At dawn the next morning, the towering building of the Spirit Pagoda Headquarters looked especially imposing in the first light. An understated black soul vehicle slowly entered through a side gate and stopped in a reserved parking area.
The door opened, and Gu Yue stepped out. She had changed out of her slightly disheveled Shrek uniform into a well-tailored silver gown, its hem embroidered with intricate, subtle patterns that lent her both elegance and dignity. A jade hairpin loosely secured her long silver hair, revealing her smooth forehead. The redness and exhaustion in her silver eyes had faded, replaced by an unprecedented resolve and composure.
She drew a deep breath and walked into the Spirit Pagoda building.
Every staff member she encountered along the way greeted her respectfully. As the personal disciple of Heavenly Phoenix Douluo Leng Yaozhu, Gu Yue held no ordinary standing within the Spirit Pagoda. Moreover, her own astonishing talent had led many to regard her as a future successor.
Taking the private red elevator, Gu Yue went straight to the top floor. This was Vice Tower Master Leng Yaozhu's office area, somewhere few people other than core personnel could normally enter.
The secretary paused briefly at the sight of Gu Yue, then gave a professional smile. "Miss Gu Yue, you're here. The Vice Tower Master is waiting inside. She instructed you to go straight in when you arrived."
Gu Yue nodded and softly thanked the secretary, then approached the enormous door carved with a phoenix pattern and knocked gently.
"Come in."
Leng Yaozhu's cool yet gentle voice came from within.
Gu Yue pushed the door open and entered. Inside the spacious, bright office, Leng Yaozhu stood before the floor-to-ceiling window with her back to her, gazing into the distance. Hearing her enter, Leng Yaozhu turned. A