Douluo Continent: From Internal Martial Arts to the Law of Heaven and Earth

A crisp knock sounded on the door. Gu Yue scanned the area with her spiritual power, glanced at Tang Shan, and raised an eyebrow with a hint of teasing: "Your good disciple has come all the way to see you."

Tang Shan squeezed her soft, delicate hand and said helplessly, "As your teacher's wife, is it appropriate for you to be jealous of my disciple?"

Before Gu Yue could refute, Tang Shan leaned down and gently kissed her lips, causing her to freeze in place. Only then did she get up and step forward to open the courtyard gate.

Standing outside the door was none other than the graceful Zhu Zhuyun. Today, she wore an elegant white dress, its style both luxurious and dignified, yet lively and refined. The delicate fabric accentuated her fair complexion, highlighting her tall figure and alluring curves, giving her an irresistible charm.

"Zhu Yun, come in." Seeing the faint worry lingering between the woman's brows, Tang Shan stepped aside.

Without the slightest hesitation, Zhu Zhuyun walked slowly into the courtyard with light, delicate steps, her figure swaying gracefully as she passed by Tang Shan. As she brushed past him, wisps of a delicate and refreshing fragrance drifted through the air.

The door closed, and Tang Shan sat back down beside Gu Yue, while Zhu Zhuyun gracefully sat opposite him. Her slender, fair fingers unconsciously twirled and played with her long hair.

"Zhuyun, what happened?" Tang Shan asked softly first, while Gu Yue also cast a clear, curious glance at him.

Zhu Zhuyun looked around the courtyard warily: "Teacher, can you guarantee absolute secrecy and safety here?"

With the Golden Crocodile Douluo guarding the Crown Prince's residence, what danger could there be? The thought flashed through his mind, but Tang Shan didn't catch it.

"It's safe. Once I release my mental power, I can detect any intrusion of external mental power." Tang Shan said, releasing his mental power, which had reached the mid-stage of the Spirit Abyss Realm, without hesitation, enveloping the entire courtyard.

Unable to inform Zhu Zhuyun of the existence of the Golden Crocodile Douluo for the time being, Tang Shan simply released his spiritual power to reassure his disciple.

Under the banyan tree, Golden Crocodile Douluo raised an eyebrow, sensing that Tangshan's courtyard was completely enveloped by spiritual power. He couldn't help but wonder: What's this kid doing? Why is he so vigilant? However, Golden Crocodile Douluo didn't think too much about it, turned over, and went back to dozing off.

Sensing the terrifying spiritual power emanating from Tang Shan's body, Zhu Zhuyun was both amazed and gradually calmed down.

“Teacher, during your travels across the continent, I discovered some unusual things.” Zhu Zhuyun took a deep breath, and after clarifying the ins and outs of the whole matter, she parted her cherry lips and recounted what she had seen and heard in the Crown Prince’s Palace of Tiandou over the past year.

At first, Tang Shan listened with great interest. Zhu Zhuyun's description of Xue Qinghe's aloofness from women was quite amusing. However, as time went on, he gradually felt that something seemed amiss.

Gu Yue was the first to see through the core of Zhu Zhuyun's words. Her clear silver eyes blinked gently as she turned to look at the young man beside her with a subtle expression. Her pink lips pursed slightly, and she finally couldn't help but let out a playful smile: Let's see what you do next.

Tang Shan later noticed that Zhu Zhuyun's words were becoming increasingly strange. Before he could interrupt her, Zhu Zhuyun had already revealed some "unspeakable taboos".

"Based on various clues, teacher, I speculate that Xue Qinghe and Qian Renxue are the same person. She is not the offspring of Emperor Xueye, but has a different background, and is actually a woman." Zhu Zhuyun's words were resounding and thought-provoking, echoing in Tang Shan's ears.

Tang Shan was numb, completely numb. He had no idea what expression he should make at this moment.

His astonishment wasn't about Xue Qinghe's true identity, since any Douluo Continent transmigrator who had read the novel would know that. What surprised him was that Zhu Zhuyun had actually discovered the truth through subtle clues, and even more absurdly, she had directly told him about it.

Tang Shan had naturally considered when Xue Qinghe would reveal his true intentions to him in the future. It would most likely be on the way to Wuhun City, for example, during the future All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament. He would then show appropriate shock and demonstrate some "loyalty," and the matter would naturally be over.

He was all prepared, but Zhu Zhuyun launched a surprise attack on him. Tang Shan was caught off guard by the sudden change. Most importantly, he clearly sensed two meaningful gazes beside him. The owner of those gazes was none other than Gu Yue, who was watching the show.

Should I first explain Xue Qinghe's true identity, or simply accept Zhu Zhuyun's speculation? And Gu Yue, Qian Renxue and I really have nothing going on, you must believe me.

Tang Shan fell silent, his mind racing: How do we break this deadlock?

P.S.: Updates have started. There's one more chapter coming up later. I hope to reach 6000 words tomorrow, depending on my current writing pace.

Chapter 397 Different Thoughts

Since Zhu Yun has already discovered it, he might as well admit it. As for how things develop afterward, he'll see how things go. His thoughts raced, and Tang Shan quickly made a decision. He looked up at Zhu Zhu Yun, his expression calm: "So it was her."

Zhu Zhuyun was slightly surprised: "Teacher, aren't you shocked? And what do you mean by that? Do you know her?"

The Dragon King, who was originally watching the show, narrowed her bright silver eyes slightly, and a sharp edge quietly spread around her, revealing a murderous aura. She wanted to see Tang Shan's bewildered and surprised look, but judging from Tang Shan's words, the two had already crossed paths. Could it be that she had become the clown?

Feeling the unfriendly gaze directed at him, Tang Shan's lips twitched, and he nonchalantly began to explain to Zhu Zhuyun.

"Actually, I've long suspected His Highness's identity. After all, His Highness calls Senior Jin'e 'Grandpa,' which is an extremely obvious flaw." Tang Shan began to recount his discovery, so that his speculation could be perfectly combined with Zhu Zhuyun's clues.

"Teacher, you already knew she was a girl?" Zhu Zhuyun's timely assistance made the Silver Dragon King's eyes grow colder as he fixed his gaze on Tang Shan.

"What a fine disciple of mine, always stabbing at the most dangerous spots." Tang Shan wished he could pin Zhu Zhuyun down on his lap and punish her, but alas, he was powerless to do so.

"I suspect His Highness isn't one of Emperor Xue Ye's people. As for his gender, I truly didn't expect that. By the way, since you, Zhu Yun, have seen through His Highness's identity, there's no need to continue hiding some things. His Highness has the Spirit Hall behind him, with several powerful figures; he's a secret force within the Spirit Hall." There were some things he couldn't admit. If he had truly known Xue Qinghe's gender, Tang Shan suspected he would have been driven to suicide by the elemental break. He spoke these lies without batting an eye, lies that even he didn't believe. That's what Golden Crocodile Douluo had told him; he was merely relaying it truthfully to Zhu Zhu Yun.

"The Spirit Hall is standing behind Your Highness!" Zhu Zhuyun was completely oblivious to Tang Shan's words at the moment. While she was shocked, her back was already covered in cold sweat.

She was extremely glad that she hadn't acted rashly and impulsively fled the Crown Prince's residence. If she had, it wouldn't have just attracted the siege of Heaven Dou and Star Luo, but a joint search by Heaven Dou, Star Luo, and the Spirit Hall.

Faced with these three enormous creatures, Zhu Zhuyun was certain that she had absolutely no power to resist. Trying to fight them would be like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

After a long while, Zhu Zhuyun finally calmed her turbulent emotions. Having learned everything, she was completely relieved. It seemed that her teacher had not been kept in the dark, but had already figured out the inside story.

Recalling what Tang Shan had said before, Zhu Zhuyun asked with some curiosity, "Teacher, what did you mean when you said 'It was her'? Did you already know her?"

Tang Shan felt a sense of relief, finally putting his mind at ease. He had been waiting for Zhu Zhuyun to say these words: "Didn't I go to Wuhun City to watch the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament? At that time, Senior Golden Crocodile was going to give me some special training. Later, I met him on the rooftop..."

Tang Shan told Gu Yue and Zhu Zhuyun about his encounter with the cross-dressing angel in Wuhun City a few years ago, though he embellished the story considerably. He would never say that he recognized her at first glance, as that would be far too unusual.

"I deduced she was from the Spirit Hall, but I really didn't expect her to be the Crown Prince who came with her. Since His Highness is a woman, many things make sense." Feeling the sharp gaze beside him gradually soften, Tang Shan secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He had come to understand that while the Dragon King could barely accept his philandering, he absolutely could not accept that she wasn't the first.

"Teacher, what should we do next?" After listening to Tang Shan's story, Zhu Zhuyun frowned slightly, unsure how to get along with Xue Qinghe in the future.

"It's good that everything is as usual. You disguised yourself quite well after you saw through her before, didn't you? I will explain to His Highness that you already know her background. As for His Highness's gender..."

Tang Shan rubbed his forehead in distress: "Let me think about it some more, how to confront His Highness. After that, everything will be fine on your end."

Having confirmed the information she wanted, Gu Yue's coldness vanished, replaced by a playful smile. She tapped the edge of the table with her fingertips: "It's simple. This Crown Prince might like you too. Just be straightforward and direct."

Tang Shan said helplessly, "Gu Yue, don't worry, His Highness the Crown Prince isn't interested in me. If she really cared about me, why was she so cold when I first saw her dressed as a woman? And you don't know, it was His Highness who helped me plan the confession on the mountaintop. If she really had feelings for me, she wouldn't have deliberately hindered me, but she certainly wouldn't have gone to such lengths to help me plan."

"Is that so?" Gu Yue blinked slowly, resting her chin on her hand as she pondered: Could it be that her previous feelings were all wrong? Did this inheritor of the divine power truly have no feelings for Tang Shan?

Zhu Zhuyun's expression was somewhat strange. She couldn't help but recall Xue Qinghe's unusual behavior when her evil energy first erupted. All that talk about thinking of her and helping her suppress her evil energy now seemed to indicate that he was simply afraid her evil energy would erupt in front of their teacher, so that the teacher would find out and use some other method to eliminate it. He deliberately pretended to be concerned, which was truly shameless. He was just another one of those people who coveted their teacher.

Although she saw through Xue Qinghe's intentions, Zhu Zhuyun still chose to remain silent. After all, exposing the other party's "insidious thoughts" would inevitably expose her own "grand dream," which was absolutely unacceptable.

Tang Shan, of course, was unaware of the audacious thoughts Zhu Zhuyun harbored. Having finished discussing serious matters, he readily offered guidance on her cultivation. Zhu Zhuyun possessed exceptional talent, and after consuming the immortal herb, her aptitude had further improved, bringing her close to becoming a Soul King. She was expected to participate as a High-Level Soul King in the next Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament. However, her internal martial arts cultivation remained stuck at the Transcendent Realm; she hadn't grasped the essence of willpower, and the path to Core Formation seemed endless.

It can only be said that the value of comprehending the will is only now beginning to show. Whether it is Tang Shan, Gu Yue, and Su Yuntao who have long comprehended the will, or the angel lady who has just comprehended the will, it always gives people the feeling that the will is commonplace. Zhu Zhuyun, who is currently taking immortal herbs and cultivating diligently, has not comprehended the will yet, which makes it seem somewhat normal.

After seeing Zhu Zhuyun off, only Tang Shan and Gu Yue remained in the courtyard. He slowly walked to the girl, gently pulled her soft body into his arms, and lightly ran his fingertips through her silver hair, calming the lingering turmoil in his heart.

Gu Yue nestled in Tang Shan's arms, her expression serene and gentle. Sensing the lingering unease in his heart, she gently wrapped her slender arms around his neck, tilted her head slightly, and offered her soft, sweet lips.

Chapter 398 Repeating the Same Mistake

Kingdom of Barak, Soto City

The ordinary carriage slowly drove into the city without attracting anyone's attention. The carriage curtain was lifted, and Xiao Wu couldn't wait to peek out, her big eyes wide open, curiously observing the pedestrians coming and going on the street.

Compared to Notting City on the border of the Heaven Dou Empire, Soto City was much more prosperous. The bustling crowds, the dazzling array of merchants, and the lively atmosphere completely attracted Xiao Wu's attention.

"Dean, where are we going now?" Inside the spacious carriage, the two areas were clearly divided. Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Yu Tianheng sat together, while Yu Xiaogang and Flander sat on the other side.

“I own a shop in Soto City, mainly selling oddities. We'll just stop by and take a look. We'll stay in Soto City tonight and head to Shrek Academy tomorrow,” Flander said calmly, clearly having planned ahead.

Tang San didn't object. He also wanted to see if there was a decent blacksmith shop in Soto City so he could continue forging his beloved Tang Clan hidden weapons.

"This inn is reasonably priced, let's stay here tonight." After traveling a distance, the carriage gradually slowed down.

Xiao Wu peeked back out of the car, her brows furrowed slightly. Tang San, noticing his "sister's" unusual behavior, asked with concern, "Xiao Wu, what's wrong?"

"Third Brother, look at this inn, isn't it a bit too shabby?" The 100,000-year-old rogue rabbit showed no mercy to the stingy and unscrupulous merchant, criticizing him to his face without any politeness.

A hint of embarrassment flashed across Flander's face, and Tang San was also somewhat puzzled. He also stuck his head out to look outside: "It shouldn't be, after all, it is..." His words stopped abruptly when he saw the hotel outside the door. The scene in front of him really shocked him.

What lay before him was less like a lodging for rest and more like a row of haphazardly constructed, dilapidated wooden huts, crookedly huddled together by a secluded roadside. Cracked, peeling planks and rotten, blackened wood were commonplace, but what truly baffled Tang San was that many of the dilapidated, drafty, and light-leaking areas were simply haphazardly covered with withered, messy thatch—utterly absurd.

"Dean, are we staying here tonight?" Tang San sat back down and looked at Flander in disbelief.

Tang San was mature and had suffered a lot since childhood. Even after becoming a Soul Master and receiving subsidies, he never spent money extravagantly and was always frugal. However, frugality did not mean deliberately mistreating himself. Living in this dilapidated house would be pure suffering.

"Stop! Thief, don't run!" Before Flander could respond, a rough, angry roar suddenly shattered the dull silence of this secluded alley. A tall, thin man, looking flustered, stumbled past the carriage, carrying some items. Behind him, a burly, imposing man with a fierce expression chased after him, his fists clenched, shouting angrily.

Goodness, not only is the accommodation dilapidated and shabby, but the area also looks extremely chaotic.

"Ahem, this place does seem a bit lacking. How about we find another one?" Flander's lips twitched violently. In order to maintain his dignity among the students, he made up his mind to reluctantly take them to a decent hotel, though he was a little heartbroken about spending his money.

Before Tang San could reply, Yu Xiaogang spoke up first, refuting him on the spot.

"Why change? I think it's fine as it is. No pain, no gain; no gain, no gain. It's just a little worse living conditions, what's there to be unhappy about?" He gave a righteous and stern lecture, full of arrogance and self-importance, as if he were spouting some profound truth.

Tang San initially had a decent impression of Flander, and seeing the other's hesitant expression, he thought it wouldn't hurt to spend the night with him. However, after being reprimanded by Yu Xiaogang, his anger surged instantly: what right did this so-called master, who lacked ability and whose theories were untenable, have to point fingers at him? If it weren't for his interest in Bibi Dong's Twin Martial Soul Cultivation Method, he would have already sent the other man on his way.

Although he still wanted to figure out the cultivation method of twin martial souls, Tang San was unwilling to suffer for nothing and immediately retorted without any politeness: "Some people have been in an environment with farts for many years and have long been used to it. After they come out, they will naturally find everything sweet. I have never suffered that kind of hardship and I really can't bear this kind of suffering."

Every sentence, though not explicitly mentioning Yu Xiaogang, was nonetheless implying his involvement. Yu Xiaogang's face flushed crimson, his fists clenched tightly, and he was about to erupt in anger. At the crucial moment, Flander quickly stopped him.

"Xiao San, meet at the city gate at eight o'clock tomorrow morning." Flander called out to Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Yu Tianheng as they walked away, then forcibly dragged the furious Yu Xiaogang into the dilapidated wooden hut: "Xiaogang, say less. Where can you find another disciple as good as this?"

"Phew, finally free! Third Brother, your teacher is too outrageous. He has no real skills, but he's incredibly nosy." Xiao Wu skipped along, looking at the dazzling array of shops on the street, and complained without any hesitation.

Tang San's face remained gloomy. He didn't comment on Yu Xiaogang anymore, but his expression revealed his feelings. His patience with Yu Xiaogang was almost at its limit.

Yu Tianheng remained silent throughout, simply watching Tang San and Xiao Wu in front of him with deep eyes, and no one could fathom his inner thoughts.

"Third Brother, come quick! This hair clip is so pretty!"

"Third Brother, come quick, I want to eat this snack!"

Xiao Wu's clear and cheerful laughter echoed through the streets and alleys. Tang San's surging anger gradually subsided, and a faint smile unconsciously appeared on his lips.

"Third Brother, Third Brother, shall we stay here tonight? It looks really beautiful." Xiao Wu stopped and looked up at the sign above the entrance, her eyes full of anticipation.

Tang San looked up at the plaque hanging above the entrance, and what came into view were four exquisite characters with a gentle and tender charm—Rose Hotel, exuding an indescribable enchanting allure. He vaguely felt that something was amiss, but he didn't think much of it and readily agreed.

"You two are planning to stay here?" Yu Tianheng's dark pupils narrowed slightly. When his gaze swept over Xiao Wu, a hint of unease flashed across his expression, but he quickly regained his composure.

Tang San scratched his head, looking puzzled, and replied bluntly, "Yes, Brother Yu, Xiao Wu likes it, so I'll stay here with her."

"Then I'll go wander around and take a look around." Yu Tianheng turned to leave, but Tang San grabbed him: "Brother Yu, why be so formal? The three of us can live together."

Yu Tianheng was stunned on the spot, almost thinking he had misheard. He understood each word clearly, but when put together, it sounded extremely strange.

And just like that, the dazed Yu Tianheng was dragged into the Rose Hotel by Tang San.

"Hello, three rooms please." Tang San's voice pulled Yu Tianheng back to reality. He secretly breathed a sigh of relief and unconsciously loosened his clenched fist. Whether his relaxation was due to relief that Tang San didn't have any special fetishes or because he had other thoughts, no one knew.

"I'm sorry, we only have one room left, and it was booked a long time ago." The waiter was polite and had a friendly smile on his face.

"What if we insist on staying?" Xiao Wu raised an eyebrow, her tone carrying a hint of arrogance. She had always been straightforward and unrestrained, living freely in the Star Dou Great Forest for many years. After arriving in the human world, she became the respected leader of Notting Academy, so it was inevitable that she would carry a bit of a spoiled and willful air.

"I'm so sorry, there's really nothing we can do. The guest who booked this room has a very close relationship with our boss." The waiter explained patiently, his eyes full of sincere apology.

"Never mind then." Xiao Wu looked disappointed and turned to leave. Tang San's tense expression also relaxed. He had just decided to persuade Xiao Wu to give up—the other party was sincere and had explained in advance that the guest's identity was special, so there was no need to argue. This place was full, so they could just go to another place.

Just as the saying goes, "The tree may wish to be still, but the wind will not cease," Tang San and his companions were about to leave when a domineering voice suddenly came from the doorway.

The door was casually pushed open, and a young man with double pupils walked in slowly, with a stunningly beautiful woman on each arm. What was most striking was that the two women looked almost identical, with slender figures, moved in perfect unison, and exuded a unique charm.

"Who's the blind fool who dares to take my room?"

"Who are you calling blind? Oh, I was the one who's blind. It turns out you're the one who's really blind." Xiao Wu couldn't stand such mockery and immediately retorted without backing down.