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The third underground level was a world of metal. From the ceiling to the walls and the floor, everything was thick metal. Moreover, there were clear energy fluctuations within it. With such heavy defenses, no psychic waves could penetrate inside.
Bai Xu gently stroked the metal wall, causing ripples to spread across its surface. The hard metal seemed to soften like cotton candy, even turning liquid, continuously parting to make way for him.
"Who goes there?"
Ten armed guards were stationed there. The moment they saw Bai Xu approaching and attempted to issue a warning, they were instantly dragged into the metal walls, disappearing without a trace.
The final heavy metal door swung open, and a figure clad entirely in black stepped out. The person wore a mask that completely concealed their face, leaving only the eyes, nose, and mouth exposed. Their entire body radiated an aura of coldness, malevolence, and indifference. Their hands were deathly pale, devoid of any color, and their eyes were a dark purple, as if flickering with ghostly flames.
Bai Xu sighed. "Your aesthetic is unmistakable."
"Who are—"
Before the figure could finish speaking, a single slap sent them crashing into the wall, embedding them so deeply they couldn't be pried out.
Beyond the metal door was a spacious area with multiple rooms. The evil soul masters inside seemed entirely unaffected by the earlier battle. They hadn't even bothered to investigate after feeling the tremors.
"Hmm?"
Bai Xu sensed it—the room at the end of the corridor, where the evil soul masters were busy cleaning up traces of their activities.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Several golden blades of energy pierced through the metal doors, impaling a number of evil soul masters against the walls. Pushing the door open, Bai Xu saw bloodied corpses strewn across the floor, all dressed in identical white uniforms—likely kidnapped researchers.
But there were survivors.
Two researchers—a man and a woman—were strapped to metal beds, seemingly awaiting execution. Their faces were twisted in terror as they stared at Bai Xu in horror.
Seeing this, Bai Xu wondered inwardly, "Could it really be such a coincidence?" Still, he asked aloud, "Are you Tang Ziran and Lang Yue?"
The man's eyes moistened upon hearing his name. He nodded. "Yes... only we are left."
"Good."
With that, Bai Xu turned and left without the slightest intention of rescuing them.
Lang Yue stared at his retreating figure, only daring to breathe again after a long moment. Glancing at the corpses littering the floor, hot tears streamed down her face. "We... we might actually survive."
"Yes, let's get out of here first... first," Tang Ziran muttered, struggling desperately against his restraints.
---
Aboveground, Spirit Pagoda.
Standing there, Bai Xu pulled out the silver dragon scale from his pocket and channeled soul power into it, repeatedly calling for Na'er.
But Na'er didn't come immediately. Instead, she answered via soul communicator. "What is it? I don't sense that you're in danger."
"I'm at the Spirit Pagoda branch in the Douluo Empire."
"I know." Na'er's voice was soft as she leaned against a windowsill.
"I destroyed it."
"What?!" She bolted upright, her face a mask of disbelief.
"I found your parents. They got lucky—out of all the researchers, they're the only two left alive." Bai Xu continued, "Are you sure you don't want to come?"
"..."
The other end of the call fell into prolonged silence. Na'er knew full well that her current identity made it inappropriate to interact with them. But... they had raised her for three years. She had never been strong enough to rescue them herself. Emotionally and logically, she owed them this visit.
"Fine." Na'er left behind a spatial marker, ensuring she could return quickly after teleporting.
The scale in Bai Xu's hand shimmered with silver light, and in the blink of an eye, Na'er crossed the ocean to arrive in the Douluo Empire.
"I thought you wouldn't come." Bai Xu sighed softly before explaining, "I won't save them. That's your responsibility. They're on the third underground level."
"Thank you..."
Na'er took the elevator down. The moment she stepped into the third underground level, her eyes met a floor littered with corpses in black robes—clearly evil soul masters. Her adoptive parents had been imprisoned here for over a decade. She could only hope they were unharmed.
Her pace quickened as she rushed to the room at the end of the corridor. Tang Ziran was still struggling against his restraints, but the metal bindings were not so easily broken.
Then, a silver figure burst into the room.
The couple froze. For a moment, they thought they were seeing a celestial being—a woman of breathtaking beauty. But upon closer inspection, she seemed familiar. That silver hair and those violet eyes... they resembled Na'er from years ago.
"Are... are you Na'er?" Lang Yue was the first to react, tears spilling over as her voice trembled. She was almost certain this was her.
"It's me. For now... I can only call you Auntie. I hope you don't mind." Na'er's eyes were also wet as she stepped forward, using her Silver Dragon Spear to slice through the metal restraints.
"Uncle..." She turned to Tang Ziran next.
Both had aged significantly, their faces lined with wrinkles, their hair streaked with gray. They looked exhausted, as if drained of all vitality.
"Na'er... you've grown up. Did you become a soul master?" Lang Yue cupped Na'er's face, her voice thick with emotion.
"Yes. Let's go. I'll take you out of here first."
"Okay." Tang Ziran's voice was equally choked with tears. He never imagined the girl Tang Wulin had picked up off the streets would one day become their savior.
With Na'er leading the way, the couple witnessed the devastation within the Spirit Pagoda before finally emerging aboveground, where Bai Xu stood waiting.
The couple remained wary of Bai Xu, uncertain of his intentions. But Na'er seemed to be on good terms with him. She stepped forward. "I'll settle them somewhere safe first, then come back to find you."
"Alright."
Na'er activated her spatial abilities, bypassing the barrier isolating the Spirit Pagoda as she whisked the couple away. Bai Xu didn't stop her—these two were crucial evidence for Shrek Academy to accuse the Spirit Pagoda of colluding with evil soul masters.
The parents of both the Sea God Pavilion Master of Shrek Academy and the Tang Sect's leader had been abducted by the Spirit Pagoda and evil soul masters. With these eyewitnesses, the evidence would be irrefutable, further intensifying the conflict between the three great factions.
Na'er carried the couple far away, only stopping in a remote town before setting them down. "Uncle, Auntie, you must not let anyone know you're alive. If the Spirit Pagoda finds out, they'll send assassins to silence you."
Having witnessed the Spirit Pagoda's collaboration with evil soul masters—and being forced to participate in horrific experiments—they knew full well the consequences if word got out.
"We understand... Na'er." Lang Yue hesitated before finally asking, "Are you okay? And Wulin... is he well?"
Na'er nodded. "Brother is doing fine. I've also found my place. Now that I've rescued you, he'll be overjoyed to know you're alive."
"That's good... that's really good."
"I have to go now. Here's some money. Once things settle down in the Douluo Empire, Brother will come looking for you. If the Spirit Pagoda interferes, you can seek help from the Tang Sect branch here. Brother has joined them."
"Alright."
"Then... goodbye."
"Na'er... be careful! Stay safe!" Lang Yue called out. Compared to Tang Ziran, she had deeper feelings for Na'er. Those years spent raising both children were precious to her.
"Mhm."
---
Bai Xu sat atop the Spirit Pagoda's highest floor, gazing down at the wreckage below. With a single thought, he could destroy one of the eighteen great pillars supporting the structure. The barrier isolating the area would collapse instantly, exposing everything to the major factions.
Behind him, space rippled slightly as a silver figure emerged from the void—Na'er's spatial abilities were formidable, rendering the soul barrier meaningless.
"You're back?"
"Yes. I've settled them."
"How do you feel now?" Bai Xu asked.
Na'er pondered before answering. "It's like... resolving a karmic tie. So this is what it feels like to sever the past..."