actual combat; after all, they had experienced it themselves.

He did not even need to use his Martial Soul against them. Every fight ended within a move or two. His suppression was simply terrifying.

But they had not expected Wu Changkong to rate him so highly, even claiming that he himself was inferior.

"The practical combat training is simple. I will suppress myself to Two-Ring and fight you without using my Martial Soul or Soul Skills."

After saying that, Wu Changkong added, "Except for Su Qiu. Once your training is over, Su Qiu will fight me alone."

Tang Wulin and Xie Xie were already used to this. Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi, however, were somewhat startled.

"Teacher, since Su Qiu is so strong, why not let him fight me and teach me a little while he's at it?" Gu Yue came up with an idea and immediately voiced it. "We can't have him waiting off to the side until we're done."

Wu Changkong gave Gu Yue a deep look. After a moment of silence, he replied, "Fine, as long as he agrees."

The special training began. Tang Wulin and the other three fought Wu Changkong as a group.

Su Qiu and Gu Yue moved to the other side, facing each other.

"I've specifically studied hand-to-hand combat recently. This time, I won't be taken down by you in one move."

Gu Yue was referring to the last time Su Qiu had defeated her in a single move.

Su Qiu pondered slightly. He had not taken that battle to heart. He was not even sure whether she had been putting on an act.

Su Qiu also did not know what Gu Yue was really capable of.

Setting aside Elemental Power, did the Silver Dragon King know human hand-to-hand combat?

"Here I come."

The moment she spoke, Gu Yue shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow. Rather than attacking head-on, she used strange footwork to circle into Su Qiu's blind spot on the left.

Her right hand formed a palm strike, carrying a fierce gust toward his waist.

This was a weak point in the human body's ability to exert force. Clearly, she did understand the critical areas of basic combat.

Unfortunately, Su Qiu had no blind spots. He could dodge even with his eyes closed.

His left foot lightly retreated half a step, and Su Qiu's body twisted sideways at an unbelievable angle, narrowly evading Gu Yue's palm strike.

At the same time, he bent his right arm, driving his elbow precisely against the inside of Gu Yue's extended arm. The motion was so fast that it left only an afterimage.

Gu Yue felt a strange force pass through her arm, instantly dissipating more than half her strength.

Her heart tightened, and she immediately changed moves. Her left hand seized Su Qiu's elbow, attempting to use the leverage to pull him toward her.

This series of movements flowed together naturally and smoothly.

But Su Qiu merely flicked his wrist lightly and slipped free of her grip. At the same time, the toes of his right foot hooked upward, striking precisely at the ankle of Gu Yue's supporting leg.

The force was not great, but it was enough to disrupt her balance.

Gu Yue staggered to the ground. Su Qiu followed the motion and pinned her beneath him, locking every point from which she could exert force.