Word Count: 3,491
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The following afternoon.
The blazing sun hung high overhead, draping Eastsea City in a thin veil of gold.
Seagulls flashed across the sky like streaks of white phantoms.
It was perfect weather for a trip out, so pleasant that even the seagulls seemed to carry a trace of lazy contentment in their eyes.
At the Eastsea City Spirit Pagoda, the elevator doors had barely opened before Na Er tugged Zhao Xuanzhen outside, practically bouncing with excitement.
Her face shone with a yearning for the sunshine, the ocean, and the beach.
Leng Yaozhu followed behind the two little ones, a faint smile curling her rosy lips.
A seaside vacation without the ocean would hardly count as a vacation.
Na Er had originally wanted to head for Eastsea City’s liveliest public beach to join the fun, but Leng Yaozhu preferred to avoid the throngs of people and the endless parade of men attempting to flirt.
Therefore, their destination changed to the Spirit Pagoda’s private beach, which was open exclusively to the three of them today.
Fine, white sand shifted beneath their feet, feeling slightly hot and sun-baked as they sank into it.
Waves crashed against the reefs and burst into countless sparkling droplets.
In the distance, flocks of seagulls skimmed the crests of the waves with wings rimmed in halos of golden light.
“The smell of the sea!”
Na Er looked out at the beautiful horizon where sea and sky met, beaming with delight.
She took a deep breath of the ocean air while the sea breeze lifted her silver hair and sent the hem of her dress fluttering freely.
“Zhao Xuanzhen, do you like the sea?”
She tilted her head slightly to look at the boy beside her, who nodded with complete seriousness.
“You can admire it when you’re happy, jump into it when you’re depressed, and sink into it when you’re broke. Who wouldn’t like the all-purpose sea?”
“Hmm?”
Na Er and Leng Yaozhu turned their gazes toward him in perfect unison.
This kid’s line of thinking is very dangerous!
“Let’s ignore this guy. Aunt Leng, let’s go change into our swimsuits!”
Na Er latched onto Leng Yaozhu and dragged her toward the changing room.
Being a boy, Zhao Xuanzhen had far less to fuss over.
He simply stripped off his shirt and trousers to reveal the swim trunks he had worn underneath, which featured patterns of a silver dragon and a golden phoenix along the sides.
He and Na Er had bought the trunks the previous day after eating stew-pot beef, when they visited the Eastsea Shopping Center.
Zhao Xuanzhen thought the embroidered dragon and phoenix design was a bit too flashy, but Na Er had taken one look at it, paid, and walked away all in one smooth motion, leaving him absolutely no room to refuse.
Zhao Xuanzhen stood facing the ocean, letting the salty sea breeze wash over his face.
The water glittered in the brilliant sunlight, rippling as far as the eye could see.
Waves rolled up to the edge of the shore, and the shifting tide drew the fine sand over his feet in a shallow layer.
When the sea retreated, broken foam slipped down his ankles.
The Sea God might be lacking, but the sea itself certainly delivers!
“Ta-da!”
The changing room’s bamboo curtain rolled up.
Seashell wind chimes rang out over the sound of the ocean tide, and a vibrant, youthful beauty made her sparkling entrance!
Na Er had changed into a backless bikini featuring a strapless round-neck clasp design, with a pink bow tied at her waist and her silver hair gathered into a high ponytail.
Fine sand clung to her jade-smooth toes.
Her snow-white skin reflected the sunlight, tracing curves that were symmetrical and soft.
Every inch of the young girl’s body overflowed with an aura of youth.
The first thing Na Er did after stepping out was check Zhao Xuanzhen’s reaction.
She noticed that he was indeed looking at her with a gaze she had never seen before, one that held one part surprise, two parts approval, three parts appreciation, and four parts amazement.
People on Douluo Continent matured absurdly fast, and Na Er’s figure was already beginning to show the first hints of graceful curves.
A blush colored her stunning face.
She was just about to run over and tease him when she noticed his gaze shift to the side.
Leng Yaozhu parted the bamboo curtain and stepped out like a mermaid emerging from the deep sea.
Her fiery red hair hung loose over her shoulders, and flecks of golden sunlight shimmered in the hollow of her collarbone, making her skin look like white porcelain glazed with coconut milk.
Her wine-red bikini was daringly tailored.
Two slender gold chains crossed behind her neck and fell along the line of her spine to the small of her back.
She possessed a slender waist, and the tiny diamonds set into her swimsuit straps caught the light with a dazzling, eye-catching sparkle.
Na Er stole a look at Leng Yaozhu’s mature, elegant figure, which put her sensuality on full, effortless display.
She then lowered her gaze to herself; by comparison, she seemed little different from a bean sprout.
Her little mouth drooped, and she nearly burst into tears on the spot!
Cuteness stands no chance against sexiness!
It was a rare holiday, and Leng Yaozhu’s exquisite face was full of relaxed delight.
She retrieved a pair of sunglasses from her storage device, walked over to the row of beach loungers on long, unhurried legs, and settled down to enjoy the sunshine and sand in comfort.
Na Er had just been dealt an invisible but devastating blow.
She squatted down in silent despair, practically drawing circles in the sand, when a shadow suddenly fell over her.
The young girl’s silver eyes brightened.
She thought her childhood friend had come to comfort her, but when she looked up, she saw the boy’s gentle, refined face wearing an easy smile as he spoke a few simple words:
“You don’t need to feel inferior.”
“ZHAO! XUAN! ZHEN!!!”
Na Er shot to her feet.
Her pretty face flushed scarlet in an instant, and she pounced at him with a furious leap, letting out a shrill cry:
“If I don’t kick your trunks clean off, it only means you’re holding them on too tight!”
Zhao Xuanzhen saw that things had gone south, so he turned and bolted.
Na Er chased after him with reddened eyes, leaving staggered footprints across the sand.
Their shadows stretched ahead of them, occasionally overlapping and occasionally pulling apart.
Leng Yaozhu lifted her sunglasses slightly and watched the two of them with heartfelt amusement.
“Those two little ones really are close.”
After fooling around for a while, Zhao Xuanzhen deliberately slowed his pace.
A sulking Na Er caught up and stamped a round little bite mark into his left shoulder like a puppy.
Peace was restored after that, and the two of them leapt into the sea together for a swim.
Splash—
Na Er laughed brightly.
The pale, smooth skin of her midriff gleamed beneath her swimsuit as she called out in a clear, lively voice:
“I was one second faster than you!”
“I’ll give you that.”
“Of course I’m amazing!”
Zhao Xuanzhen could not help smiling at the face she pulled.
With his absurd physical constitution, he could have crushed Na Er in swimming speed whenever he pleased.
However, life was not a competition, and there was no need to fight over everything.
More importantly, he was afraid Na Er would refuse to accept defeat.
The little puppy had already taken one unreasonable bite out of his left shoulder.
His right shoulder deserved proper protection!
“Hehe…”
Na Er’s eyes spun mischievously, and she quietly slipped beneath the surface.
Zhao Xuanzhen sensed her sneaking toward him.
He was just wondering what she was plotting when the sea exploded upward from below!
A spray of seawater flew into the air and crystallized into a string of bright droplets before splashing apart over his body.
Water hit him full in the face and drenched his black hair.
“Fell for it, didn’t you, dummy Zhao Xuanzhen!”
…
Back on the beach lounger, Leng Yaozhu enjoyed the sunlight in peace.
The graceful lines of her shoulder blades rose and fell with each breath, and her long legs, stretched out in the sun, were so fair and full that they drew the eye almost against one’s will.
“Why did you come back alone? Na Er seems to be swimming farther and farther out.”
Leng Yaozhu inquired.
A clear voice answered a second later.
“She went to catch crabs. Not just any crabs, either. She wants to catch a 100-year one and have it stir-fried with chili tonight…”
Zhao Xuanzhen wore a helpless expression.
Na Er firmly believed the sea was rich in resources and had decided to catch crabs personally.
The problem was that this private beach belonged to the Spirit Pagoda.
If any 100-year spirit beasts existed nearby, they would have been dragged away long ago and turned into Spirit Souls.
How could any be left here for them to pick up by chance?
“It’s a holiday. Let her do whatever she likes.”
Leng Yaozhu was unconcerned.
Na Er herself was already formidable in combat, and with Heavenly Phoenix Douluo’s Spirit Domain Realm spiritual power covering the entire surrounding sea, there was no chance of an accident.
Zhao Xuanzhen had swum enough, so he followed Leng Yaozhu’s example and lay back in the sunlight.
Teacher and disciple rested on their comfortable beach loungers, perfectly at ease.
“Teacher hasn’t enjoyed life like this in a long time, has she?”
“No.” Leng Yaozhu’s expression dimmed a little.
“Not since Yulai… disappeared. If it weren’t to reward you and Na Er for four years of hard cultivation, and to assess Gu Yue’s entry into the Spirit Pagoda, I would never have come to Eastsea City for a vacation.”
Her voice held a quiet sadness.
It was a wound in her heart that would never fade.
Zhao Xuanzhen knew the full story and understood exactly what Leng Yulai meant to Leng Yaozhu.
The thought of Leng Yulai driving the Divine Demonic Sword into Leng Yaozhu’s body, leaving her sister’s soul to suffer without end, made him unwilling to keep the topic there.
He changed the subject as naturally as he could:
“Teacher, how did yesterday’s face-to-face talk with Purple Dragon Douluo go?”
“Purple Dragon Douluo… does have something strange about her.”
Leng Yaozhu turned her head.
Sunlight flashed along her delicate profile as she spoke slowly.
“She is indeed a Super Douluo, and from the things she let slip, it was clear the hidden family behind Gu Yue is anything but ordinary. But Purple Dragon Douluo’s aura was unstable, and her blood and qi were in turmoil. Those are classic signs of severe injuries that still haven’t healed.”
‘Purple Dragon Douluo is seriously injured?’
Zhao Xuanzhen was startled.
Purple Dragon Douluo was most likely Zi Ji, the Abyss Demon Dragon Empress.
At this point in time, how could she have ended up heavily wounded?
Gu Yue…
Tang Wulin…
the Golden Dragon King…
the Sea God…
His thoughts raced, and little by little, a chain of logic formed in his mind.
From Gu Yue’s behavior in the Rebellion Spirit Ascension Platform, it was easy to see that she and the other four members of Class Zero had not been of one mind.
The others fought while she watched from the sidelines, as if she did not truly belong with them at all.
In this timeline, Gu Yuena had not lost her memory and spent three years with Tang Wulin.
The two halves of the Silver Dragon King felt nothing for him.
Gu Yue had come to Eastsea City for one reason only: to seize the Golden Dragon King’s divine core.
Given Gu Yue’s direct and decisive personality, once she found Tang Wulin, she would definitely have summoned the Great Beasts of Star Dou Forest to strike.
And that would inevitably have drawn out the God King’s divine consciousness.
If that was the case, then Zi Ji had most likely been gravely wounded by the God King.
Di Tian, Bear Lord, Myriad Demon King, and the other Great Beasts might well have suffered heavily too, caught off guard.
Even Bi Ji’s healing abilities had apparently failed to restore them to their peak.
Gu Yue was still staying in Eastsea City, which meant the Golden Dragon King core remained inside Tang Wulin.
The Great Beasts of Star Dou Forest had been thoroughly defeated.
Rating: 3.0.
‘So the God King only has two chances to act left.’
Zhao Xuanzhen considered the matter in silence.
During the Rebellion Spirit Ascension Platform trip, the God King had occupied Tang Wulin’s body and used the Sea God Trident’s spiritual brand.
That situation resembled the ‘Phosphor Fire Soul Refinement’ incident more than anything.
The energy spent had been relatively small and probably did not count as one full intervention.
But facing the Great Beasts of Star Dou Forest was different.
The God King had almost certainly burned through a vast amount of energy, meaning one of his three life-saving chances was gone.
That meant the Great Beasts of Star Dou Forest were not just freeloaders getting carried.
Their score could rise by the tiniest bit…
“What about Gu Yue? How does Teacher plan to arrange her?” Follow the newest chapters on novelping.com.
“Gu Yue’s talent is exceptional. She must enter the Spirit Pagoda,” Leng Yaozhu said.
“But what position to give her, I’m still considering.”
“Not a core disciple?”
Leng Yaozhu shook her head.
“Before I met Purple Dragon Douluo, she would have been one. After meeting her, I hesitated instead. Purple Dragon Douluo wanted Gu Yue to take me as her teacher. I told her I already had a direct disciple, and right after that, she was actually willing to bring out a 100,000-year spirit bone just to ask me to accept Gu Yue.”
“Such a grand gesture. Did you agree, Teacher?”
“Xuanzhen, remember Teacher’s words. The greater the benefit being offered, the calmer you have to remain.”
Leng Yaozhu’s tone was level.
“From the way they acted, they seemed desperate to enter the Spirit Pagoda’s core circle. I suspect they have ulterior motives. Fortunately, you defeated Gu Yue so overwhelmingly that the Spirit Pagoda now has a legitimate reason not to grant her core disciple status. Teacher is giving you a task. Gu Yue will enter the Spirit Pagoda as a provisional core disciple, and you will be her sole assessor. Whether she can become official and step into the Spirit Pagoda’s highest circle will be decided entirely by you. No matter what Gu Yue and that hidden family want, her talent and background are there for all to see. If you can win her over, she will become a tremendous asset in the future.”
“All right.”
Zhao Xuanzhen could not help sighing inwardly.
Old ginger really was spicier.
His becoming Leng Yaozhu’s direct disciple had set off a whole chain of butterfly effects.
Gu Yue, who should originally have enjoyed smooth sailing, had suddenly been blocked from the Spirit Pagoda’s core, and the power to decide her promotion now rested squarely in his hands.
“Teacher, there’s one more thing. In a couple of days, I want to make a trip to Heaven Dou City.”
“Mm. I’ll go with you.”
Zhao Xuanzhen pressed his lips together and said softly, “Teacher, Na Er and I can go by ourselves.”
The moment the words left his mouth, the world seemed to freeze for an instant.
The surrounding temperature soared.
Heavenly Phoenix Douluo rose from her beach lounger and fixed her crimson phoenix eyes on her disciple.
Her beautiful face had taken on a strangely dangerous expression as she said in a chilly voice:
“Xuanzhen, are you saying you want to leave your teacher behind and go off to Heaven Dou City alone with Na Er? With no proper security? Without even knowing whether someone might abduct you…?”
Zhao Xuanzhen shuddered.
Leng Yaozhu looked genuinely terrifying right now, as if the very next moment the two of them would appear in some secret chamber!
“It’s not that serious…”
Only now did he fully understand why Han Tianyi had suggested he leave Leng Yaozhu’s sight first before going to Heaven Dou City to meet Mu Ye.
If he really went to Heaven Dou City with Leng Yaozhu, just imagining the scene was enough to make his scalp prickle.
He would stop concealing the aura of True Self, Mu Ye would be overjoyed, warmly invite him into the Body Sect, and then…
There would be no ‘then.’ Leng Yaozhu would slap Mu Ye to death, send people to drag Ah Ruheng out by the roots, and the Body Sect’s ten-thousand-year inheritance would come to an abrupt end!
“The Federation is still fairly safe. I really do have important business in Heaven Dou City this time… for my sake, and for the sake of our future. And besides, people have to grow up sooner or later. I need to learn to face difficulties on my own. I can’t stay under my elders’ protection forever.”
Every word was sincere.
Telling Leng Yaozhu ahead of time was necessary.
He did not want to slip away in secret and hurt the teacher who had always cared for him so deeply.
There was another reason as well.
Leng Yaozhu had far too many ways to track him.
Rather than wearing each other out in a pointless tug-of-war, it was better to be frank from the start.
This trip to Heaven Dou City was not just about meeting Mu Ye.
Zhao Xuanzhen had other plans too.
He might be able to hide them from Na Er, but never from Leng Yaozhu.
She had watched him grow up.
If things suddenly appeared out of nowhere, he would have no way to explain them.
Silence lingered for a long while.
Leng Yaozhu looked at her determined disciple and finally let out a soft sigh, choosing to yield.
“So you’ve grown up after all, and I can’t keep you forever. Fine, you may go to Heaven Dou City, but you must promise Teacher three things. First, you are to use your Spirit Communication Device to report that you’re safe twice a day. Second, you are not to agree to any unreasonable requests. For example, anyone asking you to leave me and join some other faction. Third, wear this. It will keep you safe.”
She handed Zhao Xuanzhen a crimson pendant.
It felt warm in his palm, and the cry of a phoenix seemed to echo faintly around it.
The Phoenix Pendant.
Heavenly Phoenix True Fire had been sealed within it.
A single strike from it carried enough force to annihilate a Rank 95 Titled Douluo.
If the pendant shattered, Leng Yaozhu would sense it through her spiritual power and come to his aid at maximum speed.
“Thank you for understanding, Teacher.”
Zhao Xuanzhen put on the Phoenix Pendant.
He already had Teng She protecting him, but wearing it would put Leng Yaozhu’s heart at ease.
“Protect yourself properly. If the Phoenix Pendant breaks, you are to return obediently to the Spirit Pagoda.”
Leng Yaozhu tried to sound stern, but it lasted only a moment before her expression softened.
Her next words carried deeper meaning:
“Xuanzhen, once you’re in Heaven Dou City, don’t let yourself be deceived by other people’s verbal promises… Trust Teacher. What I can give you is more than anyone else ever could.”
“Mm. I’ve never doubted that.”
“You nearly ruined my holiday mood. Come here.”
Leng Yaozhu beckoned him over and pressed a bottle into his palm.
Then she lay on her side on the beach lounger, propped her chin on one hand, and combed her crimson hair aside with the other.
Her entire snow-white back stretched open under the sunlight, and shifting flecks of light pooled in the small of her waist.
“Help Teacher put on some sunscreen.”
“Eh?”
Zhao Xuanzhen froze.
The mighty Heavenly Phoenix Douluo…
was afraid of the sun?!
Leng Yaozhu’s brows drew together slightly, as though wondering why he still was not moving.
“Ah… this… I…”
Honest, reliable, and respectful toward his teacher, Zhao Xuanzhen could only obey.
He set about carrying out a task that felt ten thousand times harder than fighting a Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear.
The curves of her waist and hips glistened with a dewy sheen.
Her skin was smooth as polished jade beneath his fingers, and in the quiet of the beach, even the faint sound of sunscreen being rubbed in seemed amplified a thousandfold.
His fingertips traced the shallow groove along her spine as sunlight fractured into seven shifting colors across her skin, bright as liquid rainbow.
Xuanzhen spoke not a word.
He simply kept applying the sunscreen.