[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-douluo-the-dragon-king-s-taiji-xuanzhen":3,"chapter-douluo-the-dragon-king-s-taiji-xuanzhen-douluo-the-dragon-king-s-taiji-xuanzhen-chapter-28":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Douluo: The Dragon King's Taiji Xuanzhen",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2308596,4511,"Chapter 28: Tiandingcheng Matron Milk Tea, Gu Yue and Tang Wulin","douluo-the-dragon-king-s-taiji-xuanzhen-chapter-28",28,"\u003Cp>“If Tang Wulin is on the train, that’s not surprising…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xuanzhen suddenly understood—the case wasn’t his problem!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pure Train Killer triggered passively!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Donghai Academy is on break; Wu Changkong took Tang Wulin to Tiandingcheng—to pay respects to his beloved Long Bing, and to use the Intermediate Soul Transference Platform to help Tang Wulin advance his soul ring. They happened to board the same soul-powered train.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Add to that the train attendant is Mo Lan, daughter of Mo Wu—her allure toward evil soul masters was maximized!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All evil soul masters were eliminated; the security team arrived to handle the corpses and the chaos. The beautiful, sweet-voiced attendant walked through every carriage to calm the passengers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soul-powered train resumed normal operation. After the painful lesson of being ambushed by two attackers, clever Na’er switched to a window seat and searched for Tiandingcheng’s specialty snacks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yue still sat at the outermost seat, diligently studying the Soul Transference Tower—even hearing Tang Wulin and Wu Changkong’s names, she showed no intention to greet them. Zhao Xuanzhen sat between the black-and-white beauties, enjoying a moment of “embracing both sides.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a while, Mo Lan walked over with a soul-powered screen and knelt slightly, her curvaceous figure graceful, her voice soft: “Greetings, three soul masters. Thank you for your bravery in handling this malicious attack by evil soul masters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Federation honors your righteous intervention. I’m here to register your details—you are now entitled to free rides on all soul-powered trains and unlimited boxed meals!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three readily accepted. Evil soul masters—creatures against humanity—deserved nothing less than complete annihilation, and yet they’d gained an unexpected reward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though their status made train travel rare, and boxed meals weren’t even eaten by Na’er, the Federation’s goodwill deserved acceptance, not stubborn refusal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhao Xuanzhen, Gu Yue, Na’er…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the era of the Dragon King Legend, similar identity cards had already appeared. As Mo Lan entered the information, she etched these three names deeply into her heart, filled with gratitude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The evil soul masters had come solely for Mo Wu, the governor of Tiandingcheng—his only daughter, Mo Lan, had been taken hostage; Mo Wu would surely be thrown into chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the Douluo Continent, soul masters towered far above ordinary humans. For Mo Wu, an ordinary man, to rise to such a high position was incredibly difficult. Countless eyes watched him; one wrong decision would end his political career instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mo Lan thanked Zhao Xuanzhen and the other two—for herself, for her father, and for the hundreds of innocent passengers on the soul-powered train.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The journey remained calm. The soul-powered train arrived safely at Tiandingcheng. Dusk draped the city in a thin veil; on the weathered brick seams of the platform, a few wild grasses trembled softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over twenty thousand years ago, Tiandingcheng was already a renowned metropolis on the Douluo Continent—the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire and later its successor, the Tian Hun Empire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tiandingcheng’s location was ideal: close to the Star Dou Great Forest, the origin of soul beasts, and near Shrek City, the continent’s foremost metropolis—truly the heart of the entire land.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Night had fallen, yet Tiandingcheng still glowed with brilliant lights. After the long journey, the three decided to have dinner first, then find an inn to meditate and rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Na’er volunteered to lead the way—she’d clearly found many local restaurant recommendations on the soul net.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike the technologically advanced Shrek City, Tiandingcheng preserved its retro style. The three could feel the weight of twenty thousand years of history in the ancient patterns carved into the roadside buildings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yue had only been to Donghai City; Zhao Xuanzhen and Na’er had seen one more—Shrek City. Now, strolling through the ancient, elegant streets of Tiandingcheng, it felt uniquely enchanting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhao Xuanzhen, look!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Na’er suddenly grabbed Zhao Xuanzhen’s sleeve, staring fixedly at a shop by the roadside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tiandingcheng Matron Milk Tea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tea shop stood out like an anomaly in the ancient style—bells hung beneath its eaves, tinkling in the evening breeze; its outer walls were painted in a gradient of cherry blossom pink, making the pink sign glow as if steeped in honey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This place is insanely popular—let’s try it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Na’er had planned this all along. She grabbed Zhao Xuanzhen and Gu Yue by the arms and pulled them into the tea shop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman behind the glass counter looked up. A purple qipao hugged her full waist; pearl buttons were loosely undone just enough to reveal a black vine tattoo on her collarbone. Her slender fingers wiped the glass, nails gleaming with a shell-like pale pink.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Na’er froze instantly. No joke—the owner really was a matron!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her silver eyes flickered subtly toward Zhao Xuanzhen. He had a thing for mature women—Na’er had noticed long ago, and she deeply didn’t understand: how could someone who spent every day with the super-beautiful Na’er develop such a taste?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xuanzhen showed no reaction. Na’er exhaled slightly. Gu Yue’s sudden entry into their lives had awakened Na’er’s possessive instinct over her own humanity—lately, she’d been thinking more than usual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What would you like?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The matron swayed her hips, her voice melodious as a oriole’s song.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaning close to the misty display case, the drinks looked like bottled springtime. Gu Yue scanned all the tea names, then said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“One Passionfruit Double Harmony, with ice, no extra sugar.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No problem!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The owner began making the tea. Gu Yue turned—and found Na’er glaring at her with utter disdain, as if to say: How could you have such terrible taste?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you doing?” Gu Yue instinctively stepped back half a pace, dark eyes flickering with confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Na’er crossed her arms, tiptoeing down at her. “Passionfruit Double Harmony? Not acceptable. You need the ultimate tea—the Mee-Mee Puk-Ji Peachy, the pinnacle of tea evolution!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boss, one Mee-Mee Puk-Ji Peachy—with ice, with coconut jelly, full sugar!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yue’s face darkened, a vein throbbing on her temple. Who knew tea had a hierarchy of disdain?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xuanzhen fell into thought. They can both drink ice…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wait… why am I thinking this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He silently cursed his base soul, then ordered: “Half-sugar, lots of grapes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three fresh teas arrived. Passionfruit Double Harmony floated with fruit pulp, condensation beading the cup walls. Mee-Mee Puk-Ji Peachy shimmered in pink-and-white layers, its cream top dusted with star-like crystal sugar. Lots of Grapes resembled a deep purple vortex, with translucent jelly balls floating within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three left the tea shop, straws piercing the lids. As the cream topping puffed up like clouds, Na’er inhaled violently!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mmm…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Na’er smacked her lips, disappointed. Mee-Mee Puk-Ji Peachy hadn’t met her expectations. Her gaze slid quietly to Zhao Xuanzhen’s Lots of Grapes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This one’s bad. I want your Lots of Grapes!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhao Xuanzhen, you’re rejecting me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn it! I feed you, let you sleep on my shoulder—and now you won’t even let me sip your tea? How can a human be colder than a soul beast!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Na’er secretly stepped on Gu Yue’s foot, counting off her merits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xuanzhen handed over the Lots of Grapes. Na’er grinned, didn’t take it with her hands—instead, she leaned forward and bit the straw, gulping deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After releasing the straw, Na’er licked her fangs. The clean, sweet aftertaste exploded between her teeth. “I ordered full sugar—why does half-sugar taste sweeter and better?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m going to demand an explanation. If she doesn’t give me a good one, I’ll blow up every matron in Tiandingcheng!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stop embarrassing yourself. Let’s go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xuanzhen seized the back of Na’er’s neck, pinning her firmly. Gu Yue, watching, felt delighted—her lips curved into a subtle, charming smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three walked together, amid a tide of people—noisy yet refined, quiet yet alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Na’er had already picked a restaurant from her soul net search, leading Zhao Xuanzhen and Gu Yue through alleyways and streets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A scent hit them—like the fresh aroma of river fish roasted over charcoal. Smoke curled with charred fragrance past the door, drawing passersby to stop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hao’s Grilled Fish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve got good taste…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xuanzhen squinted. Huo Yuhao had ascended to godhood over twenty years ago. Hao’s Grilled Fish had little to do with Huo himself—it was a founder exploiting his fame. But the restaurant had succeeded, opening branches in many major cities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d survived the divine technique “Resurrect My Beloved”—Zhao Xuanzhen ignored all spiritual attacks, like the story behind the grilled fish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Welcome, three guests. Our grilled fish is selected and slaughtered fresh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A server in a dark blue apron smiled, holding a bamboo net, guiding them to a wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire wall had been converted into a 3D aquarium, filled with various river fish. Each live fish flicked its tail, splashing water onto sensors; backlighting cast shimmering ripples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hao’s Grilled Fish was indeed Tiandingcheng’s most popular restaurant—even after dinner hour, many customers still crowded around the tank, choosing fish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Na’er stared at the fish, thinking: “Which one should we pick? I’m hungry—I want a big fish, but the bigger the fish, the bigger the bones.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yue added: “The bigger the bones, the less meat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xuanzhen frowned: “Less meat means a smaller fish.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Na’er suddenly realized: “So overall—the bigger the fish, the smaller the fish… Huh? That’s terrifying!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three children debated fish. The server’s face visibly stiffened—he broke into a cold sweat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, through the aquarium’s cover, Zhao Xuanzhen’s gaze landed on two figures. A mature man, cold-faced and forbidding; a young boy, full of vigor, his large black eyes vividly alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Changkong, Tang Wulin. In another timeline, after arriving in Tiandingcheng, Wu Changkong always took Tang Wulin to Hao’s Grilled Fish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Wulin’s eyesight was excellent—he too recognized the three figures inside the restaurant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gu Yue is with them…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Wulin stared at Gu Yue, bantering with Na’er—this was a side of her he’d never seen. In Donghai Academy, she was like a cold machine. Now, she was alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gu Yue, your classmate is here—he’s looking at you,” Zhao Xuanzhen reminded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yue looked up and met Tang Wulin’s intense gaze. Then, she turned slightly to Zhao Xuanzhen and said: “Could you please put your arm around my shoulder?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A hand gently rested on her swan-like neck and shoulder. Gu Yue trembled slightly, exhaled slowly, and quietly shifted closer to Zhao Xuanzhen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside, Tang Wulin’s jaw tightened. His expression went blank for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Witnessing Gu Yue’s ice melt, growing close to Zhao Xuanzhen, Tang Wulin felt a strange disillusionment. He and Gu Yue had never been truly close—but he felt as if he’d lost her countless times in his mind, like a toy he’d always stood on tiptoe to watch, now bought by a stranger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One moment, relief. The next, his heart felt pierced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Changkong sensed Tang Wulin’s emotional shift. He gave a cold reassurance: “Those two are surely core disciples of the Soul Transference Tower. Gu Yue joined them—it’s natural they’re close.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know,” Tang Wulin murmured. “Master Wu, can we go somewhere else? I suddenly don’t want grilled fish anymore.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Changkong nodded. The two turned and left Hao’s Grilled Fish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside, Na’er pulled away Zhao Xuanzhen’s hand, glaring at him. “You dared to touch my shoulder? What else will you do next?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Na’er was shattered. Meanwhile, Gu Yue’s heart swelled with triumph. This was just a small step—wait till you cry later!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I want that silver fish.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Na’er pointed to a fish unlike the others—a thin silver line running along its dark dorsal fin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That silver one looks special—let’s eat it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the customer beside them also set their sights on the silver fish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sooner had the words left his mouth than two servers moved to catch it, when the water surged violently—a flash of silver scales, a streak of light—and the silver fish landed precisely in the net beside Zhao Xuanzhen and the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That person wants our fish too,” Na’er blinked, knowing Zhao Xuanzhen had acted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I bought it first—it’s mine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xuanzhen said coolly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too slow by a step, the customer missed the silver fish and shrugged, choosing another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was normal. The silver fish was merely unusual in appearance; its taste was nearly identical to ordinary fish. Would anyone die over a single fish?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The iron platter arrived with the grilled fish, oil spattering like golden sparks, its surface speckled with amber-brown crust, skin crisp, pepper grains and crushed perilla leaves scattered like stars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yue lightly tapped the fish’s belly; a crisp crack echoed as milky steam spread, revealing flesh like snow petals, its juices soaking into the lotus leaf beneath, glistening with oil. She delicately picked up a piece with her chopsticks, tasted it, then nodded in approval.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Na’er eagerly shoved the fattest crescent-shaped meat beside the gills into her mouth—her teeth pierced the skin with a crisp snap, like cracking a sugar shell, then drowned in scalding, fresh broth; the spicy aroma of dried tangerine peel and old ginger swirled on her tongue, a trace of sweetness rising to her throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So good!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a cry, Na’er switched into devour mode, tearing into the grilled fish like a whirlwind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the sauce smudged on her cheeks, Zhao Xuanzhen pushed a cup of creamy white soup toward her—simmered with fish eyes, floating two delicate lotus pods molded from fish paste.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhao Xuanzhen, where do we deliver Master Han’s letter?” Na’er mumbled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The headquarters of the Heaven Dou City Blacksmiths’ Association.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xuanzhen’s gaze grew distant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Delivering the letter or visiting Mu Ye—neither compared to what Zhao Xuanzhen truly intended to do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Eight Deceitful Gods require celestial timing, geographical advantage, and human harmony to accelerate their birth, and only one can be cultivated in a single realm. Teng She has already claimed the Spirit Transmission Tower; Zhao Xuanzhen must awaken the second Eight Deceitful God in Heaven Dou City—its importance is no less than controlling Teng She, the Spirit of False Deception!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The image of Dry Metal—mighty, fierce power!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2326,"2026-06-20T10:43:43.510Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","e0becf1f8615c2bb00475061c29cb874850a7116f3a69f7846e6b763917d0b25","douluo-the-dragon-king-s-taiji-xuanzhen-chapter-29","douluo-the-dragon-king-s-taiji-xuanzhen-chapter-27",92,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdouluo-the-dragon-king-s-taiji-xuanzhen-cover.jpg"]