The moment the divine potion touched the soil, the seed sprouted instantly. Tender blue-silver blades unfurled in every direction, carpeting a ten-meter radius in living light. A powerful aura of life spread outward—the unmistakable breath of Blue Silver Grass.
Wildfire cannot burn it down; spring winds bring it back to life. Endless and eternal.
A silver figure emerged gracefully from the surface of the Lake of Life, descending to where Li Chang'an stood.
Surveying the surrounding growth, Gu Yuena waved her hand lightly, sending the cocoon of woven blue-silver strands drifting gently into the lake.
"She'll recover far better inside the Lake of Life," Gu Yuena explained softly. "Three days should be enough—for both her and Xiao Wu's mother to fully take shape again."
With that, she let her long silver hair cascade freely down her back and sat beside him on the grassy bank.
"Thank you—for everything you've done for us spirit beasts."
Li Chang'an gave a modest shrug. "Ah, it's nothing worth thanking me for."
Of course, he couldn't possibly admit his less noble motivations—if he did, Gu Yuena would likely tear him apart on the spot.
"No," she said seriously, "as the ruler of all spirit beasts, I must thank you properly. Few humans have ever cared for our kind as you do." She gathered her silver gown neatly around her legs, her tone calm yet warm.
"By the way," she added after a moment, her gaze lowering shyly, "you once said you'd teach me how to… fall in love. Since you're here, could you show me now?"
Li Chang'an paused, rubbed his sore lower back, and then, smiling faintly, pulled her gently into his arms. Gu Yuena tensed for an instant—but soon relaxed, yielding completely.
The sensation was… strangely wonderful.
"Is this what it means to be in love?" she asked softly after a long pause, her voice delicate as a whisper.
Not exactly. Love was both a noun and a verb—but today, it would remain only a noun.
Li Chang'an lifted a hand to her flawless face and pressed a tender kiss to her lips.
A little interest payment first.
"Mmm…" Gu Yuena's hands rose unconsciously, resting on his back before drawing him closer in return.
It would take three days for Ah Rou's soul to fuse completely with her body, and just as long for Ah Yin to be reborn in human form. After half a day spent quietly with Gu Yuena—talking, laughing, and deepening their bond—Li Chang'an finally left the Star Dou Great Forest.
He had truly done nothing improper this time; just conversation and quiet closeness. At last, he had learned what "desire is emptiness" truly meant.
Emptiness… and exhaustion.
Now, he needed to hurry back to the Pope's Hall and check on Bibi Dong's Soul ring absorption. He could already imagine her jealousy—no matter how calm she acted, she would definitely be brooding over his trip with Xiao Wu.
Drawing out the donghuang Bell, Li Chang'an tore through space once again and arrived at Spirit City, landing at the Pope's Hall with a deliberately breathless expression.
Inside, Bibi Dong was in the midst of absorbing the million-year Soul ring he had given her. Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo stood watch outside, guarding her cultivation.
Li Chang'an quietly slipped into the secluded chamber without disturbing anyone.
Though her instincts alerted her briefly, Bibi Dong relaxed once she sensed his aura, focusing fully on her breakthrough.
Nine Soul rings shimmered alternately around her, and the last—the new brilliant golden ring—shone far brighter and larger than the rest. Her aura surged ever higher.
From Rank 95, it climbed steadily upward. The energy from the million-year ring was immense, far beyond any ordinary measure.
Rank 96… Rank 97…
Only when she reached Rank 97 did her momentum slow. Then came the wall—the barrier to Rank 98. The energy within the ring was nearly spent, and that final step required a vast leap in power.
Just as she prepared to stop and stabilize, Li Chang'an suddenly stepped forward and—without warning—kissed her deeply.
Startled, her eyes flew open.
"Don't speak," he murmured against her lips. "Let me help."
Through that kiss, he transferred the full power of two Supreme Spirit Fruits into her body.
He was broke now—utterly broke—but he didn't care.
Feeling the new surge of energy within her, Bibi Dong nodded faintly and focused once more, driving all her strength toward the next rank.
Half an hour later, a resounding cry burst from the Pope's Hall. A shockwave of divine power swept through Spirit City, pressing down with awe-inspiring force—nearly equal to that of a Peerless Douluo.
Across the city, powerful figures such as Qian Daoliu and Golden Crocodile Douluo all turned their gaze toward the Hall in astonishment.
She broke through? And there was something more—a hint of transcendence in her aura.
With the million-year Soul ring enhancing her twin martial souls, Bibi Dong's power was now on par with even the strongest of Peerless Douluo. Indeed, her ring alone carried the essence of the divine—it was only natural that her aura had become faintly godlike.
Li Chang'an, standing closest to her, felt it most vividly. The woman before him was radiant, pure, sacred—untouched by mortal stain. Her presence exuded divinity itself.
But when Bibi Dong opened her eyes, what she saw made her expression freeze—Li Chang'an was in the middle of undressing, already down to his trousers.
"Teacher," he said seriously, "I wasn't planning this, really—but that divine aura of yours is way too tempting!"
Bibi Dong's eyes widened in disbelief. What kind of logic is that?!
"Teacher, no talking—open your mouth," he said with a grin.
…
Two hours later, Li Chang'an emerged from a spatial portal outside the Pope's Hall, steadying himself by the wall and rubbing his waist. He didn't dare stay any longer. Bibi Dong's newfound divine aura had made her nearly impossible to handle—and his mortal body was paying the price.
Besides, he had work to do.
Over the next few days, he planned to help Shui Bing'er resolve her problem with the Northern King, and perhaps grow a bit closer to her in the process.
The Skywater Academy lay within the commoner's district of Heaven Dou City, the poorest of the five elemental academies.
Li Chang'an, concealing his identity with a simple disguise, had the gatekeeper deliver a message for Shui Bing'er.
Before long, she appeared—long blue hair, ice-blue dress, clear azure eyes, and that graceful, serene beauty that never failed to stand out.
When her gaze met his, a faint, knowing smile touched her lips.