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Gu La's true body silently merged with the westward-retreating team. The decoy clone, upon contact, dissolved into a streak of light, returning to him.
He listened as Elder Xuan, Bei Bei, and others gathered around Huo Yuhao, speaking in low, comforting tones.
"Yuhao, don't blame yourself too harshly. No one could have foreseen that the warehouse explosion would trigger such… catastrophic consequences." Xuan Zi sighed heavily, his face etched with complexity and weight.
Huo Yuhao's face remained pale, his gaze hollow. The mushroom cloud that had painted half the sky crimson and the instantaneous annihilation of a million lives haunted his mind like a nightmare.
Under his companions' care, he took several deep breaths. The cloudiness in his eyes gradually hardened into resolve. He cast one last, lingering glance toward Ming City—shrouded in chaos and death—then turned resolutely, rejoining the team.
Gu La too glanced back, his heart unruffled. With matters here settled, after passing through the 'Qiankun Love Valley' (Love Querying Valley) trial, it's time to return to the Dragon King Legend timeline. There, an explosion of equal—or greater—scale awaits me…
This thought brought Yun Ming—the Atlas Douluo—to mind. I wonder what choice he'll ultimately make? Though our arrangement was transactional, he did help me attain the Spear God Realm… This time, can he still escape that predetermined death?
Setting aside Shrek's trademark arrogance, Yun Ming was decent enough. Gu La shook his head with regret, doubting the man could evade his fate.
The team pressed westward, yet to everyone's surprise, the journey proved unnaturally smooth—no ambushes, no significant resistance.
Just as suspicion grew, thick fog surged from all directions like living tendrils, swiftly engulfing the entire group.
Gu La remained unsurprised. His power flowed silently within him, connecting instantly with his Groudon avatar in another timeline. Vast earth and time energy coiled in his veins, hidden but ready.
He knew well that the Love Querying Valley—born from the fallen Goddess of Love—was no benign place. Even with Tang San pulling strings from the shadows, Groudon's power might not prevail in direct confrontation. But it would ensure the safety of those he protected: Xiao Xiao, and Ye Guyi, whom he'd smuggled out.
Yes—Ye Guyi, with her Holy Angel martial soul, would have been like a lamb among wolves if left in the Sun Moon Empire. He'd seized the chance to spirit her away.
Elder Xuan attempted to probe with his soul power, only to find the unnatural fog restricting flight and scrambling direction like a labyrinth.
"Stay vigilant!" he commanded gravely. "This mist is unnatural—it blocks even my senses. Likely a Sun Moon Empire trap! Do not separate!"
Dean Xian Lin'er suggested: "Elder Xuan, should we split up to find an exit?"
"No!" Xuan Zi refused sharply. "This place is too treacherous for divided actions!"
Before his words faded, golden and silver light erupted from the fog's depths. Like countless tendrils, it wrapped around everyone, exerting a powerful force to tear them apart.
Xuan Zi roared, unleashing thick yellow earth soul power to shield his companions. But the light carried law-like force beyond comprehension. His barrier shuddered violently as the group was forcibly scattered.
Gu La suppressed his instinct to intervene, allowing the light to envelop him.
The world spun. When vision stabilized, Xuan Zi had just regrouped the scattered team. He scanned the surroundings warily, barking orders: "Everyone stay alert! Prepare for trouble!"
They now stood in a picturesque valley. Its most striking features were two lakes—one gold, one silver.
The golden lake, perfectly circular, radiated warm, sun-like brilliance. The silver lake, crescent-shaped, flowed with cool, moonlit radiance.
Beautiful as it was, an indefinable eeriness permeated the air.
Seeing the twin lakes and Huo Yuhao's bewildered gaze, Gu La recalled the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Well he'd emptied years ago. He immediately warned the group, his tone brooking no argument:
"Remember this! No matter what happens next—no matter what questions you're asked, especially about love—you must answer truthfully! Heed this! Heed this!"
As if to confirm his warning, the golden and silver lakes blazed with intensified light. An irresistible force lifted everyone into the air, dragging them over the lakes.
Even Xuan Zi grunted in pain as his True Body was forcibly reverted to human form.
Amidst panicked cries, golden and silver light separated and enveloped them, teleporting them to unknown locations.
As the light consumed him, Gu La sensed a covert, powerful divine consciousness probing his mind—clearly laying groundwork for his "customized" trial.
His plan to unleash Groudon's power and shatter the trial vanished instantly.
My soul power is at Level 75. Breaking through to the Level 90 Titled Douluo realm still requires significant time. This valley holds the essence of the Love God's power, infused with Tang San's "generous" Sea God divine energy… Such vast power—if I don't freeride on the rewards, wouldn't that be a waste?
In a flash, Gu La activated his formidable spiritual power. He first hypnotized himself, weaving a carefully crafted "memory":
Born in a small mountain village, his home destroyed by evil soul masters. His martial soul evolved unexpectedly in desperation. He survived, entered Shrek Academy, met and fell for Xiao Xiao. During the underground soul device tournament, he rescued Ye Guyi—and felt a vague attraction to this Holy Angel martial soul bearer…
Simultaneously, he covertly channeled time power from his Celebi martial soul, subtly twisting time's flow around himself. Under this temporal distortion, the fabricated memory briefly became a "reality" even the Love Querying Valley's rules couldn't immediately discern.
Gu La was glad he'd brought Ye Guyi. According to the Love God's rules—even Tang San must follow the principle of "challenge difficulty matching rewards" when interfering.
By giving myself this complex setup—a committed lover with feelings for another—the challenge difficulty can't be low. The rewards must be substantial!
All young soul masters were teleported to a massive platform of intertwined gold and silver. Like a disc, it floated amid bubbles isolating each person.
A majestic voice echoed through space: "Qiankun Love Trial—Sincere Adventure. Begin!"
One by one, bubbles lit up as the mysterious voice interrogated each soul master. The core question never varied: Do you have a lover? Would you die for them?
Ye Guyi's bubble illuminated. She honestly confessed her gratitude-driven affection for Gu La, declaring she'd die to repay his life-saving debt—but clarified it wasn't love.
After a pause, the voice judged her first trial passed.
Gu La heard it all. When his turn came, he felt the rules' pressure—and sensed his ability to resist. But instinct warned this wasn't the moment.
"He" followed his scripted "story," admitting Xiao Xiao as his lover while confessing his feelings for Ye Guyi.
Asked if he'd die for them, he answered "sincerely": "I would. I know it's unfair to both, but as long as I can, I'll never let either die because of me."
The voice fell silent, then commented: "A fickle heart, but sincerity remains. Subsequent trials—difficulty increased."
Its words carried clearly to Xiao Xiao and Ye Guyi on the platform.
Xiao Xiao pressed her lips together, a flicker of bitterness and sorrow in her eyes. Ye Guyi froze, a complex mix of emotions crossing her face.
The first trial ended without major incident—only Xu Sanshi suffered soul-whipping punishment for initial hesitation.
The second trial began. A massive wheel manifested at the platform's center, marked with bizarre challenges. The voice announced:
"Spin the wheel. Your trial awaits."
Gu La's eyes narrowed dangerously when he spotted options like "French kiss with designated target." If they dare assign me such a thing, I won't hesitate to follow my "heart's voice" and shatter this farce.
Fortunately, aside from Xu Sanshi's "lucky" draw—kissing Bei Bei, causing mild chaos—most faced combat trials. The pointer landed on Gu La, Xiao Xiao, and Ye Guyi.
"Trial: Gu La and Xiao Xiao must defeat Ye Guyi. The loser dies. Or… choose an extremely difficult True Adventure."
Gu La's patience frayed. This rule deliberately twisted and trampled emotions.
As he prepared to unleash the power his heart's voice had granted him, Xiao Xiao gripped his hand tightly.
She looked toward Ye Guyi—likewise forced into opposition by the rules—and murmured softly: "She really is very beautiful, with such a unique aura…"
Then she glared at Gu La, her eyes complex but resolute. She shouted upward: "We accept the joint combat trial!"
Gu La stared at Xiao Xiao in astonishment, instantly understanding: 'She's choosing this awkward, brutal battle to spare me the unknown dangers of the "True Adventure," even though it pains her.'
A surge of indescribable warmth flooded his chest.
The voice confirmed emotionless: "Trial confirmed."
In the next instant, three streaks of light vanished. Gu La, Xiao Xiao, and Ye Guyi were teleported to their private trial battlefield.
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