Chapter 35: Tianhai Alliance Competition, Naer: Zhao Xuanzhen Is What True Excellence Looks Like

The sharp aura of the red-class mech sliced through dark clouds and torrential rain, flying straight toward Tiandingcheng.

When traveling to Haicheng, Zhao Xuanzhen had ridden Leng Yaoju’s Tianhuo Fenghuang; now, riding Mu Ye’s red-class mech, he could directly compare the two—evaluating speed, stability, comfort, and more, the red-class mech utterly crushed the black-class mech.

“Even as mere transportation, the red-class is superior,” Zhao Xuanzhen mused.

Hearing this, Mu Ye clicked his tongue. “Only a handful of Soul Masters on the Douluo Continent would dare be so extravagant using a red-class mech as transportation. And red-class mechs have infinite applications—they can do nearly anything. Using one just for transport is pure waste. Let me show you now.”

“Little Red, transform!”

“Understood, boss.”

A gentle female voice echoed from within the red-class mech, accompanied by the clang of metal; the humanoid mech shifted into an aircraft form, its wing edges sharp as blades, radiating a dangerous dark-gold glow.

Instantly, the red-class mech vanished from sight, reappearing a kilometer away.

“Fixed instantaneous teleportation of life functions—free spatial jumps within a one-kilometer range,” Mu Ye boasted.

“Among the countless martial souls on the continent, the physical-type martial soul best suits mechs. Once a mech breaks past red-class, it can fuse with its owner’s soul spirit. Little Red has fused with one of my soul spirits—she’s like my own extension.”

Speaking of mechs, Mu Ye’s eyes burned with fervor, and he had endless topics to discuss. Entirely immersed in exploring the world of mechs, he even abandoned the chance to reach the 95th-level Super Douluo—demonstrating just how deeply obsessed this master of the Physical Sect had become.

Mu Ye continued enthusiastically: “Though red-class mechs aren’t as powerful as four-character Doukai, their functions are far more comprehensive. I strongly recommend you build a red-class mech tailored to your martial soul—guaranteed to surprise you immensely.”

“If I have free time in the future, I’ll give it a try.”

Zhao Xuanzhen nodded slightly. His three secondary professions were all at Level Four, giving him preliminary knowledge of mechs and Doukai. Compared to the complex, cumbersome Doukai, mechs were far simpler—he could consider crafting a red-class mech.

…

The front gate of the Tiandingcheng Blacksmiths’ Association.

A silver-haired girl held up a soul-tool shield; raindrops struck the barrier and slid down like ink trails, highlighting her porcelain skin, her silver-white eyes fixed eagerly on the sky.

Distant thunder cracked as the red-class mech tore through the air; the cockpit opened, and a tall figure sliced through the rain curtain, descending from above—his eyes blazing, as if he’d crushed lightning into his pupils.

“Over here!”

Xiang Naer waved her small hand, her slender figure swaying as her silver hair fluttered in the night wind.

Zhao Xuanzhen landed steadily before her, smiling warmly. “Terrible weather—why not wait inside?”

“I’m so excited!”

Xiang Naer leapt forward two steps, her grin radiant. “Did you awaken?!”

“Mm. Gold rank.”

“I knew you could do it!”

Xiang Naer cheered. The forty-ninth day was the absolute deadline for second awakening; she’d feared failure so much she hadn’t eaten or slept properly all day. After pacing for hours, she’d come outside to wait—eager to hear the news firsthand.

Seeing the girl’s excitement far surpassing his own, Zhao Xuanzhen smiled faintly. The feeling of being constantly on someone’s mind was truly warm. Xiang Naer was like a tiny sun—her presence made his life radiant.

After her joy subsided, Xiang Naer suddenly remembered something, her expression turning worried. “I heard the higher the gold-rank awakening for a physical-type martial soul, the greater the life force drain. Some even consume vitality—how are you?”

“Me?” Zhao Xuanzhen paused for two and a half seconds. “No signs of life damage from the gold awakening—it’s purely a burst soul skill. All attributes temporarily triple. The cost? After awakening ends, my true self enters a brief period of silence—only after a full day can I awaken again.”

Countless secret techniques left lingering side effects, but True Self Second Awakening was blunt, simple, and carried an extremely low cost—unparalleled among all gold-rank physical-type martial souls recorded in the Physical Sect’s archives.

“Then it’s fine—as long as you don’t shorten your lifespan! Let’s eat!”

Xiang Naer relaxed completely, eagerly pulling Zhao Xuanzhen toward the small kitchen.

“Wait.”

Zhao Xuanzhen interrupted her. Xiang Naer blinked her big eyes, puzzled. “What?”

“Your hair’s messy.”

Leaning slightly forward, Zhao Xuanzhen reached toward the tangled silver strands beside her ear, gently brushing them back from her jawline.

Brushing hair back is an intimacy vastly underestimated—his gentle eyes reflected in her pupils. Xiang Naer unconsciously held her breath; when his pinky accidentally grazed her delicate earlobe, her thick lashes trembled, and her body shivered as if struck by lightning.

“My heartbeat’s racing…”

Xiang Naer heard the thudding of her heart, began analyzing the cause—and then a yellow lightbulb flickered on above her head:

“It’s all Zhao Xuanzhen’s fault!”

Worried about his second awakening, Queen Naer skipped lunch—leading to malnutrition and irregular heartbeat!

Case solved: she must eat more tonight!

With this realization, Xiang Naer’s gaze turned solemn—she prepared herself for a massive meal to replenish nutrients, letting Zhao Xuanzhen smooth her silken silver hair.

The three arrived at the small kitchen. Master Zhenhua and Jiutian had finished their daily forging lessons and were waiting for Chef Mu Ye to serve dinner.

Mu Ye’s cooking efficiency needed no explanation—dish after dish of rare celestial ingredients were placed on the table: eight dishes and one soup, all exquisite, rich in energy, leaving everyone flushed, sweating, and invigorated.

Master Zhenhua set down his chopsticks. “In ten days, the Tianhai Alliance Competition begins. I’ll take Jiutian to the forging contest—also to meet some old friends.”

“Tianhai Alliance… I remember you always avoided them. What changed?” Mu Ye chuckled.

Zhenhua shot him an annoyed look. They’d been friends for decades—didn’t Mu Ye know why he avoided the Tianhai Alliance?!

Back then, Zhenhua, Mu Chen, and Yuan Baor were senior and junior siblings—a classic two-boys-one-girl story.

In the end, Zhenhua’s confession failed; he retreated into seclusion to pursue Master Artisan status. Mu Chen and Yuan Baor fell deeply in love and bore their child, Mu Xi.

Zhenhua still cherished his junior sister Yuan Baor. The Master Artisan never married, so in recent years he rarely entered cities under Tianhai Alliance control—avoiding misunderstandings. But this time, his mindset had changed drastically.

The elders’ story had reached its end; the younger generation’s tale was about to begin. Though brotherly affection remained, Zhenhua deeply hoped his disciple would outshine Mu Chen’s.

Jiutian was steady, cold, and relentless—a living piece of metal. After fifty days of forging training, he broke through to Level Four at age ten—a natural-born Master Artisan prodigy. Zhenhua felt like he’d gained a son in his old age.

Participating in grand events would strengthen Jiutian’s will and character—and gradually build his reputation.

Forging Tiankai metal inflicted terrifying backlash on the forger. Zhenhua had at most twenty years left. He placed great hope on Jiutian—wishing to train him as the next Master Artisan and successor to the Blacksmiths’ Association chairman.

Joining the Tianhai Alliance Competition sent a signal: the Douluo Continent’s forgers now knew Zhenhua had a worthy successor.

Of course, Jiutian wasn’t flawless. Zhenhua privately investigated his past—and found nothing. No parents, no family, no trace.

Logic had two sides: the lack of information proved Jiutian’s background was clean. If he were a spy from a hostile faction, they’d have prepared a false identity.

Zhenhua firmly believed a Master Artisan’s judgment never erred: Jiutian was gifted, possessed exceptional character, radiated righteousness—he was clearly a good boy!

Besides, Zhenhua didn’t believe any faction would send a ten-year-old boy with Master Artisan potential as a spy. Jiutian was too young; his values could easily be swayed. He might even embrace the Blacksmiths’ Association and turn against his original masters.

Looking at the silent, cold Jiutian beside him, Zhenhua smiled. “Brother, let our disciples compete openly…”

…

Ten days later, Tianhaicheng.

Tianhaicheng was the premier city on the eastern coast, bordering the sea and home to the Douluo Continent’s largest port. One of the eight military legions of the Sun-Moon Federation was stationed outside the city, their steel behemoth warships anchored in the ocean.

Due to its short development history, Tianhaicheng lacked deep heritage. Only its economy ranked among the Federation’s upper tier; in terms of Soul Masters, sects, and academies, it couldn’t compare to ancient cities like Shrek Academy, Mingdu, or Tiandingcheng.

The Tianhai Alliance Competition was a strategy devised by Tianhaicheng’s elite: offering massive rewards to winners, encouraging young Soul Masters from eastern coastal cities to compete, and attracting Soul Masters from across the continent to join the Tianhai Alliance.

The plan worked brilliantly. The Tianhai Alliance’s Soul Master numbers surged, its overall strength rose rapidly—even Shrek Academy took notice, granting more admission slots to winning academies.

As the competition drew near, Tianhaicheng grew increasingly prosperous. Tourists flooded in to watch the matches; the entire city buzzed with energy, especially around places with food and wine.

Zhao Xuanzhen and Xiang Naer admired Tianhaicheng’s local customs. Xiang Naer linked arms with Zhao Xuanzhen; sunlight bathed her exquisite face, her skin translucent and luminous.

Master Zhenhua personally accompanied his disciple to the Blacksmiths’ Competition. The Tianhai Alliance, thrilled by the news, dispatched a lavish team to welcome the Master Artisan and his apprentice.

Mu Ye, Zhenhua’s close friend and bodyguard, naturally came along—and brought Zhao Xuanzhen along to continue answering questions about Physical Sect secrets. Xiang Naer refused to return alone to the Spirit Transmission Tower, so the five traveled together to Tianhaicheng.

On the surface, all was harmonious, no one injured. But deep within the Spirit Transmission Tower headquarters, the Empty Nest Teacher’s eyes were bloodshot.

Every day, he counted down the days until the two-month deadline. Then Zhao Xuanzhen sent a message—Leng Yaoju would remain an Empty Nest Teacher once more.

Zhenhua dined with his forging friends, introducing his direct disciple Jiutian. Master Mu Ye guarded him closely. Zhao Xuanzhen and Xiang Naer enjoyed peace; Xiang Naer used her old trick to coax hidden gems from Tianhaicheng locals, while the red-class mech Little Red secretly protected them.

“Boss, ten Tianhai Emperor Crabs, a hundred Rose Red Shrimp, a hundred Purple Crystal Sea Urchins!”

The moment Xiang Naer entered, she ordered the dishes.

The owner was startled—he’d assumed it was a family banquet. Seeing only a teenage boy and girl, he hesitated. “Isn’t that too much? Are others joining you?”

Xiang Naer waved it off. “Not enough. Add a salt-grilled Bluefin Tuna, over two hundred jin. Twenty servings of tuna sashimi. A hundred specialty Crab King Burgers!”

The owner stared, dumbfounded, gazing at Xiang Naer as if she were a gluttonous demon. Zhao Xuanzhen sighed helplessly and handed over a black card to pay.

The owner accepted the black card with solemn gravity—he understood this was a legendary battle. He shouted to the kitchen: “Get cooking! Fulfill these two little tyrants!”

A line of coral dining carts surrounded them. Emperor crabs steamed white vapor, their shells glowing orange-red like molten sunset, their legs white and succulent, the peeled meat stacked into snow-white towers.

The entire tuna lay amid crushed ice, its silver-gray skin shimmering. The waiter, gloved in white, brushed his fingertips along the fish’s belly—then a flash of steel, slicing perfect sashimi slices, the frost-like marbling within the flesh breathtakingly beautiful.

The sharp, sweet freshness of the deep sea flooded the air. Xiang Naer’s mouth flooded with saliva—just then, a familiar, serene voice spoke.

“Perfect timing.”

Four figures entered: Gu Yue, Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, and Xu Xiaoyan—the East Sea Four had arrived together.

Xiang Naer’s pupils shrank in shock. She glared accusingly at Zhao Xuanzhen—I smell betrayal!

Gu Yue calmly pulled out the seat beside Zhao Xuanzhen, utterly ignoring Xiang Naer. Remember—this was the Age of the Dragon King. She’d returned to East Sea Academy, yet never stopped using soul-tool communicators to chat remotely with Zhao Xuanzhen.

When she learned Zhao Xuanzhen had come to Tianhaicheng, she’d been ready to join immediately. After confirming his restaurant, she became a wind-blown woman racing to his side.

“Where are the Bone Dragon Soul Master and the Dark Phantom Eagle Soul Master?”

Zhao Xuanzhen spoke first.

“They dropped out,” Gu Yue said.

Tang Wulin looked guilty. In another timeline, absorbing one layer of the Golden Dragon King seal affected Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yang’s martial soul fusion technique. Now, he’d absorbed five layers. His classmates had dropped out because of him—he couldn’t shake the guilt.

All were the same age; they easily bonded. After introducing themselves, the restaurant fell into the rhythm of eating.

An hour passed. Xie Xie and Xu Xiaoyan were stuffed, leaning back in their chairs, struggling to breathe.

Gu Yue set down her chopsticks. Zhao Xuanzhen slowed slightly. Tang Wulin, ever the glutton, kept devouring. What shocked Xie and Xu most was that Xiang Naer’s eating speed hadn’t slowed at all—the pile of seafood shells beside her matched Tang Wulin’s height exactly.

Xiang Naer and Tang Wulin noticed each other, expressions shifting. Both were the undisputed kings of appetite—matched opponents, instantly sparking a rivalry!

“Crack—”

The shrimp shell split cleanly. Gu Yue, lowering her gaze, peeled shrimp with gentle grace. The flesh detached, dragging translucent amber threads that clung to Zhao Xuanzhen’s bowl like tiny crescent moons.

Not you again… Juan…

Xiang Naer’s face twisted in despair. This past month, she’d slacked off—she’d forgotten the threat of the Great Demon Gu Yue!

From across the table came a constant crunching sound; Naer now had no desire to compete for the title of greatest eater, and said irritably:

“Tang Wulin, be more refined!”

Tang Wulin blinked, pointing at Zhao Xuanzhen, who had rolled up his sleeves and threaded shrimp into a string, and asked: “What about him?”

Zhao Xuanzhen innocently bit into a shrimp peeled by Guyue; Naer tilted her delicate chin upward and said crisply:

“That’s what I call bold and unrestrained!”

(End of chapter)