Night fell over Shrek Academy. The training grounds, which had been so lively by day, had long since fallen silent. Only the evening breeze stirred the leaves with a faint rustle. In a secluded corner of the academy's rear mountain, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong gathered around Lin Chen, their brows knitted with unmistakable concern.
Tang San's murderous intent, vast as the sea, weighed on their hearts like a boulder. Even with the strength granted by Immortal Herbs, the thought of his secret schemes still left them on edge. "Tang San could sneak over and kill us at any moment. Even if we keep our strength hidden, we'd still be caught off guard if he suddenly attacked. There'd be no way to defend ourselves..." Ning Rongrong lowered her voice. Her usual playful innocence had vanished, leaving only worry.
Xiao Wu clenched her fists. Remembering Tang San's hypocrisy and cruelty, she looked at him with deep antipathy. "He never saw Shrek as home. His only concern is his own secrets. If he makes a move, he won't show any mercy." Zhu Zhuqing remained silent, but kept her eyes fixed on Lin Chen. Concern for her companions filled her cool gaze. All three waited for Lin Chen to decide what they should do.
Seeing the three girls' anxious expressions, Lin Chen softened his own and stepped forward to reassure them. His voice was steady, brimming with confidence, and their panic quickly eased. "There's no need to worry. Tang San is suspicious and arrogant. He'll only lurk in the shadows and launch a sneak attack; he won't openly make a move. I have a thorough plan to resolve this crisis. For now, the most important thing is to stay calm and keep hiding your strength as you always have. Act as though nothing is wrong. We mustn't let anyone notice anything unusual."
His Soul Power was gentle and even, but within him surged the vast medicinal power of Immortal Herbs that he had yet to fully absorb. The Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, Star Hidden Grass, and other spirit plants he had consumed were simply too potent for him to refine completely. Using an exquisitely precise technique to control his Soul Power, he had forcibly condensed their raging medicinal energy and concealed it in his dantian and throughout his body. He had released only a small portion to stabilize his cultivation, which had been enough to raise his Soul Power Level to Soul King, Rank 53. Most of the Immortal Herbs' power still quietly nourished his Martial Soul and body, ready to help him break through at any time. His true strength was far beyond what it appeared, more than enough to thwart Tang San's plot to kill them. His reassurance was gentle yet unwavering, and the three girls trusted him completely. As they listened, their tense bodies gradually relaxed and most of the panic faded from their eyes. They nodded and waited quietly for Lin Chen's instructions.
After fully reassuring the three girls and confirming that there were no spies nearby or fluctuations from anyone probing with Soul Power, Lin Chen's gaze sharpened. The rich Soul Power of a Rank 53 Soul King instantly drew inward, along with the Immortal Herb energy in his dantian that he had yet to fully absorb. Not even the faintest ripple of Soul Power escaped. With a slight movement of his fingertips and flawless control over his Soul Power, he roused some of the Star Hidden Grass's dormant power within him. It was an ancient, innate spirit plant of concealment. Even its unabsorbed remnants, combined with his pure Soul Power as a Rank 53 Soul King, could trigger an ultimate concealment effect without a single flaw.
In an instant, a faint shimmer of stardust wrapped around him, then vanished as he merged completely with all things under heaven. Not a trace remained. The next moment, Lin Chen's figure, life force, Soul Power fluctuations, and even the spatial ripples around him were perfectly erased. He became one with the surrounding night, grass, trees, and evening breeze.
This was absolute concealment, flawless in every way. Not even powerful Soul Saints like Flender and Zhao Wuji could detect him. Even a Titled Douluo standing right beside him and probing in every direction with all their divine sense would find not the slightest trace or hint of his presence. It was as if Lin Chen had never existed in this world at all. Even the most perceptive Titled Douluo could find no clue to track him.
Light on his feet, he maintained this flawless concealment as he passed straight through the academy's security perimeter. He walked past the windows of Flender and Zhao Wuji's residence, yet neither Soul Saint noticed a thing, even while using all their senses to detect anything amiss. He made no sound as he slipped through a hidden gap in Shrek Academy, like an illusion without substance, never alerting a single person. Even if a Titled Douluo had passed over Shrek at that very moment, they would not have sensed anyone moving below.
Only after reaching a desolate stretch of forest ten li from Shrek, where no divine sense could possibly spy on him, did Lin Chen take out the thin paper and charcoal pencil he had prepared in advance, still maintaining his absolute concealment. He wrote quickly, in spare characters and code, informing Spirit Hall of Tang San's plan to sneak back to Shrek and kill them to silence them. He also specified exactly when Spirit Hall should secretly deploy its people and lie in wait, leaving out every unnecessary detail to prevent any possibility of a leak.
Once he had finished, Lin Chen folded the paper into a tiny pellet and tied it tightly to a Dark Iron Dart with no Soul Power mark or distinctive insignia. Gathering his focus, he imbued it with only the faintest trace of the Soul Power of a Rank 53 Soul King, then precisely aimed for the hidden hollow in the cliff used by Spirit Hall's secret sentries to receive messages. He flicked his wrist and sent the dart flying.
The Dark Iron Dart cut through the night without a whisper or a trace of Soul Power. It flew at tremendous speed and struck the hidden hollow in the cliff with a soft tap. The moss immediately concealed it completely. There was no further sound, and it left no clue to Lin Chen's whereabouts.
With the message delivered, Lin Chen did not linger. He once again activated the Star Hidden Grass's remaining power to maintain absolute concealment, supported by the rich Soul Power of a Rank 53 Soul King, and silently returned to Shrek Academy along the route he had taken. Avoiding every line of sight and any potential probing, he made his way back to the same spot in the rear mountain and slowly let the concealment fade. His figure gradually reappeared, his clothes neat and his breathing steady. The Immortal Herb power he had yet to absorb remained hidden in his dantian. There was not the slightest sign that he had gone out, as if he had never left.
From his departure under concealment to sending the dart to Spirit Hall and returning to the academy, the entire journey had taken less than half an incense stick's time. He had left no trace. Inside Shrek Academy, Flender and Zhao Wuji rested peacefully, while Dai Mubai and the others were still asleep. No one in the entire academy had noticed that Lin Chen had slipped out, much less that this young Rank 53 Soul King, with vast stores of unabsorbed Immortal Herb power concealed within him, had secretly sent a message to Spirit Hall using concealment so perfect that even a Titled Douluo could not detect him, setting the crucial date for dealing with Tang San's plot.
Seeing Lin Chen return with his expression unchanged, the three girls finally felt at ease. In perfect unison, they asked no questions, trusting every part of his plan. Lin Chen gave them a slight nod. His voice remained calm and even. "Everything is in place. We only need to carry on as usual and keep our strength hidden. The rest will take care of itself."
The night remained peaceful and still. Shrek's calm appearance had not changed in the slightest, but Lin Chen's secret preparations were now complete. The Immortal Herb power he had yet to absorb was his greatest trump card, and combined with the formidable cultivation of a Rank 53 Soul King, it was enough to face any unforeseen circumstances. The Star Hidden Grass's absolute concealment had sealed away every secret plan. Even if a Titled Douluo came to Shrek in person, they would find no flaw, no clue.
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