Yue Tian Douluo, the Jade Pendant

"One tune after another, each one filled with longing; one song after another, all in high definition~"

Inside the bathroom, Shen Nanxun hummed as he enjoyed a nice shower. His training was so exhausting every day that bathing had become the only thing that could help him unwind.

At first, only his body had been tired. Ever since Na'er arrived, his mind was worn out too. Especially after she awakened her Martial Soul. No one had ever possessed the Silver Dragon Spear before, and with her Innate Full Soul Power, it was proof enough that this was a top-tier Martial Soul.

That made Ye Li, who had already liked Na'er, like her even more. Even Shen Yue, who hadn't been too keen on adopting Na'er at first, had taken an interest. She'd even returned from the legion in the middle of her busy schedule to meet Na'er.

As a result, Shen Nanxun's standing at home had fallen even lower.

It wasn't that he disliked Na'er all that much. It was just that whenever she started sniffling and acting wronged, he was sure to be the one who got into trouble.

He had reason to suspect she was doing it on purpose.

Shen Nanxun turned off the shower, shook the water from his hair, and reached for the towel on the rack. He'd finished his hot shower and felt refreshed. While Na'er hadn't started making trouble yet, he planned to hurry back to his room and meditate. If he couldn't afford to provoke her, he could at least avoid her.

He had no idea that at that very moment, a small figure was standing outside the bathroom door.

Na'er stood barefoot by the bathroom door, her short silver-white hair still a little damp. She'd clearly just finished bathing too. She wore a pale blue nightgown Ye Li had just bought her. The hem fell just past her knees, leaving a small stretch of fair skin exposed on her legs.

The girl pressed her cheek against the bathroom door, silver eyes wide as she tried to peer inside through the translucent frosted glass. Steam filled the bathroom, and all she could make out was a blurry silhouette moving back and forth. She couldn't see anything clearly.

So she pressed herself closer. The tip of her nose squashed against the glass, flattening into a little oval. Her silver eyes narrowed. She squeezed her left eye nearly shut and kept her right eye wide open, trying to catch a clearer view from some particular angle.

She still couldn't see.

Na'er's cheeks slowly puffed up like a hamster with its mouth full of nuts. She hugged her towel to her chest and stamped her bare foot on the floor.

"Thump."

It was a very soft sound. Her bare foot landed on the wooden floor with a dull tap, barely making a noise at all.

She looked down at her foot, apparently dissatisfied with the result. Then she stamped again, this time with more force.

"Thump!"

But just then, the door opened.

Na'er froze.

"Na'er, what are you doing here?"

Shen Nanxun didn't think much of it. He just cursed his luck; he hadn't expected to run into her again the moment he left the bathroom.

"Shen Nanxun, um, I..." Na'er bit her little canine teeth as she thought of a reasonable excuse. But just then, her nose twitched, and she sniffed.

Her eyes lit up at once!

So fragrant!

Na'er raised her gaze to Shen Nanxun, who'd just finished bathing and was wearing a bathrobe. She swallowed hard.

Clean food.

I want to eat him so badly!

Her eyes were full of longing.

Shen Nanxun instinctively took two steps back. For some reason, Na'er gave him a bad feeling, as if she were staring at him like he was food.

Perhaps his reaction had been too strong. Na'er seemed to realize what was going on, and her cheeks flushed. The poor floor nearly got a hole gouged into it by her toes.

Shen Nanxun watched the gluttonous half of the Silver Dragon King warily. Remembering how she'd bitten him when they first met, he said solemnly:

"Na'er, I'm warning you. I'm underage and protected by law."

At that, Na'er thought for a moment and replied seriously, "But I'm protected by Federation law too."

Shen Nanxun: "..."

She wasn't even pretending anymore. What the heck did she mean, she was protected by law too? I'm protected by the law, and you are too, right?

Was this some strange case of magic beating magic?

As soon as Na'er had finished speaking, she covered her mouth. What was she saying? How had she accidentally let out everything she was thinking?

"Na'er, Nanxun, come here!"

Just then, Ye Li's voice called from outside.

Na'er looked as if she'd been granted a reprieve. She promptly darted away, fleeing the awkward scene they'd both found themselves in.

"That girl..."

Shen Nanxun narrowed his eyes. He had his suspicions. The half of the Silver Dragon King was probably drawn to the divine aura on him.

If so, that might also explain why he'd encountered her in North Sea City. But if it was just the divine aura, she shouldn't have been able to sense it so clearly.

By the time he had gotten ready and gone out, Ye Li and Na'er were already waiting in the living room.

Ye Li led the two little ones out the door, saying, "I'm taking you both to meet a guest."

After walking a short distance, they reached the pavilion in the Shen family courtyard. A middle-aged man sat inside, while Shen Yue stood nearby, looking very respectful.

That alone showed he was someone important.

Once they were closer, Shen Nanxun got a clear look at him. He wore a moon-white robe, and his long hair was tied back. He had a refined, approachable air about him, and his gaze was gentle, without the oppressive aura of someone who'd long held a position of power. Instead, he seemed detached from the world, calm and unassuming.

"Quick, call him 'Your Excellency Yue Tian,'" Ye Li reminded them.

Yue Tian Douluo!

Shen Nanxun immediately thought of the vice-master of the War God Temple, the top Limit Douluo, Yue Tian Douluo Guan Yue. He also had another identity: he was the junior fellow disciple of the current Sea God Pavilion Master of Shrek Academy.

At the two children's greeting, Yue Tian Douluo Guan Yue simply smiled and waved a hand, indicating that they needn't stand on ceremony.

He had always been a Soul Master devoted to the way of the spear. He didn't care in the least for stuffy formalities.

Ye Li led Na'er forward and smiled. "Your Excellency Yue Tian, sorry for the trouble of coming all the way to North Sea City in person. This is Na'er, the girl my husband told you about."

Guan Yue's gaze settled on Na'er and lingered for a moment. Short silver-white hair, silver eyes, standing quietly like a little spear sheathed in its scabbard. Its sharpness was hidden, but the substance was there.

He had seen too many geniuses, too many children with Innate Full Soul Power, too many so-called prodigies pampered by their families and teachers until they developed an air of arrogance at an early age.

But Na'er was clearly different. Her quietness wasn't shyness. It came from something more genuine, like a spear that already knew why it was held, even before it was drawn.

"No need for formalities." Guan Yue's interest grew. His tone remained mild as he said, "Just make sure my trip wasn't for nothing."

He spoke lightly, but Shen Yue, standing nearby, lowered her lashes slightly. No one understood better than she did what it meant to have Yue Tian Douluo come all the way to North Sea City in person. He was the vice-master of the War God Temple, the greatest spear wielder of the age aside from Sky-Piercing Douluo, and a Limit Douluo. There were fewer than a handful of people across the entire continent who could make him leave the War God Temple.

As it happened, their father was one of them.

Of course, Na'er's Martial Soul was another reason.

Guan Yue didn't waste time on more pleasantries. His gaze remained on Na'er as he said gently, "Child, show me your Martial Soul."

Na'er looked up at Ye Li. Ye Li nodded slightly and released her hand.

Na'er lowered her lashes and held out her right hand as if gripping something. A silver-white stream of light spilled from her palm. At first it was very faint, like a thread of moonlight drawn out into a strand.

Then it transformed into a long silver-white spear: the Silver Dragon Spear.

The instant he saw the Silver Dragon Spear, Guan Yue's eyes lit up. As a Limit Douluo, he could sense by instinct, even without approaching, that this spear Martial Soul's quality was in no way inferior to his own or his senior fellow disciple's.

Ye Li took in Guan Yue's reaction, exchanged a glance with Shen Yue, and smiled with satisfaction.

Finding Na'er a teacher wasn't only because they were so kind to her on the surface. If Na'er was truly talented enough to become this Yue Tian Douluo's disciple, that would also be a tremendous help to the Shen family. If anything happened to the Shen family in the future, then no matter how little Yue Tian Douluo Guan Yue cared about worldly affairs, he would still have to step in for Na'er's sake.

Guan Yue then asked Na'er to demonstrate some basic spear techniques so he could see what foundation she had.

Meanwhile, the bored Shen Nanxun shrugged. "Mom, if we're here to find Na'er a teacher, why did I have to come along?"

"You need a teacher to keep you in line too." Ye Li raised an eyebrow and lifted her left hand. A sword dropped into it. "As it happens, you've been practicing swordsmanship lately, haven't you? Your mom has a Sword Martial Soul too."

The Star Saint Sword!

Shen Nanxun's interest flared at once. His mother's Sword Martial Soul was a top-tier Martial Soul too, the Star Saint Sword passed down by the Ye Family.

"Mom, how are we training?"

He'd been itching for a fight. These past few days, Qian Renxue had been pushing him through training, and he'd longed for the chance to battle with all his might and see how much he'd improved. Besides, the Ye Family's Sword Martial Soul had been passed down for thousands of years, and its swordsmanship had its own distinct path. If he could grasp some of it, it would help his own swordsmanship too.

Ye Li lightly gripped her sword and smiled rather strangely. "Simple. Just take one strike from me."

"That's easy enough..." Shen Nanxun hadn't finished speaking when he abruptly froze.

Eight Soul Rings appeared one after another beneath Ye Li, and the powerful aura of a Soul Douluo bore down on him, nearly knocking him off his feet.

Uh-oh...

Did she mean for him—Shen Nanxun—to fight a Soul Douluo with five levels of Soul Power?

How was that any different from having Gangzi challenge Di Tian with a Ten-Year Solitary Bamboo?

"Mom, you're joking, right?"

"What do you think?"

"Hahaha, the weather's lovely today. I'll be off now."

"Mom, my dear mother, Mom..."

He tried calling out to her again and again, hoping to awaken the deep well of maternal love within her.

Alas, to no avail.

Bam! Bam! Bam!!

After a thrilling battle, Shen Nanxun collapsed weakly onto the ground. Ye Li hadn't actually used the power of a Soul Douluo, but she'd still given him a thorough beating.

Still, he'd learned something from the experience: he and Gangzi were very different.

Just now, he could've called out to Mom and begged her to stop, so he wouldn't come to any harm. But Gangzi could only shout, "I'll destroy the Star Dou Great Forest at any cost!" before getting slapped to death by Di Tian.

That was the difference.

Ye Li pulled Shen Nanxun to his feet and chuckled softly. "All right, stop pretending. I barely used any strength. I'll teach you the Ye Family Sword Technique from now on. Practice with dedication. The way of the sword can't be mastered in a day, so don't reach for the sky before you've learned to walk."

In theory, the Ye Family Sword Technique wasn't passed on to outsiders, since Shen Nanxun was a Shen. But it was precisely because he was a Shen that Ye Li could pass the Ye Family Sword Technique on to him as she pleased.

The Shen family was far more powerful than the Ye family. Within the Federation, the Ye family could only gaze up at them from afar. Ye Li had married into the Shen family years ago, and in terms of status and standing, she had long since surpassed anything the Ye family could offer. Now she could pass on the sword techniques as she pleased, even if Shen Nanxun wasn't her biological son.

Shen Nanxun bared his teeth and rubbed his backside. You may not have used much strength, but you're a Soul Douluo. Even a casual swing from you is enough to make me suffer. He didn't dare say it aloud, though, because he'd read a clear message in Ye Li's smile.

Keep talking, and the next strike won't be on your butt.

Ye Li put away the Star Saint Sword, brushed off the dust that wasn't there, and turned to Shen Yue. "Yue'er, take Xiaoxun to the backyard. I still have some things to discuss with Your Excellency Yue Tian."

Shen Yue acknowledged her, grabbed Shen Nanxun by the back of his collar, and carried him toward the backyard. His feet dangled off the ground as he swung limply, expressionless, like a kitten being carried by the scruff of its neck.

He was used to it.

At home, he had three main ways of getting around: being dragged by Shen Xing, being carried by Shen Yue, or being chased by Na'er. His own legs were basically just for show.

But just as they were about to leave the front courtyard, Ye Li suddenly called them back.

"Xun'er."

Ye Li's expression was gentle. For once, she wasn't being eccentric; she spoke with complete seriousness. "No matter who your birth parents were, and no matter what happens in the future, you're my son, Ye Li's son. My own son."

"Huh?"

Shen Nanxun was still confused. He didn't know why Mom had suddenly felt the need to emphasize that. But he quickly caught on, and his inner drama queen took over. His eyes filled with tears, and his lips began to quiver.

He looked every bit like a good son, overcome with emotion by his mother's love.

Shen Yue lifted an arm and jabbed an elbow into his ribs.

"Ow!" Shen Nanxun's moved expression shattered in an instant. Clutching his ribs, he glared at his eldest sister. "What was that for, big sis?"

"Why are you crying?" Shen Yue looked at him impassively.

Shen Nanxun froze, then leaned closer and lowered his voice. "Shouldn't I be crying right now? Mom's said all that, so if I don't cry a little, I'll look like an unfilial son. It's called playing along with her act. Otherwise, I might get smacked. You have no idea how much those swats on my butt hurt."

As he spoke, he rubbed his backside.

Shen Yue stared at him in silence for a long time, clearly at a loss for words. Then she reached out, pinched his left cheek, and tugged it.

"Ow, ow, ow! Big sis, let go..."

"I'm checking what your skin is made of." Shen Yue's voice remained flat, but her grip didn't loosen. "You're six years old. What on earth is going on in that head of yours?"

"It's full of profound love for Mother Dearest... Ow! Profound love—let go, let go, I was wrong, I was wrong..."

Spirit Pagoda Headquarters.

In an office on the upper floor.

The lighting was dim.

A woman sat in a broad leather chair, her right elbow resting on the armrest as she propped up her cheek. In her left hand, she idly toyed with a jade pendant.

The pendant was milky white all over, smooth and lustrous as fat. It turned slowly between her slender fingers.

Her gaze rested on the pendant, though it was as if she wasn't looking at it.

Her red hair fell to her waist. A few strands slipped loose by her temples, but she didn't notice. She simply rubbed the edge of the pendant absently, tracing the character carved into it again and again with her thumb.

"Leng."

Then her eyes narrowed slightly, and she murmured, "Dou Ling Empire..."

"Heh..."