Became the Villain, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm Bestows Soul Skill (Seeking Follow-up Reads)

After returning to Shrek Academy, Lin Yi did not immediately head to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, intending instead to observe for a few days.

However, it was these few days of observation that caused him to notice some developments that made him knit his brows.

Between Ning Rongrong and Oscar, things seemed... a bit too intimate.

During training breaks, Ning Rongrong would naturally take the water bottle Oscar handed her, and the two would chat and laugh; in the cafeteria, they often sat together, and Ning Rongrong would even pick out the vegetables she disliked and put them into Oscar's bowl, while Oscar would accept them all with a silly grin; their occasional eye contact carried a familiarity that transcended that of ordinary companions, along with... a faint, lingering hint of budding affection.

Lin Yi stood in the shade of a tree at the edge of the training ground, watching this scene with an expressionless face.

He did not harbor any romantic feelings for Ning Rongrong, at least not for the time being.

His engagement to Ning Rongrong was more of a union of sect interests, an expectation and entrustment placed upon him by Sword Douluo and Ning Fengzhi.

He had promised his teacher that he would protect Ning Rongrong well.

In his eyes, although Oscar had decent talent and might achieve much in the future, at this stage, whether in terms of strength, background, or temperament, he was far from being a match for the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, let alone the future Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.

This premature, unrealistic emotion would only become a shackle on Ning Rongrong's path of cultivation and might even bring her trouble in the future.

More importantly, this concerned his own standing within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

If Ning Rongrong truly developed something with Oscar, how would Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo view him? He had no intention of losing the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect as his pillar of support!

It seems a warning is in order, Lin Yi thought to himself. He had always been direct in his actions and disliked beating around the bush.

That afternoon, after training concluded, everyone dispersed.

Lin Yi seized the opportunity to intercept Oscar on his way back to the dormitory alone.

"Lin... Brother Lin Yi?" Seeing the calm-faced Lin Yi, Oscar was somewhat surprised and a bit nervous.

Although his Soul Power Level had been rising rapidly, he always felt an invisible pressure when facing this unfathomable successor of Sword Douluo.

Lin Yi did not waste words. He looked Oscar straight in the eyes, his tone flat yet carrying an unquestionable weight: "Oscar, stay away from Rongrong."

Oscar froze, a flash of panic crossing his face, but it was quickly replaced by a streak of stubbornness: "Brother Lin Yi, what... what do you mean by this? Rongrong and I are just good friends..."

"Good friends?" A cold arc tugged at the corner of Lin Yi's mouth. "There are boundaries that 'good friends' cannot cross. Remember your status, and remember hers. She is the young mistress of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and my fiancée."

"Fi... fiancée?!" Oscar looked as if he had been struck by lightning, his face instantly turning pale. He had never heard Ning Rongrong mention this!

"It seems she didn't tell you." Watching Oscar's devastated expression, Lin Yi's tone remained icy. "Now you know. Put away thoughts you shouldn't have and focus on your cultivation. Otherwise..." He did not finish his sentence, but the warning in his eyes sent a bone-chilling shiver through Oscar.

Just then, at the corner nearby, a blue figure stiffened slightly.

Tang San happened to be passing by and had heard Lin Yi's warning to Oscar clearly.

He furrowed his brows, a flash of displeasure crossing his eyes.

Lin Yi glanced in the direction where Tang San was hiding but did not call him out. Having said what he needed to say, he turned and left, leaving Oscar standing alone in a daze, utterly crestfallen.

Tang San stepped out from the corner, looked at Lin Yi's departing back, then at the pale-faced Oscar, and walked over to pat his shoulder: "Xiao Ao, are you alright?"

Oscar snapped back to reality, grabbed Tang San's arm, his voice trembling: "San... is what he said true? Is Rongrong... really his fiancée?"

Tang San was silent for a moment. He had actually guessed as much from Ning Rongrong's occasional hesitation, but having it confirmed now still made his heart heavy. He nodded: "I'm afraid it's true. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and Sword Douluo's lineage are closely linked, and since Lin Yi is Sword Douluo's only disciple, an engagement is not surprising."

"How could it be like this..." Oscar hung his head in defeat, his fists clenched so tightly that his nails nearly dug into his flesh.

Watching his friend's pain and recalling Lin Yi's overbearing warning, a sense of righteous indignation welled up in Tang San. He said in a deep voice: "Xiao Ao, don't lose heart! So what if there's an engagement? Feelings are a matter between two people! As long as Rongrong is willing, no one can force her! Come, let's go discuss this with Dai Mubai and the others!"

Tang San took the dejected Oscar to find Dai Mubai, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ma Hongjun, who were resting in their dormitory, and recounted everything he had just heard.

"What? A fiancée? That guy Lin Yi actually threatened Xiao Ao?!" Dai Mubai exploded the moment he heard, slamming his hand on the table. "Who does he think he is? Just because he's Sword Douluo's disciple, does he think he can do whatever he wants?"

Xiao Wu was even angrier, stomping her feet: "That's too much! Who Rongrong likes is her own business! What right does that Lin Yi have to interfere? And threatening people! San, we absolutely cannot let him bully Xiao Ao and Rongrong!"

Although Zhu Zhuqing did not speak, her cold eyes flashed with agreement.

Coming from the nobility of the Star Luo Empire, she understood the helplessness of arranged marriages in great families, but she also championed breaking those shackles through one's own strength.

Ma Hongjun scratched his head, feeling a bit conflicted, but seeing Dai Mubai and Xiao Wu so indignant, he muttered: "Exactly, Xiao Ao is our brother; we can't let him be bullied."

"Let's go! We'll go find Lin Yi and settle this!" Dai Mubai waved his hand, leading the group as they marched aggressively toward Lin Yi's quarters.

Ning Rongrong, who was resting in her room, was startled by the commotion outside. When she came out and saw her companions heading toward Lin Yi's room with grim expressions, she felt a jolt of alarm. Vaguely guessing what had happened, she bit her lip and followed them silently.

Lin Yi had only just returned to his room when he heard a flurry of footsteps and undisguised fluctuations of Soul Power outside.

He raised an eyebrow and stood up to open the door.

He saw Dai Mubai and Tang San in the lead, followed by Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Ma Hongjun, Oscar, and finally a complex-looking Ning Rongrong, all standing outside his door with the air of coming to settle a score.

"Everyone, is there something you need?" Lin Yi's expression remained unchanged as his calm gaze swept over them.

Tang San stepped forward. As the team's core strategist, he spoke first, his tone relatively restrained but his eyes sharp: "Lin Yi, we just heard that you used your status as Rongrong's fiancé to warn Oscar to stay away from her?"

"That is correct." Lin Yi admitted it directly, without the slightest evasion.

Seeing him admit it so readily, Dai Mubai couldn't help but shout angrily: "Lin Yi! Don't go too far! Who Rongrong wants to be with is her freedom! Even if you are the disciple of Senior Sword Douluo, you have no right to interfere in her feelings!"

Xiao Wu immediately chimed in, hands on her hips: "Exactly! Who do you think you are? Bullying people because of your background? What's wrong with Oscar? He is a food-type Soul Master with Innate Full Soul Power! His future achievements might not be any worse than yours, the successor of Sword Douluo!"

Although Zhu Zhuqing remained silent, her cold gaze clearly expressed her support.

Ma Hongjun looked between the two sides and said with some difficulty: "Brother Lin Yi, this... this matter of feelings cannot be forced. Xiao Ao is our brother, and we have to stand by his side."

Ning Rongrong stood at the back, head bowed, her hands tightly clutching the hem of her skirt, her face pale as she remained silent.

Her heart was in complete turmoil. On one hand, there was a budding, hazy affection for Oscar; on the other, the awe she felt toward Lin Yi and her awareness of the sect-mandated betrothal left her at a loss for what to do.

Oscar summoned his courage, lifted his head, and stared straight at Lin Yi. Though his voice still trembled, his eyes held an unprecedented firmness: "Lin Yi! I know that my current strength and background are far inferior to yours! But I love Rongrong, and it is sincere! I will work hard to cultivate, and I will become stronger! One day, I will prove that I, Oscar, am worthy of Rongrong! I will not give up!"

What a classic scene of a hot-blooded youth defying tyranny and fighting for love!

And Lin Yi played the role of the "villain" who relied on his background to tear lovers apart to perfection.

Watching the indignant crowd and Oscar, who wore an expression of "I will overcome everything with love and hard work," Lin Yi suddenly found it somewhat comical, and yet... he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

His original intention was merely to knock Oscar down a peg, to make him recognize reality and stop indulging in unrealistic fantasies, lest he hinder his own progress and affect Ning Rongrong, while simultaneously upholding the dignity of the sect and himself.

How did it turn into him being a heinous, power-abusing bully in the eyes of these people?

In particular, Tang San's remark that "Oscar's future achievements may not be inferior to yours" left him somewhat speechless.

They had no idea what kind of existence they were facing. Triple Martial Souls, innate level thirty soul power, a million-year soul ring, a treasure trove of immortal herbs... No matter how hard Oscar worked, some chasms were determined by talent and destiny, not something that could be crossed by sheer willpower alone.

Lin Yi's gaze swept past the indignant Dai Mubai and Xiao Wu, past the calm Tang San and Zhu Zhuqing, past the somewhat cowardly but posturing Ma Hongjun, and finally landed on Ning Rongrong, who kept her head down, afraid to meet his eyes, and the stubborn-looking Oscar.

He suddenly laughed, but there was no warmth in that smile, only a trace of faint mockery and coldness.

"So, in your view, knowing that the other party is betrothed and still attempting to interfere is the right thing to do?" His voice was not loud, yet it reached everyone's ears clearly. "Using so-called 'feelings' and 'freedom' as an excuse to ignore promises and responsibilities?"

His gaze shifted to Tang San and Dai Mubai: "Do you think this is helping a brother, or upholding justice?"

Finally, his gaze locked onto Oscar's face, his tone turning abruptly sharp, carrying an unquestionable majesty and pressure:

"Fine, very well. Since you all think that snatching someone else's fiancée is a matter of course, and that I, Lin Yi, am 'harassing' and 'abusing my power'..."

He paused. Although the aura around him did not fully erupt, the soul power fluctuations of a Soul Emperor, combined with the extreme chill emanating from his Ice Dragon Martial Soul deep within, made the surrounding air seem to solidify.

"That is fine. I hope you remember the words you spoke today. And I hope that in the future, if your own women are snatched away by others, you can be just as 'broad-minded' and 'respectful of free choice.'

Don't blame me, Lin Yi... for not warning you today!"

Having said that, he ignored their suddenly changed expressions and even angrier glares, turned around, and slammed the door shut with a "bang."

Outside the door, there was dead silence.

Dai Mubai's face was livid, Tang San's brows were tightly locked, Xiao Wu stomped her feet in anger, Zhu Zhuqing's eyes were colder than ever, and Ma Hongjun's mouth hung wide open.

Oscar clenched his fists tightly, while Ning Rongrong kept her head bowed, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Lin Yi's final words were like a cold thorn, piercing into everyone's heart.

Especially for Dai Mubai and Tang San, both of whom had people they cared for deeply.

Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing had a delicate relationship, and Tang San regarded Xiao Wu as his very life. Lin Yi's words were undoubtedly a sharp provocation and a curse.

"Bastard! I really want to beat him up," Dai Mubai growled, slamming his fist against the nearby wall.

Tang San pulled him back and shook his head, his expression grave: "Boss Dai, calm down. This matter... we might have been a bit impulsive. We are no match for him right now..."

After this incident, the atmosphere within Shrek Academy became suddenly subtle and tense.

Dai Mubai and the others barely spoke to him anymore. Ning Rongrong became even more evasive and silent when facing him. Only Oscar, after the initial humiliation and anger, began to cultivate even more desperately, the fighting spirit in his eyes growing ever more intense.

Lin Yi stood alone by the window, watching the heavy night outside, his face expressionless.

He had not expected things to develop to this point. He had actually become the "villain" in the eyes of others.

But he did not regret it.

Some boundaries must be clear.

Some stances cannot be blurred.

As for who Ning Rongrong would eventually choose... he actually did not care.

What he cared about was the status in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect that this betrothal represented.

"It seems it is time to go to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well for some peace and quiet," he whispered to himself, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. "As for the immortal herbs... none of you will get a single one."

This world ultimately respects strength; if not for who Tang San's father was, why would Shrek Academy value them so much...

Early the next morning, he left Shrek Academy directly and headed once again toward Dugu Bo's residence near the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.

Seeing Lin Yi return so soon, Dugu Bo was somewhat surprised, but thinking of the "agreement" reached yesterday, he invited him in.

"Kid, you're back so soon? Have you come up with some ideas regarding my poison?" Dugu Bo asked with a hint of anticipation.

Lin Yi shook his head and stated his purpose directly: "The senior's poison requires long-term deliberation and cannot be solved in a day. This junior has come today to borrow the Ice Eye of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well for cultivation."

A flash of disappointment crossed Dugu Bo's eyes, but he didn't say much, merely huffing, "Follow me!"

With the master, Dugu Bo, leading the way, passing through the colorful poisonous miasma was much easier. Stepping into this natural wonder once again and feeling the surging energy where ice and fire intertwined, the lingering frustration in Lin Yi's heart from the farce at Shrek dissipated instantly. Only power was the eternal foundation.

He walked directly toward the milky-white Ice Spring, which was so cold that it felt as if it could freeze the soul.

The closer he got, the more he could feel that pure, extreme ice-attribute energy. For him, who possessed the Snow Lotus, Ice Dragon, and Ice Phoenix—three ice-attribute Martial Souls—this was undoubtedly the perfect sanctuary for cultivation.

Dugu Bo brought him to the spot and gave a word of caution: "Be careful yourself, don't fall into the spring and melt away."

He then went off to the Fire Spring on his own, using the scorching energy there to suppress the restless toxins within his body.

He wasn't worried about Lin Yi causing trouble; with the connection to Sword Douluo, this kid cared more about the integrity of this place than he did.

After Dugu Bo left, Lin Yi found a flat ice platform on the edge of the Ice Spring and sat down cross-legged.

He did not immediately begin to cultivate his Soul Power. Instead, he sank his consciousness into his body, focusing on the third Martial Soul he had deliberately hidden and never once utilized—the Ice Phoenix!

And attached to that Ice Phoenix Martial Soul was the million-year Wisdom Soul Ring, radiating a faint platinum luster and containing a vast, sea-like reservoir of spiritual power!

The sacrifice of the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm had brought him more than just an increase in Soul Power Level and the strengthening of his Ice Phoenix Martial Soul; more importantly, it had granted him boundless spiritual power and the soul skills bestowed by the ring itself! Previously, because he was within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and Shrek, where eyes were everywhere, he had never been able to carefully investigate or experiment. Now, in the absolutely safe and environmentally compatible Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, the time was finally right!

He cautiously channeled a sliver of the Ice Phoenix Martial Soul's power while connecting his consciousness to that million-year soul ring.

Hum—

As if some slumbering primordial deity had been awakened, the Ice Phoenix Martial Soul let out a clear, resonant cry that echoed only within his mental world. The platinum soul ring shimmered, and the information for three incredibly clear soul skills was branded into the depths of his soul like an instinct!

First Soul Skill: Ice Phoenix Feather Garment!

Effect: Combining ultimate ice-attribute Soul Power with vast spiritual power, it condenses a dreamlike, ice-blue feathered energy garment upon the surface of the body.

This robe primarily provides powerful spiritual defense, capable of effectively resisting, weakening, or even rebounding spiritual attacks, illusions, soul shocks, and pressure-based suppression.

It also possesses a certain degree of defensive efficacy against physical and energy attacks, though it is relatively weaker. The defensive strength is directly related to the intensity of one's spiritual power and can be manifested or concealed at will.

Second Soul Skill: Ice Spirit Impact!

Effect: Highly compressing one's own powerful spiritual energy and fusing it with the essence of ultimate ice, it forms an intangible yet bone-chilling spiritual shockwave that strikes the opponent's sea of consciousness directly.

At the lightest, it causes mental confusion, frozen consciousness, and sluggish movements; at the worst, it inflicts spiritual trauma, chaotic consciousness, or even total soul annihilation! This soul skill is launched covertly and is extremely difficult to guard against; its effect depends on the gap between the spiritual power of both parties and the degree of control over that power.

Third Soul Skill: Spirit Detection!

Effect: Spreading one's own spiritual power like a spiderweb in a fan or spherical shape to form a domain of absolute control.

Within this domain, everything—whether tangible entities, energy fluctuations, life auras, or even the movement of dust in the air—is reflected in Lin Yi's mind in a three-dimensional, incredibly clear form with extremely high precision! Furthermore, based on energy flow and the trajectory of objects, he can predict the opponent's attack routes and move variations in advance! The detection range expands as his own spiritual power intensity increases.

Feeling the detailed information of these three soul skills, even with Lin Yi's composed temperament, he could not help but feel his heart surge!

Too strong! Are these the soul skills brought by a million-year soul ring?

Ice Phoenix Feather Garment compensates for his greatest weakness as an auxiliary-type soul master—spiritual attacks—and could even be called the nemesis of spiritual-type soul masters!

Ice Spirit Impact is an extremely rare and powerful active spiritual attack method; it is impossible to guard against and can be called a trump card!

Spirit Detection is a divine skill among divine skills! Whether for daily vigilance, finding enemy flaws, predicting attacks, or operating in complex environments, it has an irreplaceable role! This is almost equivalent to a weakened version of a "God's-eye view"!

Moreover, because this soul ring originated from the million-year cultivation of the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, its essence is incredibly high. As Lin Yi's own strength continues to rise, whether it be his Soul Power Level or the growth of his spiritual power, the power, defense, detection range, and effects of these three soul skills will all receive massive, synchronous boosts! They are not fixed; they possess extremely high growth potential!

"Brother Sky Dream, this gift is truly heavy..." Lin Yi murmured in his heart, feeling a bit more genuine gratitude toward that seemingly unreliable million-year ice silkworm.

He suppressed the urge to immediately test the offensive soul skill and first quietly activated his third soul skill—Spirit Detection!

Hum!

An intangible spiritual fluctuation spread out from him like mercury pouring onto the ground. In an instant, everything within a radius of nearly five hundred meters centered on him was reflected in his mind with absolute clarity! It was even more detailed than what could be seen with the naked eye!

He "saw" the spring eye at the bottom of the Ice Spring, where the essence of ten-thousand-year black ice was condensed, its energy surging like a vortex; he "saw" the subtle changes on the Fire Spring side, where Dugu Bo's ink-green poison gas intertwined and clashed with fire-attribute energy; he "saw" the patterns on the leaves of every spirit herb on the valley walls, sensing the rhythm of their breathing in the world's essence; he "saw" the trajectories of several flying soul beasts passing outside the poisonous miasma, and could even predict the angle at which their wings would flap in the next instant!

This feeling of having everything under control was truly wonderful!

And this was only in a state where he had just initially mastered it, and his spiritual power had not yet fully adapted or been developed. He believed that as his proficiency and spiritual power increased, this range would continue to expand, and the precision would become even higher!

After familiarizing himself with Spirit Detection, he moved his mind again, and the first soul skill, Ice Phoenix Feather Garment, quietly covered his entire body.

An ice-blue energy garment, condensed entirely from spiritual power and ice-attribute Soul Power, appeared out of thin air—magnificent and noble, radiating faint cold mist and spiritual fluctuations.

He felt as if his sea of consciousness were protected by a tough, icy barrier; all external distractions and negative emotions were difficult to intrude.

He tried throwing a punch at the nearby rock wall; the garment could dissipate part of the impact, but its defense against physical attacks was indeed not as prominent as its spiritual defense.

However, this was already enough!

Finally, the second soul skill, Ice Spirit Impact.

He would still need to find a soul beast or a soul master to practice on...