Under the night sky, Shu Yan sat cross-legged alone atop the pavilion. The moonlight poured down, illuminating him with an air of refined grace and charm. If any young girls in the throes of their first crushes were to see him like this, they'd probably end up acting just like Xu Jiujing…
Letting out a slow breath, Shu Yan gradually opened his eyes. After enduring Di Tian's oppressive probing the previous day, several previously blocked meridians within his body had been directly cleared, causing his soul power to rise slightly. He was now approaching level 56, and within a few days, he would be ready to attempt a breakthrough.
Suddenly, his expression faltered slightly. Then he spoke softly:
"Elder Yi, prying into others' memories without permission isn't exactly polite."
Within his spiritual sea, the gray bead lodged in the Blade of Living Beings gave a faint tremble. Then, an aged voice echoed out:
"Hehe…"
"It was indeed a breach of courtesy on my part. But you, young one, are far from ordinary—your perception is astoundingly sharp…"
Shu Yan chuckled lightly, not particularly bothered, and casually asked:
"Elder Yi, what did you see? Care to share?"
Electrolux was silent for a moment before replying:
"Young one, I didn't intend to pry. I only caught a few fragments upon awakening. There's a layer of impenetrable fog shrouding your memories—I can't see through it or delve deeper. But from the fragments I did glimpse… you and I are likely the same."
Shu Yan didn't deny it. He simply responded softly:
"Maybe so. I and… I… have always been the same person—just living a different way."
Electrolux chuckled gently. His elderly voice carried a note of warmth as he continued within Shu Yan's spiritual sea:
"When you generated that terrifying wave of negative energy and spiritual force in the Great Star Dou Forest, it drew this broken wisp of my divine sense to you. Later, I was also drawn to the Living Being's Gold in your spirit sea, and instinctively entered. From now on, I'm afraid I can't leave your spiritual sea. But don't worry—I mean you no harm. On the contrary, I can offer unexpected assistance in many areas. As a show of goodwill, once I've recovered a bit more, I'll help you cleanse the remaining evil thoughts and curses within the Living Being's Gold."
Shu Yan nodded. He didn't reject Electrolux's offer. The residual curse and malevolence in the Living Being's Gold had always been a problem. Dealing with it ahead of time was wise—there was no reason to refuse.
After a moment of silence, Electrolux continued:
"My memories are incomplete. Thanks to the Living Being's Gold, I've awakened and recovered some memories in such a short time. But there's still much I've forgotten. I'll need time to gradually restore everything. When you released that wave of negative energy, I felt a sense of familiarity… but I couldn't pinpoint why. Still, given time, I'll surely remember. In the meantime, if you ever have questions, you can call on me. I'll gladly lend you a hand."
Shu Yan gave a soft "mm" and said quietly:
"That's best. Elder Yi, since you've just awakened, focus on using the Living Being's Gold to repair your soul and restore your memories. I don't think I'll need your help for now."
Electrolux chuckled faintly, his voice gradually fading until the space returned to silence.
Shu Yan looked up at the endless starlit sky, and the smile at his lips was no longer concealed. The future was slowly turning for the better—and that was a good thing.
---
In light of his recent departure from Star Luo City and the stir he had caused in the Star Dou Great Forest, Shu Yan naturally needed to explain everything clearly to the others. At the same time, he had to meet with his prospective brother-in-law again. This wasn't something that could be avoided, even if it could be delayed. Shu Yan couldn't help but feel a little helpless about it.
Perhaps due to recent governmental busyness, Xu Jiawei had not chosen the same side hall used to receive guests last time. Instead, this meeting was arranged in the main hall.
The resplendent main hall gleamed with light. Jade-carved pillars lined the corridor, and four massive redwood floor-to-ceiling windows stood on either side. Warm sunlight streamed through them, casting an air of solemn majesty over the entire chamber.
Atop the raised platform sat a desk, behind which loomed a large Star Crown relief sculpture made from a rare mineral. Xu Jiawei sat upright at the desk. Noticing movement below, he looked up slightly and said:
"Ah Yan, you're here. No need to stand on ceremony—find a seat."
Shu Yan raised an eyebrow, then casually chose a chair lined with soft fur and sat down without hesitation.
Xu Jiawei's hand didn't stop writing. He continued to casually place signed memorials in a stack beside him as he spoke gently:
"A few days ago, you took Jiujing and those two others to the Star Dou Great Forest. What exactly did you go there for?"
Shu Yan thought for a moment, then replied:
"We went for a great opportunity—and it was a complete success. There was just a small accident before we left."
Xu Jiawei's pen paused slightly. He lifted his eyes a bit and asked:
"What kind of accident?"
Looking into Xu Jiawei's eyes, Shu Yan answered:
"Right before we left—perhaps because we caused such a big stir, or maybe due to the presence of the Ice and Snow Emperors—Beast God Di Tian personally appeared at the outskirts of the Star Dou Forest. But he didn't make things difficult for us. He only revealed himself briefly before retreating back into the forest's depths."
The grip of Xu Jiawei's hand on the brush suddenly tightened, but after hearing the rest, he slowly relaxed.
"In any case, don't take unnecessary risks in the future. You're the empire's future—I don't want anything to happen to you. Be cautious in all things. Never trust anyone completely—not even yourself. Sometimes, even your own judgment isn't your most reliable ally."
Shu Yan nodded, then heard Xu Jiawei ask:
"Are those two still doing well?"
Shu Yan's eyes flickered slightly. After a moment's thought, he replied:
"They're doing very well. Don't worry, Brother—both of them and I have made solemn vows. Nothing will go wrong."
Xu Jiawei sighed, put down his brush, and rubbed his brow.
"You must be thinking I'm overly cautious, aren't you?"
Shu Yan shook his head and said:
"No. If I were in your place, I'd probably worry even more. It's difficult to build trust between two opposing races—especially when there's a disparity in strength. Star Luo City isn't just some border town. It holds tremendous importance not only for the empire but for the entire Douluo Continent. The higher the status, the more there is to consider. It's unavoidable you just have to grow into it with time."
PS: Read Advance Chapters at https://www.patreon.com/c/XenTronix