Tang Ya's Complex Feelings, Leaving the Star Dou Great Forest

Therefore, only the third possibility remained.

Perhaps the God Realm had truly been sealed!

This is an opportunity... I need to keep probing, Xue Nianbing thought to himself.

"The Tang Sect's decline is not Ancestor Tang San's fault, but because we have not worked hard enough."

At this moment, Tang Ya also retorted.

"Not worked hard enough?"

"At your age, with the Tang Sect in decline, you managed to cultivate the Waste Martial Soul, Blue Silver Grass, to Level Thirty Soul Elder."

"Is that really not working hard enough? Or rather, was there ever a moment when you were not working hard?"

"Tang Sect Master, you are a young woman in the prime of your youth, yet you have to support the Tang Sect. You... are truly tired, struggling, and suffering."

Xue Nianbing said.

Boom!

Hearing those words, Tang Ya felt as though a bolt of thunder had struck her heart.

No one had ever said such things to her.

Not even Beibei, with whom she had only confirmed their relationship yesterday, had ever said them.

Xue Nianbing was the first person to say this to her.

Was she tired? Was it hard? Was it painful?

Just as Xue Nianbing had said, she was truly tired, struggling, and suffering!

She had worked hard time and time again, but every result had been so disappointing and despairing.

To revive the Tang Sect, aside from cultivation, she worked odd jobs to earn money. She had even taken the initiative to recruit people and invite others to join.

After being rejected again and again, she had already become numb to it.

No matter how many people mocked her, she kept telling herself that it was all for the Tang Sect, that everything was worth it.

Yet Xue Nianbing's words made her doubt herself for the first time.

She was the Tang Sect Leader, but she was also just a teenage girl.

She was truly so tired, so exhausted, so miserable.

She truly wanted someone to rely on, somewhere she could catch her breath for a while.

"To be honest, your willpower is stronger than many people's, and you have put in more effort than many people. Otherwise, you could never have cultivated Blue Silver Grass to Level Thirty Soul Elder at such a young age."

"I cannot speak for anything else, but if I had such a Waste Martial Soul, I would not be doing much better than you. I might even be worse off."

"As for Tang San, he had Twin Martial Souls. Could Blue Silver Grass, a Martial Soul capable of standing alongside the Clear Sky Hammer as Twin Martial Souls, truly have been ordinary Blue Silver Grass?"

"In terms of effort, you do not lose to Tang San. You may have even worked harder than him."

Xue Nianbing continued probing, trying to completely verify whether the God Realm had been sealed.

Because of that, he did not notice Tang Ya's emotional changes at all.

"My efforts are no less than Tang San's..."

Tang Ya murmured, her expression as she looked at Xue Nianbing somewhat complicated.

After all these years, Xue Nianbing was also the first person to acknowledge her efforts.

"Brother Xue, Xiao Ya is not alone. I will advance and retreat with her, and revive the Tang Sect." Beibei spoke with great determination.

Huo Yuhao hesitated for a moment before saying, "Me too. I will work hard together with Senior Brother and Teacher Xiao Ya."

Looking at the two of them, Tang Ya forced a smile. "Mm, we'll work hard together."

Though she said that, her eyes held a trace of wavering.

Work hard?

She had already worked hard for so many years. Why had the time for rewards still not come?

Should she keep holding on?

She truly felt as though she could not hold on much longer.

"Then do your best."

Xue Nianbing smiled, then turned to Tang Ya. His tone shifted as he said, "Tang San was not ordinary Blue Silver Grass. In truth, neither do you have to be. It only depends on yourself."

"You must understand: a Soul Master determines how a Martial Soul is used, not the Martial Soul determines a Soul Master's path."

As soon as he said that—

Tang Ya's pupils contracted as she stared at Xue Nianbing in disbelief.

Her expression seemed to say: How do you know?!

Beibei, however, was somewhat confused by what Xue Nianbing meant.

He subconsciously looked at Tang Ya and asked, "Xiao Ya, what does Brother Xue mean by that?"

"...It's nothing."

Tang Ya shook her head without explaining.

Seeing this, Beibei knew that Tang Ya did not wish to say more, so he did not press her further.

Tang Ya gave Xue Nianbing a deep look. After pondering for a moment, she said, "I understand."

Right now, she only felt incredibly conflicted.

At first, she had disliked Xue Nianbing because he mentioned the Body Sect and had nearly caused Huo Yuhao to leave.

Then, she had disliked Xue Nianbing even more because he discussed the Tang Sect and the Tang Sect's ancestor.

But now, her dislike was gone, leaving only complicated feelings.

Beibei keenly sensed that Tang Ya's mood was off, so he hurriedly changed the subject. "Since the Soul Ring has been absorbed, let's hurry and leave. We should return to Shrek Academy as soon as possible."

"Alright. I'll have to trouble Brother Bei to lead the way."

Xue Nianbing smiled faintly.

"Mm."

Beibei nodded lightly and said nothing more.

The fairly good "friendship" the two had just established vanished after merely half an hour of conversation.

"Yu Hao, let's go." Tang Ya smiled at Huo Yuhao.

"...Alright."

Huo Yuhao nodded.

At the same time, he also found it somewhat strange.

Tang Ya did not seem as spirited as before. Instead, she appeared preoccupied and somewhat gloomy.

However, he did not ask further. Instead, he immersed himself in his own thoughts.

Although he was a member of the Tang Sect, the three words "Body Sect" could not help but force their way into his mind.

What kind of place is the Body Sect...? Huo Yuhao thought.

And so, each carrying different thoughts, the group hurried in the direction of Shrek Academy.

Along the way, Xue Nianbing was unusually active.

He took the initiative to start conversations, but every topic somehow involved criticizing the Tang Sect, Tang San, and even Shrek.

Honestly, it was rather irritating... but only Beibei found it irritating.

As for Tang Ya and Huo Yuhao, neither of them had the mind to think about such things.

The group gradually went farther away and eventually left the Star Dou Great Forest.

"Buzz."

High in the sky, Di Tian's figure appeared once more.

"That youth is rather interesting. Not only does he hold different views on the relationship between Soul Masters and Soul Beasts, but he can also drive wedges between people with just a few words."

"From his tone, it seems he does not like Tang San... In that regard, he happens to agree with us."

The corners of Di Tian's lips moved, and beneath his imposing dignity, a faint smile appeared.

It was the first time he had taken an interest in a human youth.

But it was only interest.

Humans were ultimately their enemies. If he had to act, he would never show mercy.

Di Tian gave one last glance in the direction Xue Nianbing had departed, then flashed away and disappeared from where he stood.

Before long, he returned to the core region of the Star Dou Great Forest.

Without stopping, he entered the bottom of the Lake of Life and arrived before a strange space.

Di Tian respectfully bowed. "Master, Di Tian requests an audience."

"Mm."

A soft response seemed to come from within the space.

Di Tian rose and entered the strange space. He bowed once more toward the indistinct silver figure in the darkness and respectfully called, "Master."

"You found it?"

"Yes, Master."

"That was also why I sent you there."

"However... there is something I do not understand." Di Tian said.

"Speak."

The silver figure's voice was indifferent.

With his head lowered, Di Tian continued, "Since that youth possesses such terrifying Dragon Clan bloodline, why let him leave?"

"If Master devours him now, your injuries will surely recover, and you will return to your peak."