A Feast of Kings and a Castle of Legends
The soul-guided aircraft ascended with a whisper-smooth hum, leaving the familiar sprawl of East Sea City behind. Inside, the reality of Gu Yue's world began to unfold. This was no commercial liner; it was a private vessel where luxury was not an addition but the foundation. The cabin was a study in spacious, elegant comfort, with plush seats that felt like clouds and ambient lighting that mimicked a perpetual, gentle dusk.
Shortly after takeoff, a dignified butler—the same man who had overseen their boarding—presented them with dinner. The plates he set before them were works of art, holding portions that seemed to glow with their own vitality: glistening, ruby-red caviar that shimmered like miniature galaxies; lobster tail meat, peeled to perfection, resting in a pool of aromatic, golden broth; slices of rare, marbled meat; and a perfectly poached egg with a yolk the color of a setting sun.
"It's really… luxurious," Yao Xuan breathed, his eyes taking in the spread. In both his lifetimes, such opulence had been a distant concept, something seen in historical dramas or fantasy tales. The sheer value of the ingredients, each radiating spiritual energy, was staggering.
"Yao Xuan, don't just stand there, eat it while it's hot." Gu Yue's voice, soft and amused, broke his reverie. She gave his shoulder a gentle, familiar nudge.
"Thank you for reminding me, Yue'er," he said, using the more intimate name naturally. "These foods seem quite rare. I've never eaten anything like them." It was an honest admission, with no shame, only shared wonder.
"That's normal. These are spirit-grade ingredients. They're good for you," she explained, as if discussing a simple health tonic rather than a feast worth a fortune. Her matter-of-fact tone only underscored the vast gulf between her everyday life and that of ordinary people.
Nodding, Yao Xuan picked up his utensils. As he did, he quietly activated his Detection Eye. Information shimmered into view above each item:
The analysis confirmed his instincts. Each ingredient was a treasure, harvested from soul beasts with centuries or even a millennium of cultivation. The total value of this single meal could easily fund a small academy for a year. A quiet awe settled over him, mixed with a strange, warm amusement. 'So this is what it's like… to be with her.' It wasn't the wealth that moved him, but the effortless, generous way she shared her world with him.
He took a bite of the lobster. The texture was sublime—firm yet tender, bursting with a sweet, oceanic essence amplified by the masterfully crafted sauce. Next, the Phoenix egg: the rich, creamy yolk flooded his mouth with a comforting, wholesome warmth that seemed to seep into his very bones. The sturgeon roe popped with a delicate brine, each tiny sphere a capsule of potent energy.
As he ate, a comfortable heat kindled in his dantian, his blood energy humming and his soul power resonating with a purer vibration. It was a gentle but noticeable reinforcement.
The system's notification was a pleasant chime in the back of his mind. A practical reward for a heavenly experience.
"How was it? The taste was good, wasn't it?" Gu Yue asked after the butler had discreetly cleared their plates. She had watched him eat with a quiet, satisfied smile, her own meal finished with graceful efficiency. She reached over, her hand finding his, their fingers intertwining on the armrest between them.
"Of course!" Yao Xuan's enthusiasm was genuine. "The flavor was incredible. And I can feel the energy… it's fantastic."
A brighter smile lit up her face. "I'm glad you like it. When you're at my house, I'll make sure you eat just as well every day." There was a promise in her words, a desire to pamper and provide that was both touching and immensely charming.
"Then I really have to thank you, Gu Yue," he said, turning his hand to give hers a gentle squeeze. "Without you, I don't know when I'd experience something like this."
"You're my boyfriend," she stated simply, as if it explained everything in the universe. A playful, yet possessive glint entered her silver eyes. "If I don't take good care of you, I might worry about you going out and getting tempted by other banquets." It was a joke, but it carried the faint, honest edge of her earlier "crisis."
He laughed, a warm, easy sound. "The only feast I'm interested in is right here." He lifted their joined hands slightly, his gaze holding hers.
The butler, impeccably timed, had withdrawn to the forward cabin, granting them privacy. For the next few hours, as the aircraft sailed through the clouds, they talked. The conversation flowed from light topics to shared memories of Aolai City, from thoughts on soul skills to quiet observations about the passing landscape below. It was easy, intimate, and filled with the unspoken joy of simply being together.
Several hours later, the aircraft began its descent. The sprawling, historically dense panorama of Heaven Dou City rose to meet them. Unlike the vertical, metallic skyline of East Sea City, Heaven Dou was a tapestry of ancient grandeur. Pagodas, grand arches, and colossal structures of stone and aged wood dominated the view, speaking of twenty millennia of history. It was a city that had weathered the rise and fall of empires, from the era of Spirit Hall to the modern Federation, preserving its soul within its steadfast stones.
After a smooth landing, the butler ushered them to a waiting soul-guided car—a sleek, low-sported model that moved with silent power. As they drove from the bustling airport into the city proper, Yao Xuan observed the streets. The atmosphere was different here: more solemn, more rooted. The proportion of soul masters among the populace felt higher, their auras more varied and often more profound.
Gu Yue pointed out landmarks softly, her voice a gentle guide. He learned that the city's proximity to the Star Dou Great Forest made it a natural hub for soul masters and, unbeknownst to its human inhabitants, the perfect vantage point for the soul beast sovereigns to observe their ancient rivals.
Soon, the urban density gave way to spacious, wooded suburbs. The car turned onto a private road, winding through a meticulously maintained forest before arriving at its destination.
A castle stood before them.
It was not a fanciful storybook castle, but a fortress of solemn, imposing beauty. Constructed from massive blocks of dark, polished marble, it rose a hundred meters long and wide, its lines clean and powerful. Ancient, intricate carvings—depicting neither human heroes nor gods, but swirling patterns reminiscent of natural forces and celestial bodies—adorned its facade. Tall, narrow windows glimmered like watchful eyes. It was grand, ancient, and radiated a quiet, formidable pressure that had nothing to do with human architecture and everything to do with the primordial beings who dwelled within.
"Miss, Mr. Yao Xuan, please follow me. Several elders are already waiting for you." The butler bowed deeply, his demeanor one of absolute reverence, as he opened the car door.
As they stepped onto the gravel path, the air itself felt different—thicker, richer in spirit energy, and laden with a profound, ancient silence. Gu Yue's hand found his again, her grip firm and reassuring.
"It seems I'll be meeting the Four Fiends soon," Yao Xuan thought, his heart rate steady but his senses stretching to their limits. Di Tian, the Black Dragon, ruler of the forest. Zi Ji, the Hell Demon King. Bi Ji, the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Jade Scorpion. Xiong Jun, the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear. Legends made flesh, who saw the rise and fall of human dynasties as passing seasons.
In the original tale, their scrutiny of Tang Wulin had been harsh and distrustful. But Yao Xuan was not Tang Wulin. He carried the Ancestral Dragon, a bloodline they would inevitably sense as kin to their lost sovereign, the Dragon God. Gu Yue's own confusion was proof. They were unlikely to be hostile… but their scrutiny would be penetrating, their judgment absolute.
He took a slow, deep breath, feeling the potent energy from the meal circulating within him, feeling the steady, trusting pressure of Gu Yue's hand in his. He was not here as a supplicant, but as Gu Yue's chosen. He would meet their gaze, not as a boy, but as the inheritor of a legacy that commanded even their respect.
"Ready?" Gu Yue whispered, her silver eyes reflecting the castle's imposing silhouette.
"With you," he replied, his voice low and calm. "Always."
Side by side, they walked forward, following the butler through the towering, open gates of dark wood and into the heart of the Silver Dragon King's earthly domain. The real test—not of combat, but of legacy, heart, and destiny—was about to begin.