A special thank you to my patrons:
—Cain, Shahzaam, Splendid, Jacob Mooe, Varun Madhu, Gonzalo Sumalavia, kevin Williams, Jose Carrillo, ZaberZ, Jose Sierra, Salim, Silver, ManyEB, Александр Радняный, John Doe.
You can read 30 chapters ahead of everyone on p@treon.
P@TREON - [email protected]/lessaservantofcosmos
(just replace the "@" with "a")
ps: Please support me on P@treon. I can really use your help!
-------------------------------------------------------------
The waves shimmered under the bright sunlight, the sea boundless and calm without a whisper of wind.
Bai Xu strolled across the water's surface, each step carrying him ten meters forward, his figure flickering as he experimented with his movements.
Suddenly, an unusual sensation rose in his heart. He looked ahead and muttered in surprise, "Fluctuations in the law of causality? And they're related to me?"
Sure enough—
The next moment, the tranquil sea began to churn violently. Beneath the waves, several shadowy blue figures darted away in haste, pursued by a group of whales adorned with dark, sinuous patterns—clearly hunting the fleeing figures.
The survival of the fittest was a natural law, and Bai Xu had no intention of interfering.
But—
"Human?" A telepathic voice rang out. The leader of the whales seemed particularly wary of Bai Xu's human identity.
The sea swelled as the massive form of a whale emerged, its enormous eye fixed on the lone human who dared to appear in the deep ocean. The leader was a hundred-thousand-year-old Demonic Devil Whale, commanding its pod in the midst of a hunt.
"No words? Then die!"
The pod contained more than one hundred-thousand-year-old Demonic Devil Whale, but sensing Bai Xu's aura—barely at the Soul Douluo level—the others chose not to intervene.
Seeing this, Bai Xu sighed in exasperation. He was merely passing by.
Just as he rolled up his sleeves, preparing to act, a shadowy blue figure interposed itself between them, taking the full brunt of the Demonic Devil Whale's attack before being sent flying backward.
Bai Xu recognized it—a hundred-thousand-year-old Blue-Ringed Jellyfish.
"Benefactor... is it really you?" A humanoid figure emerged from the jellyfish swarm. It was Zhang Wa's mother, her appearance unchanged from years past, though her cultivation remained stagnant at rank 69. Over a decade had passed, yet she had not broken through to rank 70.
Perhaps she refused to take human form.
"It's me," Bai Xu replied indifferently.
"Oh? You dare return after fleeing?" the Demonic Devil Whale sneered.
But Zhang Wa's mother ignored it, asking instead, "How... how is Zhang Wa?"
Bai Xu frowned slightly. "He's studying under my teacher. His life should be quite comfortable, though I haven't seen him in a long time."
"Is that so? Good... that's good."
Bai Xu tilted his head, paying no further attention to the jellyfish swarm. His sleeves were already rolled up, and with a flick of his wrist, a hundred-meter-long giant hand materialized—a partial manifestation of his Dharma Idol—and slammed down upon the Demonic Devil Whale pod.
"Impossible!"
The hundred-thousand-year-old Demonic Devil Whale roared in disbelief, realizing too late that it had kicked an iron plate. The colossal hand descended with such force that space itself seemed to compress, immobilizing the whale. It could only muster its soul power to shield itself, but the single strike left it on the brink of death.
The remaining Demonic Devil Whales scattered in panic.
"You're still alive. Perfect for testing a new technique," Bai Xu remarked coldly. For the first time, a sword materialized in his hand—its blade fragmented and illusory, as though it existed outside of time. The space around it warped faintly, as if eras were shifting in its wake.
"Who... who are you?"
Schlick!
Bai Xu appeared atop the massive whale's head and drove the spectral blade into its skull. Yet, contrary to expectations, no pain followed. The whale was baffled—it felt nothing.
One slash. Then another.
By the fifth strike, the Demonic Devil Whale finally understood the horror of its predicament. Its body was aging rapidly, decaying before its very eyes, crumbling into dust that drifted into the ocean's depths.
"What... what kind of soul skill is this... to steal my lifespan..."
Only when the life beneath his feet faded did Bai Xu rise, sighing. "The lifespan of soul beasts truly is vast. Five slashes just to see an effect."
Now, the fragmented sword in his hand no longer appeared broken. It seemed to have replenished itself by siphoning the whale's time, its aura of temporal power growing denser. A mere touch could send one spiraling back to infancy or forward into decrepit old age.
This was the manifestation of the Dao of Time—still in its infancy.
"Thank you for your assistance, honored one," Zhang Wa's mother said respectfully.
"Mn. I'll take my leave if there's nothing else."
"Safe travels, honored one."
She did not attempt to keep him, merely standing with the jellyfish swarm as they bowed in farewell. Knowing her son was well was enough. Back then, his teacher had been a rank 79 Soul Sage—a formidable expert. With such guidance and Zhang Wa's innate full soul power, he would surely grow swiftly.
Perhaps mother and son would reunite soon.
"The soul bone... the benefactor doesn't want it?" She glanced at the corpse, still pulsing with soul power, and quietly stored it away.
---
Transmission Spirit Pagoda Headquarters.
Deputy Tower Master's Office.
Knock, knock, knock!
"Enter!"
Leng Yaozhu set down the documents in her hands as her disciple walked in. "Nana, I called you here for a reason."
"Please enlighten me, Master."
"You are now one of the Four Great Spirit Envoys of the Transmission Spirit Pagoda, as well as a Titled Douluo. By tradition, after assuming this position, you must visit both the Star Luo and Dou Ling Empires—a formality under the guise of inspection. Though it's merely procedural, it's still necessary. Which would you prefer to visit first?"
"Star Luo Empire. Dou Ling is currently embroiled in incidents, making it an unsuitable destination for now," Gu Yuena replied calmly.
Leng Yaozhu nodded. "That little boyfriend of yours has certainly stirred up quite the storm. Though he hid himself well, even with the combined efforts of the Holy Spirit Cult's Super Douluo, completely destroying a branch pagoda is no simple feat. I've been to Dou Ling—the scene was... there's undoubtedly more to it than we know."
"Star Luo it is, then. Prepare for the journey."
"Understood." Gu Yuena turned to leave.
"Ah, Nana, I never asked—what is your Titled Douluo name?" Leng Yaoju smiled.
"Master, I chose it myself—Silver Dragon Douluo, Gu Yuena. Does it suit me?"
"Heh, it does. But you're also a four-word battle armor master now, aren't you? What is your battle armor's name?"
At this, Gu Yuena's expression dimmed slightly, but she answered, "Silver Dragon Rising Sun. Silver Dragon Rising Sun, Gu Yuena. I promised him this name long ago, and I haven't changed it."
"Ah... I should have known. You act indifferent, but in your heart, you still can't let go of Bai Xu. Even if you publicly severed ties with him, that thread of affection remains." Leng Yaozhu sighed, as if seeing through the complexities of love.
"Have you considered whether he still holds any feelings for you? If Bai Xu truly joined the Holy Spirit Cult..." Her voice grew somber, thoughts drifting to her own sister, who had fallen deeper into obsession over Yun Ming than Leng Yaozhu ever had.
Love was terrifying. It could utterly reshape a person—breeding jealousy, distortion, longing, or ruin.
She feared Gu Yuena might tread the same path.
But Gu Yuena responded with a composed smile. "Master, I've already decided. If we meet again, I will capture him myself—by my own hand—and bring him back to the Transmission Spirit Pagoda's dungeons."
Leng Yaozhu's lips twitched. She was starting to think Gu Yuena wasn't entirely well either.
*****
T/N: Use this code "SANTA" for 50% discount for your first month.