Dragon City

"Xiao Xue, tell me, which version of me looks better—the way I am now, or the grown-up me?"

They were in a small grove with the scenery typical of the Northern Plains, near Dragon City. Xiao Xiao stood barefoot in the icy stream, dancing.

Nearby, Xue Yuheng was catching fish. They planned to have grilled fish for dinner.

Twelve days had passed since Xiao Xiao survived the Three-Colored Lightning Tribulation.

The tribulation had been beyond Xue Yuheng's expectations. Afterward, he had planned to offer the Xuanming Sect some rare treasures as compensation.

Xu Xuanbei declined. He planned to send Xu Jinrou to study at Shrek and wanted Xue Yuheng's opinion.

The Xuanming Sect had never nurtured a Demi-God Level Martial Soul. They were worried that the enormous investment might go to waste, so it seemed better to send her to the continent's number-one Soul Master Academy.

After all, Shrek was neutral, and wouldn't meddle in the internal affairs of the various sects.

Xu Jinrou's position as the young sect master was already a done deal. Xue Yuheng was glad to see it, and naturally had no objection to her going to Shrek.

Ten days ago, before leaving the Xuanming Sect with the newly awakened Xiao Xiao, Xue Yuheng had met Xu Jinrou alone. Their conversation had mainly been about winning her over.

But whenever he saw the gentle, watery look in Xu Jinrou's eyes, Xue Yuheng always got goosebumps.

That old fox Xu Xuanbei had even sent his other niece, a "Mediocre Talent," to curry favor with this future Limit Douluo after Xu Jinrou's sex change.

Xue Yuheng wondered what Xu Xuanbei would think once he learned the truth.

Well, Shrek would be lively in the future.

Splash—

Xue Yuheng caught a plump, tempting Northern Plains Cod. After cleaning it, he set it on the grill beside the stream and smiled.

"What can I say? As long as it's Xiao Xiao, you look good either way."

"Hmph. You say that every time.

"You still prefer the grown-up me, don't you, Xiao Xue?" Xiao Xiao pouted and kicked at the water.

Her Martial Soul had evolved from the Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron into a great cauldron engraved with the runes of the Golden Crow and Xuanwu.

Unfortunately, because Xiao Xiao had used the power of the Four Symbols Heaven-Suppressing Cauldron before she was ready, her foundation was damaged, leaving a tiny crack in the cauldron's body.

That also placed many limitations on her Martial Soul. Even in its usual state, it was much stronger than a Demi-God Level Martial Soul.

But if she used the Martial Soul Awakening skill from before—the one Eccentric Genius Xiao Xiao had named "Goddess Transformation"—it would likely cause an even larger crack.

Until Xue Yuheng fully repaired the Four Symbols Heaven-Suppressing Cauldron with his Power of Creation, she'd better avoid using that power, saving it as her ultimate trump card.

Xue Yuheng narrowed his eyes. "You... you're jealous."

Jealous of herself, no less.

One sentence—

Like a stone shattering the heavens,

like thunder from a clear sky!

"I... I'm not..."

Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, or a tiger whose rear had been patted, Xiao Xiao was ready to lash out. When Xue Yuheng saw through the little secret she didn't want to admit, she opened her mouth to deny it. She would never confess.

"Xiao Xiao, you know I'm the only prince in the Douling Royal Family. The burden of carrying on the Xue Clan's bloodline rests on me. It's almost enough to leave me breathless." As he sprinkled on the seasoning, Xue Yuheng hung his head and sighed.

Xiao Xiao fought back her heartache, climbed down from the boulder beside the stream, and comforted him. "Xiao Xue, I'm sorry..."

Seeing that his hints over the past month had finally worked, Xue Yuheng suppressed his delight and sighed. "I'm the one who should apologize to you, Xiao Xiao. If it weren't for my position..."

"It's okay..." Xiao Xiao forced a smile. Then she remembered that her father had several wives. That had always been common on the continent. Besides, Xue Yuheng was the only prince. They couldn't let the Xue Clan's bloodline end with him, could they?

"Actually, there's another way..." Xue Yuheng leaned close to her ear.

A single sentence made Xiao Xiao blush. She rubbed her growling stomach and said softly, "Xiao Xue, I'm hungry..."

Dragon City was a large city in the northeastern part of the Heaven Dou Empire. Its climate was relatively cold, and the Far North lay just beyond it to the north.

Amid the snow and ice, two figures stood in a long queue. Xue Yuheng and Xiao Xiao had changed into warm padded robes.

Xiao Xiao's Two Symbols Heaven-Suppressing Cauldron had the water attribute of Xuanwu, so she was resistant to the cold.

Xue Yuheng wasn't. This damn freezing weather was nothing like the Xuanming Sect's year-round spring. Without thick clothes, he'd have to use his Power of Creation to ward off the cold.

Even with more than fourteen hundred points of Power of Creation, he didn't need to waste it like that.

Wherever people gathered, gossip followed.

The gates wouldn't open for another half hour. A few people ahead of Xue Yuheng and Xiao Xiao were huddled together, chatting about all sorts of things.

"Did you hear? The Heaven Dragon Gate's master recently proposed to the Earth Dragon Gate's master, and Sect Master Nan turned him down flat. He talked about joining their families forever, but I think he just wants to swallow up the Earth Dragon Gate."

"That's not entirely fair. Sect Master Nan's daughter really is a beauty, and it's only natural that Yu Tianlong would fall for her. But the Heaven Dragon Gate and the Earth Dragon Gate split thousands of years ago. Barring some major upheaval, there's almost no chance they'll reunite."

"Speaking of Sect Master Nan... tsk, tsk..."

Xiao Xiao rolled her eyes and muttered, "Pervert." But then she saw Xue Yuheng deep in thought.

Xiao Xue wasn't thinking about that too, was he...?

Noticing the girl's strange look, Xue Yuheng said helplessly, "What are you thinking? Do you really think I'm that kind of person?"

Xiao Xiao stuck out her tongue. As far as she was concerned, he might be.

In the month since they'd left Lingdou City, Xiao Xue had picked up some bad habits. She wondered who he'd learned them from. Could it have been that Xu Sanshi, who looked like such a womanizer?

Xue Yuheng decided he had to salvage his image in Xiao Xiao's eyes. He explained, "I was wondering whether we should visit the Heaven Dragon Gate or the Earth Dragon Gate first."

The former were survivors of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan from ten thousand years ago, so they were sure to have rare treasures connected to dragons.

As for the latter, Xue Yuheng thought of the Myriad Year Mysterious Ice Cave from the original story. In his plans, it would be a prime source of wages for persuading the Two Emperors of Ice and Snow to work for him.

This time, Xue Yuheng intended to get both, no matter what.

"Let's go to the Earth Dragon Gate first," Xiao Xiao said.

"Why?"

"I want to see whether that Nan Qiuqiu is prettier than me." Xiao Xiao grinned.

At seven in the morning, the four gates of Dragon City opened right on time.

Xue Yuheng bought a tourist map at the city gate and led Xiao Xiao toward the Earth Dragon Gate.

Along the way, Xue Yuheng discovered an unbelievable sight in this large city: homeless, ragged beggars.

Wasn't that sort of thing exclusive to the Dou Ling Empire?

Xiao Xiao's charitable streak took over. She dragged Xue Yuheng to a local charity office and donated a thousand Gold Soul Coins. In return, she received a certificate recognizing her as a benefactor.

After their errands kept them busy until noon, the two ate some local Dragon City noodles. At last, they arrived at the Earth Dragon Gate.

Good grief, this place had become a popular tourist attraction in Dragon City, a major destination in the Heaven Dou Empire.

Xue Yuheng didn't want to take Xiao Xiao into the crowds, so the two went to a fairly secluded corner.

"Rou, go have a good talk with Sect Master Nan," Xue Yuheng said calmly.

Yue and Ying were the most trusted members of Xue Yuheng's inner circle. He'd sent Yue to the White Tiger Duke Mansion, and she still hadn't returned to rejoin them. She must have spent some time breaking through to Titled Douluo. Ying's Black Shadow Domain could hide the team members in Xue Yuheng's shadow, so unless necessary, she almost never needed to act.

"Yes."

Not far away, a handsome man had also escaped the crowds and made his way into the quiet alley.

Sensing him, Xue Yuheng smiled and asked, "Handsome, who are you?"

The man looked a little surprised. Someone in Dragon City didn't recognize him? He immediately realized that the young couple before him must be from out of town, and replied politely,

"Heaven Dragon Gate. Yu Tianlong."