Yuanen Yehui's Opportunity

The bright moon hung high in the sky, and Sea God Lake lay submerged in a tranquil, ghostly white stillness.

Several soul-tool streetlamps stood along the shore, their dim yellow halos casting fragmented reflections across the lake like crumpled gold leaf, ripples spreading with the night breeze.

"Ring, ring!"

The crisp chime of a bicycle bell drifted over from the forest road in the distance, blending into the night.

His gaze passed through the dense branches and settled upon the crystal-clear lake surface. For the first time, Nan Liujing saw Sea God Lake in its true form.

The lakebed seemed to contain astonishing Water Element energy. Without a doubt, Sea God Lake itself was an exceptional cultivation ground for soul masters of the wood, water, and ice elements.

"Brother, let's stop here." Na'er excitedly set down the shared bicycle and ran laughing toward the lakeshore.

Nan Liujing followed with a smile. Standing shoulder to shoulder with Na'er, the two gazed toward a vaguely visible island shrouded in mist in the distance.

"No one's going crazy and running out of the Inner Court in this era, right?" Nan Liujing murmured softly.

Na'er froze for a moment, then turned toward her brother. "Brother, what are you talking about?"

"Nothing." Nan Liujing shook his head.

Na'er did not press the matter. Instead, she pointed at the island. "That island is Shrek Inner Court. I went there once with Auntie, and the scenery inside was amazing. Some of the plants are thousands, even tens of thousands, of years old."

"Especially that biggest tree. Teacher said it has existed for more than ten thousand years."

Following Na'er's gesture, Nan Liujing saw a towering tree that dwarfed everything around it, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

Ah Yin was hiding inside it.

Hope shone in Na'er's beautiful eyes. "Brother, are you planning to come to Shrek Academy in the future?"

Nan Liujing smiled. "My little sister is here. Of course I have to come."

A flicker of delight rose in Na'er's eyes. "Can I ask you a question?"

Looking at this little girl who always had endless questions, Nan Liujing patiently replied, "What is it?"

Na'er's expression turned serious. "What kind of girls do you like?"

That truly stumped Nan Liujing. "That's not something people our age should be thinking about."

"No." Na'er was firm. "You have to answer."

Nan Liujing lifted his gaze toward the bright moon. "Pretty ones, I guess."

"Just that?" Na'er blinked. "You don't have any other requirements?"

Nan Liujing added, "They need to have a good figure too."

Na'er's eyes widened. She immediately decided her brother had gone mad from paying too much earlier. Hastily crouching down, she scooped up a handful of water with her delicate hand and splashed it at Nan Liujing.

Nan Liujing, who was still gazing at the stars at a forty-five-degree angle, had never considered defending himself against his sister. When the icy water hit him full in the face, he shuddered violently.

"Hahaha!" Seeing her brother's soaked hair, Na'er burst into laughter. In front of her brother, she never needed to pretend to be ladylike.

But as she laughed, Na'er suddenly sensed something off.

Her brother turned and walked toward a nearby thicket. He snapped off a branch, then walked back with a blank expression.

"What are you doing?" Na'er became wary.

Nan Liujing grinned. "My little sister is being naughty. As her brother, I need to teach her a lesson."

"No!" Na'er hurriedly fled toward the shared bicycle.

"Running?" Nan Liujing snorted and swiftly gave chase.

At that time, plenty of students were walking around Shrek Academy when an urgent bicycle bell suddenly rang out.

Some of them instinctively looked over and immediately witnessed a one-of-a-kind "Shrek Academy Circuit Race."

With two whooshes, two people on bicycles sped past, vanishing from sight in the blink of an eye.

Student A stared wide-eyed. "If I'm not mistaken, that guy in the back was holding a branch, right?"

Student B blankly replied, "What kind of special game is this between couples?"

Sparks flew all the way as the shared bicycles nearly fell apart. Only after Na'er used her adorable pleading technique to beg for mercy did Nan Liujing reluctantly pinch her fair, tender cheek and let the matter go.

Only after coming back to their senses did they realize they had arrived at a very spacious area.

It was an enormous plaza. A lifelike statue stood in its center, depicting none other than the Spirit Ice Douluo, Huo Yuhao.

To the west of the plaza was a small forest.

"Brother, I think we ran all the way to Spirit Ice Plaza." Though Na'er had not been at Shrek Academy long, her astonishing memory had already familiarized her with every location, so she recognized it at once.

"Brother?"

When she received no response, Na'er turned her head in confusion.

Nan Liujing's gaze sharpened as he fixed it on the distant forest. It did not appear to be anything special.

Yet the Heavenly Tribulation Bead within his spiritual sea had begun to stir.

Another opportunity had arrived!

"Na'er, stay here. Your brother needs to use the restroom." After giving her that instruction, Nan Liujing rode off.

Na'er gave an acknowledging sound, found a place to sit, and began playing on her phone.

The small forest west of the plaza was extremely dense. With the tangled vegetation, it was difficult to see what lay inside from the outside.

The disturbance from the Heavenly Tribulation Bead grew increasingly intense, urging Nan Liujing onward. He followed a small path and silently approached.

Before long, a cluster of little houses entered his view. They were low, dilapidated, and mottled, with some lacking even windows.

"Where work-study students live?" Nan Liujing realized.

There were signs of habitation nearby, but no people were in sight.

Looking farther in, faint purple light flickered within the depths.

Nan Liujing did not hesitate and quickly closed the distance.

When he reached the place where the purple light had appeared, his pupils abruptly contracted.

In a patch of grass concealed by vegetation lay a young girl. Her dark-red short hair, exquisite features, and pale skin identified her as Yuanen Yehui.

At that moment, Yuanen Yehui seemed to be suffering unbearable pain. Her body was curled up, trembling uncontrollably.

It was clear that with every tremor, purple-black coloration spread across her skin. The Dark Element around her also underwent a mutation, turning cold, violent, and cruel.

"Mm!"

Intense agony made Yuanen Yehui moan repeatedly. With a swish, streams of light burst from her back. As they unfurled, they became a pair of black wings, their edges shimmering with a dark-purple glow.

The glow wound around her body and gradually transformed into the shape of a Soul Ring. It was purple, but unlike an ordinary thousand-year Soul Ring, its color was exceptionally deep and marked with unique patterns.

A Self-condensed Soul Ring. Nan Liujing thought to himself, but he soon noticed something wrong.

The Fallen Angel Martial Soul had caused the Dark Element to mutate. By all logic, it should have been impossible to escape the notice of Shrek Academy's top experts.

Leaving aside anyone else, Yun Ming, Long Yeyue, and even Ya Li should have sensed it. So why had no one come?

As that thought crossed his mind, the disturbance transmitted by the Heavenly Tribulation Bead became even stronger, as though it were asking him whether he wanted to claim this opportunity.

"Ah!"

The Soul Ring around Yuanen Yehui had just condensed when she suddenly clutched her head and let out a heart-rending scream.

A bizarre scene unfolded. The purple-black coloration emerging across her skin vaguely formed rune-like patterns that gradually sank deep into Yuanen Yehui's body, as though planting some kind of seal.

"Whoosh."

This time, Nan Liujing did not choose to watch any longer. He stepped forward in a flash, dark-blue electric currents spreading across his body. While shielding himself, he seized Yuanen Yehui by the shoulder.

Within his spiritual sea, the Heavenly Tribulation Bead instantly erupted with a special force. Just as it had once seized the Golden Dragon King Bloodline from Tang Wulin, that same power now forcibly tore the rune seal that had fused into Yuanen Yehui's body free and absorbed it.

An extremely yin, bloodthirsty aura emerged from Yuanen Yehui's Soul Ring, roaring as it attempted to burrow into Nan Liujing's body. He snorted coldly. A resounding dragon's roar rang through the surrounding air, and his upright, domineering lightning Soul Power instantly shredded the aura apart. Faintly, one could even hear the scream of a demon.

Before Nan Liujing could examine what had happened, he discovered in astonishment that the purple-black runes on Yuanen Yehui's body had indeed vanished. However, a layer of dark-blue lightning patterns had appeared in their place. After flashing a few times, they disappeared as well.

As the patterns vanished, Nan Liujing distinctly sensed a special presence intertwining Yuanen Yehui's Spiritual Power with his own. He could even feel emotions of loneliness and numbness coming from her consciousness.

"Who are you?" A cold voice rang out. Yuanen Yehui stared at Nan Liujing wearily, her black eyes as unwelcoming as the night itself.

A heavy aura spread through the air, as though Yuanen Yehui could erupt with astonishing power at any moment and smash it down upon Nan Liujing's head.

Nan Liujing flashed a grin. "Trying to attack your benefactor? That won't do."

Yuanen Yehui froze, only to discover in surprise that the pain that had just seemed branded into her flesh and soul had vanished. The dark attribute inherent to the Fallen Angel Martial Soul, which had brought her endless suffering, had also lost much of its chill and evil.

"Brother."

A call came from behind him.

"My name is Nan Liujing."

After leaving behind his name, Nan Liujing turned and walked out of the forest.

Yuanen Yehui stood up and watched him leave.

"Brother, are you sick? Why did you take so long in the restroom?"

Seeing her brother emerge from the forest, Na'er hurried forward and asked with concern.

"Your brother is perfectly healthy." Nan Liujing rubbed the little girl's head irritably.

He shook his head. "I need to head back."

The smile on Na'er's face immediately froze. Linking her arm through Nan Liujing's, she pleaded, "Brother, stay with me a little longer."

"Mm!"

Nan Liujing flicked Na'er's smooth forehead with his finger. She cried out in pain and released his arm, covering her forehead.

He chuckled. "Your brother will be in Shrek City for quite a while. There'll be plenty of time to spend with you. Shrek Academy allows outsiders in, but they can't stay too long."

"Fine." Na'er lowered her head in disappointment when a ringing sound suddenly came from nearby.

Na'er quickly made a shushing gesture at Nan Liujing, answered the call, and obediently said, "Teacher's wife."

"Mhm, mhm. I came to look around the Outer Court. I'll be back right away."

After ending the call, Na'er took out a plate from her Storage Soul Tool. Several bun-shaped items sat on it. "Brother, these are buns made from Black Abyss Fish. They're very beneficial for nourishing your vital energy and blood. Take them and eat them."

Nan Liujing did not stand on ceremony. He accepted them and stored them in his Storage Soul Tool.

These pitch-black buns were something only Sea God Pavilion elders were qualified to enjoy. They were extremely nutritious and could strengthen the body. They could be considered Whale Rubber without side effects.

"Then I'm off."

Sitting on his bicycle, Nan Liujing turned his head to say goodbye to Na'er.

"Mhm." Na'er nodded with a smile. Under her gaze, her brother's figure gradually receded, disappearing into the dim lamplight until he was no longer visible.

"Pretty, with a good figure."

Only after her brother had been gone for a while did Na'er softly murmur those words.

"Na'er." A gentle voice came from behind her.

Na'er immediately stood straight as a ramrod.

Ya Li, dressed in a water-green gown, possessed peerless beauty and radiated a gentle aura of life. She walked over, curiously studying the disciple her lover had just taken in.

"Teacher's wife, why are you here?" Na'er quickly stepped forward, linked arms with her, and asked in a soft, coquettish voice.

Ya Li lightly poked Na'er's forehead with a jade-like finger and smiled gently. "Your teacher had business to attend to, so I came along. I didn't expect to sense you at Spirit Ice Plaza."

"What business?" Na'er asked curiously.

Ya Li smiled and shook her head without answering. "Have you decided which secondary profession you want to pursue?"

Na'er smiled. "I want to be like you. Other than forging, I'll learn everything."

A smile lingered on Ya Li's lips as she glanced toward the forest. "Since you've decided, formal lessons will begin tomorrow."

"Can't I play for a few more days?" Na'er panicked. She still wanted to spend tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, and the day after that with her brother.

Ya Li smiled sweetly. "No."

"Oh." Na'er drooped her head.

Nan Liujing had left at just the right time. Within the forest west of the plaza, two figures appeared before Yuanen Yehui. Their auras were completely contained, making them seem like ordinary people.

"Lord Qingtian." Yuanen Yehui's heart jolted when she saw the visitor. She immediately bowed in greeting.

Yun Ming's calm gaze swept across Yuanen Yehui, and his brows furrowed slightly. "Your Fallen Angel Martial Soul has already self-condensed its second Soul Ring?"

"Yes." Yuanen Yehui was somewhat nervous. Only now did she realize that she had forgotten to report it. She was not truly a student; because of her Martial Soul, she had only been specially permitted to remain as a work-study student.

"Release your Soul Rings." Beside him, the elderly Long Yeyue spoke.

"Yes." Yuanen Yehui did not know who she was, but she obediently circulated her Soul Power. Soon, two purple Soul Rings rose beneath her.

Within the darkness, the purple Soul Rings appeared deep and noble.

Long Yeyue swept her gaze over them and said to Yun Ming with some surprise, "These two Soul Rings seem different from the self-condensed Soul Rings of Fallen Angel Martial Souls we have seen before."

Yun Ming said solemnly, "They are indeed different. The dark attribute has become purer. If it can evolve further, it may even have a chance of advancing to Ultimate Darkness. It is a pity we did not see the second Soul Ring condense."

Martial Souls formed from the power of other planes were often the most difficult to study. Calling it an evil Martial Soul was not entirely wrong, but it could also be a normal Martial Soul. In short, it was exceedingly complicated. Even the Federation had no definitive classification for this Martial Soul.

"I'm sorry." When Yuanen Yehui heard that the Fallen Angel Martial Soul had become purer, her heart suddenly raced. But having forgotten to uphold the agreement, she hurriedly apologized in guilt.

Yun Ming's tone was gentle. "I do not mean to blame you. Remember this: when you self-condense a Soul Ring in the future, if you feel unwell, you must notify us beforehand. Self-condensing Soul Rings is extremely painful. If my wife were here, she could also ease your suffering."

"Thank you." Yuanen Yehui thanked him sincerely. In truth, she felt rather helpless. At the time, her head had been splitting open with pain, and her body had felt as though it were about to tear apart. She had not been able to think of calling for help at all.

Yun Ming glanced at Long Yeyue.

Yuanen Yehui only saw a flash before her eyes, and the two experts had vanished.

She pursed her red lips. In her mind appeared the handsome, refined face of the young man named Nan Liujing.

Was it him? Did he help me?

In the sky.

Long Yeyue said quietly, "Could it be that this child's Titan Giant Ape Martial Soul is so powerful that it caused the Fallen Angel Martial Soul to mutate? That it is no longer the seed originally descended from the Demon Plane?"

Standing with his hands behind his back, Yun Ming gazed at the towering giant tower in the distance. "The Demon Plane's overall strength is lower than that of our Douluo Plane. We cannot rule out that possibility."

Long Yeyue said, "I'll inform the Yuanen Family. No matter what, this is good news. That old fellow Yuanen Zhentian will probably be able to rest easier too."

"No rush." Yun Ming shook his head. "This child only has her second Soul Ring now, so we need to observe her further. Besides, the Fallen Angel Martial Soul has left too deep a shadow over the Yuanen Family. It is still inconvenient for her to return."

Long Yeyue paused. Thinking it over, she found that reasonable. "Fine. You're the Pavilion Master, so I'll listen to you."

Yun Ming smiled, his gaze falling upon his wife and disciple as they walked hand in hand back toward the Inner Court.