The sun had barely begun to rise, but Heaven Dou City was already awake and alive. Pale golden light spilled across the cobbled streets, casting long shadows of the towering city walls and ornate spires. A soft breeze rustled the banners fluttering from guard towers, each one embroidered with the sigil of the Heaven Dou Empire .
Vendors bustled about, lifting the wooden shutters from their stalls and arranging their goods in neat, colorful rows. The aroma of fresh steamed buns, fried dough, and sweet rice porridge began to drift through the streets, mingling with the sharper smells of herbs, oils, and livestock. Shopkeepers greeted one another with cheerful nods and laughter, their voices joining the lively hum of a city beginning its day.
Clad in polished armor and sharp blue tabards, the city's soldiers rotated their shifts. Night guards with tired faces and stifled yawns filed back into the inner barracks, while fresh, alert morning guards marched out to take their place, their boots clacking in rhythm against the stone. Atop the city walls, archers inspected their bows and surveyed the surrounding plains for any signs of danger, though today, like most days, peace reigned.
At the main gate, a long line of civilians stretched down the road, waiting patiently to gain entrance. Farmers with carts of produce, traveling merchants, wandering storytellers, and families returning from nearby villages , all queued under the watchful eyes of city guards. Identification documents were checked, belongings inspected, and entry fees collected with methodical efficiency.
Yet even among the morning rush, one group drew attention, three individuals whose presence was anything but ordinary.
Unlike the common folk who had to wait in line, Soul Masters were granted privileged access. And these three, their soul force subtly restrained yet unmistakably powerful, stepped through the side gate without hindrance. The soldiers merely nodded respectfully and made way.
Leading the trio was a tall man with an unmistakable appearance. His face was defined by sharp angles , a prominent chin, wide cheekbones, and a slightly hooked nose that gave him an eagle-like profile. Perched on his nose was a pair of black-rimmed crystal glasses, their square frames exuding an austere aura. Despite his aged features, his stride was confident, and his eyes radiated clarity. He was none other than Flender, the so-called Owl Soul Master and a respected figure within the Soul Master world.
Behind him walked a man and a woman , a couple, judging by the way the woman clung gently to his arm, her fingers laced around his sleeve with unspoken familiarity.
The man appeared quite ordinary at first glance. His figure was slim and slightly hunched, giving off a languid and indifferent aura. His half-lidded eyes barely opened, as though he were perpetually caught between wakefulness and thought. Despite his unassuming demeanor, his very presence hinted at depth like a still pond hiding ancient secrets beneath its calm surface. This was Yu Xiaogang , more famously known as the Grandmaster, whose name is spread as a genius theorist of martial souls, despite his own meager cultivation of Level 29.
Beside him walked a woman who seemed like she had stepped out of a painting. She possessed an ethereal beauty, her figure graceful and perfectly proportioned, her every movement imbued with subtle elegance. Her face was soft and refined, her features delicate.
She was Liu Erlong, her cultivation stood at an impressive Level 58 Soul King, a testament to her astonishing talent and fierce determination. Her reputation was well known throughout the region, not just for her strength, but also for her fiery spirit and unwavering loyalty.
Together, these three formed the legendary Golden Iron Triangle , a name which is now famous in the ranks of the Soul Master. The reason is that they have a rare three-person Martial Soul Fusion Technique, boasting an astounding spirit harmonization rate exceeding 90%.
Ordinarily, even a two-person fusion was rare and difficult. Their compatibility seemed almost fated. With their deep familiarity with each other, and the unshakable trust forged over years. The result of their fusion was a fearsome, awe-inspiring entity:The Golden Holy Dragon.
With this fusion they were able to fight off a Soul Douluo, After this fight the Golden Iron Triangle had become famous and even the big forces started to take a note of their name.
As they walked through the streets of Heaven Dou City, Flender occasionally cast furtive glances behind them , in quiet reflection. His heart, though as strong as his soul power, carried a long-standing ache.
He had long admired Liu Erlong, once harboring deep feelings for her. Her strength, passion, and vulnerability had all touched him in ways few others could. Yet, he had always known that her heart belonged elsewhere, to Yu Xiaogang, another friend whose path had always been entwined with hers, no matter the twists of fate.
So Flender, the proud Soul Emperor of Level 64, had stepped back.
He gave them space. He gave them his blessing. He gave up the silent hopes he had once nurtured. Still, the pain lingered, like a stubborn ember that refused to die.
Yu Xiaogang, for his part, wore his usual expression , passive, almost emotionless. But now and then, when Liu Erlong tightened her grip on his arm or spoke softly in his ear, his eyes flickered with warmth. It was a fragile warmth, almost hidden beneath decades of regret, shame, and self-restraint. But it was there.
And Liu Erlong… she was smiling, Genuinely.
Though the road ahead was uncertain, today , at least for now , they walked together.
As the Golden Iron Triangle made their way deeper into the city, blissfully ignorant of the chaos that the future held, but fate was already turning its gears.