Tang Wulin's consciousness sank into the depths of his sea of consciousness, into that tranquil space woven from Blue Silver Grass.
He lifted his head, his gaze piercing the void to lock onto the phantom coiled deep within his soul, the one who called himself "Old Tang."
"Old Tang."
Tang Wulin's voice echoed through his sea of consciousness, tinged with a curiosity he had never felt before.
"You always say I'm the chosen one."
His eyes sharpened as he tried to catch even the slightest change in Old Tang's expression.
"Why?"
"Where does this destiny come from?"
"Was I born destined for greatness?"
"Or... is someone pulling the strings behind the scenes?"
The golden phantom, Old Tang, remained utterly still.
The vast consciousness of a God King, as boundless as a sea of stars, had fallen into absolute silence.
He couldn't say.
He was Tang San, ruler of the Douluo Continent and God of Law Enforcement on the God Realm Committee.
He had spent a thousand years laying his plans, sending a strand of his son's divine consciousness into the lower realm to merge with Tang Wulin's soul.
It had all been to oppose the possible awakening of the Dragon God, to ensure the Divine Realm's stability, and to advance that grand game spanning time and space.
But how could he explain that truth to the stubborn, sensitive boy before him?
If he revealed it, the plan would surely collapse, and Tang Wulin's reaction would be impossible to predict.
All he could do was remain silent.
Like a golden statue unchanged since time immemorial, he radiated majesty and... a hint of chilling calculation that was hard to put into words.
That long silence was like a cold tide, instantly drowning the last shred of hope in Tang Wulin's heart.
There really was something wrong.
A vast fog of suspicion descended over him.
The more silent Old Tang became, the more it proved he was hiding an unspeakable secret.
What chosen one?
Maybe it was nothing but a carefully woven lie.
Maybe he had been nothing more than an unwilling pawn in someone's grand plan from beginning to end.
A chill crept up his spine.
Anger and wariness mingled.
He couldn't act rashly.
Tang Wulin clenched his fist in his consciousness.
Old Tang was living in his sea of consciousness, and his strength was unfathomable.
Burning bridges would do him no good.
Taking a deep breath, Tang Wulin forced down the churning emotions.
He managed to squeeze a look of "reverence" onto his face.
"Old Tang? Was I too impatient?"
"I know. A matter of destiny like this probably can't be revealed lightly."
"It's all right. I'll work hard to grow stronger. One day, I'll understand!"
He tried to make his voice sound innocent and full of drive.
In truth, his thoughts were crystal clear.
Play along!
Fish for information!
He had to find a way to pry the truth from the mysterious, inscrutable "Old Tang"!
His consciousness returned to his body.
Tang Wulin opened his eyes, and the clamor of the real world surged back into his ears.
He immediately thought of Yao Chuan.
That guy who always wore a slightly irreverent smile.
Yao Chuan had warned him to beware of the "Old Tang" living in his body.
Yao Chuan had helped him break through the first seal and gain greater power.
And when Tang Wulin had nearly been devoured by the violent power within him, Yao Chuan had given him crucial support.
That bond was real.
He promptly took out his Soul Guidance Communicator, his fingers flying across the screen.
"Thanks for the warning, Brother Yao Chuan! I'll be careful! (Attached: a clenched-fist emoji.)"
By then, Yao Chuan had already left the Earthen Pot Beef restaurant with Mu Xi and Gu Yue.
He was leaning lazily against the railing by the academy's competitors' seats, leisurely unwrapping a piece of candy.
Hearing the communicator chime, he pulled it out without much interest.
When he saw the message from Tang Wulin, the corner of his mouth curled into a smile.
That silly kid... at least he knew how to show gratitude.
His original plan had been to use his foreknowledge to mooch some benefits from Tang Wulin, the "child of the plane"—say, the Golden Dragon King's source power—while also making life harder for his divine king of a father, Tang San, who was lurking behind the scenes.
But after spending some time with him, Yao Chuan had realized that Tang Wulin was guileless, loyal, and tenacious.
He was a brother worth befriending.
Messing with Tang San? That was a given.
But letting Tang Wulin suffer because of Tang San's schemes?
Yao Chuan felt a little guilty about that.
Especially when he thought of Tang San's downright cold-blooded arrangements in the original story... like leaving Tang Wulin in the lower realm to fend for himself, or tacitly allowing the Spirit Pagoda to "deal with" Tang Ziran and Lang Yue.
The adoptive parents who had taken Tang Wulin in and given him an ordinary, loving home...
Yao Chuan's gaze turned cold.
He couldn't let Tang Wulin follow the original story's path, get completely brainwashed by Tang San, and become a tool who did nothing but carry out his father's orders.
He had to do something.
A flash of inspiration struck him.
A crucial turning point!
According to the original course of events, the Spirit Pagoda, under the control of that old schemer Qiangu Dongfeng, would soon forcibly take Tang Ziran and Lang Yue away under the pretext of "protecting" them!
They would call it protecting the family of a hero, but in truth, they'd be hostages.
A means to control and manipulate Tang Wulin's future.
That wouldn't do!
Yao Chuan's fingers flew across the communicator's screen as he scrolled to a profile picture—a silver-haired girl's radiant smile.
Na'er.
He decisively called her.
"Beep, beep, beep..."
She answered after just two rings.
Before Yao Chuan could speak, a bright, sweet voice burst from the receiver:
"Brother Yao Chuan! You finally remembered to call me! Did you miss me?"
Her voice was crisp and lively, as if even the sunshine had grown brighter.
Yao Chuan gave a light cough, ignoring the nosy looks Xie Xie and Tang Wulin were shooting him from the competitors' seats.
He got straight to the point.
"Na'er, I need a favor."
"It's important."
His tone turned serious.
"It's about Tang Wulin's adoptive parents, Tang Ziran and Lang Yue."
"The Spirit Pagoda, especially Qiangu Dongfeng's faction, might forcibly take them away soon under the pretext of 'protecting' them."
"Is there any way you can... stop this? Or at least make sure they're safe and free?"
"Try not to alert the authorities or the Spirit Pagoda's higher-ups."
There was silence on the other end for a few seconds.
Then came a string of bell-like laughter, tinged with a hint of smugness.
"Hey, Brother Yao Chuan, so that's what you're worried about?"
"Don't worry!"
"Leave it to me!"
Na'er's voice brimmed with confidence.
"I know a few people in the Spirit Pagoda who can 'get things done'!"
"Quietly taking care of this 'little matter' shouldn't be a problem!"
"But..."
Her voice suddenly drew out, turning sly.
"Brother Yao Chuan, this is the first time you've ever asked me for help!"
"I'm writing this down in my little ledger!"
"You'll owe me a huuuuuuuuuuge favor!"
"Got that, Brother Yao Chuan?"
Hearing Na'er emphasize that word with so many "huge"s, Yao Chuan couldn't help but smile, and felt relieved as well.
He knew Na'er had an extraordinary background and considerable influence.
Since she'd agreed so readily, Tang Ziran and Lang Yue should be safe for now.
"All right, all right. I owe you a big favor."
"I'll remember."
"When you need me, just come find me."
Yao Chuan cheerfully agreed.
"I knew you were the best, Brother Yao Chuan! Wait for good news from me!"
Na'er ended the call, satisfied.
But the call had barely ended—
And then—
A message from Gu Yue popped up.
She brought up the meme she'd sent earlier and sounded rather smug.
Seeing that, Na'er added a voice message: "Oh, Gu Yue, you're in high spirits today! Don't get carried away~"
Gu Yue gave a soft scoff, thinking that the girl was surely jealous.
She was just about to send another smug message when a new one from Na'er appeared.
Na'er's voice was teasing: "What are you so smug about? Want to see who I just talked to?"
Then Na'er sent over a screenshot—the call history clearly showed "Incoming call from Yao Chuan, duration: 15 minutes."
Gu Yue's pupils contracted, and her heart skipped a beat.
That damn Yao Chuan had not only eaten with her and Mu Xi, he'd secretly gone and flirted with Na'er too!
Her mind buzzed, and she instantly flushed with fury.
"Womanizer! Jerk!" Gu Yue cursed inwardly, gripping her communicator so tightly the screen nearly cracked.
That move had completely shattered her composure. Her teeth ground with rage.
Gu Yue didn't reply to Na'er. She shut off her communicator with a sharp motion.
She strode home, her high heels pounding against the floor.
When she pushed open the door, the living room was empty, cold light spilling from the crystal chandelier.
She flopped onto the sofa, her chest heaving.
"There isn't a single decent man!" Gu Yue gritted out, her voice as icy as a Siberian cold snap.
"They should all be castrated!" she added, her eyes blazing with murderous intent.
At that very moment, Di Tian was kneeling outside her bedroom.
He had come to report on the state of the human world and had just straightened his clothes, ready to ask permission to enter.
Hearing "They should all be castrated," Di Tian froze from head to toe.
"Oh no. Her Majesty's anger is off the charts!" Di Tian's heart lurched.
He shuddered, and cold sweat instantly broke out.
"Who provoked her? That kid Yao Chuan? Or Mu Xi?" Di Tian speculated, growing more panicked with every thought.
"Could she take it out on me? I'm the dignified Beast God. If I end up a eunuch, how am I supposed to get by in the soul beast world?"
He hunched his shoulders, barely daring to breathe.
He stood frozen in place, neither able to go in nor back away, like a stone statue.
Outside the window, the moonlight was deathly pale, making Di Tian's face look even more ashen.
He swallowed, silently wailing, "What an unfair case of collateral damage! This is social death in the flesh!"
But there was no further sound from Gu Yue's room, only dead silence.
In the end, Di Tian didn't dare knock. He crept away on tiptoe.
His retreat was a pitiful sight, as if he were fleeing for his life.
The moment Na'er ended the call on her Soul Guidance Communicator, it was as if someone had injected her with a powerful stimulant.
With a loud "Awooo!" she flung herself onto the soft bed and began rolling around wildly, hugging a pillow.
She buried her little face in the pillow, her shoulders bouncing as she let out an uncontrollable, muffled "Hehehe."
So happy she could barely think.jpg.
This was the first time Yao Chuan had ever taken the initiative to ask her for help!
Even if it was only a "small favor" to protect his parents, how could that possibly mean the same thing?
By rounding up, it meant Yao Chuan needed her! He relied on her!
Na'er felt as if her little heart were about to burst from overwhelming joy. She rolled even more wildly across the bed, not caring that her golden hair had fallen all over her face.
This utterly ridiculous, silly grin was exactly what Leng Yaozhu saw when she pushed open the door.
"Well, well~" A teasing laugh sounded from the doorway.
Leng Yaozhu leaned against the doorframe, her beautiful phoenix eyes full of knowing amusement as she watched her little disciple roll into a golden ball on the bed.
"Look who's gone and turned into a silly little girl again?"
Her voice was filled with lazy teasing.
"Let me guess... did you just finish another 'telephone marathon' with that Yao Chuan of yours?"
Leng Yaozhu shook her head with a smile, her tone certain.
"Other than getting a call from that boy, I can't think of anything that could turn our usually cool-as-a-fairy Na'er into this little fawn, rolling around on the bed."
Na'er abruptly froze, as if someone had hit pause.
With her golden hair a tangled mess, she lifted her flushed little face from the pillow. Her eyes were still a little dazed, embarrassment showing at having her "secret" exposed.
"Ma... Master!"
Na'er mumbled softly, trying to salvage a little dignity, but the smile she couldn't suppress gave her away completely.
Leng Yaozhu entered the room and closed the door behind her. She sat gracefully in a soft chair nearby, propped her chin on one hand, and watched Na'er at her leisure.
Her heart was full of complicated feelings.
When she had first met that boy, Yao Chuan, in Aolai City and taken Na'er away, she had actually been somewhat worried.
Na'er was still so young, and the Spirit Pagoda Headquarters was a place filled with geniuses and complicated relationships.
As time passed and distance grew, a child's feelings could change. Would her innocent attachment to Yao Chuan fade amid new experiences and more outstanding peers?
After all, there was no shortage of talented young men in the Spirit Pagoda who wanted to get close to Na'er, the deputy tower master's personal disciple and a gifted beauty.
However, reality had dealt her, the Heavenly Phoenix Douluo, a most unexpected surprise.
Their separation had not diluted Na'er's feelings for Yao Chuan. Instead, those feelings were like a jar of fine wine buried underground: the longer it aged, the richer and stronger her attachment became.
It was plain to see that Na'er had grown even more dependent on Yao Chuan.
Every time the little girl spoke with Yao Chuan, she seemed to glow.
Leng Yaozhu couldn't help recalling the first time she had met Yao Chuan.
The boy had been dressed in black, his figure straight as a pine. His steady bearing seemed far too mature for a child, and his deep eyes looked as if they could see right through people.
Even with her perspective and experience as the Heavenly Phoenix Douluo, she had to admit that the boy possessed a peculiar, almost unreasonable charm.
Steadfast and wild, mysterious and powerful.
He really did appeal to everyone.
Even she had felt her heart stir a little back then, let alone Na'er, who was just beginning to understand matters of the heart.
Leng Yaozhu drifted off for a moment, her thoughts wandering far away.
By then, Na'er had completely switched out of "rolling around" mode.
She nimbly climbed off the bed and sat cross-legged, smoothing her tousled hair with her little hands as she tried to put on a serious, solemn expression.
But the bright, slightly smug look in her eyes still betrayed her excitement.
"Master!"
Na'er called out crisply, with a gravity she had never shown before.
She lifted her head and looked straight into Leng Yaozhu's perceptive phoenix eyes. Her gaze was earnest, with a faint, barely noticeable plea.
"I have something very important to ask you to help me with, Master!"
Leng Yaozhu was amused by how solemn she looked, though she was also a little curious.
What could make the little girl, who had been rolling around with joy just moments ago, suddenly become so serious?
She raised an eyebrow, the corner of her mouth curving into a playful smile.
"Oh? Something very important?"
Leng Yaozhu leaned forward slightly, intrigued.
"Let me guess... has that boy Yao Chuan finally come to his senses and realized how much better it would be to come study at the Spirit Pagoda Headquarters? Is he planning to end his studies at Eastsea Academy early and report here?"
A glimmer of anticipation flashed in her eyes.
Yao Chuan's talent and potential made him exactly the kind of core prospect the Spirit Pagoda coveted most.
If he took the initiative to come early, it would of course be a wonderful thing.
She was already thinking about what resources and mentors to arrange for him.
However, Na'er immediately shook her little head like a rattle drum.
"No, Master."
Her expression didn't relax at all. If anything, it grew more serious.
The ease and anticipation on Leng Yaozhu's face ebbed away like a receding tide at Na'er's words.
Her elegant brows drew together slightly.
No?
Then what could possibly be so important that Na'er would ask her so solemnly?
Na'er took a deep breath and quietly clenched her little fists at her sides.
Looking at the probing, grave expression that had settled over her master's face, she spoke clearly, one word at a time:
"It's Yao Chuan's parents!"
"Yao Chuan said..."
Na'er's voice dropped, edged with urgency.
"People from the Spirit Pagoda... might come to take them away very soon!"
"They might take his mom and dad away and make them undergo..."
She paused, as if weighing the frightening words.
"...secret experiments!"
"Crack..."
Leng Yaozhu's fingertips unconsciously scraped across the hard wood of the chair's armrest, making a faint sound.
All the ease, teasing, and anticipation vanished from her face the instant Na'er said "Spirit Pagoda," "take them away," and "secret experiments." It all froze over and shattered.
Her captivating phoenix eyes narrowed sharply, a cold glint seeming to flash deep within her pupils.
The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees.
The stunning face that had just been touched by a lazy smile now held nothing but a weighty solemnity, like the calm before a storm.
The muscles in her face tightened.
Before you continue