Was It Long Xiaoyao Who Came?

The Soul Guidance Carriage drove smoothly along the bumpy little road.

Huo Yuhao sat in the passenger seat, using Spiritual Detection to scout ahead while sneaking occasional glances at the two people in the back.

Xu Yanli leaned against the window with his eyes closed, resting. Every now and then, his gaze drifted toward the Silver Dragon King beside him.

Silver Dragon King Gu Yuena was curled up on the other side, eating quickly from a lunch box.

A look of indescribable delight flashed across Gu Yuena's face.

Delight flashed in Gu Yuena's eyes, and she picked up the pace, shoveling food into her mouth with her chopsticks.

Xu Yanli pretended to be joking as he reached over to snatch the lunch box. Gu Yuena instantly shielded it with her hand, looked up, and stared at Xu Yanli warily.

Xu Yanli smiled at her, then withdrew his hand, acting as though nothing had happened.

But Huo Yuhao had been watching the whole thing with his Spiritual Power, so of course he'd seen...

Huo Yuhao stared in astonishment. He never would have guessed that his teacher, who seemed so decisive and ruthless, could be so childish.

But what shocked Huo Yuhao even more was the way Gu Yuena ate. Just how many days had she been starving?

Xu Yanli looked up at Huo Yuhao and gestured for him to withdraw his Spiritual Power and stop peeking.

Gu Yuena seemed to sense something and looked toward Xu Yanli, who had already closed his eyes and was basking in the sun.

Xu Yanli immediately sensed Gu Yuena's gaze. It lasted only an instant.

"What's wrong? Is the food not good?" Xu Yanli smiled.

Gu Yuena immediately acted as if nothing had happened and looked away. She asked quietly, "It's good. Is there any more?"

Xu Yanli paused. He looked at the lunch box, which held twice as much food as a normal person's portion, and sighed. Then he took another serving from his Storage Soul Tool and handed it to Gu Yuena.

Gu Yuena mumbled her thanks, took a deep breath, and continued eating.

Meanwhile, at Sea God Pavilion in Shrek Academy, everyone was still discussing the Silver Dragon King's emergence the last time.

But evidently, the people from Shrek Academy didn't know what had happened. The Star Luo Royal Family, who had come to make inquiries, didn't know either, nor did the royal families of the Heavenly Soul and Dou Ling Empires.

People from all three sides were gathered in a Council Hall in Shrek Academy's outer court, discussing the matter.

Xu Yanli hadn't been completely unaware of the disturbance in the Star Dou Great Forest. At the time, he'd had his suspicions.

He'd guessed that the Ferocious Beasts in the forest were up to something. But after seeing Gu Yuena today, he finally understood what had happened that day.

But had he just heard Electrolux's voice?

Xu Yanli closed his eyes again and slowly sank his consciousness into his Sea of Consciousness.

In the sea of consciousness where green and purple intertwined, a dazzling gray-gold orb floated.

Xu Yanli slowly walked over and bowed. "This junior, Xu Yanli, pays his respects to Lord Electrolux."

Xu Yanli bowed respectfully, but there was nothing servile about his manner.

As he lowered his head, a flicker of ambition passed through his eyes, though he kept it hidden.

Electrolux!

The Holy Necromancer, Electrolux!

With his help, the Evil Soul Master problem would be easy to solve. And it wasn't just the Evil Soul Masters; plenty of other problems could be resolved as well.

There was also the matter of Soul Spirits and the Soul Ring for his Second Martial Soul.

Xu Yanli knew that he couldn't travel around the Sun Moon Empire with this Martial Soul. After all, he still had to use it—and his identity as the Pavilion Master of Xiaoyao Pavilion—to make a name for himself in the Original Three Kingdoms.

The Sun Moon Empire didn't have many cultivation resources, after all. Many cultivation resources and talented people were in the Original Three Kingdoms.

That made Soul Spirits especially important, as was figuring out how to earn Gu Yuena's trust.

Electrolux slowly took on a human form and looked down at Xu Yanli. In a calm voice, he asked, "You recognize me?"

Xu Yanli hesitated. He knew that, given his own temperament, he might not win Electrolux's favor, much less persuade him to pass on his Necromancy.

So the best approach was sincerity—and temptation.

A trace of calculation flashed through Xu Yanli's eyes. Then he put it aside and slowly raised his head.

A faint smile curled Xu Yanli's lips. It was slight, yet somehow it made him seem sincere.

"My lord, of course I know who you are." Xu Yanli met Electrolux's eyes as he spoke.

Electrolux grew curious. Raising an eyebrow, he said, "Oh? Then tell me."

After all, little remained in this remnant soul of his memories of his past.

Still, he remembered most of the important details. This was a good chance to see whether the boy was bluffing or telling the truth.

"The Holy Necromancer, the Scourge of the Undead, Electrolux." Xu Yanli lifted his head and spoke each word distinctly.

"You were the son of the City Lord of Xidi City in the Pangbo Empire. At six, you awakened with a 98% affinity for the light element. At fifteen, you became the youngest sixth-tier Grand Archmage on the continent, and were hailed as the Child of Light." Xu Yanli smiled. "And then..."

"That's enough. I know you know." Electrolux's expression changed. A trace of sorrow appeared in his eyes, but more than that, he was overwhelmed by an indescribable shock.

Xu Yanli smiled. He held Electrolux's gaze, a faint smile in his eyes. "I know how proud you were, and I know how lonely you were. I've seen you standing at the summit, looking down on all living things. I've seen you betrayed. And now, your remnant soul drifts through another world, only to be harmed by someone in the end. You don't know it, but when I saw what happened to you back then, my heart ached for you."

Yes, a character who died because of monthly votes was truly heartbreaking...

Xu Yanli sighed. He remembered voting for Electrolux back then, hoping he would survive. Sadly, it hadn't been enough to save him.

Electrolux remained silent for a long time, until gray mist began to seep from the gray orb...

"How... how do you know all this?" Electrolux asked hoarsely.

Xu Yanli smiled at Electrolux. There was no calculation or smugness in his expression, only an earnest sincerity that was impossible to refuse.

He wanted to trade his sincerity for a teacher who would treat him sincerely in return. He wanted to find a harbor in this world where he could feel at peace.

He wanted someone he could share his thoughts with. He couldn't trust outsiders; the only one he could turn to was Electrolux, who dwelled in his Sea of Consciousness.

Electrolux was the only one he could trust enough to tell everything.

Xu Yanli spoke softly. "Because I don't belong to this world either."

His voice was quiet, but each word was clear, as if he were entrusting Electrolux with his deepest secret.

"I come from a place called Blue Star. You've surely never heard of it, because it has no magical Martial Souls like this world, nor the wondrous magic you had over there. When people die there, they all return to dust. By all rights, that should have happened to me, too."