Reflection

The golden light did not immediately fade completely. The figures of Huo Yuhao and the Golden Dragon King emerged silently from the shadows along Aolai City's coast. They did not return directly, choosing instead to remain for the moment and ensure Na'er's safety and the proper handling of what came next.

Na'er looked at Gu Yue's figure, who had previously collapsed and was still frozen on the distant beach. A complicated emotion flashed through her silver eyes as she murmured softly, "She... really will be okay, right?" Although they had just gone through a conflict and threat that had nearly become a fight to the death, the faint connection deep within her bloodline, along with the knowledge that they were both parts of "Gu Yuena," kept her from hardening her heart completely.

A warm hand gently settled on her head and ruffled her somewhat messy silver hair. Huo Yuhao stood beside her, his voice calm and reassuring. "Just be Na'er and protect your family. That's enough. We're here for everything else." He paused, seeing the lingering worry in the girl's eyes, then added, "As for Shrek... the future isn't entirely impossible. With Tang Wulin's talent and character, going to Shrek is inevitable. If you want to, there will always be a way."

Na'er raised her head and met Huo Yuhao's Spirit Eyes, which seemed capable of seeing through everything while embracing all things. The unease in her heart strangely eased. Ice Douluo Huo Yuhao—she had long heard that name in Tang Wulin's scattered words of admiration and in the epic tales passed down through the ages. Ten thousand years ago, he had founded the Spirit Pagoda, opening the first possibility for a relationship between soul beasts and humans, though it had later changed for the worse. In her simple and pure understanding, this legendary hero was someone she could trust. Besides, he had always silently helped and protected her brother and her. At the same time, she suddenly understood: the top brands that were famous throughout the human world, brands even Father Tang Ziran praised endlessly, were actually backed by Uncle Di Tian and the others!

"I understand, Brother Yuhao." Na'er nodded firmly, temporarily suppressing her complicated feelings toward Gu Yue.

"Na'er—! Na'er! Where are you? Answer me!" In the distance, Tang Wulin's anxious shouts came closer along with the swaying beam of a flashlight. The clear voice of the boy was filled with worry.

Huo Yuhao patted Na'er's shoulder and gestured gently. "Go on. Remember, don't tell Wulin too much about what happened today for now. As for the future, East Sea Academy in Eastsea City has regular classes too. I have some connections, so it won't be difficult to let you and Wulin remain in the same school, or even the same class. Even if you go to Shrek in the future... they still have to give me some respect." His tone was calm, yet it carried unquestionable confidence.

Na'er's eyes grew hot. After taking one final look at Huo Yuhao, she turned and ran toward the source of the voice, her silver hair leaving a streak of light beneath the moon.

"Brother! I'm here!" she called loudly, her voice carrying a trace of tearful relief after surviving disaster, but even more of the reassurance of having found someone to rely on.

Tang Wulin rushed over at the sound. When the beam of his flashlight landed on Na'er's slightly disheveled but unharmed figure, he visibly relaxed. Then he hurried forward, grabbed her shoulders, and looked her over from head to toe. "Where did you run off to? You scared me to death! Are you hurt? Why are your clothes wet? Huh, what are these marks on you?" He had noticed the faint pressure marks and energy scorch traces left on Na'er's clothes from the emergency battle armor attachment.

Na'er threw herself into Tang Wulin's arms and hugged him tightly, burying her face against his shoulder. "I'm fine, Brother... I just accidentally ran to the shore, slipped, and nearly fell in... Luckily, I grabbed onto a rock." She quickly made up an excuse. Feeling the reassuring warmth radiating from the boy, along with his faint scent of sea salt, metal, and sunlight, the final remnants of fright in her heart slowly faded. With her brother here, with this home here, she feared nothing.

"You little girl, you're not allowed to run so far by yourself again!" Tang Wulin sighed in relief and gently patted Na'er's back, his tone carrying the mixture of reproach and affection unique to an older brother.

From the shadows nearby, it seemed as though a gaze was watching.

"Oh-ho, interesting." The Golden Dragon King's voice sounded in a realm only Huo Yuhao could perceive, carrying amusement. "This kind of powerless emotional bond based purely on dependence... It's as fragile as a spiderweb, yet as tough as dragon sinew. No wonder that clone resisted desperately. Tsk, tsk. Human 'family affection' really is something strange, but somewhat interesting."

Huo Yuhao did not respond to Jin's teasing. His gaze swept over the embracing siblings, then traveled far into the distance toward the silver-haired figure still collapsed on the beach, as though she had become a statue—Gu Yue. After confirming that Tang Wulin was safely leading Na'er away from the coast and toward home, he finally turned away.

"All right, the show's over. It's time to go back. Di Tian and the others are still waiting. If Bear Lord steals your grilled fish, don't blame me," Huo Yuhao urged Jin.

"Right, right, right! My grilled fish!" Jin immediately shifted his attention back. Golden light flowed around the two of them again, and with a brief flash of spatial ripples, they vanished completely into Aolai City's night. From beginning to end, they did not approach or disturb the distant

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

The bonfire still burned brightly. Fresh skewers of meat and fat fish had replaced the old ones on the grill, sizzling as their fragrance spread through the air. Huo Yuhao and Jin appeared within the glow of the formation.

"You're back?" Di Tian did not even raise his head, focusing on turning a nearly finished Silver-Scaled Fish as he casually asked, "Did you take care of it? Is that little girl all right?"

"Mm, she's fine. The Silver Dragon King's clone is safe. As for the main body... she got taught a lesson. She should settle down for a while now, and perhaps... think things over more," Huo Yuhao answered simply as he walked to the grill and took over part of the work.

Jin headed straight for the big fish he had "reserved." When he saw that it was still hanging intact on the grill, his face immediately broke into a grin. "At least you people know what's good for you!" He took it down without ceremony and bit into it in huge mouthfuls. Even as the heat made him suck in breaths, he refused to let go.

"Who'd want to steal yours?" Bear Lord hugged his wine barrel and let out a resounding burp. "Tell us, how did you teach her a lesson? Was that girl—Gu Yue—still as stubborn as ever?"

While chewing fish, Jin began describing the scene in a muffled yet vivid manner. He focused especially on how he had broken her move with one hand, grabbed her by the throat to warn her, and left Gu Yue speechless and questioning her life with his "soul beast industry achievements" and "Artificial Soul Spirit threat" arguments. He described Gu Yue's final dejected collapse on the beach with particular liveliness.

"...Hahaha, you should've seen the look on her face. She looked like a stupid rabbit struck by lightning!" Jin concluded smugly.

After listening, Di Tian silently took a drink and snorted. "It's good if she listened to even a little. Let's hope she doesn't keep digging herself deeper." His tone was complicated. After all, she had once been the lord he swore to serve unto death.

Bi Ji sighed softly. "My lord... Perhaps she is simply too attached to the glory and responsibility of the past, and cannot see the changes clearly for the moment. I hope that after this, she can truly open her eyes and see the world as it is now, and see the path we have walked."

Myriad Demon King swirled his wineglass and said lazily, "So what if she sees it clearly? In the end, everyone chooses their own path. If she insists on walking that dangerous path of 'controlling the upper ranks,' she will inevitably run into more walls in the future. The waters of the Spirit Pagoda run deep."

Zi Ji continued, her tone carrying the calm analysis of a business elite. "More than deep. The position of Pagoda Master may look glorious, but in truth, it is bound by countless shackles. Qian Gu Dongfeng did not secure that position through strength alone. Personal connections, balancing interests, technological direction, political maneuvering, internal factions... Which one of those does not consume immense effort? More importantly, once someone becomes Pagoda Master, they can practically forget about having time to cultivate. If my lord truly wants to take that path, she should first ask herself whether she is willing to be forever bound to that position, dealing with endless documents and meetings."

Their discussion inadvertently pointed directly at the key issue Gu Yue was painfully reflecting upon at that moment.

The waves tirelessly battered the reefs along the shore as the damp, freezing sea wind wrapped around her. The auras of the Golden Dragon King and Huo Yuhao had long since vanished, and Tang Wulin had taken Na'er away. On the empty beach, she was the only one left, like an abandoned seashell.

The Golden Dragon King's words were like the sharpest ice awls, brutally piercing the shell of her seemingly firm but actually somewhat wishful plans. Those names repeatedly exploded in her mind like thunder:

Three-Headed Spirit Scent? Emerald Court? Violet Dragon Pavilion? Forest Life Chronicle? Dark-Gold Heavy Peak? Deep Space Dragon Domain?

Those top brands, renowned throughout the human world and even symbols of status... were all businesses founded by Di Tian and the others? They had never mentioned it to her! No, perhaps they had, but she had been so immersed in her own plans that she never paid attention. Or perhaps she had considered it nothing more than trivial nonsense, an improper distraction!

She suddenly remembered Di Tian's furious questioning from two days ago: "...Look at what we've accomplished these past years! Eight years! We've practically developed our products throughout the entire human world! And what about her? It seems like she's serving as someone's apprentice?"

At the time, she had thought Di Tian unreasonable. Now, though, her face burned while a chill spread through her heart. It had not been an angry exaggeration—it was the truth! While she had infiltrated the Spirit Pagoda, cautiously playing the role of an apprentice and striving to climb upward, Di Tian and the others had already woven such a vast and intricate commercial and cultural network across the human world! Silent, yet everywhere!

"So they... had already accomplished this much..." Gu Yue murmured, overwhelmed by an indescribable sense of defeat and the overturning of everything she thought she knew.

She forced herself to calm down and, for the first time, truly considered her original plans and the path Di Tian and the others had taken from the perspective of scrutiny and learning.

Regarding the Spirit Pagoda:

She had originally planned to use her talent and abilities to gradually gain trust, eventually replace Qian Gu Dongfeng, become the Spirit Pagoda Master, and thereby control the organization so vital to the future of soul beasts. But now, she began to realize just how illusory and burdensome that goal was.

Was being Pagoda Master really that easy?

As Deputy Pagoda Master, how many matters did Leng Yaozhu need to handle every day? How many documents did she need to review? How many meaningless yet unavoidable social banquets and political meetings did she need to attend? Not to mention that she also had to balance the tangled interests among the several deputy pagoda masters, numerous elders, major research centers, and regional branches within the Pagoda.

Finances! In such a massive organization, the flow of soul coins, project funding, personnel salaries, resource procurement... Every item involved astronomical figures and required precise planning and strict review. How much of Qian Gu Dongfeng's energy was actually spent on cultivation? He probably spent most of his time weighing such matters!

And what was the essence of the Spirit Pagoda? Researching Soul Spirits and achieving technological breakthroughs! The Pagoda Master needed to guide research directions, reward geniuses working tirelessly in laboratories, recruit more talent, establish subordinate academies to cultivate future reserves, and conduct political negotiations and cooperation with the Federation, military, Shrek, Tang Sect, and other forces. Who would they consult when encountering a technological bottleneck? How would they assign responsibility and remedy an experimental accident? How would they strike back when suppressed by other forces?

She had once believed that with absolute strength, she could intimidate everyone once she took power and impose her will. But now, it seemed that even if Qian Gu Dongfeng stepped down tomorrow, according to the Spirit Pagoda's ten-thousand-year traditions and power structure, his successor would certainly be the most senior, most familiar with Pagoda affairs, and best-connected among the three deputy pagoda masters—perhaps one of Leng Yaozhu's rivals. Deputy Pagoda Masters could rise to the position because they had followed the Pagoda Master for a long time, handling core affairs and accumulating sufficient experience and connections.

Even if she were exceptionally talented and promoted to Deputy Pagoda Master by special exception, like Leng Yaozhu... Did Leng Yaozhu possess real power? Yes, but it was limited. She was more often a source of combat strength and technical consultation. The true core decisions remained in the hands of the Pagoda Master and his direct subordinates. Moreover, Leng Yaozhu was just as busy, and her cultivation time was greatly compressed. If Gu Yue became a busy Deputy Pagoda Master without any real core authority, how could she possibly "control" the Spirit Pagoda and secure the greatest benefits for soul beasts?

Regarding Shrek and Na'er:

She had originally wanted Na'er to infiltrate Shrek as another chess piece. But upon careful consideration, that plan was equally full of flaws.

What kind of place was Shrek? The continent's number one academy, and at the same time, one of the most vigilant and rule-bound places. A girl with no formal academy education, an unknown background, yet a top-tier martial soul—the Silver Dragon Spear—and extraordinary talent wanted to enter directly? The most likely outcome would not be admission as a genius, but being subjected to intense scrutiny as a spy by the inspection corps and senior elders! Especially now, when the Evil Soul Masters had fallen into eerie silence and the continent's situation was sensitive, Shrek's entrance screening would only be stricter.

The Federation had the Soul Master Compulsory Education Law. In principle, all Soul Masters of school age had to complete their basic education at local academies. Shrek also had its own affiliated middle school. Skipping grades and special admissions were not impossible, but they required an exceptionally solid and traceable background as well as recommendations. What did Na'er have? The identity of an adopted daughter from an ordinary family in Aolai City? That would only deepen suspicion.

Even if she somehow passed the screening and enrolled, she would still have to start from the outer court and proceed step by step. She would need to study for at least two years and pass strict assessments before qualifying to participate in the inner court selection. During that period, she might perhaps be accepted as a disciple by one of the Pavilion Elders, but that would mostly be the title of master and disciple along with cultivation guidance. It did not mean she could enter Shrek's core of power. Most Pavilion Elders devoted themselves to cultivation or research, and their influence over the academy's administration was not particularly great, aside from the core members of the Sea God Pavilion. They were also often traveling abroad. Trying to "influence" Shrek by becoming a Pavilion Elder's disciple? It was far too indirect and far too slow.

Regarding the future of soul beasts and her own path:

The Golden Dragon King's final roar rang through her mind like an alarm bell: "...In a few more years, once Soul Spirit research advances further, people may truly have no interest in soul beasts beyond the way they view animals!"

Those words made her shudder in alarm. She had always regarded the Spirit Pagoda as an "enemy" of soul beasts or a "tool that needed to be controlled," yet she had never deeply considered the ultimate direction of Spirit Pagoda technology. If Artificial Soul Spirit technology matured completely and could perfectly replace, or even surpass, natural soul rings, then the value of soul beasts to human Soul Masters would rapidly decline. In the end, soul beasts might truly become nothing more than "rare protected animals" or "exotic scenery," losing their indispensable position in the power system. At that point, would the situation of soul beasts become better or worse? Their voice would likely become even weaker!

And what about the path Di Tian and the others had taken? They had integrated soul beasts into the human world not as prey to be hunted, nor as rare species to be protected, but as equal participants, contributors, and even leaders! They provided goods, services, and cultural entertainment that humans needed, creating tremendous economic value and social influence, thereby earning respect and an indispensable position. When the interests of soul beasts and humans were tightly bound together through commerce and culture, the safety and development of soul beasts would have a stronger foundation. That was true "integration" and "establishment"!

Having worked through these connections, Gu Yue slowly rose and brushed the sand from her body. At the far end of the horizon, a faint pale light had already begun to appear.

Beneath the moonlight, her eyes no longer held only stubborn coldness. They now contained heavy contemplation, as well as a barely perceptible... wavering and reflection.

"It seems... the me of the past truly was too arrogant, and too... foolish." She murmured softly, her voice scattering into the sea wind.

The path of the Spirit Pagoda might be more complicated and difficult than she had imagined. The plan involving Shrek was nearly a castle in the air. Yet Di Tian and the others' accomplishments stood solidly before her eyes.

She needed to reassess everything and make new plans. Perhaps she should gain a deeper understanding of how human society in this era operated, and understand the secret behind Di Tian and the others' success, rather than blindly rejecting and denying it.

Or perhaps... she should change her approach to realizing the dream of soul beast revival? A path more practical, more suited to this era, and perhaps... even more difficult?

With a heart full of chaotic thoughts and her first stirrings of realization, Gu Yue gave one final look in the direction of the Star Dou Great Forest. Her figure transformed into specks of silver radiance and merged into the gradually brightening dawn, leaving behind the beach where she had suffered crushing defeat and undergone profound reflection.