Sea God Pavilion.
Golden Treehouse.
Sunlight streamed through the window lattice, falling upon the wooden grid intricately carved with layers of ancient yet complex patterns, dividing the room from the outside into two separate worlds.
Outside, the cicadas chirped softly, insects moving rhythmically—the Golden Tree's unique, flourishing life force had created a lush plant paradise.
Inside.
The sun shone over the bed; on the warm, cozy mattress, a silver-haired beauty lay quietly, half-covered by the blanket, revealing smooth, round calves and a pair of tender white feet. The thin quilt outlined her proud, delicate figure perfectly.
At this moment, however, she clung to Su Wen like an octopus, totally unconcerned about her image.
The young man and woman embraced each other.
Silver hair brushed against Su Wen's face, tickling him softly with a faint, pleasant scent.
"Hiss..."
Su Wen opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was a sea of soft, fair skin. His dry throat rolled, and for a moment his mind went blank, making him almost think he'd gone crazy last night with Ma Xiaotao.
But then he remembered how both Sister Xiaotao and Sister Lexuan lost so miserably last night, and he had watched himself get forcibly dragged away by a certain "Evil Dragon King." With the unique fragrance on his nose, he finally realized where he was.
He'd always thought Gu Yuena only had a girl form, but last night had taught him otherwise.
"That was way too wild…"
Hearing a dissatisfied voice from beside him, Su Wen covered his head and smiled helplessly.
"I was kidnapped by a female dragon, what can I do?"
"Hero? I'm not—"
"Where did you get this weird play from?"
Su Wen shook his head.
Spirit beasts aren't machines, just numbers in games. They have lives, have minds.
"Ready to get up?" Su Wen patted the beauty's rear.
"No... tired..."
But she, for once, showed a rare exhausted expression. Maybe it was because her transformation burned a lot of energy last night?
Su Wen shook his head and yawned.
Just then, the door slowly opened.
A tall maid named Nana walked in with tiny steps, smiling, with a vine from the golden ancient tree draped with white clothes.
"Master, I'm here to help you dress…" Nana bowed slightly, showing perfect etiquette.
Of course, she looked more like a battle maid than a sweet, cute one.
Su Wen was confused.
"How did you get in?"
"With the Lady's permission." Nana softly looked at Gu Yuena.
Su Wen: "..."
Well then, I've been arranged?
"I permitted it. I think Nana is pretty good, and my name even has a 'Na' too. From now on, she'll take care of your daily needs. I have no objections, I fully support it."
Gu Yuena, at some point, wrapped her proud figure in a thin robe, her little feet touching the floor yet spotlessly clean, fair and soft. She stretched lazily, yawning as she spoke.
"Tsk, that was fast…" Su Wen couldn't help clicking his tongue.
"I am the Silver Dragon King, about to ascend to Dragon God; how could a mere mortal like you exhaust me? Hmph, wishful thinking!" Gu Yuena smiled contemptuously, her jade hand pressed on Su Wen's chest. "Remember to pay the grain fee monthly, mortal."
Su Wen: "…"
"And hurry up with your cultivation. Only when you reach level eighty can I fully merge with you."
"What nonsense are you talking about!" Su Wen twitched at the corner of his mouth. "It's about contract binding, spirit sharing."
"Isn't that the same?" Gu Yuena moved her red lips close to his ear, whispering.
"The only difference is, it seems you'll get exclusive rights to control this king?"
"Then wouldn't this king be like Nana, at your disposal? And, unwillingly… even have to… wuwu..."
"Stop." Su Wen covered her mouth, his face lined with black lines.
He glanced at Nana.
She, however, remained utterly professional, helping him don his outer clothes and fixing his collar, finally letting out a breath.
Tsk tsk tsk...
Top-tier little maid, huh.
Anyone who barged into the competition here wouldn't be simple.
"Mmm, what's there to be shy about? Isn't this my future fate, anyway?" Gu Yuena's amethyst eyes blinked.
Su Wen's face remained calm, but he felt like Gu Yuena had completely unchained her true nature.
"Besides, once I ascend to Dragon King, won't the path to divinity for the other spirit beasts open up too?" Gu Yuena softly hugged Su Wen's arm, breathing gently.
"..."
Her gentle words were like stones dropped into a calm lake, rippling the surface heavily.
Su Wen could feel it.
All contracted spirit beasts were starting to get restless.
Clearly, "becoming god" was still an extremely attractive concept for these spirit beasts.
And Gu Yuena was the key to that door.
Even Xue Di was included…
"Also, Tang San's divine seat will be handed down soon. Just imagining the look on his face then, I find it amusing."
"Not necessarily." Su Wen's face was expressionless.
"He admitted it?" Gu Yuena wondered.
"Divine inheritance requires a trial. If it's a trial, there's always a chance of failure. He can use a failed trial as an excuse to refuse the passing of the divine seat," Su Wen sighed softly.
"Of course, the price is his own credibility…"
"Huh?" The beauty stood dumbfounded.
Su Wen took the chance to pinch her soft cheek.
"Of course, I never expected to inherit the Sea God position peacefully. Expecting a fork-tongued, backstabbing liar to keep his word? Might as well rely on you to spare me."
"In your dreams!" Gu Yuena puffed her cheeks and put her hands on her hips.
"Yep." Su Wen shrugged.
"Elder Yi tripped Tang San up, not for that insignificant Sea God seat, but… the OTHER divine positions!"
"If not for this, once you ascend to Dragon God, Tang San would surely come up with all kinds of excuses to block the other gods from passing their seats to us. As a God King, his status would stop some gods from easily granting succession."
"But now, he's already said it at the committee meeting, so…"
"He'll have no choice but to watch as the other gods contact us, and the divine trial commences." Su Wen grinned.
"Wanna go to breakfast?" Gu Yuena beamed.
"Um…" Su Wen looked suspicious.
"Come on, let's go."
"Madam, I've already…" Nana began, but Gu Yuena stepped in: "Ahh, it's more fun if everyone eats together. Just two of us is boring."
"Yes." Nana nodded and stepped back.
Her facial expressions were on point.
"Did you go to maid school?" Su Wen couldn't help asking.
"Yes, during the time you disappeared…" Nana said softly.
Su Wen twitched.
No wonder she was so professional…
Inner Court Dining Hall.
Three women stared at each other, wide-eyed.
Ma Xiaotao looked down, then shot a glance at her opponent—neither side at a disadvantage—which made her even angrier!
Nobody told her this woman could transform! Two different forms—unfair! So competitive!
"Tomorrow night, Su Wen is MINE." Ma Xiaotao bit into a fried dough stick, her scarlet eyes glaring at Su Wen, enunciating every word.
Zhang Lexuan remained gentle and elegant, eating her breakfast slowly and gracefully, unperturbed by Gu Yuena's provocation.
"Tomorrow night?" Gu Yuena licked her red lips.
"Then today I really have to treasure him."
Su Wen's face froze.
"Let's go. If I drain you dry today, then tomorrow…" Gu Yuena gently took Su Wen's hand, put down her porridge, wiped her mouth, and smiled regretfully, "the experience might suck."
"Oh, I forgot. You're just mortals—your physique is a million miles behind mine. Even a tiny bit leaking from my fingertips would be enough to…"
"Stop." Su Wen covered her mouth.
He shot a look at the other two, took Gu Yuena's hand, and started toward Star Dou Great Forest.
She said the forest felt more right.
"Damn it!!!" Ma Xiaotao banged her bowl, flames shooting out her head.
"How dare she provoke us!"
"No choice. A loss is a loss. She's strong… It's not our fault our opponent is a god," Zhang Lexuan said blandly.
"So Senior Sister, you're just gonna watch her snatch Su Wen away? Eat the meat, then toss us the scraps?" Ma Xiaotao gritted her teeth.
"Did she snatch him?" Zhang Lexuan looked up, glancing at Ma Xiaotao.
"She might be a god, but mentally she's probably younger than you. That 'eat meat, drink soup' line was just childish posturing—just venting."
"If you really only got soup, she'd monopolize Su Wen for over half the month, but has she ever talked about sharing specifically?"
"Huh?" Ma Xiaotao stared.
"I guess I should act friendlier next time?"
"Don't." Zhang Lexuan shook her head.
"Why not?"
"To her, you're arch-enemies. She talks tough, but she's actually soft. If you act indifferent, or ignore her, she might get REALLY mad. So for our happiness, keep being the villain." Zhang Lexuan cocked her head, explaining.
Ma Xiaotao: "…"
Like some dumb beast in a rage?
"This is so NOT me! Senior Sister, do you really see me as big-chested but brainless?" Ma Xiaotao muttered gloomily.
"Aren't you?" Zhang Lexuan raised her eyebrow.
Ma Xiaotao: "…"
So that's what you've always thought!
"Dim-witted beauties are nice too. Be satisfied," Zhang Lexuan chuckled, patting Ma Xiaotao's cheek.
"Ah. Ah…"
Ma Xiaotao blushed, watching Senior Sister rise gracefully and leave with her hair flowing.
"Where are you going?"
"To handle the Martial Spirit Academy's affairs…"