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Early Morning.
Bai Xu wasn't sleeping on the bed. Instead, he sat cross-legged, waiting for Gu Yue's arrival.
A faint ripple stirred in the air, and in the next moment, an exquisitely beautiful figure appeared before him.
"Why aren't you asleep?" Gu Yue asked, looking at the figure on the sofa.
"Waiting for you. You're leaving tomorrow, so I'll spend tonight with you."
"Afraid I'll take advantage of you? You really do keep your word—since you promised her not to lay a finger on me, you won't." Gu Yue sighed softly, lying down on the bed with practiced ease.
Bai Xu coughed lightly. "I have something for you."
"What is it?"
"The offensive technique of forging the primordial spirit into a sword. But given your current level of spiritual power, it'll be difficult to execute. At the very least, you'd need to reach the Divine level." Bai Xu estimated as he took out a scroll and placed it gently into Gu Yue's hand.
"What do you mean?" Gu Yue asked curiously as she opened it. A divine light shot into her brow, and in an instant, the method of manifesting the primordial spirit as a sword flooded her mind.
"It seems your spiritual power is still too scattered, lacking cohesion. You'd need at least a Divine Yuan-level spiritual force to cultivate this technique," Bai Xu explained.
"Is this how you were able to hurt me with your spiritual power back at East Sea Academy?"
"Probably. After all, I'm a complete Otherworldly Demon—both in body and soul."
Gu Yue didn't refuse the gift. With a light chuckle, she asked, "Then, by your logic, should I call you… Master?"
"Let's not."
Gu Yue lay quietly on the bed, pulling the blanket over herself. "Tell me a story. About your past, or about the other 'you' from The Heaven of Selfless Transformation… I want to know what you're really like."
Her thoughts drifted back to the memories of that realm—the other Bai Xu who had sat beside him. She remembered the way that man had looked at her and Na'er, his eyes as still as an ancient well, devoid of any ripples. The only time any emotion surfaced was when he spoke to Bai Xu.
To him, she had seemed no different from the grass by the roadside.
She was afraid Bai Xu might become like that one day.
Bai Xu nodded. "Compared to us, the other 'me' is more of a truth-seeker. He didn't have the same experiences I did—he grew up alone, cultivating in silence. In my original world, immortality was impossible. A hundred years was considered a very long life. He watched his loved ones pass away, one after another, erecting tombstone after tombstone, until he was left with nothing but his solitary path of cultivation. That's why he had no attachments, no reservations. He severed all mortal ties, leaving only his determination to seek the Dao. Perhaps that's also why he was able to reach such heights."
"Will you become like that in the future?" Gu Yue asked.
"Why do you ask?"
"I'm afraid you'll turn into someone like that. From what you've said before, such beings are the true rulers of the universe, overlooking eternity. To them, the cosmos might be nothing more than a flick of the fingers—cold, indifferent, like the heartless Dao itself. They stand alone, with no one behind them, and no need for anyone."
Gu Yue's voice carried a trace of sorrow. To her, such an existence was unimaginable. Yet those pitch-black eyes were unforgettable—so devoid of emotion that they seemed almost inhuman.
"No. Cultivation is also a process of refining the heart. Different experiences shape different states of mind. As one's cultivation grows, so too does their mentality. But no matter how much time passes, no matter how the seas turn to fields, the beauty of youth remains etched in memory, impossible to forget. One thing is certain—my path is already different from his. I will always be me."
"That's good…"
"Sleep. I'll stay with you."
"Mm."
---
The Next Morning.
Bai Xu saw Gu Yue off. For now, he had no particular plans. Once the Hand-Foot Yin-Yang Meridian Scripture was completed, the final Eight Extraordinary Meridians would be his true moment to shine. Until then, he would focus on cultivation.
But… things seldom went as planned.
Noon
Blood God Camp.
Zhang Huanyun was furious. Just moments ago, he had received a call from Qiangu Dongfeng—the current Tower Master of the Spirit Pagoda—who had firmly demanded Bai Xu's return alongside Gu Yue. Moreover, the Tower Master had made it clear that he would spare no cost to make it happen.
"Damn that Spirit Pagoda!"
In such a short time, all three of the young talents capable of suppressing the Abyss had left the Blood God Legion. How was he supposed to rest easy now?
Fortunately, Qiangu Dongfeng had mentioned that there was a special mission requiring Bai Xu's involvement. Once it was completed, he could return to the Blood God Legion. In the meantime, the Spirit Pagoda would temporarily dispatch a Super Douluo to fill the gap in the Legion's combat strength.
Left with no choice, Zhang Huanyun could only agree.
After all, with Tang Wulin's precedent, he couldn't say much. As long as these three retained their official positions and didn't resign, all he could do was wait.
---
Beep beep beep!
The soul communicator rang.
"Hello? It's me," Bai Xu answered.
Gu Yue's voice carried a hint of delight. "I heard about it. Qiangu Dongfeng seems determined to recall you too. How did it go?"
"Mm. The Legion Commander agreed, though he wasn't happy. But there wasn't much he could do. Qiangu Dongfeng was adamant—he even offered to send a Super Douluo to temporarily guard the Abyss passage."
"Oh? That's a bit strange. But come over first. We'll return together."
"Where are you?"
"The Spirit Pagoda in Fire Basin."
Hearing the name, Bai Xu paused for a second before replying, "Alright."
He found it ironic how often he ended up at that particular branch of the Spirit Pagoda. Still, he doubted Gu Yue would pull the same tricks as Gu Yuena.
But…
On the other end of the call, Gu Yue had other plans.
"You walked right into this yourself…"
---
Spirit Pagoda Headquarters.
Qiangu Dongfeng sat with a furrowed brow, waiting for the soul communicator on his desk to ring.
As expected, the Ghost Emperor's call came through.
"Tower Master Qiangu, this will be the last favor our Holy Sect asks of you. Once this is done, our ties are severed. I swear this on my soul. Are we agreed?"
"Fine."
"Transfer Bai Xu to the Spirit Pagoda branch in the Douluo Empire."
"Done."
The call ended abruptly. Qiangu Dongfeng's frown deepened. Bai Xu was only a Soul Sage—why would the Holy Spirit Cult's Devil Empress take an interest in him?
Still, after a moment's thought, he dialed the communicator of the Douluo Empire's branch Tower Master.
"Hua Tao."
"Tower Master!"
"There's a mission I need you to handle."
"Your orders?"
"Gather all the forces of the branch and eliminate every last evil soul master. Leave no evidence behind except for your most trusted subordinates. I'll also send you files on a specific individual. The evil soul masters are planning to ambush him in the Douluo Empire. Your job is to let them fight and then reap the rewards."
"Tower Master, are we protecting this person?" Hua Tao asked.
"No. Kill him too. Leave no trace."
"Understood."
The call ended. Hua Tao found the sudden mission unusual, but his current position was entirely due to Qiangu Dongfeng's support. He had long grown accustomed to following orders without question.
After this, the underground research lab and all those researchers will have outlived their usefulness. Time to clean house.