A Chance Encounter with Gu Yue

After leaving Wu Zhangkong's office, Tang Li took out his Communicator. Besides his mother Lang Yue's usual concern, there was also a message from Tang Wulin.

"Xiao Li, I went to the Blacksmith Association to pick up a job. Remember to get up early tomorrow morning and wait for me at the field!"

After replying that he understood, Tang Li headed toward the school gate as well. He planned to spend some time at the Spirit Pagoda.

Although Uncle Lin suffered quite a bit of exclusion there, it did not stop Tang Li from extracting more benefits from the Spirit Pagoda. After all, its various foundational Soul Tool theories were unrivaled across the entire continent!

Tang Li planned to study Soul Tool knowledge for a while, make some Soul Tools to sell for money, then use the Meditation Room there to cultivate through the night.

Although he did not know what Tang Wulin was saving money for, Tang Li intended to save enough to buy a Communicator for Na'er, who was far away on Sea God Island. That would make it much more convenient for them to stay in touch.

Communicating through the mark consumed far too much Spiritual Power.

After taking a Soul Guidance Car to the East China Sea Spirit Pagoda, Tang Li used Lin Ye's card to head straight to his office.

As it happened, Lin Ye was receiving two distinguished guests sent by the upper ranks of the Spirit Pagoda. The moment he saw Tang Li, he hurriedly gestured for him to go cultivate in the Meditation Room himself, urgency filling his eyes.

Tang Li curiously glanced at the two guests. That single glance was enough—the pair noticed Lin Ye's look and turned around as well, their gazes meeting Tang Li's.

One face was mature, the other youthful, and both possessed beauty of entirely different kinds. The younger one looked astonishingly similar to Na'er. Apart from her hair color and eyes, everything else was identical.

The other, a purple-haired woman, was Zi Ji, the Hell Demon Dragon King who had come to take Na'er away that day.

Only then did he understand why Lin Ye had looked so anxious. He was afraid Tang Li would mistake her for someone else!

Tang Li felt that Uncle Lin was worrying for nothing. He knew this was Gu Yue, not Na'er.

Still, he was rather curious. Lin Ye was merely an assistant manager of the Spirit Ascension Platform, so why was he responsible for receiving these two? However, Tang Li did not ask. He headed directly for the Meditation Room to read the Spirit Pagoda's Soul Tool books.

The instant Gu Yue saw Tang Li, she detected the blessing aura that shared her origin. In that instant, she confirmed Tang Li's identity—

The chief culprit who had prevented her from merging with Na'er!

Zi Ji, meanwhile, had had her memories altered by Na'er and did not remember who Tang Li was at all. She was merely curious why her mistress had stared at him for so long.

The looks from those two nearly frightened Lin Ye out of his wits. The higher-ups had specifically named him to receive them. When he first met them and saw Gu Yue's face, Lin Ye had instinctively assumed Na'er had grown up and dyed her hair.

But after giving it some thought, he realized something was wrong. He knew Na'er, and she absolutely would not have such a gaze.

In an instant, he imagined an entire struggle for power within a great clan. He suspected Na'er was the heir of some major family, while these two were her rivals who had come to seize leverage against her!

Gritting his teeth, Lin Ye decided to try and see whether he could save Tang Li. "Would you two like me to show you around the East China Sea Spirit Pagoda?"

Gu Yue glanced at Zi Ji, and Lin Ye could tell that she was transmitting a message to her. After receiving Gu Yue's command, Zi Ji did not show her curiosity despite feeling it inwardly.

"No need to trouble Director Lin. However, my young mistress is quite interested in that young man from earlier. Would it be possible for my young mistress to speak with him in the Meditation Room?"

Though her tone was phrased as a question, Zi Ji's terrifying aura had already swept over him. Lin Ye knew he had no right to refuse and could only agree.

"Then thank you, Director Lin. Please rest assured, one of my close relatives knows that young man well. I merely wish to pass along some greetings on her behalf."

Gu Yue smiled softly. Her willow-leaf brows curved gently, and her presence carried a calming charm.

"Very well."

With that, Lin Ye could only open the Meditation Room door and allow Gu Yue to enter.

Afterward, Zi Ji said nothing more. She closed her beautiful eyes and quietly waited for her mistress, while Lin Ye could only sit there stiffly and wait for the outcome...

Three rows of towering bookcases stood in the Meditation Room. Tang Li was currently holding a copy of Speculations on Spatial Soul Tools, reading it with great interest.

Reading in the Meditation Room was undoubtedly a pleasure. With Spiritual Power highly focused, one's thoughts became incomparably active.

Just then, the Meditation Room door was suddenly opened from outside. Tang Li sensed that the aura did not belong to Lin Ye, so he looked up to see what was happening.

His eyes met Gu Yue's equally inquisitive gaze. Looking at that incomparably familiar, lovely face, Tang Li could not help but feel his heart stir.

After all, he truly regarded Na'er as family. With Gu Yue wearing such a face, Tang Li instinctively regarded her as his younger sister.

Gu Yue had already sealed her cultivation and was staying here solely as a First-Ring Soul Master. Her warm smile, paired with that breathtakingly beautiful face, gave her an unparalleled affinity that made it difficult for Tang Li to resist.

"Looks like you know me," Gu Yue said first. The way Tang Li looked at her as though she were Na'er naturally did not escape her notice.

"Yes, I know you. Let me introduce myself. My name is Tang Li—the Li from dawn. You may have heard this name from my younger sister."

Tang Li did not deny it and introduced himself to Gu Yue.

"My name is Gu Yue. I am family to your younger sister, and she has indeed mentioned that name." Gu Yue walked straight over to Tang Li's side and looked down at him.

Tang Li nodded noncommittally. The two of them were both the Silver Dragon King, so they could indeed be considered family. Tang Li did not want to exchange empty pleasantries with Gu Yue and asked directly:

"Then why did Miss Gu Yue come here? Did Na'er ask you to find me because something happened? Or... do you have designs on me, Miss Gu Yue?"

Gu Yue frowned at Tang Li's words. She had not expected him to be so blunt. According to her wager with Na'er, she needed to make the young man before her give up on Na'er and choose her. Only then would Na'er willingly merge with her.

She should never have left only a fragment of her divine consciousness in the Star Dou Great Forest before sealing her memories and throwing herself into human society!

But now that things had come to this, Gu Yue could only force herself onward. Was he being direct? She could be direct too!

"You are overthinking it. If Na'er had something to say, she would contact you herself. I came here simply because I was curious about you."

"Curious about me? I am nothing more than an ordinary Soul Master. There is nothing about me worth the curiosity of someone as important as you."

"I wouldn't be so sure." Gu Yue crouched before Tang Li, her beautiful eyes filled with scrutiny.

She had faced that terrifying aura on Na'er firsthand. Even someone as powerful as herself would be directly subdued by that force. Di Tian and the other Fierce Beasts had been suppressed where they stood, their souls trembling.

She could sense that the mysterious aura, which was exceptionally suppressive toward Soul Beasts, was currently hidden within Tang Li's body without revealing itself.

If she could use such power for herself, then even if the Soul Beast race could not survive on this planet, they could still seize habitats from other extraterrestrial life forms.

With that thought, Gu Yue's gaze toward Tang Li grew several degrees more fervent, leaving him completely stunned.

Could this foolish woman who inherited the Dragon God's earth-shattering wisdom be planning to force herself on me—pull some tyrant's trick and take me by force?