Thinking this, the shyness and panic in Ah Yin's heart miraculously began to fade.
She took the long dress Chen Xuan handed her, turned her back to him, and quickly got dressed.
It was a simple blue dress, but on her it made her look even more otherworldly, like a celestial maiden descended to the mortal world.
Ah Yin turned around and gave Chen Xuan a gentle twirl. Her skirt fluttered as she asked, a hint of anticipation and nervousness in her voice:
"Teacher, does it look good?"
Only then did Chen Xuan turn back to her. He gave her a once-over and nodded.
"Perfect."
At his affirmation, Ah Yin's face bloomed into a radiant smile, her eyes full of joy and pride.
She took a deep breath, her expression turning solemn and grave. Then she bowed gracefully to Chen Xuan, performing the most formal disciple's ceremony.
"Your disciple Ah Yin pays her respects to Teacher!"
"I swear to follow you, Teacher, and never betray you!"
The moment Ah Yin finished speaking, a long-awaited notification rang out in Chen Xuan's mind.
[Ding! Congratulations, host, on completing the hidden quest: The Blue Silver Emperor's Rebirth!] [Quest reward: One random Soul Ring rank upgrade!] [Randomly selecting a Soul Ring for the host... Selection complete!] [100,000-year Five-Clawed True Dragon selected!] [Upgrade commencing!]
Boom!
An invisible force descended!
Nine Soul Rings appeared behind Chen Xuan, each radiating a terrifying aura that made the heart tremble.
But the red ring on the very outside, representing his ninth Soul Ring, was undergoing a violent transformation!
A dragon's roar that shook the soul rang throughout the entire valley!
A majestic, domineering phantom of a Five-Clawed True Dragon surged skyward from within the red Soul Ring.
It threw back its head and roared. The golden scales covering its enormous body began to transform, gleaming with profound Dao patterns!
Its horns grew even more imposing, and its eyes seemed to hold the rise and fall of thunder. Most strikingly, a pair of enormous dragon wings, vast enough to blot out the sky, slowly unfurled from either side of its back!
The True Dragon became a Yinglong!
This was the ultimate evolution of bloodline and rank!
[Ding! Ninth Soul Ring upgrade complete!] [Soul Ring name: Tribulation-Breaking Yinglong!] [Soul Ring age: ??? (Has surpassed the limits of Douluo Continent's understanding)] [Soul Ring skill: ??? (Has transformed into the power of laws. Please comprehend it on your own)]
Chen Xuan slowly closed his eyes, carefully sensing the power surging within him.
It wasn't a quantitative increase in Soul Power, but a qualitative leap.
He felt more closely connected to this world, as though with a single thought he could command the wind, thunder, water, and fire—and make his words reality!
The Yinglong formed from his ninth Soul Ring was no longer a mere mass of energy.
It seemed to possess a genuine divine soul, linked to his thoughts and able to draw upon the power of the world's laws at any moment!
"Not bad."
Chen Xuan opened his eyes, a satisfied smile lifting the corners of his mouth.
He helped Ah Yin to her feet and said gently, "Get up."
"Yes, Teacher."
Ah Yin rose obediently.
"We should head out."
With that, Chen Xuan waved away the barrier around the valley and walked out alongside Ah Yin.
Outside the valley, Dugu Bo abruptly opened his eyes where he sat cross-legged. A flash of light gleamed in them.
He rose to his feet and respectfully faced the valley entrance.
Soon, two figures emerged slowly from the thick fog.
At the front was, naturally, that unfathomably powerful senior.
But when Dugu Bo saw the figure beside Chen Xuan, he jolted as if struck by lightning and froze on the spot.
What kind of woman was she?
Dressed in blue, she was peerlessly elegant, with picturesque features and an ethereal air.
She merely stood there, yet everything around her seemed to lose its luster.
Dugu Bo had lived for nearly a century and believed he had seen countless beauties. Even the Spirit Hall's pope was a peerless beauty.
But compared with the woman before him, they all seemed vulgar.
Where... had she come from?
When the senior went in, he had clearly been alone!
Had the senior conjured her out of thin air?
A tidal wave surged through Dugu Bo's heart. Countless thoughts flashed through his mind, but he didn't dare let any of them show on his face.
He could only feel that this senior's abilities were utterly beyond his comprehension—almost like those of an immortal.
His reverence deepened several times over.
"My business here is finished. I'll take her back to the academy," Chen Xuan said to Dugu Bo.
"Yes! Farewell, senior!"
Dugu Bo bowed deeply, not daring to lift his head.
Chen Xuan nodded, then vanished from the spot with Ah Yin in a flash.
Only after their auras had completely disappeared did Dugu Bo slowly straighten and let out a long breath. His eyes brimmed with shock and admiration.
Blue Silver Academy.
In an elegant courtyard.
Tang San, Dai Mubai, Oscar, Ma Hongjun, and Zhu Zhuqing faced off against Ning Rongrong, the air taut with hostility.
"Rongrong, you owe us an explanation!"
Tang San looked furious as he demanded an answer.
"Why are you leaving Shrek Academy?!"
Ning Rongrong sat gracefully on a stone stool. She lifted a cup of fragrant tea, took a small sip, then raised her eyes to look over the group.
Her gaze was calm, carrying the air of someone judging others from above.
"An explanation?"
Ning Rongrong set down her teacup and said coolly, "It's simple. Shrek Academy isn't good enough for me anymore."
"Compared with Blue Silver Academy, Shrek falls far short."
At her words, Dai Mubai and the others flew into a rage.
"Ning Rongrong, what do you mean?!"
Dai Mubai bellowed, "Shrek taught us to stand together and never give up! Dean Flender and Teacher Zhao gave us everything they had! Have you forgotten all that?"
"Exactly!" Oscar chimed in. "We're the Shrek Seven Devils. We're one!"
"You don't understand."
Ning Rongrong shook her head, a trace of mockery curling her lips.
"How can frogs at the bottom of a well know how vast the sky is?"
She looked at Tang San, a hint of pity in her eyes.
"Especially you, Tang San. Are you still treating your teacher's so-called 'Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul' like scripture?"
"Let me tell you: at Blue Silver Academy, Yu Xiaogang's theories aren't worth a fart!"
"How dare you!"
Tang San flew into a rage, his eyes bloodshot as a chilling killing intent burst forth!
His teacher, Yu Xiaogang, was the one thing he would never allow anyone to insult!
"You dare insult my teacher? You're asking to die!"
Blue Silver Grass spread from beneath his feet. He was about to attack.
"Xiao San, wait!"
A plump hand pressed down on Tang San's shoulder.
Ma Hongjun squeezed his way forward and stopped him. His beady eyes fixed on Ning Rongrong, a malicious smile on his face.
"There's no need for you to deal with a woman this ungrateful."
"Let me handle her!"
He rolled his neck, his joints cracking all over.
"I've been sick of this little brat for ages."
"Today's the perfect chance to teach her a lesson and show her why flowers are so red!"
"Evil Fire Phoenix? Interesting."
A cool, slightly languid female voice came from behind the courtyard's moon gate.
Before you continue