In the fragments of memory, the relationship between the Asura God and the Sea God had never been ordinary.
In the original course of fate, wasn't it Tang San who inherited both the Asura and Sea God positions, accomplishing the legendary feat of dual godhood?
"You were actually fighting a god before, my lord?!"
Zhu Zhuqing finally had her suspicions cleared. She had thought that the one fighting Aether earlier was Tang San himself.
"Mhm. But that was just a guardian clone left behind to protect Tang San."
Aether nodded calmly.
"Then… since the Clear Sky School has already been wiped out, let me take people over to clean up the aftermath~"
At this moment, Qian Daoliu spoke up, casting a glance at Bibi Dong.
"Then I'll leave it to you, Grand Worship."
Bibi Dong seemed to sense that Qian Daoliu volunteering must have had some deeper motive.
However, she didn't try to stop him. With minor matters, she might have argued with the old fox, but anything he personally stated—resistance was usually pointless.
In this Spirit Hall, though she was the highest leader on paper, the true core of Spirit Hall was the Elder Hall within.
"Your Excellency, my lord… then I'll take my leave to handle the situation."
Qian Daoliu cupped his hands toward Aether as a gesture of farewell—only now realizing that the man he had always addressed so casually was someone capable of battling gods. Cold sweat rose on his back.
He had once thought that even if he couldn't defeat Aether, the combined strength of the Elder Hall's many Titled Douluo would at least allow them to put up a fight.
Now he understood—that was nothing more than a foolish delusion.
Had they not just seen that the guardian Yaksha's mere consciousness alone had razed the entire Clear Sky School with ease?
If this man wanted to destroy Spirit Hall… it would be no more than a casual gesture.
Seeing Aether give a faint nod, his expression unchanged, Qian Daoliu efficiently memorized the route marked on the stone table and gathered men to head to the ruins of the Clear Sky School.
"So that means the Traveler went to rescue you all just now… but hasn't he been here the whole time?"
Nearby, Paimon was chatting away with Yu Keke and Zhu Zhuqing when she overheard that it had been Aether and Xiao who rescued them—her curiosity exploding.
"It really was my brother who saved us and brought us here…"
Yu Keke pointed at her treasure-hunting team to prove that Aether had indeed gone to retrieve them.
"Eh?"
Paimon's whole body stiffened. She turned toward Aether with wide, disbelieving eyes.
"Uhh…"
Faced with Paimon's blank stare, Aether paused, one hand clasped behind his back as he put on an air of calm composure.
"My strength is slowly returning. Not much, but… enough."
"…What the heck! You're imitating Zhongli again!"
Paimon, thoroughly unimpressed with the act, flew over and launched a flurry of Floating Fairy Fists at him.
"His power really is… unfathomable…"
Bibi Dong couldn't help but murmur in awe.
To save people hundreds of miles away while remaining in place—surely that was divine power…
"Ahem. That's enough."
Aether cleared his throat, clearly unwilling to be the center of attention.
He turned toward the group. "Keke, do you all understand what you did wrong?"
"…We were wrong, my lord…"
"…Sorry, big brother…"
Yu Keke and Zhu Zhuqing instantly lowered their heads, while Fire Meow Meow even dropped to the ground and played dead.
Off to the side, Dugu Yan and Dugu Bo looked away awkwardly. They knew that Aether was about to hold them accountable.
"If I hadn't placed several layers of safeguards on you before parting, do you think you'd still be standing here now?"
Aether spoke sternly.
Thinking back on it, had he not given Keke that relic—and infused it with Xiao's consciousness—these people might have long since met a bloody end at the Clear Sky ruins.
"..."
"..."
Seeing them all behave like guilty children, too frightened to utter a word, Aether felt like he'd punched a pillow—completely deflated.
Finally, Dugu Bo thickened his skin and forced a smile.
"My lord, it was all my fault. Not only did I fail to stop them, I even joined in on their nonsense…"
"Sigh…"
Aether walked over to the stone table and sat down, reaching for the teapot to pour himself a drink. Bibi Dong, noticing, quickly stepped in and poured the tea for him herself with a light chuckle—offering a distraction to defuse the tension.
"My lord, from what I've heard, they went to retrieve stolen treasures. They couldn't have known they'd run into such trouble~"
Aether gave a bitter smile and shook his head. Bibi Dong's mention of the treasure reminded him of Tang San's belt, still stuffed inside his Serenitea Pot.
He raised his hand, summoning the pot. With a thought, a blood-stained belt appeared in his hand.
"I hope the treasure you all risked life and limb for hasn't already been ruined by Tang San…"
With that, he crushed the belt in one hand. The items inside were gently wrapped in his energy to prevent the spatial force from shredding them.
"That's the scent!"
As the unmistakable fragrance of immortal herbs filled the air, Fire Meow Meow instantly stopped playing dead. She leapt onto the table, waving her paws and shouting at the items floating in the air.
The others couldn't help but turn their heads as well, drawn by the dazzling array of treasures.
"Lovesick Heartbroken Red, Aromatic Silk Tulip, Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum…"
Aside from a few scattered hidden weapons of Tang San's, Aether was able to recognize several named celestial herbs.
There were also some he didn't know by name, but judging by their aura and appearance, they were no doubt of the same grade.
Notably, the two mystical springs of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well were not among the contents.
To extract them intact from the ground without destroying them likely required divine intervention—most likely the handiwork of the Asura God who had protected Tang San.
Now that they weren't in Tang San's belt… had the Asura God claimed them?
Or perhaps Tang San had hidden them elsewhere, hoping to rebuild a sanctuary with them?
Aether shook his head and, together with Fire Meow Meow and with Dugu Bo's enthusiastic assistance, carefully identified and distributed the herbs among the present group.
The remaining hidden weapons and herbs were returned to Dugu Bo, who then passed them along to Bibi Dong as a goodwill gesture.
Now that he no longer needed them—and considering the aid Aether had provided Spirit Hall multiple times—he saw no harm in strengthening their power a bit.
And so, after suffering soul power depletion and injuries in the snowy mountains, the group spent over half a month recovering in Spirit City.
During that time, Aether and Paimon wandered around the city, hoping to find a new commission to undertake.
But the more they looked, the less they found—so eventually, they just lay low and relaxed in the city.
One day, Qian Renxue rushed into their residence.
Seeing Aether reclining in a rocking chair, basking in the sunlight, she ran up to him with urgency.
"Esteemed guest—our spies report unusual activity in the Heaven Dou Empire. I plan to return immediately."
_
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Please support my patreon, patreon. com/TravelerDouluo
And get early access to my 60 advance chapters.