Douluo Continent: Dark Demon God Biao, inheriting the position of an evil god

Chapter 172 Exceptionally Participating in the Soul Hunt [Second Update]

"If the evil god is participating in an important meeting in the divine realm, or handling certain affairs of the divine realm, according to that time difference..."

Dai Yuntian's heart skipped a beat: "Then it may be impossible for me to contact him for a while."

Unless faced with a life-or-death crisis, the mark might trigger a protective mechanism on its own, but simply reporting the situation and seeking guidance as it is now is clearly insufficient to elicit that level of response.

Left with no other choice, Dai Yuntian had to settle for second best.

He once again concentrated his pure spiritual power. This time, instead of trying to "make a call," he meticulously organized his findings about Tang San possibly leaving the other half of his divine consciousness on Dai Qiu'er and Wang Dong'er, his related doubts, and the abnormal situation where Dai Qiu'er did not react after Wang Dong'er's divine sense was triggered, into a clear stream of information.

He carefully infused this "message" woven with his spiritual power into the space inside the Divine Examination Mark.

After doing all this, Dai Yuntian slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a long breath.

He has done all he can do; all that's left is to wait.

According to the timeline of the divine realm, it might only take the time of a few meetings, but for him, it could be months or even longer.

He stood up and pushed open the door to the quiet room.

Zhang Lexuan was sitting on the sofa in the outer room, holding a scroll of soul tool blueprints in her hand, but she seemed somewhat absent-minded, her gaze occasionally drifting towards the quiet room.

Seeing Dai Yuntian come out, she immediately put down the blueprints, stood up, and asked with concern, "How did it go? Did things go smoothly?"

Seeing the undisguised worry in Zhang Lexuan's eyes, Dai Yuntian felt a warmth in his heart, and a smile returned to his face, though a trace of lingering seriousness remained: "Yes, it's temporarily taken care of. Thank you, Sister Lexuan."

"Why are you so polite to me?"

Zhang Lexuan stepped forward and naturally raised her hand to tidy his slightly messy hair, which was still a bit disheveled from the exertion of his mental energy. She said gently, "Your face is still a little pale. Did you exert a lot of energy? I'll go and make you a bowl of calming soup."

"No need to trouble yourself, Sister Lexuan."

Dai Yuntian shook his head and glanced at the deepening night outside the window: "It's getting late, I should go back."

"Okay, be careful on the road."

Just as Dai Yuntian was about to leave, steady footsteps sounded outside the door.

Yan Shaozhe and Elder Xuan then appeared at the doorway.

Upon seeing Dai Yuntian, Yan Shaozhe was slightly taken aback, then a warm smile appeared on his face: "Yuntian is here too, that's perfect."

He looked at Zhang Lexuan and said seriously, "Lexuan, I'm entrusting you with leading the inner courtyard freshmen's soul ring hunting team tomorrow. Are you confident?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Lexuan's gaze subconsciously swept over Elder Xuan beside her, and the corner of her mouth twitched involuntarily. Her tone carried a subtle, almost imperceptible undertone: "As long as Elder Xuan doesn't act as a covert bodyguard this time, I'm confident."

Upon hearing this, Elder Xuan's old face flushed red, and he stammered, "Little Lexuan, this...this..."

When asked about the "absurd incident" in the Star Dou Great Forest, Elder Xuan was indeed speechless.

If Dai Yuntian hadn't reminded Ma Xiaotao beforehand, Yan Shaozhe would have come along too. Otherwise, his "gluttony leading to trouble" would have almost wiped out the entire group of geniuses from Shrek Academy's inner court, making him a sinner for the academy.

Yan Shaozhe quickly took over the conversation, his tone resolute: "Don't worry, the person responsible for the covert protection this time is naturally someone else, not Elder Xuan."

Although no one was injured last time because he was there, the academy's higher-ups dared not let Elder Xuan take charge of such a mission that concerned the lives of core students again.

Zhang Lexuan nodded, her expression returning to normal: "Then there's no problem."

Yan Shaozhe turned his gaze to Dai Yuntian and continued, "By the way, Yuntian, the academy has decided that you and Dai Qiu'er will also participate in this Soul Hunting Operation." He explained that, according to common sense, as freshmen, Dai Yuntian and Dai Qiu'er were indeed not qualified to participate in the inner academy's collective Soul Hunting Operation.

But rules are meant to protect and constrain, not to restrict genius.

Considering that Dai Yuntian and Dai Qiu'er's strength was no less than that of many inner court disciples, the academy made an exception and allowed them to join the team for training to increase their practical experience.

Yan Shaozhe looked at Dai Yuntian and asked, "Yuntian, do you have any objections to this arrangement?"

Upon hearing this, Dai Yuntian's lips curled up slightly. His gaze swept over the gentle Zhang Lexuan beside him, and he said in a relaxed tone, "No, it's nice to be able to accompany Sister Lexuan on a trip."

Zhang Lexuan couldn't help but smile, and said gently, "You, you just know how to say nice things to make me happy."

Hearing Dai Yuntian agree so readily, even with a hint of delight in his tone, Yan Shaozhe and Elder Xuan exchanged a glance, both seeing an unexpected surprise in each other's eyes.

Seeing the harmonious atmosphere between the two, Yan Shaozhe and Elder Xuan made the same gesture in perfect unison.

"Okay, it's settled then."

"We won't disturb you, please continue."

The two spoke almost simultaneously, then quickly left the room, "thoughtfully" closing the door behind them.

As Dai Yuntian looked at the door that had closed again, the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

The knowing expressions and the "thoughtful" sound of the door closing between Yan Shaozhe and Elder Xuan just now left a lingering sense of ambiguity and banter in the air.

Zhang Lexuan blushed slightly, looked away somewhat embarrassed, and walked to the table, pretending to organize the soul tool blueprints to cover up her unease.

As Dai Yuntian watched her slightly awkward back, the gloom in his heart caused by the inability to contact Tang San's divine sense during the divine test was largely dispelled by the relaxed atmosphere.

He coughed lightly, breaking the silence: "Sister Lexuan, it seems that Dean Yan and Elder Xuan... have misunderstood something."

Zhang Lexuan turned around, her face still flushed, and gave him a reproachful look: "It's all your fault, you said things that were so...so easy for people to overthink."

Dai Yuntian walked to her side, his tone sincere: "Sister Lexuan, I'm telling the truth. With you leading the Soul Hunt this time, I do feel more at ease, and..."

"Sister Lexuan has taken good care of me during this time, and I am very happy to have the opportunity to work with you."

He spoke frankly, without the teasing he had shown when he joked with Zhu Lu or Ma Xiaotao, but with heartfelt gratitude.

He wasn't unaware of Zhang Lexuan's kindness towards him.

From the initial protection upon entering the inner courtyard to the daily care, and even the immediate provision of a quiet room... this unreserved trust and gentleness is especially precious in this world.

Hearing his earnest words, Zhang Lexuan's earlier shyness turned into a soft smile.

She raised her hand and, as was her habit, smoothed his neatly combed black hair from his forehead, the gesture natural and affectionate: "You're so glib... but I'm happy that you think this way."

"correct."

Remembering the important matter, Zhang Lexuan's expression became more serious: "Although this soul hunt is only for a few newly promoted inner court disciples to obtain soul rings, and the target soul beast area is relatively safe, there are many variables deep in the Star Dou Great Forest. You still need to be more careful. Dai Qiu'er... I haven't had much contact with her, but I feel that she is simple-minded and straightforward. You should also pay more attention to her."

Dai Yuntian nodded: "I understand, Sister Lexuan, don't worry."

(End of this chapter)