Dugu Yan's Little Scheme, Meng Yiran Confesses Her Feelings

"Born with divine strength?"

Dugu Yan looked at Yu Tianheng with a strange expression.

He had only said it casually, yet Yu Tianheng had actually believed it?

Born with divine strength enough to crush a Soul Elder to death?

If anyone truly believed Gu Linyuan had merely been born with divine strength, there really had to be something wrong with them.

Compared to a few months ago, he seemed like a completely different person.

His entire body radiated sharpness, like a treasured sword poised to strike.

Clearly, Gu Linyuan was different now.

She even believed that Gu Linyuan had already surpassed Yu Tianheng in strength.

Even if Yu Tianheng used his Martial Soul, he might not necessarily be Gu Linyuan's match.

Although she did not understand where this confidence came from, she trusted her instincts.

I trust a woman's intuition...

But how did he manage it? How could he change so drastically in such a short time?

Yet for the past six years, he truly had been unable to cultivate...

What a mysterious man...

Dugu Yan took Meng Yiran's hand and spoke softly.

"Hey, Yiran. Don't tell me you've taken a liking to that guy? Still, Gu Linyuan's performance just now really was monstrous. He just broke up with Ning Rongrong, so he should still be available. Want me to introduce you...?"

Seeing that the Girl beside her was still spacing out, Dugu Yan waved her little hand in front of Meng Yiran's eyes.

The corners of her lips curled up, and her voice was thick with teasing.

"Really? You can really help me?"

Meng Yiran grabbed Dugu Yan's hand in delighted surprise.

After learning that Gu Linyuan was Long Yuan, she had wanted nothing more than to claim this man for herself immediately.

Not many people knew of Gu Linyuan's talent yet, so she had to secure her place ahead of time.

Even if she was not outstanding enough, sometimes arriving early was better than arriving at the perfect moment. If she could leave a place for herself in Gu Linyuan's heart early on, then perhaps...

"Huh? No, Yiran, you're serious?"

Dugu Yan's beautiful eyes froze for a moment.

Meng Yiran was from the Exotic Beast Family. The Exotic Beast Family's foundation was far stronger than that of the Dugu Family.

"Of course. Gu Linyuan is so powerful and so handsome. Can't I admire him?"

Meng Yiran found the question baffling, as if Dugu Yan had asked something utterly foolish.

Powerful, handsome, mysterious, cold.

He had faced a Soul Saint alone and escaped unscathed, then crushed Yu Tianheng's palm bone without even blinking.

A man like that would be highly sought after anywhere. Why could Meng Yiran not fall for him?

Dugu Yan shook her head, her purple hair swaying gently over her shoulders as her expression turned serious.

"But there's something strange about his body."

She took half a step forward and lowered her voice.

"For the past six years, his cultivation had not advanced at all. Even if he seems able to cultivate now, who knows whether something might go wrong again someday?"

As Dugu Yan said this, her gaze unconsciously flicked toward the direction Gu Linyuan had disappeared in.

She was serious. She did not want the good friend she had just made to walk down a road of no return.

Even if Meng Yiran had feelings for Gu Linyuan, she should wait a while and see whether his condition stabilized. Gu Linyuan was like a coal freshly dug out from the ashes. It looked red-hot, but no one knew whether it had truly caught fire within, or whether it might go out again.

Meng Yiran fell silent for a moment.

She lowered her head and looked at her tightly clenched hands.

"I don't know why either. Maybe it was love at first sight..."

Meng Yiran did not know how to explain it to Dugu Yan.

If she waited any longer, she would not even be qualified to touch this prize.

Meng Yiran knew her own standing well. She was merely a second-rate genius.

In ordinary people's eyes, she was the granddaughter of Dragon Duke and Snake Granny, the legitimate daughter of the Exotic Beast Family, and one of the best among her peers. But before true monsters, she was nothing.

A genius like Tang San was someone she could still try to catch up to.

Tang San had defeated her, and she refused to accept it. She still wanted another match, believing she might not lose next time. But Gu Linyuan? She did not even have the courage to chase after him. That gap could not be made up through effort. It was the despair of standing at the foot of a mountain and looking up at its peak.

If everyone came to understand Gu Linyuan's potential, what could she possibly use to compete with those monsters?

The holy maidens of those sects, the princesses of those empires, the geniuses carefully cultivated by Spirit Hall.

Every one of them was better than her. Every one of them shone brighter than her.

By then, she would not even be qualified to stand before Gu Linyuan.

Meng Yiran raised her head and looked at Dugu Yan. A flame burned in her dark green eyes.

"So, will you help me or not?"

Dugu Yan looked into those eyes and remained silent for a long time.

"Let's go."

She reached out, took Meng Yiran by the wrist, and headed toward Heaven Dou City's busiest commercial street.

"I'll take you to dress up first."

As Dugu Yan spoke, a sly smile had already appeared in her purple eyes.

If they were going to do this, they were going to do it properly.

If Dugu Yan's best friend was going to pursue a man, she would do so beautifully. She could not let anyone look down on her.

Heaven Dou City, Jinxiu Workshop.

This was Heaven Dou City's most renowned clothing store, catering specifically to noblewomen seeking custom-made dresses.

Dugu Yan was clearly a regular here. The moment she entered, a maid came forward and respectfully led them to a private room on the second floor.

Dugu Yan pulled Meng Yiran into the room, her fingers gliding across the clothing racks as she selected dress after dress.

Meng Yiran changed into the first outfit.

When Dugu Yan had her step out from behind the screen, she was stunned for a moment herself. Then she smiled, and that smile carried a deeper meaning.

"This one won't do. It's too conservative. Change."

The second set, the third set, the fourth set, until the fifth.

When Meng Yiran stepped out from behind the screen, Dugu Yan's eyes finally lit up.

"This one."

She crossed her arms over her chest, her purple eyes narrowing into slits as a satisfied curve slowly formed on her lips.

Meng Yiran stood before the bronze mirror, looking at her reflection as a faint blush spread over her cheeks.

It was a black, body-hugging gown made of the finest cloud brocade. Soft and close-fitting, it clung to every curve of her body like a second skin.

The neckline was cut very low, forming a smooth V that stretched from her collarbones down to her chest, revealing a broad expanse of snowy skin. The point of that V stopped at precisely the most dangerous position. Any lower and it would reveal too much; any higher and it would lose its charm.

Her collarbones were exquisite and distinct, appearing even fairer against the black fabric, like two pieces of flawless white jade set into her shoulders.

Lower still rose a pair of full, firm peaks, their breathtaking curves outlined by the tight fabric. They rose and fell faintly with her breathing, as though they might break free from that V-neck at any moment.

The waist was drawn in tightly, making her slender waist seem even more delicate and creating a striking contrast with the fullness of her chest.

The skirt had a slit running from one side of her thigh down below her knee. Whenever she moved, her long, snow-white leg appeared and disappeared between the black folds like a flash of lightning in the night.

The back of the dress featured a deep V-shaped open-back design, extending from the nape of her neck down to her waist and exposing her smooth, delicate back.

Dugu Yan had redone her hair as well. It was no longer tied high up, but fell loosely over her shoulders, its ends curling faintly as an inky sheen flowed over the black dress.

"It's... too revealing..."

Meng Yiran unconsciously raised both hands to cover her chest.

Dugu Yan stepped forward, pulled away the hands covering her chest, and dropped them to her sides.

"Trust me."

Dugu Yan took a step back and looked Meng Yiran up and down, her purple eyes filled with pride.

"No man can refuse this look."

"Hehe. But Yiran, tell me, do you know something about Gu Linyuan?" Dugu Yan stroked Meng Yiran's exposed jade-like back.

"If you help me win Gu Linyuan over, I'll tell you." Meng Yiran did not say it outright. Otherwise, she feared Dugu Yan might become another rival.

"Fine. I want to see just what is so exceptional about Gu Linyuan that he's worth all this effort from you." Dugu Yan rolled her eyes.

No matter how exceptional Gu Linyuan was, Dugu Yan would not stoop to stealing a man. She had her own pride as a woman.

"Whew. After breaking through to Soul Elder, my cultivation speed really has slowed down a lot."

"This should be my normal cultivation speed."

Early in the morning, Gu Linyuan awoke from cultivation.

Knock, knock, knock. A hurried knock sounded at the door.

Gu Linyuan got up and opened it.

"It's you two?"

Gu Linyuan froze for a moment.

He had not gone looking for Dugu Yan, yet Dugu Yan had come to find him herself—and Meng Yiran was with her.

No... was this Meng Yiran???

Gu Linyuan was utterly stunned... You're telling me this seductively dressed Girl was Meng Yiran?