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In the ethereal, illusory realm, Bai Xu walked alone. He knew this was a dream, yet he couldn't help but linger. The towering skyscrapers around him felt so familiar, as if he had never left Earth. But unlike before, his return brought no joy—only endless melancholy.
The scenery shifted around him, and with a single step, Bai Xu arrived in his hometown.
He stood before his own front door.
Outside the familiar red-painted gate, he could almost hear his parents' voices. If he pushed it open, he could return to the past.
Bai Xu's hand rested on the door. For someone usually decisive, he hesitated—should he open it or not?
Just then—
"Bai Xu?"
A voice called out, snapping him awake in an instant. The gate in his dream receded into the distance until it vanished entirely.
"Hmm?"
The next moment, Bai Xu fully awoke from the dream and saw Na'er's puzzled expression.
She looked at him with concern. "What's wrong? You're drenched in sweat. Weren't you cultivating?"
Coming back to his senses, Bai Xu realized beads of sweat covered his forehead, and his breathing was slightly ragged. "It's nothing. Just a dream."
"A dream?" Na'er didn't understand.
At that moment, the Spirit of the Plane manifested and said, "My lord, your spiritual fluctuations were unusually intense just now. It seems that whenever you approach that plane, this happens."
Bai Xu tried to stand, but as soon as he moved, a sharp pain shot through his head, forcing him back down. He sighed inwardly. "This dream's aftereffects are really strong."
He then said aloud, "At least we're heading in the right direction. Let's keep moving. Now, there's a reason we must go there."
Na'er was still confused but followed Bai Xu without another word. She didn't ask about the dream's contents, silently walking behind him. After a long pause, she finally spoke. "From now on, let me help you control the Dragon God's Core. You can focus on cultivating with its power."
Bai Xu turned to look at her, then handed over the core. "Alright."
---
"My Sovereign, these are the recent reports I've gathered on minor planes. Most are abandoned, unable to even withstand the power of a Soul Sage. A few are secretly controlled by the Tang Sect or the Star Luo Empire. I've heard that the Icefire Yin-Yang Well, a treasure trove, might be in the Tang Sect's hands... Based on current intelligence, there's nothing particularly special."
Di Tian delivered his report respectfully.
Gu Yue glanced through the documents, unsurprised. "If it were that easy to find, I'd be suspicious. Forget it. There's no point wasting effort. What about the other two? What's their stance?"
"They refuse to retaliate against humans but are willing to preserve the seeds of the spirit beasts. They want to find a sanctuary where the spirit beasts can live and reproduce in peace."
"Of course. They were friends with the Godking Tang San. How could they ever fully side with us?" Gu Yue rose from her seat and descended slowly, a trace of sorrow in her voice. "Di Tian, what I truly want now isn't revenge against humans—it's to make you all divine beasts."
Di Tian was stunned, then overwhelmed with gratitude. "Thank you, Sovereign—"
"Don't thank me yet. I haven't accomplished anything. According to Bai Xu, even if I become the Dragon God, I may not be able to remove the restrictions in your bloodlines. Or worse—the moment I ascend, the Golden Dragon King's madness might overwhelm me. I could repeat history, destroy the Douluo Continent, and even turn on my own kin, annihilating the Star Dou Forest first. It seems we're trapped in a deadlock with no way out."
Di Tian's expression twisted with conflict. He didn't know how to respond. After a long silence, he spoke again. "Sovereign, Da Ming and Er Ming also shared another piece of news—the Divine Realm has been swept away by a spacetime turbulence. Its current location is unknown."
Gu Yue was briefly surprised, then smiled. "Good. If it were still here, the moment I made any move against Tang Wulin, Tang San would descend immediately. Don't be fooled—even though the Divine Realm is gone, Tang San left plenty of contingencies. His grandfather, the Plane Master, the divine consciousness within Tang Wulin... For now, we should abandon any plans regarding Tang Wulin."
"Understood."
After Di Tian left, Gu Yue pondered. "How can we secure a bright future for the spirit beasts? Must they always rely on humans? Is there truly no other path?"
"Without godhood, no matter how exceptional they are, they'll eventually perish under the heavenly tribulation."
"Even if our plan succeeds—if Bai Xu is controlled, if Tang Wulin's Golden Dragon King bloodline is extracted—even if we win in the end, Tang San will return. Unless I possess the power to oppose the entire Divine Realm, the spirit beasts will still be cast into the abyss."
After a long silence, Gu Yue suddenly lashed out in fury. "You died, yet you still cut off the spirit beasts' future! How do you know no other beast could reach your level? Damn you! Must the entire beast race have only one Dragon God?"
Just as her anger flared, a message flashed in her mind.
"Hm? Bai Xu had a dream?" Gu Yue was surprised. After living together for so long, she had never seen Bai Xu drenched in sweat like this.
"Interesting. Just what is it about the Star Luo Empire that could unsettle even you?"
---
Gu Yue rejoined the group and submitted Bai Xu's withdrawal request to Elder Cai. As expected, another scolding followed—Gu Yue was used to it by now.
"Teacher, I'm afraid I've already tried to persuade Bai Xu, but his mind is made up. I can't exactly drag him back by force."
Elder Cai glared. "Why not? You should've tied him up and brought him back!"
Gu Yue's lips twitched, and she silently retreated.
Now it was Elder Cai's turn to fret. She had originally hoped to use the exchange with the Star Luo Empire's Monster Academy to temper Bai Xu. She had seen that boy, Long Yue—he was a fine opponent for Bai Xu.
But she hadn't expected Bai Xu to run off midway.
Wu Zhangkong spoke up beside her. "Elder Cai, everyone has their own path. If Bai Xu doesn't wish to stay at Shrek, let him go."
"Sigh..." Elder Cai exhaled deeply. "It's his loss."
For twenty thousand years, Shrek had stood as the pinnacle of glory. Never before had a student voluntarily withdrawn—children dreamed of entering this highest sanctuary of soul masters, fighting tooth and nail for the chance.
"Fine. I approve. Bai Xu is no longer a member of Shrek Academy."
---
On the soul train—
"Gu Yue, Bai Xu withdrew?" Tang Wulin asked.
"Yes. He ran off on his own."
The others merely glanced over. With Bai Xu—a genius who stood above them all—leaving Shrek, they weren't sure whether to feel schadenfreude or sorrow.
Shrek's training was unparalleled. Every graduate would shine brilliantly in their respective factions. Without Shrek's resources, perhaps Bai Xu's strength would no longer be so overwhelming when they met again.
They might catch up—even surpass him!
Tang Wulin sat by the window, staring at the passing scenery. He wasn't sure what he felt. Suddenly, he spotted a cluster of black dots rapidly enlarging in the distant sky.
"Huh? What's that? Are those mechas?"
His pupils contracted as the Purple Demon Eyes activated.
"Enemy attack!" Tang Wulin shouted, leaping to his feet.
The soul train killers lived up to their reputation