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The Spirit Pagoda.
A compiled dossier lay atop the office desk. The middle-aged man's office was located in the upper-middle levels of the Spirit Pagoda, and from the window, one could just barely glimpse the sea of clouds over Shrek City.
His name was Wang Rui, the head of the Wang family—one of the behind-the-scenes ruling families of the Spirit Pagoda—and his cultivation had just reached Rank 95.
A secretary bowed respectfully. "Sir, all the information regarding Bai Xu is here. However, some of the incidents surrounding him are... suspicious."
Hearing this, the middle-aged man grew intrigued. He turned and took his seat, flipping through Bai Xu's records as he asked curiously, "What's suspicious about it?"
"The East Sea Spirit Pagoda only has records of Bai Xu purchasing spirit souls. However, he entered the Spirit Ascension Platform multiple times, yet no surveillance footage was retained by the staff. Logically, every soul master who enters the Spirit Ascension Platform should be monitored and recorded, but Bai Xu's data is missing. It's highly likely that Leng Jiuming, the Spirit Envoy of the East Sea Branch Pagoda, deleted the records."
"Is there any evidence? Or can the data be recovered?"
The secretary shook his head. "It's been several years—the data is irrecoverable. If we want to investigate thoroughly, we'd likely have to personally visit the East Sea Spirit Pagoda."
Wang Rui fell silent. Initially, he had only been curious about a child. After his secretary reminded him that Bai Xu was a student of Shrek Academy, he had considered recruiting him. But if it required expending manpower to track down a mere child...
"Still, upon closer thought, it is strange. Why would the East Sea Spirit Envoy delete the Spirit Ascension Platform recordings of his own student? Could there be some ulterior motive?"
Wang Rui waved a hand. "Drop the investigation. Offer him the most generous terms possible and see if he's willing to accept our recruitment. If not, forget it."
---
Bai Xu's strength was beyond conventional standards—he completed the exams in just a few days and set off on the return journey with Na'er.
Along the way, due to an attack on Shrek Academy's students by evil soul masters, the proctor revealed himself and escorted Bai Xu and Na'er for a stretch. It wasn't until Bai Xu finished all his assessments that the proctor hastily departed.
"The fifteen-day break is over," Bai Xu sighed. He and Na'er arrived at the soul train platform in Radiant City, waiting for the express train to Shrek City.
Na'er seemed to be in better spirits, smiling as she said, "It was short, but we experienced so much these past few days. I'll remember it."
Bai Xu nodded. "You seem much improved. After hitting rock bottom and witnessing the world's myriad faces, your mentality has grown stronger. Now that you're finally thinking more rationally, there are some things I can tell you."
The soul train pulled into the station, the rush of wind accompanying its arrival. Yet Na'er froze at his words—her sixth sense warned her that what Bai Xu was about to say was far from comforting.
With a faintly mocking smile, Bai Xu locked eyes with her and said softly, "Na'er, all of this was arranged—your trials, your growth, even your life."
!!!???
The crowd surged forward as the train doors opened. People filed in orderly, searching for their seats. Only Bai Xu and Na'er stood motionless amidst the sea of passengers, staring at one another.
"What do you mean?" Na'er asked, bewildered.
Bai Xu took his time. "You once said this: 'Why is my older brother of the Golden Dragon King's bloodline?' Am I right?"
Na'er's face paled slightly. She seemed to grasp something, yet not fully. "What are you talking about? Why bring up my brother?"
"Na'er, think carefully. Why would Gu Yue be willing to cooperate with me? Why did she stop believing in your wager? Why has she become so rational toward Tang Wulin? Did I really, as the chosen of the Plane's Will, bewitch her?"
Bai Xu's voice was like a demon's whisper, impossible to block even with soul power. "Of course not. What changed Gu Yue's mind was the truth—the truth about Tang Wulin, son of the Sea God Tang San, grandson of the Plane's Sovereign, and the current Child of Fortune of the continent."
They were communicating via soul transmission, so outsiders couldn't hear.
!!!
Na'er stiffened, as if all strength had been sapped from her body. Her shoulders slumped.
Bai Xu pointed upward. "Your meeting with your brother... unfolded under his gaze."
BOOM!
Na'er felt as though she'd been struck by lightning. No matter how much she denied herself, denied her identity as the Silver Dragon King's other half, she was now deathly pale.
Bai Xu continued relentlessly. "Why did you choose Ao Lai City, of all places? A city of a million people—why were you adopted by Tang Wulin's family? The answer speaks for itself."
Na'er clung to one last defense. Tears welled in her eyes as she whispered, "I know you're trying to destabilize me. But my life's path has always followed my own heart. I—"
Before she could finish, Da Huang—perched on Bai Xu's shoulder—suddenly opened her eyes and laughed. "Ever since I gained sentience, I've found statements like these utterly hilarious. You are the master of your own fate? You defy the heavens? Don't make me laugh. You're nothing but a wounded Silver Dragon. Fate shapes your mind—your upbringing, your experiences, your family, your encounters... You live in this world, and thus cannot escape its influence. Your destiny is ours to steer."
Na'er opened her mouth to retort, but no words came. A tear slid down her cheek, landing on the mask covering her face.
Neither Bai Xu nor the dog beside him reached out to comfort her. They simply watched as Na'er's spirit crumbled bit by bit.
Her mind raced, desperately sifting through memories for any trace of evidence. The final image that surfaced was Tang Wulin's bright, cheerful smile.
Yet now, that image shattered into pieces.
Sometimes, all it took was planting a seed of doubt—then waiting patiently for it to take root.
Upon closer inspection, a black soul ring—Bai Xu's fourth soul skill, once the authority of the Plane's Sovereign—encircled Da Huang's body.
As the crowd thinned, Bai Xu boarded the train. Na'er followed like a broken puppet, mechanically taking her seat beside him.
Her teeth clenched, her gaze icy. "I need to know everything you and Gu Yue discussed."
Bai Xu smiled. "No problem. I'll tell you all of it."
"The current Plane's Sovereign isn't Da Huang—it's the father of the Sea God Tang San, the Clear Sky Douluo Tang Hao from twenty thousand years ago. Life Core of Douluo Planet is Tang Wulin's grandmother, the former hundred-thousand-year soul beast, Ah Yin. Your brother is the Golden Dragon King. After his death, his core was sealed within Tang Wulin to prevent it from harming him—that's why he was exiled to the Douluo Continent from the Divine Realm."
Bai Xu drove the knife deeper. "Otherwise, why would a mere little soul master from Ao Lai City harbor the Golden Dragon King's essence within him?"
"Enough! I... I understand..." Na'er's tears fell uncontrollably.
The rest was for Na'er to digest on her own.
Bai Xu exchanged a glance with the Plane's Will, shrugging helplessly.
They couldn't distinguish truth from lies—everything was speculation, devoid of concrete proof. But it was enough. Would Na'er seek verification?
No. Because what the Plane's Will had said was true.