Douluo Unrivaled: The Beginning Materializes the Black Abyss and White Flowers

Chapter 388 The Four Together?
Lu Jingming understood Gu Yuena's intentions the moment she tiptoed.

A knowing, gentle smile flashed in his eyes. Without the slightest hesitation, he reached out and firmly encircled her slender waist, pulling her even closer into his embrace. He responded to the kiss, which was filled with trust, dependence, and budding love.

The moonlight, like mercury spilling onto the ground, gently enveloped the two embracing figures, outlining a hazy and sacred halo around them.

The night breeze seemed to know better than to disturb this beautiful scene frozen in time.

Their figures intertwined on the terrace, seemingly becoming the most moving scenery in this tranquil night.

However, this beautiful scene did not escape the eyes of those in the shadows.

In the shadow of the pillars not far away, a firefly quietly appeared on its own.

Her heterochromatic blue and pink eyes were fixed intently on the two figures embracing in the moonlight.

She didn't speak, but clenched her fists, her knuckles turning slightly white from the force.

Her face, which always carried a sense of resilience and passion, showed no obvious expression at this moment, but her slightly pursed lips and her focused, almost obstinate gaze betrayed that her heart was not without turmoil.

On a higher floor, with its upturned eaves, Xia Die sat quietly, holding her beloved books, like a solitary orchid blooming silently under the moon.

The moonlight painted her gentle and serene profile, bathing her in a soft glow.

She maintained her usual gentle and slightly hazy smile, but upon closer inspection, one could see that the smile seemed a bit fainter than usual, and deep in her eyes, there was a very faint, elusive, complex emotion, which was then quietly suppressed by her strong self-control and returned to that gentle silence.

The moonlight still falls gently, and the night breeze still softly rustles through the treetops.

But beneath this seemingly peaceful and harmonious night, subtle ripples of emotion had quietly spread with that kiss under the moon.

The warmth under the moonlight, like silk threads, did not dissipate with the passing footsteps, but instead quietly warmed at the clasped fingertips, like a fine wine aged for many years, fragrant and intoxicating.

Lu Jingming held Gu Yuena's cool, soft hand tightly, leading her through the quiet, deserted corridor toward his private bedroom.

The warmth of his palm was intense and steady, silently conveying a tacit expectation that was especially clear in the quiet night.

Gu Yuena followed quietly beside him, her long silver hair shimmering with a dreamlike glow under the dim light of the corridor.

She lowered her eyelids slightly, her thick, long eyelashes like butterfly wings, cleverly concealing the shyness that flowed in her purple eyes.

With her intelligence, how could she not sense the increasingly burning gaze of the man beside her, and the profound meaning beyond words contained in the force that drew her in?

My heart is like a small pond tossed with pebbles, ripples spreading outwards, carrying a hint of panic, but mostly a sense of peace as the dust settles.

She showed no intention of breaking free; instead, her fingertips twitched slightly, gripping his hand even tighter, clearly conveying her silent consent.

This is both a response to the heart-stirring vow made on the terrace earlier and proof that she has let down her guard, decided to follow her heart, and stepped into this completely unfamiliar yet alluring realm of emotions.

Those heavy thoughts about race, responsibility, and the future were temporarily set aside at this moment, and she only wanted to immerse herself in this pure excitement.

However, when Lu Jingming pushed open the carved wooden door, the scene inside the room was like a bucket of cold water, instantly freezing the perfectly brewing romantic atmosphere.

Inside, Liu Ying sat upright in a pear wood armchair, her back ramrod straight. Her blue-pink eyes shone brightly under the light, carrying an almost obsessive seriousness.

Beside the soft couch by the window, Xia Die was gracefully pouring tea, her movements fluid and graceful, the aroma of tea quietly filling the air.

Hearing the door open, she looked up, her face still bearing that familiar, gentle smile that seemed to encompass everything.

"...?"

Lu Jingming was taken aback at first, then understood, and a helpless yet amused smile appeared on his lips.

He knew exactly what those two girls were thinking.

Gu Yuena was also slightly taken aback. The blush on her cheeks faded a little, and she returned to her usual cool and composed demeanor. She calmly observed the situation, and a faint, spectator-like look even flashed in her purple eyes.

Liu Ying was the first to stand up, her movements swift and decisive, and she walked to Lu Jingming in just a few steps.

She raised her small face, which was filled with determination, her eyes clear and resolute, and her tone direct and unquestionable: "Ah Ming, I've fallen far behind."

Her voice carried a sense of urgency and resentment.

"I want to come too."

This determination is fervent and open.

Xia Die gently put down the white jade teapot in her hand, walked closer with light steps, her voice as soft as the murmuring of spring water, yet containing the same unwavering determination.

“Ah Ming, this time.”

She paused slightly, her gaze meeting his.

"I will not back down anymore."

Though the words were spoken softly, they seemed to carry a tremendous weight.

Looking at the two girls in front of him, who also had deep ties with him and were now clearly united, and feeling Gu Yuena's increasingly calm, even slightly teasing gaze beside him, Lu Jingming couldn't help but twitch his lips slightly, feeling a headache that was both annoying and funny.

He raised his hand to rub his temples, a playful glint in his eyes. He deliberately drew out his words and said with a wicked grin, "Oh? You asked for this yourselves, 'together'? You have to keep your word, or you can't go back on your word later."

As soon as these words were spoken, the effect was immediate.

The pretty faces of fireflies and butterflies instantly flushed red, as if they had been stained with the most vibrant rouge.

The two subconsciously exchanged a glance. The courage that had surged within them, stimulated by the moonlit scene, vanished like a punctured balloon under Lu Jingming's direct yet ambiguous question, leaving only embarrassment and bewilderment.

It takes courage to face him alone, let alone with three people together... My actions just now were indeed more of a momentary impulse.

Gu Yuena's ears burned with embarrassment. She couldn't help but reach out her slender fingers, precisely pinch the soft flesh of his waist, and give it a gentle twist. At the same time, she raised her eyes, giving him a shy yet reproachful glare, silently condemning his unrestrained speech. "Alright, alright, I was just kidding."

Seeing that things were going well, Lu Jingming quickly begged for mercy, his playful expression fading and turning into a gentle and serious one.

"Let's cultivate together tonight. Liu Ying and Xia Die, you two also need to intensify your comprehension and strive to condense your second soul core as soon as possible to break through the bottleneck of Title Douluo. The road ahead is long, and strength is the foundation."

He knew what he was doing.

Even if they were close, he wouldn't be so absurd and frivolous about the three girls' first experience.

For a woman, the first time is always special and precious. Even if there is no need to deliberately create romance, it should still be treated with solemnity, one-on-one.

Such a high-intensity scene right from the start was far too radical for them, and not what he wanted.

His relationship with Gu Yuena just now was a natural progression of their feelings, so he naturally went along with it.

Although the appearance of fireflies and butterflies interrupted the process, he was not truly annoyed.

How could he not know their feelings?
Moreover, the fact that the four of them can share a room tonight, even if it's just for pure cultivation, is in a sense a breakthrough and a step closer to their relationship. It seems that he has taken a subtle step towards his distant dream of sleeping together under the same quilt.

Thinking of this, a smile couldn't help but flash across his eyes.

Star Luo Empire, Imperial Palace Council Hall.

Inside the majestic palace, with its high-hanging dome and carved beams and painted rafters, a sense of impending doom permeated the air.

The lineup gathered here at this moment is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, encompassing almost all the core forces of the Douluo Continent that are resisting the Spirit Empire.

The air seemed to freeze, each breath carrying a heavy weight. Representatives from all sides sat separately, their gazes intertwined with scrutiny, vigilance, and a complex emotion of being forced to join forces due to the pressure of a powerful enemy.

On one side of the main hall, Emperor Dai Yutian of the Star Luo Empire stood at the center, exuding imperial majesty.

Beside him were Davis, Zhu Zhuyun, and Dai Mubai, whose temperament was becoming increasingly calm and reserved, and Zhu Zhuqing, who was cold and aloof.

Adjacent to it was the remaining forces of the Heavenly Dou Empire, led by Prince Xue Xing and Prince Xue Beng. Although they had lost their territory, the flame of restoring their country had never been extinguished.

Ning Fengzhi, the sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, sat calmly. Beneath his gentle and refined appearance lay unfathomable wisdom. Sword Douluo Chen Xin and Bone Douluo Gu Rong stood silently beside him like two guardian mountains, their auras held back.

Poison Douluo Dugu Bo leaned back seemingly lazily, but beneath his half-open eyelids, his sharp gaze swept across the entire scene like a venomous snake, carrying a warning that strangers should not approach.

Yu Yuanzhen, the patriarch of the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex family and the Thunder Douluo, had a pale face due to his unhealed serious injuries, but his straight spine remained as unyielding as a javelin.

Tang Xiao, the sect master of Haotian Sect and the Howling Sky Douluo, sat silently, his heavy, mountain-like aura seemingly able to suppress all restlessness, representing the majesty of the number one sect in the world.

The core members of Shrek Academy, led by Master Yu Xiaogang, Liu Erlong, and Flander, are also among them.

Behind them, Tang San, Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, Oscar, Ma Hongjun and other outstanding young talents sat upright, their faces showing no trace of their former immaturity, only solemnity.

In contrast to this massive group, there is another small but equally impressive group.

Xuanzi, Ma Xiaotao, Han Ruoruo, Xu Sanshi... These mysterious figures who thwarted the Martial Soul Empire's conspiracy sat quietly in one place, exuding a chilling sense of oppression despite their silence.

Xuanzi's seemingly murky eyes occasionally flashed with a sharp light as they opened and closed. The soul power fluctuations of a level 98 peak Douluo were like the undercurrents beneath a calm sea, unfathomable.

The fiery soul power flowing around Ma Xiaotao carried the nobility and domineering nature of a phoenix, pure and powerful, causing Ma Hongjun, who also possessed the Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul, to feel a throbbing and affinity originating from his bloodline.

However, what made the powerful figures present even more wary were the two beings who had not yet appeared—Joan of Arc and Aglaia.

Everyone knew perfectly well that if those two mysterious powerhouses hadn't released an aura at the crucial moment that made even the newly promoted Angel Goddess Qian Renxue wary and dare not act rashly, they would never have been able to transfer the core strength of the remnants of the Heavenly Dou army to the Star Luo Empire so smoothly from the Heavenly Net of the Martial Soul Empire.

Those two are the true trump cards that can balance the god-level threat, and they are also the invisible cornerstone that allows the alliance to sit here and negotiate.

As the host and the emperor of the empire, Dai Yutian was well aware of the fragility of the alliance at this moment.

He took a deep breath, and his powerful, steady voice broke the suffocating silence, echoing throughout the spacious hall:
"Distinguished sect leaders, seniors, and allies."

His gaze was sharp as he slowly swept over every face present, finally settling on Xuanzi, his tone solemn and sincere.

"Today, we are able to set aside past grievances and prejudices and gather together in front of the Star Luo Palace, because we are all facing the same unprecedented catastrophe - the Martial Soul Empire and its two powerful figures who have already ascended to godhood."

He paused briefly, allowing the heavy pressure from the two deities to permeate everyone's hearts, before continuing:

"Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue, either one of them already possesses the power to overturn the continent's格局 (geju, a term referring to the overall situation or structure). With two gods ruling, their power is overwhelming. Any single force like ours is like a mantis trying to stop a chariot before divine might. The situation is clear: if we unite, we still have a chance to survive; if we separate, we will surely perish. This concerns our survival and the future of the continent."

Dai Yutian's voice was solemn, laying bare the necessity of the alliance.

Then, he changed the subject, his gaze becoming sharper, pointing directly to the core of the problem:

"However, the alliance is based on sincerity and trust. Before we discuss a major strategy to defend against a formidable enemy, there are some things that must be made clear."

His gaze was fixed on Xuanzi, and his tone was solemn.

"Senior Xuanzi, and all the friends you have brought... your identities, your purposes, and those two seniors who have not yet shown themselves... all of this concerns whether the alliance we are about to forge is strong, and whether we can entrust our backs to each other. For the sake of the trust that will allow us to fight side by side, please... tell us frankly."

In an instant, all eyes in the hall, whether curious, scrutinizing, grateful, or still filled with deep doubt, focused on the unassuming, even somewhat unkempt, old man.

Xuanzi, one of the most unfathomable figures present, is perhaps only worthy of being challenged by Sword Douluo Chenxin in everyone's eyes.

Although he and his men rescued Thunder Douluo, saw through Qian Renxue's amazing disguise, and successfully escorted the core of Heaven Dou to break through to this place, his overly mysterious and powerful origins are like a sharp blade shrouded in mist, making people feel apprehensive and hesitant while relying on his power.

This unknown is the first and crucial hurdle facing the fragile alliance.

If they don't understand the origins and purposes of Xuanzi and the others, they cannot fully trust them.

(End of this chapter)