Chapter 26

Donghai City Spirit Relay Tower.

Dusk spilled over the window lattice, a crimson glow drifting across his retinas like sharp thorns piercing his nerves. Amidst the hollow ringing in his ears, Zhao Xuanzhen opened his eyes; a faint cracking echoed deep within his skull, as if an ice pick were repeatedly drilling into his brain.

The mental backlash still persisted—this was the price of a Soul Elder fusing with a quasi-god, lasting a month, with the first week especially severe.

“Screech—”

As he turned his hand, the door was pushed open from outside. Zhao Xuanzhen saw a figure walking through the blood-red sunset—a bald man, broad-shouldered and massive, his skin covered in thick iron-gray dragon scales, his claws stout and hardened, a cold smile lingering at the corner of his mouth.

“Light Dragon?”

He recognized the intruder instantly. The next moment, the porcelain cup on the desk exploded into powder under a burst of wind pressure. As Zhao Xuanzhen spun, his afterimage sliced through the air. Light Dragon opened his mouth—but his words were cut off before they could escape by the sudden attack!

With a dull thud, Light Dragon’s spine slammed into the redwood desk. White papers fluttered like startled butterflies between their robes. Zhao Xuanzhen knelt down, pinning Light Dragon’s struggling arms, his left hand clamping the throat, his right hand raised high—five fingers glowing with dazzling dark gold, a sharp, lethal aura exploding outward!

Dark Gold Terror Claw!

Zhao Xuanzhen had no idea why Light Dragon was here—he was genuinely surprised. The fellow should’ve been locked in the dungeon of Donghai City’s Spirit Relay Tower, repeatedly tortured by clerks eager to curry favor with senior disciples for promotion.

The reason didn’t matter. Zhao Xuanzhen had no qualms about sending the Guang brothers to reunite.

The Dark Gold Terror Claw descended. Light Dragon’s pupils contracted sharply—confusion and shock exploded within them. In that instant, another figure’s shadow overlapped with Light Dragon’s.

A girl with black hair and black eyes, tall and elegant, her face beautiful. That shadow pierced the fog shrouding his spirit, and the violent Dark Gold Terror Claw froze, halted mere millimeters from touching the girl’s jade-like skin.

Reality and illusion clashed fiercely. Zhao Xuanzhen felt the frantic pulse beneath his fingertips. Sunlight dappled across the girl’s face; her outline slowly sharpened.

“Gu Yue…”

Zhao Xuanzhen realized who she was. The hallucination from his mental backlash had misled him—he’d mistaken Gu Yue for Light Dragon, nearly ripped out the Supreme Bone of the Silver Dragon King!

“Cough… cough…”

Gu Yue’s swan-like neck was clamped in Zhao Xuanzhen’s fingers. Her body heat burned his palm through the thin fabric. Pale skin bloomed with butterfly-wing-shaped bruises. Her face showed surprise and pain; each cough carried a faint, broken breath.

“Zhao Xuanzhen, Aunt Leng brought snacks—come taste them!”

One second before Zhao Xuanzhen released his grip, Na’er burst in. But seeing the scene inside, she froze instantly, the snacks in her hands tumbling to the floor.

Her slender body trembled violently. Na’er pointed at them with a trembling finger, her voice shattered:

“Zhao Xuanzhen, we agreed this was just pretend!”

Before finishing, Na’er transformed into a silver whirlwind, forcibly separating them, then glared furiously at Gu Yue, her silver eyes blinking wildly: You’re not human!

Na’er had grown up with Zhao Xuanzhen for four years; she knew he wasn’t deranged enough to attack someone he’d only met two days ago—so it must be Gu Yue’s fault!

A five-mao-a-pound rotten cabbage lured away my plump little pig!

Meeting Na’er’s accusing gaze, Gu Yue understood for the first time what true injustice felt like. She had indeed planned to grow closer to Zhao Xuanzhen, slowly and deliberately—but she hadn’t even acted yet!

Her foot had barely crossed the threshold, toes not yet touching the ground, when she was instantly subdued, twisted, and pinned to the desk!

“I had a mishap in my cultivation…”

Zhao Xuanzhen apologized, briefly and clearly explaining the general sequence—avoiding secrets like Teng She and Tang San’s divine consciousness—only saying that last night’s meditation went awry, leaving his spirit slightly disoriented. If he didn’t clarify now, the two Silver Dragon King halves would start fighting!

“Your face was awful at noon. Aren’t you going to see a Healing Soul Master?”

Na’er’s grief and accusation slowly faded. She looked at Zhao Xuanzhen with genuine concern.

“No, I’ll heal naturally in a few days.”

Even a Healing Soul Master’s examination would be useless. Ultimately, it was Zhao Xuanzhen’s own weakness—he, a Soul Elder, couldn’t bear the power of the Eight Deceitful Gods.

“I’m sorry, Gu Yue. You’ve suffered unjustly.” Zhao Xuanzhen apologized again.

Gu Yue’s ears still flushed red. She smoothed her crumpled clothes. With her proud nature, she should’ve stormed out in anger—but her peripheral vision caught Na’er’s tense, anxious face.

Seeing this unexpected scene, Na’er’s emotions had shifted drastically—her panic was unmistakable.

This sudden incident had its gains and losses. Gu Yue’s final lingering doubt vanished. She was now certain: Zhao Xuanzhen was Na’er’s most cherished person.

If she lost him emotionally—abandoned, or watching him grow close to someone else—Na’er’s humanity would shatter completely. Then Gu Yue could act directly, forcibly devour Na’er without human conscience interfering, becoming the full Silver Dragon King!

With this thought, Gu Yue’s angry expression softened instantly into kindness. She spoke gently: “It’s fine. Every Soul Master has off days. You didn’t mean to attack me. Don’t dwell on it.”

Gu Yue clasped her hands behind her back, as if hiding the red bruises on her wrists. A gentle smile graced her face—thoughtful, considerate. Zhao Xuanzhen sighed inwardly: Gu Yue really is a good person.

“Something’s off… nine out of ten things are off…”

Na’er sensed a strange undercurrent. Her gaze locked onto Gu Yue, thick with suspicion and wariness.

Confess! What are you planning?

Finding an angle only Na’er could see, Gu Yue returned a cold smile: Let me tell you—there are differences even between halves!

Na’er gritted her teeth. This new, cunning Gu Yue was far more troublesome than the old, openly ambitious one!

Gu Yue gathered the black hair Zhao Xuanzhen had twisted into disarray. A faint smile curled her lips. She was beginning to like this feeling.

Step by step, she would build a perfect image in Zhao Xuanzhen’s heart, claim the highest place in his soul, and make Na’er watch helplessly as the one she cherished drifted away into another’s arms!

Gu Yue’s eyes shimmered with excitement. She already foresaw the near future: Na’er kneeling in despair, her humanity reduced to dust, a puppet under her control, ready to be devoured!

“To become the Silver Dragon King and ascend the Spirit Relay Tower, Zhao Xuanzhen must belong to me!”

“I am the Sovereign of Soul Beasts, the hope of their vengeance, my mind unbreakable! I will never be as foolish as Na’er—falling for him, then discarding him after using him!”

Gu Yue silently swore.

On the other side, innocent Zhao Xuanzhen gazed out the window, calculated the time, and spoke: “Na’er, I’m going to Tiandingcheng to deliver a letter for Han Lao. Will you come with me, or stay in Donghai City for a few more days?”

“Of course I’ll come with you!”

Na’er didn’t hesitate. She was used to having Zhao Xuanzhen beside her.

“Can I come too?” Gu Yue volunteered. “The final exams are over. Donghai Academy has a month’s holiday. I have nothing else to do—perfect chance to go to Tiandingcheng with you.”

“We’re all Spirit Relay Tower disciples. We’ll fight together in the future. I’m new here—this is a good chance to get to know you both.”

“You know, Na’er told me just the other day—we three are the Spirit Relay Tower’s greatest hopes. We must be inseparable.”

“Wait… did I say that…?”

Na’er rubbed her chin, straining to remember. Oh! She really did say that!

“Fine. Then all three of us go.”

After all, he’d lost control and hurt her. Zhao Xuanzhen felt a flicker of guilt. And Gu Yue’s words made sense. He was also deeply curious to understand this Silver Dragon King half, so different from the one in another timeline.

A spontaneous trip. Half an hour later, the three arrived at Donghai City’s Soul Device Station.

Donghai City was a famous coastal tourist town. The station teemed with people, yet the trio still stood out like cranes among chickens, drawing countless stares.

Soul Masters developed faster than ordinary people. Gu Yue and Na’er, still young, had already blossomed into graceful, exquisite beauties.

Black and silver stood in stark contrast, yet upon closer look, there was an almost imperceptible similarity between them. Sometimes, when they turned their heads, their micro-expressions were identical.

At the center of this black-and-white balance stood Zhao Xuanzhen—his handsome face swept all attention. His thick, dark lashes were long and fine, envied by any girl. His aura was utterly unique: warm as jade, humble as a gentleman.

“We’re lucky—we caught the last train.”

After buying their Soul Device train tickets, the three headed to the checkpoint. Along the way, Zhao Xuanzhen pulled out his Soul Device communicator, found Leng Yaoju’s chat window, and began typing:

Teacher, I, Na’er, and Gu Yue are departing for Tiandingcheng. We’ll return to the Spirit Relay Tower headquarters in a few days. Don’t worry—I’m wearing the Phoenix Pendant and will send daily safety updates. (Heart) (Heart) (Heart)

Sent successfully. Zhao Xuanzhen put away the communicator. He chose not to meet Leng Yaoju to say goodbye—his face was still too pale. He feared she’d panic.

Normally, Soul Device trains had an extremely low accident rate. Not everyone was a train killer. Besides, Zhao Xuanzhen had the Phoenix Pendant and the Eight Deceitful Gods’ Teng She guarding him—no life-threatening danger could arise.

After passing the checkpoint, the three reached the platform and boarded the Soul Device train.

The train’s exterior matched Zhao Xuanzhen’s memories of high-speed rail. Strictly speaking, the Dragon King Legend era was a modern society: Soul Device trains resembled high-speed rail, Soul Device communicators resembled smartphones, and many Soul Device technologies had clear prototypes.

The three bought ABC consecutive seats. Na’er glanced at Zhao Xuanzhen’s calm face, then at Gu Yue’s serene one, and nervously scratched her eyebrow.

She didn’t want to sit next to Gu Yue, nor did she want Gu Yue next to Zhao Xuanzhen—but no matter how she arranged it, one of these two scenarios was inevitable.

In the end, Na’er chose to sit beside Gu Yue, shoving Zhao Xuanzhen into the window seat at the far end.

Sacrifice myself to protect my little pig.

Gu Yue noticed Na’er’s scheme and didn’t care. Meals are eaten one bite at a time. They’d only known each other briefly—she wouldn’t act rashly. This was pure overreaction on Na’er’s part. Na’er’s heart couldn’t fathom Gu Yue’s intentions.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome aboard the Soul Device train from Donghai City to Tiandingcheng. Please respect the onboard facilities…”

A pleasant female voice echoed through the cabin, signaling the train’s departure toward Tiandingcheng.

Zhao Xuanzhen turned his head toward the window. The train sped past lush green forests, gliding along Donghai City’s famed coastline. The sun set, merging sea and sky into one. The ocean shimmered, dancing with golden-orange light.

At this speed, the journey from Donghai City to Tiandingcheng took only a few hours. They’d arrive in time for dinner.

The train’s environment was far from quiet. All kinds of sounds filled the air. Na’er’s gaze sharpened. A thread of spiritual power surged outward—immediately, all noise vanished.

Sound blockade—a minor technique of the Spirit Sea Realm. Simple, practical, a must-have for travelers.

Spiritual power formed a protective barrier around their seats, keeping outside noise out and inside noise in. Na’er smiled in satisfaction, pulled down the small table, propped up her Soul Device communicator, and scrolled through short videos on the Soul Net.

“Xiao Wu—”

A trembling, heart-wrenching voice spilled from the screen. Beside Na’er, Zhao Xuanzhen and Gu Yue both jerked violently in unison. Driven by intense curiosity, they leaned forward together.

“What are you watching?” Gu Yue asked.

“Three-Wu Tragic Romance.”

Na’er glanced at her. “I just found this web drama—it’s blowing up on the Soul Net. It’s about the tragic love story between the Sea God Tang San and his wife Xiao Wu. Produced by Xuan Shi Tang Men Company. Clearly funded by Tang Men, to promote their ancestral founder.”

“I noticed you’re always interested in weird stuff,” Zhao Xuanzhen teased.

“Weird? I heard Xiao Wu was a 100,000-year Soft Bone Rabbit transformed into human form. How did a human Soul Master and a 100,000-year Soul Beast even end up together?”

Na’er opened the most popular episode with a learner’s attitude. She hated to admit it, but Gu Yue’s earlier comment about “one beast after another” had stung.

So what if we’re Soul Beasts? Humans and Soul Beasts have been close before!

Na’er watched intently, every detail absorbed. Zhao Xuanzhen also grew curious, staring at the screen. Gu Yue frowned, her expression full of criticism.

A Soul Beast marrying a human? Unforgivable heresy! A traitor to the beast race!

The Three-Wu Tragic Romance began. In a lush, ancient forest, a woman with a transparent scorpion braid floated midair, her eyes filled with deep affection as she gazed down at a youth holding a trident.

The youth didn’t retreat. He held her gaze with unwavering determination, their love profound, moving heaven and earth. The crimson sixth soul ring coiled around him began to detach.

“No—this is it—”

Zhao Xuanzhen gasped in alarm—but it was already too late.

“Rise again, my beloved!!!!”

The young man roared, each word torn from his throat like shattered vocal cords, his overwhelming emotion exploding like a mountain flood!

Zhao Xuanzhen and Gu Yue were struck dumb as if by lightning, glaring at Naer with a look of humiliating helplessness.

You owe us our ears!

(End of Chapter)