Gu Yue and Na'er

Gu Yue and Na'er

Eastsea City, the backyard of the Rain Spirit Grilled Fish Shop.

An unconventional high-level gathering was taking place here. There were no solemn halls, only long outdoor tables piled high with all kinds of delicacies: various soul beast meats and fresh fish roasted personally by Huo Yuhao with precise temperature control and mouthwatering aromas; a fruit and vegetable platter containing pure life energy, provided as a special supply from the Emerald Court by Bi Ji; centuries-old fine wine and strange fungi from the treasured collection of the Forest Life Chronicle provided by the Myriad Demon King; top-tier spices produced by the Three-Headed Spirit Scent of the Crimson King dotted the dishes just right; and of course, there was no missing the gorgeous tableware and ambient soul guidance lamps customized by the Violet Dragon Pavilion of Zi Ji. There was even a large barrel of strong liquor from who knows where that Bear Lord had managed to get, said to be a secret recipe of a minor sect.

The atmosphere was extremely lively, entirely devoid of the murderousness and mystery of gathered beast lords that outsiders might imagine.

Hahaha! Is this wine of mine strong enough, old Bear? It's much better than those sweet fruit wines of the Myriad Demon King! Bear Lord slapped the table, causing the bowls and dishes to clatter lightly. Three wine barrels were already empty in front of him, and his face was flushed red, but his gaze remained bright.

Vulgar, the Myriad Demon King elegantly sipped the Hundred-Fruit Soul Essence he had brought in small mouthfuls, saying at a leisurely pace, How could a fellow like you who only understands brute force appreciate the artistic conception of wine? Di Tian, don't you agree?

Di Tian had changed into a comfortable set of dark casual clothes, holding a golden, oil-dripping roasted dragon eel in his hand, and was eating with intense focus. Hearing this, he merely lifted his eyelids to look at them and said vaguely, They're all good. Yuhao's roasted fish is even better. He had a near-obsessive pursuit of food quality, especially enjoying this relaxed moment where he didn't have to worry about anything and could just gorge himself.

Bi Ji and Zi Ji sat together, whispering to each other about the recent operational status of several shops and some amusing anecdotes among the human nobility, occasionally letting out soft chuckles. Demon Spirit was busy running back and forth, helping Huo Yuhao as a sous-chef by handing over the roasted food, his small face beaming with happiness.

Huo Yuhao controlled the flames while listening to everyone's laughter and chatter, a faint smile resting on his pale face as well. This daily life full of the mortal warmth of cooking smoke was a rare solace for him. He could sense that these fierce beasts, who had once dominated Star Dou and could determine the lives and deaths of countless soul beasts on a whim, were gradually adapting to and enjoying this state of surviving and playing the game in another way. Perhaps this was also a feasible path.

However, this warm clamor was abruptly interrupted by a faint yet exceptionally urgent ripple of soul power within Huo Yuhao's spiritual sea—the distress badge he had left for Na'er, reinforced by Bear Lord's power and specially modified, had been triggered!

Huo Yuhao's expression turned cold, and the roasting fork in his hand paused slightly. He could vaguely sense the direction and the trigger intensity; it was not a fatal attack, but the applied pressure level was extremely high, and it carried a rich dragon race pressure... Silver Dragon King Gu Yue! She really had made a move against Na'er!

What's wrong, Yuhao? Demon Spirit was the first to notice his subtle change.

Huo Yuhao quickly reined in his mind, speaking in a swift, low voice, Na'er's distress signal is in the direction of Aolai City. It's the Silver Dragon King's true body.

The table instantly fell silent. Di Tian's brow furrowed immediately, and he put down the food in his hand; Bi Ji and Zi Ji exchanged a worried look; Bear Lord and the Myriad Demon King also stopped bickering.

I'll go, Di Tian stood up, his expression somewhat ugly. He had just argued with Gu Yue and was currently holding in a fire.

No, Di Tian, it's not appropriate for you to go, Huo Yuhao shook his head, his thoughts moving rapidly. Gu Yue just had a conflict with you, her vigilance is currently high, and she is dissatisfied with the current status of soul beasts. If you go, it's very likely to escalate the conflict or even expose more of our deployments. He looked toward the Golden Dragon King (avatar), who was currently snatching the last piece of roasted spare ribs from the Dark-Gold Dragon King, Golden, I'll have to trouble you to make a trip. Take me with you. Your identity and power will serve as the greatest deterrence to her. Moreover, she doesn't know about your splitting and will only think it's your true body's will.

The Golden Dragon King (Golden) had just snatched the spare rib and took a triumphant, large bite, speaking vaguely upon hearing this, Aolai City? Just that little girl clone fighting that paranoid true body? Fine, it's just the right time to move around and see just how stupid this Silver Dragon King has gotten. He finished the meat in two or three bites, casually wiped his mouth, and looked quite enthusiastic.

The Dark-Gold Dragon King (Dark Gold) didn't get any meat, curled his lip, but still spoke, Do you need me to go too? Two against one is safer.

No, Huo Yuhao refused again. Your existence is currently classified. Golden alone is enough; the power tier is sufficient to form absolute suppression, and the key points are 'taking Na'er away' and 'warning Gu Yue', not starting a war. Having too many people will easily make her desperate or reveal more flaws.

Fine then, remember to come back and keep roasting, leave this fish for me! Golden pointed at a large fish on the grill that was almost done, instructing Huo Yuhao, and then looked back at Di Tian and the others, You guys aren't allowed to steal my share!

Di Tian waved his hand impatiently: Go quickly and come back soon! Nagging!

Huo Yuhao and Golden quickly left the noisy backyard and entered a quiet room in the store that was set up with heavy shielding. The floor of the quiet room had long been inscribed with an immensely complex golden array emitting a faint destructive and spatial fluctuation—this was a Directional Teleportation Array carved by the Golden Dragon King based on his own bloodline memories and understanding of laws, combined with some spatial knowledge provided by Huo Yuhao, used for rapid movement in emergency situations.

Coordinates. Golden spoke concisely.

Huo Yuhao transmitted the precise location of the badge he sensed to Golden in the form of a spiritual imprint. The Golden Dragon King nodded, stood in the center of the array, and began to chant an ancient and obscure dragon language. Every syllable triggered a subtle tremor in the surrounding space, and the dark-gold patterns on his body glowed faintly. Huo Yuhao also stepped into the array, mobilizing the little divine power he had left to assist in stabilizing the passage.

Ten breaths later, the golden light of the array flourished, space rippled like water waves, and the figures of the two instantly blurred and then disappeared.

Outside the quiet room, the gathering crowd was quiet for a short while.

That child Na'er... she won't be in danger, right? Bi Ji was somewhat worried. She had a very good impression of that clone, who was as pure as snow.

With the Golden Dragon King and Yuhao going, at least she'll be safe, Zi Ji analyzed. It's just... Lord Gu Yue, she seems to have truly embarked on a path completely different from ours. Conflict is I'm afraid difficult to avoid.

Di Tian let out a hum, sat back down, picked up the wine flagon and took a large gulp, saying dully, Different paths, no common language. If she insists on acting this way, let's just see what the future holds. Eat! Even so, there was still a trace of lingering heaviness deep within his eyes. After all, that was the lord he had guarded for countless years.

Tang Wulin's life returned to a "normal" trajectory: studying soul master basics at Red Mountain Academy during the day (he had already obtained his first soul ring, officially becoming a soul master, and could no longer receive the ordinary soul master subsidy from the Spirit Pagoda), heading to Mang Tian Studio in the afternoon to learn smithing, and cultivating frantically after returning home at night while eating various nourishing foods secretly subsidized by his parents and Huo Yuhao, working hard to digest the residual golden dragon power sealed in his body by the Sea God to prepare for impacting the first seal before the age of ten. The days were simple, fulfilling, carrying the warmth of an ordinary family and a youth's desire to grow stronger.

However, beneath this calmness, undercurrents had already arisen.

Just in the second week after Tang Wulin graduated from Red Mountain Academy, one night, Na'er was quietly lured to a secluded, uninhabited coastal cliff in Aolai City.

The Silver Dragon King's true body—Gu Yue, quietly appeared. She wore the student uniform of the Spirit Pagoda, her temperament cold, her eyes deep, gazing at Na'er, who looked almost identical to her yet possessed a much purer and more straightforward gaze.

Shrek Academy. Gu Yue got straight to the point, her voice without any fluctuation, I need you to enter there.

Shrek Academy? Na'er was startled, subconsciously taking half a step back, her eyes filled with incomprehension and resistance. Why? I... I don't have a martial soul. She wasn't entirely ignorant; the occasional conversations between Huo Yuhao and her older brother, as well as the existence of Di Tian and the others, made her vaguely aware that the world was not simple. But she clung to the pure and warm familial affection among Tang Ziran, Lang Yue, and especially Tang Wulin; she didn't want to leave this place where she had just begun to experience a "home".

A martial soul? The 'Silver Dragon Spear' can serve as your manifestation. Soul rings are also easy to solve; I can design the most reasonable virtual soul ring plan for you from the Spirit Pagoda's database, or... acquire them in the future. Gu Yue's tone carried a self-evident planfulness. I infiltrate the Spirit Pagoda, study, observe, and gradually gain influence. You enter Shrek; that is the sacred land of human soul masters, which likewise holds countless secrets and the top-tier power of the future. We coordinate from the inside and outside to control these two major organizations in order to secure the greatest benefits for the future of soul beasts. Isn't this very reasonable?

She acutely sensed the strong reluctance emanating from Na'er, and her brow furrowed slightly. This clone seemed to have produced too many unnecessary "impurities."

I... I don't want to go. Na'er clutched the corner of her clothes, her voice not loud yet exceptionally firm. My brother and the others are here, Mom and Dad are here too; this is my home. Shrek... has nothing to do with me.

Home? Gu Yue seemed to have heard some absurd joke, her gaze turning cold abruptly, and a dragon race pressure originating from the source of her bloodline, causing one's soul to shudder, spread out like a tide. Although it wasn't released outwardly, it enveloped Na'er with pinpoint precision. You are a part of me! Your existence is to assist me in completing my mission! Who gave you permission to have a 'home of your own'?

The terrifying pressure caused Na'er's face to turn pale instantly, and her petite body trembled like a fledgling in a rainstorm. She was a clone separated by the Silver Dragon King, carrying a portion of perception and pure emotions. Although the essence of her power was from the same origin, the magnitude and degree of control were vastly different. Under this pure bloodline suppression, she could hardly breathe, her knees grew soft, and she wanted to kneel down.

You... what right do you have... Na'er clenched her teeth, relying on that stubbornness within her heart and her obsession with "home," forcibly straightening her spine despite swaying unsteadily. I am Na'er! I am not your tool!

What right? Gu Yue's voice suddenly rose, carrying anger and disbelief. Just because I am the Silver Dragon King! I am your true body! Your will originates from me! If you don't obey, I will erase this portion of unnecessary 'impurities' of yours! The dragon power grew even heavier, and the air surrounding Na'er seemed to freeze. Or do you think I can't touch those 'family members' you cherish? Tang Wulin? That ordinary couple? Me crushing them to death is no more troublesome than crushing ants!

The cold killing intent like substantial needles pierced Na'er's nerves. The extreme fear for the safety of Tang Wulin and her adoptive parents instantly overwhelmed the physiological surrender brought by the dragon power.

You dare! Na'er abruptly raised her head, a resolute light bursting within her eyes. She spoke word by word, as if using up all her strength. If you dare touch a single hair of theirs... I will go find your teacher, that Sky Phoenix Douluo Leng Yaozhu! I'll tell her everything about your identity and your purpose! I mean what I say!

This was the most direct and threatening counterattack she could think of. She didn't know just how strong Leng Yaozhu was, but that was the key to the disguised identity Gu Yue currently chose! Destroying it would inevitably cause huge trouble for Gu Yue!

Gu Yue's pupils shrank, evidently not expecting Na'er to dare threaten her like this, and moreover, to seize a key point of her current deployment. Mixed with shock and anger, she instead laughed out of fury. Heh... Just you? A clone without even soul power? Go find Leng Yaozhu? You can't even enter the gates of the Spirit Pagoda headquarters! Even if you see her, do you think she'll believe the wild ramblings of an unknown little girl, or will she believe the disciple she personally tested and painstakingly taught?

Na'er did not argue further, because she knew words were pale and impotent in the face of an absolute gap in power. A strange energy carrying a faint seven-colored halo began to well up from the depths of her soul. It wasn't strong, but it carried a resolute, self-burning primal fluctuation!

Soulburn! She actually intended to pay the price of self-destruction, perhaps hoping to burst forth with an instant's impact sufficient to attract attention from afar or heavily injure this avatar of Gu Yue!

Are you crazy?! Gu Yue was completely shocked. She couldn't understand why Na'er would pour such profound emotions into humans she had interacted with for mere years, even willing to perish together! Under intense fury and a trace of imperceptible panic, she no longer held back, and majestic dragon power mixed with a trace of the Silver Dragon King's primal power pressed down crushingly like a mountain!

Kneel down to me!

Bang!

Na'er ultimately couldn't contend against it, being heavily pressed down to the ground, her cheek pressed close to the cold, rough rock, and the seven-colored light was also suppressed until it flickered unsteadily. But her gaze remained stubborn, glaring fiercely at Gu Yue, rebelling silently.

Me? I am already an independent individual! Na'er squeezed the words out from between her teeth, every word she spoke exceptionally difficult. Don't even think... about treating me as a casually kneadable part anymore... I have my life... my choices!

An independent individual? Gu Yue looked as if she had heard the most ridiculous thing, her anger burning fiercely. Soul beasts not obeying commands, even daring to rebel against my own power! Good, very good! Since you want to die so much, then I will let you watch with your own eyes how your so-called 'brother' disappears bit by bit right in front of you!

Her perception had long since discovered that because Na'er had been out for a long time without returning, Tang Wulin, who was worried, was holding a flashlight and shouting anxiously as he searched along the coastline, his figure getting closer and closer.

A cold light flashed in Gu Yue's eyes, and she raised her hand, her fingertips condensing a trace of dangerous silver radiance, aiming at that unprepared youth figure in the distance.

No—!!! Na'er's eyes split open; massive fear and despair washed over her. At this critical juncture, she suddenly thought of the inconspicuous metal badge she wore close to her chest—the "gift" Huo Yuhao had given her.

Na'er, I've re-reinforced this badge; it stores some defensive power inside. Because you don't have soul power to drive it, I changed it to a press-to-trigger type. If you encounter unmanageable danger, press hard on the middle. Huo Yuhao's gentle instructions at the time echoed in her mind.

The idea of surviving and protecting her brother overwhelmed everything! Na'er used all the remaining strength in her entire body, and her thumb fiercely pressed the slightly protruding small point in the center of the badge!

Hum—!

A layer of solid, thick earth-yellow light shield carrying an aura as steady as the earth instantly erupted from the badge, forcibly pushing open a safe space amidst the dragon power pressure Gu Yue had exerted! The light shield rippled with rock-like textures, extraordinarily sturdy. Immediately after, the soul power stored inside the badge was rapidly activated and guided, spreading along the surface of Na'er's body and shaping itself—

Clack! Clack! Clack!

A semi-covered soul guidance armor (simplified battle armor) with a simple yet exceptionally fierce structure, gleaming with a metallic cold light, rapidly attached itself to the key parts of Na'er's body. The armor was primarily composed of dark-gold special alloy (precisely the rare model produced by Bear Lord's "Dark-Gold Heavy Peak"), its lines smooth and filled with a sense of power, with flexible cushioning designs at the joints. Although the coverage area did not constitute the entire body, the critical heart, spine, and limb joints were all protected. Earth-yellow energy circuits faintly flowed across the surface of the armor, sharing the same origin as the protective shield; it was clearly an "idiot-proof" emergency equipment specially designed for those without soul power, undergoing Bear Lord's power reinforcement and special modification!

A sense of power instantly filled her whole body! Although this power was not obtained through her own cultivation, it was temporarily bestowed by the soul tool, yet it was sufficient to allow her to break free from the majority of the suppression.

What?! Gu Yue was stunned by this sudden turn of events. The defense strength of this light shield, the exquisite design and rare materials of this armor... far exceeded something an ordinary clone could possibly possess! Who was it? Who could give her something like this? Could it be... Di Tian and the others? No, how could Di Tian and the others give such a precious thing, which was obviously a high-tier product of soul guidance technology, to a clone?

The very instant Gu Yue lost her focus, Na'er relied on the explosive force provided by the armor to spring up from the ground fiercely. Her petite figure turned into a dark-gold stream of light, and with a punch containing all her anger, fear, and protective desire, she smashed fiercely toward Gu Yue!

Gu Yue hastily raised her hand to parry.

Bang!

Amidst a dull muffled sound, Gu Yue was struck by this forceful blow, sliding back several steps as the rocks beneath her feet shattered. Shock and anger grew even more intense in her eyes; the boost effectiveness provided by this armor far exceeded her estimates!

Who gave you this thing?! Gu Yue demanded sternly.

Na'er did not answer, or rather, what answered her was an even more violent attack! Like an enraged young beast, relying on the speed and power provided by the armor, she pounced on Gu Yue in a disorganized yet fierce manner, using both fists and kicks entirely like a street fight, yet every strike carried the heavy force bestowed by the armor.

Gu Yue was both shocked and angry. As the Silver Dragon King, she was actually being forced back by her own clone in such a "brute-force" manner! She quickly adjusted, water elements surging turbulently around her. This was the seaside, her home turf!

Waves, obey my command! Gu Yue waved her delicate hand, and the seawater beneath the cliff abruptly whipped up several thick water dragons, pouncing on Na'er from different directions. At the same time, she herself merged into a water dragon, her figure shifting unpredictably, silver light flashing at her fingertips as condensed water arrows carrying a sharp aura shot toward the joints and connections of the armor.

Relying on the armor's defense, Na'er hard-swum through several water arrows, producing clanging crisp sounds and sparking fire. She didn't understand elemental control, and could only rampage blindly relying on the armor, quickly becoming entangled by several water dragons and having her movements restricted. However, the armor was exceptionally sturdy, and Gu Yue's hastily cast water arrows could hardly truly breach its defense.

The two fought from the edge of the cliff to the shallows, then entangled and rushed into the seawater. In the sea, Gu Yue's advantage was even greater; the currents were like extensions of her arms, constantly impacting, entangling, and retarding Na'er's movements. Na'er, relying on the armor's sealing and power, acted like a clumsy yet sturdy metal puppet, struggling to throw punches and kicks in the seawater, stirring up churning spray, and occasionally landing a solid punch that could cause Gu Yue—merged into the water currents—to feel a shock.

A seemingly fierce yet somewhat bizarre internal fight between sisters (true body and clone) was staged on the sea surface under the moonlight.