The Golden Generation Gathers, Triggering a Hidden Quest

The silver-haired teenager stepped forward once more, arriving deep within the archives, his gaze landing immediately upon Gu Changsheng.

His look was very cold, not direct and openly hostile like Yan's, but rather like a blade hidden within its sheath.

Gu Changsheng watched the two people before him as the memories in his mind spun frantically, though he had already guessed eight or nine parts out of ten.

This person should be Xie Yue, Hu Liena's older brother and the future captain of Spirit Hall's Golden Generation.

The sturdy youth beside him, whose gaze clearly held a trace of displeasure, was naturally Yan!

At this exact moment, Xie Yue cast a slight, contemptuous glance toward Hu Liena, his voice very calm:

"I heard the teacher took on another disciple and even wants you to act as a sparring partner. I'd like to see just what kind of talent he has."

Yan, on the other hand, was not nearly as polite, staring directly at Gu Changsheng before him and saying overbearingly:

"Does a kid who just awakened his Martial Soul even deserve to enter the Pope Palace?"

Faced with such words, Hu Liena's expression instantly turned unpleasant.

"Yan, watch your tongue. He is also considered my junior martial brother."

"Junior martial brother? Does he have the qualifications? Just a book-type Martial Soul—can reading a few books make him worthy of being your sparring partner?"

Hu Liena was just about to speak, but Gu Changsheng gently tugged at her sleeve from beside her.

She lowered her gaze to find Gu Changsheng shaking his head at her.

The next second, while Hu Liena was still slightly dazed, Gu Changsheng stepped out from behind her, raising his head to look at Xie Yue and Yan.

"In that case, could it be that you senior martial brothers wish to spar with me?"

Xie Yue did not deny it, merely nodding slightly before speaking:

"That's right. Hearing about it a hundred times is not as good as seeing it once. I want to test it out personally. Without trying, who knows if you're only capable of all talk?"

"Good, a test is a test!"

Gu Changsheng nodded, while Hu Liena at his side grew anxious.

"Junior martial brother, don't be reckless. You've only just awakened; you don't even have a soul ring."

Gu Changsheng looked back at Hu Liena, his tone also returning to calmness.

"Senior Sister, rest assured. I won't be comparing soul power with them."

At this moment, Yan also furrowed his brows slightly, asking doubtfully:

"Not comparing soul power? Then what do you want to compare?"

"Martial Soul comprehension!"

Hearing this, Yan paused for a moment, then burst into loud, mocking laughter as if he had just heard some kind of joke:

"A six-year-old kid like you wants to compare Martial Soul comprehension with us?"

Gu Changsheng paid no mind to the mocking words, simply looking quietly at Xie Yue.

"You should be somewhat calmer than this person, shouldn't you?"

"Who are you saying isn't calm?!"

Yan's face darkened instantly, as if he had suffered the utmost humiliation, while Xie Yue hastily raised a hand to hold Yan back, his gaze locked firmly onto Gu Changsheng.

"In that case, I want to hear what it is you wish to compare."

Gu Changsheng then extended his hand as the Myriad Heaven Book slowly materialized in his palm, its dark golden pages flipping gently.

The lamplight within the archives seemed to dim entirely at that moment.

"The two of you can execute a single move, and I shall determine the flaw."

Yan remained thoroughly unconvinced, saying with a sneer:

"Who can't just talk big about flaws?"

"Then let's start with you!"

As he spoke, Gu Changsheng stepped forward while the Myriad Heaven Book in his hand continued to flip frantically.

"Your Martial Soul possesses dual fire and earth attributes, leaning toward Power Assault System and defense. Its explosive power is formidable, but your problem is equally obvious."

Saying this, Gu Changsheng deliberately paused for a moment, holding off on finishing his thought so as to hook Yan's interest, causing the other's sneer to slowly subside.

"You are far too fond of suppressing people with flames, yet your true advantage is not fire itself, but rather the heavy, solid feel born from the fusion of fire and earth. Yet you constantly pursue pure explosion, simply wasting your Martial Soul talent."

"Your direction shouldn't be mere flames—it should be magma!"

At that moment, the entire room fell silent. Hu Liena's eyes widened slightly, and Xie Yue's gaze, previously filled with disdain, underwent a distinct change.

Yan froze right where he was. He had never once heard the teacher utter the word magma, yet hearing it spoken from Gu Changsheng's mouth caused his heart to violently lurch.

It was as if something within him had been instantly enlightened; that feeling of sudden realization brought him a sense of awakening.

His Martial Soul truly was not pure fire; every time he cultivated, he could feel a heavy, scorching force within his body.

Yet the teachers had only ever instructed him to strengthen the explosive power of his flames, and no one had ever told him that fire and earth could fuse into an entirely different path.

Fighting back his pride, Yan gritted his teeth and pressed on:

"You... you just guessed randomly!"

Gu Changsheng's expression remained completely calm as he nodded lightly.

"You can think that if you like."

Such an unconcerned response made it all the more unbearable for Yan. He would rather Gu Changsheng acted smug, yet those words were delivered as if it were simply an ordinary matter.

At this moment, Xie Yue finally spoke up as well.

"Then what about me?"

Once again, the Myriad Heaven Book fluttered deep within his soul.

[Target: Xie Yue
Martial Soul: Moon Blade
Path: Suitable for both Agility Attack and Power Assault System.
Traits: Sharpness, speed, dual-blade coordination.
Flaws: Over-reliance on bilateral balance during early stages; once rhythm is interrupted, combo lethality drops.]

When he withdrew his gaze, he spoke indifferently:

"Your Martial Soul is a pair of blades."

Hearing this, Xie Yue showed no surprise, as it was hardly a secret.

"Your attacks should be very fast, and you are accustomed to using continuous suppression. The first blade is not the killing blow; the second blade is the true fatal strike."

Xie Yue's gaze narrowed slightly, knowing that Gu Changsheng had guessed correctly—this was precisely his combat habit.

"Furthermore, you place too much faith in your own rhythm. If someone manages to disrupt your first strike in advance, your subsequent combos will slow down."

When Xie Yue heard this, he did not grow angry; instead, a hint of seriousness crept into his eyes.

"Can you do it?"

Gu Changsheng gently shook his head:

"In my current state, I probably couldn't..."

Yan had just opened his mouth to sneer again when he heard Gu Changsheng continue.

"I can't, but Senior Sister can."

Hu Liena widened her eyes at that very moment.

"Me?"

Gu Changsheng slowly turned his gaze toward her.

"Senior Sister, do you still remember what I said about the false Charm?"

The moment those three words left his lips, Hu Liena's heart skipped a beat. She understood now—Gu Changsheng was not asking her to receive one of Xie Yue's moves head-on, but rather to use her Martial Soul to verify that very theory.

Xie Yue looked toward Hu Liena.

"Nana, are you certain you want to help him?"

Hu Liena hesitated slightly upon hearing those words, but for some reason, her inner reaction urged her to stand firmly by Gu Changsheng's side.

"The teacher told me to cultivate alongside him. Since we are cultivating together, naturally I must help."

Xie Yue smiled faintly and raised no objections.

"Very well. In that case, a single move!"

Gu Changsheng nodded once more.

"One move is enough!"

In a flash, the atmosphere in the archives tightened instantly. Xie Yue stepped back and raised his right hand as two crescent blade projections materialized in his palms.

He did not release his soul ring, yet that sharp, piercing aura already chilled the surrounding air by several degrees.

Hu Liena felt a wave of tension and clenched her fists tightly; after all, she was facing her own brother, and she knew his speed far better than anyone else present.

Seeing this, Gu Changsheng hurriedly whispered in a low voice:

"Senior Sister, don't let him lose focus. Just make him believe he wasn't affected at all."

Before she even had time to nod, Xie Yue moved the very next second.

That figure flashed across the space like a silver thread in an instant, and the first Moon Blade slashed downward at an angle.

The angle was extremely tricky—not aimed at Gu Changsheng's vitals, but meant to force him back. As long as Gu Changsheng retreated, the second strike would follow seamlessly.

Yet the instant Xie Yue made his move, a faint pink glow flickered in the depths of Hu Liena's eyes.

The aura of the Demon Fox Spirit flashed and vanished, so faint that onlookers could scarcely perceive it.

Meanwhile, Xie Yue's expression showed no change whatsoever; from his perspective, he had not been affected by the Charm in the slightest.

Yet it was precisely at this crucial moment that Gu Changsheng spoke out instantly.

"Left, half an inch!"

Hu Liena acted without hesitation, and that trace of spiritual traction descended silently upon Xie Yue.

At that moment, Xie Yue's first strike deviated by half an inch. For Gu Changsheng, that very half-inch was more than enough.

Instead of retreating, he stepped forward, his foot landing precisely within the gap left by the descending first strike.

Quick-eyed and fast-handed, Gu Changsheng thrust his finger directly forward—not targeting the chest, but aiming for the wrist.

He jabbed straight into the inner elbow of Xie Yue's arm just as the second blade was about to exert force.

Snap!

As the hilt clattered to the floor, Xie Yue came to a halt, and the entire archive fell silent.

Yan stared with bulging eyes, while Hu Liena stood dazed, looking at the scene before her.

She knew she had indeed acted just then, but she never imagined that such a light traction could genuinely disrupt her brother's rhythm.

Xie Yue slowly lowered his gaze to look at his own elbow, shaking his head slightly.

"I lost... I lost by half a move..."

At that, Yan finally lost his temper completely.

"Xie Yue, you didn't even use a soul skill! It doesn't count, this doesn't count!"

Xie Yue immediately shot him a fierce glare.

"He said it would be a single move to begin with. No more throwing tantrums!"

Yan was left speechless on the spot, while Xie Yue reexamined the Gu Changsheng before him, opening his mouth as if to speak, but hesitating...

He wanted to turn and leave, but the thoughts inside him continued to grow. After a few seconds, he finally overcame his own pride.

He abruptly asked:

"You said earlier that my rhythm is easily disrupted. Can it be fixed?"

Seeing her brother like this, the emotions rising within Hu Liena swelled. Her brother was actually asking for guidance...

Gu Changsheng smiled; this was the very response he had been waiting for.

"Then I must ask the two senior martial brothers to place your hands upon mine so I can inspect your Martial Souls."

Though somewhat reluctant, Yan saw that the Silver Moon had already placed his hand there, leaving him with no choice but to follow suit.

At this moment, the Myriad Heaven Book trembled gently in the palm of his hand.

The system screen before his eyes flickered frantically.

[Initial contact with the Golden Generation completed.]
[Acquired Martial Souls: Fox Demon, Moon Blade, Flame Lord.]
[Martial Soul database processing upgrade.]
[Congratulations on successfully triggering the hidden quest: Golden Generation Remodeling.]
[Quest Objective: Lead Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan to complete an upgrade to their combat system.]
[Reward: Prototype of Team Martial Soul Resonance!]