The shimmering luxury carriage gleamed like treasure beneath the sun, but all eyes were fixed on the boy who now stood proudly before the enraged Hanover White Horses.
Su Bei's jade-like face glowed faintly golden under the aura unleashed from his body. A pure yellow spirit ring floated at his feet, spinning like liquid amber.
Behind him, the phantom gate of the Dragon God rose, solemn and magnificent. Its dragon silhouette etched itself into the air—unshakable, divine.
The Hanover horses—three-thousand-year spirit beasts of unmatched nobility—had frozen with hooves raised mid-strike. Their proud eyes trembled now, their bodies quivering like foals before a predator.
"Stay obedient," Su Bei said lightly, his boyish voice echoing with the depth of dragon might, "otherwise, tonight we'll be eating horse stew."
The horses collapsed almost theatrically, whimpering like lambs. Their snorts sounded broken, resentful, but above all—they were terrified.
Xiao Wu, wide-eyed, recovered from her shock and dared slap her small palm thrice against one horse's skull.
"Scared now? If you go wild again, I'll let my brother stew you for real!"
"Baa-baa—" The mighty Hanover horse bleated pitifully, utterly ruined in dignity.
Xiao Wu pounced against Su Bei's chest with glittering eyes.
"Brother, you're amazing!" she squealed, clinging to him, her watery gaze brimming with admiration.
Su Bei smirked faintly, brushing her head. As expected. The goddess system is truly flawless—every moment to act handsome becomes a perfect stage.
But further away, Liu Erlong had gone stiff, silver kettle slipping through her fingers and clattering across the stone. Her phoenix-like black eyes locked wholly onto Su Bei.
The boy stood like a godchild: spirit ring glowing, martial phantom behind him radiating divine dragon breath.
Her voice quivered slightly as she strode forward, unable to pull her gaze away.
"Bei'er… twin spirits? No. This aura isn't simple soul beast blood… it's holy, terrifying. You already obtained your first soul ring?"
She gripped his shoulders, her fiery energy thrumming with excitement and disbelief. "Tell Mother honestly. How old are you really? What is your innate spirit rank? Who hunted this first ring for you?"
Her barrage of questions hung heavy in the spring-filled air.
Su Bei smiled faintly, feigning innocence, yet his eyes glimmered with calculated mischief.
"Mother Erlong, you worry too much."
He tilted his neck deliberately, letting her see the smooth hum of golden aura dancing along his skin.
"This is just my luck—and my talent. I didn't need others' help. Some power… comes naturally to me."
Erlong's breath slowed, her nostrils flaring. She was no fool. She recognized pressure akin to divine bloodline. The sheer fear those Hanover White Horses displayed with only one yellow ring—far beyond ordinary first skill!
It was close to… godhood.
Her chest rose heavily. Could this boy… be something Heaven itself dropped into my arms?
Xiao Wu, oblivious to Erlong's storm of thoughts, tugged proudly at her braid. "Sister Erlong, didn't I say it? My brother isn't just handsome! He's the strongest!"
"Yes…" Erlong breathed. "Stronger than anyone imagines."
Her gaze softened into fierce protectiveness. A decision crystallized fully in her heart: No matter what he is, no one—not Spirit Hall, not royal empires—will touch this child. From now on, he is mine to protect.
The Hanover carriage shuddered faintly but obeyed obediently under dragon's shadow. Erlong, calming herself, motioned for Su Bei and Xiao Wu to climb into its silk-padded cabin.
The interior was vast, draped in velvet. Sunlight filtered through golden threads woven in the windows. For Xiao Wu, it was pure novelty—she hopped around gleefully, throwing herself into plush seats.
For Su Bei, it was affirmation. A goddess rich woman buying me my carriage, gaping at my hidden trump card, hugging me like treasure to shield… Truly, Tang San, your golden-finger road is mine now. One goddess, one throne at a time.
After a while, the carriage wheels clattered across cobblestones, leaving Notting's rural limits behind. Spring forests lined the road, their silence only interrupted by the hooves of subdued Hanover steeds.
Inside, Xiao Wu napped against Su Bei's shoulder, her scorpion braid warm beneath his fingertips. Erlong studied him quietly across the carriage.
When Xiao Wu's soft snores tickled the air, she finally whispered, "Bei'er… do you know how dangerous this talent of yours will be if exposed? Spirit Hall will hunt you at all costs. Even empires would kill to dissect every secret. You must learn control—secrecy. Promise Mother you won't flaunt it."
Su Bei tilted his jade-like face toward her. For a moment, sincerity flickered beneath his teasing smile. "Mother Erlong, I promise. My strength is only for protecting us. For you. For Xiao Wu."
Those words struck straight into her heart, shaking the barrier she clung to between maternal pride and something far more dangerous. Furiously, she looked away, gripping her knees, fire trembling in her chest.
This child… this prodigy… Even if Heaven abandoned me once, I'll never let him go.
As the carriage rolled smoother, far behind them, other eyes had already marked what transpired.
In a modest tea pavilion adjoining the road, two figures cloaked in black robes whispered.
"You saw it too? That boy's aura…"
"Not common. Dragon blood. Perhaps divine."
"Report to the Pope immediately. If Erlong protects him, then Bibi Dong must know."
The pair vanished, the fragrance of tea lingering.
Far away in Spirit City, news would spread swiftly. A thread tugged at the Empress of the Spirit Hall.
A boy glowing like jade. Pure dragon spirit power. Protected by Liu Erlong.
Her lips would curl, half a smile, half intrigue.
But within the carriage, Su Bei leaned back, dragon aura quelled, Xiao Wu nested against him, Erlong guarding fiercely at his side.
He closed his eyes for a moment. Yet within his heart, the system chimed once more:
[ Hidden Event Trigger – Exposed Dragon Aura ]
[ Spirit Hall Interest Level: +50 ]
[ New Strategy Mission: Survive the Pope's gaze. Reward: God-tier Martial Soul Evolution. ]
Su Bei smirked faintly. So… even the Pope is watching now. Perfect. Bibi Dong, goddess of the spider, you'll be next in my strategy book.