Douluo: I have too many clones

Chapter 764 During the banquet

In the center of the banquet hall, Qian Gu Dongfeng and Yu Guanzhi were discussing some specific matters concerning the Ten Thousand Beasts Platform, their words subtly revealing their desire for deeper cooperation with the Federation.

Yu Guanzhi, however, clearly showed little interest, offering only polite replies or completely ignoring Qian Gu Dong Feng's subtle hints. Given his power and status, he certainly had the right to give such perfunctory responses.

As Qian Gu Zhangting and Gu Yuena approached, Qian Gu Dongfeng's eyes suddenly lit up, and the smile on his face instantly became genuine: "Na'er, you've come." He greeted them warmly, his tone filled with undisguised satisfaction.

Gu Yuena nodded slightly, her cool voice carrying just the right amount of respect: "Tower Master."

"Come, Na'er, let me introduce you. This is the commander of the Central Legion, the Divine Brush Douluo: Your Excellency Yu Guanzhi." Qian Gu Dongfeng stepped aside to introduce them, his gaze shifting between the two, trying to create a harmonious atmosphere.

Gu Yuena then turned to Yu Guanzhi, a polite smile blooming on her face: "Hello, General Yu."

"The name of Princess Silver Dragon has been widely known lately." Yu Guanzhi put down his wine glass and looked at Gu Yuena.

The old man's eyes were sharp as an eagle's, as if trying to pierce through her cold exterior and reach the depths of her soul. "Even the young soldiers of the Central Army are talking about how the Spirit Pagoda has produced a remarkable woman who can rewrite the history of Soul Masters."

"I'm sorry to have made you laugh, Senior Yu. It's just a little bit of empty fame," Gu Yuena replied modestly, her posture perfectly appropriate.

“A false reputation is still a reputation.” Yu Guanzhi waved his hand, his tone becoming more serious. “Many soul masters may not be able to obtain such a reputation in their entire lives, and Gu Yuena, the Spirit Transmission Envoy, truly deserves this reputation.”

When Qian Gu Zhangting heard Yu Guanzhi's evaluation of Gu Yuena, a look of pride immediately appeared on his face, as if he were the one being praised.

Qian Gu Dongfeng also had a smile on his face. In his view, Gu Yuena would become one of his own sooner or later, and it was naturally the best that she could gain Yu Guanzhi's favor now.

Just as the atmosphere was beginning to ease, Yu Guanzhi abruptly changed the subject, his gaze sharpening as he looked at Gu Yuena: "Being able to develop such groundbreaking inventions as artificial ten-thousand-year soul spirits and the Ten Thousand Beast Platform, Miss Gu Yuena must have a unique understanding of soul beasts. I wonder what your own views are on soul beasts?"

What are your thoughts on soul beasts?

Gu Yuena pondered for a moment, lightly twirling the hem of her skirt with her fingertips, and slowly spoke: "I believe that soul beasts are an indispensable part of the continent's ecosystem. The current predicament of resource scarcity stems not only from the excessive consumption of soul guide technology, but also from the decline of the soul beast population."

"The Ten Thousand Beasts Platform is my experiment. I want to revive some soul beasts to balance the continent's ecology. Of course, more importantly, it's to benefit the vast number of soul masters and give them more room to grow."

At this point, she changed the subject, steer the conversation to the core issue, "The potential of the Beast Platform is far more than what has been shown so far. Besides soul spirit evolution, it may also hold the possibility of allowing Limit Douluo to advance even further. If Senior Yu is interested, you might as well go in and experience it for yourself."

Gu Yuena spoke each word in an orderly manner, from expressing her views on soul beasts to analyzing the current situation on the continent, and finally revealing the grand plan of the Ten Thousand Beast Platform.

The possibility of taking the Limit Douluo to the next level—what a huge temptation that is!

It can be said that every Soul Master yearns to become a god. The higher a Soul Master stands, the greater their desire to become a god.

The Ghost Emperor, the Underworld Emperor, and others of the Holy Spirit Cult spent their entire lives stirring up trouble, all for the sake of transcending the mortal realm and ascending to godhood.

Gu Yuena deliberately brought this up to lure the commander of the Central Army Corps into the Beast Platform. Once he entered, the Dragon Mystic Technique would automatically fall into his body.

Of course, she wasn't lying; the Beast Platform did indeed have the potential to allow Limit Douluo to advance further. After all, with the evolution of a soul spirit, the soul master could also receive some feedback and gain considerable benefits.

With Yu Guanzhi's strength, if he stayed inside for a long time and allowed his soul to evolve, even if his strength didn't increase dramatically, his physical attributes would at least improve to some extent.

As physical strength increases, vitality naturally becomes more active, and lifespan can be extended to a certain extent.

Yu Guanzhi paused slightly in his wine glass and said, "Let's just forget about it. As people get older, the drive they had when they were young naturally fades away."

Seeing this, Qian Gu Dongfeng immediately chimed in, his tone carrying just the right amount of flattery: "Brother Yu, there's no need to belittle yourself. You are one of the pillars of the Federation. The future development of the Federation still depends on you."

He knew that to achieve deeper cooperation between the Federation and the Spirit Pagoda, he had to get past Yu Guanzhi, and that appropriate praise and recognition were often the first step in breaking the ice.

Yu Guanzhi simply shook his head slightly, his gaze sweeping over the energetic young faces in the banquet hall, and sighed, "The future of the Federation is not for an old man like me to worry about. The new generation of young people also need appropriate training."

Qian Gu Dongfeng readily agreed, "Of course. But isn't it our duty as elders to help the younger generation avoid some detours?"

“Indeed.” Yu Guanzhi finally nodded, his tone becoming more serious. “We elders should always do something for the younger generation, whether it’s eliminating threats or leaving behind precious treasures, we should always leave them some legacy.”

Before he could finish speaking, he abruptly changed the subject, his gaze sharpening as he looked at Qian Gu Dongfeng. "Master of the Ancient Tower, that girl Fors once mentioned to me that the Spirit Pagoda seems to be interested in developing the Star Dou Great Forest. I wonder if that's true or not?"

The moment the words "Starry Sky Forest" were uttered, the temperature in the air seemed to drop several degrees. Gu Yuena's hands, hanging by her sides, clenched tightly, her fingertips turning white from the force.

A glint flashed in Qian Gu Dongfeng's eyes. He clearly hadn't expected Yu Guanzhi to bring this up suddenly, but he immediately grasped the underlying meaning in Yu's words and replied eagerly, "Of course! The ferocious beasts entrenched in the Star Dou Great Forest have always been a hidden danger to the continent. If it can be developed properly, it can not only eliminate the threat but also provide Soul Masters with richer resources. It's truly killing two birds with one stone. Brother Yu, you..."

"Hmm." Yu Guanzhi nodded noncommittally, repeating the meaningful words, "We elders should leave something for future generations, shouldn't we?"

This ambiguous response, which neither explicitly supported nor directly opposed, warmed Qian Gu Dong Feng's heart—given Yu Guanzhi's status, such a statement was a rare sign of leniency.

"Alright! Brother Yu, let's talk over here."

Qian Gu Dongfeng immediately gestured an invitation, then turned to his grandson beside him and gestured with his eyes, "Zhang Ting, the Four Spirit Transmission Envoys are one of the faces of the Spirit Transmission Tower. Don't forget to greet the others!"

He intended for Qian Gu Zhangting to showcase the vitality of the younger generation of the Spirit Pagoda to Yu Guanzhi, and hoped that his grandson could take this opportunity to make friends with the other high-ranking members of the War God Temple, paving the way for the future.

Qian Gu Zhangting understood immediately, and with a polite smile on his face, he said softly to Gu Yuena, "Nana, then let's not disturb Grandpa and Commander Yu."

"Ah."

Gu Yuena responded lightly, raising her eyes to look at Qian Gu Dongfeng's back, her gaze deep and unfathomable—develop the Star Dou Great Forest? They really dare to say that! As the ruler of all soul beasts, she could never sit idly by and watch the Star Dou Great Forest fall into the hands of others.

"It's all Fors's fault! If she hadn't made that stupid proposal, none of this would have happened!" Gu Yuena turned and left, cursing inwardly. It was all Fors's fault, that wicked woman! If it weren't for Na'er, that traitor, she would have killed her long ago.

……

"Come, Nana, let me introduce you. This is Councilor Zhang from the Federation, one of our supporters of the Spirit Pagoda. And this is..."

At the banquet, Qian Gu Zhangting, like a rooster, walked with his head held high, leading Gu Yuena around and introducing her to the council members who were related to the interests of the Spirit Pagoda.

"Hello." Gu Yuena nodded slightly and gave a polite smile.

During the introduction, Qian Gu Zhangting tried to naturally grasp Gu Yuena's wrist, as if to declare some kind of connection in this gesture.

However, just as his fingertips were about to touch that delicate skin, Gu Yuena seemed to casually turn slightly to avoid his touch, and instead turned her gaze to the next guest to be introduced.

This has happened several times, and each time it has been handled so subtly that it has maintained both superficial harmony and adhered to invisible boundaries.

Although Qian Gu Zhangting felt a little displeased, as if he were being gently scratched by a feather, he couldn't bring himself to do anything too outrageous in this situation.

However, this ambiguous distance only fueled his obsession with Gu Yuena, and the passion in his heart not only did not subside but intensified.

"Nana, this is Director Li, who is in charge of supervising the Federation's soul tool industry." Qian Gu Zhangting quickly composed himself and continued the introduction with a perfectly timed smile on his face.

"Ah."

Gu Yuena smiled politely, her gaze lingering briefly on Director Li before she nodded in acknowledgment. However, amidst this series of social interactions and pleasantries, an indescribable sense of emptiness gradually arose within her.

The bustling and noisy scene before her was more like an exquisite shell encasing an empty core, leaving her with little interest.

Just then, Gu Yuena's gaze seemed to be drawn by an invisible force, inadvertently sweeping across a corner of the banquet hall. In an instant, her originally calm and unwavering gaze narrowed slightly, like a deep pool where a pebble had been thrown in, suddenly rippling with subtle yet clear waves.

On the side of the banquet hall, a handsome man stood with a relaxed smile on his face, talking quietly with several figures beside him.

The figures had hair of various colors, some as blue as the sky, some as bright as the moonlight, and some as golden as the morning light. Each one was slender and graceful, and their appearance was so exquisite that it seemed to transcend the boundaries of the mortal world, making any words describing beauty pale in comparison.

Logically speaking, given their charisma and good looks, these figures should have attracted everyone's attention and caused quite a stir the moment they appeared, like pearls falling onto a jade plate.

Strangely, the people around them seemed to subconsciously ignore them, continuing their pleasant conversation. Occasionally, a glance would sweep over them, but it was like passing through an ordinary background, without the slightest lingering or amazement.

“Fusheng, Xiaoyan, Kiana, Qingque…” Gu Yuena silently recited these names in her heart, and her originally calm eyes instantly rippled.

"Nana, what's wrong?" Qian Gu Zhangting had just finished a brief exchange with Director Li when he keenly noticed Gu Yuena's absent-mindedness.

Gu Yuena slowly withdrew her gaze, the smile on her lips softening slightly. The polite distance faded away, replaced by a genuine warmth: "It's nothing, I just saw a few acquaintances."

"An acquaintance?" Qian Gu Zhangting followed her gaze, and his eyes lit up as soon as they touched that corner.

He had been so focused on introducing the guests that he hadn't noticed the stunning beauties hidden there. The women, some quiet and some smiling, each with their own unique charm, were all breathtakingly beautiful. Even he, a man accustomed to such sights, was momentarily stunned.

He quickly composed himself, a perfectly gentle smile appearing on his face, his tone carrying just the right amount of familiarity: "Since we've known each other before, this chance encounter is fate. Why don't we go over and say hello together, so I can get to know your friends, Nana?"

“Okay.” Gu Yuena did not refuse. She straightened her skirt and walked with Qian Gu Zhangting toward that quiet corner.

Not far away, Nan Fusheng was listening to Xu Xiaoyan's words when he suddenly seemed to realize something. He looked up and his eyes met Gu Yuena's. He was startled for a moment, then revealed a hearty smile.

A smile involuntarily appeared on Gu Yuena's face, and the aloofness and indifference in her eyes quietly faded away. It seemed that today's banquet, which had left her feeling bored, was not entirely meaningless after all.

"Na'er, it's been a long time." Xu Xiaoyan was the first to notice Gu Yuena's approach. She stopped talking to Nan Fusheng, her azure eyes sparkling with surprise, and waved to Gu Yuena first, her tone familiar and friendly.

Xu Xiaoyan was aware that Gu Yuena was able to split into two, and she even suspected that the Gu Yuena in front of her was the more powerful Gu Yuena from back then.

(PS: Details are explained in Chapter 651: The Magnanimous Xu Xiaoyan.)
However, since Gu Yuena never brought it up, Xu Xiaoyan tacitly pretended not to know and continued to treat her as "Na'er," maintaining this unspoken friendship.

Gu Yuena responded with a gentle smile, her voice clear and melodious: "Xiao Yan, it's been a long time."

"Ok?"

Xu Xiaoyan suddenly frowned slightly, looking at her with a sly gaze, and said with feigned suspicion, "Na'er, you seem to have changed. When we lived together at the governor's mansion, you used to call me 'Sister Xiaoyan' so affectionately. Why are you suddenly so distant now?"

"This..." Gu Yuena's smile froze slightly, a barely perceptible panic crossing her mind. Asking her to call Xu Xiaoyan "sister"? This was truly putting her in a difficult position.

It's important to understand that the person controlling this body right now is Gu Yue's personality. Whether at Donghai Academy or Shrek Academy, Xu Xiaoyan has always sweetly called her "Sister Gu Yue," but now she's being asked to change that.

Whether considering past habits or the subtle reluctance to show weakness deep down, it is absolutely impossible.

But if she insisted on not shouting, wouldn't it seem too deliberate and reveal something? Gu Yuena was caught in a dilemma, and her fingertips curled up unconsciously.

Fortunately, Xu Xiaoyan chuckled at this moment, a sly glint in her eyes, and her tone became relaxed: "Just kidding. Na'er, you've grown up. Since you feel more comfortable calling me by my name, you can just call me Xiaoyan from now on."

Gu Yuena breathed a sigh of relief, her smile returning, and her tone became lighter: "Okay, Xiaoyan."

Meanwhile, on the other side, Qian Gu Zhang Ting approached Nan Fu Sheng.

(End of this chapter)