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Soul Guidance Train.
Bai Xu and Gu Yuena were sitting on a special train belonging to the Spirit Pagoda, heading towards Bright City. From there, they would enter the western region of the continent. In truth, this western territory did not originally belong to Douluo Continent. Over ten thousand years ago, the Sun Moon Continent had collided with Douluo due to planetary tectonic movements, merging into one landmass.
Back then, this region belonged to the Sun Moon Empire. The reason why soul tool technology had advanced so rapidly in modern times was largely due to the abundant rare metals brought by the Sun Moon Continent.
The train carriage was empty, save for the two of them.
Gu Yuena glanced at Bai Xu and found herself drawn to him. He liked sitting by the window, propping his cheek with one hand, his eyes carrying a hint of absentmindedness as he gazed at the scenery flashing past outside. It seemed as though he was reminiscing about something, his thoughts drifting aimlessly until his gaze gradually lost focus.
"What are you thinking about?" she asked curiously.
"I was remembering something from back then. Every time I took a vehicle like this, it would stir my imagination," Bai Xu replied without turning his head, still looking out the window, a faint smile on his lips.
"Can you tell me about it? What were you like back then?"
Bai Xu glanced at Gu Yuena curiously and said softly, "My past was very ordinary. Studying took up most of the first half of my life. We sought happiness in the mundane, growing old bit by bit."
"That sounds… nice," Gu Yuena murmured, leaning against Bai Xu's shoulder. There was a trace of disappointment in her voice. Bai Xu still hadn't truly opened up to her. Perhaps this was his greatest secret, something he wasn't willing to share with anyone, only hinting at it indirectly.
Bai Xu chuckled. "Why the sadness? Upset that I won't tell you the details?"
"Mhm. You know everything about me, but I only know your present."
"Curious about what I was like before?"
"Very."
"You'll find out eventually. Now's just not the right time."
"I know. You'll tell me when you're ready."
Bai Xu took her hand, gently rubbing his thumb over her fingers. The two of them sat in comfortable silence.
"Bai Xu?" Gu Yuena called softly.
"I'm here."
"The soul beasts… have already made plans. About you, about the future of our kind, about the Divine Realm… Do you… want to hear it?" Gu Yuena lifted her head, meeting Bai Xu's gaze directly. If he agreed, she would tell him that the soul beasts had already pledged their full support to stand behind him. No matter what the future held, even if it meant death in battle, they would charge forward without hesitation.
"Is this something I should be allowed to hear? You are the Sovereign of Soul Beasts, after all. You really shouldn't lead them into another pitfall," Bai Xu warned. "Even if you have some schemes against me, I can handle it—I'm not afraid. But if you lose, then everything will have to follow my lead."
"And if we are the ones who stand victorious in the end?" Gu Yuena smiled.
"Then Douluo Star will belong to you, and I'll submit to your judgment. Just don't imprison me, alright?" he joked.
"Why is your mind always filled with thoughts of bondage and imprisonment?" Gu Yuena sat up from his shoulder, shooting him a glare.
Bai Xu sighed dramatically. "Well, given past experiences, I have to be cautious."
"You'll understand our decision in time," Gu Yuena said, her tone turning serious, all traces of humor gone.
"With that attitude, it's hard not to guess the answer," Bai Xu remarked, his expression turning meaningful.
"Then plan according to the answer you've deduced. We're about to make our move as well…"
At this moment, the two of them were speaking in different capacities. Gu Yuena had spent the past few days deep in thought, even halting her cultivation to ponder the future.
Their goal was to support Bai Xu as much as possible without becoming a burden.
But Gu Yuena realized that even not being a burden was already a difficult task.
First, there was the spiritual imprint Tang San had left in her mind. No one knew what kind of power it might unleash. Until her mental strength recovered to the Godking level, she would remain wary of its activation.
Second, there was the Dragon God Core—a super divine artifact containing the essence of the Dragon God's lifetime. It now served as the core of the Beast Platform, sustaining its operations.
However, the two Beast Kings, Da Ming and Er Ming, also had access to it. As Tang San's allies, their loyalty to the soul beasts was questionable. If they had tampered with the Dragon God Core, the consequences would be disastrous.
Third, there was herself. As the only soul beast capable of surpassing level 99 and reaching godhood, she was practically the only combatant who could provide meaningful assistance to Bai Xu in the future. But given her current recovery rate, by the time the Abyss invaded… she would still be far from her peak.
The peak strength of the Silver Dragon King was half-step Godking, with mental power at the Godking level.
Thus, her trip to the Abyss was also to devour its energy and accelerate her recovery. At the very least, she couldn't remain a mere True God like in the original timeline. This time, she needed to recover enough strength to contend with the Planet's Will.
As for Tang Wulin… Gu Yuena knew that he would ultimately stand on the opposite side of Bai Xu. Though the two had no personal conflict, Tang Wulin's grandparents, parents, and other connections would inevitably force him into opposition.
'If it comes to that… I'll deal with the Golden Dragon King myself,' Gu Yuena thought, a cold glint flashing in her eyes. She was determined to ensure the Dragon God could never be fully restored.
Even if a new Dragon God were to emerge in the future, it would not inherit the flawed legacy of the previous one.
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Fire Basin.
Bai Xu and Gu Yuena's destination was the Spirit Pagoda in the Fire Basin. They would first report there before heading to the military base in the Endless Mountains.
The basin was an endless desert. Here, soul guidance trains no longer operated, requiring either battle armor flight or ground vehicles to traverse.
Yet Bai Xu walked across the desert.
His body shimmered with crystalline light, as though he had activated the Green Emperor's Divine Art. His eyes turned emerald green, and wherever he passed, lush vegetation sprouted in his wake. Even soul beasts that stabilized the soil emerged from the ground, kneeling to Bai Xu before glancing at Gu Yuena—the Silver Dragon—with indifference, then burrowing back underground to continue transforming the desert into fertile land.
Bringing spring with every step, creating life with a wave of his hand.
Gu Yuena followed behind him, already somewhat accustomed to Bai Xu's divine peculiarities. However, his cultivation system was truly enviable. He could create and destroy nature at will, nurturing all living things with a mere gesture. At times, he seemed more like the Sovereign of Soul Beasts than she, the Silver Dragon King, did.
A pity she couldn't cultivate it herself.
"Thank you, Great One!" The voice of the Planet's Will echoed in his mind, filled with gratitude. Though he had only left behind a trace of vitality, over time, this vast desert might one day become a forest again—assuming no external forces interfered.
Looking back, Gu Yuena saw an oasis stretching endlessly behind them and couldn't help but sigh.
"You're more suited to be the Sovereign of Soul Beasts than I am…"