"Mecha Flourish"

"If you're here, come out."

A Yin spoke softly, her tone carrying a faint, almost imperceptible resentment.

The air around her twisted slightly, and a figure condensed in the void behind her.

The newcomer was a tall, powerfully built man with bronze skin, short hair, and majestic eyes he had deliberately restrained.

"You finally came to see me."

A Yin turned around, her azure eyes looking toward Tang Hao.

A trace of unease flashed across Tang Hao's rough face.

"Recently... there have been some anomalies in the plane's fluctuations," he said in a low voice. "I've been dealing with them."

A Yin stared at him, her expression turning cold.

Tang Hao grew a little embarrassed under her gaze and sat down on a branch beside her.

"Any news from Little San?"

A Yin asked.

"No." Tang Hao waved a hand. "Ever since the Divine Realm was swept away, I haven't been able to sense him. But with that kid's abilities, he shouldn't be dead."

A Yin gave a soft "Mm," then said, "The plane's destiny has changed."

Tang Hao's body stiffened.

"You felt it too?"

"I am now the incarnation of the Golden Ancient Tree, the Core of Eternal Life, and the life of the Douluo Continent itself," A Yin sighed. "Every flow of life aura on this plane, including the destiny related to life, and when the Child of Nature is born—none of it can be hidden from me."

Tang Hao's tone grew grave.

"The favored one of the Death Plane, the person chosen by the plane—his destiny is weakening. The life energy of Douluo Continent is all changing imperceptibly. An abnormal transformation beyond my control has begun."

A Yin glanced at him.

"Halosa?"

Tang Hao nodded.

"His destiny is fading. It isn't a temporary fluctuation, but a fundamental transfer."

A Yin was silent for a while. "A new plane's favored one has appeared?"

Tang Hao shook his head.

"Not yet. But destiny is gathering in a certain direction. The destiny of the life plane's favored one is also shifting. The Child of Nature has not changed hands yet, and even I can't control the current situation. This is troublesome."

At this point, Tang Hao's brows locked tightly together.

"We have to find the source where the destiny is gathering." His gaze turned cold. "Otherwise, it will affect Little San's ten-thousand-year plan, and then everything will be ruined."

A Yin's expression turned even colder.

Ten-thousand-year plan.

That phrase again.

Tang Hao turned to look at her, his eyes complicated.

"That was the scheme Little San set up before he left. It concerns soul beasts, and the balance between humans and the plane. Once it's completed, the entire structure of Douluo Continent will change. You should understand that."

"I know."

A Yin forced out a smile.

"But I can't forget the Abyss War six thousand three hundred years ago. After that war, the life level of the entire Douluo Continent dropped by one-fifth. Little San's plan is good, but what if it fails? Tens of millions of lives sacrificed—who will make up for that?"

Her smile vanished.

Tang Hao did not answer.

"Wu Lin..." A Yin also knew his attitude toward this matter. After thinking for a moment, she thought of a name, and her gaze softened. "How is he?"

"He's very well. With Little San's divine consciousness there, you can rest assured."

Tang Hao replied.

"That's good."

A Yin looked toward the east, her eyes complicated.

That was the direction of Aolai City.

"What are you thinking about?"

Tang Hao seemed to have sensed something.

"A woman's intuition."

Tang Hao was left speechless.

A Yin turned around, her phantom growing faint, as if it might disappear at any moment.

"You should go," she said. "The Lord of the Plane cannot be away for too long."

Tang Hao looked at her, his figure beginning to fade.

"Don't make me wait too long next time."

A Yin's voice drifted over, a faint smile hovering on her face.

Tang Hao's silhouette paused for a moment, then vanished completely.

At the top of the Golden Ancient Tree, only A Yin remained.

She stood there, gazing in the direction of Aolai City.

"Fate, is it..."

The red sun rose, and its path blazed with light.

Early the next morning, dawn filtered through the window and spilled into the room.

Gu You opened his eyes.

His Golden Pupils had burned silently in the darkness all night, scorching away every trace of sleepiness.

He rolled out of bed, straightened his clothes, and walked toward the washstand outside his room.

In Red Mountain Orphanage, his treatment could be called the best: he had a room to himself, with the washstand right outside.

Speaking of which, the reason Chen Hui had arranged for him to live alone was still because of his eyes. Children his age were frightened as soon as they saw his Golden Pupils, let alone willing to live with him.

Gu You turned on the tap, cupped a handful of water, and slapped it onto his face.

He raised a hand to wipe his face, then picked up a small mirror from the washstand and checked his reflection.

In the mirror, his damp black hair clung to his temples, making his Golden Pupils appear even more searing.

"I should see the director one more time."

After a quick wash, Gu You packed up everything and headed to the director's office.

"Knock, knock, knock."

"Come in."

He pushed open the door. Chen Hui had risen very early and was sitting at his desk, looking at his soul communicator.

"You're up this early?"

Putting away the communicator, Chen Hui looked at Gu You.

"Aren't you up just as early, Director?"

Gu You walked over.

"I have to arrange the students' breakfast and expenses, of course I have to get up early. Without me, this orphanage wouldn't manage with just a few extra hands hired. Have you packed everything?"

Chen Hui smiled helplessly and asked.

"There isn't much to pack," Gu You said. "Is the orphanage still doing all right for funds lately?"

"That isn't something you need to worry about. Go without concern. The world ahead is vast—go out and make your way."

Chen Hui did not say much more.

Gu You opened his mouth and was just about to say something when a rumbling "r-r-rumble—" sounded by his ear.

He was immediately puzzled. What the hell was that noise?

From the roar, it sounded like some kind of high-speed rotating machine tearing through the air.

The sound grew louder and closer, and the whole of Red Mountain Orphanage began to tremble nonstop.

"What's that sound?"

Chen Hui was stunned too. What major thing had happened today? Was there going to be an earthquake?

Gu You walked to the room's window and pushed it open.

Then he froze.

Two low-flying helicopters were hovering above the orphanage, their rotors whipping up currents of air like an invisible giant hand, pressing the surrounding trees lower, and lower, and lower still.

"This..."

Gu You was utterly shocked.

The two helicopters had long, sleek bodies and sharp lines, blue and white all over, gleaming with a cold metallic sheen in the morning light. On both sides of their fuselages was painted a deep-blue emblem: the pattern of a tall tower, its spire piercing into the clouds.

As expected, it was without doubt the mark of Spirit Transmission Pagoda.

At the same time, around the two helicopters, a dozen or so steel figures were slowly descending.

Mecha.

Steel giants around ten meters tall, their entire bodies filled with streamlined contours that gave off an extremely light and agile feeling.

A dozen mecha stood in two rows on the open ground of Red Mountain Orphanage like a band of silent steel knights. They carried no weapons, but their massive bodies themselves were the strongest deterrent.

At the sight, Chen Hui's eyes went wide.

Good grief. Spirit Transmission Pagoda had actually put together such a huge display to pick up Gu You.

Wasn't this a bit too showy?