Inside the Spirit Ascension Platform.
Na'er clung tightly to Xiao Chen's arm with her small, fair hands, her little face pressed against it.
Feeling the warm, soft touch against his arm, Xiao Chen felt helpless and quietly sighed to himself.
Na'er had probably turned into a little lovestruck fool.
And after spending these past few days together, Xiao Chen had become increasingly certain that the current Na'er was definitely not the amnesiac Gu Yuena from the original story.
Yet Na'er insisted on showing him this cute side of herself, which he truly found difficult to understand.
"All right, Na'er, stop holding on." Xiao Chen softened his tone, his voice gentle and patient, and raised a hand to lightly ruffle her long silver hair.
But Na'er acted as though she had not heard him. Instead, her arms tightened a little, and she shook her head like a little pellet drum, her soft voice carrying a touch of wheedling stubbornness.
"No! Na'er was almost scared to death just now. Only holding on to Brother Xiao Chen makes me feel safe."
Xiao Chen could only coax her patiently. "I've been right here all along. I'm not going anywhere. If you keep holding on, what did we even come to the Spirit Ascension Platform for?"
"Then... then Brother Xiao Chen has to promise Na'er that you won't sneak away!"
Na'er lifted her watery silver eyes and gazed steadily at him, her expression earnest and aggrieved, her utter dependence impossible to hide.
"I promise. I won't leave." Xiao Chen nodded helplessly.
Having received a firm promise, Na'er happily loosened her little hands, slowly releasing his arm. She stayed pressed close to Xiao Chen's side, refusing to move even half a step away, like a little tail that never left him.
Seeing her like this, Xiao Chen sighed inwardly. It seemed that in this life, he would never be able to shake off this clingy little dragon.
The vast amount of spiritual energy from killing the entire troop of Wind Baboons had flowed into their bodies, successfully allowing both their Soul Spirits to break through their age limits.
Xiao Chen could clearly sense the aura of the Evil Eye Soul Spirit within him surging. Its former age limit of over seven hundred years shattered, and Soul Power surged in rolling waves as it successfully entered the thousand-year level!
He turned to look at Na'er beside him. She had summoned her Soul Spirit, the Thorn Dragon, whose aura was also steadily rising. Clearly, this vast wave of spiritual energy had likewise allowed her Soul Spirit Age to successfully break through to a thousand years.
The two exchanged a glance, each seeing joy in the other's eyes.
"Brother Xiao Chen, my Thorn Dragon has broken through to a thousand years!"
Na'er lifted her little face and shared her joy with eyes full of excitement, her sparkling gaze fixed firmly on Xiao Chen.
"I see that. You're amazing, Na'er." Xiao Chen smiled gently and praised her softly.
At his praise, Na'er's eyes instantly curved into happy crescents, sweetness filling her heart. The frustration of being surrounded by the Wind Baboons vanished without a trace.
After Xiao Chen's Evil Eye Soul Spirit broke through to a thousand years, his first Soul Ring also turned the purple that symbolized a thousand years. He then looked around.
They had already cleared out the Soul Beasts in this part of the Primary Spirit Ascension Platform, and there was little spiritual energy left to obtain. Staying any longer would do little for them and would only waste time.
"Na'er, let's head out," Xiao Chen suggested.
"Okay! Whatever Brother Xiao Chen says!" Na'er had no objections and nodded obediently, looking entirely willing to follow his lead.
With a thought, the two voluntarily pulled the Spirit Ascension Platform's Distress Devices.
The next second, soft white light enveloped their consciousness bodies. Amid shifting light and shadow, their figures instantly faded from the Spirit Ascension Platform and swiftly returned to their physical bodies inside the Spirit Ascension Pods.
Outside, in the Spirit Transferring Pagoda's Spirit Ascension Platform area.
The light of the two gleaming white Spirit Ascension Pods dimmed simultaneously. The Soul Power patterns flowing across their surfaces slowly settled, and with faint clicks, the pod doors automatically opened inward.
Xiao Chen sat up first, stretched a little, and jumped out of the Spirit Ascension Pod.
Right behind him, Na'er rubbed her eyes and sat up, her little head still somewhat groggy.
Leng Yaoyu had long been waiting nearby. Her gaze settled on the two, her face filled with unconcealable smiles and gratification.
She had monitored everything they had done inside the Spirit Ascension Platform, and countless waves had already surged through her heart.
"Congratulations to both of you on successfully advancing your Soul Spirits to the thousand-year level." Leng Yaoyu walked slowly forward, her gentle, pleasant voice carrying genuine approval.
"To both achieve breakthroughs for your Soul Spirits on your very first training visit to the Spirit Ascension Platform-with talent like this, you rank among the very best of the younger generation across the entire continent."
Whenever she thought of everything she had just witnessed, Leng Yaoyu could not help secretly rejoicing.
Back then, in a moment of softness, she had casually adopted Xiao Chen and Na'er. Originally, she had simply felt pity for them and intended to nurture them properly and protect them as they grew up safely.
Never had she imagined that the two little ones she had taken in by chance would both be peerless geniuses rarely seen in ten thousand years.
One had heaven-defying forging skills and a Martial Soul with no answer to it, crushing opponents above his level as easily as eating and drinking; the other possessed a dragon bloodline, unparalleled talent, and a top-tier tool Martial Soul.
She had practically stumbled upon two pieces of priceless uncut jade!
Amid her delight, Leng Yaoyu also knew full well that geniuses were the most prone to arrogance. Once they grew impatient and conceited, looking down on others because of their talent, the road ahead would only grow narrower.
She reined in the smile in her eyes, her expression growing slightly stern, and put on a serious air as she offered a reminder.
"You both performed exceptionally well during this training session. Your breakthroughs came far faster than those of ordinary people. That deserves praise."
"But remember, talent is only your foundation, never grounds for arrogance."
"You must never become conceited over a single breakthrough or a single victory, much less rely on your outstanding talent as an excuse to grow lazy and neglect your cultivation."
"The continent has countless prodigies. Beyond every person stands someone greater, and beyond every heaven lies another heaven. Let yourselves slacken even slightly, and those coming after you will overtake you."
Her words were earnest and heartfelt, every sentence sound advice born of experience, meant only to help these two budding geniuses build firm foundations and grow steadily.
Seeing Leng Yaoyu's deliberately stern expression, Xiao Chen understood. Naturally aware of her painstaking care, he nodded and replied, "I understand, Aunt Leng."
Na'er hurriedly nodded obediently beside him as well, bobbing her little head with great seriousness as she said, "Na'er understands! Na'er will cultivate properly, won't be lazy, and won't cause Teacher any trouble!"
Their obedient manner instantly dispelled the sternness in Leng Yaoyu's heart, and a gentle smile once again filled her eyes.
She knew that both children were steady and sensible. There was no need for overly strict discipline; a little guidance was enough.
Meanwhile, in the Star Dou Great Forest.
Beside the nearly dried-up Lake of Life, a middle-aged man with golden eyes knelt on one knee.
"My lord, we failed to bring her back then. Please forgive us."
An accident had occurred when the Silver Dragon King took human form, splitting her into two figures. One had been swept away by an inexplicable Space-Time Rift, while the other was the black-haired girl before him.
"Do not blame yourself, Di Tian. That thirty percent of my essence cannot stir up trouble. Sooner or later, Na'er's thirty percent of my power will return to my body."
Gu Yue said slowly, "I never expected a mistake to occur when I took human form..."
"It seems I have no choice but to act personally. Once I obtain the Golden Dragon King's Divine Core, the countless billions of Soul Beasts will surely rise again..."
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