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--- Chapter 293 ---
Yunlong observed Zhu Zhuqing's new features with a surprised look.
He expected her to change after receiving his Aura but to think she would get such a significant improvement. The Hell Chivet of hers now acquired a possibility to reach Divine Beast's level.
[Martial Soul: Hell Beast(Incomplete Mutation)]
He looked down and saw Zhu Zhuqing rubbing her cheeks against his palm, purring like a cat.
"How cute," Yunlong commented with a chuckle.
Zhu Zhuqing's cat ears and tail twitched in joy when hearing Yunlong's comment. She bent her body down and felt the new energy inside.
"Do you like me in this form, Nyaa?" Zhu Zhuqing asked while giving him a hopeful look.
Yunlong shook his head and answered, "No matter what form you take, I love every single one of it."
"I see..." Zhu Zhuqing's eyes shone brightly.
Even though Zhu Zhuqing's response was quite stoic, her eyes showed so much excitement. Yunlong couldn't help but chuckle even more inside when seeing her like this.
"You gained more power, but it's incomplete," Yunlong stated calmly. "How many steps of the Nine Heavens Staircases can you handle?"
"I know you've tried to climb without my help."
"169 steps, maybe 170?" Zhu Zhuqing answered with a confused tone.
"My body couldn't handle more than that."
Yunlong rubbed his chin, thinking about something else for a moment.
Zhu Zhuqing's body was more formidable than her original self and nurtured by his dragon blood essence, pushing her to grow even more powerful.
The changes in the world's progression definitely impact everything, especially people close to Yunlong.
Drrt!
A vibration appeared in Yunlong's pocket, and he picked the phone out. "Oh?" He smiled a little.
"Do you need something, Madara?" Yunlong casually accepted the call, which was a weird experience because the Ghost of Uchiha called him through the phone.
"I've done it," Madara's voice came out of Yunlong's phone. "I trained some kids and people for you."
"They were weak months ago but quite a decent squad now."
"I'll send the data." He continued, giving some information about the team he trained.
Yunlong would have never thought someone like Uchiha Madara used modern technology, but everyone could learn something new.
'Well, he's a smart guy, so figuring out how a smartphone works shouldn't be that hard.' He thought to himself.
Yunlong looked down and saw some familiar faces on the phone screen. "Heh, to think Madara would choose them" He checked the information with an amused expression.
"I guess Shrek won't completely vanish from this world's history."
"How fortunate of them."
He closed the phone screen and checked the progression of the armor making with his shadow clone's memories, finding them to make decent improvements with several ideas.
Melissa's understanding of Douluo Dalu is shallow, yet she still tries her best to create the best armor for him. Yunlong's shadow clones helped her with [Blacksmith(Ex)] skill.
He checked other information about Bright Spirit Empire and noticed Bibi Dong was seriously improving it.
She built several academies in the countryside and fetched talented children on the continent. Her action minimizes the chance for the Sun and Moon Continent to influence the Douluo Continent.
"Let's return to the Sea God Island," Yunlong commented, to which Zhu Zhuqing responded with a nod.
Zhu Zhuqing hugged Yunlong like a koala and purred, "Let's go, nyaa~."
Yunlong patted Zhu Zhuqing's head and teleported to the Sea God Island, where the first thing they met was a mother-daughter duo.
"Oh, are you two on a date?" Chu Yunxi smirked while covering her mouth a little.
Chu Xiaoyu's eyes shone with curiosity, but he casually shook his head to deny their expectation.
"I was giving Zhuqing a quick training," Yunlong answered naturally.
"Show them, Zhuqing."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded and used her martial soul again, leaving the mother-daughter duo speechless because of a wild beast aura from the silent black-haired girl.
Chu Xiaoyu's eyes widened because Zhu Zhuqing wasn't this fierce. The silent girl she knew would calmly prepare her attack in the shadow and attack at the right timing.
However, Zhu Zhuqing's current self doesn't even bother to hide her presence.
'She has turned into a beast.' Chu Xiaoyu thought while looking at the adorable cat girl. 'Or maybe not?'
Zhu Zhuqing stood with a faint dark crimson fur around her neck and bosom area, while her cat ears and tail were rather charming than before.
Chu Xiaoyu had an urge to draw her sword, but Yunlong ordered them to rest tonight.
She pouted a little and mumbled, "What a shame."
Chu Yunxi giggled pleasantly because her daughter was so easy to read. "Cute." She hugged Chu Xiaoyu, rubbing her cheeks against her head.
"Well, you three can go to your room," Yunlong said while clapping his hand. "I have something else to do."
"See you in the morning."
Chu Yunxi smiled and responded, "Okay, see you later, young master."
"Bye, Yunlong." Zhu Zhuqing bowed her head in gratitude.
Chu Xiaoyu waved her hand at Yunlong and said, "Good night."
Yunlong disappeared on the corner and saw Bai Xue playing with her broom.
"Oh, young master." Bai Xue suddenly moved her gaze to him.
"What a coincidence."
He flicked her forehead and replied, "What coincidence you are talking about, Bai Xue?"
"I know you've been waiting for me here."
Bai Xue stuck out her tongue and commented, "Okay, you caught me red-handed."
"Now, follow me." She rotated her broom in the air and pulled Yunlong into a room full of alchemist tools.
Yunlong flicked his finger, and a steady golden flame appeared in the air, illuminating the entire room. He looked around and noticed a book that seemed too old for this place.
"It's suspicious, I know." Bai Xue commented while picking the book up. The leather cover was as good as new.
"However, I can't open it for some reason."
"Something like glue inside prevented me from opening this book."
"Don't even ask about opening it by force because my spirit energy weirdly was devoured by this book." She added with a defeated tone.
"Give it to me," Yunlong opened his hand.
Bai Xue shrugged her shoulders and handed the book to Yunlong, causing him to frown.
[Scanning...]
[Name: Poseidon's journal(Sealed)]
[Description: An old record of the Sea God's journey]
"That old man, huh." Yunlong felt his forehead sting slightly.
Bai Xue watched a golden trident symbol appear on Yunlong's forehead and adorned the old book with golden light.
The book swayed and revealed a worn-out first brown page.
Yunlong's eyes gained a luster of royal blue light, and everything on the brown page became readable for him, alas somewhat scuffed because of the poor handwriting style.
"For my future inheritor."
"The Sea God Island is a place I resided for so long once, but fortunately not anymore because I couldn't stay in the mortal world for too long."
"Since I reached godhood, I was restricted by heavenly law, or to what some people called the higher dimension."
"When I'm not here anymore, please help my descendant."
"They are people who inherited my martial soul and will of the sea, especially ones who abandoned their lives to guard my temple."
"It's selfish, but I foresaw the future once and wrote it in this book, recording a demise that would fall on Sea God Island."
"An army from the outer sea and space would arrive in the Sea God Island and destroy everything there, plundering every single life on it and the artifacts I left for you, my inheritor."
"My future self probably won't know about this information because I will erase my memories after finishing this journal to lessen my punishment in the higher realm."
"Messing with the future is an unlawful act, after all."
"However, if you're a young man with weird eyes, three martial souls, and a bunch of maids, please protect my people."
Yunlong's mouth twitched a little when reading a bunch of maids' parts.
He couldn't help but chuckle wryly inside because Sea God envisioned the right future. Well, it's simple yet specific to match him.
"Which means this world isn't the Douluo Dalu I used to know from the beginning," He mumbled quietly. "That explained a few things like the Sun and Moon Continent."
Yunlong checked the rest of the book and stored the information in his spiritual sea.
After several minutes of waiting, Bai Xue approached Yunlong and asked, "Are you okay?"
"I'm okay, here." He replied with a smile on his face.
"There was some medicine record inside that book, about the other information... I have to destroy it for confidentiality."
Bai Xue took the book with a suspicious look and checked the content with great expectation but found nothing special besides some ancient medicine recipes.
'He really destroyed it.' She sighed while looking at the charred pages.
"Are you displeased by my actions?" Yunlong asked while standing in front of her. "I know just how curious you are, Bai Xue."
"Regardless, you have to make this an exception."
"Sure..." Bai Xue responded with a low tone.
"Give me a kiss instead."
"You're looking for opportunities by any chance, huh," Yunlong replied with a defeated tone.
Bai Xue crossed her arms and returned, "I'm just using my brilliant brain, unlike a certain girl."
Yunlong stared at Bai Xue with a disappointed look because Yu Ning'er was her arch-nemesis.
They definitely couldn't be contained within the same space without something/someone to balance them.
"What?" Bai Xue, who noticed Yunlong's gaze, asked with a confused look.
"Nothing," Yunlong sighed slightly. "I noticed you only become heated with Yu Ning'er when we are not on a mission."
"Haa... I would say the same thing to you."
"Be a good friend with Yu Ning'er."
"T-That is impossible..." Bai Xue answered with a disbelief tone.
"Then, I'll make it happen." Yunlong kissed her lips.
He pushed Bai Xue against the wall as he did to Yu Ning'er a few hours ago and gently brought her into his embrace, caressing her red hair gently.
Bai Xue's green eyes widened in surprise because Yunlong surprisingly kissed her like this. It's somewhat different than what he did when giving her a ring.
'Ah, those devilish red eyes.' She thought while staring at Yunlong's eyes, charmed by them. His warmth seemed to swallow her entirely without leaving a single coldness.
"Mhhn~." Bai Xue closed her eyes and felt comfortable, releasing a subtle moan.
After five minutes, Bai Xue opened her eyes and saw Yunlong's smile at her. "That's unfair..." She mumbled to herself.
"All is fair in love and war." Yunlong returned while patting her on the head.
"Well, just to remind you, the first person who trained you was Yu Ning'er back in the day." He added casually.
"I know very well that you viewed her as a big sister."
"You just don't want to admit it, right?"
Bai Xue swayed her head and responded, "I don't know what you are talking about, young master."
Yunlong kept staring at her for a few more minutes, and Bai Xue released a "Uugh.'" from her mouth.
"Fine..." Bai Xue responded softly. "I don't want to look weak in front of Yu Ning'er."
"I know she's a good person, but I can't let her look down on me. T-That's why I compete with her a lot."
"There, are you happy?" She continued while lowering her gaze.
"Yes," Yunlong nodded in understanding. "Do you hear that, Yu Ning'er?"
"Huh, what?" Bai Xue raised her gaze and saw a small hole in the door.
Yu Ning'er gradually entered the room with a weird smile on her face. Even though Yunlong has told her to go rest, she actually waited for him in the mansion.
When Yu Ning'er sensed Yunlong's presence in this room, she heard Bai Xue's voice, making her curious about their conversation.
"Did you plan for this?" Bai Xue questioned immediately.
"No, sometimes the world works wonderfully in a mysterious way." Yunlong walked away.
"Anyway, have a nice talk, you two." He continued while patting Yu Ning'er on the shoulder.
.
.
.
Yunlong smirked inside while walking on the corridor, and a wisp of cold energy suddenly swept over him.
He frowned and approached the source of this energy, finding Xue Nu sitting on the balcony with the one-meter height of thick snow around her.
"Eh, Soul Core?" He watched a snowy blue orb float above her head. "How unstable."
Xue Nu gritted her teeth slightly and felt a crack inside her spirit core. She tries to form the raw elemental and spirit energy together, but her control isn't great compared to Kaguya.
Crack!
'No!' She thought to herself.
Yunlong suddenly grasped her shoulders and used "Harmony Flow." on her spirit core.
"That was close." He commented while infusing his spirit energy.
"When did you learn about Spirit Core, Xue Nu?"
Xue Nu opened her mouth and replied, "A few weeks after I become your maid."
"Your mother told me the method to get stronger in a bizarre way that I haven't heard of."
"I see," Yunlong scanned Xue Nu's body. "Since you're a still spirit beast, your soul energy and elemental power are abundant, causing your Spirit Core to grow stronger."
"I used the right steps from your mother." Xue Nu frowned at him.
"It's harder for you to complete Spirit Core without the right technique." He added wryly.
"My mother is different, I merely tell her about the basics, and she completely finished the Spirit Core in a night."
Xue Nu's mouth twitched in annoyance because Yunlong's words didn't help her.
Yunlong chuckled and commented, "Don't worry, follow my instructions."
"I have a way to combine your snow, ice, and soul energy into one."
He guided Xue Nu's Spirit Core similarly to his Tri-Thunder Suns and compressed the elemental power, soul energy, and spiritual force into three separate cores.
Xue Nu's Spirit Core resided within her body, and three miniature suns seemed to orbit around it. It took a few hours for the Spirit Core to calm down.
.
.
Xue Nu opened her eyes and whispered, "It feels weird."
"I don't feel anything special for some reason."
"My body felt empty instead."
"Try to activate your Spirit Core." Yunlong lifted his hand.
She tilted her head and activated the Spirit Core, feeling a burst of energy from inside. Her entire body exploded with an intense cold presence.
"It's called Tri-Thunder Suns Art," Yunlong stated while showing his Spirit Core. "The technique I used myself."
"It grants you an unshakeable Spirit Core and a burst of power every time you want to use it."
Xue Nu watched three balls of energy above Yunlong's palm and asked, "When did you learn this technique?"
"Hmm, when I was six years old." He answered casually.
"..." Xue Nu.
"Have a good rest, Xue Nu." Yunlong suddenly jumped off the balcony.
Xue Nu stared at the playful young man with disbelief on her face.
"Haa... Just what are you?" She sighed while rubbing the ring on her finger.
"Everything is fine for now." Yunlong walked to the Nine Heaven Staircases. "The only thing left is the trial."