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One late night, Qiangu Zhangting arrived outside Gu Yuena's room and knocked on the door. Dong, dong, dong.
"Nana, are you there?" he called out.
Surprisingly, he received an immediate response.
The door opened, revealing Gu Yuena with her silver hair cascading loosely around her shoulders. Gone was the stern and aloof demeanor she displayed during the day. "What is it?" she asked.
"Nana, let's talk. This is also my grandfather's wish," Zhangting said.
Gu Yuena's brows furrowed slightly. By invoking Qiangu Dongfeng's name, Zhangting was clearly afraid she might refuse him. Though it might annoy her, everything was for the sake of the Spirit Pagoda—and for the future.
"Fine," Gu Yuena agreed without refusal.
Late at night, atop the Spirit Pagoda's highest floor…
"Speak. What is it?" Gu Yuena stood in the office reserved exclusively for the Pagoda's master, her gaze drifting casually toward the window where the bright moon hung in the sky.
"Nana, since we're here, I'll be direct. To put it plainly… do you still have feelings for Bai Xu?" Zhangting asked bluntly.
"What do you mean?" Gu Yuena's expression darkened. "I've long since cut ties with Bai Xu. Don't mention him in front of me."
As she spoke, memories of Bai Xu's entanglement with Gu Yue and Na'er flashed through her mind. Her face twisted into a snarl, as if she truly loathed him.
"That day in the Star Luo Empire, he was already at the level of a Limit Douluo in combat power… yet you, a Titled Douluo at rank 94, managed to hold him off for so long. The elders watching the battle noticed it—compared to his fight with the Unicorn Douluo, he clearly held back against you."
"What exactly are you trying to say? If you really just want to discuss Bai Xu, I won't entertain this any longer." With that, Gu Yuena turned to leave.
"Wait! I'm not here to talk about Bai Xu. Nana, I've thought of a way to permanently remove Bai Xu from this world."
At these words, Gu Yuena froze, visibly stunned.
Qiangu Zhangting sighed inwardly. As expected, she still has feelings for him… and Bai Xu feels the same.
But… it was precisely these lingering emotions that would become Bai Xu's downfall.
"Go on," Gu Yuena said coldly.
"The Spirit Pagoda wants to hold a martial arts tournament for your hand in marriage."
Gu Yuena turned back, her lips curling in disdain. "A martial arts tournament? So the Spirit Pagoda sees me as some commodity to be auctioned off?"
"No, no! Nana, this is a trap."
Zhangting explained, "We're betting… betting that Bai Xu won't stand by and do nothing. Nana, I know you still care for him, but Bai Xu has committed too many atrocities—colluding with the Holy Spirit Cult to destroy the Spirit Pagoda. Such unforgivable acts… we can't tolerate them any longer."
"Nana, my grandfather and the Spirit Pagoda's higher-ups all recognize your contributions. It's precisely because of your loyalty that Grandfather hasn't implicated you in Bai Xu's crimes. But now, Bai Xu's power has exceeded our expectations. Neither you nor I can face him head-on."
As Gu Yuena observed Zhangting's fervent expression, a flicker of hesitation crossed her face.
Seizing the moment, Zhangting pressed, "Nana, based on your instincts… if we really hold this tournament, will he come?"
"Perhaps… to disrupt it," Gu Yuena murmured, her eyes lowering. Then, as if conceding, she added, "If I agree… can you spare his life? I know he's done terrible things, strayed down a dark path… but we grew up together. I can't bear to watch him die before me."
It was shocking—Gu Yuena had actually compromised.
"Of course! Didn't you once say you wanted to defeat Bai Xu yourself and imprison him in the Spirit Pagoda's dungeons? I've already discussed it with Grandfather. If you agree to the tournament, once Bai Xu is captured, we'll only cripple his cultivation and sentence him to life imprisonment. If you wish, he can even be placed under your supervision. Whether he lives or dies will be your decision. We won't interfere!"
Zhangting immediately spoke on behalf of his grandfather.
But sparing Bai Xu? Impossible. Only his death would sever Gu Yuena's lingering attachments, leaving her free to choose another.
For now, this was merely a temporary measure.
After a long silence, Gu Yuena seemed to steel herself. "Very well. I'll cooperate with the Spirit Pagoda. But I hope you'll honor your word and spare his life."
"Of course, Nana. I'll report this to Grandfather immediately. You should rest early." Zhangting hurried away, afraid his suppressed excitement might betray him.
Watching his retreating figure, Gu Yuena returned to her room and sighed softly. "How irrational… Who would even devise such a plan? Whether in my past life or this one… it's utterly foolish. I was foolish in my past life too. But this time, he's truly seeking death. The Spirit Pagoda isn't the one who can kill him—the final blow must come from Tang Wulin."
"Once you learn Bai Xu's true identity… how will you choose? Will you proclaim yourself the absolute arbiter of justice before the world? But all of this is within Bai Xu's calculations. Oh, Master of the Plane… in my past life, this was how you watched me, wasn't it? Watching the Beast King… march step by step into the abyss of the Tang family, until I was utterly erased."
Suddenly, a frenzied smile twisted Gu Yuena's lips as she gazed at the moon. "This time, we're decisive. Either we rise again… or we perish completely. Never again will we be puppets for the Tang family to exploit."
This was the feeling—no more hesitation, a single unwavering goal. Only by casting aside all distractions could one truly feel alive.
"Di Tian!" At Gu Yuena's command, a shadowy figure materialized instantly.
"How goes the task?" she asked.
"My Sovereign, the minor dimension of the Ten Thousand Beast Platform is still under the surveillance of the Soul Beasts. But… without my personal presence, I fear they may not detect Da Ming and Er Ming's schemes. Are you concerned they might tamper with the Dragon God's Core?" Di Tian inquired.
"They won't now… but that doesn't mean they won't in the future. If Bai Xu succeeds, the Tang family's chances of turning the tables will drop to zero. The only way they could salvage even a sliver of hope would be through the Dragon God's Core sustaining the Ten Thousand Beast Platform."
Gu Yuena's precaution was to prevent Da Ming and Er Ming from betraying them at a critical moment, handing the Dragon God's Core to Tang Wulin. If he unleashed its full power recklessly, there was a real chance he could drag Bai Xu down with him.
"How much longer until the Ten Thousand Beast Platform stabilizes?"
"At least another year."
"Then you shall oversee it personally during that time. Ensure they don't interfere. Once it stabilizes… let them maintain the dimension themselves. But if anyone contacts them in secret, or if they leave the platform… report to me immediately."
"Understood. But, My Sovereign, I have one more concern. If Bai Xu fails… I hope you won't compromise. Even if we perish, we must leave humanity—and the history of this plane—with the deepest scar imaginable," Di Tian said solemnly.
"Naturally."