Solar Star God Apollo! The Call of the Sun!

Heaven Dou Imperial City, First Prince's Manor.

"You mean Dugu Bo brought a group of people into the Dugu Manor with an extremely respectful attitude?"

Xue Qinghe put down the teacup in her hand, her brows slightly furrowed.

Her appearance was warm as jade, and her deportment exuded the composure expected of the First Prince of Heaven Dou, but deep within those eyes lurked a sharpness that others could hardly detect.

She was none of other than Qian Renxue, who had killed Xue Qinghe and disguised herself as him to carry out the plan to usurp the country.

"Yes."

Snake Spear Douluo She Long stood below, slightly nodding.

"Dugu Bo's attitude upon returning to the city was most unusual, lowering his posture greatly toward those three people and showing clear respect in his words and actions, not as if it were feigned."

Xue Qinghe tapped her slender fingers lightly on the tabletop.

She had long since investigated the background of that fellow Dugu Bo.

A Title Douluo with a eccentric temper, he ignored everyone except for showing some patience toward his own granddaughter, always wearing an indifferent expression.

To make such a person lower his head and show respect, the identities of those three were definitely not simple.

"Did you see what those three looked like?"

"A golden-haired youth who looked only fourteen or fifteen. He is followed by two women—one with emerald-green twin ponytails, the other with white hair and blue eyes. Both have outstanding appearances and unusual temperaments, neither looking like ordinary people."

Xue Qinghe was silent for a moment, picked up her teacup, and took a small sip.

"Investigate. Find out where they came from, what they are doing in Heaven Dou City, and what their relationship with Dugu Bo is."

"Yes."

Snake Spear Douluo took the order and left, and the grand hall fell silent once more.

Xue Qinghe sat alone in the high seat, her fingers tapping unhurriedly on the tabletop, her gaze sinking.

A person capable of making Dugu Bo submit had suddenly appeared in Heaven Dou City, and this pool of water was probably far from simple.

Just as Qian Renxue was pondering this, her complexion suddenly and drastically changed.

At that very instant, the Seraphim Martial Soul that had long remained dormant within her body—specifically the Sun True Fire it controlled—suddenly began to surge uncontrollably.

It felt as though it were being called by something, wanting to break free and leave her body.

Sun True Fire?

Why would her Sun True Fire produce this kind of response?

This resonance!

It felt somewhat familiar.

She hurriedly left the palace and looked up to gaze at the sun in the sky.

There was no mistake.

That feeling was just like the Sun True Fire inside her body responding to the call of the sun.

"The sun!?"

In the Dugu Manor, Dugu Yan sat in her room, hugging her knees and dazing for a good long while.

In the past, she had a Title Douluo grandfather, and wherever she went, others respected and accommodated her.

But now look at her—that old stubborn grandfather of hers had directly invited a "Lord" back for the Dugu family, forcing her to follow along and show respect as well.

This was simply acquiring an extra ancestor out of nowhere.

The more she thought about it, the more awkward she felt, yet she could not put her finger on what was wrong.

Her grandfather's expression hadn't seemed fake; just what kind of background did that golden-haired youth have?

As she was thinking, the door was pushed open a crack, and Ye Lingling poked the upper half of her body in.

"What are you doing?"

Ye Lingling walked in and sat down beside her. "What are you thinking about, staring off for so long?"

Dugu Yan curled her lip. "I'm thinking about what kind of background those people actually have."

Ye Lingling glanced at her. "Didn't your grandfather say anything?"

"He just told me to be respectful and didn't leak another half a word."

Dugu Yan irritably ruffled her hair. "You know what my grandfather is like. If he doesn't want to talk, you couldn't pry it out of him even with crowbars."

Ye Lingling was silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke in a soft voice: "Should I go help you find out?"

Dugu Yan jerked her head up, her eyes brightening. "Lingling! This idea of yours is too good!"

"...I was just speaking casually."

"No way, how can you speak casually?

You are my beloved close friend and bestie."

Ye Lingling looked at her "I've finally found a savior" expression and leaned back slightly. "Why do I have a somewhat bad premonition?"

"What bad premonition?"

Dugu Yan grabbed her hand, her eyes glowing.

"We two sisters share blessings and hardships together! My matters are your matters! Lingling, I'm completely relying on you!"

Ye Lingling expressionlessly withdrew her hand. "You just said we share blessings together, but how come I remember you have a Title Douluo grandfather, while I have nothing at all."

"Lingling!!"

"Alright, alright," Ye Lingling yielded helplessly to her shaking. "Tell me what you want me to do first."

The two huddled together and whispered for a good while. Ye Lingling's expression didn't change much after listening, but the corners of her mouth seemed to twitch slightly.

"This idea of yours... is really something else."

"Of course!" Dugu Yan said righteously. "Two heads are better than one, after all!"

Ye Lingling looked at her expression without exposing her.

After all, she herself genuinely wanted to know what kind of background that golden-haired youth who could make Dugu Bo lower his head actually possessed.

The evening grew late, and Ye Lingling looked up at the window, standing up.

"It's about time, I should head back."

"Don't go back!"

Dugu Yan grabbed her hand. "It's already this late, you'll be all alone back there anyway. What's wrong with staying the night here? I've got plenty of rooms."

Ye Lingling glanced at her, as if wanting to say something, but ultimately sat back down. "...Just for one night, then."

Dugu Yan smiled with satisfaction. "That's more like it!"

At the same time, in the main house.

Beiming Lieyang took out the Ice Dragon King Dragon Core, spreading his palm as a pale blue light gently circulated within the room.

"Mother Xue, Auntie Bing, this is the Ice Dragon King Dragon Core."

Beiming Lieyang handed it over.

"Take turns contacting the Dragon Core with your soul power so it can conceal your auras, making it impossible for anyone below the god rank to see through.

Moreover, even if you are not in the Far North, you can continue cultivating with the aid of the Dragon Core's power."

Ice Emperor took that ice-blue dragon core, feeling icy and piercing cold to the touch as a flash of light crossed her golden pupils. "A God-King-tier dragon core used as camouflage... a bit extravagant."

"Not extravagant." Beiming Lieyang smiled. "Your safety is what matters most."

Snow Emperor did not say much, reaching out to take the dragon core. Her fingertips paused slightly upon contact as ice-blue soul power seeped into it along her fingertips.

A very faint layer of blue light swept across the surface of the dragon core, then faded away.

Snow Emperor handed the dragon core to Ice Emperor, who similarly injected her soul power into it, whereupon the two women's auras formed an invisible connection with the dragon core.

Even without carrying it on them, outsiders would no longer be able to perceive the unique aura belonging to the Far North on their bodies.

In the early morning hours.

Snow Emperor woke up early, turning her head to see Ice Emperor still wrapped around Beiming Lieyang like an octopus, her head buried in the crook of his neck and sleeping completely without a shred of decorum.

She smiled helplessly, reaching out to tap Ice Emperor's cheek gently:

"Binger, get up."

Ice Emperor mumbled incoherently, burrowing further into Beiming Lieyang's embrace with zero intention of waking up.

"If you don't get up soon, when little Yang wakes up later and sees you still lingering here, he's bound to be troubled." Snow Emperor's voice carried a hint of seriousness.

Ice Emperor's eyelashes fluttered before she finally opened one eye reluctantly, mumbling incoherently, "...Got it, got it. There are so many rules living here—how about we just set up a new dwelling instead?"

Last night, Dugu Bo had arranged three rooms for them next to the main house.

However, Ice Emperor and Snow Emperor had long since grown accustomed to the feeling of falling asleep hugging Beiming Lieyang; without him by their sides, they always felt something was missing.

Thus Ice Emperor had sneaked into Beiming Lieyang's room first, righteously treating him like a body pillow.

Snow Emperor was subsequently pulled over by Ice Emperor as well, and the three of them squeezed onto a single bed, unexpectedly sleeping exceptionally soundly.

Beiming Lieyang had long since grown used to this, simply resigning himself helplessly to being held in Ice Emperor's arms,

while habitually shifting himself into Snow Emperor's crook of the arm so she could gently stroke his hair.

The three of them fell into a deep sleep amidst warm breaths and familiar auras.

Only now did Snow Emperor have to wake Ice Emperor up to avoid being caught by outsiders and adding trouble for little Yang.

Ice Emperor rubbed her eyes, propping herself up and glancing at Beiming Lieyang, who was still fast asleep. She curled her lip and light-footedly climbed down from the bed.

The two women retreated silently and closed the door properly.

After breakfast, Dugu Bo came over to inquire whether Beiming Lieyang was unaccustomed to anything so he could make timely adjustments.

Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling, standing to the side, exchanged glances with utter helplessness.

They genuinely felt that Grandfather / Title Douluo Dugu truly regarded the other party as an ancestor.

"There's nothing unacc..."

Beiming Lieyang had just started to speak when he remembered that with him, Mother Xue, and Auntie Bing staying at Dugu Bo's place, they couldn't openly rest together.

Unable to state this clearly, he had to abruptly change his wording.

"Nothing I'm unaccustomed to."

"Right, is there a place here where I can train?"

Remembering he had obtained the Solar Storm Sword from the Fire Dragon King's spirit bone yesterday, his hands had started to itch.

Having soared to his current level of strength, he had never actually fought a real battle and always wanted to find something to hack at.

"Lord, yes, there is, of course there is."

Dugu Bo nodded repeatedly.

Even though every inch of land in Heaven Dou City was worth a fortune, Dugu Manor still retained a large area dedicated to training and combat.

"Alright, take me over."

"Yes."

Dugu Bo immediately led the way, guiding Beiming Lieyang toward the training ground.

Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling exchanged glances and quickly followed along.

However, the moment they stepped into the training ground, they saw a massive red phantom emerge behind Beiming Lieyang.

It blazed with scorching light all over, suspended behind him like a shrunken sun that radiated a heat making one's heart palpitate.

The two women opened their eyes wide simultaneously: What kind of Martial Soul was that?

The next moment, that phantom directly attached itself to Beiming Lieyang, and a series of clanging metallic resonance sounds rang out.

The youth standing in place had already vanished, replaced by a figure completely encased in crimson-red armor.

A pair of halos scorching with blazing flames hung behind his back, and he carried a giant sword with a red hilt and golden blade on his back.

"???"

Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling looked at each other, their eyes filled with shock—was this Martial Soul Avatar?

Whose Martial Soul Avatar would directly turn themselves into the exact same form as their Martial Soul?

And he hadn't even lit up a single spirit ring; it didn't look like a Martial Soul Avatar at all.

Could it be a special Martial Soul?

Did it wrap around the entire body like this after attachment?

Dugu Bo was also seeing this state of Beiming Lieyang's for the first time.

He could sense the terrifying heat contained within that suit of armor,

it was simply like that extremely scorching place deep inside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, no...

even hotter than that, resembling a true sun descending right here.

Then, Beiming Lieyang spoke a sentence that left everyone present dumbfounded.

"Old Poison, why don't you accompany me for a spar?"