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The match had ended, but the crowd remained stunned, unable to snap out of their daze. The figure standing atop the ruins was like a bright moon, casting its light upon the hearts of every first-year student.
He represented the pinnacle of the new generation—a lone warrior who had defeated a team of five. And he wasn't even a Battle Armor Master yet.
It was already foreseeable just how far Bai Xu would go in the future.
"A remarkable young man. With his strength, he can be exceptionally promoted to the inner academy for further studies. Wu Zhangkong, make the arrangements," Elder Cai said, narrowing her eyes in satisfaction at Bai Xu's performance.
"Daring to form a team alone and emerging victorious in a practical combat arena like this—his future is boundless!"
Yet Wu Zhangkong wore an awkward expression. "Elder Cai, Bai Xu's background is somewhat… special. I'll report to you in detail later."
For some reason, Wu Zhangkong had a feeling Bai Xu wouldn't join the inner academy.
"Hmm?" Elder Cai was puzzled, but since she knew little about Bai Xu, she agreed to wait for Wu Zhangkong's report.
The students gradually dispersed, buzzing with discussions. No one stopped Bai Xu as he left. Under the crowd's reverent gazes, he returned to his dormitory, his white robe tattered from the battle.
Meanwhile, Tang Wulin was still unconscious, being treated by the Holy Spirit Douluo.
Knock, knock, knock!
A knock came at the door, followed by Gu Yue's voice: "Have you changed yet?"
"Done."
She pushed the door open to find Bai Xu now clad in a black robe. The contrast between white and black was striking—one sacred, the other solemn.
Gu Yue asked with concern, "How are your injuries?"
"Nothing serious. The Wood Attribute's effects have long since healed the lingering damage from the Golden Dragon Claw. It poses no threat to me." Bai Xu adjusted his robe slightly, smoothing out the wrinkles.
"You only used the Metal Attribute. That wasn't even your full strength. Now I truly understand why the Spirit of the Plane holds you in such regard."
Hearing this, Bai Xu joked, "It's not too late to increase your investment in me. You know me—I'm a man of loyalty. If others don't betray me, I won't betray them."
Gu Yue chuckled. "But with such an exaggerated performance today, and your upcoming match against the second-years, isn't this too ostentatious? It'll draw attention from the higher-ups."
"Don't worry. Just say I have a mutated bloodline. Tang Wulin's Golden Dragon King bloodline is also unknown, isn't it? I can fabricate something similar. Without solid evidence, they can't do anything to me."
[And even if they try, we can always run away.]
Looking at Bai Xu's smile, Gu Yue sighed inwardly: He does have ordinary human emotions—it's just that he usually keeps them locked away, rarely showing them outwardly.
At this moment, Bai Xu was no exception to the usual human joys—the thrill of victory, the excitement of defeating opponents, the desire to be praised.
And occasionally, he'd say things that were… well, a little humorous.
These were all reflections of Bai Xu's inner self, but he usually buried them deep, choosing solitude instead.
'Indeed, with strength like this, once he reaches Title Douluo, he'll be able to look down upon the entire Douluo Continent, treating everything as insignificant.' Gu Yue couldn't help but feel a pang of melancholy, her mood dipping briefly before she smiled again—because Bai Xu was still by her side.
---
Late at Night.
Gu Yue took the initiative to visit the pavilion, waiting for Na'er to appear.
When the silver-haired figure approached, Gu Yue asked softly, "How have you been this past month?"
Na'er was silent, staring at Gu Yue for a long moment before replying, "Not well. Even if you don't care about their disdain, it's still unpleasant." She added, "But I've grown used to ignoring others' opinions."
"You've matured too, Na'er." Gu Yue's voice carried a trace of sorrow, as if weighed down by something.
Na'er frowned. "What's wrong with you? Right now, you seem more human than I do."
"More human…? Yes, back then, he was the one who taught me how to experience emotions like this…"
Memories drifted back to that year Bai Xu spent cultivating in the core region of the Star Dou Forest.
Gu Yue sat by the lakeside, watching Bai Xu meditate atop a slab of Life Gold in the center of the lake. She asked, "If I wanted to understand human emotions, how should I go about it?"
Bai Xu opened his eyes, seemingly having hit a bottleneck. He ended his cultivation session and landed beside her. "Observe."
"Observe?"
Bai Xu nodded. "Shrek City is the perfect place for it. Just stand on a street corner and watch the flow of people, the hustle and bustle. Listen to their idle chatter, observe their movements, their expressions—that's how you'll see the emotions between humans. Humans grow strong because of emotions, yet they also grow fragile because of them."
Gu Yue took his advice. In her free time, she would wander the streets, eavesdropping on conversations—friends joking, lovers whispering sweet nothings, family members expressing concern. Slowly, she filled the gaps in her understanding of emotions.
But perhaps she had filled them too well, leading to her current state.
"You're worried about the future?!" Na'er was shocked. The lofty, untouchable Gu Yue—how had she become like this?
"Yes. In the future, we may not coexist with him. If he truly comes into conflict with the revival of the soul beasts, I will unwaveringly prioritize the soul beasts' interests. But I cherish the present. I want to leave behind some beautiful memories. Yet the closer I get to Bai Xu, the more I feel… a sense of powerlessness. This isn't about love or lack thereof—it's that I feel… unworthy of him."
"Unworthy?!" Na'er's eyes nearly bulged out of her head.
"You'll understand one day. That feeling of a blade of grass gazing up at the stars is hard to bear. That's why I want to merge with you sooner, to become stronger. I'm not forcing you—a forced merger would only lead to flaws. Unless absolutely necessary, I won't resort to that. I called you here just to confide in someone, to ease my sorrows."
Na'er was speechless, though she, too, had once sought Bai Xu for comfort. She could understand. Watching the melancholic Gu Yue, they stood together in the night like sisters.
"I won't suppress my talent anymore. I hope to catch up to him one day…"
---
The Next Day.
Elder Cai's Office.
She stared at Bai Xu's file on her desk, her brow furrowed. "Advocates individual strength, joined the Spirit Pagoda—hmph! Look at what Leng Jiuming has taught him! After all the years Shrek Academy spent nurturing him, he repays us with a problem student!"
Elder Cai was uncharacteristically furious. "And of all places, he had to join them—the ones we've always been at odds with!"
After a long silence, she finally said, "Forget it. Don't admit him to the inner academy yet. Let's observe him first. Ideally, we can make him see Shrek as his home. I originally thought this boy had the makings of the next generation's Shrek Seven Monsters leader, but his mindset is unacceptable."
"Understood."
Wu Zhangkong left, knowing Elder Cai wanted him to "correct" Bai Xu's thinking. But Wu Zhangkong felt powerless—Bai Xu was strong-willed, the kind of person who, once set on a path, wouldn't be swayed by others.
Knock, knock, knock!
The door to Tang Wulin's dormitory swung open as Yue Zhengyu barged in, curiosity written all over his face. "I heard your first-year class has an unbelievable guy now. Come on! Tell me about Bai Xu's other abilities. I need intel!"
Tang Wulin refused outright. "Not a chance. Even if we lost to Bai Xu, we're still first-years, and you're second-year. This is about honor—I won't betray my teammate."
Xie Xie and the others mimed zipping their lips, leaving Yue Zhengyu with no choice but to retreat.
As he stepped out, he glanced at Bai Xu's room but ultimately decided against it. I'll see for myself when the time comes.