Beneath Shrek's massive city gates.
Long Yaochen happened to be pushing Zhang Lexuan out through the gates. To his left was Ma Xiaotao, her face veiled in red and radiating an aura that kept strangers away. To his right stood Wang Dong, beautiful enough to not look like a boy at all.
The passersby had originally felt rather indignant upon seeing two beauties of such different temperaments gathered around one boy.
But when they saw Long Yaochen's face clearly, it instantly seemed perfectly reasonable.
The group of four seemed as though they existed on a different layer from everyone else, drawing countless eyes.
"My god! I think he's ten times more handsome than Bei Bei!" Tang Ya's eyes widened at once, practically sparkling as she stared fixedly at Long Yaochen pushing the wheelchair.
But Bei Bei could no longer spare any attention for what Tang Ya was saying.
His gaze seemed nailed to the wheelchair, locked onto Zhang Lexuan, who had not yet recovered from her serious illness and was allowing an unfamiliar young man to push her.
Didn't Senior Sister hate having men near her the most?
That kid... who exactly was he?
An indescribably complicated torrent of emotions flooded Bei Bei's mind. All those feelings tangled together, eventually becoming a sense of bitter loss.
Even his trademark refined smile now looked exceptionally forced. As if his legs no longer obeyed him, he subconsciously walked toward the group of four.
But Tang Ya had already moved before him, excitedly approaching with Huo Yuhao.
The sudden appearance of three people blocking their path made Long Yaochen and the others stop.
Huo Yuhao... then these must be Bei Bei and Tang Ya.
Long Yaochen's gaze shifted slightly, and he immediately deduced the identities of the man and woman beside Huo Yuhao.
Just as he had expected, Bei Bei gave a bitter smile and spoke in a dry voice:
"Senior Sister... long time no see. I only just heard that you were injured.
Are you feeling any better now?"
After recognizing him, a trace of disgust flashed through Ma Xiaotao's eyes.
Senior Sister had always treated you so well, yet you only came to visit her now?
"Wow, Bei Bei. Is this the Inner Court Senior Sister you mentioned? She's so beautiful!" Tang Ya did not notice the strange atmosphere at all.
She excitedly looked at Long Yaochen, who was pushing the wheelchair, and calculated inwardly: Since he can push Senior Sister, he must be a top genius. I have to recruit him!
Zhang Lexuan's cold gaze paused briefly on Tang Ya. The last remaining ripple in her heart vanished completely the instant she saw this lively girl beside Bei Bei, turning into utter stillness.
Just like that day at Sea God Pavilion... laughable and unnecessary.
Seeing that Zhang Lexuan no longer showed her usual warmth, Bei Bei felt even worse.
"I'm still alive. Thank you for your concern." Zhang Lexuan's tone was as calm as water. With just a few words, she completely shut the door on any further conversation.
That icy attitude made Bei Bei's heart clench sharply, but before he could speak, Tang Ya impatiently extended her hand toward Long Yaochen. "You're Little 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 decision. Her heart felt as though little cats were scratching at it.
This boy... must be brought into the Tang Sect.
"The Tang Sect?!"
Before Long Yaochen could say anything, Wang Dong cried out first.
For some reason, hearing that familiar yet unfamiliar name stirred something deep within Wang Dong's soul, as though a voice were urging her to agree.
"The Tang Sect..." Long Yaochen stroked his chin as if recalling something, then slowly said, "The one that..."
"Yes, yes! The sect that stood at the pinnacle of the continent ten thousand years ago!"
Before Long Yaochen could finish, Tang Ya proudly added.
But Long Yaochen acted as if he had not heard her and continued, "The sect that has spent ten thousand years keeping Blue Silver Grass as its sect master?"
Those words instantly froze the expressions of Tang Ya and the other two.
"If I remember correctly, the Tang Sect today doesn't even have a Soul King-level expert within it, let alone a Title Douluo, does it?"
Long Yaochen asked with utter sincerity.
The entire area instantly fell silent.
Wang Dong froze when she heard that and looked at Tang Ya in surprise.
The few thoughts she had just developed about joining shattered instantly.
They didn't even have a Soul King?
"No... we don't."
Tang Ya's proud expression completely froze on her face, her complexion turning pale, then green.
Although the other party had stepped right onto her sore spot, she had no way to refute him.
The current Tang Sect did not merely lack a Soul King. It did not even have a Soul Ancestor...
"Junior Brother Long, no matter how fallen the Tang Sect may be, it is not something others can insult at will."
Bei Bei had still been immersed in bitter loss, but upon hearing Long Yaochen's words, his expression instantly darkened.
"Speaking the truth counts as an insult?" Long Yaochen chuckled. "To be honest, the Tang Sect isn't qualified to invite me at its level."
He said nothing more. After tossing out that single sentence, he pushed Zhang Lexuan away without looking back.
He was still waiting to collect the Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife. He had no time to play house with the remnants of a former dynasty.
Bei Bei saw how terrible Tang Ya looked, while Huo Yuhao beside him had kept his head lowered without saying a word.
He clenched his fists, losing all of his usual refinement, and shouted at Long Yaochen's retreating back, "No matter who you are, if you look down on the Tang Sect, I'll make you regret it!"
After hearing Bei Bei's words, Huo Yuhao subconsciously raised his head and stared blankly at Wang Dong's back.
For some reason, he felt as though he had lost something important.
Then he remembered that even Wang Dong had shown some disdain toward the Tang Sect, leaving only one thought in his mind.
Was the Tang Sect... really that pathetic? Could joining the Tang Sect truly help him take revenge?
Just as Huo Yuhao sank into extreme confusion and self-doubt.
A sudden change occurred!
A blue-gold ray of light seemed to cross endless void as it silently drifted into Huo Yuhao's body, unnoticed by anyone.
"Child... do you wish to control your own fate?"
A vast, ethereal voice filled with boundless compassion suddenly echoed through Huo Yuhao's Sea of Spirit, interrupting his dejection.
"Who are you? How did you get in here?! What are you trying to do to Little Yuhao?"
Before Huo Yuhao could speak, the long-slumbering Sky Dream Ice Silkworm jolted awake. He let out a piercing roar as his immense Spiritual Origin shook wildly, attempting to drive out this foreign force.
Yet that blue-gold sphere of light merely swirled faintly.
In the blink of an eye, the light condensed into a vague, majestic figure.
The figure had long blue hair. His features could not be seen clearly, but he exuded an indescribable gentleness and serenity.
He did not resemble a Soul Master. He was more like a sea lying deep within consciousness.
Now, the sea stirred, and he casually raised a single finger.
The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm was instantly bound tightly by countless blue-gold divine patterns, unable to make even the slightest sound.
"Brother Sky Dream!" Huo Yuhao cried out, wanting to save him, only to discover that he could not move either.
"Don't be nervous, child. I mean you no harm." The blue-gold figure looked down at Huo Yuhao, his voice gentle, like an ocean vast enough to embrace all things:
"I sensed the fortune that was stolen from you, and I heard the unwillingness in your heart.
I... am a god who has come to guide you.
You may call me... Old Tang!"
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