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In the end, Gu Yuena never appeared. During this period, it was always Gu Yue who stayed by Bai Xu's side. A month later, Bai Xu boarded a ship bound for the Dou Ling Empire.
Bai Xu bid farewell to Gu Yue, comforting her, "Don't worry so much. It's not like something will definitely happen on this trip. Just wait for me to come back. I'll make it quick. To be honest, I'm quite curious to see how you and Na'er merge."
"Mm, you should hurry. They're calling for you."
In the distance, the crew was already urging Bai Xu to board. This voyage was again on a luxurious cruise ship—proof of the Spirit Pagoda's immense wealth and extravagance.
Bai Xu turned and walked away. He didn't think this journey would be particularly dangerous. As long as he rejected Qiangu Zhangting's overtures and kept a low profile while focusing on his cultivation, everything would be fine.
"Bai Xu!?"
A sudden shout made Bai Xu halt in his tracks. Puzzled, he turned back, his pupils contracting slightly as if he had sensed something.
Gu Yue still stood in the same spot, her appearance unchanged, but the aura between her brows had shifted.
"What's wrong?" Bai Xu asked.
"Nothing…"
Watching the ship sail into the distance, Gu Yuena finally turned away slowly. Compared to Gu Yue, her eyes were much colder, and her every movement carried an undeniable domineering air.
Her slender figure left behind only a soft sigh: "He recognized me…"
---
Qiangu Zhangting moved through the crowd, surrounded by people who bowed their heads in deference, their flattery obvious. He was already tired of such sycophancy.
These people were overjoyed at the olive branch extended by the Qiangu family, eager to hitch themselves to its influence. They immediately pledged their full support to Qiangu Zhangting, no matter what, followed by a torrent of praise. Though useful, Qiangu Zhangting was still searching the crowd for one ordinary figure.
Finally, he spotted Bai Xu standing on the deck, gazing at the sea.
Given Bai Xu's status, it wasn't worth Qiangu Zhangting's time to approach him personally. But this person struck him as unusual—if not deliberately sought out, Bai Xu was easily overlooked.
Qiangu Zhangting didn't approach him directly. Instead, he ordered a subordinate to make contact.
Before long, a disciple from the Spirit Pagoda stepped forward and initiated a conversation. "Brother Bai Xu, right?"
"Yes," Bai Xu replied.
"I'm Ge Mingren, from a Spirit Pagoda-affiliated family. Care to get acquainted?" Ge Mingren extended his hand with a smile.
Bai Xu didn't refuse and shook his hand. "Brother Ge didn't come just to introduce yourself, did you?"
"Haha, as expected of someone the future Tower Master values—sharp as ever. You're right. Qiangu Zhangting sent me to extend an invitation to join him."
"An invitation?"
"Brother Bai, no need to play dumb. This trip is all about the Qiangu family paving the way for their heir. Most of the Spirit Pagoda's younger generation is here to build connections with Qiangu Zhangting," Ge Mingren explained.
Truthfully, he found it strange. Bai Xu had no notable background or status—just a pretty face. Yet, Qiangu Zhangting had personally named him. There had to be something special about him.
But that wasn't Ge Mingren's concern. His job was to relay the invitation. Whether Bai Xu accepted was up to him.
If he agreed, he could head to the banquet hall now, where Qiangu Zhangting was waiting. A few compliments, a show of allegiance, and everything would be settled.
If he refused, Ge Mingren would simply report back.
"Brother Bai, with your exceptional talent—twin martial souls and innate full soul power—it's no wonder the future Tower Master values you. So, what do you say? Will you join us on this grand voyage? Who knows, the future of the soul master world might just be ours!"
Ge Mingren gestured toward the banquet hall, where Qiangu Zhangting stood.
But Bai Xu shook his head. "No thanks. I'm used to being on my own. A grand ship or a small boat—neither compares to my paper raft."
Under Ge Mingren's stunned gaze, Bai Xu turned and walked back to his cabin.
"…This…" Ge Mingren was speechless.
After relaying Bai Xu's response to Qiangu Zhangting, Ge Mingren quietly withdrew. He couldn't fathom what gave that young man the confidence to refuse. His own presence on this trip was due to his family's orders—their interests were already tied to the Qiangu family.
Qiangu Zhangting wasn't surprised. He didn't lack followers, but Bai Xu's uniqueness had piqued his interest.
As for his grandfather Qiangu Dongfeng's words… While Bai Xu was impressive, he wasn't surpassing Qiangu Zhangting anytime soon. As a newly minted Titled Douluo, Qiangu Zhangting held an absolute advantage in cultivation. He was confident he would always stay ahead.
"Who does this guy think he is? He actually rejected the Qiangu family's olive branch?"
Soon, the news spread. Ge Mingren, being a bit of a gossip, casually mentioned it, and Bai Xu's story quickly became the talk of the ship.
Some watched with amusement: "He outright rejected the future Spirit Pagoda Tower Master? Bold!"
Others were furious—Qiangu Zhangting's loyalists. One young man, around Bai Xu's age, stepped forward and volunteered, "Brother Qiangu, this Bai Xu is an ungrateful fool with no vision. Let me teach him a lesson!"
Qiangu Zhangting was indifferent. The speaker was a Soul Emperor, a few years older than Bai Xu and a two-word battle armor master—decent, but nothing special.
"Private duels aren't allowed on the ship. Save it for the Dou Ling Empire," he said dismissively.
"Yes!"
The follower's eyes gleamed with malice. Teaching Bai Xu a lesson was the perfect chance to prove his loyalty to Qiangu Zhangting!
And Qiangu Zhangting's words implied—once they reached the Dou Ling Empire, he could do as he pleased!
"Hmph, let's see just how arrogant this guy is! What gives him the right to refuse Young Master's offer?" The follower sneered, looking down on Bai Xu.
In the following days, Bai Xu indeed noticed someone watching him, gathering information. Ge Mingren even warned him that someone wanted to challenge him.
Well, that was just how these people were.
---
Meanwhile, elsewhere on the ship…
Yan Jie stood at the bow, spotting the Dou Ling Empire's evil soul masters waiting on the shore. He remembered one of them—a Titled Douluo with the Poison Spring martial soul, level 91.
"Elder Poison, it's been a while," Yan Jie greeted.
"Scorpion, why are you here?" The Poison Spring evil soul master's expression was cold.
"The higher-ups sent me to oversee the research and… cause some trouble."
"…" The elder fell silent. So it was an order from above. "Fine. Come with me."
Yan Jie followed, asking, "What about the Spirit Pagoda's branch Tower Master here? I heard he's a 96-ranked Super Douluo with an Air martial soul. Strange, isn't it?"
"Nothing special. Just like the main Tower Master back on the Douluo Continent—hypocritical to the core. They treat us like dogs when they need us, ready to cut ties the moment we're no longer useful, afraid of getting their hands dirty.
They want to conduct research but lack the guts, so they use us to do their dirty work." The Poison Spring elder scoffed. In his eyes, the Spirit Pagoda was worse than them. Evil was evil—why bother hiding it?
In the end, death came for everyone. Even someone as mighty as Yun Ming, the world's current strongest, would be dust in a hundred years.
"Still, there's something you should watch out for recently."
"Oh? What?" Yan Jie asked curiously.
"The Spirit Pagoda Tower Master's grandson, Qiangu Zhangting, is coming to the Dou Ling Empire. We'll need to lay low for a while. Don't let him notice us."
"Tch. Typical of them."
"His strength isn't weak. Though he just broke through to Titled Douluo, his Golden Dragon Staff's combat techniques make him a match for either of us."
"Oh? Really?"
Now Yan Jie was intrigued.