"Heh…" Goku smiled faintly, but his expression suddenly turned serious. "Now, I'll ask you one question. If you disagree, I'll send you both back immediately."
"What?" The sudden shift in Goku's demeanor caught the two girls off guard, leaving them momentarily stunned as they turned toward him.
"Do you want to go to another world? Do you want to see the geniuses of other realms? Do you want to pit yourselves against those unrivaled talents? Do you want to become supreme beings who stand above this entire world?" At that moment, Goku resembled a mischievous trickster, tempting the two young women with enticing words.
"Huh? Another… world?" The two froze. Cao Ying's eyes flickered with curiosity as she asked, "You mean… aside from this continent, there are other worlds?"
"Of course. Do you know why there are no Dou God–level experts here? Because they've already shattered the void and moved on to higher worlds in pursuit of greater realms."
"Shattering the void… higher realms…" The two girls widened their eyes, filled with shock, expectation, and longing. The pursuit of higher realms was every cultivator's dream—and they were no exception.
They had no reason to doubt Goku's words. As the Ruler of this world, he had no need to deceive two insignificant girls.
"We really can go to other worlds?" Cao Ying's eyes lit up, brimming with desire. The unknown was always the most alluring.
"Of course! Do you want to go? If not, I'll just send you back… But think carefully! This chance comes only once."
The two girls fell into deep thought. The mystery of another world was undeniably tempting.
Dan Chen looked at Goku timidly. "Um… will we be able to come back?"
"Of course. I'm the Ruler of this world. Returning is as easy as I will it." Goku spoke with complete certainty.
Cao Ying studied him from head to toe, her eyes curving into a crescent moon as a strange light danced within them. "Tell me, why us? Out of all people, why pick us two? Is it because we're special… or because…" Her gaze grew more bewitching, her tone filled with sly charm. "…because you have some hidden intentions?"
"Tch! I just like you two, that's all. That's why I'm giving you this chance. So—are you going or not?" Goku replied bluntly.
Dan Chen's cheeks flushed crimson, her head lowering even further.
Cao Ying, on the other hand, rolled her eyes.
"You really are straightforward, aren't you? Should we be flattered that someone like you has taken an interest in us? Perhaps our charm truly is unmatched in this world. Still… what you said about other worlds does intrigue me…" She turned toward Dan Chen. "What about you?"
"Me? …If we can come back anytime, then yes, I'd love to see another world too."
"Good. It's settled then." Goku smiled in satisfaction and waved his hand. In an instant, the three of them vanished.
---
In Holy Pill City, within the Ye family's temporary residence, Xin Lan rested her chin in her hands, staring blankly toward the Pill Tower. "I wonder how Goku's match is going…"
"Oh? Xin Lan, are you thinking about me?" A playful voice sounded behind her as three figures suddenly appeared. Goku grinned mischievously at her.
"Goku!" Seeing him appear, Xin Lan's face lit up with joy. A flush quickly followed as she stammered nervously, "Um… did your match already end?"
"Ah, it got interrupted halfway, so I had to stop. But don't worry—your Ye family's elder seat is secured. I'm about to leave, but I came especially to pick you up. So, what do you say? Want to come have some fun with us?"
"Eh? Where to?" Xin Lan asked in confusion.
"Lord Goku? You've returned already? Did the Pill Gathering end?" At that moment, Ye Zhong walked in from the door. He froze at the sight of Goku.
"Mm, you could say that. Once the Pill Gathering ends, the three giants of the Pill Tower will probably come looking for you. Anyway, no time for chit-chat—Xin Lan, I'm taking you with me. Farewell." With a wave of his hand, the four vanished without a trace.
"Lord… Goku?…" Left behind in the room, Ye Zhong could only stand there in a daze.
---
"Goku, isn't it a bit inappropriate for us to leave like this? Zi Yan is still in the Pill Domain…"
In the wilderness outside the city, Xin Lan looked at Goku with concern.
"Don't worry. How could I forget about her?"
Goku smiled faintly. After sensing for a moment, however, he shook his head helplessly. "That girl… she really does love causing trouble."
---
In Holy Pill City, within a heavily guarded underground treasury, three elders surrounded Zi Yan in a triangular formation. Each of them exuded a deep, dense aura—every one of them was a Dou Venerate.
"Heh… I've long heard that a mysterious thief has been running rampant in Holy Pill City, robbing one clan after another. To think the culprit who left so many great families helpless would turn out to be just a little girl…"
"Hmph, luckily we caught wind of it in time and made preparations. Otherwise, this little brat would have slipped away again."
"Merely at the peak of Dou Emperor, yet able to wield such advanced spatial powers… That must be your innate divine ability. As far as I know, aside from the Ancient Void Dragon race, only a few rare ancient magical beasts possessed such talents."
"Hmph! A spatial-sealing barrier? What a grand gesture! Seems you went to great lengths just to catch me." A young girl in a purple dress sat casually atop a stone platform, swinging her legs as she looked at the three powerful elders. There was not a hint of fear in her expression. Who else could she be but Zi Yan?
"Heh… capturing a beast with complete spatial talents like you isn't easy. Without some sacrifice, how else could we hold you here? Hand over the treasures you stole from this vault, and we'll let you go."
"Bah! Three old geezers bullying a little girl? What kind of ability is that? If you've got guts, fight me one-on-one!" Zi Yan curled her finger at them, full of provocation.
"Don't be fooled. Word is this brat's physical body is terrifyingly strong. Just last night, Elder Mu Jia suffered heavily at her hands. To avoid accidents, the three of us must strike together and end this quickly."
"Though it's a bit shameful… the matter is too important. We'll go with the Grand Elder's plan."
The three elders nodded. With a wave of their hands, the space around Zi Yan warped and twisted.
Zi Yan's expression changed. Though Goku had granted her full mastery of spatial powers, her cultivation was only at the peak of Dou Emperor. Against three Dou Venerates—one of them a Seven-Star Venerate—she was utterly outmatched.
"Goku… if you don't save me soon, I'm going to be caught and kept as someone's pet!" Knowing she could not resist, Zi Yan simply gave up and looked skyward, her face full of grievance.
Her pitiful tone made the three elders falter, their hearts flashing with suspicion. "Could she have accomplices?"
They scanned the surroundings but saw nothing. Relieved, their vigilance dropped.
Just then, a calm voice suddenly echoed within the sealed space: "You little troublemaker, always causing me problems."
"Goku? You really heard me!" Zi Yan's eyes lit up with delight.
"Who?" The three elders were shocked. This place had already been sealed off from the outside world. How could someone's voice penetrate their barrier?
"Ah, sorry about this. My girl has caused you some trouble. But she isn't someone you're qualified to discipline." The indifferent voice rang again. Instantly, the three elders convulsed as if struck by a heavy blow. Blood spurted from their mouths, and they collapsed to the ground, faces ashen with terror.
"Looks like someone's come to pick me up! Bye-bye~~" Zi Yan giggled and vanished before their disbelieving eyes.
"Goku, did your Pill Gathering match end already?" Reappearing beside him, Zi Yan grinned and made a silly face, her lively expression irresistibly adorable.
"Let's go. I'll take you to meet your father, and then we have to leave." Goku shook his head helplessly.
"Mm!" At the mention of her father, Zi Yan fell silent, her face turning complicated. But soon she returned to her usual self. Casting a glance at Dan Chen and Cao Ying beside Goku, she smirked and gave him a thumbs up. "Wow! You managed to win them over so quickly. Impressive!"
The two girls immediately flushed crimson. They could only chalk it up to a child's innocent words.
"You little imp…" Goku tapped Zi Yan lightly on the head. With a thought, he whisked them all away.
---
By now, Dragon Island was no longer fractured. With the return of the Old Dragon Emperor, Zhu Kun, the Ancient Void Dragon Clan had been unified once more. The three dragons who had proclaimed themselves kings were swiftly subdued by Zhu Kun's thunderous might and sentenced to death.
Zi Yan was stunned to learn her true identity—that she was in fact the daughter of the Void Dragon Clan's patriarch! Yet the reunion between father and daughter was far from emotional. Deeply remorseful, Zhu Kun almost immediately tried to pass the Dragon Emperor's throne to Zi Yan. But she firmly refused. She had already decided to leave with Goku; how could she accept the position of Dragon Emperor?
To help ease their father-daughter estrangement, Goku left Zi Yan on Dragon Island with Xin Lan and the others to accompany her. As for himself, he departed—because there was still one more person he wanted to see.
---
At Jia Nan Academy's Inner Court, in a residence for female students, several young women sat together, chatting noisily. Among them was a silver-haired woman who seemed absent-minded.
"What's wrong, Senior Han Yue? You've been distracted lately. Could it be… you're lovesick?"
One of the girls suddenly pounced on her, hugging her with a mischievous grin.
"Oh, I know! Senior Han Yue must be thinking about her Senior Goku, right?" another girl teased.
__
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