Word Count: 3,124
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Noon.
Eastsea City Spirit Pagoda.
Zhao Xuanzhen’s eyelashes trembled faintly.
A layer of gray-white haze swam across his vision, like the moon shrouded behind thick fog.
A trace of delicate fragrance drifted into his nose, there and gone again.
In his daze, he almost believed he was still sunk in some blurred dream.
He lifted a finger and touched something warm and soft.
“Idiot Zhao Xuanzhen. You start poking me the second you wake up!”
A bright, melodious voice brushed past his ear.
Zhao Xuanzhen steadied himself, and the blurry outline before him gradually sharpened into an exquisitely beautiful silver-haired girl.
A shaft of sunlight spilled in through the window, scattering fine golden flecks through her hair.
Beneath the fringe that fell over her brow, silver eyes reflected his somewhat pale face.
Na Er had been sitting there for who knew how long.
She had dragged over a low stool and planted herself beside Zhao Xuanzhen’s bed, chin propped in both hands, baring a row of tiny white teeth as she spoke.
“I sent you messages all morning and you didn’t answer a single one. I was worried something happened to you, so I came in to check! You actually slept all the way till noon. What happened? Did last night’s spicy stir-fried crab really solo-kill you?”
Zhao Xuanzhen silently withdrew the fingertip that had poked her cheek and said, rather speechlessly, “It’s true I don’t like spicy food, but getting solo-killed by a 10-year Green Armored Crab is a bit too ridiculous. A Green Armored Crab would have to rank up a few tiers before it could even sit at the same table as a Wind Baboon…”
“So it wasn’t the crab?”
Na Er wrinkled her nose like a kitten and looked at him seriously.
“Your complexion looks awful. Should I call Aunt Leng over, or get a healing-type Spirit Master to examine you?”
“It’s nothing major. Give me a few days and I’ll recover. Don’t tell Teacher, or she’ll worry.” Zhao Xuanzhen waved a hand, casually covering up the truth.
The truth was that these were the aftereffects of fusing with Teng She.
As one of the Eight Deities, a Quasi-God level spirit of heaven and earth, Teng She’s power had been far beyond what Zhao Xuanzhen’s Spirit Elder body should have been able to bear.
Forcing that fusion and leaping so sharply in spirit power was bound to come at a price.
Teng She was falsehood, cunning, and treacherous malice embodied.
Its backlash took the form of false alarms, strange distortions, and dreamlike confusion.
For some time, Zhao Xuanzhen would occasionally suffer bouts of mental haze and disorientation.
The first week would be the worst.
It would take about a month before he fully returned to peak condition.
As he grew stronger, those side effects would become lighter and lighter, until they vanished completely and he could wield the Divine Plate’s Eight Divine Powers without any backlash at all.
At present, the threats posed by Tang San and Tang Hao had temporarily receded.
Teng She alone was already a top-tier force in the world, and on the current Douluo Continent there were not many enemies who would force Zhao Xuanzhen, the Qimen Master, to fuse with the Eight Deities’ power again.
In the future, more of the Eight Deities would awaken as well.
After studying this limited-edition sickly Zhao Xuanzhen for a while, Na Er rubbed her smooth chin and suddenly blurted out, “So with you looking like this, doesn’t that mean I’m stronger than you!”
“The things you focus on are so weird.” Zhao Xuanzhen glared at her in annoyance.
He was weak, not trash!
Even a three-body alien would still be beyond the standard after getting chopped once!
“It’s fine! I’m super loyal. Even if I’m stronger than you, I’ll still take care of you! You haven’t eaten anything all morning, so just wait here!”
Na Er bounced away, her silver hair bobbing up and down.
Zhao Xuanzhen watched her lively retreating figure and shook his head helplessly.
A month would pass in the blink of an eye.
Compared to dealing with the Tang father-and-son problem and obtaining the Golden Dragon King Core, spending one month as a frail invalid was hardly worth mentioning.
Zhao Xuanzhen fell into thought.
Tang San had lost only a strand of divine consciousness.
His true body was still off somewhere in the Divine Realm playing games with the other God Kings and preparing to establish the Great God Circle.
Given Tang San’s vindictive temperament, Zhao Xuanzhen absolutely did not believe he would refrain from dragging all twelve God Kings of the Great God Circle into this sooner or later.
If twelve God Kings fought side by side, even ‘Xuanzhen the Great’ would have a headache.
Besides, in the era of Legend of the Dragon King, the only path to godhood was to condense one’s own God Position.
There were practically no shortcuts like inheriting a predecessor’s position.
‘The Golden Dragon King Core is still far from enough…’
Even the Golden Dragon King at its peak had been inferior to the five great God Kings of the Douluo Divine Realm joining hands.
Even if Zhao Xuanzhen absorbed every last drop of energy within the core, the gap would still remain immense.
He had no desire to walk Tang Wulin’s old path and eventually become the next Golden Dragon King.
The Golden Dragon King Core currently suppressed beneath the Human Plate’s Eight Gates could only serve as one of the foundation stones beneath his future God Position!
“I’m back!”
Her voice arrived before she did.
Na Er pushed the door open in a rush just as Zhao Xuanzhen was pondering how to acquire the endless energy needed to establish a God Position that surpassed the Golden Dragon King’s.
He had only just propped himself halfway upright when the girl, already completely familiar with the route, hurried to his bedside with an oversized thermos in her hands.
The lid slowly twisted open, releasing a surge of white steam.
Curled squid tentacles gleamed in amber broth.
Floating across the sea of congee were ruby-red shrimp like little crescent boats at anchor, while threads of scallop, fine as golden gauze, had been dyed sunset-red by crab roe.
One glance was enough to make the whole thing look irresistibly appetizing.
The rising heat brushed against his chin.
Zhao Xuanzhen looked surprised.
“Not bad. It looks pretty appetizing. You made this?”
“Of course! Queen Na Er is gifted in both letters and arms. I can grace the hall and rule the kitchen!” the girl declared proudly.
“Pop quiz. No tasting allowed. How do you tell salt from sugar?”
“Uh… ⊙⊙!”
Na Er froze on the spot.
It took her a long moment before she finally muttered, “Fine, I confess. The Spirit Pagoda chef made the seafood congee. I thought it looked really tasty, so I served it up and brought it over.”
“But!” She added at once, emphasizing the point.
“I participated in the process of carrying it to you. Even if I don’t get credit for merit, at least I deserve credit for hard work!”
“All right. Thanks for your hard work.” Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
Zhao Xuanzhen smiled and praised her.
Over the past four years, Na Er had never once set foot in a kitchen.
She did not produce meals; she was merely their courier!
“Hehe!”
Na Er instantly brightened.
She ladled a brimming serving of seafood congee into a celadon porcelain bowl, dodged Zhao Xuanzhen’s hand when he reached to take it, and volunteered eagerly.
“Looking at how badly injured you are, with your life hanging by a thread and all, I’ll feed you myself!”
“Badly injured, life hanging by a thread… Am I really that miserable?”
Zhao Xuanzhen shot back with half-lidded eyes, yet his body betrayed him by honestly opening his mouth.
Na Er sat on the edge of the bed and scooped up a spoonful of thick congee.
Crab meat was wrapped in glossy rice broth, and tender red shrimp peeped out from among bits of chopped green celery.
The corners of her rosy lips lifted into a conspiratorial arc, and in the soft, coaxing tone one might use on a small child, she said:
“Little Zhen, Mommy’s feeding you. Open up, ahh—”
“You…”
Zhao Xuanzhen’s eyes flew round at once.
He had known Na Er was up to no good!
But Na Er was faster.
She shoved the porcelain spoon right into his mouth, physically cutting off his complaint.
“Don’t let it get cold. Hurry up and eat, eat!”
After Na Er stuffed three enormous spoonfuls into him in rapid succession, Zhao Xuanzhen seriously began to suspect she was trying to choke him to death.
Once the initial roughhousing passed, Na Er finally settled down.
She fed him slowly, one spoonful at a time, her smile clear and bright as frost and snow while she chattered on:
“The chef uncle said the crabs and shrimp were hauled ashore this morning and still carry the taste of seawater. They’re fresh beyond belief. The congee base was simmered with all kinds of Eastsea City specialty seafood. It smells amazing. It’s perfect for a patient like you!”
Zhao Xuanzhen drank his congee while glancing sideways at Na Er.
The shaft of light cast a faintly translucent glow over the girl.
When she lowered her eyes and blew on the congee, the tip of her nose twitched slightly, as though she were secretly savoring the seafood aroma.
He could clearly see the greed on her face.
More than once, her tongue had nearly darted toward the spoon, only to pull back at the last possible moment through sheer force of will.
“Na Er, you don’t have to hold back so painfully. If you want some, let’s eat together. I can feed myself…”
Zhao Xuanzhen’s expression was complicated.
He was genuinely afraid a drop of drool might fall.
“I’m not eating any. This is for you, dummy!” Na Er held firm to her bottom line.
“What’s good for one alone is never as good as what’s shared. Shared joy beats solitary joy.”
“Hmm… then I’ll try a little after I’m done feeding you!”
Na Er’s bottom line existed only to be broken!
“Hss… The real issue is your spoon keeps knocking against my teeth…” Zhao Xuanzhen finally could not help blurting out the truth.
“No talking while eating!”
Na Er glared at him fiercely, though the tips of her ears had already turned the same pink as the shrimp.
Objection overruled.
Zhao Xuanzhen could only continue accepting Na Er’s feeding.
Amid the repeated clink of porcelain against porcelain, the tiny beads of sweat on the girl’s nose stood out even more clearly than the glossy grains of rice in the bowl.
“It’s my first time taking care of someone. I don’t have any experience, so you can’t treat me like some waitress…” Na Er protested in a small voice.
Zhao Xuanzhen smiled soundlessly.
He had never really blamed her.
It was more teasing than anything.
To be honest, he had always felt grateful that on that night four years ago, he had made the right choice and invited Na Er into the Spirit Pagoda.
She was like a cluster of fire, turning his life bright and vivid.
After two bowls, Zhao Xuanzhen called a halt and indicated he was full.
Na Er seized the thermos, still more than half full of seafood congee, and immediately dug in with great excitement.
She had set her sights on that lavishly prepared, peerless seafood congee first thing in the morning.
It was only because Zhao Xuanzhen had suddenly fallen ill that she brought over the entire pot, hoping to help him recover faster.
“Ding-ling-ling—”
A ringtone suddenly sounded.
The screen of the Spirit Communication Device displayed the word ‘Teacher.’
“Xuanzhen.”
The moment he pressed accept, Leng Yaozhu’s gentle voice came through.
“Na Er said you slept until noon. Is something making you uncomfortable, or was your trip to the seaside… a little too exhausting?”
“I’m fine. I was just tired yesterday, so I’m taking a lazy day.” Zhao Xuanzhen answered lightly.
“Mm. A day’s rest during vacation is fine too.”
Leng Yaozhu held the Spirit Communication Device to her ear.
Zhao Xuanzhen had always been diligent and hardworking and had never once delayed his cultivation.
Then, without warning, scenes from the beach chair flashed through her mind.
Could his exhaustion be because of…?
She sighed inwardly.
The child really has grown up.
Then she turned to the matter at hand.
“Gu Yue has arrived at the Spirit Pagoda for her evaluation. I’m assigning this task to you. Give her the position we discussed yesterday.”
“Understood, Teacher.”
Zhao Xuanzhen had no objections.
He got out of bed, washed up, and dressed himself, then casually asked Na Er whether she wanted to come along.
…
At the main entrance of the Eastsea City Spirit Pagoda, the outline of a black-haired girl shone under the noon sunlight.
Her features were as finely wrought as if painted stroke by stroke by a master artist.
The collar of her white shirt billowed slightly in the breeze, its fabric tracing the supple arc of her shoulders and neck.
Beneath the drape of her black skirt, her calves curved like arcs of carved jade.
‘May the Spirit Pagoda scheme proceed smoothly…’
Gu Yue let out a faint sigh.
Ever since entering Eastsea Academy, nothing seemed to have gone her way.
Half a year ago, she had lured Tang Wulin outside Eastsea Academy, intending to forcibly strip away the Golden Dragon King’s bloodline.
Instead, Tang Wulin’s father had descended on the spot.
A single halberd strike had sent the Star Dou Great Beasts howling in agony.
Di Tian, Bear Lord, and the others had all been heavily wounded, and even now they were still in the Star Dou Forest receiving Bi Ji’s treatment.
She had originally planned to lie low and keep observing Tang Wulin, then make another move for the Golden Dragon King’s bloodline once the Great Beasts recovered.
But something completely unexpected had happened.
Overnight, the Golden Dragon King’s bloodline within Tang Wulin had simply vanished!
Earlier that morning, when the five members of Class Zero fought Wu Zhangkong, Tang Wulin’s Martial Spirit had suddenly evolved into Gold-Patterned Blue Silver Grass, yet the level of his bloodline had dropped sharply.
Before, it had been the Golden Dragon King.
Now, at most, it was a Golden Dragon.
The difference between the Golden Dragon King and a Golden Dragon was heaven and earth.
That meager Golden Dragon bloodline was nowhere near enough to support Gu Yue’s transformation into the Dragon God!
Gu Yue clenched her fists.
After taking human form, she had set herself two goals.
The first was to devour the Golden Dragon King Core and achieve the Dragon God.
The second was to infiltrate the Spirit Pagoda and use its monopoly over Spirit Souls to destroy humanity at the root!
Now the Golden Dragon King had vanished into thin air.
Gu Yue needed time to investigate the cause, and her infiltration of the Spirit Pagoda’s core absolutely could not suffer any more setbacks.
Guided by a staff member, Gu Yue arrived outside a conference room.
She knocked lightly, then pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Only one person sat within.
Sunlight streamed in, plating his long hair, his fingertips, and his dark eyes with a faint layer of gold.
He looked gentle and refined beneath it.
“It’s you…”
Gu Yue paused, recognizing Zhao Xuanzhen.
Zhao Xuanzhen’s gaze, however, fell on Gu Yue’s empty hands.
She had come empty-handed!
I told you to go home and wait for news.
You could at least bring a fruit basket!
Spirit beasts really were simple.
They didn’t understand the ways of the world at all!
“Sit.”
Zhao Xuanzhen pointed at the seat opposite him.
Gu Yue obeyed, half anticipation and half tension hidden in her quiet dark eyes.
“I will now announce your assessment result on behalf of the Spirit Pagoda.”
He gave a light cough to clear his throat, then spoke in proper form.
“Gu Yue, age ten. Spirit power Rank 21. Martial Spirit: Elementalist. You possess control over the seven elements of earth, water, wind, fire, light, darkness, and space. After deliberation among the Spirit Pagoda’s upper ranks, it has been determined that your talent is excellent and your Martial Spirit holds tremendous room for growth. However, your practical combat performance on the Spirit Ascension Platform when facing the examiner was lacking. Therefore, you are granted the status of provisional core disciple.”
“Provisional core disciple?” Gu Yue asked, puzzled.
“It’s the equivalent of being a reserve candidate for core disciple. You’ll receive the same benefits, but none of the corresponding authority. Once the examiner deems your ability sufficient, you’ll be formally promoted to the rank of Spirit Pagoda core disciple. And by the way, your one and only examiner is me.”
Zhao Xuanzhen was all smiles, but for some reason Gu Yue felt that handsome face carried the faint scent of a scheme.
Her brows knit together.
“If the examiner is only you, doesn’t that mean as long as you refuse, I can never become a core disciple?”
“You can understand it that way.” Zhao Xuanzhen nodded.
“So you’ll want to do your best to earn my approval.”
The status of provisional core disciple landed exactly on Gu Yue’s bottom line.
She could accept it, barely.
With the Golden Dragon King Core missing, entering the Spirit Pagoda’s core level had become even more critical.
In that case…
Faced with someone who held such power over her future, should she perhaps offer a little inducement?
“If you have no objections, you may go to the first floor of the Eastsea Spirit Pagoda to collect your identification and have your information entered.”
“Mm.”
Zhao Xuanzhen watched Gu Yue leave.
Mental fatigue came surging back, and he yawned in weariness.
The first week really was the hardest to endure.
He propped his chin on one hand, and his eyelids grew heavier and heavier.
‘I’ll just close my eyes for a bit…’
…
Gu Yue went through the registration and collected her Spirit Pagoda identification without incident.
Then she caught sight of a figure leaning against a metal wall.
One slender, fair leg was slightly bent, the tip of her foot pressed to the wall’s surface.
Silver hair fell smooth as silk, and sunlight caught the ends like fragments of broken gold.
“Gu Yue, there are some things that weren’t convenient to say with Zhao Xuanzhen around,” Na Er said softly.
“Shall we talk?”