Gu Yuena let out a quiet sigh. She currently lacked the power to touch the other party. Worse still, without knowing what contingency plans those Godkings had left behind, she had no choice but to probe cautiously, lest the consequences prove disastrous.
At this thought, she felt a flicker of regret over her impulsive transformation into human form, which had drastically reduced her cultivation.
Huo Yuhao subtly observed her. Seeing that she showed no inclination to act, he pondered for a moment before deciding not to withhold information. Through Spiritual Sharing, he transmitted a message to her.
"The Plane Master bears the surname Tang. The one who possesses the Golden Dragon King's God Core is also named Tang."
Gu Yuena's expression shifted slightly. "Thank you for the reminder," she said softly.
Named Tang... Did both the Plane Master and that boy earlier have ties to Sea God Tang San? Was the Plane Master the ultimate trump card left behind?
It was indeed troublesome. If it were only between the Plane Master and her, that would be one thing—they could simply fight it out to see who reigned supreme. But now there was also the Abyss lurking outside. If she and the Plane Master fought to the death, the Abyssal Monarch would probably reap the benefits without lifting a finger!
Thinking this through, Gu Yuena looked up at Huo Yuhao and secretly clenched her fists. *It does not matter. I am currently in the shadows, unnoticed by both the Abyssal Monarch and the Plane Master. As long as I secure a partnership with this Godking... the advantage lies with me!*
In two other places, others had similar thoughts cross their minds.
Tang San's divine sense, wary of expending its divine energy, had ceased observing Tang Wulin in the mortal realm. Having missed an opportunity for sudden realization, he mused inwardly:
*No matter how bizarre that scoundrel who plundered the continent's Fortune may be, once I reclaim the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud and unleash the full might of a Godking, joining forces with my parents will easily put the Douluo Continent back on track and fulfill my ten-thousand-year grand design. The advantage lies with me!*
Meanwhile, gazing at the Douluo Continent, the Abyssal Monarch wore a greedy smile. *A material plane without a Plane Master, lacking even a single divine being... The advantage lies with me!*
Huo Yuhao, on the other hand, walked calmly toward the cafeteria without saying another word.
As everyone knew, a triangle was the most stable structure of all!
The intermediate division's cafeteria was situated in a three-story building beside the main academic hall. Each floor served two of the intermediate division's six grades, with the first and second years dining on the ground floor. Meals were categorized into three tiers—Grade A, B, and C—based on the quality of their ingredients.
Huo Yuhao ordered the finest Grade A meal. As he savored it, he monitored the condition of his body.
He knew his own physical vessel intimately. That sliver of Silver Dragon King bloodline had not merely enhanced his elemental affinity; to a certain degree, it had also boosted his appetite—or rather, the efficiency with which his body absorbed and converted energy.
Of course, it could not compare to the Golden Dragon King's bloodline, and because it was only a single trace, the effect was marginal.
With that thought, Huo Yuhao glanced at Gu Yuena, only to see her already picking up a second serving of the Grade A meal.
"..."
No wonder she wanted to visit the cafeteria. She genuinely just wanted to eat.
Then again, someone of her level ought to have complete control over her appetite.
She had not eaten much at the welcome banquet earlier, and she certainly was not Na'er from when she had lost her memories...
Huo Yuhao raised an eyebrow and withdrew his gaze.
Perhaps he now understood the root reason why this Gu Yuena differed from his impressions.
***
Night fell, and starlight spilled across the floor through the window.
Gu Yuena lay in bed, staring at the soul communicator in her hand. Her delicate brows were furrowed tightly. Several times she moved to dial a few numbers, but in the end she abandoned the thought, rolled over, and set the communicator down on the bedside table.
Not yet. "Godking Huo" had only told her about the most dangerous entities; that did not mean that boy carried no other divine measures. After all, no matter how powerful Godking Huo had been at his peak, he could not possibly be omniscient and omnipotent.
If she sent Di Tian and the others to probe directly, someone might end up dead. It was better to wait until she restored a portion of her strength.
With that in mind, Gu Yuena let her body relax. Her long hair splayed carelessly across the pillow. Her legs curled slightly, the tips of her toes lightly brushing the sheets in an utterly languid posture, as if all her exhaustion were released in this single moment.
Attending school for the first time, and alongside a reincarnated Godking no less—what a bizarre experience...
*Beep, beep, beep—*
The soul communicator began to ring. Her breathing, which had just begun to steady, hitched as she reluctantly opened her eyes, picked up the device, and answered.
"Brigitte? What is it?"
What came from the other end was not Brigitte's gentle voice, but a crisp, lively female voice.
"Lord, I don't want to keep pretending anymore! Your teacher is pure torment. She constantly insists on meeting the patriarch of that reclusive ancient family—the Gu Clan. I'm being driven mad! Why did we have to make things so complicated in the first place? Wouldn't it have been fine to just pick some ordinary Soul Master clan as our cover identity...?"
"Suck it up."
Hearing the aggrieved whining, Gu Yuena's tone turned frosty. "You were the one who insisted on taking human form, and you were the one who registered yourself as my elder sister. Deal with it!"
Spare the rod for a day, and the brat would tear the roof apart.
Back then, she had been far too lenient with this creature, which ultimately forced her to swallow bitter consequences and brought her dignity under serious question. She would indulge her no longer!
Not by a single inch!
"Well, it's a nice name!"
The voice on the other end seemed to have been complaining purely out of habit, for she immediately giggled upon hearing Gu Yuena's response.
"Besides, I came up with it myself! Taking your surname, my name, and adding 'Qiu' to it... Even your teacher said the names in our family were beautifully chosen and full of charm."
*She was merely being polite.*
Thinking this, Gu Yuena decided not to burst her bubble. "Is there anything else? This is Brigitte's number."
A flurry of scuffling broke out on the other side.
"Let me talk to the Lord a bit longer, Brigitte!"
"Enough, Miss Gu Ruiqiu. You are no longer the Auspicious Beast; you are the representative of the hidden Gu Clan, someone not familiar with us. Hurry along and attend the Spirit Pagoda conference as the newly inducted Gu Clan representative."
"...If I'd known taking human form would entail all these chores, I'd rather have stayed that peace ambassador or whatever."
Amid fading footsteps and muttered grumbles, Brigitte took over the soul communicator. She let out a helpless chuckle and said softly:
"Pardon the intrusion, Lord. There is a matter I wish to report. For the Extreme North Branch, it was still the White Bear King who arrived to attend the headquarters' meeting. The Snow Empress did not appear. To date, she has not shown herself in public for decades. Could she have already...?"
"Pay it no mind. The timing of her disappearance was far too delicate. She has likely recultivated in human form and should have already returned to her peak."
Gu Yuena glanced toward the room to her right and murmured, "To willingly abandon eight hundred thousand years of cultivation to recultivate... that Godking must have promised her something substantial."
"???"
Brigitte's gaze slowly turned blank.
*What are you talking about?*
*What god? What king? Why can't I understand a word?*
*You only went to East Sea City for school...*
"You need not concern yourself with it. Get some rest," Gu Yuena said, snapping out of her thoughts. After a pause, she added, "Good night."
"Yes... good night..."
Staring at the disconnected soul communicator, Brigitte felt turmoil churn within her heart. In the end, she forcibly pushed those two terrifying words out of her mind and turned her thoughts back to the Snow Empress.
To complete recultivation in human form after possessing over eight hundred thousand years of cultivation... that woman had likely ascended to even greater heights. Compared to Di Tian in his Four-Word Battle Armor, or the continent's foremost powerhouse, the Skyreaching Douluo... just how strong was she now?
***
Inside Huo Yuhao's room, he sat cross-legged on his bed in meditation. When midnight arrived, he asked within his Sea of Spirit, "Elder Yi?"
"No powerful beings have approached the academy."
Hearing Elder Yi's response, Huo Yuhao raised an eyebrow.
It seemed he would not be seeing any familiar faces in the near future.
He had deliberately omitted information regarding Tang San's divine sense when speaking with Gu Yuena, wanting to observe her character and manner of doing things.
Miss Gu Yuena was indeed prudent. She had neither dispatched the Fierce Beasts nor taken action herself. He mentally apologized for having previously questioned her wisdom.
Still, the fact that Gu Yuena had not moved confirmed that she could not freely restore her former power at will.
Furthermore, Elder Yi had detected no fluctuations of divine sense swirling around Tang Wulin today, which meant Tang San's divine sense likely remained impaired.
Two pieces of core intelligence, confirmed.
Chapter 30