In the northern part of Dragon City, a courtyard equally vast in area stood quietly, vaguely echoing the Heavenly Dragon Gate in the south of the city.
This was precisely the location of the Earth Dragon Gate's sect headquarters.
Among the two most powerful sects in Dragon City were the Heavenly Dragon Gate and the Earth Dragon Gate. The Heavenly Dragon Gate occupied the south of the city, while the Earth Dragon Gate occupied the north; both held transcendent status and were existences that all other medium and small sects in the city looked up to.
Relatively speaking, the Heavenly Dragon Gate was more powerful. Its sect master was a genuine Titled Douluo.
Moreover, it was said that the previous generation's old sect master was still alive. Although he rarely showed himself now, no one could ignore his existence. One sect with two Titled Douluos, the Heavenly Dragon Gate was undoubtedly a top-tier soul master sect on the continent.
The Earth Dragon Gate, however, was much inferior. The current sect master, Nan Shui Shui, was merely an eight-ring Soul Douluo, still quite a significant distance away from the Titled Douluo realm. The overall strength of the Earth Dragon Gate was far from being comparable to the Heavenly Dragon Gate.
Of course, looking across the entire continent, the Earth Dragon Gate could still be considered a major sect ranking in the front ranks.
Once again, a group of people arrived grandly at the main gate of the Earth Dragon Gate. One woman and six men, all appearing to be around twenty years old.
The woman leading them had short pink hair, slightly curly strands resting on her fragrant shoulders, messy yet beautiful. Even her eyes were an unusual pink, sparkling with a lustrous glow like pink gemstones.
"Miss." The two guards at the entrance bowed respectfully toward the woman.
The woman was none other than Nan Qiuqiu, whom Xu Zihuang had met once outside the Sunset Forest all those years ago.
Nan Qiuqiu's pretty face was full of depression. She kept her hands behind her back, only giving a light response before quickly walking deeper into the courtyard.
The other six youths silently followed behind Nan Qiuqiu, heads lowered in silence, looking like eggplants beaten by frost.
The group walked all the way to the backyard of the Earth Dragon Gate. The backyard was a large garden. Maintaining such a large-scale garden in this kind of bitterly cold environment was no easy task. Moreover, many precious flowers only existed in the southern part of the continent. The reason they could survive here was entirely due to the geothermal soul guidance device buried beneath the backyard of the Earth Dragon Gate.
With the heating provided by the geothermal soul guidance device, the temperature here was always like spring all year round.
Nan Qiuqiu took off her pink fur coat, revealing an extremely impressive figure. She stood still in the center of the backyard, turned around, and looked at the six people opposite her. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became.
"Disgraceful! Truly disgraceful! We originally agreed with Yu Tianlong and the others to have a sparring match outside the city to prepare for the upcoming Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament. Seven matches in a row, and not a single win?!"
Everyone showed ashamed expressions.
But a burly black-haired youth named Xu Shenshu couldn't help but mutter softly.
"Big Sis Head, the Heavenly Dragon Gate's strength is originally stronger than our Earth Dragon Gate."
Xu Shenshu, like Yu Tianlong and Xing Yan, also kept short hair. Among the group, his physique was the most robust. This was inseparable from his martial soul, the Saber-Toothed Earth Dragon.
The Saber-Toothed Earth Dragon was a powerful earth dragon-type soul beast, particularly excelling in strength and defense.
However, the strength he was proud of had not gained the slightest advantage against Xu Zihuang back then.
"Besides, Big Sis Head, didn't you also lose to Yu Tianlong?"
"You?!" Nan Qiuqiu immediately flushed with anger, but what made her most uncomfortable was that what Xu Shenshu said was the truth; she had no way to refute it. In front of Yu Tianlong, she hadn't even lasted three minutes.
Seeing Nan Qiuqiu's ever-changing expression, Xu Shenshu also realized he seemed to have said the wrong thing.
The other five youths looked at Xu Shenshu somewhat speechlessly. Although it was indeed the truth, saying it so bluntly made it very difficult for Nan Qiuqiu to save face.
The handsome-looking youth Xiao Ye stepped forward a few steps and tried to smooth things over: "There is indeed a gap between our Earth Dragon Gate and the Heavenly Dragon Gate; this cannot be denied. But precisely because there is a gap, we should pay even more attention to how to improve ourselves and make up for that difference."
"Well said." A clear, mellow female voice rang out. A beautiful woman who bore a five-to-six-part resemblance to Nan Qiuqiu had appeared behind everyone at some point.
"Failing is not scary. What is scary is being unable to learn lessons from failure. Qiuqiu, how is it that you can't see things as clearly as Xiao Ye?"
The newcomer was naturally the current sect master of the Earth Dragon Gate, Nan Shui Shui, also Nan Qiuqiu's mother.
"Mom, why do you start scolding me the moment you arrive?" Nan Qiuqiu pouted somewhat aggrievedly.
Nan Shui Shui coldly snorted with a straight face.
"If I don't scold you, you'll soon become lawless. How many times have I told you, without elders accompanying you, not engage in private fights. Even sparring is not allowed. Fortunately, no accidents happened this time."
"Five months from now, at the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament held in Mingdu, if you cannot lead the team to achieve a decent result, you will be punished to face the wall at Dragon Suppression Cliff for one year. Unless your cultivation breaks through to Soul Emperor, don't even think about coming out."
"Now, all of you go back and cultivate."
"Yes, Sect Master." Xu Shenshu, Xiao Ye, and the others respectfully responded, their expressions solemn as they each withdrew from the courtyard.
Nan Qiuqiu giggled, hugged one of Nan Shui Shui's arms, and said,
"Mom, don't worry. I definitely won't let you down. No matter what, our Earth Dragon Gate is still considered a famous major sect on the continent. The disciples within the sect are much more outstanding than the students of those advanced soul master academies and soul engineer academies."
Seeing that she couldn't intimidate her daughter, Nan Shui Shui's expression softened slightly. But she still gave Nan Qiuqiu a warning and said lightly,
"Don't speak so confidently. More outstanding than the academy students? Then do you have confidence in defeating Shrek Academy?"
"Mom—" Nan Qiuqiu whined coquettishly with a heavy nasal tone.
"Do you have to hit me so hard?"
Nan Shui Shui finally revealed a smile.
"It's time to give you some pressure. You're not young anymore. In the future, the heavy responsibility of revitalizing the Earth Dragon Gate will ultimately fall on your shoulders."
"You're still saying that. You even gave away our Earth Dragon Gate's sect master token." Nan Qiuqiu couldn't help rolling her eyes.
The mother and daughter left together, but both of them unconsciously recalled the boy they had met back then.
As time passed, the temperature in Dragon City continued to drop. Snowflakes fell on the cobblestone path that Nan Qiuqiu and Nan Shui Shui had walked, and fell in every corner of Dragon City. The fluffy falling snowflakes grew larger and larger.
In a luxury hotel in the center of Dragon City, on the top floor, Xu Zihuang sat on a soft and comfortable sofa, staring absentmindedly at each snowflake drifting in the air.
Every snowflake was unique, carrying a slight chill and a sense of wandering.
There was also a geothermal soul guidance device in the room. Having just finished bathing, Xu Zihuang wore only thin single-layer clothing and lightly sipped the hot tea in his cup.
His long black hair cascaded down his back like a waterfall, with a few particularly eye-catching strands of purple mixed in, swaying with his movements.
His flawless, perfect features were reflected in the crystal window.
At that moment, another tall figure appeared in the reflection of the crystal window, standing right in front of Xu Zihuang.
Xu Zihuang subconsciously turned his head and looked up.
What met his eyes was an absolutely beautiful face. Her cool features and those noble, imposing golden eyes were enough to make anyone feel inferior. That majestic aura was even stronger than that of the long-time princess of the Star Luo Empire.
But those golden eyes were filled with tenderness, slowly drawing closer to Xu Zihuang.
"Spirit-I Depend Sister?"
Ye Guyi was barefoot, her fair and exquisite jade feet stepping on the golden wool carpet.
The carpet was made from the fur of a light-attribute soul beast. The compressed and resilient fluff made every light step Ye Guyi took carry an inexplicable beauty.
Ye Guyi was only wearing a silk close-fitting long dress, the hem falling to her straight calves, outlining some subtle curves.
Under Xu Zihuang's gaze, she stretched out her jade hand and gently caressed Xu Zihuang's cheek. Her face blushed, but her eyes were incomparably firm.
"Zihuang, I deliberately delayed for so long, actually just for today. I want to leave this unforgettable memory for a lifetime in the city where Aunt Qing grew up, on your seventeenth birthday."
As she spoke, Ye Guyi guided Xu Zihuang's right hand to rest on the golden angel pattern.
Xu Zihuang's gaze gradually changed. His throat felt dry as he opened his mouth.
This scene seemed to overlap with the memory from his childhood, as if crossing the long river of time.
Layer upon layer of emotions and feelings surged and erupted in both their hearts.
…
"Zihuang, happy birthday…" Ye Guyi closed her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, tiny warm crystals sliding from the corners of her eyes as she silently thought in her heart.
"From now on, please allow me to truly accompany you as another identity."
The piercing pain mixed with overwhelming happiness drowned her, letting her sink completely into it.
At the same time, in Shrek City.
It was also night. In Shrek City, located in the central-southern part of the continent, the starry sky was brilliant tonight.
In the top-floor hall of the nine-story pagoda-like Sea God's Pavilion, Ning Tian sat alone on the sofa, looking up at the starry sky.
"Tianhuang…"
She had made up her mind long ago, but Yu Tianhuang, who had gone out for training, still had not returned.
Ning Tian hugged her arms, gently stroking her own body, her eyes dazed and misty.
For that moment, she had truly waited a very long time. Scenes of her past time with Yu Tianhuang kept flashing through her mind; only this could slightly soothe the loss and regret in her heart.
Midnight had passed, and they were all already seventeen years old.
…
The morning sun rose, and the sudden heavy snow had just cleared.
The entire Dragon City was enveloped in golden morning sunlight. Such clear weather was extremely rare in Dragon City, which was covered in snow all year round. Early in the morning, the streets had already become extremely lively.
On the top floor of the hotel, at the dining table by the floor-to-ceiling window, Xu Zihuang and Ye Guyi were eating lunch.
They had originally planned to quickly go to the Earth Dragon Gate to retrieve the Ten-thousand-year Mysterious Ice Marrow, but due to an unexpected situation, they ended up staying in the hotel for ten consecutive days.
Xu Zihuang was cutting the roasted pork ribs on his plate with silver cutlery. This was something he had cooked himself, and the ribs he chose as ingredients were no ordinary goods.
They came from the best rib section of the Flying Pig soul beast.
As the name suggested, the Flying Pig was a strange soul beast with a pair of wings on its back, living only in the soul beast forests of the northern continent.
Years of flying had made their meat extremely tender and had excellent nourishing effects on soul masters' bodies. Later, they were domesticated and raised by humans.
There were breeding farms in Dragon City. They were called the most authentic Great Flying Pigs.
Ye Guyi sat right beside Xu Zihuang. Under her white silk long dress, her long legs were mostly bare, casually resting across Xu Zihuang's lap without any concern.
Compared to ten days ago, the two of them clearly got along much more naturally, as if their hearts were connected with perfect tacit understanding. Because Ye Guyi had repeatedly and completely worn away that tiny bit of awkwardness in Xu Zihuang's heart.
Xu Zihuang fed the cut pieces of meat into Ye Guyi's mouth, but his gaze remained fixed on Ye Guyi's flat abdomen, showing some hesitation. This was the first time he had shown such an emotion.
"Zihuang, are you still struggling with it?" Ye Guyi looked at Xu Zihuang with a smile.
"It's just one time. We both have the highest-grade martial souls; it's much more difficult to conceive offspring. It won't happen so coincidentally."
Over these ten days, of course, it wasn't just once. But only the very first time, at Ye Guyi's strong insistence, did Xu Zihuang not use soul power to eliminate the vitality within.
Xu Zihuang smiled bitterly and shook his head.
"Sister Lingyi, I'm not struggling. I just feel that the pressure we are facing right now is too great. If we really had a crystallization of our bloodlines, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to give him the best conditions for growth."
Recalling what happened that night, Ye Guyi's face turned completely red with shame.
"I'm sorry, Zihuang. I was a bit selfish at that time."
Back then, she had been in a state where her soul seemed to be floating away; she hadn't thought about anything at all, it was purely instinct.
"Actually, I also have responsibility." Xu Zihuang sighed lightly. Then the two looked at each other and smiled ambiguously.
Instantly understanding the meaning in Ye Guyi's eyes, Xu Zihuang said helplessly, "Spirit-I Depend Sister, let's take care of business first today."
"You decide."
Ye Guyi elegantly combed her golden hair that was draped over her shoulders and back, giving a meaningful light laugh. She had absolute confidence in her own charm. Otherwise, they wouldn't have stayed locked in the hotel for ten consecutive days.
Anyway, there would be many days ahead. Being able to take that step with Xu Zihuang already made her feel quite at ease.
After finishing lunch, Xu Zihuang and Ye Guyi put on their fur coats and left the hotel. They did not check out, after all, it might take quite some time for Tianmeng Iceworm to absorb the Ten-thousand-year Mysterious Ice Marrow. They would likely remain in Dragon City for several more days.
The two strolled along the streets of Dragon City, basking in the warm morning sun. Ye Guyi, holding Xu Zihuang's arm, now carried an indescribable charm in every frown and smile compared to before.
Such a combination attracted the gazes of many passersby.
The hotel where Xu Zihuang and Ye Guyi were staying was in the city center. It didn't take long before they arrived at the northern area of Dragon City.
After winding through several streets and alleys, a wide courtyard appeared in their line of sight from afar. The architectural style of the courtyard was similar to that of the Heavenly Dragon Gate's residence. The large plaque above the main gate was engraved with three big characters: Earth Dragon Gate.
Two stone statues were also placed in front of the gate. The statues appeared to be of an earth dragon-type soul beast, without dragon wings, with very fine scales, and a strange diamond-shaped gemstone on the forehead.
Xu Zihuang and Ye Guyi arrived at the courtyard entrance and casually took out the Blazing Sun Warming Jade, tossing it to one of the guards.
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