"Can people from a parallel plane cross over into our world?"
Qian Heqing nodded, understanding why Gu Yuna had asked that question.
Crossing over should work both ways!
People from the main world had already successfully traveled to World No. 1. But the reverse—bringing people from World No. 1 to the main world—had never been tested! They were a hundred percent certain it would work, but they had no real data to support that.
At that moment, in the main world.
Seeing Qian Heqing nod, Gu Yuna immediately called to the side, "Xiao Yi, Xiao Yi!"
"I'm here."
A young woman who bore a seven- or eight-tenths resemblance to Xiao Wu came over from the side. Xiao Yi, however, looked more mature than Xiao Wu, and her looks and figure were even better!
"Xiao Yi, arrange everything for Doppelganger Dugu Yan—food, clothing, lodging, and transportation. Also, notify Dugu Xin to come pick her up. I'm sure Doppelganger Dugu Yan would rather stay at Dugu Xin's home."
"Understood. I'll notify Dugu Xin to prepare for her arrival."
Xiao Wu's doppelganger, Xiao Yi, spoke concisely.
Qian Heqing said, "You should ask her first whether she wants to go. Don't make decisions on someone else's behalf."
At that, Gu Yuna asked, "Doppelganger Dugu Yan, would you like to come see our world? Don't worry, we'll take good care of you once you're here! Oh, I heard you and your grandfather have always depended on each other. But in our world, your parents are both alive and well! You even have a pair of younger twin siblings! Would you like to meet them? Will you come to the Immortal Court?"
At that moment.
When Gu Yuna's voice reached Douluo World No. 1, Dugu Yan's heart began to race. Her eyes grew a little moist and red. She missed her parents.
Dugu Yan was overcome with emotion. She looked at Dugu Bo and called softly, "Grandpa..."
Dugu Bo was nervous too. He opened his mouth, unsure what to say. Deep down, he couldn't help worrying that his granddaughter might be mistreated over there or become homesick.
Just then, the Earth Dragon Soul Spirit on Dugu Yan's shoulder cried out anxiously in a low voice, "Master, what are you still hesitating for? The one speaking to you is the sovereign of the Soul Beasts and the most powerful Empress! And the other one is the lord of the Immortal Court! With those two there... what is there to hesitate about? Say yes already!"
Dugu Yan's heart was pounding so hard it felt ready to leap out of her chest. She looked at Dugu Bo and said, "Grandpa... I'd like to go see."
"Th-then all right. Take good care of yourself, understand?"
"Mm-hmm!"
Dugu Yan nodded, then turned and said respectfully, "Emperor Qingtian, Your Majesty the Empress, I'm willing!"
"Good! We welcome you."
After Gu Yuna's voice fell silent, someone else asked, "Your Majesty Emperor Qingtian, may we say a few words?"
Qian Heqing looked toward the speaker and said with a smile, "Zhu Zhuyin, it's been five years. Why are you still so reserved? All of you can ask whatever you want."
A smile appeared on Zhu Zhuyin's face. She quickly asked, "Elder Dugu's doppelganger over there, my name is Zhu Zhuyin! Is there a doppelganger of me in your world?"
'Zhu Zhuyin!'
Dugu Bo was startled. He knew this was the Empress whom Emperor Qingtian had taken in five years ago, and quickly addressed her respectfully. "Your Majesty the Empress, may I ask if you were once a member of the Zhu Family of the Star Luo Empire? Was your Martial Soul from the Hell Spirit Cat clan?"
"Yes! My father is Zhu Wu. Before the Star Luo Empire fell, people called him the Spirit Cat Duke."
Dugu Bo hesitated before saying, "If... if I'm not mistaken, your doppelganger should be the Crown Prince's consort of the Star Luo Empire... Zhu Zhuyun!"
"The Crown Prince's consort?"
Zhu Zhuyin's brows drew together slightly. She had long been prepared for this answer.
She already knew that, in Douluo World No. 1, the two empires had never united, and the fate of the Hell Spirit Cat clan would surely be the same as recorded in the history books.
"Phew..." Zhu Zhuyin let out a soft breath, then said gravely, "Elder Dugu, I order you in my capacity as Empress: find out whether my doppelganger has already lost her virtue! If she has... kill her!"
"And my doppelganger too! My name is Zhu Zhuqin!"
"Me too! Me too! I'm Xiao Yi. I'm a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, a Soft-Bone Charm Rabbit. I heard Elder Dugu say that my doppelganger had taken human form and enrolled in an academy called Shrek. If she's lost her virtue, help me kill her!"
"And me. I'm Shui Bingbing."
"And I'm Meng Yiyi!"
In the main world, several women dressed as maids spoke up one after another.
Qian Heqing's mouth twitched. He stopped them. "There's absolutely no need for that! They live in another world and have their own destinies. How can you force them to follow your fate and demand they act a certain way? That wouldn't be fair to them. Dugu Xue, don't listen to them."
"Uh... Big Brother, I'll handle it."
Dugu Xue felt the matter was extremely troublesome.
Zhu Zhuyin hurriedly said, "At the very least, kill the Crown Prince of the Star Luo Empire and my younger sister's doppelganger's fiancé! Also, don't let my doppelganger come to the main world! Oh, and Elder Dugu, my younger sister is still young, so there's little chance her doppelganger has lost her virtue. Make checking on her the top priority! If she hasn't, then send her to the main world the next time you open the World-Crossing Gate."
"Yes! Once things here are settled, I'll go to Shrek and check at once."
"Thank you!"
"It's my duty." Dugu Xue replied respectfully.
In the main world, Qian Heqing looked around and asked, "Does anyone else have something to say?"
Bibi Xi spoke up. "I have something to ask too! Elder Dugu, find out how I became pope in World No. 1! And..."
Her expression turned cold, and she said in a low voice, "There's no emperor in World No. 1, so who fathered my doppelganger's child? Find out! Kill that man at all costs! As for my doppelganger, Bibi Dong... Hmph. I'll deal with her myself! When the World-Crossing Gate opens next time, I'll go there in person! If Bibi Dong has done anything disgraceful, I'll kill her!"
"Yes!" Dugu Bo's expression grew even more serious.
Bibi Xi continued, "Lieni, you need to find out about your doppelganger too. She should be quite old by now!"
"Uh... yes! Master, I won't go easy on her!" Hu Lieni said solemnly from the side.
Nearby, Qian Heqing shook his head helplessly and asked, "Anything else? If not, let's begin! Chuan'er, once you get over there, don't act willfully! You've always been much more levelheaded than your second imperial brother. Don't disappoint your father."
"Father, don't worry!"
The four of them walked together toward the enormous World-Crossing Gate before them, fifty meters tall and a hundred meters wide.
Crossing between worlds!
It was simple: step through from one side of the World-Crossing Gate to the other, and the crossing was complete.
But the energy it consumed was extraordinary!
In the main world, Gu Yuna and Bibi Xi simultaneously unleashed their divine power, pouring it into the World-Crossing Gate. On the other side, in Douluo World No. 1, Dugu Xue continually drew on the energy stored in the Spirit Gathering Array to keep the tiny portal stable.
In Douluo World No. 1, Dugu Yan also stepped through!
"Yan'er, take care of yourself!"
"Grandpa, don't worry. I'm not a little girl anymore. I can take care of myself!"
Dugu Bo continued to call after her, "Senior Earth Dragon, take care of Yan'er!"
His words had barely left his mouth when Dugu Yan vanished. The World-Crossing Gate also turned into points of light, leaving four figures behind.
"Greetings, Third Highness!"
"No need for formalities."
The four were Third Prince Qian Pingchuan, Bibi Xi's disciple Hu Lieni, Vanguard Battalion Major General Yu Tianshu, and a burly man.
"Xiong Jun?" Dugu Xue was astonished. "I never expected you to be the one who came!"
"Hahaha!"
Xiong Jun laughed heartily. "The Third Prince is the son of the Empress, Blue Silver Emperor. He carries the blood of our Soul Beast Clan, so of course I had to protect him!"
"Greetings, Your Highness. Greetings, Lord Xiong Jun."
Ozka and Feng Xiaodi hurriedly bowed.
After exchanging pleasantries, Dugu Xue said, "Since you've just arrived in Douluo World No. 1, come stay at Dugu Bo's residence with us for now. Once you've gradually learned the situation, you can decide what to do next. How does that sound?"
Qian Pingchuan cupped his hands. "I'll leave everything to Second Uncle."
Meanwhile.
Dugu Yan stepped through. The intense light blinded her, but it soon faded.
When she opened her eyes again, she found herself in a vast plaza. Many people stood ahead of her! Soldiers guarded the perimeter, stationed at intervals of a dozen meters or so.
She turned around and saw a massive World-Crossing Gate towering behind her! Two more identical gates stood not far from it!
"Xiao Yi, Xiao Yi."
"I'm here."
Qian Heqing said to Xiao Yi, "I'll leave Dugu Yan's reception to you. Keep a constant record of her condition and continue to look after her from now on. If she ever encounters danger, activate the emergency plan immediately! Don't let our guests from another world be mistreated."
"Yes." Xiao Yi bowed slightly.
Then Qian Heqing turned to Dugu Yan and said, "I know your name is Dugu Yan, and that you're this world's Dugu Yan's doppelganger. You don't need to feel constrained after coming to our Immortal Court! If you need anything, tell Xiao Yi. Also, Dugu Xue is obsessed with his granddaughter, and his son Dugu Xin is a doting father too, so you don't need to be shy around them! By the way, Dugu Xin is your father's doppelganger. You're practically his daughter."
As he spoke, Qian Heqing glanced at the Earth Dragon Soul Spirit on Dugu Yan's shoulder.
"G-greetings, Emperor Qingtian! Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress!"
The Earth Dragon Soul Spirit hurriedly crouched low on Dugu Yan's shoulder, trembling with fear and stammering as it spoke.
"G-greetings, Your Majesty Emperor Qingtian! Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress!" Dugu Yan had been so nervous that she'd forgotten to bow. She only remembered after hearing the Earth Dragon Soul Spirit's reminder.
"Hahaha! There's no need for formalities. We don't have so many rules in the Immortal Court."
"Y-yes." Dugu Yan's nerves weren't going to settle down so quickly.
Nearby, Silver Dragon King Gu Yuna said warmly, "Xiao Yi, Xiao Yi!"
"I'm here."
"Hold a banquet tonight to welcome Dugu Yan to the Immortal Court."
"Understood. I'll arrange it right away."
Gu Yuna nodded with satisfaction, then continued, "Dugu Yan, tell Xiao Yi if you need anything. His Majesty and I will head back now so we don't make you feel pressured. Everyone else, you may leave too, unless you have something to attend to!"
"Yes!"
Before leaving, the sisters Zhu Zhuyin and Zhu Zhuqin glanced back at Dugu Yan. They were eager to ask her about the other world.
Before you continue