By the shore of Lake of Life, mist curled through the air.
A month flew by in grueling yet fulfilling special training.
Gu Tian sat cross-legged, bare-chested, atop a massive, smooth jade boulder. A faint nine-colored glow swirled around him, its strands dancing and weaving across his body.
After a month of near-cruel torment at Gu Yuena's hands, he had not only thoroughly consolidated his twentieth level of Soul Power, but had also mastered the elements to perfection.
According to Ao Linxi's estimate, as soon as Gu Tian unlocked the elemental power of a corresponding Dragon King, he would be able to master it swiftly.
"Gather."
Gu Tian spoke softly, and the light all around him drew inward. He let out a long breath. His once somewhat slender body now had perfectly balanced proportions, and every inch of muscle held astonishing explosive power.
"Not bad. At least you haven't disgraced the Dragon God."
Gu Yuena walked over from behind him. She still wore a silver, form-fitting outfit, her bearing cool and aloof. But when she looked at Gu Tian, there was less scrutiny in her violet eyes than when they had first met, and a tenderness she hadn't even noticed herself.
"Wife, can I leave tomorrow?" Gu Tian rose to his feet and asked with anticipation.
At that form of address, Gu Yuena's delicate body gave a slight tremble. Even after hearing it for a month, she still couldn't quite get used to the affectionate word.
She lowered her eyes slightly, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz. "Since you're in such a hurry to save that little rabbit... then go. But before you leave, I want to ask you..."
Gu Yuena paused for a moment. Her petite fist clenched unconsciously, and she looked somewhat bashful. "Have you completed the First Trial?"
Gu Tian glanced at the completely motionless nine-colored panel in his Sea of Consciousness and shrugged helplessly. "It's the same as ever. Not a flicker of activity. It seems the requirement of being in love really is much harder than I imagined."
Gu Yuena's eyes dimmed a little, and she sighed. "As expected, something as elusive as love can't be achieved overnight. It seems I'll have to give you a few more safeguards."
That evening, the dining table at the Dragon Palace was laden with delicacies.
Just as Gu Tian was about to dig in, Gu Yuena didn't sit down as she usually did. Instead, she beckoned lightly toward the side hall.
"Come in."
As soon as she spoke, two young women entered, one after the other.
The moment Gu Tian saw them, he nearly dropped his chopsticks.
The girl in front had long hair like a black waterfall, falling smoothly over her shoulders. Her eyes were a deep, inky green, as if they could see straight into people's hearts. Her features were cool and picture-perfect, and her skin had a sickly pallor. She radiated a proud, distant air that kept everyone at arm's length. She wore a black outfit with purple patterns that made her long legs look especially strong.
"This is Gu Yue," Gu Yuena introduced. "From now on, whenever you're outside and run into danger, you must follow her instructions."
Gu Yue bowed slightly. Her icy, pretty face showed no expression, but her voice was unexpectedly pleasant, with a hint of huskiness. "Gu Yue greets you, young master. I will be responsible for your safety on the journey back."
Watching Gu Yue deliver that opening line, Gu Tian couldn't help teasing her inwardly. Oh! A proper classical-style beauty.
The girl behind her had a completely different style.
Her long hair was like silver silk, gleaming with a dreamlike sheen in the lamplight. Her pale violet eyes were clear as crystal, and her long lashes fluttered like butterfly wings. Her face was round and sweet, bearing an innocence untouched by worldly affairs. She wore a yellow dress decorated with white stars and radiated a gentle glow.
"This is Na'er. She's about your age," Gu Yuena added.
When Na'er saw Gu Tian, an unmistakable warmth flashed in her eyes. She hurried forward, naturally took hold of the hem of his clothes, and called sweetly, "Brother Gu Tian, Na'er will always stay by your side from now on."
"Wife, what is this...?" Gu Tian was utterly bewildered. In both their appearances and their bearing, the two girls bore faint traces of Gu Yuena.
Gu Yuena sat down calmly and said, "They're my right and left hands, and also my younger sisters. Your cultivation is still shallow. Even with the help of the Lord, there's no guarantee you won't run into some human powerhouse with no sense of self-preservation. With them accompanying you, I can rest easy."
"Also..." Gu Yuena rose to her feet and pointed two fingers at the spot between her brows. A surge of spiritual power stirred and shot toward Gu Tian's brow.
A silver dragon mark appeared on Gu Tian's forehead, then quickly vanished.
"This mark is a crystal ball I set up so I can contact you. You can summon it within your Sea of Consciousness, and then we'll be able to see how each other is doing. If you run into an emergency, remember to report it to me."
That night, an awkward scene unfolded.
Pointing at her enormous Starlight Crystal Bed, Gu Yuena said to the three of them, "This is your last night in the forest. To help you develop a rapport and let them become familiar with your scent, the three of you will squeeze in and sleep together tonight."
"Huh?" Gu Tian blurted out in surprise. "That doesn't seem quite appropriate. We haven't even..."
"That's an order." Gu Yuena shot him a glare, then added, "I'm afraid you'll sneak off in the middle of the night. Gu Yue, Na'er, you must protect him."
"Yes!" Na'er saluted Gu Yuena, then sat beside Gu Tian and began sampling the delicious food.
Late that night, Gu Tian lay rigidly in the middle of the bed.
On his left was Gu Yue, cool as ice but breathing a little fast. On his right was Na'er, soft as water and curled up almost entirely in his arms. Their faint, cool and milky scents mingled in the air, putting his body through a kind of psychological strain it was never meant to endure.
In his Sea of Consciousness, Ao Linxi sat on the terrace of the villa, swirling a glass of red wine in her hand and laughing so hard her whole body shook.
"Xiao Tian, what a lucky fellow you are. Your wife sure knows how to work this clone technique."
"Clone technique?" Gu Tian cried out inwardly.
"Of course. The bloodline origins inside these two little girls are exactly the same as Gu Yuena's. They're physical manifestations of divine consciousness that Gu Yuena split off from herself." Ao Linxi took a sip of wine, a flash of all-knowing wisdom in her eyes. "It seems your wife is getting anxious too. Partly, she's afraid Xiao Wu will lure you away. But on the other hand... I'm afraid she wants to use these two clones to spend all day, every day building a bond with you, so she can help you complete that First Divine Trial sooner."
Gu Tian was stunned. He looked at the two girls beside him, so different in temperament yet both breathtakingly beautiful, and marveled inwardly:
So this is the Silver Dragon King's playbook? It's... simply amazing!
In the darkness, Gu Tian held the two of them in his arms, but neither said a word. The atmosphere was rather awkward.
"Ahem." Gu Tian gave a light cough, trying to get their attention. "By the way, you two..."
His mind raced, searching for something they could chat about. Suddenly, an idea struck him.
"Since you're Gu Yuena's younger sisters, you must know something about her, right?"
Gu Yue and Na'er seemed to ponder the question, but both shook their heads.
Na'er spoke in a childish voice. "Na'er doesn't remember either. It's strange. I can't remember anything."
Gu Yue chimed in, "Young master, if I really try to recall, all I can see is... darkness."
"Darkness?" Gu Tian sighed. It seemed Gu Yuena had sealed the memories of her two clones. But perhaps that was for the best. Gu Yue and Na'er were only there to protect him and build a bond with him; there was no need for them to know about all the old grudges between Soul Beasts and Soul Masters.
In the faint light of dawn, Gu Tian finally left the core region of the Star Dou Great Forest with his two stunning attendants, heading straight west for Nuoding City in Fasinuo Province.