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

How about it?

"Lord, the person has been brought."

Within the deep, secluded park, invisible Mental Power had long since sealed off everything. Several figures had gathered there, respectfully watching the silver-haired girl standing beside the fountain.

Following Bi Ji all the way here, Na'er's heartbeat had grown faster and faster. When she finally saw the girl before her, who had the same hair color as herself, she was visibly stunned.

"You may all leave," Gu Yue said softly, Elemental soft light shimmering in her eyes.

"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 subconsciously asked, "Have I seen you somewhere before?"

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

Na'er stood there blankly, like a puppet that had lost its soul.

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

Learning of the human world's memories through her subordinate personality had been part of Gu Yue's plan from the start. That way, when the main personality awakened, she would not enter human society knowing nothing.

Brilliant Elemental soft light gathered from all directions, enveloping the two of them.

Countless memories flooded Gu Yue's mind as though time and space had been traversed. Everything was normal at first, but gradually, an indescribable feeling of shame and anger surfaced in her calm eyes.

"I sent you to the human world to familiarize yourself with it, not to make you become attached to a human."

A moment later, Gu Yue's breathing quickened. Her face flushed as she staggered back several steps. She actually could no longer reclaim and reuse her subordinate personality.

Struck by memories of Na'er spending time with Nan Liujing, Gu Yue's own thoughts were thrown into disarray. Whenever she closed her eyes, all she could feel was the firm sensation of Nan Liujing holding her and the pleasant feeling of him gently rubbing her head.

That comfort from deep within the memories had nearly shaken her resolve. Only after several breaths did she recover, but those memories had lodged themselves in her mind and could not be cast away.

"If I became attached to Ge, you should thank yourself for it. Who told you to stuff me with childhood memories of being a beggar?" Na'er had opened her eyes at some point. The innocence in her pure violet eye pupils was gone.

Gu Yue wanted to obtain Na'er's memories, but likewise, Na'er would receive the memories belonging to the main personality. From this moment onward, she had truly become an existence possessing thirty percent of the Silver Dragon King's power.

Suppressing the strange emotions brought about by those memories, Gu Yue said coldly, "Since I can give you memories, I can erase them too."

"Go ahead and try."

Na'er's willow eyebrows furrowed slightly. With a turn of her jade-like hand, Silver Light flashed, and a Silver Spear appeared.

The spear looked rather slender. Pale Silver Dragon Scales covered its entire body, and beneath the moonlight, it radiated a pure, gentle glow.

The spear tip pointed at Gu Yue, dripping with cold light. "After spending these years with Ge, I've long regarded myself as human. I have a life that belongs solely to me now, and no one can take it away."

"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 Lord of Soul Beasts. At worst, we'll both perish together and leave you forever trapped at the Limit Douluo level."

"How dare you!" Gu Yue shouted in shock and fury.

"I dare!" A trace of a defiant smile appeared on Na'er's beautiful, ethereal face. After confronting Gu Yue for a moment, she softened her tone.

"Come to think of it, as your subordinate personality, I feel that you're truly stupid. What a waste of the Dragon God's world-shaking wisdom that you inherited."

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

"I'm not talking nonsense." Na'er continued on her own. "Yes, your old injuries haven't fully healed, but you still possess Chief God-level cultivation. The so-called Plane Restriction can't stop you at all. You could clearly retain Divine Level combat power and look down on humanity. You could even wipe them out with ease. But you didn't. You insisted on ordering everyone to enter the human world, then sealed your own cultivation, claiming it was to understand humans while cultivating anew. Aren't you just making trouble for yourself?"

"I'm guarding against the God Realm. What do you know?" Gu Yue said frostily.

Na'er snorted. "The God Realm doesn't even know where it is anymore. Who exactly are you guarding against?"

Gu Yue clenched her fist so tightly that her knuckles had turned faintly white. She snorted coldly. "As a subordinate personality, how could you possibly comprehend the perfect plan I devised? I can't be bothered explaining it to you."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Na'er's nature had never been that of a sweet little girl. She was only obedient in front of Ge.

Hearing that sarcastic tone, Gu Yue's eyes nearly spewed fire. "Don't force me to do this the hard way. At worst, we'll truly destroy each other."

"Ahem." Na'er coughed dryly. "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 at once."

Gu Yue's face darkened. She had not expected her subordinate personality to become attached to that somewhat special human and break free of her control. When Gu Yue had just received those memories, she discovered that she could not merge with Na'er at all. A spiritual backlash was fiercely repelling her, and the two personalities were utterly incompatible. If she forced it, they could only both be injured.

Di Tian had warned her about this before, but she had not taken it seriously.

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

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

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

Gu Yue felt that this sounded oddly familiar. "Bet on what?"

Like a cunning little fox, Na'er giggled. "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 won't submit."

"What is it?" Gu Yue asked.

Na'er said, "You're dissatisfied that I've become attached to Ge, so let me make this clear: human feelings are difficult. Since that's the case, why don't you personally go and interact with Ge? If you can make him become attached to you, I won't say another word. I'll willingly let you merge with me without conditions."

Gu Yue said coldly, "I am the dignified Silver Dragon King, the Lord of Soul Beasts. Why would I lower myself to develop feelings with a human? Ridiculous!"

"Are you scared?" Na'er stared directly at her.

Gu Yue laughed in anger. "Don't try to provoke me."

Na'er said nothing and continued staring at her.

Gu Yue pressed her lips together. After pondering for a moment, she said, "You're pushing me too hard. For the future of the Soul Beast race, this bet isn't impossible. But you must complete a task I assign."

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

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

Na'er had no interest in the Golden Ancient Tree, but after thinking carefully, Ge was also in Shrek City. If she truly stayed at Shrek Academy, that seemed rather nice.

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

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

"There's one more thing." Na'er suddenly changed the subject. "The gift you gave Ge was Silver Dragon Scales, wasn't it?"

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

Na'er said coldly, "Once Silver Dragon Scales are used, the user will be planted with a Silver Dragon Imprint. From then on, they may appear normal on the surface, but they will truly become your follower. If you don't want me to fight you to the death, then honestly disperse the imprint inside it."

Gu Yue's gaze darkened. "You've sunk deeper into human feelings than I imagined."

An elegant curve formed at the corners of Na'er's rosy lips. "Believe me. After you experience it, you'll fall even deeper than I have."

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

Once again entering the Heavenly Spirit Tower that pierced the clouds, Nan Liujing followed Bai Haoze through the crowd leaving work. The two took the elevator to the Ninety-ninth floor.

Leng Yaozhu usually lived here. The floors above belonged to the tower master.

Stepping forward, Bai Haoze casually scanned his face, and the room door automatically slid open to both sides.

The two entered one after the other.

The entire residence was no different from a spacious luxury apartment. The decor looked minimalist, but every material used was of the finest quality.

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, peaceful softness to her fiery red hair, which blazed like Lie Yan.

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

Nan Liujing recognized it at once.

It was the cloth bracelet worn on Leng Yaozhu's right wrist. Its design looked like something made by a beginner, without the slightest sense of refinement.

For a Limit Douluo to be so absorbed in it, the bracelet's creator must have been extremely important to 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 truly a yandere—the kind who genuinely dared to chop you up.

"You're here."

Only after a while did Leng Yaozhu come back to herself. She put the bracelet back on, rose to her feet, and looked at Bai Haoze and Nan Liujing.

"Your Excellency."

"Teacher."

The two greeted her respectively.

Leng Yaozhu nodded at Bai Haoze. "Thank you for the trouble."

"You're too polite." Bai Haoze smiled. "This subordinate will take his leave first."

"Staying with Zhen Hua has indeed done you good. Your Mental Power, Qi and Blood, and even your Soul Power aura have all far exceeded my expectations." With only master and disciple left, Leng Yaozhu began her usual questioning.

"What is your forging rank now?"

"Teacher, I just reached Spirit Forging," Nan Liujing answered.

Leng Yaozhu was visibly stunned. "Spirit Forging?"

"Yes." Nan Liujing had shown off a little before this top-tier Big Sister Teacher, but he remained calm. After all, he had advanced so quickly only because of the Plane Imprint. There was no need to be smug.

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

After chatting briefly, Leng Yaozhu led Nan Liujing to 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-guidance card and placed it on the coffee table.

"Your Martial Soul is the Dragon Subduing Staff. Logically speaking, it would be better for the Qian Gu Family to teach you. However, for certain special reasons that are inconvenient to explain, your great-grandfather entrusted you to me. This card contains insights into Staff Intent. You only need to inject a trace of Soul Power to unlock it."

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

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

"Yes," Nan Liujing replied.

Once the serious matters were settled, Leng Yaozhu simply had Nan Liujing sleep in the spacious apartment where she lived.

It was large enough, with plenty of rooms.

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

He had thought it would be good news, but after reading it, his expression became strange.

Ye Xinglan: [I'm absolutely furious.]

Nan Liujing: [?]

Ye Xinglan seemed genuinely enraged, sending a long string of messages.

[I was wandering around Shrek Inner City when I came across a Yu Hao Grilled Fish Shop with soul. I arrived late, and there were only two fish left. I thought one would be for me and one for my dad. I'd already paid, and the owner had grilled them and was about to give them to me, when someone beside me directly snatched them away. Then he threw a few bills at me and said something like, "No need for change. Keep the rest as a reward."]

[When has Ye Xinglan ever suffered such humiliation? I drew my sword and started fighting that asshole. I have to admit, he had some skill, but he wasn't my opponent. After I stabbed him with one strike, he ran off. I thought that would be the end of it, so I kept walking around while eating fish. But who knew that guy would call for backup? Four or five people surrounded me. If I hadn't run fast enough, I'd probably be covered in bruises now.]

Nan Liujing's mouth twitched as he read the little essay. After thinking for a moment, he replied: [Then you definitely ran into Shrek Academy Students.]

Ye Xinglan: [Judging by their age and strength, they really were students. But are Shrek Academy Students really this arrogant? Do they just snatch 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 don't dare cause trouble are mediocre. So the people at that academy have all been influenced by it to some extent.]

Ye Xinglan: [Those who don't dare cause trouble are mediocre... Hah. If they run into someone they can't afford to provoke, won't they still have to tuck their tails and run?]

Mm, Dugu Bo gives you a thumbs-up!

Nan Liujing smiled. It seemed that two and a half years together had successfully changed some of Ye Xinglan's way of thinking. [All right. Next time you come to the Spirit Pagoda, I'll help you rank up. Let the unpleasant things pass.]

He had taught her both "asshole" and "rank up." Since those terms did not exist elsewhere, they were a little secret between the two of them, and Ye Xinglan seemed quite pleased by it.

Ye Xinglan quickly sent back a thumbs-up emoji along with a few letters: [OJBK!]

Oh no. She hadn't learned the good things, but this girl picked up the bad ones instantly... Nan Liujing slapped his forehead.

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

A strand of Dark Blue Soul Power flowed into it. The card activated and emitted a soft glow.

"Identity authentication successful!"

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

Intense Mental Power Fluctuation began boiling. A moment later, Nan Liujing blinked.

"Words inscribed with Mental Power are hard to forget. As expected, methods of passing down teachings have changed with the times."

With a single thought, the Staff Intent insights would immediately surface 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 Staff Intent insights.

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