After getting into the car, Xue E stepped on the accelerator. The vehicle sped like the wind, racing toward Aolai City.
On the way, Bai Chen briefly explained his martial soul situation to Xue E.
Of course, he concealed everything related to divine trials.
After listening, Xue E drove in silence for a moment before saying thoughtfully:
"Dark Demon Evil God Tiger… Young Master, that's an evil martial soul."
He had at least heard of the habits of that legendary soul beast.
A supreme evil soul beast. It could not cultivate through normal methods—only through endless slaughter. That was the legend of the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger.
Without question, its wielder carried the potential to fall into becoming an evil soul master.
"So, Uncle Xue… would you see me as an evil soul master?" Bai Chen asked.
"Of course not."
Xue E answered without hesitation.
"Young Master, you're kind by nature. You'd never become one. I'm only worried others might look at you differently."
"That's fine."
Leaning back in his seat, Bai Chen smiled.
"As long as you and Father trust me, that's enough."
In the Douluo III timeline, Bai Chen's mother had passed away shortly after giving birth to him. His father was constantly busy with work. The one who had spent the most time with him was Xue E.
It was said that Xue E had been adopted by Bai Chen's grandfather. Though he shared no blood relation with Bai Chen's father, they were as close as brothers.
To Bai Chen, Xue E was practically a second father.
After a while, Xue E asked,
"By the way, Young Master, we're almost at Aolai City. Shouldn't you tell me why you wanted to come here?"
As far as he knew, Bai Chen had no connection to this small city.
"I want to meet someone."
Since they were nearing their destination, Bai Chen stopped hiding it.
"After awakening my martial soul, I felt a premonition. If I come here, I'll meet someone very important to me."
"Something like that?"
Xue E glanced at him suspiciously through the rearview mirror.
Normally, he would never doubt Bai Chen. In his memory, the young master had never lied.
But this… was too mystical. He had never heard of anyone gaining such premonitions from martial soul awakening.
"I know it sounds unbelievable," Bai Chen said helplessly. "But Uncle Xue, at the latest tomorrow, you'll see the person I'm talking about."
After a long silence, Xue E nodded.
"…Alright. I'll trust you."
To him, if Bai Chen was lying, the worst outcome was just being fooled.
But if Bai Chen was telling the truth—and he caused him to miss that person—he wouldn't be able to forgive himself.
Seeing Xue E accept his explanation, Bai Chen let out a quiet sigh of relief.
He didn't want to lie.
But he couldn't exactly say:
I'm a transmigrator. I know the amnesiac Silver Dragon King will appear in Aolai City, so I need to intercept her.
Before today, he had hesitated about whether to intercept Na'er.
Gu Yuena, the Silver Dragon King—forming ties with her was a double-edged sword. If handled properly, she would be a massive advantage. If mishandled, the consequences would be unimaginable.
It was a gamble.
Before awakening his martial soul, Bai Chen hadn't dared step onto that table.
But after successfully awakening the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger…
He made up his mind.
He would intercept Na'er.
As Xue E had said, the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger was an absolute evil martial soul. As the superior evolution of the Scorpion Tiger, it was top-tier among all martial souls.
And the stronger an evil martial soul was, the more it invited fear and persecution.
Although in Douluo III, acceptance toward evil-type martial souls had improved compared to Douluo II—examples being Yuanen Yehui at Shrek Academy and the Dark Phoenix within Spirit Pagoda—there were still incidents like Yue Zhengyu attacking Yuanen Yehui out of prejudice.
Bias could not be ignored.
If he were attacked by powerful angel-type soul masters, he needed someone capable of shielding him.
What he wanted now was the soul beast faction behind Gu Yuena.
In the original story, the fierce beasts urged Gu Yue to kill Tang Wulin because he carried the Golden Dragon King bloodline. Devouring him meant a chance to become the new Dragon God.
But Bai Chen wasn't Tang Wulin.
He didn't have the Golden Dragon King bloodline. Killing him would bring soul beasts no benefit.
In fact, because of Na'er, they might even try to protect him.
That was exactly what Bai Chen was counting on.
In terms of top-tier combat power, the Star Dou faction was unquestionably the strongest force in the current world.
Even excluding the current unknown strength of Gu Yuena, they possessed at least four Limit Douluo. Among them, the Beast God Di Tian stood at peak quasi-god level, capable of rivaling Yun Ming.
With their hidden protection, Bai Chen's safety would skyrocket.
"But that's only if I can successfully bring Na'er away…"
As Aolai City came into view, his heartbeat quickened.
From what he knew, how Na'er arrived in Aolai City—and her movements before meeting Tang Wulin—were unknown.
But one thing was certain.
On the second day after martial soul awakening, Na'er would appear on Tang Wulin's route home from school.
That stretch of road was the most likely place she would show up.
After entering Aolai City, Bai Chen first had Xue E take him to Hongshan Academy, where Tang Wulin studied. They inquired about Tang Wulin's home address.
As Bai Chen's father's trusted confidant, Xue E possessed Soul Emperor cultivation.
Do not underestimate a Soul Emperor. In Aolai City, that was already near the ceiling of local strength. If he advanced to Soul Saint in the future, he would even rival second-tier city officials in status.
Under such pressure, a mere Great Soul Master teacher readily provided Tang Wulin's address.
Refusing would only waste time—Xue E could easily obtain the information anyway. Better to cooperate and build goodwill.
What surprised Xue E was that after learning the address, Bai Chen didn't head there.
Instead, he wandered around the surrounding area.
He had initially assumed Bai Chen was looking for that boy named Tang Wulin.
Until dusk fell.
The sky darkened gradually, and Xue E was already considering how to persuade Bai Chen to return and rest—
When suddenly, Bai Chen stopped walking.
His eyes widened, unblinking, filled with excitement.
Xue E followed his gaze.
By the roadside, a petite silver-haired girl sat crouched on the ground, curling into herself helplessly.