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As soon as they entered the Spirit Pagoda, a Spirit Master approached them proactively. "Greetings to you both. Are you Spirit Master Bai Xu?"
"Yes, I am Bai Xu."
"Hello. This is an item Spirit Master Gu Yue asked me to deliver to you. Inside the storage soul tool are temporary identification documents for you and this young lady, as well as a small amount of money." The Spirit Master was very respectful, presenting the items to Bai Xu with both hands.
The status of a direct disciple of the Heavenly Phoenix Douluo was far too prestigious within the Spirit Pagoda. Only the current Pagoda Master's Qiangu family held a higher standing.
"Thank you."
"Hmm?" As Bai Xu took the storage soul tool, he noticed someone's gaze lingering on him. The person had just stepped out of the elevator in the lobby, dressed in luxurious attire that exuded opulence. The cuffs and shoulders of his uniform bore an unfamiliar emblem, resembling a seal, likely denoting his status.
Several uniformed secretaries followed behind him, maintaining a respectful distance.
Bai Xu met his eyes briefly before calmly looking away.
Nar, wearing a mask and hat, trailed behind Bai Xu as they left the headquarters.
The man watched them go, curiosity piqued. "That young man can come and go freely without wearing the Spirit Pagoda uniform. Who is he?"
As soon as he spoke, a secretary stepped forward to answer. "Sir, that is Bai Xu, a promising recruit brought into the Spirit Pagoda headquarters by the Heavenly Phoenix Douluo from Eastsea City. Before the start of Shrek Academy's term, he was brought to the headquarters and visited the floor where the Deputy Pagoda Master resides."
"Hmph! So, he's also a direct disciple of the Heavenly Phoenix Douluo?" The man snorted, his tone dripping with disdain.
"No, he is merely acquainted with Her Excellency's disciple. His mentor is Leng Jiuming, the Spirit Envoy of the Eastsea Spirit Pagoda."
"Oh? So, Leng Yaozhu hasn't fully recruited him yet? That's worth noting. We can't let another talented seedling from Shrek fall into the Qiangu family's grasp. Otherwise, the Spirit Pagoda will truly become the Qiangu family's domain!"
The secretary replied, "Understood. I will investigate his background and deliver a detailed report to your desk."
"Good."
With that, the conversation ended, and the man hurried away.
Power struggles were ubiquitous, spanning the globe. While major organizations like the Tang Sect and the Spirit Pagoda competed externally, their internal conflicts were equally fierce.
The current Qiangu family was far too dominant. The grandson of the present Pagoda Master, Qiangu Dongfeng—Qiangu Zhangting—possessed extraordinary talent. If things continued smoothly, he would likely become a Limit Douluo and succeed as the next Pagoda Master.
For the other families operating behind the scenes in the Spirit Pagoda, this was nothing short of catastrophic. They had already endured two generations of Qiangu family leadership. A century of rule had drastically weakened their power and influence within the organization. If Qiangu Zhangting became Pagoda Master, they feared they would be swept aside like garbage.
Thus, they had to act. The remnants of their authority were merely bait to prevent them from desperate measures—a classic case of "boiling a frog slowly."
They needed overwhelming strength to challenge the Qiangu family's dominance. If such a figure existed, they were willing to support them as the new Pagoda Master, even if it meant overthrowing the Qiangu family's rule and restoring their own standing.
To that end, they were aggressively recruiting talent to bolster their forces.
But the Qiangu family and their faction had too many Title Douluos under their command. As for Deputy Pagoda Master Leng Yaozhu? She was undoubtedly aligned with the Qiangu family.
---
As soon as they left the Spirit Pagoda, Bai Xu and Nar hailed a taxi to the soul train station. With temporary identification and funds, they had enough to complete their fifteen-day final exam.
Bai Xu asked, "Nar, what are your thoughts on Tang Wulin?"
Nar paused but didn't question the query. "He's gentle and kind. Before I awakened my memories, his family took me in. Even though they weren't well-off, his parents did their best to fulfill our wishes. Those were beautiful days."
"That couple treated you very well, and Tang Wulin is indeed kind and gentle—no doubt about that. But what I'm asking is: after you awakened your memories and learned he possessed the Golden Dragon King's bloodline, how did you feel?"
Nar fell silent for a moment before answering. "At first, I was devastated. Why did it have to be him? Why was my brother the obstacle in mine and Gu Yue's path? Back then, he was my entire world. I agonized over it but couldn't find a solution. Burdened with human emotions, I could only make a bet with Gu Yue, staking everything on her unknown feelings. But then... you appeared."
The car lapsed into silence. They communicated via soul transmission, so the driver heard nothing as he drove toward the station.
After a while, Bai Xu responded, "Truthfully, you don't care about the fate of soul beasts or their survival. You only care about the people important to you, right?"
Nar stiffened, her expression uncharacteristically flustered.
Seeing this, Bai Xu chuckled. "It's fine. Admit it openly. We all wear masks to survive."
"What do you mean?"
Bai Xu replied calmly, "When you first came into being, though you inherited some human emotions from the Silver Dragon King's personality, your essence remained the same—you were still lofty. Let's be blunt: among dragons, power is determined by bloodline. Even someone like Di Tian is nothing more than an ant incapable of godhood. Even if he became a god, he'd still be a slightly larger ant. At your peak, you could crush swathes of them effortlessly. Ants are beneath the notice of the mighty. To put it plainly, soul beasts are ants to you. You lack the sense of responsibility Gu Yue carries. For you, living carefree for three years before suddenly awakening your memories—it was as if the Silver Dragon King's personality became an unwelcome burden, thrusting responsibilities onto your shoulders, demanding you rise to the occasion.
But fulfilling those responsibilities meant eliminating the person closest to you. Naturally, you couldn't bear it. Standing in the Silver Dragon King's shoes yet thinking with human emotions, you couldn't relinquish your lofty position nor lower your stature. Caught between Gu Yue and Tang Wulin, you were trapped. In the end, you chose Tang Wulin, betting on the unknown aspects of the Silver Dragon King's primary personality to spare your brother."
Nar trembled slightly. Bai Xu's words had laid bare her heart. She truly hadn't considered the soul beasts.
Compared to them, she was more human than anything else.
Bai Xu continued, "In the end, you've only lived as a human for a few years. Your experiences are limited to Tang Wulin's family and Yun Ming's couple. You haven't walked among mortals or witnessed the suffering of soul beasts. You've only known human kindness. Do you remember what happened before Tang Wulin found you?"
Nar nodded. "There were some traffickers who tried to capture me..."
"But do you know what would've happened if they'd succeeded?"
Nar shook her head. By the time she awakened her memories, three years had passed. After being taken in by soul beasts and entering Shrek Academy, she became the Sea God's Pavilion Master's direct disciple. Her days were filled with training and striving—she'd had no time to dwell on the traffickers from her past.
"You would've been imprisoned, sold, and crushed beneath humanity's malice, trapped in an abyss with no escape. But it's not too late to learn now. So, how about it? Would you like to experience the darker side of humanity?"
Nar hesitated, seemingly uneasy.
Bai Xu added, "All you need to do is take off your hat and mask. I'll be here—nothing will go wrong."
"Really?"
"Of course."
"We've arrived at the station. That'll be—" The driver turned to collect the fare but froze upon seeing Nar's silver hair and violet eyes.
Bai Xu paid and led Nar out of the car.
Glancing back, Nar noticed the driver still sitting there, desire flashing in his eyes before he finally sighed and drove away.
"What do you think he would've done if he'd had the power? In a world where strength reigns supreme, the weak suffer. He was just an appetizer. Once we board the train, you'll see the true face of humanity."
Bai Xu suddenly paused mid-step, as if remembering something, then turned back. "You know, being weak has its perks. You get to see life for what it really is—not just your own, but others' too. You can see past the masks people wear."
"..."
From purchasing tickets to boarding, countless heads turned Nar's way. Some even positioned themselves near her, hoping to share her cabin.
Without her Shrek Academy uniform or Spirit Master credentials, Nar appeared to be an ordinary girl—perhaps a low-level soul cultivator at best. The well-dressed young men eyeing her saw an opportunity.
"Scram!"
A sharp mental pulse sent the entranced youths reeling. Merely meeting Bai Xu's gaze sent stabbing pain through their minds, leaving them drenched in cold sweat.
But Bai Xu, too, lacked identifying insignia.
Some, emboldened by influential families, stood their ground despite his warning.
Bai Xu didn't force them away. Instead, he turned to Nar and transmitted, "They're coming. Ready?"
Nar glanced back and nodded. No further words were exchanged.
As the soul train arrived, Bai Xu shielded Nar while boarding. She took the window seat while he sat beside her. The followers didn't dare approach, lingering nearby as if afraid to disturb her.
Ten minutes later, Bai Xu stood and headed for the restroom.
The moment he left, a handsome young man in fine attire approached. Bowing courteously, he extended a hand. "Fair lady, might I have your name? I am Ouyang Zhenxin, from Shrek City."
"I have a boyfriend. He just left," Nar replied coldly.
Unfazed, Ouyang Zhenxin smiled. "Could I at least have your soul communicator number? We could talk later."
"No." Nar's refusal was icy. She was thoroughly disgusted.
"Very well."
Similar encounters followed. One particularly arrogant youth even proposed, "Why not ditch your friend for me? My family is among Shrek City's elite, with a Title Douluo among our ranks. I can provide resources and—"
"Get lost!" Nar had had enough.
When Bai Xu returned, he asked, "How was it?"
"Annoying."
"Just the beginning. Did you reveal your identity?"
"No."
"Normally, when faced with trouble, people immediately announce their affiliations. Yet despite all this harassment, you still haven't declared yours. Do you know what that implies?"
"That I have no backing? Would they really dare force the issue?"
Bai Xu smirked. "Don't underestimate your beauty, Nar. The law of the jungle hasn't changed—it's just wrapped in the Federation's veneer of civility."
Nar: "..."
Yunhai City.
Bai Xu and Nar disembarked at Yunhai City, a modest settlement known for its mountainous terrain. On foggy days, the entire city seemed to float above clouds.
"They didn't follow us..." Nar glanced back.
"Your senses dulled after losing your gifts. They're still watching—and more have joined."
Bai Xu's eyes gleamed with golden light. "The strongest is only a Soul King? They're underestimating us."
At rank 44, nearing 45, Bai Xu feared no Soul King.
"How does it feel?"
"Being hunted is unpleasant. If captured, I'd probably become some man's concubine." Nar's voice carried a hint of killing intent.
Had she not lost her abilities, she'd have impaled them with her Silver Dragon Spear already.
"They're likely probing our background. Even in Yunhai, some forces are beyond their reach. Let's head out of town—make it easier for them."
"You plan to kill them? What if their families retaliate?"
"None are mightier than the Spirit Pagoda. Besides, our proctor is watching—a six-ringed Soul Emperor."
"How do you know the proctor's strength?"
Bai Xu pointed to his shoulder, where his spirit, Da Huang, flickered into view. "She told me. Or rather, my Heavenly Eye revealed it."
As his power grew, Bai Xu gradually understood his connection to the Plane's Will.
His soul power was essentially on loan. Once he reached Title Douluo rank, the Plane's Will would separate, manifesting as an independent entity. Until then, Bai Xu was its proxy, bound by karma.
The Plane's Will had saved him, albeit inadvertently, setting him on this path. This debt had to be repaid—and it was no small matter.
The Plane's Will had also hinted at Bai Xu's future. Its abilities would manifest as his soul rings.
His fourth soul skill, "Good Fortune," was merely a rudimentary application of fate's power—diminished due to the Plane's Will's diminished authority.
But this also meant that once Bai Xu reached rank 90 and separated from it, he might draw the attention of Tang Hao, the Plane's true master. As an otherworldly soul, Bai Xu's existence could provoke unpredictable consequences.