Meanwhile, in a lounge at the East Sea Spirit Pagoda.
Xiao Chen and Na'er had just come out of the Spirit Ascension Platform and stopped here for a short rest.
The moment Na'er sat down, she could not help moving close to Xiao Chen and shaking his arm with both hands.
"Big Brother, don't pay any attention to that awful woman Gu Yue from now on. One look at her and you can tell she's up to no good!"
Xiao Chen felt rather helpless as she shook him. He rubbed his throbbing temples, never having expected a second trial.
"All right, all right, Na'er, stop. I'll ignore her."
"Stop clinging to my arm. You're shaking it so much it's almost sore."
At Xiao Chen's words, Na'er's eyes lit up. She immediately released Xiao Chen's arm and broke into a radiant smile. "Yay! You're the best, Big Brother!"
Looking at her innocent, carefree expression, Xiao Chen smiled helplessly before composing himself.
"All right, Na'er, let's leave the East Sea. There's nothing worth staying here for anymore."
Na'er nodded obediently, without the slightest objection. "Mm, whatever you say, Big Brother."
The two stood and prepared to leave the lounge, heading to the rooms the Spirit Transferring Pagoda had arranged for them to pack their luggage.
But as soon as they stepped outside, a familiar figure came into view. It was Gu Yue.
Gu Yue had clearly been waiting here for them. She stood straight, her Eastsea Academy uniform accentuating her cool bearing.
Seeing Xiao Chen and Na'er emerge, she gave a gentle smile. "What a coincidence, Brother Chen. I didn't expect to run into you here."
Her gaze remained on Xiao Chen the entire time, completely ignoring the wary Na'er beside him.
Xiao Chen replied flatly, "Mm, quite a coincidence."
He did not want too much contact with Gu Yue, or Na'er would start pestering him again.
Seeing this, Na'er's little face immediately fell. "What are you doing here? You're not welcome!"
Gu Yue's smile did not change, utterly unaffected by Na'er's attitude. "Don't be so distant, little sister Na'er."
"Now that I've passed the assessment, I need to go to Spirit Pagoda Headquarters to report to my teacher."
She deliberately paused, a hint of slyness flashing in her eyes, then continued, "After all, I've never been to Shrek City. I don't know the place or anyone there, so I need someone to help show me the way."
Before Na'er could object, Gu Yue turned toward her with a false smile.
"By the way, little sister Na'er, you still haven't told me how you got into the Spirit Transferring Pagoda back then."
Those words pierced Na'er's heart like a needle.
Damn Gu Yue, always lifting the very pot that wouldn't boil.
With Gu Yue bringing it up in public, Na'er's face instantly flushed bright red. "You!"
"Big Brother, let's go. Ignore her!"
Watching the two undermine each other, Xiao Chen felt helpless. You're both the Silver Dragon King, after all. Why are you squabbling like children?
"All right, Na'er, stop making trouble."
"And Gu Yue, Senior Purple Dragon can take you to Shrek City herself. Didn't she recommend you to Aunt Leng? There's no need to come to us."
Gu Yue adopted a perfectly measured look of embarrassment. "Oh, Brother Chen, you don't know this, but I come from a secluded family. We rarely have contact with the outside world."
"Purple Dragon Douluo is actually my mother, but she's usually so busy handling family affairs that she simply can't spare the time to accompany me to Shrek City."
Gu Yue spun her lies without batting an eye.
"Since we're going the same way to Shrek City, I thought I'd ask you for a favor, Brother Chen. If you don't have time, that's fine too. I'll find another way."
Purple Dragon Douluo?
Looks like Zi JI has reached the pinnacle of her dragon life too.
Looking at Gu Yue's feigned vulnerability, Xiao Chen found it difficult to refuse again.
Once Gu Yue joined the Spirit Transferring Pagoda, their paths would inevitably cross often. Being too forceful now would inevitably affect how they got along later.
"All right. We're going the same way, so we'll take you along."
Seeing that she could not stop Gu Yue from joining them, Na'er said no more.
Gu Yue felt secretly smug at Na'er's aggrieved, helpless expression and gave Xiao Chen a slight nod.
"Thank you, Brother Chen."
Just as their travel plans were settled, Na'er suddenly took a deep breath and released Xiao Chen's arm.
"In that case, Big Brother, go on ahead. I'll chat with Gu Yue for a while."
Since she could not stop Gu Yue from coming along, she might as well stay and see what Gu Yue was really after.
Xiao Chen paused slightly. "Are you sure?"
"Don't worry, Big Brother. I'm so generous. Surely I wouldn't get into a fight with her... right?"
Looking at Na'er's eyes, which were practically spitting sparks, Xiao Chen stopped trying to persuade her and merely cautioned her.
"All right, I'll go back and pack first. You and Gu Yue... try not to fight."
Then Xiao Chen left without looking back. He did not want to spend another moment here.
Xiao Chen's figure gradually disappeared at the end of the corridor, his footsteps fading into the distance. The corridor instantly fell deathly silent.
The air around Na'er and Gu Yue seemed to freeze, with only their slightly quickened breathing standing out clearly in the silence.
Na'er's hands clenched tightly at her sides. She looked up at Gu Yue and broke the silence first. "What exactly are you trying to do?"
Gu Yue curled her lips into a disdainful sneer. Her gaze was sharp as a blade as she stared straight at Na'er with a trace of mockery.
"Hmph. Don't you know perfectly well what I'm trying to do?"
She paused, the mockery in her eyes deepening, and continued, "Who deliberately arranged for someone to make things difficult for me during my assessment?
"So hard to guess, isn't it?"
Gu Yue's words instantly struck Na'er's weak spot.
"Hmph..."
Seeing Na'er at a loss for words, Gu Yue felt even more disdainful and continued firing.
"What's more, as my other half, you actually call a human your big brother. What a disgrace."
In Gu Yue's understanding, they were the two personalities split from the Silver Dragon King, the Soul Beast Co-Ruler, and should take the Soul Beast Revival as their duty.
Depending on humans and forming bonds with them was nothing short of a desecration of their identity as the Silver Dragon King, and a betrayal of soul beasts.
"None of your business! What exactly do you want?"
Returning to the matter at hand, Gu Yue put away her mockery and grew serious. "Simple. The Spirit Transferring Pagoda!"
"I'll use the Spirit Transferring Pagoda to carry out the soul beasts' revenge against humanity!"
"Dream on!"
Na'er retorted sharply, her eyes filled with resistance.
"Not all humans are enemies. My big brother and teacher treat me very well. You can't turn all of humanity into our enemies!"
"Hmph. So you do know it's you they treat well!"
"What about the other soul beasts? Have you forgotten who you are after being pampered like a princess by humans all these years?"
"Don't forget, you're also half of the Silver Dragon King. You're a soul beast too!"
Gu Yue sneered, her tone accusatory.
"What? Don't you remember the sight of soul beasts being driven back by humans until only the Core Area remained?"
Her voice grew colder, every word striking at the heart.
"Or are you still thinking about that human? A mere human actually made you develop humanity and forget your mission?"
Gu Yue's words slammed into Na'er's heart like a heavy hammer, plunging her into a long silence.
She had to admit that Gu Yue had struck her inner weakness. Because of Xiao Chen, she had indeed developed human emotions, and she was indeed deliberately avoiding the hatred between soul beasts and humans.
Only after a long while did Na'er slowly raise her eyes, complexity and determination in her gaze.
"So you want me to willingly let you merge with me, restore your completeness, take control of the Spirit Transferring Pagoda, take revenge on humanity, and accomplish the Soul Beast Revival."
"Exactly!" Gu Yue's eyes burned with a hint of excitement.
"This is our mission as the Silver Dragon King, as the Soul Beast Co-Ruler!"
"Only by merging can we become whole again, lead soul beasts out of their plight, and make those humans who harmed soul beasts pay!"
After a moment of silence, Na'er said,
"All right, I can consider working with you, but you can't absorb me, much less harm my big brother or teacher."
"Impossible!" Gu Yue rejected her sharply without a moment's thought.
What a joke. Absorbing Na'er and restoring her complete origin was the key to recovering her strength.
Without merging, with only her seventy percent of the origin, she could never accomplish the great undertaking of the Soul Beast Revival. She would never compromise on this.
"Then forget it!"
"Now that I possess humanity, if you dare force a merger, just wait for me to turn it back on you!"
"No matter what, I'll never let you absorb me!"
Gu Yue ground her teeth in anger, her chest heaving, her heart filled with helplessness and frustration.
Why was accomplishing the revival of soul beasts so difficult?
The Golden Dragon King Divine Core within Tang Wulin was guarded by Tang San's divine consciousness and difficult to seize. Last time, she had almost lost Di Tian and Xiong Jun there as well.
To restore her complete Silver Dragon King Origin, she even had to make her left and right brains fight each other over this rebellious personality, Na'er.
She took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed her anger. Her eyes flickered as a thought struck her, and she suddenly came up with an idea, saying out of the blue,
"How about this? Let's make a wager."
Na'er froze briefly. "What wager?"
A sly smile curved Gu Yue's lips.
"If your big brother falls for me in the future, you'll willingly let me absorb you."
"If he still likes you, I won't force you to merge with me anymore. Even after I successfully take revenge on humanity, I won't lay a finger on your big brother or teacher. How about it?"
In Gu Yue's view, she far surpassed Na'er in cunning, intelligence, and looks alike.
As a human boy, Xiao Chen would surely pursue someone more perfect. With just a little effort, she could make him fall for her.
When the time came, Na'er would willingly be absorbed, and she could restore her complete Silver Dragon King Origin-two gains in one stroke.
No, one gain in one stroke.
A barely perceptible flash of secret delight passed through Na'er's eyes. Almost without hesitation, she nodded in agreement.
"All right, it's a deal! Until the wager is settled, you can't harm my big brother or attack humanity."
In Na'er's view, did the winner of this wager even need any thought?
It would definitely be her, Na'er!
She had spent four years with Xiao Chen, together day and night. She knew perfectly well how much he cherished and cared about her.
A latecomer like Gu Yue could never surpass her place in Xiao Chen's heart, no matter what.
She would undoubtedly win this wager.
"Agreed."
Gu Yue nodded, a cold smile hidden in her eyes.
Na'er was still too naive. She could not even see that control of this wager lay entirely in Gu Yue's hands.
Even if she lost, she would lose nothing. At most, she would refrain from absorbing Na'er for the time being, while still taking the revenge she intended to take. If she won, she could easily restore her complete Silver Dragon King Origin. Why not?
Besides, in her mind, humans all sought advantage, avoided harm, and pursued perfection. Xiao Chen would surely be no exception.
As long as she displayed enough charm and value, Xiao Chen would surely abandon Na'er and fall in love with her instead.
Moreover, she needed support like Xiao Chen's to take control of the Spirit Transferring Pagoda. With his strength, she could establish herself there more quickly and advance her plans.
The two exchanged a glance, each hiding a cold smile in her eyes.
With their agreement settled, neither said anything more. After each composed herself, they headed toward Xiao Chen's room.
Before you continue