A wave of astonished, feverish cries rose and fell. The students who had been full of doubts about Chen Xuan now looked at him with nothing but awe and adoration.
They had witnessed the birth of a miracle with their own eyes.
And the one who had created that miracle was the calm, unruffled young man standing at the lectern.
Ye Lingling slowly came back to herself. With a stiff motion, she turned to look at the "Nine-Heart Immortal Begonia" behind her, glowing with immortal energy. Feeling the Soul Power within her, several times more abundant and refined than before, she was utterly stunned.
She reached out her slender, fair fingers and gently touched one of the new golden leaves.
A sharp yet vibrant aura came from her fingertip.
This was no longer pure healing.
It also contained... an offensive edge!
She had succeeded. She had truly broken the fate that had bound her family for centuries!
And it had all begun with a few words from this teacher.
At the lectern, Chen Xuan's gaze swept across the room before finally settling on Ye Lingling.
His voice was as calm as ever, betraying no emotion.
"Do you believe me now?"
It was a simple question, yet it held an immeasurable magic.
Thump!
A student in the front row could no longer hold back his excitement. He slid from his seat and dropped to his knees before Chen Xuan.
"Teacher! Please accept this student's bow!"
Once the first student had knelt, a second followed, then a third...
In the blink of an eye, over a hundred students in the classroom had all dropped to their knees. Their young faces were filled with fervent adoration.
"We were foolish to doubt you, Teacher. Please punish us!"
"Teacher, you are truly a god among men!"
Ye Lingling's delicate body trembled. She hurried to the lectern and bowed deeply to Chen Xuan.
When she raised her head, her stunningly beautiful face was flushed with excitement. Her lovely eyes shimmered with tears, brimming with adoration and gratitude.
"Thank you, Teacher, for sharing your wisdom! Ye Lingling... will never forget this!"
Her voice trembled, and she was overwhelmed with emotion.
The curse that had tormented her family for centuries had finally been broken today. This kindness was as weighty as a mountain!
As she looked at Chen Xuan, she suddenly felt that a mysterious halo surrounded the young teacher, making her want to understand him, to draw closer to him.
At that moment, the young girl's heart began to pound beyond her control.
She wore the academy's standard long skirt, yet it could not conceal her graceful figure. Her long, beautiful legs, partly hidden beneath the hem, tensed slightly with excitement, tracing a breathtaking curve.
Chen Xuan looked at her, the faintest smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
"Get up."
"This is only the beginning."
What had happened at Blue Silver Academy swept through the Soul Master World of Heaven Dou City like a hurricane, all within half a day.
The Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul had evolved in front of a crowd!
This news was ten thousand times more explosive than the opening of Blue Silver Academy itself!
For a time, nearly every Soul Master in Heaven Dou City, noble or commoner, was talking about it.
At a high-end teahouse in the southern part of the city, several lavishly dressed Soul Masters had gathered.
"Have you heard? They say the dean of Blue Silver Academy made the heir of the Nine Heart Begonia family evolve her Martial Soul in just one lesson!"
"Hah, and you believe that nonsense?"
A haughty middle-aged Soul Emperor at the next table let out a scoff.
"Martial Soul Evolution? That's a legend found only in ancient texts! Even Spirit Hall was helpless against the Nine Heart Begonia's limitations. What makes some nobody think he can do it?"
"I say Blue Silver Academy made the whole thing up to attract attention. It's nothing but a publicity stunt!"
Someone beside him chimed in. "Exactly! I heard that dean's theories: 'Even a Trash Martial Soul can evolve,' and 'Soul Ring absorption depends on willpower.' Utterly absurd! They completely defy common sense in the Soul Master World!"
"This man is a shameless charlatan, seeking attention and swindling people. He's misleading the next generation! His Highness the Crown Prince is kindhearted, and must have been deceived by this scoundrel! In my opinion, the man should be arrested to set things right!"
The middle-aged Soul Emperor grew more and more agitated, his voice rising with every word.
Just then, a figure slowly ascended the stairs of the teahouse.
The newcomer wore a golden crown prince's uniform. Handsome and distinguished, it was none other than Qian Renxue, disguised as Xue Qinghe.
She had just finished attending to government affairs and had come here to rest for a while. Instead, she had overheard every word.
She stopped, a hint of chill passing through her golden eyes.
"Who did you just call a scoundrel?"
Her voice was soft, but the noisy teahouse instantly fell silent.
The middle-aged Soul Emperor turned around. Seeing the Crown Prince, his face changed, and he hurried to his feet to bow. "I-I pay my respects to Your Highness!"
Qian Renxue ignored his bow and walked up to him, one step at a time.
"Answer my question."
"I..."
Cold sweat beaded on the middle-aged Soul Emperor's forehead. Under the Crown Prince's gaze, he felt the weight of a mountain pressing down on him.
"Your subordinate... Your subordinate was talking about Chen Xuan, the dean of Blue Silver Academy!"
He forced himself to continue. "That man spreads lies and corrupts the customs of the Soul Master World. He is truly..."
"Slap him."
Qian Renxue uttered the words calmly.
The two guards behind her immediately stepped forward and seized the Soul Emperor, one on each side.
"Your Highness, you... you can't..."
Smack!
A crisp slap cut him off.
Qian Renxue looked at him, her voice devoid of feeling.
"Who gave an ignorant nobody like you the right to judge my teacher's theories?"
"Take him away."
"Pass on my command: from this day on, if I hear even half a word disparaging Blue Silver Academy anywhere in Heaven Dou City, the offenders will be dealt with severely."
The guards obeyed and dragged the pale, terrified Soul Emperor away.
The entire teahouse fell silent.
The tumult outside seemed to have no effect whatsoever on the peace within Blue Silver Academy.
In the back courtyard, Chen Xuan sat before a gigantic stalk of Blue Silver Grass.
This stalk of Blue Silver Grass was Ah Yin's true form.
After being nourished over these past days, her aura had stabilized considerably. The golden patterns on her leaves had grown clearer, and they radiated a noble, vigorous vitality.
Chen Xuan reached out and gently stroked one of the leaves.
A stream of the purest life essence slowly flowed into Ah Yin.
The Blue Silver Emperor's leaves swayed softly, rustling as if to express their delight.
A gentle thought sounded in Chen Xuan's mind.
"Thank you, Chen Xuan."
It was Ah Yin's voice.
"Your power makes me feel so comfortable, and I'm recovering much faster."
Chen Xuan replied, "Just focus on recovering."
Ah Yin's thoughts carried a hint of dependence and gratitude. "You saved my life and have done so much to help me... Once I take human form, I'll repay your kindness with everything I have."
Before you continue