Chapter 72: Reunion with Na'er

In another part of the hotel, two figures clad in black robes sat in a room, staring at each other.

"Xiong Jun, what are you looking at?"

Di Tian couldn't hold back any longer and finally asked. Ever since the other had sensed his presence, he had stubbornly stayed put. It wasn't as if they hadn't seen each other in ages—was this really necessary?

"What's it to you?"

"Didn't the Lord order you to guard Miss Na'er at Shrek Academy? Why did you bring her here?"

Xiong Jun snorted coldly, clearly displeased.

"That's true, but the Lord never said Miss Na'er couldn't leave."

Di Tian shook his head. He, too, would have preferred Miss Na'er to stay safely at Shrek Academy, but that was hardly something he could control.

He was just a bodyguard, after all.

"She misses him."

"Huh? The Golden Dragon King? But she's still so..."

Xiong Jun's face darkened with thought. He had been about to say that Miss Na'er was still young, but then he remembered how even their Lord felt about him...

Hmph! Truly sisters of one heart. If they both missed the Golden Dragon King, then it was only natural.

"Shh... Let's not pry into matters between our Lord and him."

"Di Tian, I have to say, you really don't have much authority."

"You're absolutely right about that."

The next day, at the Tianhai City Sports Center.

The first day of the Soul Master Grand Competition was the elimination round. Soul Masters of all ages—whether youth, young adult, or adult—would compete here in the preliminary matches.

Among the participants were the group from Eastsea Academy, along with Ye Xinglan and Xu Lizhi. While the former chatted amiably with Tang Luochuan, the latter was in a far less pleasant mood.

"Uh..."

"Tang Wulin, is there something on my face?"

Noticing Tang Wulin's gaze, Xu Lizhi couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. The look in the other boy's eyes was just too strange.

Normally, Ye Xinglan only spoke to him, but for some reason, she had been drawn to Tang Luochuan and barely spared him a word. And now, even Tang Wulin was...

"Not at all."

Tang Wulin smiled nonchalantly but shook his head with a hint of regret.

If Xu Lizhi had been a combat-type Soul Master, he would have dragged him into a match and taught him a lesson—making him pay for trying to freeload off him.

But alas, the other boy's Martial Soul was a steamed bun...

Hardly worth the effort.

"..."

Xu Lizhi lowered his head nervously. Even though Tang Wulin was just a Soul Master, he somehow felt terrifying.

He was just a timid little puppy, after all.

"Tang Luochuan."

"Do you think you can win the championship?"

On the other side, oblivious to Gu Yue's murderous glare, Ye Xinglan sat to Tang Luochuan's left and asked with a smile.

"Of course I can."

Tang Luochuan responded with a faint smile.

The championship... If he couldn't secure it with his current strength, he might as well start over.

"The only one who might stand a chance against me..."

"Is our Gu Yue."

He turned to the right, where Gu Yue sat, his expression calm. Whether now or in the future, among his peers, the only one who could truly challenge him...

Was the Silver Dragon King herself.

"Is that so?"

Ye Xinglan blinked thoughtfully, her gaze shifting toward Gu Yue as she murmured softly.

Gu Yue's strength was indeed formidable. Being a Soul Venerable like Tang Luochuan, the two of them were destined to become legendary figures originating from Eastsea City in the future.

"Hmm?"

"I'm not as strong as you. You've already reached such heights in Spirit Ascension. I wouldn't last long against you."

"At best, I'd only take second place."

Hearing Tang Luochuan's words, Gu Yue was momentarily stunned before shaking her head with a smile. While her abilities were impressive, compared to this little troublemaker...

She was still slightly outmatched.

"Gu Yue is being too modest."

"Securing second place in the youth division at just nine years old is already an incredible achievement."

Shen Yi, who was sitting beside Wu Zhangkong, couldn't help but laugh wryly at these words. Since when did coming in second place warrant an "only"?

The five coastal cities never lacked geniuses each year. But in the face of Tang Luochuan and Gu Yue, what did genius even mean?

"It's about time for the draw."

Wu Zhangkong's smile remained unchanged as he calmly observed the situation on the stage.

"Let's go."

"Time for the draw."

Tang Luochuan nodded, his gaze lingering on Gu Yue before shifting to Xie Xie and the others nearby.

"Yes, boss."

The boys responded eagerly, ready for action. Aside from Xu Xiaoyan, who lacked much combat ability, the entire Zero Class was participating.

Meanwhile, the members of Eastsea Academy also rose to their feet, including Mu Xi and Ouyang Zixin.

"Originally, I had no interest in the youth division singles competition, but since you're all aiming for first and second..."

"I might as well fight for third!"

Inspired by the confidence radiating from Tang Luochuan and Gu Yue, Ye Xinglan's eyes gleamed with fighting spirit as she stood up with a smile.

Admittedly, her Soul Power hadn't yet surpassed the 30th rank like Tang Luochuan and Gu Yue, but her current strength was enough to let her battle opponents a full realm above her.

Who said she couldn't compete for a top-three spot?

"Gu Yue, who is this...?"

Mu Xi, standing behind her, couldn't help but eye the girl who had just declared her intent to take third place with curiosity.

She hadn't seen this girl before. How had she struck up such a lively conversation with Luo Chuan so quickly?

Did Eastsea Zero Class have someone like this too?

"She..."

"Is from Shrek Academy—one of the participants in yesterday's friendly match against last year's youth division champion from Tianhai City."

Gu Yue replied indifferently, her expression unreadable.

"A student of Shrek Academy?!"

"She's already a member of Shrek at such a young age?"

Mu Xi and Ouyang Zixin were stunned, their eyes widening in shock as they turned to the woman seated beside Wu Zhangkong. Who would have thought that Teacher Wu's friend was actually a Shrek Academy instructor?

And even more surprising—this pretty young girl was already a Shrek student! At her age, she couldn't have taken the entrance exams. She must have been directly admitted!

They didn't know much about Shrek Academy, but they were aware that Wu Zhangkong had once been a student there. Given that, this girl's future...

Was undoubtedly boundless.

"No wonder she's so confident..."

Mu Xi immediately looked thoughtful and said, "Even if their talent is slightly inferior to Luo Chuan and Gu Yue, it shouldn't be too far behind. They might actually have a shot at third place."

"My number is 53, huh? The first match is actually me!"

Ye Xinglan looked at her number and glanced up at the big screen, only to find her name listed at the very top. A trace of surprise flickered across her face, though it was fleeting.

"Fighting against number 6... I wonder who that is..."

Ye Xinglan couldn't help but murmur to herself.

However, at that very moment, while Gu Yue wore a pensive expression, Tang Luochuan beside her pulled out his own number—a clear "6."

"Seems like your opponent is me," Tang Luochuan shrugged and smiled helplessly.

"..."

Ye Xinglan's grin instantly vanished.

Perhaps...

She might be knocked out in the very first round!

Meanwhile, Gu Yue watched the scene unfold, a faint smile playing on her lips, which made Xu Xiaoyan beside her ponder:

Looks like Gu Yue-jie has a mischievous side too!

"Next up, we have the first match of the youth division preliminary round—contestant number 53 versus number 6!"

"Let's all look forward to their exciting battle!"

Five minutes later, standing in the arena, Ye Xinglan could only stare helplessly at Tang Luochuan in the distance before uttering two simple words:

"I forfeit."

With that, she nimbly hopped off the stage, leaving the referee utterly dumbfounded. The first round had ended in such an anticlimactic fashion.

"Well then..."

"Thank you both for the... thrilling match."

Hearing this, Ye Xinglan wore a wry smile. Facing Tang Luochuan in the first round—how was she supposed to fight that?

Even if she were a whole major realm stronger, she might have had a sliver of hope.

"Hmm?"

"Not even going to try for a bit?"

Tang Luochuan walked off the stage with a chuckle and asked softly.

"Try...?"

"What am I supposed to try with?"

Ye Xinglan shook her head bitterly, her face full of resignation.

"Looks like my goal of third place..."

"Just shattered."

"Yeah..."

Tang Luochuan also wore an expression torn between amusement and exasperation. It wasn't that he was complaining, but this was just too much of a coincidence.

Out of all the participants in the youth division, he never expected to be matched against Ye Xinglan. Was the system rigged or something?

"Luo Chuan-gege—"

Just then, a sweet voice rang out. Tang Luochuan's smile froze instantly, and he stood rooted to the spot, shock written all over his face.

That voice... was it Na'er?

"No mistake, it has to be her!"

When he turned around, he saw a familiar figure standing right in front of him in the audience seats not far away.

Wasn't that the dragon girl he had once taken home, only for her to quietly leave afterward?

"Na'er!"

"What are you doing here?!"

Tang Luochuan couldn't contain his joy as he rushed over, his mind racing.

Before, he had accepted her departure calmly because he knew they would meet again—he was certain he would go to Shrek Academy.

But now, Na'er had come to him.

At this time, wasn't she supposed to be at Shrek? Did Gu Yue send her back early, or...?

"Luo Chuan-gege..."

Na'er threw herself into his arms, burying her face in his chest as she breathed in his familiar scent. Her excitement was palpable, her eyes already glistening with tears.

"?"

Unlike Tang Luochuan's excitement, and even more unlike Na'er's exhilaration at seeing the boy again, Gu Yue stood frozen in place at this very moment, staring at the suddenly appearing delicate and beautiful girl.

For a moment, it felt as if she had been struck by lightning, a lump forming in her throat.

Na'er...

Didn't I tell you not to come?

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