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"It's Wulin. He also detonated a level-nine fixed-installation soul-guided missile."
Ya Li frowned, gazing into the distance.
After Xu Yuan's earlier commotion, she had already roughly guessed what kind of trouble Tang Wulin might have encountered.
Xu Yuan had explored to the east of the base, while Tang Wulin was on the other side, to the west.
"Senior Sister Tang Yinmeng is exploring that area; she should be able to make it in time," Xu Yuan said.
Ya Li nodded.
A level-nine fixed-installation soul-guided missile could absolutely resolve most problems.
Xu Yuan had been too greedy back then. He wanted to severely injure Nalundo without killing him outright, intending to use the wounded Nalundo as a means to hone his own strength.
Although he hadn't detonated the missile with the intention of wasting it, his mindset still had some influence.
In a true life-or-death situation, even detonating a level-nine missile could lead to extraordinary maneuvers.
Of course, the main factor was Tang Wulin's strength.
Tang Wulin had also completed the crafting of his one-word battle armor, and his blood energy granted him explosive power equivalent to a Soul Douluo.
Even though his battle armor wasn't as exceptional as Xu Yuan's, it was still a rare black-grade one-word battle armor.
This gave him a certain degree of capability to handle a Titled Douluo.
Holding out until Tang Yinmeng arrived wouldn't be difficult for him.
The only issue was where he detonated the missile.
If he detonated it right at the start of his escape, the three Tyrants converging on him might leave Tang Yinmeng unable to reach him in time.
"Sister Ya Li, don't worry. That guy Wulin has plenty of ways to stay alive."
Xu Yuan didn't think Tang Wulin would encounter any real danger.
"Hmm, that's true, but we still need to send reinforcements. Lan Muzi hasn't left yet; I'll have him go support them."
When Xu Yuan detonated the level-nine missile earlier, Lan Muzi was nearby and arrived first.
In fact, Ya Li and the others had also sent a wave of reinforcements, but they met Xu Yuan and his group halfway while escorting the two captured Tyrants back.
Xu Yuan had no objections.
How could he possibly persuade the higher-ups to ignore the students?
"Sister Ya Li, I'm going to continue exploring. This time, I plan to head north to the region of the Three Kings and investigate the Hell Plane passage in more detail."
Upon hearing this, Ya Li hesitated for a moment before replying, "Little Yuan, wait a bit longer. Na'er mentioned earlier that she wanted to come here for training. Let her join you this time."
"Huh? Na'er?" Xu Yuan was taken aback.
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Shrek Academy, Spirit Ice Plaza
Na'er swung her long, pale legs, sitting casually atop a massive boulder in the plaza, her expression relaxed.
Beside the boulder, Gu Yue leaned against the stone, her gaze distant.
"I am you, and you are me," Na'er said cheerfully, her tone devoid of any restraint. She clearly understood her own situation.
If that were all, Gu Yue wouldn't have felt any concern.
However, Na'er's next statement caused Gu Yue to frown.
"But from another perspective, I am only myself—a newly born life form, not just another side of you," Na'er said.
Her eyes turned skyward, and a smile spread across her face.
"I think some of the things he says offhandedly are quite profound."
"He says that every existence has its own unique meaning. No one needs to rely on anyone else—not even parents, who mostly respect their children's opinions."
"Sometimes, I even wonder if he knows something." Na'er's voice grew soft. "He actually talked to me about how every newborn is part of their mother—a piece of flesh separated from her body, a new life nurtured by her."
Gu Yue's expression stiffened.
Na'er had spoken so plainly that Gu Yue naturally understood her meaning.
In truth, there was nothing wrong with what Na'er said.
From another perspective, Na'er truly was a new life form Gu Yue had nurtured—her child.
Gu Yue had spent tens of thousands of years healing at the bottom of the Lake of Life, yet she had been unable to fully recover. Transforming into human form was a shortcut that allowed her to shed her injuries while sealing her core powers within herself. Even as a human, she could quickly digest her essence and return to her peak.
However, transformation meant a change in species for soul beasts.
What made humans human was an added touch of humanity.
Where exactly this humanity came from, even Gu Yue couldn't explain.
It was ineffable.
At the same time, considering the transformations of other soul beasts who had undergone similar changes, she had separated the newfound humanity from her consciousness after transforming, creating Na'er as a distinct consciousness.
Na'er had initially been completely naive, like a newborn infant, with no memories of Gu Yue.
As for Na'er's body, it was formed from a rib Gu Yue had separated from herself. Through the power of her transformation, the Silver Dragon King's rib became a human body akin to a hundred-thousand-year soul beast.
Moreover, Na'er differed from regular transformed soul beasts. She was, more accurately, a true human—or perhaps even a type of innate human?
Her body, formed from the Silver Dragon King's rib, had independently developed the martial soul known as the Silver Dragon Spear.
Later, as Na'er matured, Gu Yue communicated with her on a conscious level, integrating numerous memories into Na'er's mind and instilling the idea that she was a part of Gu Yue.
In reality, Gu Yue herself was aware that Na'er was more like a completely new life form.
But the Silver Dragon Spear was crucial to her.
Having lost the Golden Dragon Spear ten thousand years ago, the Silver Dragon King needed her own Silver Dragon Spear to rapidly restore her power.
Na'er was the natural vessel for "forging" the Silver Dragon Spear.
Now that the Silver Dragon Spear was complete, once Na'er's condition stabilized, Gu Yue could merge with her, incorporating the Silver Dragon Spear into her body while unsealing her sealed past powers. She would become the true incarnation of the Silver Dragon King—Gu Yuena.
Everything had been proceeding smoothly.
However, now Gu Yue felt things were slipping out of her control.
Na'er had begun to reject their relationship.
Did Xu Yuan know something?
Gu Yue was puzzled.
She was certain that everything between her and Na'er was a closely guarded secret—even Yun Ming couldn't see through it.
How could Xu Yuan possibly know?
But if he didn't know, why would he casually bring up the relationship between newborns and their mothers to Na'er?
Many of his other thoughts seemed to subtly guide Na'er's mindset.
In the past, Gu Yue had often heard Na'er recount "insights" she gained from Xu Yuan. To Na'er, they were novel, but to Gu Yue, they weren't particularly friendly revelations.
"I've actually thought about this for a long time. I've wanted to clarify things with you but never had the courage to do so," Na'er said, her gaze vacant as she stared at the sky, as if reminiscing.
"Do you know? Two days ago, something big happened in the inner court. All the senior brothers and sisters participated, but I didn't. I felt like an outsider…" A trace of loneliness and regret appeared on Na'er's face.
"I should've joined them. I'm also a part of the inner court, Master and Mistress's disciple, and… his junior sister," Na'er murmured softly.
Gu Yue's brows furrowed tighter and tighter.
Suddenly, she looked up toward the inner court, her expression wavering slightly before she abandoned her decision. A flash of silver light, and her figure vanished.
Moments later, space rippled, and Yun Ming's figure appeared.
Na'er broke into a joyful smile.
"Teacher~"
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