Chapter 24: King Xiang Xiang Naer's Seafood Porridge, Gu Yu Arrives, Silver Long Wang

Noon, Haicheng Spirit Pagoda.

His eyelashes trembled slightly, a layer of gray-white floating in his vision like a moon shrouded in thick fog. A faint fragrance drifted into his nostrils; in a daze, Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen thought he was immersed in a hazy dream. He raised a finger and touched a patch of warm softness.

"Idiot Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen, poking me as soon as you wake up!"

A pleasant voice brushed past his ear. Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen steadied himself, and the blurred outline gradually coalesced into a stunning silver-haired girl. A beam of sunlight poured in, its golden rays scattered, adorning her hair. Beneath her falling bangs, silver pupils reflected a somewhat pale image.

Xiang Xiang Naer didn't know how long she had been here. She had moved a low stool to sit beside Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen's bed, propping her chin in her hands, baring a row of small white teeth as she said, "I sent messages all morning, and you didn't reply to a single one. Fearing something happened to you, I came in to check on you!

You actually slept straight until noon. What happened? Did you get one-shot by last night's spicy stir-fried crab?"

Silently withdrawing the fingertip that had poked Xiang Xiang Naer's cheek, Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen said wordlessly, "Although I indeed don't like spicy food, being one-shot by a creature like a ten-year Green-Shell Crab is too ridiculous. Green-Shell Crabs don't level up to sit at the same table as Wind Baboons..."

"It wasn't a crab?"

Xiang Xiang Naer frowned like a little kitten, looking very serious as she said, "Your complexion looks terrible. Do you need me to find Aunt Leng or a healing-type Soul Master to come check on you?"

"It's a minor matter; I'll recover after resting for a while. Don't tell the teacher, to avoid worrying her." Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen waved his hand to cover the truth.

The truth was actually the aftereffect of fusing with the Teng Snake. As a quasi-divine spirit of heaven and earth, the Eight Deceit Gods required a certain price to be paid when Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen, with the body of a Soul Venerable, forcibly fused with the Teng Snake under such a massive surge of soul power.

The Teng Snake is hypocritical, cunning, treacherous, and poisonous-hearted; the backlash it brings is panic, strangeness, and illusion. During this period, Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen would occasionally feel mentally dazed and confused; the first week was the most severe, and it would take about a month to fully recover his peak state.

As Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen's strength gradually increased, the backlash became lighter and lighter until it completely disappeared, allowing him to wield the Eight Divine Powers of the Human Plate with no side effects.

Now that the threats from Tang San and Tang Hao had temporarily vanished, the Teng Snake fighting alone was also a top-tier combat power in the world. There were not many enemies in the current stage of the Limit Douluo Continent that required Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen, the Master of the Strange Doors, to fuse the Eight Divine Powers, and in the future, more of the Eight Deceit Gods would awaken.

Glancing at the one-month limited edition sickly patient, Xiang Xiang Naer rubbed her chin with her jade hand and suddenly said, "With you in this state, does that mean I'm stronger than you!"

"The things you pay attention to are so strange!" Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen glared at her indignantly.

He was weak, not weak in ability!

Even after a Three-Body Person slashed him, he still exceeded the standard!

"It's fine, I'm very loyal. Even if I'm stronger than you, I'll take care of you! Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen, you haven't eaten all morning. Wait!"

Xiang Xiang Naer skipped away, her long silver hair rising and falling. Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen watched the girl's cheerful back and helplessly shook his head.

A month flew by in the blink of an eye. Compared to resolving the Tang family father and son and obtaining the Golden Long Wang's Divine Core, being a sickly patient for a month was nothing at all.

Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen fell into deep thought. Tang San had only lost a wisp of his divine consciousness; his true body was currently playing games with the other Divine Kings of the Divine Realm, preparing to create the Great Divine Circle.

Given Tang San's vindictive personality, Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen would not believe for ten thousand reasons that he wouldn't drag all twelve Divine Kings of the Great Divine Circle to fight together.

Fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with the twelve Divine Kings would still give the Great Emperor Zhao Xuanzhen a headache. Moreover, in the era of the Legend of the Dragon Kings, one could only rely on oneself to condense a divine throne and break through to godhood; there were almost no shortcuts like inheriting a previous generation's divine throne.

"The Golden Long Wang's Divine Core is far from enough..."

The peak Golden Long Wang was weaker than the combined forces of the five Divine Kings of the Limit Douluo Divine Realm. Even if Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen extracted the Divine Core's energy drop by drop until nothing remained, the gap was still huge.

Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen did not want to walk Tang Tang Wulin's old path and eventually transform into the next Golden Long Wang. Therefore, the Golden Long Wang's Divine Core suppressed by the Eight Gates of the Human Plate could only be one of the cornerstones under his future divine throne!

"I'm back!"

Before she arrived, her voice came first. When Xiang Xiang Naer pushed the door open in a rush, Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen was just thinking about how to obtain the endless energy needed to create a divine throne surpassing the Golden Long Wang's.

Hearing the commotion, Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen had just propped himself up halfway when the girl, familiar with the routine, hurried to the bedside, dragging a super-large thermal bucket in her hand.

The thermal bucket slowly unscrewed, releasing a white mist. The curled arcs of the cuttlefish tentacles glistened with amber broth. Above the sea of porridge, red-jade shrimp balls looked like moored crescent boats, and the golden gauze woven from scallop threads was dyed a rosy color by the crab roe. A single glance made it indescribably tempting.

The rising steam hit his chin. Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen said in surprise, "Not bad, looks quite appetizing. Did you make it?"

"Of course. King Xiang Xiang Naer is capable in both literature and martial arts, can handle the hall and the kitchen!" the girl said proudly.

"Sudden exam: without tasting with your mouth, how do you distinguish salt from sugar?"

"Uh ⊙⊙!"

Xiang Xiang Naer was instantly dumbfounded. After a long while, she mumbled, "I confess. The seafood porridge was made by the Spirit Pagoda chef. It looked like it tasted pretty good, so I brought it over."

"But!" The girl shifted her tone, emphasizing, "I participated in the process of bringing it to you in front of you. Even if I have no merit, I have some effort!"

"Good, thank you for your hard work."

Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen praised her with a smile. For four years, Xiang Xiang Naer had never entered the kitchen; she didn't produce the meals, she was just the mover of meals!

"Hehe!"

Xiang Xiang Naer was happy. She scooped a full bowl of seafood porridge into a green porcelain bowl, dodged Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen's hand reaching for the bowl, and volunteered, "Seeing as your injuries are severe and not healing, and you are hanging by a thread, pitiful as you are, I'll feed you!"

"Injuries severe and not healing, hanging by a thread... am I that miserable?"

Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen squinted in rebuttal, but his body honestly opened its mouth.

Xiang Xiang Naer sat by the bedside, scooping up a spoonful of thick porridge. Crab meat wrapped around translucent rice milk, and tender red shrimp balls poked their heads out from among the green celery bits. Her rosy lips curled into a curve of a scheme succeeding, and she said in a gentle tone like coaxing a child:

"Zhen Zai, Mommy is feeding you. Ah—"

"You..."

Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen's eyes instantly widened round. He knew Xiang Xiang Naer had no good intentions!

However, Xiang Xiang Naer, quick-eyed and fast-handed, shoved the porcelain spoon into Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen's mouth, physically cutting off his complaint.

"Don't let it get cold. Eat quickly, eat quickly!"

After Xiang Xiang Naer force-fed him three big mouthfuls in a row, Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen seriously suspected this person wanted to choke him to death.

After the initial laughter and play, Xiang Xiang Naer began to get serious. She fed Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen spoon by spoon slowly, her smile clear as frost and snow, chattering on:

"The chef uncle said the crabs and shrimp were pulled ashore this morning, all carrying the scent of seawater, incredibly fresh. The porridge oil was simmered with many specialties of Haicheng's seafood; it smells particularly fragrant and is most suitable for a patient like you to drink!"

While Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen drank the porridge, his peripheral vision glanced at Xiang Xiang Naer. The light beam projected a semi-transparent girl; when Xiang Xiang Naer lowered her eyes to blow on the porridge, the tip of her nose trembled slightly, as if sniffing the aroma of the seafood.

He could clearly see the craving on Xiang Xiang Naer's face, and her tongue reaching for the spoon several times, only to be forcibly restrained at the last moment.

"Xiang Xiang Naer, you don't need to endure it so hard. If you want to eat, we can eat together. I can do it myself..."

Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen had a complex expression, afraid Xiang Xiang Naer's drool would drip down.

"I won't eat. This is for you, you idiot!" Xiang Xiang Naer held her ground.

"Self-interest is not as good as benefiting the group; enjoying it alone is not as good as enjoying it together."

"Hmm... after I finish feeding you, I'll taste it!"

Xiang Xiang Naer's ground rules were meant to be broken!

"Sss... the point is your spoon keeps hitting my teeth..." Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen finally couldn't help but speak the truth.

"No talking while eating!"

Xiang Xiang Naer glared fiercely, yet the tips of her ears turned a blushing red, just like the shrimp.

With the objection invalid, Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen could only continue accepting Xiang Xiang Naer's feeding; amidst the clinking of the porcelain spoon, the tiny beads of sweat on the girl's nose were more distinct than the glistening rice grains in the bowl.

"It's my first time taking care of someone, I lack experience; you can't treat me like a waitress..." Xiang Xiang Naer protested in a small voice.

Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen smiled silently; he had never truly blamed her, it was mostly just teasing and joking.

To be honest, Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen always felt fortunate in his heart for making the correct choice that night four years ago, inviting Xiang Xiang Naer to join the Spirit Tower.

She was like a flame, making his life bright and colorful.

After two bowls, Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen called a stop, signaling he was full; Xiang Xiang Naer held the seafood porridge with more than half the bucket remaining, eating heartily with excitement.

Xiang Xiang Naer had been eyeing the top-grade seafood porridge with generous ingredients in the kitchen since early morning; it was only because Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen suddenly fell ill that she brought all the porridge, wanting to help him recover his body as quickly as possible.

"Ding-ling-ling—"

The bell suddenly rang; the soul tool communicator screen displayed the two characters "Teacher."

"Zhao Xuanzhen."

Pressing the answer key, Leng Yaoju's gentle voice came from the other end.

"Xiang Xiang Naer told me you slept until noon; is there somewhere your body feels unwell, or was it... overexertion at the seaside?"

"It's nothing, I was tired yesterday and slacked off for a day," Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen said lightly.

"Mm, resting for a day during the holiday is good too."

Leng Yaoju held her soul tool communicator to her ear; Zhao Xuanzhen had always been diligent and hardworking, never neglecting his cultivation; suddenly, scenes on the beach chair flashed through her mind—could the fatigue be because...

Sighing inwardly that the child had grown up, Leng Yaoju brought up the main matter: "Gu Yue is coming to the Spirit Tower for an assessment of her results; this task is assigned to you, according to the position we discussed yesterday."

"Understood, Teacher."

Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen had no objection; he got up, washed up, dressed neatly, and casually asked Xiang Xiang Naer; the latter shouted that Gu Yue was not as important as eating, continuously devouring the seafood porridge.

At the main gate of the Haicheng Spirit Tower, the silhouette of the black-haired girl was gilded by the noon light, her eyebrows and eyes like a work of art meticulously outlined in fine brushwork; the collar of her white shirt was slightly puffed out by the wind, the fabric outlining the flexible curve of her shoulders and neck; beneath the hanging black skirt, the lines of her calves seemed like the arc of jade carving.

"I hope the Spirit Tower's scheme proceeds smoothly..."

Gu Yue sighed softly; since entering Haicheng Academy, it seemed everything went against her.

Half a year ago, she tricked Tang Tang Wulin outside Haicheng Academy, planning to forcibly deprive the Golden Long Wang's bloodline; subsequently, Tang Tang Wulin's father arrived on the spot, a great halberd making the Star Dou ferocious beasts howl in pain; Di Tian, Xiong Jun, and other ferocious beasts were severely injured and are still receiving treatment from Bi Ji in the Star Dou Great Forest.

She originally intended to lie low and observe Tang Tang Wulin, planning the Golden Long Wang's bloodline only after the ferocious beasts' injuries healed, but an unexpected accident occurred that Gu Yue could not have imagined: the Golden Long Wang's bloodline within Tang Tang Wulin's body vanished into thin air overnight!

This morning, the Zero Class five-person group fought a great battle with Wu Wu Changkong; Tang Tang Wulin's martial soul suddenly evolved into Golden-Striped Blue Silver Grass, but the bloodline level dropped significantly; before it was the Golden Long Wang, now at best it counts as a Golden Dragon!

The difference between the Golden Long Wang and the Golden Dragon is vast; the bloodline of the Golden Dragon is completely unable to support Gu Yue's transformation into the Dragon God!

Gu Yue clenched her fists; after taking human form, she set two goals for herself: first, to devour the Golden Long Wang's Divine Core to achieve the status of Dragon God; second, to join the Spirit Tower and use the Spirit Tower's monopoly on soul spirits to destroy humanity from the root!

Now that the Golden Long Wang has vanished into thin air, Gu Yue needs to spend time investigating the reason; the undercover mission within the core of the Spirit Tower cannot have any more problems!

Following the guidance of the staff, Gu Yue arrived before a conference room door, knocked lightly, and then pushed the door open to enter.

Inside the conference room sat one person; the brilliant sunlight gilded his long hair, his fingertips, and his pitch-black pupils with a layer of pale gold, gentle and beautiful.

"It's you..."

Gu Yue was slightly stunned, recognizing Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen.

Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen's gaze fell on Gu Yue's empty hands; she came empty-handed!

I told you to wait for news at home; at least send a fruit basket!

Soul beasts are simply too naive, they don't understand human social customs!

"Sit."

Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen pointed to the opposite seat; Gu Yue sat down as instructed, her quiet black eyes half filled with expectation and half with nervousness.

"Next, I will announce your assessment results on behalf of the Spirit Tower."

Clearing his throat with a light cough, Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen said with proper form: "Gu Yue, age ten, soul power level twenty-one, martial soul Elementalist, controlling the seven great elements: Earth, Water, Wind, Fire, Light, Darkness, and Space."

"After discussion by the Spirit Tower's high leadership, Gu Yue possesses outstanding talent, and her martial soul has great development potential; however, when facing the assessor at the Spirit Ascension Platform, her combat performance was poor, thus granting her the status of Provisional Core Disciple of the Spirit Tower."

"Provisional Core Disciple?" Gu Yue asked in confusion.

"It is equivalent to a reserve for Core Disciple, enjoying the same treatment but without corresponding authority. Once the assessor deems her abilities up to standard, she will officially transfer to become a Core Disciple of the Spirit Tower."

"By the way, I am your sole assessor."

Although Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen was smiling brightly, Gu Yue inexplicably felt that handsome face carried a hint of conspiracy; her dark eyebrows furrowed tightly as she said:

"If the assessor is unique, does that not mean as long as you disagree, I can never become a Core Disciple?"

"You can understand it that way," Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen nodded, "so you must try your best to make me recognize you."

The status of Provisional Core Disciple just barely met the bottom line; Gu Yue could barely accept it. With the Golden Long Wang's Divine Core missing, entering the core level of the Spirit Tower seemed even more important; in that case...

Facing someone who held the power of life and death, should she perhaps try to bribe him slightly?

"If you have no objection, you can go to the first floor of the Haicheng Spirit Tower to collect your identity certificate and register your information."

"Mm."

Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen watched Gu Yue leave; mental fatigue struck him, and he yawned wearily. The first week was the hardest to endure; he propped his chin, his eyelids slowly becoming heavy.

"Just a short nap..."

Gu Yue registered and collected the Spirit Tower identity certificate in an orderly manner; suddenly, she saw a figure leaning against the metal wall, one slender and pale long leg slightly bent, the toe pressing against the wall; silver long hair was as smooth as silk, the tips curling with sunlight like scattered gold.

"Gu Yue, there are some things Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen cannot say conveniently," Xiang Xiang Naer spoke softly.

"Shall we... talk?"

(End of this chapter)