"No! Na'er just got lucky. She's still as foolish as ever."
After thinking for two and a half seconds, Gu Yue immediately dismissed her previous idea. Still, Jiang Xiu had piqued her curiosity.
"This young man may have the potential to surpass the limits of humanity."
"Gu Yue, aren't you leaving? Jiang Xiu and I are going to eat."
Na'er watched Gu Yue's shifting gaze and furrowed her delicate brows. In an instant, she moved to Jiang Xiu's side, as if staking her claim, her warning unmistakable.
"I've only just joined the Spirit Pagoda, so of course I need to familiarize myself with the place. We'll be members of the Spirit Pagoda together from now on. Why are you so wary of me?"
Seeing Na'er like that, Gu Yue smiled. The gloom in her heart vanished in an instant, for she had come up with a better plan.
She, Gu Yue, could take Na'er's place just as easily!
"Then take your time getting familiar with things. Jiang Xiu and I are going to eat."
Looking at Gu Yue's ill-intentioned smile, Na'er suddenly regretted bringing Jiang Xiu along.
"See you again, then."
Feeling Na'er tug repeatedly at his sleeve, Jiang Xiu smiled at Gu Yue before preparing to leave with Na'er.
His meeting with Gu Yue today had gone about as he'd expected. She hadn't changed in any unusual way. Apart from the Silver Dragon King having taken human form earlier than expected, this world was still running its normal course.
And judging by his reasoning, Tang Wulin had probably already undone the first seal on the Golden Dragon King. He had to speed up his plan to take the Golden Dragon King Origin.
He had to take it before the second seal was undone. The more of the Golden Dragon King Origin that was unsealed, the more closely it would bond with Tang Wulin, and the harder it would be for him to take it.
His chance to take the Golden Dragon King Origin lay in his Shadow Monarch Martial Soul.
But he also had to be wary of Tang San's divine consciousness, as well as Tang Hao and Ah Yin. Tang Hao and Ah Yin might not show themselves because of the Abyssal Sage King, but if anything went wrong, Tang San's divine consciousness would definitely intervene.
"Are there really only three chances for him to make a move...?"
Jiang Xiu murmured inwardly and followed Na'er toward the exit of the Battle Space.
Just then, Gu Yue's voice rang out again in Na'er's Sea of Consciousness.
"Na'er, you wouldn't want your big brother stolen away, would you...?"
"Gu Yue, what are you trying to do?"
Na'er stopped in her tracks, her beautiful eyes wide.
"Nothing. From now on, we'll compete fairly at the Spirit Pagoda and see who comes out on top."
"But don't worry. I disdain those despicable tricks. I only like what I win with my own hands."
A smile curved Gu Yue's lovely face as she replied calmly through their mental link.
"You'd better mean that! We'll see!"
With that, Na'er gave a soft huff and continued pulling Jiang Xiu out of the Battle Space, disappearing from Gu Yue's sight for good.
Na'er would never admit defeat!
"The first step toward the revival of the Soul Beast Clan is complete. Next, I'll gradually raise my standing in the Spirit Pagoda and bring Di Tian and the others in one by one."
Gu Yue lifted her pale, slender leg and began wandering through the Spirit Pagoda, silently making plans as she went.
As one of the Eighteen Heavenly Pillars of the Spirit Pagoda, the East Sea Spirit Pagoda branch covered a vast area and had every kind of major facility. After wandering around for a full half hour, Gu Yue finally left the Spirit Pagoda.
Outside the towering pagoda, Gu Yue raised her head and looked up at the enormous structure that pierced the clouds.
"I'll climb to the very top, one step at a time! In my hands, the Soul Beast Clan will regain its former glory!"
In the year since entering the human world, she had seen for herself how rapidly human Soul Guidance Technology was advancing. The difference in their level of technology was enough to crush the Soul Beast Clan.
So she had laid out a three-step plan early on: I join, I learn, I lead the revival.
She would use human technology to bring about the revival of the Soul Beast Clan. After all, their clan was far too weak now, with only a handful of stragglers left.
Suddenly, Gu Yue's eyes flickered as if she had sensed something. She stepped into the crowd and didn't stop until she reached an empty alley.
"Buzzz!"
Ripples spread through space, and a tall figure emerged from within it. He came before Gu Yuena and bowed respectfully.
"Master, Xiong Jun has recovered. Should we continue with the operation?"
The figure was Di Tian, who had followed Gu Yue into the human world.
"Wait a little longer. There's no need to rush."
Gu Yue considered the matter for a moment, then gave her orders.
A year ago, she had planned to start by visiting several major cities in the Sun Moon Federation. But to her surprise, she had sensed the Golden Dragon King, who should have been imprisoned in the Divine Realm.
Yet when she followed that aura, she discovered that the Golden Dragon King had already died. His Origin had simply been sealed inside a human. That was even better for Gu Yue, since she already possessed an independent mind and naturally didn't want to merge with a conscious Golden Dragon King.
All she had to do now was take his Origin and refine it. But when they had made their move, they discovered a powerful divine consciousness in that human's Sea of Consciousness. It had struck Xiong Jun, who attacked first, and left him gravely wounded—even with Di Tian using the Dragon God Claw to help him resist.
"But Master, I believe this is a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity. That divine consciousness can't keep intervening forever. And if you merge with the Golden Dragon King Origin, your strength will surely increase greatly."
Di Tian hesitated. Then, as if he had made up his mind, he dropped to one knee and spoke solemnly.
"Master, I'm willing to go. I'll trade my life to make that divine consciousness disappear. As long as the Soul Beast Clan can rise again in the future, I have nothing to fear in death!"
"Foolish!"
"Waiting doesn't mean doing nothing. It means the time hasn't come. How do you know how many chances that divine consciousness has left to intervene? If you die and it still hasn't disappeared, won't that be a terrible loss?"
"Besides, we aren't only at odds with humanity. The Abyss Plane is also watching us like a tiger eyeing its prey. I need you to protect me while I grow stronger."
Gu Yue spoke gravely. She was certain Tang Wulin's path of growth wouldn't be smooth. Whenever danger arose, that divine consciousness would intervene. Then she only needed to sit back and reap the spoils.
She also had a vague feeling that if that divine consciousness disappeared, it might bring even greater trouble in its wake. With her current strength, she wasn't ready to meddle in that.
"I'll obey your orders, Master!"
Seeing how resolute Gu Yue was, Di Tian realized that his emotions had gotten the better of him.
"Rest easy. My plan won't fail. The future will belong to us."
Gu Yue's gaze turned distant as her deep eyes fixed on the far horizon.
Inside a VIP room at the Spirit Pagoda.
The large table was piled high with delicacies. Jiang Xiu and Na'er sampled the food one dish after another.
"Jiang Xiu, listen to me. You're still young, so don't let a woman fool you. The prettier they are, the better they are at lying. [Munch, munch.]"
Na'er lectured Jiang Xiu earnestly as she ate.
"How do you know?"
Jiang Xiu's lips curled up as he asked.
"Ah, you'll understand when you're my age. Anyway, don't let yourself get fooled! Pretty women are the best liars."
Na'er sighed wistfully, then continued with a serious expression.
"Na'er, have you ever lied to me?"
Jiang Xiu raised his eyes to look at Na'er and asked softly.
At his words, Na'er froze.
Before you continue