Chapter 61: Yuan Enyehui Seeks Help, the Pact of the Ferocious Beast Soul Bone, Gu Yue

“No wonder you’re the Angel Heir—a rare talent in this world…”

Zhao Xuanzhen immediately grew solemn, opening with a private room—this guy’s DNA must’ve been rewired!

“I’m no talent—just fulfilling my duty!”

Yue Zhengyu waved dismissively, assuming Zhao Xuanzhen was praising his sharp analysis and superior intellect, while becoming even more certain the man saw Yuan Enyehui as a pet, destined one day for a private room game.

Though the Douluo Continent now operates under a federation, nobles remain nobles—merely stripped of titles, feudal aristocrats have become invisible ones.

The Angel Clan is one such noble force; Yue Zhengyu well knew the filth beneath their pious facades, with countless nobles secretly keeping cat-women and leopard-women.

A top-tier core disciple of the Spirit Tower is secretly keeping a demonic soul master… cough, personal desires are not to be judged!

Yue Zhengyu’s core mission this trip was to prevent the Fallen Angel from corrupting the world; if he couldn’t kill Yuan Enyehui, he was perfectly content to see her fall under Zhao Xuanzhen’s control, never to rise again.

To the sacred Angel Clan, no matter how harsh the punishment inflicted upon a demonic soul master, it is always justly deserved.

“Brother Zhao, the Fallen Angel is extremely dangerous—the Spirit Tower must guard her strictly, and even when locking her away, proceed with caution!”

Yue Zhengyu’s face radiated righteous indignation, then his handsome features lit up with eager battle lust: “During my three-year leave, I fused my inherited soul spirit—I’ve grown significantly. Let’s spar sometime!”

“Fine.”

The Angel-shaped punching bag had come to him willingly; Zhao Xuanzhen naturally accepted. In truth, over the past three years he’d repeatedly fought and lost to numerous Shrek geniuses—led by Li Qiankun and Mo Jue—yet kept returning, bruised and battered, yet utterly delighted.

“See you.”

Yue Zhengyu bowed, descended the stairs, and walked straight out of Xuanlong Coffee, pausing his gaze on Yuan Enyehui for a full second before leaving—his eyes heavy with meaning.

Yuan Enyehui’s eyebrows arched sharply; she sensed this guy’s stare was brazenly impudent—his pretty-boy face desperately needed a good punch.

“It’s settled. Rest easy from now on—he won’t bother you again.”

A clear voice suddenly rang out; Yuan Enyehui turned to see Zhao Xuanzhen leaning against the counter, smiling.

“Thank you, boss.”

Compared to the previous Yue Zhengyu, Zhao Xuanzhen’s image instantly soared a hundredfold—Yuan Enyehui had never before thought her boss so strikingly handsome!

“Um, boss…”

Yuan Enyehui’s red lips parted slightly, as if struggling to speak; meeting Zhao Xuanzhen’s probing gaze, she gritted her teeth:

“Are you free lately?”

“Tell me what it’s about first—I’ll consider if I’m free.”

“Starting second year, we begin crafting a One-Character Battle Armor, but mine is special—no second-year mech engineer has this skill. Could you help me?”

“Crafting a One-Character Battle Armor…?”

Zhao Xuanzhen lightly tapped the counter; Yuan Enyehui held her breath, awaiting his decision.

One-Character Battle Armors vary in difficulty; due to her dual martial souls—the Titan Ape and the Fallen Angel—her armor must accommodate both, making it among the most difficult to craft.

The strongest second-year mech engineer is only Level Four—barely meeting the minimum threshold for crafting a One-Character Battle Armor, utterly incapable of making hers.

In another timeline, Yue Zhengyu crafted Yuan Enyehui’s One-Character Battle Armor, but now she barely knew him—and held a terrible first impression of him. Her better option lay before her: Zhao Xuanzhen, her three-year acquaintance, the senior Level Five mech engineer and coffee shop boss.

“Before we proceed—how much are you offering the mech engineer?” Zhao Xuanzhen smiled lightly. “Friendly reminder: among the outer institute members of the Mech Engineering Association, I charge the highest fees—and still get fully booked every week.”

The impoverished girl sighed: “Boss, you know exactly how much I earn monthly—just name your price.”

“Since you’re an outstanding employee of Xuanlong Coffee, I’ll give you a 69% discount.”

“Boss, you’re so generous!!!”

Yuan Enyehui was overjoyed—not only had she found a super mech engineer, she’d also saved a fortune!

Watching Yuan Enyehui’s ecstatic expression, Zhao Xuanzhen’s lips curled into a subtle smile. Human relationships require the art of leaving space; boundless generosity makes one seem cheap—like a clingy lapdog.

Free help would make Yuan Enyehui suspect her boss had ulterior motives; a discount, however, was entirely different—she’d be filled with boundless gratitude for her boss’s generosity.

“By the way, boss… the mech repairer must participate in the design and manufacturing process…” Yuan Enyehui said awkwardly, “I study in the morning, work at the coffee shop in the afternoon—could you come at night to craft the armor?”

“No problem. I’ll find time at night to meet you,” Zhao Xuanzhen nodded. “You’re the only work-study student in the academy. For our first meeting, let’s use the work-study dorm—it’s quiet, few people. I’ll see your One-Character Battle Armor design first.”

“Yes yes, whatever the boss says!”

After agreeing to craft Yuan Enyehui’s armor, Zhao Xuanzhen returned to his booth to find the two girls had added a mountain of desserts.

Gu Yue moved with princess-like grace, sipping delicately; Na’er had become a silver whirlwind—once the storm passed, every dish vanished without a trace.

Zhao Xuanzhen was unfazed, sat down, and sipped his hazelnut ice coffee. Seeing Na’er fully absorbed in devouring desserts, Gu Yue lifted a hand, took a milk pudding, bypassed Zhao Xuanzhen’s outstretched palm, and directly held it to his lips.

“...”

You’ve got guts—no longer hiding it?

Zhao Xuanzhen leaned back slightly in refusal, flashed Gu Yue a blinking signal. The girl ignored him, pressed the pudding even closer—less than a centimeter from his lips—her dark, clear eyes smiling, radiating unmistakable dominance.

Why should I hide? Why shouldn’t she hide from me?

Gu Yue held the pudding firmly, refusing to retreat. Zhao Xuanzhen hesitated for 0.25 seconds, then bit into it.

At this sight, Gu Yue’s face bloomed into a radiant smile—like a cunning little fox—her fingertip brushing unintentionally against Zhao Xuanzhen’s lip corner.

Na’er, still devouring, noticed nothing. Only when she finished and lifted her head did she find Zhao Xuanzhen and Gu Yue already back to normal—one quietly sipping coffee, the other silently eating dessert.

Sensing Na’er had eaten enough, Zhao Xuanzhen asked Gu Yue: “Shall we keep touring Shrek City, or shall I show you around the academy?”

Gu Yue shook her head: “Neither. I want to tidy my dorm.”

“We’ll help you… oh, wait—I can’t—boys aren’t allowed in girls’ dorms…” Zhao Xuanzhen stopped mid-sentence, suddenly realizing the gender issue.

“No problem—I’ll help her!” Na’er blurted out.

“Huh?”

Zhao Xuanzhen and Gu Yue turned their heads in perfect unison, their gazes like infrared spotlights fixed on Na’er—something fishy was going on!

“W-what are you two looking at?!”

Na’er puffed her cheeks like a pufferfish, huffing: “Cold Aunt said we, the Trident Trio, must stand united!”

“A weak excuse.”

“It doesn’t fit your persona…”

Both Gu Yue and Zhao Xuanzhen’s faces screamed “YOU’RE HIDING SOMETHING”—Na’er helping Gu Yue had to have an ulterior motive!

“Xuanzhen, since Na’er is so eager… then perfect—we two should have a proper heart-to-heart.”

Gu Yue raised an eyebrow—let’s see what trick you’re playing!

“Yes yes, girls bonding! Zhao Xuanzhen, you stay behind! I want Phoenix Street’s chicken drumsticks—buy me fifty jin!”

“...Fine.”

Zhao Xuanzhen nodded, his expression complicated.

The three split into two groups: Zhao Xuanzhen went alone to the outer city’s Phoenix Street to buy chicken drumsticks; Na’er linked arms with Gu Yue, playing the role of devoted best friends, returning to Shrek Academy.

Na’er embodied celestial wisdom; Gu Yue embodied otherworldly elegance. The two stunning girls—one silver, one black—formed a breathtaking sight, drawing countless glances along the way.

Without Zhao Xuanzhen between them, they walked side by side. Observant eyes might notice: their heights, leg lengths, facial contours—all their graceful curves were eerily similar.

Their features looked different at first glance, yet upon closer inspection, they harmonized strangely—they didn’t look like twins, yet they looked more like twins.

Since Shrek Academy admitted students every three years—roughly a hundred per cohort—and outer institute members faced expulsion, graduation, or promotion to the inner institute, the total outer institute population never exceeded six hundred. Thus, the dorm buildings occupied modest ground space: twelve dorm buildings for six grades, half for boys, half for girls.

In the era of the Dragon King Legend, Shrek Academy dorms weren’t as crude as ten thousand years ago—where hundreds fought over two toilets—nor as luxurious as ten thousand years later with standalone villas. They were simply plain, ordinary concrete slab buildings.

Long corridors lined with rows of dorm doors, each marked with a number.

Dorm 520. Gu Yue pulled out her key, opened the door—muddy air rushed out, dust everywhere. Na’er flung open the windows for ventilation; Gu Yue summoned water elements to clean the room.

Outer institute dorms were single-occupancy, about twenty square meters. Besides a spacious iron-frame bed, there was only a desk-and-chair set and a minimalist steel wardrobe. Fortunately, each dorm had its own bathroom, convenient for students.

“This is terrible…” Na’er glanced around, unable to resist complaining. “Thank goodness Xuanzhen had foresight back then—he demanded from Shrek that we be allowed to live directly in the Heron Island cottages, and even use the Golden Tree’s life energy for cultivation.”

Gu Yue snorted, flicked the filthy water ball into the bathroom drain, leaned against the corner of the wooden desk, arms crossed to appear more imposing, and said:

“Speak up. Why break away from Xuanzhen? What do you want to talk about with me alone?”

The silver-haired girl scampered to Gu Yue’s front, eyes gleaming with eagerness, her face beaming:

“Gu Yue Zi, don’t say that—we’re besties, right∽”

Hearing this, Gu Yue broke out in goosebumps, stepped back against the wall, and warned: “I inherited the Dragon God’s wisdom—don’t think this trick will fool me. Get to the point!”

“Fine, I see you’re not falling for that.” Na’er rubbed her brow. “Give me a soul bone. Just one!”

“Best if it’s a ferocious beast—ten thousand years is fine. Preferably yin-yang, spiritual, or spatial. Of course, other exceptional soul bones work too—like the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King’s torso bone, the Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear King’s arm bones, the Jade Swan’s outer soul bone wings…”

“Do you even hear what you’re saying?”

Gu Yue tilted her head, staring fixedly at Na’er’s fluent speech: “Do I look like a restaurant? Are you ordering off a menu?”

“How could I? It’s a request!” Na’er protested.

“Yin-yang, spiritual, spatial…” Gu Yue repeated, thoughtful. “The latter two are general-purpose soul bones. Yin-yang is highly specific—you’re asking for a soul bone for Xuanzhen?”

“Yeah.”

Na’er dropped the pretense, unleashed the Thorned Dragon Emperor’s aura: “This ten-thousand-year soul bone came from Shrek Academy—it’s spatial, like a universal tool. Either of us can absorb it, but Xuanzhen gave it to me…”

“I understand.” Gu Yue grasped it instantly. “You feel guilty and want to repay Xuanzhen with a better soul bone—so now you’re turning to me.”

“You’re so smart! The Dragon God’s wisdom is terrifying!” Na’er gave a thumbs-up.

“Stop flattery!” Gu Yue snapped. “You’re clever too—you know I’ve amassed tens of thousands of years’ worth of soul bones from the Star Dou Great Forest, and you just demand one!”

“Can you give it?” Na’er probed. “I can pay.”

Gu Yue laughed bitterly: “The Lord of Soul Beasts selling soul bones—do I have no dignity?

Equal exchange—the eternal law of the world. Agree to two conditions, and I’ll give you a twenty-thousand-year ferocious beast soul bone.”

“Oh? Tell me!”

“First, tonight, accompany me…”

“No way!”

Na’er cut her off instantly, face pale with terror, shrinking back.

“I’ll sell my soul—but I’ll never sell my body!”

“What body? All you think about all day is food and lust!”

Gu Yue roared, completely abandoning her dignity: “It’s cultivation, cultivation!”

“Oh, cultivation…” Na’er grunted. “I thought you’d locked yourself away and gone mad.”

Suppressing her fury, Gu Yue spoke coldly: “First condition: you will come here three days a week to train with me. Your bloodline’s aura will help me recover faster—and even repair missing bloodline fragments.”

“Second: you said Yunming wants you to keep living on the Sea God Island and not study in the Outer Court. I want your promise on that.”

“This…”

Na’er’s face twisted in resistance—five full mornings a week!

Gu Yue said coolly: “I’ve let you off for three years. Now it’s time to pay me back, Na’er. You don’t want Xuanzhen losing his beast soul bone, do you?”

“Let’s make a one-year pact: follow my terms, and after a year, the soul bone will be yours.”

Trading away some useless things for Na’er’s year-long absence, the Queen Gu Yue was determined to reclaim everything!

“Fine, I accept!”

Na’er had failed to achieve a perfect completion in seven years—she didn’t believe Gu Yue could do it in one!

The next instant, two pale hands reached out and slammed together midair!

“Clap! Clap! Clap!”

Three claps—the pact was sealed!

(End of Chapter)