Chen Xuan's words opened up an entirely new line of thought for Ah Yin.
She stared at her hands in a daze, as if realizing for the first time just how terrifying the potential within her body truly was.
"Give it a try."
Chen Xuan encouraged her.
Ah Yin took a deep breath and, following Chen Xuan's example, urged the life energy within her body to flow into a stalk of Blue Silver Grass.
The Blue Silver Grass began to grow harder and straighter at a visible speed.
But the golden edge still failed to appear.
"Don't rush."
Chen Xuan's voice sounded beside her.
"Your life energy is pure enough, but it still lacks a measure of 'will.'"
"An indomitable will befitting an emperor."
Will...
A hazy image flashed through Ah Yin's mind.
A golden rain filled the sky. A tall figure stood in front of her, and there was... the cry of a baby.
A powerful emotion surged up from the depths of her heart.
To protect!
She had to protect!
"Hum—"
The stalk of Blue Silver Grass in her hand suddenly burst into brilliant golden light!
It was no longer a stalk of grass, but an indestructible sharp sword!
Where its edge pointed, even space seemed to twist.
Ah Yin had succeeded.
Chen Xuan looked at her, a hint of approval in his smile.
"Very good."
"Starting today, you'll cultivate here. Once you can make every Immortal Herb around the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well obey your command, you'll have graduated."
Ah Yin nodded firmly, her eyes filled with a resolve unlike any she had ever known.
Meanwhile, on the Martial Arts Arena at Blue Silver Academy, Dugu Yan, Ning Rongrong, Ye Lingling, and the brothers Shi Mo and Shi Pan had already assembled.
Across from them, the five members of Shrek had been waiting for quite some time.
Seven days of anger and anticipation were about to erupt in full today.
Heaven Dou City, Blue Silver Academy's Martial Arts Arena.
The autumn sun shone down in golden rays, yet it could not dispel the arena's tense, murderous atmosphere.
On one side of the arena, the five members of Shrek stood in a line.
At the front, fighting spirit surged in Dai Mubai's evil eyes. Behind him, Oscar and Ma Hongjun were brimming with excitement, while Xiao Wu stood with her arms folded, her pretty face full of indignation.
Tang San stood in the middle, his expression calm, though his gaze kept drifting toward the depths of the academy, as if he were waiting for someone.
Across from them, Dugu Yan folded her arms, her emerald eyes carrying a hint of mockery and arrogance.
Ning Rongrong rested her chin in her hand, sizing up her former companions with interest.
Ye Lingling stood quietly to the side, the aura of her Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul faintly discernible.
Behind her, the brothers Shi Mo and Shi Pan stood like two iron towers, their auras steady as mountains.
Time passed slowly in the silent standoff.
Just as Dai Mubai was growing impatient and about to urge them on, two figures came walking slowly from the end of the flagstone path.
Chen Xuan still wore a plain white robe. His expression was tranquil, and his stride unhurried.
At his side, Ah Yin wore a blue dress. Her stunning face, however, was veiled in a frost that kept everyone at a distance.
From the moment she appeared, her gaze had been locked on Tang San.
There was no trace of her former tenderness or affection in her eyes, only... bone-deep hatred.
Just one incense stick earlier.
Beside the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
Ah Yin had successfully condensed her first golden blade and was still immersed in the joy of wielding a new power.
She could sense that a faint, tenuous blood connection still seemed to exist between her and the youth named Tang San.
"Teacher."
Ah Yin spoke softly, a trace of confusion in her voice.
"I always feel some inexplicable closeness to him... Is he really my child?"
Chen Xuan turned to look at her clear blue eyes.
"The body is yours."
Chen Xuan's voice was calm, utterly without a ripple.
Ah Yin froze.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that the soul of the baby you gave birth to back then had already dissipated at the moment of his birth."
Chen Xuan's words struck Ah Yin's heart like a heavy hammer.
"The one occupying that body now is a soul from another world."
"A... body snatcher."
"Boom!"
Ah Yin's mind went blank.
A body snatcher...
A soul from another world...
The baby's cry in her hazy memories, her husband protecting her, the determination with which she had sacrificed herself...
So the child she had given everything to protect had been dead all along?
And the youth who called her "Mom" was merely a... thief occupying her child's body!
"No..."
Ah Yin's body trembled slightly. An indescribable grief and fury erupted from the depths of her soul.
"Rustle, rustle, rustle—"
The Blue Silver Grass around the entire Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well suddenly grew wildly!
No longer supple vines, they transformed into countless blades flashing with golden edges, shooting skyward until they turned the heavens a bleak gold!
Under the urging of utmost hatred, that extreme vitality transformed into the purest killing intent.
Chen Xuan watched in silence, making no move to stop her.
He reached out and gently rested his hand on Ah Yin's head.
A gentle energy soothed her mind, which was on the verge of running wild.
"Hatred is a kind of power, too."
"Sometimes, it's stronger than love."
"Remember this feeling."
"Go. Take back everything that belongs to you, and seek justice for the child you never had the chance to meet."
Ah Yin slowly raised her head.
Her tears had run dry. Her blue eyes held nothing but bottomless emptiness and chilling murderous intent.
"Yes, Teacher."
On the Martial Arts Arena.
Tang San met Ah Yin's gaze, and his heart gave a jolt.
He saw bone-chilling hatred in those eyes.
Why?
"Everyone's here."
Chen Xuan walked to the edge of the arena and casually sat down on a stone chair.
"Dai Mubai, how do you want to compete?"
Shaken by Ah Yin's aura, Dai Mubai came back to himself and said gravely, "Naturally, a team battle! Five against five, one match to decide the winner!"
"Boring."
Chen Xuan shook his head, a faint smile curling his lips.
"When children fight, there should at least be something at stake."
His gaze swept over the five members of Shrek.
"How about this? We'll have two matches."
"One team battle, one individual match."
"In the team battle, your five members of Shrek will face my five disciples."
"For the individual match, you may choose anyone you like to challenge anyone on my side."
"If you win the team battle, you can do as you please with my Blue Silver Academy."
"And if you win the individual match as well..."
Chen Xuan paused and raised one finger.
"I'll teach you a secret art that will benefit you for the rest of your lives."
At that, the members of Shrek were all shaken.
Dai Mubai and Tang San exchanged a glance, both seeing the ardor in the other's eyes.
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