[After returning to Heaven Dou Imperial City,]
[You force yourself to forget about Ye Luo for now and begin preparing to represent the Heaven Dou royal family next year on an inspection tour of the Empire's borders—where you will save Dugu Bo.]
[In the blink of an eye, a year passes.]
[Leading the Royal Knights on the border inspection, you successfully rescue Dugu Bo.]
[Though eccentric and solitary, Dugu Bo always repays kindness; he pledges himself as your Guest Elder and swears to aid you whenever needed!]
…because the plot that followed matched the previous simulation.
Qian Renxue found an excuse to return to Spirit City and obtained the immortal herb illustrated manual from Chrysanthemum Douluo.
She then picked a few immortal herbs from Dugu Bo's medicinal garden.
Back in Spirit City, she distributed them to Gold Crocodile Douluo, Azure Luan Douluo, Lion Douluo, and the other worshippers.
The worshippers' Spirits evolved and their cultivations broke through.
Qian Renxue pressed her jade finger on the light screen and fast-forwarded the story.
Soon the timeline jumped five years ahead.
[Five years later, news arrives that Dugu Yan has somehow found a boyfriend—his name is Ye Luo!]
What?! Ye Luo?!
Seeing the name, Qian Renxue froze, incredulous.
A thought surfaced in her heart.
Could it be…? [Hearing the name, you're shocked and disbelieving.]
[To confirm whether this is the Ye Luo you seek, you visit the Dugu Residence the very next day.]
[Inside the Dugu Residence, when the household realizes Crown Prince Xue Qinghe has come to call on Dugu Bo, the old man treats you with great courtesy and respect.]
[Ye Luo is stunned on the spot; he can scarcely believe the scene before him.]
[Later, learning that you were the one who saved Dugu Bo, his expression turns complicated, studying you with measuring, thoughtful eyes.]
I saved Dugu Bo—what's so strange about that?
Ye Luo's reaction in the simulation puzzles Qian Renxue.
[At the Dugu Residence you learn that Ye Luo's Spirit is Blue Silver Grass—mutated Blue Silver Grass, to be precise.]
[At only eleven years old, he has already broken through to Spirit Ancestor—an absolute Genius!]
[Judging by Spirit and age, you're certain this Ye Luo is the one you've been looking for!]
[Yet you can't understand why, in previous simulations, he appeared only at the All-Continent Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament as a member of the Plant Team.]
[This time, however, he has become Dugu Yan's boyfriend and stepped onto the stage early.]
[But now Dugu Bo is yours; as the old man's future grandson-in-law, Ye Luo is effectively yours as well.]
[The outcome delights you.]
Truly: plant flowers with care and they won't bloom; drop a willow branch and it thrives in shade!
Finding that in this simulation Ye Luo has become an ally in such a manner, Qian Renxue is overjoyed.
With this connection, her future self will surely draw him in, nurture him, and help him ascend to Deity early.
Then Spirit Hall will possess three Deities.
Even if Tang San again becomes Sea God and Asura God in one body, he'll be no match for Spirit Hall!
[After discovering Ye Luo, you visit the Dugu Residence often, showing goodwill and trying to recruit him.]
[Sadly, Ye Luo remains politely distant, keeping you at arm's length.]
[It frustrates you, yet you can do nothing.]
[You even attempt a detour, asking Dugu Bo for help.]
[At first Dugu Bo agrees.]
[But later, for unknown reasons, he sighs and says forced fruit is not sweet; Juniors' affairs are beyond an elder's control.]
[Helpless, you temporarily abandon the idea of recruiting Ye Luo.]
Why is this Ye Luo so hard to win over?!
Seeing that even with Dugu Bo's help she still can't recruit Ye Luo, Qian Renxue frets and fumes.
Her public identity is Crown Prince of Heaven Dou Empire!
Anyone who joins her gains wealth, status, and access to her cultivation resources.
Shouldn't that appeal greatly to a common-born Spirit Master like Ye Luo?
Why is he so stubborn!
[Another five years flash by.]
[Because you killed Tang Hao early and forced Tang San to flee and vanish,]
[Shrek Academy never comes into being.]
[The teams that emerge from the qualifiers this tournament are Divine Wind Team, Thunder Team, Blazing Fire Team, Heaven Water Team, and Elephant Armored Team.]
[This time Ye Luo doesn't join Plant Academy; he enrolls in Heaven Dou Royal Academy and enters the tournament as captain of Heaven Dou First Team.]
[In the advancement rounds, Divine Wind Team places first, Thunder Team second.]
[After the rounds, the teams heading to Spirit City for the finals ride luxurious carriages arranged by Heaven Dou's royal house, escorted by a unit of Royal Knights, and set off for Spirit City.]
[Without Tang San, the journey is smooth and they reach Spirit City without incident.]
[With Ye Luo present, the tournament's outcome is no surprise to you.]
[Heaven Dou First Team, representing Heaven Dou Royal Academy, defeats the favored Star Luo Royal Team and Spirit Hall Team to win the championship.]
[As champion rewards, three ten-thousand-year Spirit Bones are presented; Ye Luo chooses the Spirit-type Wisdom Condensation Skull Bone.]
[The other two bones go to Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan.]
[After the tournament ends,]
[Back in Heaven Dou Imperial City, Ye Luo accepts the reward promised by Emperor Xue Ye during the opening ceremony.]
[Per the emperor's prior promise, any championship team's]
[captain and vice-captain receive the noble title of earl, while other members become viscounts—all with fiefs.]
[Ye Luo and Dugu Yan both choose to place their fiefs in Xueling Province, northernmost Heaven Dou Empire.]
[A borderland of bitter cold, vast and sparsely populated, bordering the Far North and threatened by highland and snow barbarians—an absolute wilderness.]
[Privately, you find Ye Luo and offer to exchange his and Dugu Yan's fiefs for richer, more prosperous lands.]
[But Ye Luo smiles and declines, thanking you and explaining he deliberately chose Xueling Province.]
[Because its vast, cold expanse lets him enclose a larger territory—perfect for his needs!]
[You don't understand, yet you can only respect his choice.]