Secret Transmission, Unique Destiny: Three Women's Hearts Entrusted to Hidden Edge

The night was like thick ink spilled into every corner of Shrek Academy. Even the stars in the sky were veiled by clouds, leaving only the evening breeze in the woods to stir the faint rustle of leaves, echoing softly through the silent courtyard.

In the dormitory area, Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun were utterly exhausted from days of high-intensity combat training. They had fallen into a deep sleep the moment they hit their beds, their snoring light and steady, completely unaware of the events unfolding around them. Flender, Zhao Wuji, and the other academy instructors had finished their day of teaching and patrols, each resting and meditating in their own quarters. Inside and outside the academy, there wasn't a single extra pair of eyes or a trace of stray soul power perception, making this the perfect moment for secrecy.

Lin Chen sat upright in the center of his room, his soul power circulating slowly. While he appeared to be meditating with his eyes closed, he was actually weaving his soul power perception into countless fine threads, completely enveloping the entire Shrek Academy. Only after repeatedly confirming that every corner was normal and that all irrelevant personnel were in a state of total lack of vigilance did he slowly open his eyes, a flash of determined brilliance crossing his gaze.

From his storage soul tool, he gently retrieved three immortal herbs wrapped in warm jade foil: the Lovesick Heartbreak Red, the Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone, and the Aromatic Silk Beauty. These were peerless opportunities he had meticulously brought back from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, specifically chosen for the three girls. Tonight, he would bestow them in secret, ensuring the entire process went unnoticed by anyone, guarding every secret completely—both to protect Xiao Wu's identity as a soul beast and to ensure this heaven-defying opportunity remained entirely hidden.

He condensed three hair-thin sound waves of soul power at his fingertips. Without the slightest fluctuation or sound, they were precisely transmitted into the rooms of Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong. Only the three of them could hear that low, whispered instruction: "Come to my room alone. This is a top-secret matter. Do not make a sound, do not alert anyone, come quickly."

The first to arrive was Xiao Wu.

She was a light sleeper, and because her heart was always tethered to Lin Chen, she climbed out of bed the moment she heard the transmission. Dressed in plain white satin sleepwear, she moved on her small, bare feet like a nimble and alert little rabbit. Utilizing the shadows of the eaves and trees, she darted into Lin Chen's room in a few quick steps, not making even the slightest sound of fabric rubbing against fabric.

Upon entering, Xiao Wu walked straight to Lin Chen's side, her clear almond eyes fixed directly on him. There was no trace of doubt in her gaze, only unconditional trust and reliance. Seeing this, Lin Chen immediately waved his hand, and pale golden soul power instantly condensed into a double-layered isolation barrier. It not only completely locked in all sound within the room but also sealed off the heaven and earth spiritual energy and the medicinal fragrance, ensuring that even a Soul Saint approaching would not be able to detect anything unusual.

"Xiao Wu, this is the only Lovesick Heartbreak Red I found in the Polar Secret Realm at the risk of my life. It belongs only to you." Lin Chen gently unfolded the jade foil. The vibrant, dew-kissed Lovesick Heartbreak Red lay quietly in his palm, its petals shimmering with a warm, spiritual glow. It possessed no overwhelming pressure, yet it radiated a heart-soothing warmth. He deliberately avoided the term "soul beast," his tone incredibly gentle, every word a testament to his thorough consideration for her. "You only need to drip a drop of blood to claim it as your own, and it will forever protect you, completely masking all the flaws in your aura. From now on, no one in this world will ever be able to see through your secrets; it will protect your safety for a lifetime. This matter is known only to the two of us; you must never tell a third person, not even your closest friends."

Xiao Wu was sharp-witted and understood instantly that Lin Chen was doing everything in his power to guard her most fatal secret, placing her safety above all else. Since she was small, she had drifted alone in the human world, living in constant fear of her identity being exposed. No one had ever understood or protected her like this, valuing her vulnerability more than his own life. In an instant, warmth surged through her heart like a tide. Her eyes turned slightly red, her nose felt sore, and the look she gave Lin Chen was filled with an inseparable love and reliance. Her affection level soared to its peak, and her earlobes flushed a faint crimson. She gently tugged at Lin Chen's sleeve, her soft, sweet voice carrying a hint of a sob: "Lin Chen, you are so good to me. I will listen to you; I will never tell anyone for as long as I live. I only trust you."

Without a moment's hesitation, she gently bit her fingertip and let a drop of bright red blood fall onto the petals. The Lovesick Heartbreak Red instantly overflowed with light, transforming into a pink floral shadow that gently merged into Xiao Wu's heart. A warm, lingering power instantly flowed through her limbs and bones, completely masking the aura of her hundred-thousand-year soul beast status, leaving not a single flaw. Lin Chen reached out and gently patted her head, once again softly urging her to restrain her aura before she quietly returned to her room. Xiao Wu looked back at him with eyes full of reluctance, turning her head three times before finally disappearing into the night.

Next to arrive was Zhu Zhuqing.

This young girl from the Hell Spirit Cat family had always been cold and taciturn, acting with extreme caution. Burdened by family pressure and the constraints of a betrothal, she had always endured and moved forward alone. After receiving the transmission, she restrained her soul power to the absolute limit. Like a ghost in the dark night, she glided silently along the walls to Lin Chen's room, her movements so light they carried no weight. After entering, she simply stood in the corner, her expression carrying a habitual sense of detachment.

But when Lin Chen took out the lustrous Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone and clearly articulated the shortcomings of her Hell Spirit Cat martial soul, the shackles on her physical strength, and the bottlenecks in her speed and stealth abilities, ripples suddenly stirred in the depths of her cold eyes. Lin Chen handed the immortal herb to her, his tone calm yet incredibly firm: "This herb is specifically adapted for your Hell Spirit Cat martial soul. After refining it, it will completely temper your martial soul's origin, break through your current soul power bottleneck, and increase your physical resilience, speed, and stealth capabilities several times over, allowing you to shed the innate defects of your family's martial soul. I will guard you throughout the process to ensure not a single trace of medicinal power leaks out."

No one had ever so carefully observed her difficulties, and no one had ever silently plotted such a heaven-defying opportunity for her. She had always carried everything alone, and her cold heart had long since built thick walls, but Lin Chen's meticulous protection instantly shattered all her defenses. The look Zhu Zhuqing gave Lin Chen gradually shed all detachment and caution, replaced by full trust and a quietly budding love. A faint blush appeared on her cold cheeks, and her affection level reached its limit. She silently took the immortal herb and sat cross-legged on the floor. Under Lin Chen's protection, she refined the massive medicinal power with peace of mind. Her soul power broke through silently, and her aura became increasingly restrained and ghostly, yet she kept it firmly hidden.

After the refinement was complete, Zhu Zhuqing stood up and bowed slightly to Lin Chen, her voice soft but incredibly earnest: "Thank you. I will remember this kindness forever." With that, she turned and left, her figure disappearing into the night, though her heart was already filled with Lin Chen's gentleness.

The last to arrive was Ning Rongrong.

The little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was charming and clever, yet she understood the value of sincerity better than anyone. She carefully avoided the sleeping Oscar and took a long way around to reach Lin Chen's room quietly. Her eyes were full of curiosity, but she was sensible enough not to ask questions. When Lin Chen took out the radiant Aromatic Silk Beauty and told her that this herb could break the thousand-year-old shackles of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and evolve her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda directly into a Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, Ning Rongrong froze in place, then became so excited her eyes turned red and her body trembled slightly.

The seven-layer shackle of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda was the regret of generations of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the greatest obsession in her heart; she had never dared to hope that one day she could break this fate. Yet, Lin Chen had silently found this heaven-defying opportunity for her, fulfilling her dream and that of the entire sect. At this moment, Ning Rongrong's usual wilfulness and arrogance faded away. The look she gave Lin Chen was full of worship and admiration; her heart and eyes were filled only with him. Her affection level soared to the peak, and her voice carried a hint of a sob: "Lin Chen, you actually helped me solve the sect's biggest problem. You are amazing! I will listen to you from now on!"

Lin Chen smiled and urged her to hide the secret of her martial soul's transformation, to continue displaying the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda in daily life, and to only reveal her trump card at the Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament. Ning Rongrong nodded repeatedly and focused on refining the immortal herb. Above her head, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda slowly condensed an eighth and then a ninth layer. The brilliant Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's pressure was restrained, and the transformation was complete.

After Ning Rongrong also quietly departed, Lin Chen slowly dispersed the barrier and cleaned every trace from the room, as if nothing had ever happened.

The entire process was top-secret, and not a single person noticed.

Xiao Wu's full reliance, Zhu Zhuqing's secret affection, and Ning Rongrong's worship and admiration all transformed into unconditional devotion to Lin Chen. The three of them tacitly hid their own transformations, going about their daily routines as usual, without revealing a hint of their newfound edge.

Lin Chen looked at the fish-belly white light gradually appearing outside the window, a faint smile curling the corners of his lips.

Three top-secret trump cards were now ready, and three hearts of devotion had been gathered. The victory of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament was already firmly in his grasp.