"The tea's going cold."
The old man's voice rang out again, pulling Lin Feng from his thoughts.
Lin Feng dared not delay. He gently took Tang Ya's hand, and they climbed the steps one by one.
The pavilion doors stood open. Inside, a frail old man lounged in a recliner. His features were plain, but his eyes were deep as stars.
"This junior, Lin Feng, pays his respects to Senior."
"This junior, Tang Ya, pays her respects to Senior."
The two bowed in unison.
"Sit down and have some tea." The old man pointed to the tea table beside him, where two cups of clear tea still steamed.
"Thank you, Senior." Lin Feng respectfully accepted a cup, then ventured, "May I ask your honored name?"
"I am Mu En." The old man took a small sip of tea. "Your Dean Yan is my direct disciple."
Lin Feng looked bewildered. That name was far too distant from his world.
Tang Ya, however, shifted her gaze slightly, as if she had remembered something.
"It's only natural you wouldn't know." Mu En sighed leisurely. "There are few left in this world who still remember me. But..."
His gaze turned to Tang Ya. "I called you here today because something has gone wrong with the Blue Silver Grass inside this girl."
Seeing their expressions tighten, he continued, "The tea you just drank has temporarily suppressed the Darkness Power inside her. She'll be safe for now until she reaches level forty."
"Thank you for saving me, Senior." Tang Ya bowed, her voice full of sincere gratitude.
"Lin Feng," Mu En said, turning his gaze to him. Then he suddenly asked, "Do you know of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well?"
"This junior has heard Xiao Ya mention it." Lin Feng's expression turned solemn. "It was once a secret realm controlled by the Tang Sect for nearly ten thousand years. Sadly, after the sect fell into decline, the maps and records related to it were lost."
"That's exactly why I sought you out." Mu En gave a slight nod, and an ancient roll of parchment slid from his sleeve. "You're a member of the Tang Sect, so the powerful Soul Beasts in the secret realm won't attack you unprovoked. They once made a pact with your ancestor, Tang San. As far as I know, the Blue Silver Emperor was last seen in the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well. Your task is to enter and find it. Only by using its bloodline power to fully awaken Tang Ya can we eradicate the Darkness Power inside her."
He paused, his gaze sharp as a torch. "Your Fire Lotus Martial Soul holds a flame of utmost yang and strength. It may be able to counter the layers of poisonous miasma around the secret realm's outskirts. But to force your way through... you'll need to be at least a Soul King. That means Lin Feng must break through to level fifty or above before Tang Ya reaches level forty."
Tang Ya was now a level-thirty-five Soul Elder, already close to the threshold of level forty.
Lin Feng, also a Soul Elder, was only level thirty-three. To gain seventeen levels and reach Soul King in such a short time was practically impossible.
"Please don't worry, Senior."
Lin Feng showed no hesitation. With a determined gaze, he reached out and firmly took the ancient map.
"Since I've agreed, I'll do everything in my power."
Mu En studied him for a moment, deep emotion hidden in his aged eyes. "The road ahead is far more perilous than you imagine. If you regret this and don't wish to accept the task, I won't blame you."
"No..." Tang Ya spoke softly, her eyes already reddening. "This is my fate, and the Tang Sect's. There's really no need for Xiao Feng to take such a risk for me..."
"Although I don't practice the Tang Sect's techniques, I'm still half a member of the Tang Sect. This is something I ought to do." Lin Feng interrupted her, slipped the map into his robes, and spoke in a quiet but clear voice.
He had good intentions, of course, but he also had no small amount of self-interest.
The Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well was one of the three great treasure basins. Legend had it that the Water Dragon King and Fire Dragon King, among the Nine Great Dragon Kings, had fallen and been buried there, giving rise to countless opportunities.
Lin Feng would have to venture there sooner or later. In particular, he was determined to obtain the Fire Dragon King's source beast flame.
With his status as a Tang Sect member, entering the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well would be much easier. That had been Lin Feng's main reason for joining the Tang Sect in the first place.
Aside from the Blue Silver Emperor Tang Ya needed, there was a good chance the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower Ma Xiaotao needed was there too.
As for whether the Tang Sect could be revived, Lin Feng honestly didn't care. He had never wanted to clean up Tang San's mess.
Since cultivating the Burning Technique meant he couldn't cultivate other techniques, he owed the Tang Sect nothing to begin with.
The main reason was that Tang Ya's desire for revenge was so strong that she had become fixated on reviving the Tang Sect.
If he could help her take revenge on the Iron Blood Sect, perhaps she would let go of her obsession with reviving the Tang Sect.
Mu En waved a hand, a hint of remorse flashing in his eyes. "I'm the one who failed the Tang Sect. I've failed you too... I spent a hundred years healing, never imagining the Tang Sect would fall so far."
He lifted his gaze to the endless sea of Blue Silver Grass outside the window, his voice growing faint. "It's almost time. It wasn't easy for me to wake this time, and I'll soon fall into slumber again. I hope that when I wake next time, I'll hear good news from you..."
His voice faded away. As golden light swirled around them, the two were sent back to the sea of Blue Silver Grass where they had started.
"Take care, Senior!" Standing amid the sea of Blue Silver Grass, the two bowed solemnly toward the Golden Ancient Tree.
His final sigh drifted faintly on the wind. "Ten thousand years... and the Blue Silver Grass here is still as lush as ever..."
Lin Feng made no further promises. He simply clasped Tang Ya's cool hand tightly in his palm.
Everything that needed to be said had gone unsaid.
Tang Ya leaned against him, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist.
The evening breeze swept across the sea of Blue Silver Grass. Faint Soul Power silently gathered and flowed toward the newlyweds, bearing an ancient blessing...
"Let's open a little shop. At least the Tang Sect will have a place that feels like home."
"Mm. We have a home again..."
Time passed as usual.
"Goodbye, teacher!"
Just out of the classroom, Ning Tian suggested, "Let's go have barbecue at the academy's east gate. It's my treat!"
"Then we can stop by Xiao Ya's new shop and show our support," Lin Feng chimed in.
Ning Tian immediately pouted. "I've suddenly lost my appetite. I don't want to go."
"Then I'll treat Wu Feng. Wu Feng, you don't mind, do you?"
"Sure. If you're paying, I don't mind."
"...You're awful! I'm coming too!"
The three soon arrived at Tang Ya's newly opened barbecue shop.
The entire cost of opening the shop had been quietly covered by Yan Shaozhe.
Behind it all was the result of Lin Feng's repeated negotiations.
After all, without Tang San and the Tang Sect he founded, Shrek Academy would never have enjoyed a glorious legacy lasting ten thousand years.
Rather than calling it financial aid, the money was more like belated compensation from the academy to the Tang Sect.
Over the past four thousand years, with the emergence and impact of the Sun Moon Empire's Soul Guidance Technology, as well as the decline of talent within the Tang Sect, the sect's excessive reliance on Hidden Weapons had gradually led to its current predicament.
Bound by pressure from the various empires and its own neutral position, Shrek Academy truly couldn't do much to help the Tang Sect.
"Xiao Ya, are there only three of you working here?"
"We can't afford to hire anyone yet, so we're making do for now."
Lin Feng looked around the somewhat cluttered shop and smiled. "Ning Tian, come help clean up."
He wanted the young lady of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to experience what housework was like.
"Why are you only asking me? What about Wu Feng?"
"She's already helping wipe the tables. You're the only one standing there admiring yourself in the mirror."
"Hmph! Fine, I'll clean!" Ning Tian awkwardly picked up a rag, making everyone laugh.
Two hours later, the shop had finally been transformed.
Tang Ya had already prepared the ingredients, and all five sat around the grill.
The charcoal crackled. Meat skewers sizzled over the flames, glistening with oil as their savory aroma filled the air.
"First toast," Lin Feng said, raising his drink. "To Xiao Ya's new shop opening—and to booming business!"
"Cheers!" everyone said together.
"For the second toast," Tang Ya said, her eyes shining with warmth, "I want to thank all of you for helping out, especially Xiao Feng."
"Cheers!" everyone said together again.
Before you continue