In the deep underground space beneath the ruins of Shrek Academy in Shrek City.
Na'er sat in her cramped room, clutching a Spirit Tool communicator. The flickering caller ID on the screen was like a wavering flame, reflecting on her panicked face.
In the afternoon, she had received a message from Di Tian, learning that the operation targeting Huo Yuhao had failed.
She had frozen for a long time while holding the communicator, unable to comprehend how a powerhouse at the Quasi-God level could have failed when acting personally.
Had Huo Yuhao really become that powerful?
Or was it that Gu Yue had intervened?
Countless thoughts churned in her mind, but they were quickly suppressed by a more realistic problem: Gu Yue was likely coming to hold her accountable.
She had remained anxious from the afternoon until nightfall. The Spirit Tool communicator was as silent as a dead object, but she knew that what was meant to come would come sooner or later.
Sure enough, when that urgent ringing finally sounded, Na'er's heart skipped a beat.
In the end, she gritted her teeth, knowing she couldn't hide from it, and pressed the answer button with a hardened heart.
Gu Yue's voice, suppressing anger, instantly came through the communicator: "What exactly are you trying to do?!"
Na'er opened her mouth, her first reaction being guilt, but then an inexplicable courage welled up from the bottom of her heart.
She stiffened her neck, her voice gradually steadying from its initial tremor: "What am I trying to do? I am correcting your mistake!"
After saying this, she seemed to truly find her confidence, and her spine even straightened a bit more than before: "The Ten Thousand Years plan must not fail, but all your energy is currently focused on Huo Yuhao. His existence has become an obstacle to the plan!"
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the communicator, and then Gu Yue's voice came through again: "I formulated the plan, and it will not be affected by him."
Na'er did not back down, and her voice also sank: "Do you believe what you just said? Do you even know how much you have changed because of Huo Yuhao?"
Gu Yue fell silent again. Na'er was right; she could not deny it, and this silence was a tacit admission.
A moment later, Gu Yue's voice sounded again, asking a rhetorical question: "And what about you? Since entering human society, haven't you changed as well?"
Na'er also stopped speaking; she was clearly aware of the shift in her own mindset.
Gu Yue continued: "No matter what changes have occurred in me, the Ten Thousand Years plan will not be affected. I have my own sense of proportion."
Na'er took a deep breath and said: "Now that the Divine Realm has disappeared, this is the best opportunity we have waited Ten Thousand Years for."
"But now this Huo Yuhao, he can travel to the World of Ten Thousand Years ago, and the Divine Realm there has not disappeared."
"Therefore, his existence is the biggest variable."
Having said this to Na'er, the anger in Gu Yue's heart had dissipated quite a bit.
She knew that this was not a decision made out of Na'er's willfulness, but truly out of consideration for the Soul Beast Clan.
However, although Gu Yue understood, she did not agree.
After a good while, Gu Yue's voice came through again, her tone softer than before, yet still carrying a hint of a warning.
"This time, I will not pursue it, but I hope such things will not happen again. I have my own considerations."
Having said that, the communication was ended.
Listening to the busy signal coming from the communicator, Na'er let out a long breath.
She reached out and patted her chest; her heartbeat beneath her palm was still a bit fast.
That "direct confrontation" with Gu Yue just now had also made her feel somewhat apprehensive.
But fortunately, she had finally managed to get through this hurdle.
...
Star Luo Empire, Spirit Pagoda Headquarters.
In the office with a wide view on the top floor, Huo Yuhao was sitting at the desk by the window, burying his head in processing official documents.
The sunlight from outside the window shone through the glass, spreading a warm halo across the desk.
Yet he didn't even have time to lift his eyes to look out the window; the tip of his pen moved rapidly across the files, occasionally pausing to jot down a few notes on the edge of a page.
A year is not long, nor is it short.
Besides the Spirit Pagoda main pagoda in Star Luo City, the Branch Pagodas of the Spirit Pagoda in many cities across the continent had already broken ground and risen from the ground.
Among them, the Sun Moon Spirit Pagoda started relatively late, but relying on the huge advantage of Spirit Tool technology in construction efficiency, it was the first of all the Branch Pagodas to be officially completed and put into operation.
"Knock, knock, knock."
A knock on the door came, and Huo Yuhao didn't even lift his head, just casually calling out: "Come in."
The office door was pushed open, and Gongyang Mo strode in.
His pace was a bit more hurried than usual, carrying a clearly irrepressible excitement.
He then sat down in the chair opposite Huo Yuhao, the look of excitement on his face almost overflowing: "Pagoda Master, the Sun Moon Empire just released an announcement. This year's All-Continent High-Rank Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament has been renamed, and it is now called the 'All-Continent Youth Spirit Master Tournament'."
Hearing this, Huo Yuhao's pen paused slightly, and he lifted his eyes to look at him.
Gongyang Mo did not pause and continued: "The point is that this time, the competition is not only open to Spirit Master academies; all major forces on the continent can register to compete."
Huo Yuhao put down his pen and leaned back in his chair, his gaze falling on Gongyang Mo's face, which clearly read, "I have an idea."
The corners of his lips curved slightly, and having already guessed what he was going to say next, he asked: "You want the Spirit Pagoda to participate in the competition too?"
Gongyang Mo nodded heavily: "Not just me; almost everyone in the entire Spirit Pagoda who knows about this news wants to participate."
"Although the reputation of our Spirit Pagoda has been established, we are still an emerging force after all and need a platform of sufficient weight to demonstrate our true strength."
As he said this, he couldn't help but chuckle: "And with you, Pagoda Master, as long as we participate, the championship will definitely be ours."
Huo Yuhao's cultivation had now steadily climbed to level 88, just one step away from that gate of Titled Douluo that countless Spirit Masters struggle their whole lives to open.
In the World Ten Thousand Years later, he had experienced only the top-tier high-level matches, where opponents were often Super Douluo or Limit Douluo.
Now, asking him to participate in a competition and compete on the same stage with those young Spirit Masters who were still struggling at the Spirit King or Spirit Emperor stages, he really couldn't muster the slightest interest.
He looked at Gongyang Mo and shook his head, saying in a flat tone: "I won't be participating."
Upon hearing this, the excited glow on Gongyang Mo's face visibly dimmed a little.
He opened his mouth as if he wanted to persuade him again, but looking at Huo Yuhao's expression that suggested his mind was made up, he ultimately swallowed his words.
However, before he could hide his disappointed expression, Huo Yuhao's next sentence made his eyes light up again.
"This time, let Jin Li lead the team to participate in the competition."
Gongyang Mo quickly calculated in his mind; Jin Li had already made a Breakthrough to Spirit Saint and could be considered an outstanding talent among the younger generation.
But to lead a team to win the championship in such a competition that gathered the elites of all major forces on the continent, relying on just one person might not be secure enough.
He hesitated for a moment and asked tentatively: "No matter how strong Jin Li is, she is only one person. Can the No. 1 Experimental Subject be used?"
Huo Yuhao smiled: "Naturally. It's also a good opportunity to tell everyone that the Spirit Pagoda has more than just Spirit Souls!"
Upon hearing this, Gongyang Mo immediately stood up and said excitedly: "Good! I will notify everyone of this news right away. We should also select a group of participants!"
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A/N:
I hope all of you are enjoying this story so far. I would appreciate some Power Stones if you can spare any. Leave a review if you like the story. Thank you.