Blackened Rongrong, Icebound Soft Bone Rabbit

Night faded, and dawn began to break.

Yet the atmosphere inside the dormitory building was even graver and colder than it had been at night. Cold wind poured through the shattered windows, stirring the lingering fluctuations of Soul Power and the faint scent of blood.

Shui Bing'er sat cross-legged beside Xiao Wu, her hands still pressed against Xiao Wu's burning forehead. Pure ice-blue Soul Power flowed continuously into Xiao Wu like a gentle stream, barely suppressing and guiding the violent Spirit Qi within her. Fine beads of sweat covered Shui Bing'er's forehead, and her face had turned slightly pale. Even as a Soul Emperor, maintaining such precise Soul Power output for so long while resisting the backlash of the Immortal Herb's energy was enormously draining.

Xiao Wu's condition remained far from reassuring. Curled up on the floor, her body sometimes convulsed violently and sometimes stiffened like iron. Seven-colored light flickered beneath her skin like breathing, while unconscious, pained whimpers escaped her throat. The Immortal Herb's energy was too immense. Even with Shui Bing'er's help, absorbing it was like dancing on a blade's edge; at any moment, she could lose control and explode apart.

Zhu Zhuqing had already finished absorbing that petal. The aura around her had completely stabilized and even risen to another level, reaching the bottleneck of level thirty! The sharp light in her formerly icy eyes had receded, leaving behind a deeper calm. The crack in her Martial Soul Origin had been initially repaired, her hidden injuries completely gone. She felt better than ever before. She stood silently in the corner of the room like a statue merged with the shadows, coldly observing everything. Shui Bing'er's arrival and Xiao Wu's miserable state caused not the slightest ripple in her expression.

Yang Yu sat in the only intact chair, lightly tapping the armrest with his fingertips. His gaze swept across the three girls in the room before finally settling outside the window, as if he were lost in thought.

For a brief moment, a strange silence prevailed.

Until—

Faint, hesitant footsteps sounded in the corridor.

The door was gently pushed open a crack. Ning Rongrong's little face appeared, her eyes red and swollen. She had clearly cried all night. She timidly looked into the room, and when she saw Xiao Wu suffering on the floor and Shui Bing'er treating her, she froze. A complicated flash of satisfaction crossed her eyes, followed by... even deeper grievance.

Her gaze quickly swept through the room. She saw that the Immortal Herb was indeed gone—swallowed by Xiao Wu—then saw Zhu Zhuqing standing coldly at the side, her aura clearly much stronger. Finally, her eyes settled on Yang Yu's expressionless face.

All her grievance, resentment, jealousy, and anger erupted at that moment!

"Brother Yu!" Ning Rongrong shoved the door open and rushed inside. Her voice carried a sob, yet it was full of accusation. "You... you really gave the Immortal Herb to that bitch?! And let her turn into this freakish state?! What about me?! I took such a huge risk to draw that map! I betrayed my father and the sect! What am I supposed to be?! In your eyes, am I not even worth one of her fingers?!"

She pointed at the convulsing Xiao Wu, then at Zhu Zhuqing. Tears rolled down her face like broken pearls, but her eyes no longer held only the old spoiled arrogance. They now carried the sharpness and obsession of someone deeply hurt.

Yang Yu slowly turned his head to look at her. His eyes were calm and unmoved, even carrying a faint trace of weariness. "You drew the map willingly. You chose the risk yourself. What I do with the Immortal Herb is my business. Do I need to explain it to you?"

Those flat words hurt more than any rebuke could have!

Ning Rongrong's delicate body trembled violently, as if she had been slapped hard across the face. All color drained from her small face, leaving it pale as paper. Looking at Yang Yu's indifferent eyes, the last trace of her fantasy completely shattered.

"Fine... fine... I did it willingly... I deserve it..." she muttered, retreating two steps. Then she suddenly let out a shrill, twisted laugh. "Hehe... hahaha! I understand! I understand everything now! In your eyes, I, Ning Rongrong, the Little Princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, am just a fool to be discarded after being used! Just a toy you can summon and dismiss whenever you please!"

Her laughter abruptly stopped. Her eyes instantly turned cold and hollow, filled with the venomous resentment of someone who had completely darkened. She stared fixedly at Yang Yu. "Yang Yu! You'll regret this! You look down on me today! One day, I'll make you—make all of you—kneel before me and beg!"

With that, she abruptly turned around and rushed out without looking back! That resolute, hate-filled silhouette was utterly unlike the spoiled yet still somewhat innocent Little Princess she had been before!

Her darkening was complete.

Yang Yu watched the direction in which Ning Rongrong had disappeared. There was not the slightest change in his expression. Instead, an imperceptible curve rose at the corner of his lips. This was exactly the effect he wanted. The seed of despair had been planted, and the soil of resentment was the most fertile. All that remained was for it to... bloom and bear fruit in the future.

The room fell silent once more.

Watching this scene, Shui Bing'er slightly furrowed her brows. Her wariness toward Yang Yu deepened further. This youth's control over people's hearts and human nature was far too terrifying.

Zhu Zhuqing remained expressionless, as though she had seen nothing at all.

Just then.

Xiao Wu's convulsions suddenly intensified! The seven-colored light inside her body flashed madly, as if it had reached some critical point! Cracks reappeared across the surface of her skin!

"Not good! The energy is about to lose control again!" Shui Bing'er's expression changed as she hurriedly increased her Soul Power output. Ice-blue frost nearly enveloped Xiao Wu's entire body, but it still seemed unable to suppress it completely!

Xiao Wu let out an even more miserable scream, her body suddenly arching upward!

Yang Yu frowned slightly and was about to act.

Then—

Amid the seven-colored glow on Xiao Wu's body, the phantom of an enormous rabbit slowly appeared! Its entire body was jade-white, its eyes blood-red. The rabbit phantom radiated violence, pain, and unwillingness as it threw back its head and released a silent roar!

It was Xiao Wu's true form, the Soft Bone Rabbit! Under the impact of the Immortal Herb's energy and the threat of death, her Spirit Beast Origin had actually been forcibly awakened!

Though it vanished in an instant and was quickly drowned again by the seven-colored light, everyone present possessed sharp senses!

Shui Bing'er's eyes widened abruptly. She stared at Xiao Wu in disbelief and cried out, "That was... a Spirit Beast Origin?! She is... a Ten Thousand Year Spirit Beast Transformation?!"

Her voice trembled from overwhelming shock! A Ten Thousand Year Spirit Beast Transformation! It was practically the stuff of legends! Its value... was immeasurable!

A flash of shock also passed through Zhu Zhuqing's icy eyes as she instinctively looked toward Yang Yu.

Yang Yu's gaze turned cold. Troublesome. Xiao Wu's identity had still been exposed. Although Shui Bing'er was currently bound by the Immortal Herb, but...

He made his decision in an instant. Looking coldly at Shui Bing'er, he spoke with an unquestionable warning in his voice. "You saw nothing. Keep her alive. Otherwise, both the Immortal Herb and you will disappear."

Shui Bing'er's heart pounded wildly. She instantly snapped out of her enormous shock, cold sweat breaking out across her back. She understood Yang Yu's meaning and felt the naked threat in his words. This youth could even control a Ten Thousand Year Spirit Beast Transformation... His methods and background were unfathomable! She now knew such a tremendous secret. If she could not prove her value...

She immediately nodded heavily, her expression becoming incomparably grave. "I understand! I will protect this secret with my life and do everything I can to help her absorb the medicinal power!"

Her attitude instantly became far more respectful and committed. She was no longer doing this merely for the Immortal Herb, but for her own life and the greater opportunities she might gain!

Yang Yu said no more. He stepped forward and acted once again. The powers of the Creation Lotus and the Time Dragon intertwined at his fingertips, forcibly suppressing Xiao Wu's restless Spirit Beast Origin and stabilizing her condition.

Xiao Wu's screams gradually subsided. She fell unconscious once more, but the transformation of her body continued slowly and painfully.

After dealing with Xiao Wu's crisis, Yang Yu turned his gaze toward Zhu Zhuqing.

"Level thirty," he stated.

Zhu Zhuqing nodded. "Yes."

"The hidden damage to your Martial Soul has been initially repaired. Your origin is stable enough to endure stronger power." Yang Yu looked at her. "It's time to obtain your Third Spirit Ring."

A sharp gleam instantly erupted in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes! The Third Spirit Ring! It meant her strength would undergo a qualitative leap!

"Your Hell Spirit Cat excels in speed, concealment, and assassination. Your Third Spirit Ring needs to strengthen those traits, preferably with some control or armor-piercing effect." Yang Yu analyzed. "A Netherworld Leopard from the Far North, a Ghost Shadow Demonic Cat from the Star Dou Great Forest, or perhaps a descendant of the Dark Demon Evil Tiger that may exist deep within Sunset Forest would all be good choices."

He paused and looked at Zhu Zhuqing. "Which one do you want?"

Zhu Zhuqing barely hesitated. Her cold voice was firm and decisive. "The strongest."

A trace of satisfaction flashed through Yang Yu's eyes. "Very well. Then the Dark Demon Evil Tiger. Though it is only a descendant, it contains a trace of darkness and the Evil God's Power. If you successfully absorb it, your Hell Stab and Netherworld Slash will gain the traits of tearing souls and corroding defenses. Its potential will be limitless."

"Yue Guan," Yang Yu called into the air.

"This subordinate is here." Yue Guan's figure silently appeared.

"Find information on any recent sightings of Dark Demon Evil Tiger descendants. Focus on the forbidden regions of Sunset Forest and the Star Dou Great Forest."

"Yes." Yue Guan bowed to accept the order, and his figure vanished again.

"For the next few days, consolidate your cultivation and adjust your condition," Yang Yu told Zhu Zhuqing. "Once we have the Spirit Ring, I'll personally protect you during the absorption."

"Yes." Cold flames burned in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes. Power! She craved greater power!

After arranging matters for Zhu Zhuqing, Yang Yu's gaze finally returned to Shui Bing'er and Xiao Wu.

Shui Bing'er immediately said, "I will not leave her side until she stabilizes." Her attitude was utterly proper.

Yang Yu nodded without saying anything else, then turned and left the room.

He came to Ning Rongrong's door. It was tightly shut, and there was no sound within, but faint fluctuations of cold, resentful Soul Power seeped through.

Yang Yu did not knock. He merely flicked a finger, sending a green point of light that radiated a soft life aura through the door like a firefly.

Inside the room, Ning Rongrong was curled up on her bed, her eyes hollow and venomous. Suddenly, she felt a pure, gentle life energy flow into her body. It soothed the chaotic Soul Power stirred up by her emotions and even made her perception of Soul Power clearer and sharper.

She froze, sensing the familiar aura of the Creation Lotus. The venom in her eyes faded slightly, replaced by confusion and even deeper bewilderment. What... does this mean? A slap followed by a sweet date?

Outside the door, Yang Yu still wore that cold curve at the corner of his lips.

Resentment needed nourishment, but it could not be allowed to spiral completely out of control. Occasionally offering a negligible bit of "care" would only deepen that twisted dependence. What he wanted was an heir to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect who had completely darkened yet remained unable to escape his control...

Only after doing all this did Yang Yu slowly head toward the stairwell.

Zhao Wuji was waiting there like an ant on a hot pan. When he saw Yang Yu, he hurriedly bowed, his face full of reverence and fear. "Your Highness the Holy Son... last night... and that person from Skywater Academy this morning..."

"It's nothing," Yang Yu interrupted. "Everything at the academy will proceed as usual. Keep the students under control. No one is to discuss it. Also, make preparations. In a few days, I will take Zhu Zhuqing to hunt a Spirit Ring."

"Yes! Yes!" Zhao Wuji answered hurriedly, not daring to ask further.

Yang Yu descended the stairs. Sunlight shone through the broken windows onto him, stretching out a long shadow.

On the chessboard of Nuoding City, all the pieces were now in position.

The darkened Ning Rongrong.

Xiao Wu, who had swallowed the Immortal Herb and exposed her identity.

Shui Bing'er, forced to stay behind after discovering the secret.

Zhu Zhuqing, who was about to obtain a powerful Spirit Ring.

And... the one in the secret chamber who was currently transforming...