[DD2]: 357

Shortly after, Su Yu and Wang Dong'er arrived at the main peak.

At the mountaintop, the mountain wind was even more piercing, carrying a heavy dampness. Yet, no matter how fiercely the wind blew, the castle standing proudly at the center of the peak remained unshaken.

On the arched gate of the castle were three large characters: "Clear Sky Fortress."

"So, what do you think? My family's place isn't bad, right?"

 Wang Dong'er looked at Su Yu with a smile.

Su Yu smiled slightly and said, "Being able to build such a majestic and ancient castle on this isolated peak is no small feat."

"Hehe."

 Wang Dong'er giggled, revealing a proud smile like a child who had just been praised.

"Please, after you!"

 Wang Dong'er gestured invitingly to Su Yu, blinking her bright eyes playfully.

Su Yu said nothing and followed Wang Dong'er into the gate of Clear Sky Fortress.

Not long after they entered, a tall figure emerged from within the castle, walking straight toward them.

It was a burly man, with an imposing physique almost rivaling that of Lu Yuan. Standing there, he was like a wall, exuding an immense sense of intimidation.

His face was rugged and sharp, as if carved from stone, with features that were exceptionally bold. His short hair stood upright like steel needles, and his brownish-yellow eyes faintly gleamed with a golden radiance.

He wore a gray robe, which appeared somewhat stretched by his muscular frame. As he approached, a suffocating pressure seemed to follow him.

His gaze immediately locked onto Su Yu, containing a strong mental pressure that swept across like a raging storm.

From the moment this burly man appeared, it was clear he intended to give Su Yu a show of strength.

Su Yu's eyes narrowed, and his icy blue pupils seemed to flash with a sharp brilliance. A domineering will, as if proclaiming supremacy over heaven and earth, surged forth and met the burly man's pressure head-on.

In terms of raw strength, Su Yu might not be a match for this towering man.

But when it came to mental fortitude, there were only a handful of people in the world who could surpass Su Yu.

Two equally powerful mental forces clashed in mid-air, causing the very space between them to ripple and distort.

If the burly man's pressure was like stormy waves crashing against the shore, then Su Yu's will was like an unyielding rock—indestructible.

No matter how the burly man's pressure surged, Su Yu remained steadfast and unmoved.

Though the clash of wills was subtle, the ripples it caused could not escape the notice of Wang Dong'er, who was standing nearby.

"Second Uncle, what are you doing? Su Yu is my friend!"

 Wang Dong'er glared at the burly man indignantly.

The burly man, Tai Tian chuckled and said, "Dong'er, Second Uncle was just testing this kid's mettle. After all, not just anyone can casually enter our Clear Sky Sect."

"Kid, not bad. You didn't disgrace your Ice God Palace."

Tai Tan sized up Su Yu, his heart filled with surprise.

Su Yu's mental strength was not inferior to his own.

This was completely unexpected.

For someone of Su Yu's age to possess such mental prowess was truly extraordinary.

"You flatter me, Senior. Your mental strength is also impressive," Su Yu responded indifferently.

Tai Tan's eyebrows raised slightly, his eyes widening a bit. This brat was quite arrogant, wasn't he?

He had already entered the Clear Sky Sect's territory, yet he still dared to act so boldly.

Who gave him such confidence? Was it Hai Bodong?

Tai Tan glanced around but found no trace of anything unusual. Still, his instincts told him that Hai Bodong must have shown up.

Just thinking of Hai Bodong made his face twinge slightly with discomfort.

However, this was the Clear Sky Sect, and his elder brother was here. He refused to believe that no matter how strong Hai Bodong was, he could take on both of them.

His elder brother was no ordinary Ultimate Douluo from the outside world—he was on a whole other level of strength.

With this thought, Tai Tan straightened his chest, brimming with confidence.

"Su Yu, this is my Second Uncle, Tai Tan. You can just call him Second Uncle," Wang Dong'er said while tugging on Su Yu's sleeve, afraid he might offend Tai Tan.

Su Yu feigned ignorance and said nothing.

Tai Tan sneered, "Calling me Second Uncle is too early. Kid, you can just call me Uncle."

"Senior Tai Tan, greetings," Su Yu said plainly.

"Ha…"

 Tai Tan rolled up his sleeves. What was this? The brat wasn't even willing to call him "Uncle"?

He couldn't help but glance at Wang Dong'er. "This is the future husband you've chosen?"

Wang Dong'er awkwardly turned her head away, lightly poking Su Yu with her finger while looking at him curiously.

She hadn't expected Su Yu to even refuse to say "Uncle."

But what she didn't know was that Su Yu would never casually address someone as an elder.

The only ones who held such a privilege were Di Tian and Bi Ji, and that was because they had raised him.

As for others, even Bear Lord—Su Yu had only called him "Uncle Bear" a few times as a child. Now, he simply called him by his name.

His identity wouldn't allow him to easily treat others as seniors.

In the future, they might even face each other in life-or-death combat. How could Su Yu casually call him "Uncle"?

Even if they ended up as allies someday, they still wouldn't be qualified to be addressed as such.

Su Yu was the reincarnation of the Dragon God, the future ruler of soul beasts.

No matter how you looked at it, Su Yu had no reason to play along.

"Kid, you've got quite the personality," Tai Tan said, growing more interested. The kid had just arrived and already refused to show any courtesy.

"Second Uncle, Su Yu didn't get much rest last night and isn't fully awake yet. I'll take him to rest for a bit, and we'll meet again later," Wang Dong'er said quickly, coming up with a clumsy excuse before dragging Su Yu into the castle.

Tai Tan didn't stop them, but as he scratched his head, a glint of light flashed in his brownish-yellow eyes.

"This brat sure is arrogant. Does he look down on me?"

"Hmph, he's in our Clear Sky Sect now. Let's see how long he can keep showing off."

"Clear Sky Sect doesn't allow anyone more arrogant than me. I'll have to teach him a lesson."

"If he thinks he can steal our precious Dong'er while disrespecting me, he's got another thing coming."

Muttering to himself, Tai Tan turned and walked toward the main hall to find Niu Tian. He was determined to report this.

...

Meanwhile, Wang Dong had pulled Su Yu further into the castle.

The interior of the castle wasn't particularly luxurious. The overall decor was dominated by gray and black tones. Occasionally, there were traces of green. On both sides were staircases leading to higher levels.

The castle's structure wasn't overly complicated. It had three floors but occupied a significant amount of space.

Wang Dong'er began to introduce the place to Su Yu. "The first floor of Clear Sky Fortress is where the sect members live. The second floor is for hosting guests and where the elders stay.

"My eldest uncle, second uncle, my sister, and I all live on the third floor."

"I've arranged a room for you on the second floor. Follow me."

Wang Dong'er led Su Yu to the second floor and showed him to a room.

Almost all the furniture in the room was carved from stone, following a simple and unadorned style.

Compared to the Ice God Palace, the Clear Sky Sect truly seemed plain.

"Sorry for the inconvenience. The conditions are a bit basic, but you'll have to endure it for now," Wang Dong'er said apologetically. She understood Su Yu well.

Su Yu had high standards for his living conditions, as evidenced by how he would always book the most luxurious hotels.

What she didn't know, however, was that Su Yu wasn't some pampered young master.

If the conditions were good, he'd enjoy them. But if he had to return to a more primitive lifestyle, he could handle that just as well.

Compared to the unshielded wilderness of the Star Dou Forest, the Clear Sky Sect was already quite comfortable.

What's more, Su Yu had already noticed the bed not far away—it was made of Cold Jade Marrow.

This item was worth a fortune. In the original story, Huo Yuhao had treated it like a treasure, immediately starting his cultivation on it without hesitation.

It even triggered Snow Empress's power to erupt, accidentally wiping out Electrolux's remaining soul.

Though this Cold Ice Jade Marrow Bed wasn't considered a rare item in the Ice God Palace—practically every guardian-level figure had one—it was still extremely rare in the outside world.

The fact that Wang Dong'er brought him here was enough to show how much importance she placed on him.

"No problem, having a place to stay is already great," Su Yu said with a light smile.

Wang Dong'er heaved a sigh of relief and opened her mouth as if to say something, but upon meeting Su Yu's eyes, she lacked the courage to speak it out loud.

"You just sit for a bit. I'll go get you some bedding," Wang Dong'er said and was about to leave.

Su Yu grabbed her arm and asked softly, "Wang Dong, where's your sister?"

Wang Dong'er's body stiffened. She bit his lip lightly and replied, "She'll be here soon." Then, without waiting for Su Yu's response, Wang Dong'er ran straight out of the room.

With Wang Dong'er gone, Su Yu could only begin surveying his room.

The room was roughly 20 square meters—definitely not large. It had a small bathroom, within which was a basin filled with clear water.

Su Yu reached out and dipped his hand into the water, and a surge of coldness swept through him. Even with Su Yu's extreme mastery of ice, he shivered slightly.

He casually washed his face, and the icy chill seemed to penetrate his very bones, sending a refreshing coolness through his entire body. Instantly, he felt revitalized.

Sitting down on the Cold Ice Jade Marrow Bed, Su Yu found himself a bit bored. Suddenly, an icy voice echoed in his mind.

[Ding! Check-in location detected. A random check-in task has been issued.]

[Check-in location: Clear Sky Sect. Check-in duration: twelve hours.]

[Ding! Check-in begins.]

The sudden voice startled Su Yu, his spirits lifting as a slight hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

He hadn't expected to trigger a random check-in task upon arriving at Clear Sky Sect. However, the duration seemed a bit long—twelve hours. It was by far the longest check-in task Su Yu had ever encountered.

But twelve hours wasn't a big deal.

Crossing his legs, Su Yu casually picked up a book and began flipping through it.

...

Wang Dong'er walked reluctantly into a large room. Inside, apart from the previously seen Tai Tan, a middle-aged man dressed in white sat at the head seat.

The man had long green hair and piercing green eyes that shimmered with brilliance—this was Niu Tian.

The moment Wang Dong'er entered, both Niu Tian and Tai Tan's gazes fell on her.

"Which room did you arrange for Su Yu?" Niu Tian asked casually.

Wang Dong'er found a chair and sat down. "The Cold Jade Room."

Tai Tan's eyes widened. "Dong'er, that brat was so rude, yet you still put him in the Cold Jade Room? Isn't that letting him off too easily?"

Niu Tian waved his hand. "Alright, Second Brother, Su Yu's not an ordinary person. I suspect the things in the Cold Jade Room are already commonplace for him."

"The Cold Ice Jade Marrow Bed is a rare treasure in the outside world, but in the Ice God Palace, it's likely not uncommon."

"Even so, you shouldn't spoil him. He didn't even bother to call me 'Uncle'!" Tai Tan said indignantly.

This was something he planned to hold a grudge about for life.

Niu Tian couldn't help but chuckle. How was his second brother acting like a grown man? He was behaving more like a child.

Still, he turned to Wang Dong'er and asked, "Dong'er, what do you think?"

Wang Dong'er bit her lip and replied, "Big Uncle, Su Yu's just not used to it. He… he's a good person."

"Good enough that he won't even call your second uncle 'Uncle'?" Niu Tian countered.

Wang Dong'er fell silent.

Niu Tian sighed. "Dong'er, if he can't even call Second Brother 'Uncle,' I'm worried… can he truly treat you sincerely?"

"I trust him," Wang Dong'er said without hesitation.

"You… sigh, silly girl."

Niu Tian didn't know what else to say. Faced with such a stubborn girl, he could only feel a headache coming on.

He couldn't shake the feeling that Su Yu, Wang Dong'er had set her heart on wasn't someone easy to deal with.

Whether Su Yu truly cared for Wang Dong'er or not wasn't clear, but his inherent pride was undeniable. Someone like him—arrogant and with a strong will—wasn't someone Wang Dong'er could easily control.

In all fairness, Niu Tian didn't want Wang Dong'er to be with Su Yu. But this stubborn girl had made up her mind, like an unyielding ox, leaving him helpless.

What could he do in the face of such determination? He could only compromise.

At the very least, Su Yu had come to Clear Sky Sect, which showed some level of sincerity.

Clearing his throat, Niu Tian said seriously, "Dong'er, after lunch, bring him here. Big Uncle wants to meet him."

"Okay," Wang Dong'er nodded.

A moment later, Wang Dong'er left the room.

...

Su Yu was still reading when he suddenly noticed a slight movement. He looked up instinctively and saw a graceful figure standing quietly at the door.

She was dressed in a light blue gown, her pinkish-blue hair cascading down her shoulders. Her bright, expressive eyes blinked gently, her long lashes fluttering. She exuded brilliance and beauty.

Her features were exquisite, her figure tall and slender, her narrow waist delicate and supple. What was once a flat, endless plain now had gentle hills forming, with curves beautifully outlined. Her aura was extraordinary.

Seeing this graceful figure, Su Yu's eyes lit up. Feigning ignorance, he revealed a look of surprise and delight.

"Dong'er, you're here!" Su Yu said, putting down his book and standing up.

The figure at the door, Wang Dong'er, slowly walked into the Cold Jade Room.