Father and Daughter Reunited

Qian Xunji's arm remained motionless, not even a furrow of his brow. He simply continued his actions, his fingers gently exploring, closing, and tightening within her chest cavity—

The struggle of those hands was nothing more than a speck of dust brushed off his sleeve to him.

"No... no... please... please..."

Gu Yuena's voice was broken beyond recognition. Tears welled up from her already dry eyes, mingling with the blood overflowing from the corner of her mouth, leaving two shallow red lines on her pale and dirty face.

Qian Xunji glanced down at her.

There was nothing in that glance. No pleasure, no hatred, no pity, not even the joy of "finally getting it." He just looked at her calmly, as if looking at a struggling ant.

Then--

He abruptly pulled his hand back!

He held the Silver Dragon King Core tightly in his hand. The moment it was pulled from Gu Yuena's chest, the blood finally found an outlet—a jet of blood shot out, splattering on the metal walls of the cell, on Qian Xunji's golden robes, and on his ever-calm face.

Gu Yuena's struggles ceased completely.

Her hands fell limply to her sides, her body slumped backward, finally collapsing onto the cold ground. Her eyes remained open, fixed on Qian Xunji —on the man who had ended her life, on those golden eyes, on the core in his hand that was emitting a faint silver light, the core that belonged to her.

His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but only a mouthful of bloody foam escaped his lips.

Then, the light in those eyes gradually faded away.

Qian Xunji stood still, looking down at the Silver Dragon King Core in his hand.

It was about the size of a baby's fist, irregularly shaped, yet breathtakingly beautiful. It was a pure, exquisite silver, as if the entire Milky Way had been condensed into a single gem, with a delicate halo flowing across its surface, and within it, countless stars seemed to be born and die in a cycle.

Even though its owner is dead, and even though it is separated from its original form, it still exudes a breathtaking beauty and awe-inspiring power.

He examined it for a moment, and finally a slight smile appeared on his lips.

"After storing it for so long, it's finally been retrieved."

With Gu Yuena's complete death, her emaciated body lying on the ground, almost unrecognizable as human, finally began to change.

First, the skin.

Beneath that pale, almost translucent skin, fine lines began to emerge—not wrinkles, but the outlines of scales.

Silver light emanated from the patterns, growing brighter and brighter until it gradually enveloped her entire body.

Then comes the skeleton.

A crackling sound emanated from the light; it was the sound of bones stretching, reforming, and expanding. The human body, which had been curled up in a small ball, was rapidly growing larger, longer, and more...

boom--

A burst of silver light suddenly erupted!

A massive silver dragon corpse appeared in what was once a fairly spacious cell.

It's too big.

Even though the cell was custom-made for her, it was now cramped and small, filled with her corpse. The dragon's head was pressed against one wall, its body coiled up and taking up most of the space, while its tail was forced to curl up and pressed against the other wall. The entire cell was almost completely filled with her, leaving no room to even turn around.

However, this dragon corpse completely lacked the majesty and domineering presence that the Silver Dragon King should possess.

Too thin.

Skin and bones.

The dragon's body, which should have been covered with strong muscles, was now just skin and bones. The ribs protruded clearly, almost piercing the skin; the joints on its back rose high, like a continuous mountain ridge; its limbs were disproportionately thin, as if they might break at any moment. The flesh under the fur was pitifully little.

The silver dragon scales that should have been dazzling—those legendary, breathtakingly beautiful, sacred scales that could reflect starlight—were now dull and lifeless. They still covered her body, but it was as if they were covered with a layer of dust that could never be washed away, gray and lifeless, like the faded skin of a dying fish.

But that's not all that's terrifying.

On her back were two huge and hideous scars.

The scar was located precisely at the base of the dragon wing. It stretched from the edge of the shoulder blade all the way to the side of the waist, in a radiating, tear-like pattern. The skin and flesh at the edges were rolled up, long since healed but never fully recovered, forming two shocking, unsightly marks that would never heal.

--That was the mark left after the dragon's wing was forcibly torn off.

Qian Xunji's gaze lingered on the two scars for a moment.

Those silver dragon wings that once blotted out the sky are long gone.

Now, even her life is gone.

Qian Xunji withdrew his gaze and glanced again at the Silver Dragon King Core he held in his palm. The core's aura still flowed, breathtakingly beautiful, forming a stark and cruel contrast with the ugly, emaciated dragon corpse behind it.

He kept the core income to himself.

Turn around.

Footsteps echoed again in the empty dungeon, tap, tap, tap, exactly the same as when they came.

The silver dragon corpse was abandoned in the darkness, crammed into a small cell, emaciated and dull, with two eternally unhealable scars on its back.

The footsteps faded into the distance, eventually disappearing completely.

Silence returned to the dungeon.

········································

When Qian Xunji walked out of the dungeon, the afternoon sun was shining on the white stone streets of Spirit City.

He tucked the Silver Dragon King Core into his robes, the still-warm gem pressed against his chest like a quietly beating heart. He didn't look back at the twisted, deformed prison door, nor did he think about the emaciated silver dragon corpse behind him—to him, it was just an old grievance, not worth his time.

The streets were bustling with people; Spirit City remained the same Spirit City —prosperous, bustling, and full of life.

Ten thousand years have left few traces here—the buildings have been renovated several times, the streets have been widened a bit, and there are more Soul Tool devices that he can't name.

Qian Xunji walked aimlessly, like an ordinary passerby.

He walked through the commercial district, past streets lined with Soul Tool shops, and finally stopped in front of a magnificent building.

Spirit Hall Academy.

The stone tablet at the main gate bears these large characters, written in a vigorous and powerful style, and signed by a Pope from that era. Through the open gate, one can see the spacious training ground and the well-arranged teaching buildings. From time to time, young men and women dressed in uniform go in and out, their faces radiating youthful vigor and pride.

--Most of the most outstanding students in the Douluo Continent today have gathered here.

Qian Xunji was about to leave, he suddenly heard a voice coming from not far away:

"Ma Xiaotao, have you made up your mind yet? If you don't decide soon, the registration deadline will be approaching!"

Ma Xiaotao?

The name made Qian Xunji pause slightly in her steps.

He looked in the direction of the sound, his gaze passing over several passing students and landing on an old tree to the side of the academy gate.

A young girl was standing there, clutching something in her hand, her brows furrowed, her face filled with conflict.

She was exceptionally beautiful. Her long, fiery hair cascaded over her shoulders, the ends curling slightly and shimmering warmly in the sunlight. Her features were striking and defined, possessing a touch of assertive heroism, yet without being harsh—it was a confident, cheerful, and generous beauty that belonged to a strong person.

At that moment, she was biting her lip, staring at the thing in her hand, as if she had encountered some enormous problem.

Standing next to her was another girl, who, judging from her clothes, was probably her companion, urging her on with a helpless expression.

"I know the deadline is approaching!" Ma Xiaotao replied irritably, her voice clear and bright like a mountain spring. "But this... this..." She waved the item in her hand. "Don't you understand what decision-making indecisiveness is?!"

"Indecisiveness?" Her companion rolled her eyes. "When have you ever had indecisiveness, Ma Xiaotao? Last time during the field training, when you were chasing after five thousand-year-old Soul Beast all by yourself, you didn't hesitate at all!"

"How can that be the same!" Ma Xiaotao said confidently. "Soul Beast is so simple, just chase them! This..." She looked down at the thing in her hand again, her expression becoming even more conflicted.

Qian Xunji stood not far away, observing the girl named Ma Xiaotao with great interest.

It wasn't because of her beauty—he had seen too many beauties and wouldn't stop for her anymore.

A fire-attribute Martial Soul, and not just any ordinary fire.

Even from this distance, he could vaguely sense the ferocity and domineering nature of the flame. It was an innate, untamed fire—logically, a person with such a flame should suffer from its backlash at all times, be irritable and easily angered, and be difficult to control.

But the girl in front of me, though her eyebrows were furrowed in worry, showed no signs of any restless Evil Fire fire.

Her emotions were calm, her Soul Power circulated smoothly, and the violent flames that should have backfired on their master were now as docile as a cat whose fur had been stroked.

Qian Xunji's gaze fell on the inconspicuous pendant at her waist—a Soul Tool, exquisitely crafted with intricate patterns, emitting a faint, continuous fluctuation.

A healing Soul Tool. Moreover, it is a continuous and gentle treatment specifically designed for Martial Soul defects.

Has Soul Tool Technology advanced to this level ten thousand years from now?

He recalled those inheritors of the Evil Fire Phoenix who were tormented by the Evil Fire, and the terrible price they paid to suppress the rampaging flames within their bodies.

Nowadays, a girl who looks no more than a teenager can stand safely in the sunlight, just like an ordinary, healthy child, worrying about "what to choose," simply by wearing a small Soul Tool.

Ma Xiaotao was unaware that someone was watching her. She was lost in her own dilemma, repeatedly looking at the two registration forms in her hand.

"This one... no, no, this one seems more suitable for him... but I want that one too..."

Her companion finally couldn't hold back any longer and snatched the two forms from her hand. "I'll choose one for you! This one!"

"Why--!"

Ma Xiaotao reached out to snatch it back, but stopped halfway. She stared at the watch her companion had given her for a few seconds, then suddenly sighed.

"Alright, that's fine then." She folded the watch, tucked it into her pocket, and gave her companion a bright smile. "Let's go sign up!"

That smile was dazzlingly bright, like the midday sun, without a trace of gloom.

Qian Xunji withdrew her gaze and continued walking forward.

He brushed past the girl named Ma Xiaotao.

Chapter 364 Father and Daughter Reunited

The sunlight in the Divine Realm is always just right.

Not dazzling, not intense, but gently falling, dyeing every cloud a soft gold.

The air was filled with the fragrance of unknown divine flowers, which never faded and always bloomed in their most perfect form.

A divine bird flew by in the distance, its wings leaving rainbow-like trails in the sunlight.

Exquisitely beautiful.

Qian Daoliu stood under the corridor of a side hall, squinting as he enjoyed the beautiful moment.