"Haha! The old geezer's nothing special!"
The Sui-Xiang's illusion in the distance exploded like a bubble under the multicolored Holy Lance. The night sky returned to its usual tranquility, as if that earth-shattering scene had never happened.
Nian laughed heartily, patting her own somewhat flat chest, making a *clang clang clang* sound.
"Er... is it possible... that was just an illusion, plus a tiny soul fragment of your Second Brother?"
Lucas Reeve retorted.
"Right, our attack just now not only dispersed the Sui-Xiang, but also scattered your Second Brother's soul fragment that was inside it."
"Aiya! Whatever. We wouldn't care even if you'd killed Second Brother outright."
Nian waved her hand dismissively.
"Sister Ling! We're not afraid of that old geezer anymore. Let's team up and crush him!"
Nian trotted over and grabbed Ling's hand, her eyes shining.
"Haha..."
Ling smiled, *gulu gulu*, finishing the wine in her jug.
"I've said it, I'm not interested. This is my path. Even if that old geezer really does awaken, I'm confident he won't be able to do anything to me. Tsk... why am I out of wine again? It's really not enough..."
Lucas Reeve, standing to the side, couldn't help his mouth twitching.
Because this Ling could *really* drink.
From when they first met until now, barely fifteen minutes had passed. But in those fifteen minutes, Ling had chugged four jugs of wine. And not cups, but jugs. Lucas Reeve guessed one jug held about 300ml. Four jugs in fifteen minutes. That was 1.2 liters of wine, or over two jin.
Tsk tsk...
Chugging over two jin of *baijiu* in fifteen minutes. As expected of a god. All alcoholics would probably envy such a constitution. Those hopeless drunkards would kill for a body that could drink forever without issues, just like people who love milk tea and desserts envy Ceobe's body. She could devour dozens of super-sweet cakes a day, and not only would she not get diabetes, she wouldn't even gain weight. Her body was amazing.
Ling saw Lucas Reeve looking at her.
She gave a bright smile and winked at Lucas Reeve.
"What are you looking at me for?"
"I remember it very clearly, Lucas. When you first came up the mountain, you were staring at my thighs... Don't think I didn't notice just because I was sleeping. For me, there's no essential difference between dreams and reality."
Ling swung her pale, near-perfect long legs and said slowly.
And then.
Shuaaa...
Almost everyone's gaze turned in unison to look at Lucas Reeve.
Laurentina seemed to understand something and nodded.
"So gods have the same primitive physiological desires as us mortals? I thought they didn't."
Lucas Reeve really wanted to object, but... he had to admit, he *had* stared for a bit. After all... the legs really were pale.
"Ahem..."
Lucas Reeve coughed, trying to change the subject.
"Um, Ling, there's something I'd like to ask. Who exactly was I in the past, and what did I go through? I have some memories in my head, but they're incomplete. I hope you can enlighten me."
"Mm-hm."
Ling smiled faintly and was just about to explain.
Suddenly.
From the steps outside the pavilion, a deep, aged voice sounded.
"Allow me."
Thud, thud...
With heavy footsteps, an elderly, white-haired man slowly appeared outside the pavilion. He was dressed in official robes, his expression serious and meticulous. The air of a superior washed over them. He had no attendants with him. This mountain peak only had stairs, and because it was Ling's hermitage, the path grew more rugged the higher one went.
Even for the last short distance from the mountainside to the peak, the stairs were barely visible. It would be difficult even for an ordinary person to walk up. It was hard to imagine an old man managing to walk up here... and not even be red-faced or out of breath.
It was clear how strong this old man was.
"Yoho, isn't this the Grand Tutor? Haven't seen you in a few years."
Ling didn't seem surprised.
Grand Tutor?
Lucas Reeve was stunned.
This was the Grand Tutor!
That truly important figure in Yan, the Grand Tutor who was second to one and above tens of thousands. The one who had written him the letter.
Long time no see?
The Grand Tutor knew him...
When the Grand Tutor arrived in the center of the pavilion, Nian's and Dusk's hearts tensed slightly. After all, this man was second only to Yan's True Dragon. Even divine fragments like them had to be cautious, not to mention that this Grand Tutor, though he looked old, was not weak in the slightest.
"It has been a long time. Your appearance seems to have changed a bit, Mr. Reeve."
The Grand Tutor stood with his hands behind his back, meeting Lucas Reeve's gaze. Though old, his eyes weren't cloudy like an elderly person's; instead, they were exceptionally clear. Lucas Reeve's reflection was mirrored in the Grand Tutor's eyes. His tone was amiable, and even... held a hidden trace of happiness. It was just that, due to his current age and status, this happiness couldn't be expressed as openly as an ordinary person's.
"Appearance?"
Lucas Reeve paused, then realized. He was currently wearing the Doctor's 'skin'. Strictly speaking, the Doctor's appearance and Lucas Reeve's soul's appearance had many similarities. Lucas Reeve's soul emerged from the Doctor's body. After seeing Lucas Reeve's soul, the Grand Tutor smiled and nodded.
"Wonderful. We haven't seen each other in decades. I thought I would never see you again in this lifetime."
"Grand Tutor, you know me?"
Lucas Reeve asked, puzzled.
The Grand Tutor nodded.
"I have known you for a very long time."
According to the Grand Tutor's account.
It was many years ago. Back then, the Grand Tutor was just an unknown young man from a poor and ordinary background, one of the countless masses in Yan. Theoretically, the position of Grand Tutor should have had nothing to do with him in his entire life.
And then...
The Grand Tutor met a divine fragment who called himself Lucas Reeve. At that time, Lucas Reeve had asked the Grand Tutor.
What wish do you have? I can grant your wish.
Then, the young Grand Tutor stated his wish: he hoped to use the knowledge he had learned to benefit the people of Yan! And so, the Grand Tutor successfully passed the imperial examinations as the top scholar. A few years later, due to his talent, he was valued by the reigning True Dragon and was exceptionally made one of the Crown Prince's tutors. It was also at this time that the Lucas Reeve of back then suddenly disappeared. No matter how the Grand Tutor called for him, there was no response.
More than ten years passed in a flash.
When Lucas Reeve reappeared before the Grand Tutor, the then-middle-aged Grand Tutor already held a high position in the imperial court. Then, Lucas Reeve brought news that Yan's northern border was about to fall into chaos.
This news was no small matter.
At that time, Yan had already successfully suppressed the northern demons for many, many years.
However, the Grand Tutor naturally wouldn't doubt Lucas Reeve. Even after entering the court, he trusted Lucas Reeve's words, just as he had trusted Lucas Reeve's promise in his youth. On the Grand Tutor's recommendation, the reigning True Dragon dispatched a large number of personnel to the north.
And sure enough... a few months later.
More than one god-level demon appeared in the north without any warning. Even Ursus experienced the same thing during that period.
The battle to resist the demons at that time was exceptionally tragic. It was truly a scene of bodies littering the fields and rivers of blood flowing.
No one knew how many powerful Celestial Master soldiers died on the battlefield in the north. No one knew how many incredibly talented young Celestial Masters from the Tianshi Fu sacrificed their lives at that time, just to hold the final line of defense.
The Lucas Reeve of that time was not a complete god, but a divine fragment. At his own request and with the Grand Tutor's help, Lucas Reeve also joined the army. Finally, when a new god-level demon was about to break through the defensive line, Lucas Reeve chose to use his own life to forcibly break the demon's defenses and heavily wound it, thus protecting Yan's northern border from being breached.
However, Lucas Reeve also completely dissipated between heaven and earth. Before dying, Lucas Reeve told the Grand Tutor that he wouldn't truly die, that this was just one of his fragments, and that there would be a day they would meet again. And the next time they met would be when the world was in chaos once more.
Decades passed in a flash.
Indeed...
Lucas Reeve had not lied back then.
All causality had not been severed, so the day of reunion would naturally come.
They reunited decades later. And it corresponded exactly to Lucas Reeve's prophecy...
It wasn't just the northern border anymore. The entire land of Terra seemed to be showing signs of great chaos.
Lucas Reeve felt like he was listening to this in a bit of a fog. Combining it with the scattered memory fragments in his mind, it seemed to be true. However, because these memories were too scattered, even if Lucas Reeve could recall some of it now, he didn't feel much of a personal connection.
The story between Lucas Reeve and Ling was much simpler.
Ling had also been guarding the north for a hundred years as a divine fragment, and that was when she met Lucas Reeve.
"Eh?"
Nian blinked.
"So, Sister Ling, you've known Lucas Reeve for that long? Why didn't I know?"
Dusk silently retorted: "When was the last time you saw Sister Ling?"
"Er... a hundred years ago..."
"Well, there you go..."
Lucas Reeve asked the Grand Tutor for some other information about himself.
"Great chaos..."
Lucas Reeve joked, "This makes it sound like I'm some 'Death God Elementary School Student,' causing trouble wherever I go."
"?"
Ling asked quietly: "What's a 'Death God Elementary School Student'?"
Nian glanced at Dusk.
Dusk sighed and explained: "It's the nickname of the protagonist in an animated show from Higashi. It means wherever he goes, something big happens."
"How do you know so much, Dusk?"
Ling suddenly smiled, poking Dusk's cute cheek with her finger.
"Little Dusk, you're not that *otaku* girl that's famous online, are you?"
Now that the Sui-Xiang was gone, Dusk was back to being feisty, acting cheeky even with Ling.
"You even know how to use the internet?"
Ling clicked her tongue. "You really think I'm an old geezer, huh?"
Lucas Reeve couldn't help but chime in: "Actually, otaku girls aren't bad. At least, my standard for a partner used to be finding a girl who was a bit of an otaku, played games, watched anime, and preferably cosplayed."
Lucas Reeve said it casually.
He was referring to his previous life.
The Lucas Reeve of his previous life was indeed a bit of an otaku, and his standard for a partner really was to find a similar otaku girl. It's just that he got hit by a truck and transmigrated before he could even start looking.
Whoosh...
After hearing Lucas Reeve's words, Dusk seemed to understand something instantly. Her pale face flushed bright red, and she hurriedly covered it in embarrassment.
"You! You! You! What are you saying, *Yan Profanity*!!"
Ling, beside them, clicked her tongue, hooking an arm around Lucas Reeve's shoulder. "Not bad. I haven't seen you in decades, but your skills at picking up girls are still as strong as ever. Impressive, impressive."
Nian's eyes went wide, and she was speechless for a long time.
A cold glint flashed in Surtr's eyes. She huffed, considering telling Jessica when they got back. Skadi just stood there blankly, not moving.
Laurentina couldn't help but tease, "Oh my... as expected of Lord Deity. You're a 'Sea King', aren't you? I think you're best suited to being one of us Aegir, living in the sea."
In an instant.
Lucas Reeve seemed to realize he had misspoken.
He really had just been casually talking about his partner standards from his previous life.
"What are you thinking!! That was just me back when I was a mortal!!"
Ling: "Keep... keep making it up... Why don't you just say you're from another world, tsk tsk..."
The Grand Tutor stood there like an outsider, silently watching the four divine fragments bicker and joke. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, and his heart was filled with relief, like a proud father.
In all of Yan today, not many people dared to joke around in front of him. He was famous for his strictness. Even the current Crown Prince had to respectfully call him 'Grand Tutor' and would be harshly reprimanded if he made a mistake.
In all of Yan, only these few before him could ignore his status and joke so freely.
How gratifying.
Sigh...
It's truly wonderful to be young.
He too was young once...
The Grand Tutor reminisced silently.
Suddenly, he realized a problem...
It seemed... *he* was the youngest one here.
Lucas Reeve asked some more questions
However, the Grand Tutor of that time was much like Jessica during her Bolívar days. He didn't know much about [Lucas's] background, and of course, didn't know his origins. Even... the current Grand Tutor was still very puzzled as to where the Lucas Reeve of that time had even come from.
"I must return to the capital."
The Grand Tutor said slowly.
"Oh, goodbye."
Ling waved dismissively.
"Miss Nian."
"I have a transaction to propose. I wonder if you would agree to it."
The Grand Tutor's words were amiable.
"Oho."
Nian smiled. "I originally thought you'd use force. You're actually proposing a transaction."
The Grand Tutor smiled faintly. "We in Yan, a great and vast nation, never coerce our own subjects."
"Subjects?"
Nian clicked her tongue and said with a grin, "Well then, does our great Yan need any help?"
"The battle on the front lines is currently dire. Just as Mr. Reeve predicted decades ago, the world is about to fall into chaos. The northern demons are growing more rampant."
"In two years, Yumen City will return to Yan to rendezvous with Lungmen for resupply. And Miss Nian, your task will be to forge the 'Twelve-Story Five-Citadel', three thousand automatons, and one million soldier puppets for Yumen City. Naturally, you won't be completing this alone. All the outstanding craftsmen and Celestial Masters from the 'Tianji Pavilion' will assist you."
"I will give you two years to prepare. In two years, you will go to Yumen City."
"And as part of the transaction, we in Yan will also assist you in resisting Sui and preventing Sui's awakening."