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Spirit Pagoda Headquarters.
Na'er still felt a tinge of melancholy. In the upcoming high-level meeting, her status would officially become second only to her mentor, Leng Yaozhu. However, today's meeting required her to publicly sever all ties with Bai Xu in front of the entire Spirit Pagoda leadership.
The reason was simple—the two had once been extremely close. But now, Bai Xu held the awkward identity of a evil soul master. According to the Spirit Pagoda's investigations, he was utterly cold-blooded. He had never once returned to visit his adoptive parents from childhood, nor had he ever sent a single letter to greet the teacher who had guided him during his early years.
A textbook ingrate.
All she needed to do now was clarify that she had been deceived. That would be enough.
Just one lie.
"What's wrong? Can't bring yourself to do it?" A cool, detached voice echoed from the depths of her spiritual sea. Gu Yuena had long since awakened and now spoke temptingly, "Is he really that important to you? Are you hesitating over such a simple lie?"
"I—" Na'er clenched her teeth. She knew she shouldn't be like this, but her nature made her waver.
Gu Yuena suddenly laughed. "If you're unwilling, then let me handle it. Compared to the identity of the Silver Dragon King, you're more suited to being Na'er. You've done enough these past few months. The karma has been settled, and there are no more regrets. From now on, it's the Silver Dragon King, Gu Yuena!"
"Alright." Na'er agreed.
With a blink, Gu Yuena's entire aura shifted dramatically. Her violet eyes turned icy, carrying a trace of resentment. Without hesitation, she activated her soul communicator and dialed Bai Xu's number.
Beep—beep—beep!
"Hello?" Bai Xu answered.
"It's me." Her voice was cold, even laced with a hint of disdain.
Bai Xu recognized it immediately. "Gu Yuena?"
"Hmph, you certainly distinguish the three of us well." Gu Yuena's tone was mocking, laced with sarcasm. "You've truly bewitched Na'er to the point where she hesitates to even lie about cutting ties with you in public."
"And what about you? Will you sever ties with me too?" Bai Xu countered, a faint smile on his lips. He knew Gu Yuena was angry.
"Of course I will! Do you even realize what you did while I wasn't in control? You—you actually left that kind of mark on my body!" Gu Yuena's voice trembled with indignation as her left hand unconsciously drifted downward, brushing against the faintly glowing pattern on her lower abdomen.
"I can explain that."
"Explanations don't matter anymore. I have a question for you, Bai Xu."
"Go ahead."
Gu Yuena stared at her flawless reflection in the polished metal wall—the same body that had once writhed beneath Bai Xu, switching between three different personalities in the process. The sheer humiliation of it made her cheeks burn.
"In this world, when it comes to beauty alone, I have full confidence in standing above all others. The Silver Dragon Princess is renowned far and wide, a goddess countless men dream of possessing—yet you pinned her beneath you, defiling her not just once..."
She gritted her teeth, forcing out the words. "You even made her switch personalities, each time a different style. Bai Xu, you really know how to play. How did it feel to crush the proud Silver Dragon Princess beneath you and ravage her at will? Was it satisfying?"
Hearing this, Bai Xu knew just how furious Gu Yuena was. He chuckled. "Where I come from, there's a saying: 'Even heroes falter before beauty.' To be honest, I used to scoff at that phrase. But now... I believe it."
"You shameless scoundrel! That mark contains a dual cultivation technique, filled with obscene content! Don't tell me you weren't plotting this from the start!" Gu Yuena snapped. After merging with Na'er's memories, she had learned everything.
Admittedly, the technique described lofty ideals—
True dual cultivation is not for lust, nor for pleasure. True dual cultivation is the union of life forces, the intertwining of destinies, the harmony of souls. You within me, I within you. Holding hands, growing old together. Mutual respect, shared existence.
But the initial stages inevitably involved those embarrassing acts. Worse, the text detailed numerous positions, claiming they could "seal essence and prevent leakage"—essentially a manual of indecent practices!
Like some vulgar erotica.
"Dual cultivation technique?" Now it was Bai Xu's turn to be surprised. While the technique was indeed recorded in the ancient texts, he had never intentionally passed it on to Gu Yuena.
"You didn't know?"
"The texts mention it, and I've read parts, but I never deliberately taught it to you. That mark on your abdomen hides this technique?"
Click.
Gu Yuena hung up, her breathing ragged with anger.
"My lady, the Tower Master's meeting is about to begin. Please proceed to the conference hall." A secretary approached to relay the message.
Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Gu Yuena replied, "Understood. I'll be there shortly."
*****
Top Floor, Spirit Pagoda Headquarters.
Conference Room.
Gu Yuena's status was now extremely high, second only to her mentor, Leng Yaozhu. During meetings, she sat directly to the left of the Deputy Tower Master.
"Now, I will present the sales report for the ten-thousand-year spirit souls, as well as—"
After delivering a series of professional updates, Gu Yuena was about to take her seat when an elder across the table spoke up.
"Spirit Envoy Gu Yuena, I trust you've heard about the recent incident involving Bai Xu, the dark soul master spy who infiltrated our Spirit Pagoda. If my memory serves, you two were once quite close."
Gu Yuena's brow furrowed at the insinuation. Glancing at Leng Yaozhu, she replied without hesitation, "I was deceived by him in the past—fooled by his appearance, which led me to grow close. However, I was completely unaware of his identity as a evil soul master spy. I never disclosed any Spirit Pagoda secrets to him, and after his betrayal, I severed all ties."
Her tone was final, leaving no room for sentiment.
Qiangu Dongfeng smiled. "Very well. I believe our Nana would never casually leak confidential information to a despised dark soul master. Since she has already cut ties with Bai Xu, she remains a Spirit Envoy of our Spirit Pagoda—this is indisputable. However, Nana, can you be certain he no longer harbors any feelings for you?"
Gu Yuena paused, her eyes dimming slightly. "I... don't know."
"Heh, don't overthink it. I merely wondered... Given the immense threat this man poses to our Spirit Pagoda—having already destroyed two of our branch towers in the Douluo Empire—if we could lure him out, our forces could eliminate him. It would be an excellent opportunity to restore our prestige."
Qiangu Dongfeng's gaze sharpened. "But let's set this matter aside for now. Proceed with the next agenda item..."
After the Meeting
Qiangu Dongfeng returned to his office, where he found his grandson, Qiangu Zhangting, in a daze. Ever since Gu Yuena's rejection, the young man had been listless, as if his soul had left his body. Such childish behavior was unbecoming of the Qiangu family's heir!
"Enough, Zhangting. She's just a woman. If you grow strong enough, you can simply take her once you become Tower Master. Right now, our priority is restoring the Spirit Pagoda's reputation!" Qiangu Dongfeng scolded.
"Grandfather, I know..." Qiangu Zhangting muttered lifelessly.
"Pathetic. During today's meeting, I could tell Gu Yuena hasn't completely severed her emotional ties to Bai Xu. If we can't track him down, we'll force him to come to us."
"How?"
"Arrange for Bai Xu's adoptive parents and his former teacher, Leng Jiuming—who taught him for years at the East Sea Spirit Pagoda—to be brought to headquarters. I have a way to draw him out."
At these words, Qiangu Zhangting's eyes hardened with killing intent. "Understood."