(AI-generated images, lots of bugs. Once I make some money, I'll pay for a membership and make them look better.)
Aolai City.
Inside a luxurious mansion.
Seven-year-old Su Chen lay on a lounge chair, enjoying the food and pampering provided by several maids behind him.
"Young Master, Eastsea is so vast. Why did you come to a dump like this?"
One maid massaged Su Chen's shoulders as she asked curiously.
"Mm. You adults should mind your own business and stay out of a child's affairs."
Su Chen waved his hand, clearly too lazy to explain himself to them.
"Hehehe~ Of course, Young Master~"
The maids covered their mouths and giggled at his response, but didn't ask any more questions.
Su Chen was naturally a transmigrator. He had been reborn into a second-rate family in Eastsea City, where his status as a direct descendant made him highly esteemed.
Su Chen had shown astonishing intelligence from a young age. He started learning about the family business at three, and in just two years, the assets he controlled far surpassed those of his uncles.
At six, Su Chen awakened his family's inherited Martial Soul—the Soul Suppressing Pagoda—and possessed Innate Soul Power of level six. His talent ranked among the very best in the family, earning him its full support.
Now seven years old, Su Chen was already an 11th-level Soul Master with a hundred-year Soul Spirit.
Of course, when six-year-old Su Chen awakened his Martial Soul, he also awakened a system—one that took the form of a camera.
Well, its real name was actually the Goddess Illustrated Handbook.
As long as he photographed and registered a target who met the handbook's requirements, Su Chen would receive a reward.
Su Chen had photographed many beautiful women, but unfortunately, none of them had earned the system's recognition.
To be recognized by the system as a "goddess," a target needed more than just good looks. Her talent, bloodline, and other qualities all had to meet the standards.
This was the era of Douluo III. Naturally, the most exceptional goddess was Gu Yuena.
That was why Su Chen had come to Aolai City: to lie in wait for Na'er ahead of time.
Su Chen didn't think he was stealing Tang Wulin's chance. If anything, he thought he was saving him.
Tang Wulin had it far too rough. His entire life was one long cycle of torment.
First, he met Na'er, then she left, dealing Tang Wulin a devastating blow to the heart.
Then his parents left, dealing him another blow.
Later, he met Gu Yue. They fell in love, parted ways, made up, parted ways again, fell out completely, became mortal enemies, made up, died together for love, came back to life, broke up, made up again...
In short, they kept dragging each other through one tormenting cycle after another.
After being tormented in this era, he was dragged out and put through it again ten thousand years later. It was simply too miserable to watch.
Gu Yuena was the key to it all.
Without Na'er and Gu Yue, Tang Wulin's suffering would be reduced by at least 98 percent.
I really am a good person.
"Young Master, we've found a lead on the person you're looking for."
Just then, a guard's voice came from outside the door.
"Where?"
Su Chen immediately sat up. His voice was noticeably quicker, betraying his eagerness and delight.
"Near Red Mountain Academy, by the roadside. It's a little girl. Her features... match your description exactly."
The guard added respectfully. He knew how many connections and favors the young master had called in to find this silver-haired, purple-eyed little girl.
He had even come in person to this remote city of Aolai, and spent a great deal to bribe the city lord and assemble a law-enforcement team, all to make the search easier.
"Lead the way!" Su Chen rose at once, without the slightest hesitation.
The streets outside Red Mountain Academy were nowhere near as clean or prosperous as the neighborhood where Su Chen's mansion stood.
Dusk was settling in. There were few people on the road, and the area seemed rather desolate.
By the roadside, a tiny figure huddled on the cold stone steps, like a little beast abandoned by the world.
Her rare silver hair stood out immediately.
But now, the pretty silver strands were caked with dust and looked dull.
Her little face was filthy, streaked with mud, making it hard to see what her complexion had been like.
But the dust couldn't hide her eyes.
They were an exceptionally clear shade of purple, like two flawless amethysts.
"Hey, guys, look over there!"
A few young punks swaggered over. One of them spotted the girl at once, drawn by that flash of silver.
"Whoa, that hair color... You don't see that every day!"
Another moved closer, curiosity and a hint of malice in his eyes.
"Could she be some foreign kid who ran over from the western continent?"
A third young man rubbed his chin, lowering his voice with a hint of greed.
"The guys in the underground black market love rare merchandise like this. She could fetch a lot, right?"
The punk in front pasted on a fake smile, crouched down, and leaned toward the little girl.
"Hey, little girl. All alone here? Big brother can take you to get something tasty..."
He tried to soften his voice, but couldn't hide the ruffian's edge beneath it.
At his words, the little girl shook her head hard and shrank back, her refusal unmistakable.
"Damn it, you don't know what's good for you!"
The young punk's fake warmth vanished, replaced by a vicious glare.
He signaled to his companions.
The other two immediately stepped forward, blocking the view of passersby and forming a small ring around her.
The punk hoisted the little girl over his shoulder and prepared to carry her off.
"Ah!"
The little girl let out a brief, frightened cry.
"What are you doing?"
A childish shout suddenly rang out, startling the punks.
They turned around and immediately grew furious.
A little boy, much shorter than them, stood a few steps away, glaring at them.
It was Tang Wulin.
"Damn it, where'd this little brat come from? Mind your own business!"
One of the young men behind him flew into a rage and kicked viciously at the boy's stomach.
"Ah!"
Tang Wulin hadn't expected him to strike so brutally. The boy went flying more than two meters backward and hit the ground hard, kicking up a cloud of dust.
"You're bad people! You're all bad people! Let her go!"
Tang Wulin curled up in pain on the ground for a moment. But he gritted his teeth, endured the agony, and stubbornly forced himself back to his feet.
"You little brat, you're asking for it!"
A man flipped his wrist, and a gleaming dagger appeared in his palm.
He pointed the dagger viciously at Tang Wulin, his face twisted with menace.
"Stop!"
The next moment, a sharp shout rang out.
A team of law enforcers in matching dark blue uniforms strode over. Leading them was a boy who looked about the same age as Tang Wulin.
He wore fine clothes and had delicate features, yet carried himself with a composure far beyond his years.
It was Su Chen, who had arrived with his law-enforcement team.
"Law enforcers! Run!"
The punks saw the uniforms, and their faces turned white as paper.
The young man carrying the little girl was scared out of his wits. He frantically dumped her off his shoulder and bolted.
"Mm..."
Na'er hit the ground and let out a muffled groan. Her little body curled up, looking even more helpless.
Su Chen didn't pursue them. His eyes went straight to Na'er.
Her distinctive silver hair and purple eyes confirmed her identity.
Su Chen crouched down and gently brushed the silver strands from Na'er's face, revealing her dirty but delicate features.
Tears glimmered in her amethyst eyes. She had clearly been terrified.
Su Chen understood. This was Gu Yuena, freshly transformed into human form, with both her memories and cultivation sealed.
At this moment, Na'er hadn't yet split into "Gu Yue" and "Na'er." She was, in a sense, the complete young "Silver Dragon King."
PS: Please add this new book to your collection~
PS: I'll basically collect them all, but I won't be a Cao Thief. My last book got banned because of that.
Before you continue