Analysis, Decomposition, Reconstruction? Electrolux: Yes, Brother, Yes!

Spirit Pagoda Headquarters stood on the outskirts of Shrek City, a tower-shaped building dozens of stories tall. The pale blue soul-guided light at its tip shone far into the twilight, making it look like a lighthouse from afar.

Leng Yaozhu was already waiting in her office. When the three pushed open the door and entered, she was looking through a file. Hearing them, she raised her head and glanced at Li Chen.

"Has the Gold-Grade Awakening been completed?"

Li Chen nodded.

Leng Yaozhu said nothing more. She lifted her teacup for a sip, then turned to Na'er and Gu Yue. "You casually caught five Evil Soul Masters on the way? Tang Sect just sent over a notice asking who did it. I told them it was our Spirit Pagoda people. They went silent for quite a while before replying, 'Understood.'"

Na'er grinned and embellished Tang Wulin's reaction on the train. She started with how Tang Wulin had entered the carriage, how he had seen the ice shards and scorched carpet, and how he had resignedly said, "You again," then went all the way to him chewing grilled fish jerky as he asked, "What do you mean, assistance?"

Leng Yaozhu nodded repeatedly as she listened, clearly quite pleased that Tang Sect had been put in its place.

Once Na'er finished, Leng Yaozhu set down her teacup and changed the subject. "All right, business. Zhen Hua specifically sent me an urgent message a few days ago, repeatedly telling me to keep an eye on your forging. He said he would inspect you against the standards of a rank-seven Saint Craftsman next time he saw you. Don't make him come all the way to Headquarters to yell at me."

Li Chen nodded in agreement.

But Leng Yaozhu had no intention of letting him leave just yet. She pulled a file from a drawer and slid it across the desk. The cover bore the official seal of Spirit Pagoda Headquarters: Soul Spirit Configuration Recommendation.

"There's one more matter. You're now a four-ring Soul Ancestor, and you've completed your Gold-Grade Awakening. Your physical carrying capacity has already far surpassed others at the same rank. By Spirit Pagoda standards, you've reached the threshold for fusing a Second Soul Spirit. This recommendation was put together by the Leng Family at the Soul Spirit Research Institute based on your martial soul's traits. Look through it first. There's no rush to decide. Prepare and think it over during the next half month, then we'll discuss it properly when I return." She paused, then added,

"Oh, and if you can't find a suitable one outside, the Leng Family has a Life-Bound Inheritance Soul Spirit for you to try. That thing isn't something just anyone can touch, but with your current physical foundation and spiritual power, you might be able to withstand it. Think it through carefully before you decide."

Li Chen accepted the file and thanked her.

Leng Yaozhu waved them away to rest, saying she still had matters to handle.

Gu Yue and Na'er were assigned rooms in the tower's guest area.

The three left the office and wandered along the circular corridor toward the guest rooms.

Portraits of previous Pagoda Masters covered both sides of the hallway. Every few steps stood a soul-guided wall lamp, casting a soft light that was just enough to make one sleepy.

Na'er tore open a snack bag as she walked, still muttering about Soul Spirits.

As they rounded a corner, they ran into someone.

He was in his early twenties, dressed in the long robes of a Spirit Pagoda deacon. He was tall and slender, with regular features and an undisguised arrogance between his brows.

When he saw the three of them, he paused. His gaze lingered on Gu Yue's face for two seconds before sweeping over Na'er and Li Chen, then returning to Gu Yue. A practiced social smile appeared at the corners of his mouth.

"Gu Yue? Long time no see. And these two are?"

"My friends." Gu Yue's tone was as bland as water.

The young man did not mind the cold reception and introduced himself. "Qiangu Zhangting, a Headquarters deacon. Gu Yue and I met several times when she was studying at Headquarters."

He was speaking to Li Chen and Na'er, but his eyes kept drifting toward Gu Yue.

Li Chen gave a slight nod in greeting.

Na'er looked him over twice more, feeling it was a real shame this man had not gone into sales.

"Since I happened to run into you," Qiangu Zhangting changed the subject, "the Pagoda Master gave instructions earlier. He said Deputy Pagoda Master Leng would be bringing people back today and told me to keep watch. I didn't expect to beat everyone else to it. The Pagoda Master is waiting on the top floor. Would you three come with me?"

Gu Yue raised a brow slightly. "Pagoda Master Qiangu wants to see us?"

"Yes, all three of you." Qiangu Zhangting made an inviting gesture and turned to lead the way.

The three followed behind him. Na'er leaned close to Gu Yue's ear and lowered her voice. "Who is this guy? His smile gives me goosebumps." Gu Yue lightly shook her head, signaling for her not to say more.

Li Chen walked at the back, his gaze passing over Qiangu Zhangting's back. His cultivation was around the peak of Soul Emperor, and his foundation was fairly solid. He had once ranked first on the Youth Genius Ranking, though he had since withdrawn due to age.

At the end of the top-floor hallway stood a heavy pair of wooden doors, carved with the ancient emblem of the Spirit Pagoda. Qiangu Zhangting pushed them open and stepped aside to let the three enter first. The office was absurdly large, its floor-to-ceiling windows facing Shrek City. Twilight poured through the glass, dyeing the whole room a warm orange.

Behind the desk sat an old man in his fifties. His hair was graying, but he looked vigorous. His eyes were small, and a genial smile hung on his lips. Sitting there, he looked like a kindly elder.

Of course, that was only if one ignored the file at his side stamped Top Secret.

Qiangu Dongfeng, the current Pagoda Master of the Spirit Pagoda, a Limit Douluo.

"You're here? Sit." He pointed toward the sofa opposite him, his tone as casual as if he were greeting his own juniors.

The three sat down, while Qiangu Zhangting moved to Qiangu Dongfeng's side and stood there with his hands behind his back.

Qiangu Dongfeng's gaze moved across the three in turn, lingering longest on Li Chen.

"The top-ranked genius of the Youth Genius Ranking, Xuanming. I heard you've already completed a Gold-Grade Awakening and crushed a Shrek One-Word Battle Armor Master head-on. This old man has heard your name so often lately that my ears are nearly callused. When Deputy Pagoda Master Leng said she had brought back a promising seedling, I thought she was exaggerating. Seeing you in person today, your reputation is indeed well deserved."

"You flatter me, Pagoda Master," Li Chen said.

Qiangu Dongfeng set down his teacup, smiling warmly. "This old man doesn't like beating around the bush. All three of you were brought up by Deputy Pagoda Master Leng, and your talent is plain to see. It would be the Spirit Pagoda's loss not to recruit you. What do you say? Are you interested in formally joining the Qiangu Family? Preferential resources and high-ranking positions are no problem. This old man will speak with Deputy Pagoda Master Leng himself."

Li Chen did not hesitate. "Thank you for your kind offer, Pagoda Master. The three of us belong to the Leng Family. Aunt Leng raised us personally, and our lineage belongs to the Leng Family. Switching to the Qiangu Family would not be appropriate."

Qiangu Dongfeng was not angered. He still wore that cheerful expression. "Having your own convictions is a good thing. Deputy Pagoda Master Leng has a good eye, and this old man won't force you. But the Qiangu Family's door will always remain open. If you ever wish to change platforms, just say the word." His words were flawless, offering them both a graceful exit and a path for the future.

He then lifted his teacup for another sip, changing the subject again. His tone gained a little elder-like concern. "All right, now that business is over, let's talk about something else. In Skysea City, you trampled Shrek's pride into the dirt. After Ya Li returned, the Sea God Pavilion Elders held several meetings. This matter won't end there. This old man knows those old Shrek fellows best. They'll admit defeat if they lose head-on, but they'll definitely try to recover their losses elsewhere. How do you plan to deal with it?"

Li Chen thought for a moment. "I have a hundred strategies."

Qiangu Dongfeng raised a brow. "Oh? Let me hear them."

"Those hundred strategies would offend heaven's harmony, and I fear they are not what the Pagoda Master wishes to hear."

Qiangu Dongfeng froze for a moment, then laughed. "You brat. Then what about the ones that don't offend heaven's harmony?"

"There are also ten strategies that do not offend heaven's harmony, but I fear they would harm human harmony."

Qiangu Dongfeng's smile deepened as he leaned back slightly. "Then what about one that offends neither heaven's harmony nor human harmony?"

Li Chen looked into his eyes, his tone as calm as ever. "There is still one strategy."

"What strategy?"

"I fear it would damage the Spirit Pagoda's reputation."

Qiangu Dongfeng's laughter caught in his throat. He looked at Li Chen's utterly unruffled face, fell silent for two breaths, then raised his teacup and took a large gulp.

He understood now. This boy had never intended to answer seriously from the beginning. After circling around for so long, he was simply telling him: We can handle this ourselves. There's no need to trouble the Pagoda Master.

Qiangu Zhangting stood beside them, the corner of his mouth twitching. He wanted to say something, but forcibly held it back.

Just then, Na'er raised her hand.

"I have a strategy too!"

Everyone's gazes fell on her at once. Gu Yue turned her head slightly, a trace of foreboding flashing through her purple eyes.

Qiangu Dongfeng looked at the little blonde girl with interest. "You have a strategy too?"

Na'er stood up from the sofa and said seriously, "Who cares what strategy it is? If someone comes looking for trouble, hit them back. If we can beat them, we fight. If we can't beat them, we run. If we can't run, we call Aunt Leng."

The office fell silent for another beat.

Gu Yue reached out and dragged Na'er back onto the sofa, her tone as flat as if she were reciting scripture. "Her strategy doesn't count."

Na'er puffed out her cheeks. "Why doesn't it count?"

"Because the last time you said, 'Smash it with your fists,' you nearly tore down the training room wall." Gu Yue did not even turn around. Na'er opened her mouth, only to realize she truly had no argument. She could only pull out a packet of QQ Fish from her snack bag, tear it open, and eat in sullen silence.

Watching this, Qiangu Dongfeng's smile became more natural.

He had seen too many young people tremble nervously at Spirit Pagoda Headquarters. The fact that these three still acted however they pleased before him was rare instead.

He waved his hand, his tone returning to that of a kindly elder. "All right, this old man won't keep you any longer. You belong to Deputy Pagoda Master Leng, so treat Headquarters as your own home from now on. If you need anything, go directly to Zhangting. At your age, this is the golden period for cultivation. Don't let outside matters distract you. If the sky falls, the Spirit Pagoda will hold it up for you. Go on."

The three stood and took their leave. Qiangu Zhangting escorted them out of the office, watched the three figures disappear at the end of the corridor, then turned and returned to the desk.

The kindly smile had vanished entirely from Qiangu Dongfeng's face. He turned the teacup in his hand, remaining silent for quite some time.

"Zhangting, keep a close eye on those three young people."

Qiangu Zhangting nodded in acknowledgment. "Don't worry, Grandfather. That Li Chen is indeed extraordinary, and Gu Yue also..."

"I'm not telling you to watch how outstanding they are." Qiangu Dongfeng interrupted him, raising his head to look directly at him.

"I'm telling you to watch their influence on your future. You are the Spirit Pagoda's heir, and that will not change. But you must understand that with these three young people around, especially Li Chen, the voice of the younger generation will never fall entirely into your hands. Behind them stand the Leng Family, Leng Yaozhu, and Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy. That will be the greatest obstacle to your future control of the Spirit Pagoda."

Qiangu Zhangting's expression stiffened slightly before returning to normal. He lowered his head and replied, "I understand."