Douluo Continent: The Purple Dragon's Roar, the End of the Dark Abyss

"Mom, Lexuan and I are back!" Ye Linyi pushed open the courtyard gate, his clear voice filled with the joy of returning home, echoing gently in the courtyard.

The crisp sound of spatulas clattering against each other came from the kitchen. Yang Liuqing, wearing a plain apron, quickly poked her head out from beside the stove, her eyes crinkling and her face beaming with a gentle smile: "You're back? Go wash your hands quickly, the food will be on the table soon."

"Okay!" Ye Linyi readily agreed, then turned to look at Zhang Lexuan, who was standing at the gate with her fingers slightly clenched and looking a little flustered. He said in a gentle tone, "Sister Lexuan, come wash your hands and have dinner."

Zhang Lexuan nodded slightly, lowered her eyes, and quietly followed Ye Linyi to the sink.

The cool water washed over her hands, and she subconsciously rubbed her fingertips repeatedly until her knuckles turned slightly white, as if trying to dispel the inexplicable tension and unease in her heart with this subtle movement.

Before long, all the dishes were placed on the table, steam rising and carrying a rich aroma that filled the entire hall.

The braised pork belly, glistening with a rich, reddish-brown sauce, is glistening with oil; the steamed fish, adorned with vibrant green scallions, exudes a fresh and enticing aroma; and there are also several refreshing home-style stir-fries, steaming hot and full of the warmth and comfort of everyday life.

"Old Ye, what are you doing hiding in the backyard? Hurry up and eat!" Yang Liuqing called out to the backyard as she set out the bowls and chopsticks.

"Coming, coming!" Ye Zihao rushed in from the backyard, carrying a half-empty bottle of soy sauce, a casual smile on his face. "I'm coming, don't rush me."

The family of four sat around the table, their laughter filling the air, creating a warm and harmonious atmosphere.

Zhang Lexuan, standing to the side, remained somewhat reserved. Her hand holding the chopsticks hovered over the edge of the bowl, hesitant to put them down, her eyes showing a hint of helplessness.

Yang Liuqing watched all this with a smile, picked up a piece of braised pork with alternating layers of fat and lean meat, and placed it steadily into Zhang Lexuan's bowl. Her tone was exceptionally friendly: "Lexuan, don't be shy. Make yourself at home. Take whatever you want to eat."

As soon as she finished speaking, she picked up several more dishes, and the bowl of rice and food quickly piled up into a small mountain. "Try Auntie's braised pork, I guarantee you'll love it."

Zhang Lexuan pursed her lips, her eyes instantly reddening slightly, and her nose tingling a little. She whispered, "Thank you, Auntie."

She lowered her head and mechanically picked at the rice in her bowl, her movements stiff, her shoulders slightly tense.

Ye Linyi sat beside her and keenly noticed her unusual expression—her eyes, which were usually clear and smiling, were now covered with a thin layer of mist, hiding an unspeakable loneliness.

"Sister Lexuan..." Ye Linyi lowered his voice, a hint of worry barely perceptible in his tone.

Zhang Lexuan slowly raised her head, managed a faint smile, and said in a voice as soft as a feather, "I'm fine, Xiao Yi."

But Ye Linyi clearly saw a fleeting glimpse of tears in the corner of her eye.

He sighed softly. At this moment, this heartwarming scene reminded Zhang Lexuan of her deceased parents.

That girl who always pretended to be strong and shouldered everything alone, was touched in the softest and most vulnerable part of her heart by just an ordinary home-cooked meal.

Ye Linyi silently made a vow in his heart: When I ascend to the realm of gods in the future, I will do everything I can to help Sister Lexuan revive her parents. She deserves to have a perfect family.

At the dinner table, Yang Liuqing and Ye Zihao continued their lively conversation, while a subtle and warm atmosphere permeated the space between Ye Linyi and Zhang Lexuan.

Zhang Lexuan ate quickly, as if trying to hide her inner turmoil with her busyness, while Ye Linyi would occasionally put food on her plate, conveying his silent care through his actions.

As dusk settled, the last rays of the sunset were swallowed by the deep blue night.

Ye Linyi rubbed his slightly bulging belly and let out a satisfied burp: "Mom, I'm going out for a walk."

"Go on, go on, but don't go too far." Yang Liuqing poked her head out from the kitchen, still clutching a dishcloth in her hand.

Zhang Lexuan also stood up, her gaze falling on Ye Linyi: "I'll go with you."

The two walked out of the courtyard side by side, and the evening breeze carried the fresh scent of grass and trees.

The lanterns on both sides of the street lit up one after another, casting dappled shadows on the bluestone slabs with warm yellow light.

Ye Linyi unconsciously slowed his pace, as if intentionally prolonging this moment of tranquility.

"Xiao Yi," Zhang Lexuan suddenly spoke, her voice a few decibels lower than usual, "I'm leaving in a few days."

Ye Linyi paused, turning to look at her.

Under the moonlight, Zhang Lexuan's profile appeared exceptionally gentle, but her eyes, which always held a smile, were now veiled with a faint worry.

"Will you come back to Shrek with me?" she asked softly.

Ye Linyi was silent for a moment, then finally shook his head: "Forget it, I'll sign up for Shrek Academy when I'm 12."

Zhang Lexuan nodded, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes: "Mm."

Zhang Lexuan's lips curled up slightly, revealing a relieved smile: "Okay."

The two continued walking forward, and the topic gradually shifted to the Martial Soul Fusion Technique.

Ye Linyi's eyes lit up: "By the way, Sister Lexuan, the power of our Martial Soul Fusion Skill is probably equivalent to the full-force attack of a Title Douluo."

A hint of surprise flashed in Zhang Lexuan's eyes. She stopped and turned to face Ye Linyi: "Also, Xiaoyi, let's give our Martial Soul Fusion Skill a name."

Ye Linyi pondered for a moment, and the image of Zhang Lexuan transforming into a Valkyrie appeared in his mind: "The power is not bad, let's call it 'Valkyrie's Judgment'."

Zhang Lexuan's eyes lit up, and she nodded gently: "Okay, let's call our Martial Soul Fusion Skill 'Valkyrie'!"

A smile appeared on Ye Linyi's face, a smile that carried a hint of pride and a hint of anticipation for the future.

The two walked side by side again, their conversation ranging from the Spirit Fusion Skill to interesting anecdotes about Shrek Academy, and then from those anecdotes to their future plans.

As night deepened, fewer and fewer pedestrians appeared on the streets, with only the sound of their footsteps echoing in the silence.

However, when the two reached a secluded corner, the atmosphere suddenly became subtle.

Zhang Lexuan stopped walking, and Ye Linyi also stopped.

The moonlight shone on them, casting two long shadows.

"Why did you stop?" Ye Linyi asked softly.

Zhang Lexuan did not answer, but just stared at him quietly.

Her gaze held a complex emotion that was difficult to detect, as if she had a thousand words to say but didn't know where to begin.

Ye Linyi looked back at her, their eyes meeting in the air, as if they could see each other's thoughts through each other's eyes.

Time seemed to stand still at that moment, with only the sound of heartbeats clearly audible in the silence.

Then, that evening, Zhang Lexuan and Ye Linyi stared at each other, wide-eyed.

Ye Linyi sat on the edge of the bed, his gaze falling on Zhang Lexuan's slightly pale face, and said softly, "You should sleep and rest to recover from your injuries. I'll cultivate."

Zhang Lexuan slightly raised her eyelids: "Xiao Yi, we have a martial soul fusion skill. If we cultivate together, it can heal my injuries and increase my soul power."

Ye Linyi was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized and slapped his forehead: "How could I have forgotten about that!"

Zhang Lexuan covered her mouth, a smile playing on her lips, her voice soft yet slightly mischievous: "Alright, let's go to bed."

Ye Linyi climbed onto the bed, sat cross-legged opposite Zhang Lexuan, and stretched out his hands, palms facing each other: "Sister Lexuan, let's begin dual cultivation!"

Zhang Lexuan frowned slightly, a hint of doubt flashing in her eyes: "Xiao Yi, what does 'dual cultivation' mean?"

Looking at her bewildered yet earnest expression, Ye Linyi's heart stirred, but he maintained a calm and composed demeanor: "It simply means cultivating together."

Zhang Lexuan nodded gently, her voice tinged with shyness: "Xiao Yi, let's begin our dual cultivation!"

Hearing the words "dual cultivation" from her mouth, Ye Linyi felt a strange feeling welling up inside him, as if a deer was pounding in his chest.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm the pounding in his heart, and softly replied, "Okay."

Their palms touched, and their soul power flowed between them like a gentle stream.

The air in the room seemed to become warm and ambiguous, and even the moonlight seemed to become softer.

Around midnight, Ye Linyi sensed the end of the Martial Soul Fusion Technique, and his soul power gradually returned to calm.

Just then, he felt something gently hit him.

He opened his eyes and found that Zhang Lexuan had fallen asleep at some point and was lying in his arms, her cheeks flushed and her breathing even and soft.

Ye Linyi was both surprised and somewhat at a loss when he saw this scene.

He was about to get up and help Zhang Lexuan find a more comfortable sleeping position when, as soon as he made a move, Zhang Lexuan, like a frightened kitten, hugged his waist and refused to let go.

Looking at Zhang Lexuan sleeping soundly in his arms, Ye Linyi felt a complex mix of emotions welling up inside him.

He found that he could lie down, so he simply lay down gently and let Zhang Lexuan lean against him.

Zhang Lexuan seemed to realize that she was not sleeping comfortably, so she slightly adjusted her position, gently resting her head on Ye Linyi's chest, while her hands were still tightly wrapped around his waist, as if she was looking for a sense of security.

Looking at Zhang Lexuan sleeping soundly in his arms, Ye Linyi felt a mix of helplessness and sweetness, and couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "Damn, are they testing the cadres now?"

He sighed softly, closed his eyes, and tried to fall asleep.

However, he couldn't fall asleep until early morning, quietly watching Zhang Lexuan's profile. The moonlight shone on her face, making her look exceptionally peaceful and beautiful.

Ye Linyi couldn't help but reach out and gently pinch Zhang Lexuan's delicate cheek, his voice filled with a hint of doting: "So soft."

Then, just as he was about to withdraw his hand, Zhang Lexuan suddenly opened her eyes, staring straight at him with a hint of lingering sleepiness in her eyes, yet also a sly glint in them.

Ye Linyi touched his nose sheepishly, his voice tinged with embarrassment: "Sister Lexuan, you're awake."

Zhang Lexuan slowly got up from Ye Linyi's arms, her cheeks still flushed.

She nodded gently, her voice a little hoarse: "I'm going to wash up first."

Ye Linyi watched her slightly hurried figure from behind, nodded gently, and his eyes held a hint of tenderness that was hard to detect.

Zhang Lexuan went into the bathroom, and after closing the door, the blush on her face deepened.

She looked at herself in the mirror and sighed softly, a hint of annoyance in her voice: "Le Xuan, how did you fall asleep so carelessly, and even end up on top of someone else?"

She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart, and said to herself in the mirror, "Zhang Lexuan, what are you doing? Stop overthinking."

As she spoke, she quickly composed herself and began washing up.

The water flowed over her cheeks, as if washing away some of the panic in her heart.

After washing up, she walked out of the bathroom and immediately saw Ye Linyi standing outside the door.

Ye Linyi's gaze fell on her, a hint of a smile in his eyes: "You're done washing, it's my turn."

Zhang Lexuan nodded gently, her voice carrying a hint of relief: "Okay, sit by the bed and wait."

After washing up, Ye Linyi quickly came out and sat on the edge of the bed with Zhang Lexuan.

The atmosphere between the two was somewhat subtle, but it was quickly dispelled by the aroma of breakfast.

After breakfast, Ye Linyi took Zhang Lexuan to his Water Curtain Cave to cultivate.

Along the way, the two walked side by side, with Ye Linyi occasionally glancing at Zhang Lexuan with a hint of expectation in his eyes.

Zhang Lexuan arrived at the Water Curtain Cave, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.

Hidden among the mountains, the Water Curtain Cave is shrouded in a thin curtain of water at its entrance. Sunlight filters through the water, casting dappled shadows, creating the illusion of being in a dreamlike world.

"Xiao Yi, you actually managed to find such a place to cultivate, you're quite lucky." Zhang Lexuan's voice carried a hint of amazement.

Ye Linyi smiled and shook his head, his voice tinged with humility: "Just lucky, just lucky."

As he spoke, he reached out and gently parted a layer of water, revealing a spacious cave.

Inside the cave, the stone walls were as smooth as a mirror, the ground was covered with a thick layer of moss, and the air was filled with a fresh scent of grass and trees.

Zhang Lexuan entered the cave, her gaze drawn to the scene before her.

Ye Linyi looked at Zhang Lele, his voice filled with determination: "Sister Lexuan, let's cultivate together."

Zhang Lexuan nodded gently, her voice filled with anticipation: "Okay."

The two sat cross-legged, palms facing each other.

Soul power flowed between them like a gentle stream, and the air inside the Water Curtain Cave seemed to become purer and more vibrant.

Several days passed quietly...

Near the ruins where Zhang Lexuan fought the evil spirit master, two dark figures quietly appeared.

They were dressed in black robes, their faces hidden under hoods, with only a pair of cold eyes gleaming in the darkness.

"Big brother, there's the aura of our third brother here," one of them whispered, a hint of barely perceptible excitement in his voice.

The black-robed man, addressed as the eldest brother, nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping around like a hawk's: "Second brother, search carefully; the third brother should be nearby."

"Yes, brother," the other replied, walking briskly forward as if searching for some precious treasure.

At this moment, Ye Linyi and Zhang Lexuan were cultivating in a grove of trees not far away.

Sunlight filters through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows that add a touch of mystery and tranquility to the quiet grove.

Ye Linyi frowned, a hint of unease flashing through his mind: "Sister Lexuan, I don't know why, but I feel a bit off today and want to come out and cultivate."

Zhang Lexuan nodded gently, a hint of concern in her eyes: "Perhaps it's because the atmosphere here is relatively pure, making it suitable for cultivation."

Ye Linyi shook his head, putting his doubts aside: "Forget it, let's start cultivating."

The two sat cross-legged, palms facing each other, their soul power flowing between them like a gentle stream.

However, just as they were immersed in their cultivation, two dark figures were quietly approaching.

"Big brother, big brother, I've got something going on here!" the second brother suddenly shouted in a low voice, his eyes fixed on Ye Linyi and Zhang Lexuan.

The eldest brother quickly walked to his second brother's side, his piercing gaze sweeping over the couple who were cultivating: "What's going on?"

The second brother pointed at Ye Linyi and Zhang Lexuan, his voice tinged with excitement: "Look at that kid, and the girl next to him, the aura they exude is stronger than ours."

Most importantly, she carries the scent of my third brother, so I suspect…”

The eldest brother nodded thoughtfully, a cold glint in his eyes: "Second brother, your suspicion is quite reasonable. It's very possible that they killed the third brother."

The second brother immediately put on a pained expression and gritted his teeth, saying, "Big brother, shouldn't we hurry up and take them down to avenge our third brother!"

The elder brother waved his hand, a hint of caution in his eyes: "Wait a moment, observe further before we go in. We can't alert them."

Although the second brother was somewhat unwilling, he still nodded: "Okay, I'll listen to my elder brother."

At this moment, Ye Linyi, who was cultivating, suddenly felt a chill, as if countless eyes were watching him from the shadows.

He suddenly opened his eyes and cautiously observed his surroundings.

"What's wrong, Xiaoyi? What happened?" Zhang Lexuan's voice was filled with concern.

Ye Linyi shook his head, trying to calm his unease: "It's nothing, it's almost noon, we should go back for lunch."

Zhang Lexuan nodded slightly, but a hint of doubt flashed in her eyes.

She felt that something was off about the atmosphere today.

Just then, Ye Linyi suddenly became interested, a mischievous smile playing on his lips: "Sister Lexuan, how about we have a race to see who gets home first?"

Zhang Lexuan paused for a moment, then chuckled, "Okay, but don't lose too badly."

Ye Linyi patted his chest confidently: "Don't worry, I definitely won't lose."

The two stood up, preparing to leave the woods.

However, they were unaware that two men in black robes were watching them intently from the shadows, their eyes gleaming with a chilling light.

"Big brother, they're leaving," the second brother said in a low voice.

The eldest brother nodded, a ruthless glint in his eyes: "Alright, we'll make our move once they leave this forest."

Ye Linyi and Zhang Lexuan walked side by side, their steps light and quick. However, they were unaware that a crisis was quietly approaching…

Suddenly, a dark purple light emanated from Ye Linyi's right hand, and a halberd with a ferocious shape and a cold aura slowly appeared—it was his first martial soul, the Dark Abyss God-Slaying Halberd.

The halberd was wreathed in dark purple energy, which seemed to devour the surrounding light, sending chills down one's spine.

At the same time, a soft silver light shone from Zhang Lexuan's palm, and a bright, illusory moon slowly rose behind her, radiating a pure and warm aura, forming a stark contrast with Ye Linyi's darkness.

"Then let's begin!" Ye Linyi's voice was tinged with excitement, his eyes fixed on the target ahead.

The two figures flashed and quickly disappeared into the depths of the forest, leaving only a silent meadow.

However, shortly after they left, two men in black robes slowly emerged from the shadows.

One of the men in black robes (the second brother) clenched his fists, his eyes flashing with resentment: "Big brother, why won't you let me make a move? Are you just going to let Third Brother's revenge go?"

The black-robed man, addressed as the eldest brother, was visibly excited, his voice trembling slightly, as if he had won the lottery: "Second brother, the Ultimate Dark Martial Soul! We've found the Holy Son!"

The second brother was stunned, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes: "Ultimate Darkness? Holy Son? Who is that? Where is he?"

The eldest brother pointed in the direction Ye Linyi and Zhang Lexuan had left, his voice tinged with fervor: "That's the kid you just pointed to! Let's follow him and gather some intelligence, then hurry back to inform headquarters. This is a matter of utmost importance; it concerns our future!"

Upon hearing the word "future," a flicker of hesitation crossed the second brother's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by greed: "Big brother, aren't we going to take revenge?"

The eldest brother rolled his eyes at him, a hint of disdain in his voice: "What's the point of reporting? Our future is more important! And what's this 'third brother'? Haven't we always been two people? As long as we tell headquarters about discovering the Holy Son, we'll both receive huge benefits!"

Upon hearing about the "huge benefits," the second brother's eyes immediately lit up, and he nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, I was confused, eldest brother."

The two exchanged a smile, then their figures flashed as they quickly chased after Ye Linyi and Zhang Lexuan in the direction they had left.

Meanwhile, Ye Linyi and Zhang Lexuan had already returned to the cabin.

Ye Linyi gently wiped the sweat from his forehead, a smile on his face: "As expected of Sister Lexuan, hurry up."

Zhang Lexuan laughed and said, "It was just luck."

Ye Linyi smiled and shook his head, his gaze falling on Zhang Lexuan. Suddenly, the word "lucky" sounded familiar: "Sister Lexuan, you just said 'lucky,' why does it sound so familiar?"

Zhang Lexuan paused for a moment, then laughed, her cheeks slightly flushed: "It was probably something we said when we were competing to see who could get home first."

Ye Linyi laughed and gently patted her shoulder: "Come inside."

Zhang Lexuan nodded gently, her voice carrying a hint of tenderness: "Mmm-hmm."

The two entered the house, where the warm light shone on their faces, seemingly shielding them from the cold and danger of the outside world.

However, they were unaware that two men in black robes were watching them intently from the shadows, their eyes gleaming with a chilling light.