Reporting In

Time flew by, and the two-month vacation was over in the blink of an eye. The continent's surface remained calm, but changes beneath the surface had never ceased.

Dark-Gold Heavy Industries, a brand that had seemingly appeared out of nowhere, had risen to prominence in the high-end transportation sector at an astonishing pace. Rather than using flashy technological innovations as a gimmick, it had precisely targeted the core demands of its most elite clients: absolute safety and ultimate luxury.

Its first product, the "Dark-Gold Bedrock" series of Soul Guidance bulletproof sedans, featured bodies personally forged by the Dark-Gold Dragon King. They were made from a special alloy incorporating rare Starsteel and some characteristics of dragon scales. Their streamlined exterior was understated yet brimming with power. In testing, they had withstood the full-force blow of a Soul King-level Soul Master, leaving only shallow marks. Their defensive power left every security expert dumbfounded. The interiors, meanwhile, had been jointly designed by Emerald Court and Violet Dragon Pavilion, using the finest soul beast leather, warm jade wood, and a calming fragrance system exclusively supplied by Three-Headed Spirit Scent. The seats featured multiple Soul Guidance massage functions and constant temperature control, while the interior space had been ingeniously designed to be as quiet as the deep sea. In terms of speed, they were equipped with high-efficiency Soul Guidance power cores optimized in collaboration with Deep Space Dragon Domain. Their zero-to-one-hundred acceleration time was astonishingly short, yet they remained exceptionally stable at high speeds.

The "Dark-Gold Abyss" series of private yachts launched at the same time pushed luxury and safety to even greater heights. Their keels incorporated special cold iron taken from the deep seas of the Far North and were inscribed with simplified defensive Soul Guidance arrays. They were advertised as capable of ignoring the harassment of most hundred-year and even thousand-year sea soul beasts. The interiors were extravagantly furnished, with small dance floors, viewing terraces, spa rooms, and even miniature soul beast viewing chambers. The service teams had all undergone strict training under Forest Life Chronicle. The first flagship vessel was purchased at an astronomical price by a mining tycoon from the west coast for intercontinental business receptions. The grandeur and sense of security it displayed quickly caused a sensation among the wealthiest circles.

The Dark-Gold Dragon King, Dark Gold, had achieved enormous success with his strategy. He had not rushed into the less profitable yet fiercely competitive fields of civilian trains or public transportation. Instead, he had firmly targeted customers at the very top of the pyramid. Through the connections and refined tastes of Crimson King, Bi Ji, and Zi Ji, along with the noble etiquette and business knowledge Myriad Demon King had crammed into him, he had successfully turned Dark-Gold Heavy Industries into a synonym for "top-tier secure mobile palaces." Orders came flying in like snowflakes. Nobles took pride in owning a Dark Gold sedan or yacht. It was not merely a symbol of wealth, but also a reflection of status and security. Dark Gold established its headquarters and first flagship showroom in Eastsea City. He was busy beyond measure, but his sense of accomplishment was equally immense.

As the vacation in Aolai City drew to a close, Tang Wulin and Na'er spent their final days in peace, punctuated by a few small events.

One day, while Na'er was reading alone in a small park near her home, a slightly weary figure quietly appeared. It was Gu Yue. She was completely unlike the domineering Silver Dragon King from the beach two months earlier. Deep bags hung beneath her eyes, dark circles rimmed them, and her once-smooth silver hair had become dry and unruly. Her clothes were simple and casual, even carrying faint hurried creases. In her hand was a long spear entirely silver-white, its shaft flowing with a faint seven-colored glow and radiating an ancient, majestic aura.

"Na'er." Gu Yue's voice was somewhat hoarse as she handed over the Silver Dragon Spear. "I've helped you initially unseal the aura of your martial soul. You can manifest it when necessary. As for its specific uses and soul rings... figure those out yourself later. I'm busy. Don't contact me unless it's important." Her tone was calm, but it carried a profound exhaustion, as though every bit of her energy had been drained away.

"Gu Yue, you... how did you end up like this?" Na'er took the heavy Silver Dragon Spear and sensed the power within it faintly resonating with her bloodline. Yet what shocked her even more was Gu Yue's condition. That proud, stubborn, overwhelmingly powerful original body now looked so... haggard.

Gu Yue tugged at the corner of her mouth, seemingly trying to smile but lacking the strength. "Walk your path and live your life. I have my own path to walk too, and I'll keep walking it." She raised her eyes and looked at Na'er with a complicated expression. "If one day... the soul beast race truly needs help, then within your ability, I hope you can... help however you can." There was far less command in her words now, and a faint sense of entrustment.

Ever since her enlightenment at the beach, Gu Yue had not returned to the Spirit Pagoda and given up on herself. Instead, she had thrown herself into learning with almost manic intensity. No longer content with merely being Leng Yaozhu's disciple and cultivating, she had actively requested to accompany Leng Yaozhu to various high-level Spirit Pagoda meetings, external business negotiations, and even technical seminars. She hungrily learned the language of political maneuvering in the human world, the laws of economic operation, the art of managing massive organizations, and the unwritten rules and exchanges of interest beneath the table. Every meeting was a mental battle for her. The conversations full of hidden barbs, the tangled positions, and the ever-changing situations left her overwhelmed and made her keenly aware of how naive her past ideas had been.

Fortunately, Leng Yaozhu, an experienced mentor, had been there to guide and protect her, so she had barely avoided exposing any major flaws. Still, she had truly come to understand that controlling a vast power required far more effort than simply being strong. She squeezed nearly all her rest time dry, studying records and analyzing cases, her entire being stretched taut like a drawn bowstring.

As Na'er watched Gu Yue like this, the fear and resistance in her heart strangely faded somewhat, replaced by a faint emotion that perhaps could be called sympathy or understanding. She could sense that Gu Yue was genuinely searching for a way forward for the future of soul beasts. She had merely chosen a path different from Na'er's and Di Tian's—an exceptionally difficult path.

"...Mm." Na'er nodded gently. After hesitating for a moment, she took a red peace knot she had woven herself from her pocket. It was not especially exquisite, but it had been made with great care. She stepped forward, timidly took Gu Yue's wrist, and tied it around her. "B-be careful. Don't wear yourself out too much," she said softly, her face slightly red.

Gu Yue froze for a moment and lowered her gaze to the tiny ornament around her wrist, an item carrying human wishes and prayers. An utterly unfamiliar warmth passed through her heart, only to be replaced by a tremendous sense of absurdity. She, the Silver Dragon King, was actually being told by her own incarnation to be careful?

"Ha ha ha..." She laughed softly. Her laughter was somewhat dry, but it seemed to wash away a little of her exhaustion. "You too. I'm leaving." With that, she did not linger. Her figure turned into specks of silver light and swiftly dispersed into the air, as if she had never appeared at all.

Na'er stood there for a long time, holding the Silver Dragon Spear before carefully putting it away. The spear was both power and, seemingly, a weighty, silent acknowledgment and... separation from her original body.

The Tang family's move was also proceeding in an orderly manner. With Huo Yuhao's introduction and help, they smoothly rented a highly cost-effective apartment in Eastsea City near East Sea Academy. The original owner had been an outstanding East Sea Academy student who, after graduation, had entered a research institution in Shrek City. Since he would not return anytime soon, he had entrusted an agent to rent out the fully furnished, well-maintained apartment long-term. Through Huo Yuhao's connections, Tang Ziran had also found a job as a circuit engineer at a medium-sized Soul Guidance device manufacturing plant in Eastsea City. Lang Yue planned to find some temporary work near their neighborhood first, making it easier for her to care for the children.

Before leaving, Tang Wulin's elementary school classmate and "bad friend," Wan Yunchaо—the chubby boy who had always dreamed of becoming an agility attack-type Soul Master—insisted on having "one last match" with him.

"Wulin! Take this! I've been training my footwork hard during vacation!" Wan Yunchaо puffed out his cheeks and charged forward while trying his best to look agile. Unfortunately, his build severely limited him, and his speed truly could not be called fast.

Tang Wulin could not help laughing, but he did not use soul power to bully him. Relying only on his more nimble movements and stronger physique, he easily dodged the chubby boy's "fierce pounce." Then, seizing an opportunity, he swept Wan Yunchaо's leg and gave him a light shove, knocking him off balance.

"Ow!" Wan Yunchaо landed hard on his backside. He climbed up with a groan and protested indignantly, "No, no! Again! I'm using my martial soul this time!" He activated his not-very-powerful civet cat martial soul, and his speed did indeed increase by a tiny bit.

Tang Wulin smiled faintly as the yellow soul ring beneath his feet lit up. "First Soul Skill, Entangling!" Dense, tough Blue Silver Grass vines instantly burst from the ground and precisely wrapped around Wan Yunchaо's ankles.

"Wah!" Wan Yunchaо fell again. This time, the Blue Silver Grass bound him tightly, and he struggled like an overturned turtle. "Let me go! Tang Wulin, you have no martial virtue!"

Tang Wulin walked over, crouched down, and smilingly patted the chubby boy's plump cheek. "Yunchaо, if you want to take the agility attack path, training alone isn't enough. With your weight... you need to slim down. Otherwise, no matter how good your footwork is, it won't be able to carry you."

After struggling to no avail, Wan Yunchaо finally admitted defeat. He lay on the ground, panting heavily, his face miserable. "Ah... I know! Once I successfully lose weight, I'll come to Eastsea City and challenge you again! I'll definitely be faster than you then!"

"Alright, I'll be waiting." Tang Wulin smiled as he released the Blue Silver Grass and pulled Wan Yunchaо to his feet. The two boys roughhoused for a while, drawing an energetic close to their childhood friendship.

The farewell at Mang Tian Studio was much more formal. Mang Tian was extremely satisfied with Tang Wulin's forging progress over the past two months. His disciple was not only extraordinarily talented, but also calm and tenacious by nature.

"Wulin, your Thousand-Forging has truly entered the beginner stage. Your Sunken Silver impurity removal rate has reached an excellent standard, and you've developed your own understanding of fire control and hammer techniques." Mang Tian rarely showed such an approving smile. He took two small boxes from a workbench drawer. "This Sunken Silver Ring was forged from a decent piece of Thousand-Forged Sunken Silver in my early years. It has a faint calming effect. Wearing it for a long time will help stabilize your mind and sense metals. It's yours. This storage Soul Guidance device doesn't have much space, but it's enough for your forging tools and some personal belongings. Once you get to Eastsea City, don't neglect forging while you cultivate. I have a few old friends there. Mention my name if you need anything."

Tang Wulin solemnly accepted the gifts with both hands and bowed deeply to Mang Tian. "Thank you, Teacher! Wulin will remember your teachings!"

After bidding farewell to everything in Aolai City, the Tang family of four boarded a Soul Guidance train for Eastsea City with their simple luggage, since most of their furniture was not needed. The journey went smoothly. After arriving at Eastsea City Station, they hailed a taxi and quickly reached the residential complex they had rented in. It was a typical school district neighborhood, quiet and shaded by lush trees, only a little over ten minutes' walk from East Sea Academy.

When they opened the door with the key, a fresh, tidy scent greeted them.

"Wow!" Tang Wulin was the first to rush inside, unable to suppress his amazement. The rooms had clearly been cleaned not long ago, with bright windows and spotless surfaces. The white walls were immaculate, and the pale stone flooring gleamed like a mirror. In the living room, the sofa and coffee table were covered with elegant dust covers and arranged neatly, revealing the original owner's meticulous nature.

"Dad, Mom, come look! Such big beds! They're so soft!" Na'er excitedly ran into the room assigned to the children. Two spacious single beds stood side by side, covered in clean, plain bedding. The mattresses looked extremely comfortable. Compared to the small beds in their Aolai City home, they were worlds apart.

Tang Ziran and Lang Yue also examined their new home with satisfaction. The living room, kitchen, and bathroom came with every basic piece of furniture and appliance, all of them of fine quality. Tang Ziran even recognized the small, inconspicuous dragon-shaped dark pattern along the side of the simple yet textured solid-wood coffee table in the living room—it was the mark of Deep Space Dragon Domain!

The family quickly got to work, conducting a thorough cleaning, though the apartment was already very clean, and putting away their luggage and belongings. By the time they finished, it was already evening.

After resting briefly, the four decided to go downstairs to familiarize themselves with the surroundings and have dinner while they were at it. Their first thought was to visit Huo Yuhao's Rain Spirit Grilled Fish Shop and thank him. However, when they reached the familiar street, the sight before them startled them—the grilled fish shop that had originally occupied only two storefronts had expanded to four! Even so, a long line still stretched outside, every seat inside was occupied, and the rich aroma of grilled meat filled the entire street. Its popularity was beyond imagination.

"Looks like Uncle Yuhao's business is doing incredibly well..." Tang Wulin clicked his tongue in amazement.

"Let's come another day. We shouldn't disrupt his business," Lang Yue said thoughtfully.

So the family of four found a relatively quiet specialty restaurant nearby. As a major city, Eastsea City had fierce competition in the food industry. Any restaurant that could survive here naturally tasted quite good. The meal was filled with laughter and warmth, and Tang Ziran and Lang Yue were full of anticipation for their new life.

After dinner, they visited a nearby supermarket to buy some new daily necessities and give their new home a touch of their own. It was worth mentioning that Tang Wulin was now a young man with a modest amount of savings. As Red Mountain Academy's first genius student to reach Level Ten and obtain a hundred-year Soul Spirit before graduation, he had received a special scholarship of twenty thousand Federal Credits from the academy. At the same time, because he had diligently completed some beginner-level promotional tasks issued by the Spirit Pagoda for a long time—such as handing out flyers and taking part in community Soul Spirit knowledge campaigns—and had performed excellently, the Aolai City branch of the Spirit Pagoda had given him a soul coin card worth roughly twenty thousand Federal Credits and an exquisite gift box containing several practical small Soul Guidance tools in the name of an "Outstanding Apprentice Spirit Envoy" when he left. Tang Wulin voluntarily contributed this money to the family expenses and bought new clothes for everyone.

Tang Wulin chose a casual outfit from the "Edge Tempering" series that Deep Space Dragon Domain had launched for teenagers. It was primarily light gray, with clean, sharp lines and special breathable, wear-resistant fabric. It did not look luxurious, but its fitted tailoring subtly accentuated the boy's increasingly upright frame and restrained sharpness.

Na'er received a silver-gray dress from Violet Dragon Pavilion's "Star Whisper" series. The dress was cleverly designed, possessing both a young girl's liveliness and cuteness while losing none of its refinement in the details. On Na'er, it made her silver hair and violet eyes stand out even more, making her look like an exquisite doll.

Tang Ziran and Lang Yue each picked out a comfortable, appropriate new outfit as well. Dressed in their brand-new clothes, the family was refreshed and filled with joy at the prospect of welcoming their new life.

The next morning, they headed to East Sea Academy to complete the new student enrollment procedures. The registration desk had been set up in the academy's spacious, bright reception hall. The person in charge of receiving them was a young female teacher with a sweet smile and gentle temperament named Liu Yuxin.

"Hello, little ones! Are you here to register? What are your names?" Liu Yuxin looked at the strikingly attractive brother and sister before her. Tang Wulin in particular was a head taller than children his age, handsome, and bright-eyed. He did not look like he was only nine years old at all, though he was actually nearly ten. She could not help taking a liking to him, and her tone grew even gentler.

"Hello, Teacher. My name is Tang Wulin. I'm nine years old, my soul power is Level Eleven, and my martial soul is Blue Silver Grass. This is my younger sister, Na'er. She's here to register too. She... doesn't have a martial soul," Tang Wulin answered politely, feeling slightly nervous.

"Tang Wulin?" When Liu Yuxin heard the name, a flicker of understanding passed through her eyes, and her smile widened. She remembered that Teacher Wu Changkong had specifically informed her that a promising child named Tang Wulin had to be assigned to his class. "I understand. Welcome! First, fill out this new student information form, then give me your primary academy graduation recommendation letters."

"Alright, thank you, Sister!" Tang Wulin and Na'er accepted the forms and began filling them out carefully. As he wrote, Tang Wulin could not help secretly studying the kind, approachable senior sister. She wore a fitted blue East Sea Academy teacher's uniform. Her medium-length hair was tied into a neat ponytail, and she had fair skin, a slender neck, beautiful features, and elegant manners. She gave people a feeling like a spring breeze.

Just as Tang Wulin's gaze lingered on Liu Yuxin for one or two seconds longer than it should have, Na'er, standing beside him, sharply caught that tiny moment of distraction. An inexplicable irritation instantly surged through her heart, and her little lips unconsciously puckered.

Without making a sound, she quietly stretched out one small hand and precisely pinched the soft flesh at the side of Tang Wulin's waist that was most ticklish, then twisted hard!

"Hiss—!" Caught completely off guard, Tang Wulin sucked in a sharp breath and nearly cried out. Even the words on his form came out crooked. He turned toward Na'er in astonishment, asking with his eyes, Na'er, what are you doing?

Instead, he met Na'er's beautiful violet eyes. At that moment, they clearly conveyed a mixture of warning, displeasure, and you'd better watch yourself, as if they were saying: Brother's eyes should only look where they're supposed to!

Tang Wulin was utterly baffled by the sudden "attack" and his little sister's terrifying gaze. He could only mutter inwardly, How did I offend this little ancestor again? Why did I suddenly feel like... something was watching me, making me shiver?

He quickly withdrew his gaze and obediently continued filling out the form, not daring to look around again. Only then did Na'er satisfactorily retract her hand, pretending that nothing had happened as she continued filling out her own form. Yet the corner of her lips lifted into an almost imperceptible, faintly smug curve.

Liu Yuxin took in the siblings' little interaction and thought their relationship was truly close. Smiling, she picked up her Soul Guidance communicator, stepped aside, and sent Wu Changkong a confirmation message. A new semester, a new city, and a new academy life officially began amid this warm interlude filled with expectation and a little jealousy. What Tang Wulin did not know was that beneath his peaceful academy life, the attention and undercurrents of many factions had already converged.