A Meeting at Shrek, Seeds of Psychological Warfare

Inside the most luxurious hotel in Suotuo City, the members of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy team were resting and chatting.

Qin Ming pushed the door open.

"I'm going to Shrek Academy to visit Dean Flender and the others. Is anyone coming with me?"

Yu Feng wailed, "If I go looking like this, won't I just be scaring people?"

Osler and the Shi Mo brothers shook their heads one after another.

Dugu Yan didn't even lift her head.

"Not going."

"Teacher Qin," Chen Jieqi spoke up at the right moment.

"I will accompany you. I also want to see with my own eyes exactly who these opponents are that managed to push us to the brink."

Qin Ming was silent for a moment, then nodded.

What Chen Jieqi didn't say was that the opponent he wanted to see was never just an ordinary rival.

It was Tang San, the continent's recognized Son of Destiny, a soul from another world.

Blue Silver Grass? It was nothing more than a layer of camouflage.

He knew clearly that it was not a Trash Spirit at all, but a seed sealed by bloodline, waiting only for the day of awakening to break through the soil.

It was laughable that Yu Xiaogang spent his days studying Trash Spirit theories on this "seed," yet failed to recognize its true nature.

That Tang San could cultivate Blue Silver Grass to this level was never due to Yu Xiaogang's merit; it was entirely thanks to the inherent foundation of the spirit itself.

He was a transmigrator, so he would not blindly worship authority.

But precisely because he was a transmigrator, he needed a "sense of belonging" more than anyone else.

What Yu Xiaogang gave him wasn't just theory, it was a "home." To shake him, one had to first make him feel that this home wasn't safe enough.

What Chen Jieqi wanted to do was to make Tang San harbor his own doubts.

If Blue Silver Grass was truly a Trash Spirit, how did he manage to reach this point?

If it wasn't, then what were the theories that his teacher held as absolute truth?

No matter what choice Tang San made, it would shake his trust in Yu Xiaogang.

This was the chess game he had set up.

The gate of Shrek Academy was even more dilapidated than Chen Jieqi had imagined.

Qin Ming stood at the entrance, stunned for a long time.

"When I graduated, this gate looked exactly like this."

Having said that, he pushed the door open and entered.

Seeing him, Flender laughed and scolded, "You brat, you still remember how to come back."

Qin Ming bowed in turn, "Dean Flender, Teacher Zhao, Grandmaster."

Chen Jieqi trailed half a step behind, his gaze sweeping over Flender and Zhao Wuji, but he passed directly over Yu Xiaogang as if he were an insignificant piece of furniture.

He bowed slightly, "Dean Flender, Teacher Zhao, I've heard much about you."

Toward Yu Xiaogang, he showed no courtesy, used no title, and offered no acknowledgment.

Flender's eyebrows arched, his gaze lingering on Chen Jieqi for an extra moment.

The corners of Zhao Wuji's mouth twitched; this youth was arrogant enough.

Yet, he hadn't been rude, so others had no grounds to criticize him.

A trace of helplessness flashed in Flender's eyes; he saw it clearly—this youth didn't lack manners, he was doing this on purpose.

As the group walked toward the backyard, Ning Rongrong suddenly rushed out from the house, staring straight at Chen Jieqi.

"You are Chen Jieqi?"

"I am."

"It's you!"

Ning Rongrong's cheeks flushed red.

"My father talks about you every single day—a Soul Ancestor before the age of twelve—my ears are calloused from hearing it! That's why I refused to go to Heaven Dou Royal Academy and insisted on coming to Shrek!"

Chen Jieqi's expression remained calm.

"Sect Master Ning must have said other things as well, such as why you were unwilling to go to Heaven Dou.

He talks about you because he hopes for you to be better.

You came to Shrek because you found your own path; where is the room for blame?"

Ning Rongrong was stunned for a moment, then sullenly stepped aside, muttering under her breath.

"A twelve-year-old Soul Ancestor, what's so impressive about that..."

Chen Jieqi did not turn his head, but the corners of his lips curled up in a way that was almost imperceptible.

Inside the recovery room, the Shrek Seven Devils were either sitting or lying down, their injuries yet to heal.

Chen Jieqi stood quietly to the side, his gaze sweeping over each person before finally landing on Tang San, lingering for a brief moment.

Xiao Wu passed by him, her footsteps slowing down abruptly.

Catching this in his peripheral vision, Chen Jieqi calmly allowed a trace of warm aura to overflow from the Holy Light mark between his brows.

This pure, divine energy held a natural attraction for a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.

"You..." Xiao Wu stared at him, "Are you the person from the entrance of the Spirit Fighting Arena that night?"

Chen Jieqi displayed a perfectly measured look of surprise, "You remember?"

"Your aura is very special, warm and very comfortable."

Xiao Wu leaned in closer, looking at the mark between his brows with curiosity, "Can I touch it?"

Chen Jieqi lowered his eyes to look at her; a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in human form, still possessing such an innocent appearance.

What a pity...

His expression remained completely calm, "You may, just for a second."

Xiao Wu's fingertips brushed against it, and a faint golden light danced; her eyes brightened even more, "It really is warm."

In that instant, a flicker of imperceptible doubt flashed deep within her eyes.

She couldn't quite describe the feeling; was it warmth?

But the warmth felt too deliberate, though she didn't dwell on it; having spent so long with Third Brother, she had grown accustomed to not doubting those around her.

Chen Jieqi took in her every reaction.

Low vigilance, emotional, and deeply tethered to Tang San.

Voluntary sacrifice? That was impossible now.

He made a judgment in his heart: that path was a dead end.

Then there was only one choice... wait for the right moment, and take it by force.

Tang San sat in the corner, his fingers clenching and unclenching before he stood up, blocking the space between Xiao Wu and Chen Jieqi.

The two were less than two steps apart; though Tang San was half a head shorter, his presence was not the least bit weaker.

"Chen Jieqi."

"Tang San."

"How old are you?"

"Twelve."

"A Soul Ancestor?"

"Yes."

The room fell into instant silence.

Dai Mubai raised his eyes, Oscar's eyes widened, and Ma Hongjun gasped, "What kind of monster is this..."

Tang San's heart sank; they were the same age, yet he was only level 32, and his Blue Silver Grass had been easily scorched and severed by lightning.

Chen Jieqi suddenly spoke, "To be honest, I have seen countless geniuses, but you are the only one who could cultivate Blue Silver Grass to such a realm and strength."

His expression was incredibly sincere, yet his heart remained as calm as water, "Everyone knows Blue Silver Grass is a Trash Spirit, yet you used its control and toxins to force a level 39 Power Attack System Soul Elder to use their Third Spirit Ability.

This isn't just talent; it was earned through countless hours of bitter training and combat."

"I became a Soul Ancestor at twelve only because I had the advantage of my spirit and spirit rings.

But you, you turned a blade of grass into a weapon that made the Huangdou Team wary. If we were to swap spirits, I might not be able to achieve what you have."

He didn't need to disparage the Blue Silver Grass; he only needed to guide Tang San to think:

Without his hidden weapons, movement techniques, and Eight Spider Lances, how far could he really go with just the Blue Silver Grass?

The cruelest part was that Tang San would never know the truth of the Blue Silver Emperor; the harder he worked, the more trapped he would become by the shackles of his "Trash Spirit."

As for Chen Jieqi, he only needed to watch from the sidelines.

Xiao Wu's eyes grew warm; she felt that everything the person before her said was the truth.

Tang San looked directly at Chen Jieqi, his gaze softening slightly.

He pressed Xiao Wu back into her seat, but Ning Rongrong leaned in close to Chen Jieqi, lowering her voice, "Are you really a Soul Ancestor? What rank?"

"It is not convenient to disclose."

Chen Jieqi shook his head lightly.

She asked again in a whisper, "Has my father mentioned me to you?"

"He has. He said your talent is outstanding, just that your temperament is a bit spoiled."

"He spoke ill of me?"

Ning Rongrong blushed.

"It wasn't speaking ill; it was concern."

Chen Jieqi lowered his voice so that only the two of them could hear, "The path you chose is not wrong. Shrek is perhaps the most suitable place for you. Sect Master Ning may not say it aloud, but in his heart, he is surely proud of you."

Ning Rongrong's eyes turned red, "Why are you telling me these things?"

Chen Jieqi looked at her, "Because you are Ning Rongrong, not because your surname is Ning."

Ning Rongrong was stunned, finally understanding why her father always spoke of this person with such high praise.

"Thank you," she said softly.

Watching her expression, Chen Jieqi thought to himself, These words will likely reach the ears of Ning Fengzhi...

At this moment, Yu Xiaogang walked forward with a gloomy expression, "Your gaze was disdainful just now. Do you think a Trash Spirit like Blue Silver Grass has no future? Do you think this group of children is vulnerable, and are you even questioning Tang San's cultivation direction?"

Chen Jieqi raised his eyes, his tone steady, "Grandmaster, I have never thought that Blue Silver Grass has no future. But I would like to ask you, was it you who helped Tang San choose his Blue Silver Grass?"

Yu Xiaogang's expression changed: "No."

"Are those hidden weapons, movement techniques, and eye techniques of his also things you taught him?"

Yu Xiaogang was left speechless.

"The reason he has reached this point today is not because of your theories, but because he himself is strong enough."

Chen Jieqi looked at Tang San, "You trust him, so he is worthy of trust, but do not confuse 'trust' with 'correctness'."

Tang San clenched his fists, his breathing rapid, "I don't need you to teach me. My path, my Spirit, were all chosen for me by my teacher, and they will never be wrong!"

Chen Jieqi smiled faintly, "When I praised you for being formidable, I was sincere. When I said that if we swapped Spirits I would be inferior to you, I was also sincere. But it is equally true that Blue Silver Grass has its limits."

"The reason you lost to Yu Tianheng today is not because you are weak, but because Blue Silver Grass is countered by lightning. In the future, you will encounter even more natural enemies. Do you expect to rely on hidden weapons, movement techniques, and Eight Spider Lances to win every single time?"

"You can choose not to believe me, but you cannot pretend this problem does not exist."

As his words faded, Chen Jieqi gave a slight nod to Flender and Zhao Wuji, then turned to leave.

Passing by Yu Xiaogang, he looked straight ahead, his pace steady as he walked directly to the door and departed.

Inside the room, Tang San stood frozen in place.

He wanted to retort, but he realized that every word was a fact.

Blue Silver Grass withered at the touch of fire; if not for his Tang Sect trump cards, he would have been defeated long ago.

The image of the twelve-year-old Soul Ancestor and Chen Jieqi's words swirled repeatedly in his mind.

A sliver of doubt regarding Yu Xiaogang pricked at the bottom of his heart like a fine needle, refusing to fade.

He even recalled his father's drunken murmurs: the Clear Sky Hammer was the true number one martial soul under heaven.

Yu Xiaogang stood in the corner, his shoulders trembling, filled with fear.

He feared that Chen Jieqi was right, feared that his life's work of theories would collapse, and feared even more that he would ruin Tang San.

Flender gazed out the door and sighed softly, "This kid is even more cunning than Qin Ming was back in the day.

He praises first then strikes, his words are entirely logical, and every blade lands straight in the hearts of Tang San and Yu Xiaogang."

Zhao Wuji nodded, "But there wasn't a single lie in what he said."

Outside the village, Qin Ming caught up to Chen Jieqi, "You shouldn't have said those things."

"Perhaps."

Chen Jieqi looked back at the dilapidated Shrek gate, "But someone had to say them."

Qin Ming was silent for a moment, "Those final words of yours—were they sincere?"

Chen Jieqi did not answer immediately.

The night wind blew in from the street, carrying the chill of early autumn.

"They were sincere," he said, "But sometimes, the truth hurts more than a lie."

Qin Ming looked at him, feeling that this twelve-year-old student was more terrifying than any opponent.

Chen Jieqi turned and walked toward Suotuo City.

The seed had already been planted.

He did not need Tang San to wake up right now; he only needed him to remember these words when the Blue Silver Grass eventually reached a dead end, to make him doubt, to make him choose, and to turn toward that hidden Clear Sky Hammer.

As for Xiao Wu... he lowered his eyes, a cold glint flashing through them.

He saw it clearly now.

She was naive, emotional, and devoted to Tang San.

Such a person would never "voluntarily sacrifice" herself.

He made a judgment in his heart: if that path was impassable, Then he would simply... wait for the right moment to cash in on her value!

Tang San was too weak; killing her now wouldn't trigger enough of a "backlash of destiny," so the time was not yet ripe.

But one day, when he had everything prepared, He would personally take that hundred-thousand-year spirit ring.

No rush.

He could afford to play this game.