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"We want to challenge you, Bai Xu!"
A cold, clear voice rang out in the classroom, causing Bai Xu, who had been about to leave, to pause mid-step. Even Wu Zhangkong, who had just dismissed the class, was momentarily taken aback.
Wu Siduo stepped forward, followed by Xu Yucheng, Luo Guixing, and others. The group of five prodigies had only recently lost to Tang Wulin's team, and now they were challenging Bai Xu—the same Bai Xu who had once defeated all five of them single-handedly!
"Why?" Bai Xu turned and asked.
"We want to witness what true peak strength looks like."
Tang Wulin, standing nearby, was also surprised. After defeating Wu Siduo, his team had been preparing to challenge the second-year students, aiming to select a few from the first and second years to compete against the third-years. Only if they could defeat the third-years would they earn the right to challenge Bai Xu.
This was what Wu Zhangkong had told them. He had never revealed Bai Xu's true strength, only stating that even third-year students couldn't guarantee a victory against him.
Thus, Tang Wulin had been working hard toward this goal. Even though Gu Yue shared a dorm with Bai Xu, he had never asked her about Bai Xu's strength, soul power level, or other details. He wanted to first defeat Bai Xu in a team battle to wash away the shame of their previous loss, and then face him alone in a one-on-one duel to prove himself.
Now, Wu Siduo had suddenly challenged Bai Xu, making this match highly anticipated.
For a moment, the atmosphere grew silent as everyone waited for Bai Xu's response.
"Forget it. If you haven't even crossed the mountain in front of you, how can you hope to see the summit of the peaks?" Bai Xu declined and left the classroom. His meaning was clear—Wu Siduo and the others hadn't even surpassed Tang Wulin's team yet, so how could they talk about challenging him?
Gu Yue glanced at Wu Siduo, who stood silently, lost in thought.
The five members of the Young Genius Ranking remained silent, their faces dark with humiliation. Being publicly rejected stung like a slap to the face. When had they fallen so low, reduced to merely gazing at the stars above?
They didn't even have the right to challenge him anymore.
---
"You just refused them like that? I thought those five were pretty strong, even if their teamwork was lacking," Gu Yue remarked as she and Bai Xu strolled through the academy.
"Well, I'm not close with them, so there's no reason for me to accept their challenge. Besides, they weren't aiming to defeat me—they just wanted to see how far I've come. Compared to that, I'd rather spend my time meditating in the dorm or researching some… peculiar things."
"What kind of peculiar things?" Gu Yue asked curiously.
"Something like battle armor, but enhanced with the power of the Five Elements and certain abilities from higher-plane spirits. It should be possible to create a suit of armor, though its power would be limited by my own strength." Bai Xu explained before casually pulling out a transformation device.
"This is the prototype. It still needs refinement, but ideally, it'll eventually integrate with your battle armor."
Gu Yue examined the intricate device in Bai Xu's hand with great interest. "So, using this would let me temporarily wield your Five Elements abilities?"
"Yeah, that's the general idea."
Bai Xu smiled. "Want to try it out and see how it looks? We can make adjustments if needed."
"Sure! Let's head back to the dorm!"
Gu Yue's eyes sparkled. Bai Xu's metal-element abilities, when combined with modern technology, could multiply their power exponentially. It was a shame Bai Xu hadn't pursued this path further due to limited time.
---
Dorm Room.
"Do I really have to shout the transformation phrase? Can't I just transform without saying anything?" Gu Yue found the lines Bai Xu had come up with embarrassingly cringe-worthy.
"Haha, I admit it's a bit silly…"
Bai Xu fastened the transformation belt around Gu Yue's waist. Instantly, the belt adjusted itself, and the Five Elements surged to life. Golden metallic energy flowed across her body as the armor gradually took shape.
The power of the Five Elements was fully integrated within.
Gu Yue looked at her reflection in the mirror. The armor's design was regal and majestic, exuding an aura of imperial dominance. The most striking feature was the seamless rotation of Bai Xu's Five Elements abilities, giving the impression of something divinely crafted.
"This armor feels like it suits you more than me. Gold isn't really my color—I prefer silver," Gu Yue commented.
"No worries. I was just recreating something from memory. We can modify it. Maybe one day, it'll merge with your battle armor."
Gu Yue deactivated the transformation and handed the device back to Bai Xu with a smile. "I'm looking forward to it. But… I don't have anything to give you in return. You're already so perfect—it's like you don't need anything else."
"...All I can do is stay by your side."
Gu Yue gazed at Bai Xu with a soft smile. He was radiant, transcendent.
She truly had nothing to offer him. Others might not know, but she understood.
Bai Xu stood loftily as an immortal sovereign, while she, the Silver Dragon, paled in comparison. All she could do was quietly accompany him, bearing witness to his journey.
"I've been waiting for you to say that…" Bai Xu smiled and, for the first time, reached out his hand to her.
What he wanted was simple—to know that when he looked back in the future, he wouldn't be alone. Gu Yue, with her kindness, warmth, and even her tsundere tendencies, was nothing like her original self in the story.
Their hands clasped together as they stood side by side.
Snap!
The dorm door swung open—Na'er had returned.
She glanced at the two sitting innocently on the bed and frowned. "Why does it feel so stuffy in here? Didn't you open the window for some air?"
As she passed Gu Yue, she caught sight of her still-flushed face and gasped. "You two… you didn't—"
Before she could finish, Gu Yue yanked her onto the bed, pulling the curtains shut as the two embraced, entering a meditative state.
---
Outer Court, Elder Cai's Office.
A translucent figure appeared before Elder Cai, startling her. As she took in the handsome visage, her expression softened with nostalgia. If given the choice, she would gladly trade places with Holy Spirit Douluo Yali, even if it meant sacrificing decades of her life.
"Yue'er, how is Na'er adjusting to life in the outer court?" Yun Ming asked.
Elder Cai snapped out of her reverie. "She's managing. But her innate talent is gone, her martial soul's quality has declined, and she never trained in a secondary profession. Getting into the inner court… will be difficult. Should we—"
Yun Ming cut her off.
"No. Don't use my status to give her special treatment. If she can't make it in, so be it. She'll still be my disciple. As long as she's happy in the outer court, that's enough."
"I heard the little girl found her long-lost brother here. Did you know?" Elder Cai asked.
"Oh? This is the first I'm hearing of it. Who is he?"
"Tang Wulin. Here's his file."
Yun Ming picked up the soul tool data and skimmed through it with interest. "Mutated bloodline… not bad. His talent is impressive too. No wonder Na'er's martial soul mutated—her brother's did as well. Though, they aren't actually siblings, are they?"
"Do you know, Yue'er?"
"I'm not sure. Probably not by blood."
Yun Ming frowned. "How strange. Both 'siblings' experienced martial soul mutations—one for the better, the other for the worse. Ah… such is fate."
There was nothing he could do. Even as the Sea God Pavilion Master, he couldn't break Shrek Academy's millennia-old rules for the sake of his underperforming disciple. Perhaps it was for the best—Na'er could live happily as an ordinary soul master, free from the political machinations of the higher-ups.
"By the way, I'll be convening a Sea God Pavilion meeting soon. The evil soul cultists are growing bolder, and I've got a bad feeling about it. Make sure you're there."