Leng Yaozhu looked at Na'er. "Gu Yue is still very talented."
In fact, Leng Yaozhu had been astonished to discover a genius Soul Master like Gu Yue in a little place like Eastsea City.
But Na'er's agitated reaction surprised her even more.
Na'er planted her hands on her hips. "Hmph! She couldn't even take one move from me. What's so talented about her? Teacher, your eye for talent is getting worse and worse!"
Gu Yue glared.
"You two have fought?"
Leng Yaozhu wondered whether she was imagining things. She kept feeling that Na'er and Gu Yue were very alike.
Gu Yue reacted quickly and said with a smile:
"That's only because I haven't received Teacher Leng's instruction. You've already studied under her for three years, Na'er. Naturally, you're stronger than me."
At this little bit of flattery,
Leng Yaozhu felt rather pleased.
In three years, those two demon pills, Li Zha and Na'er, had barely ever listened to her. Suddenly having an articulate student like Gu Yue, who could say a few heartwarming words, felt rather nice.
"You!" Na'er clenched her fists.
That crafty Gu Yue.
Na'er seethed inwardly. Why did Gu Yue get the Silver Dragon King's wisdom while all she got was her appetite?!
Na'er's eyes darted about, and she immediately said, "In that case, my senior brother and I enrolled before you. Let's hear you call me big sister."
Gu Yue froze for a moment.
Na'er lifted her chin. "Go on. What, don't you want to join the Spirit Pagoda anymore?"
"That's enough."
Leng Yaozhu waved a hand, putting an end to their squabbling.
"The Spirit Ascension Platform's unrest period will begin in the next couple of days. You three should get ready. Don't embarrass the Spirit Pagoda when the time comes."
With that,
Leng Yaozhu looked at Li Zha. "Zha'er, come with me for a moment."
"Oh."
Li Zha nodded and followed Leng Yaozhu aside.
Na'er and Gu Yue were left glaring at each other, their gazes almost striking sparks in the air.
Leng Yaozhu raised her hand slightly, erecting a barrier of Soul Power around herself and Li Zha.
"Zha'er, during this visit to the Spirit Ascension Platform, I'll be recording the combined ages of the Soul Beasts each entrant kills from behind the scenes. I don't ask much of you. Just take first place in the Primary Spirit Ascension Platform."
"Oh." Li Zha nodded calmly.
He had been wondering when he could head to Heaven Dou City to find Mu Ye, the Body Sect's sect master. Now it looked as though he wouldn't be going anywhere for the next few days.
"Oh, right. There's another thing. Help me keep an eye on Gu Yue."
Leng Yaozhu turned and glanced at Gu Yue.
"Gu Yue's Martial Soul is the elemental envoy. She can precisely and skillfully control all the elements around her. She's an extremely rare genius with an affinity for every element."
"Yesterday, a member of Gu Yue's family, a Titled Douluo named Zi JI, came to me and said she hoped I would take Gu Yue as my disciple.
"To be honest, I'm quite curious about Gu Yue's family too. Why do I feel as though I've never heard of such a family before?"
Li Zha pondered. "Zi JI?"
Something stirred in Li Zha's mind. This was most likely the Hell Demon Dragon King from the Star Dou Great Forest.
Leng Yaozhu nodded. "Honestly, if I hadn't met you and Na'er, taking someone with Gu Yue's astonishing talent as my disciple would have been something I never even dared dream of."
"But now you've spoiled my palate. She feels quite ordinary, nothing particularly remarkable."
"Besides, the family behind Gu Yue is supposedly a secluded family I've never encountered before. So during this trip to the Spirit Ascension Platform, I hope you'll assess her. If anything seems wrong with her, tell me."
Leng Yaozhu thought for a moment, then added, "Also, if you don't want Gu Yue to join, you can tell me directly. I'll agree."
Li Zha chuckled.
Li Zha said, "I have no problem with it, Teacher. I'll give Gu Yue a very thorough, very harsh assessment."
Of course he would keep someone like the Silver Dragon King close. In the future, he still intended to strip her skin, pull out her tendons, and give her a thorough interrogation.
Meanwhile, Na'er was talking to Gu Yue.
"Na'er, do you know? Soul Beasts who get involved with humans never come to a good end!"
Gu Yue also erected a barrier.
Four people setting up two private chats. Truly unbeatable.
"What? What the hell does me being close to my senior brother have to do with you? Are you asking for a beating?"
Na'er answered viciously.
"Gu Yue, I should've fucking beaten you to death by the sea the night before last. Know your place and back off, understand?! Otherwise, you know what I'm capable of!"
Na'er grabbed an apple and viciously broke it into halves, then quarters, then eighths!
Gu Yue ignored her and continued on her own. "Soul Beasts and humans walk different paths, just like humans and demons. You'll suffer heaven's wrath. You and Li Zha have no future."
"Heh."
Na'er pulled out her Soul Guidance Communicator. "Open your eyes and take a good look! There's already a precedent for Soul Beasts getting together with Soul Beasts! Tang San and Xiao Wu were the perfect example back then!"
Gu Yue leaned closer to look at the screen.
"Come back to life, my love!"
On the screen, Tang San held Xiao Wu's corpse in the Star Dou Great Forest and roared!
Gu Yue jolted in fright.
The next moment, Xiao Wu fully revived on the screen. She and Tang San shed tears of joy and embraced.
Na'er pointed at the screen. "See? Twenty thousand years ago, Sea God Tang San and Xiao Wu, a hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast, got their happy ending."
"Oh, Jailbird Yue, Jailbird Yue. You were in the Star Dou Great Forest back then too, weren't you? Don't you remember anything? Your thinking is as feudal as some old fossil's."
Gu Yue was speechless.
Holy shit, humans actually have such bizarre specimens among them.
"So what? That only proves this Xiao Wu was an outright traitor, a disgrace, and a stain on us Soul Beasts!"
Gu Yue's face turned livid, and she gritted her teeth.
"The treacherous ministers have already exposed themselves. Xiao Wu was one, and you, Na'er, are another!"
"The entire Star Dou Great Forest rests on my shoulders, yet you Soul Beasts keep stirring up trouble everywhere!
"Go on, stir things up! There's barely any of the Star Dou Great Forest left now. Once you've stirred every last Soul Beast in the whole forest out of existence, then you'll behave!"
Gu Yue looked at the screen, at the once lush, boundless Star Dou Great Forest shown there, and felt an overwhelming sense of grief and loss.
The video immediately stirred Gu Yue's memories.
"Twenty thousand years ago, I was indeed in the Star Dou Great Forest.
"I clearly remember that flourishing vitality, that world where all living things vied to thrive. It's still right before my eyes!"
"And now? Look at it now, Na'er. Only the core region of the Star Dou Great Forest remains. It's become a place where humans keep Soul Beasts penned up!"
Na'er plugged her ears. "Not listening, not listening, a monk's chanting scriptures! All I care about is being with my senior brother. If you dare get in my way, I'll beat you to death!"
Gu Yue said nothing more and merely sneered.
It was precisely because there were so many willful Soul Beasts like Na'er that humans had gradually grown powerful.
They needed a harsh lesson. Gu Yue would demonstrate to these Soul Beasts what it meant for the wise to stay out of love's river, rather than becoming slaves to love!
Gu Yue sneered inwardly. She already had the beginnings of a plan to steal Li Zha away.
Two days later,
Li Zha appeared outside the Primary Spirit Ascension Platform with the two girls.
Novice Soul Masters from all over Eastsea City had gathered there.
The moment Li Zha appeared,
he became the focus of the crowd.
"Damn, who's that? What a handsome man!"
Li Zha had feminine features, with bright, captivating eyes, fair skin, and delicate features.
His handsome face made even the girls jealous. Only Na'er's looks could hold their own beside him.
"What a hottie! I bet girls all love this type!"
"Come on, bro. Guys like him too, actually."
Before you continue