Long Yaochen: Your Level...

Beneath the massive gates of Shrek.

Long Yaochen happened to be pushing Zhang Lexuan out from the city gates. To his left was Ma Xiaotao, veiled in red and radiating a "stay away" aura, and to his right was Wang Dong, who was so beautiful he didn't look like a boy at all.

Passersby who saw two beauties of such different temperaments surrounding a single boy immediately felt a surge of resentment.

But the moment they caught sight of Long Yaochen's face, they instantly found the situation perfectly reasonable.

The group of four seemed to exist on a different layer of reality than everyone else, drawing every eye.

"My god! I feel like he's ten times more handsome than Bei Bei!" Tang Ya's eyes widened instantly, stars seemingly sparkling in them as she stared fixedly at Long Yaochen pushing the wheelchair.

But at this moment, Bei Bei could no longer hear what Tang Ya was saying.

His gaze was as if nailed to the wheelchair, locked onto Zhang Lexuan, who was still recovering from a serious illness yet allowing a strange boy to push her.

Doesn't the Senior Sister dislike having members of the opposite sex near her?

That kid... what exactly is his background?

An indescribable, complex emotion flooded Bei Bei's mind. Various feelings intertwined, eventually converging into a sense of profound loss.

Even his signature elegant smile appeared incredibly forced now. His legs moved subconsciously toward the group of four, as if they were no longer under his control.

But Tang Ya had already moved before him, excitedly greeting them with Huo Yuhao in tow.

The sudden appearance of three people blocking their path forced Long Yaochen and the others to stop.

Huo Yuhao... then these must be Bei Bei and Tang Ya.

Long Yaochen's gaze shifted slightly, and in an instant, he deduced the identities of the man and woman beside Huo Yuhao.

Just as he expected, Bei Bei offered a bitter smile, his voice raspy as he spoke:

"Senior Sister... long time no see. I only just heard that you were injured.

Are you feeling better now?"

When Ma Xiaotao saw who it was, a flicker of disgust flashed through her eyes.

The Senior Sister has always been so good to you, yet you only come to offer condolences now?

"Wow, Bei Bei. Is this the Inner Court Senior Sister you mentioned? She's so beautiful!" Tang Ya was completely oblivious to the strange atmosphere.

She looked excitedly at Long Yaochen pushing the wheelchair, calculating in her mind: Since he can push the Senior Sister, he must be a top-tier genius; I must recruit him!

Zhang Lexuan's cold gaze paused on Tang Ya. The last remaining ripple in her heart, upon seeing this lively girl beside Bei Bei, turned completely into dead silence.

Just like that day at the Sea God Pavilion... ridiculous and redundant.

Seeing that Zhang Lexuan lacked her usual warmth, Bei Bei felt even more unsettled.

"Still alive. Sorry to trouble you." Zhang Lexuan's tone was as flat as water; with those few words, she completely shut the door on any further conversation.

This icy attitude made Bei Bei's heart clench, but before he could speak, Tang Ya had already impatiently reached out toward Long Yaochen: "You must be little Huo Yuhao's classmate, right? I'm Tang Ya, the current Sect Master of the Tang Sect! Junior Brother Long, are you interested in joining our Tang Sect?"

The unfathomable aura emanating from Long Yaochen made Tang Ya even more certain of her intentions; she felt as if a kitten were scratching at her heart.

This child... must be used for my Tang Sect.

"Tang Sect?!"

Before Long Yaochen could speak, Wang Dong exclaimed in surprise.

For some reason, upon hearing this name—at once familiar and strange—a tremor stirred deep within Wang Dong's soul, as if a voice were urging her to agree.

"Tang Sect..." Long Yaochen rubbed his chin, as if recalling something, and said slowly: "Is that the..."

"Yes, yes! That's the sect that stood at the pinnacle of the continent ten thousand years ago!"

Before Long Yaochen could finish, Tang Ya added proudly.

But Long Yaochen acted as if he hadn't heard her, continuing to speak to himself: "Is that the sect that has spent ten thousand years holding onto Blue Silver Grass as its sect master?"

These words caused the expressions of Tang Ya and her companions to stiffen instantly.

"If I recall correctly, the current Tang Sect doesn't even have a single powerhouse at the Soul Ancestor level, let alone a Titled Douluo, right?"

Long Yaochen asked with a sincere expression.

The entire scene fell into dead silence.

Upon hearing this, Wang Dong froze, looking at Tang Ya with some astonishment.

The budding desire to join that had just risen in her heart shattered instantly.

They don't even have a Soul Ancestor?

"No... we don't."

The proud expression on Tang Ya's face completely solidified, her complexion turning pale and then flushed in an instant.

Although the other party had stepped directly on her scar, she had no way to refute it.

The current Tang Sect didn't just lack a Soul King; they didn't even have a Soul Ancestor...

"Junior Brother Long, no matter how fallen the Tang Sect may be, it is not something to be insulted by others."

Bei Bei, who had been lost in his own melancholy, felt his face darken instantly upon hearing Long Yaochen's words.

"Is telling the truth considered an insult?" Long Yaochen chuckled. "To be honest, a level like the Tang Sect isn't even qualified to send me an invitation."

Without saying anything more, he simply dropped that sentence and pushed Zhang Lexuan forward, walking away without looking back.

He was still waiting to go retrieve the Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife; he had no time to play house with these remnants of a bygone era.

Bei Bei saw that Tang Ya's expression was extremely ugly, and Huo Yuhao, standing beside her, kept his head lowered without a word.

Clenching his fists, Bei Bei lost his usual refined demeanor and shouted at Long Yaochen's retreating back: "No matter who you are, if you look down on the Tang Sect, I will make you regret it!"

Upon hearing Bei Bei's words, Huo Yuhao instinctively looked up, staring blankly at Wang Dong's back.

For some reason, he felt as though he had lost something important.

Thinking back to how even Wang Dong had shown a hint of contempt for the Tang Sect, only one thought remained in his mind.

Is the Tang Sect... really that pathetic? By joining the Tang Sect, can I really get my revenge?

Just as Huo Yuhao fell into a state of extreme confusion and self-doubt.

A sudden change occurred!

A blue-gold light, as if crossing an endless void, quietly drifted into Huo Yuhao's body, and not a single person noticed.

"Child... do you wish to control your own destiny?"

A vast, ethereal voice, permeated with endless compassion, suddenly echoed within Huo Yuhao's spiritual sea, interrupting his dejected mood.

"Who are you? How did you get in?! What are you trying to do to little Huo Yuhao?"

Before Huo Yuhao could speak, the long-slumbering Sky Dream Ice Silkworm jolted awake. It let out a sharp, angry roar, its massive spiritual essence vibrating wildly as it attempted to expel this foreign power.

However, that cluster of blue-gold light merely swirled slightly.

In the blink of an eye, the light converged into a blurred, imposing figure.

The figure had long blue hair, and while his face could not be seen clearly, he gave off an indescribable sense of gentleness and tranquility.

He did not seem like a soul master, but rather like an ocean submerged deep within the consciousness.

At this moment, the sea stirred, and he raised a finger with extreme casualness.

The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm was instantly bound tightly by countless blue-gold divine patterns, unable to even make a sound.

"Brother Sky Dream!" Huo Yuhao exclaimed, wanting to save him, only to find that he himself could not move.

"Don't be nervous, child. I have no malice toward you." The blue-gold figure looked down at Huo Yuhao, his voice extremely gentle, like a vast ocean capable of encompassing everything:

"I felt the fortune that was plundered from you, and I heard the unwillingness in the depths of your heart.

I... am a god who has come to guide you.

You may call me... Old Tang!"