A flicker of appreciation passed through the eyes of the young man in white, and he offered a word of advice:
"Xiao Yue, I suggest you stop working on your One-Word Battle Armor."
"Huh?"
"Because One-Word Battle Armor simply can't withstand your power, and the same goes for Two-Word Battle Armor. If you unleash your full strength, the first thing to die won't be your opponent. It'll be your Battle Armor."
The young man in white pointed at Yu Longyue himself.
"No matter how well-made a set of Two-Word Battle Armor is, it simply can't withstand your power. Only Three-Word Battle Armor can support a fight like that."
"In a sense, aside from your Soul Power Level being too low, all your other physical data basically show that you're no different from an ordinary Titled Douluo or a Three-Word Battle Armor Master who isn't a Titled Douluo."
"So I can't make One-Word or Two-Word Battle Armor? I have to start with Three-Word Battle Armor?"
Yu Longyue was a little disappointed by the answer.
He had been counting on Battle Armor to make him stronger.
Then his combat power could rise another step. Even if he was still a Soul King, his combat power would surpass one, which would be just enough to shut his dad up.
That way, he would have even less need to work hard at cultivation or attend classes, and he could slack off while he was at it.
"That's right. For now, do your best to raise your secondary profession to a level where you can make Three-Word Battle Armor. Or you could have your family get you a set, or we could pay to get you one." The young man in white saw Yu Longyue's disappointment and added, "Don't be disappointed. You're the only person on the entire continent in this situation."
"You've also perfected your family's Dragon Transformation. It can raise your combat power considerably, no differently from how One-Word and Two-Word Battle Armor boost a Soul Master's strength. In other words, with Dragon Transformation mastered to that degree, you're a Soul King who's also a Two-Word Battle Armor Master."
"Sigh, then I'll have to put off making my Battle Armor again." Yu Longyue was dejected.
Apparently, sometimes having his stats improve too much wasn't a good thing either.
"Even if you brought in a Divine Craftsman to forge Two-Word Battle Armor especially for you, using the best materials and making it to the highest quality, it still couldn't withstand that kind of power." The young man in white raised a hand and patted Yu Longyue on the shoulder. "You're still young, but your future potential is limitless. If you're willing to put in the work, becoming a Limit Douluo at twenty won't be a problem."
Easy for you to say, but I don't want to work that hard. I can't be bothered to cultivate every day.
Yu Longyue grumbled inwardly but showed none of it on his face. He merely smiled politely and nodded.
"Everyone, disperse. You all know Xiao Yue's situation now." The young man in white stood with his hands behind his back and glanced around.
"Haha, that's my boy! You've done me proud!" Yu Qitian jumped out and gave Yu Longyue a hard smack on the back of the head, nearly knocking him to the ground. "That's my son, all right! Well done, you've brought me honor!"
"Old man Yun Ming, this kid of mine is lazy, so I'll leave him to you to whip into shape. It's just a pity he isn't an adult yet, or I could send him off for military training."
At the mention of military training, even Yu Qitian looked a little shaken.
But when he remembered that his son would have to go through military training, a gloating expression appeared on his face.
"The moment he comes of age, it'll be time to send him off for military training."
"You really can't wait..." Yun Ming shook his head and said no more.
"Oh, right, son. There's another amazing person in our family you've never met. We originally planned to send you to Shrek when you were seven." Yu Qitian put a hand on the shoulder of Yu Longyue, who was rubbing the back of his head, and directed his gaze ahead. "Your great-aunt is here too."
Yu Longyue's gaze fell on the elderly woman ahead.
She had a kindly face, and her eyes held the weathered depth left by the passing years. Her hair had turned gray, but it was meticulously combed. Dressed in a plain gray robe, she carried herself with an air of unhurried composure.
One could still see how imposing and commanding she must have been in her youth.
"Long Yeyue, Sea God Pavilion Vice Master." Afraid he wouldn't recognize her, Yu Qitian introduced her. "She's your great-aunt. Go on, say hello."
"Great-aunt." Yu Longyue stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
Long Yeyue nodded slightly, a gentle smile appearing on her face. She stepped forward and raised a hand to stroke Yu Longyue's head.
"The last time I saw you, you were still a three-year-old child, weren't you? I never imagined you'd be so big the next time we met."
"I just eat a lot, so perhaps I grew a little too fast." Yu Longyue raised a hand and scratched his head sheepishly. "Great-aunt, I'm sorry. If I'd known, I would have brought you a gift as a token of my regard. But this visit was so rushed that I forgot."
"Hahaha." Long Yeyue smiled kindly. "We're family. It doesn't matter whether you bring a gift or not; it's the thought that counts."
"I was hoping to see you sooner, but then you ran away from home for six years, leaving an old woman like me here missing you terribly. What, is Shrek some kind of ravenous beast? Your father told me you tried every way you could to avoid going to Shrek."
Yu Longyue was a little embarrassed. "I was just being mischievous. I only wanted to live freely and enjoy myself. After all, as I understood it, Shrek Academy was strictly run. Once you went in, you couldn't come back out."
"You really need to change that lazy nature of yours." Long Yeyue didn't know what else to say. "If you'd been willing to settle down and cultivate diligently, you'd probably be a Soul Emperor by now."
"One might say your state of mind is poor, but you even managed to wear down that old Cai Yue'er's temper. Yet if one says your state of mind is good, you refuse to settle down and cultivate. Honestly..."
"I'll do my best."
Yu Longyue was ashamed.
This was what it meant to have the strongest background in history. He was the undisputed crown prince of Douluo Continent; just about all of Shrek's highest-ranking figures were his family.
By now, he had already met several Limit Douluo.
And they were all connected to him.
"All right, this old woman won't keep you. Just come see me when you have time, and I'll be satisfied." Long Yeyue chuckled and prepared to leave.
"But I still have to give you a gift for our meeting."
As she left, Long Yeyue took a whole basket of large black steamed buns out of her spatial storage and handed it to Yu Longyue.
"Your blood and Qi are vigorous, and their concentration is no lower than that of an elder in the Sea God Pavilion who specializes in fighting with blood and Qi. Eating these should help you."
"Sister Yue, these..." Yun Ming's expression changed slightly when he saw the basket of black steamed buns. "This is several years' worth for you... You haven't eaten any of them?"
"As his great-aunt, of course I treat him like my own grandson. An old woman like me can't change the outcome by eating them, so I might as well save them all for my grandson." Long Yeyue pressed the basket into Yu Longyue's hands. "Keep them safe and eat them slowly. If you run out, come ask me for more. No refusing."
Pressed into it, Yu Longyue had no choice but to accept:
"Yes..."
Only then did Long Yeyue leave, satisfied.
Carrying the basket of large black steamed buns, Yu Longyue silently looked at his father in this life.
Unexpectedly, his father coughed, rubbed his nose, and tossed out a parting remark. "Ah, something's come up at home. Your mom's calling me back for dinner, so I'll be going."
Then he slipped away.
Yu Longyue looked at Yun Ming instead.
Yun Ming suddenly went "hmm" and then said:
"I just felt that I've gotten a little closer to my goal of Self-Created Godhood. I'll go back and record what I felt. Xiao Yue, you should return to the outer court and attend classes as usual for now."
Then he slipped away too.
Na'er, standing behind them, couldn't help bursting into laughter.
"Brother, you're as popular as ever. Everywhere you go, your elders dote on you."
"Can't help it. That's how it is when you're born with a naturally popular sacred physique." Yu Longyue silently put the basket of black steamed buns into his spatial storage. "As long as you pick a good spawn point like I did, you can do it too."
All of Shrek was practically his family. How could his spawn point be anything but good?
Na'er rolled her eyes at him but didn't argue.
"Oh, right. What did Uncle Yun mean when he told me to go back to the outer court and attend classes as usual?"
Yu Longyue didn't quite understand.
Wasn't he supposed to stay on Sea God Island and cultivate all the time?
Just like Na'er.
Na'er already knew the whole story and spoke frankly:
"Brother, everyone knows who you challenged Elder Cai for. That girl will definitely have to start by attending classes in the outer court. If Teacher made you stay on Sea God Island to cultivate, wouldn't that separate you from her?"
Yu Longyue: "..."
"Many of the elders said you flew into a rage for a beauty." Na'er bit her red lip lightly, linked her arm through Yu Longyue's, and spoke coquettishly. "Brother, we haven't seen each other for three years. How come I suddenly have a sister-in-law?"
"Well..." Yu Longyue hesitated for a moment, then decided not to explain.
Everyone was still young now, even though their actual ages were all adult. There was no need to mention him; he had lived two lives, and Gu Yue was over a million years old.
But the point was, she still looked like a young girl.
He wasn't attracted to children!
No matter what, it would only be appropriate to talk about such things once she was at least sixteen.
"Brother, take me to meet my sister-in-law when you have time. I want to see who's lucky enough to be worthy of my brother." Though Na'er said that, she was vaguely unwilling to accept it.
Yu Longyue acted as though he hadn't noticed.
"All right, we'll talk about it when there's a chance."
So this girl still doesn't know that the sister-in-law she's talking about is Gu Yue...