Ah Yin (Seeking Follow-up Reads)

"One Sword Frosts Fourteen Provinces!"

That clear, long chant echoed between heaven and earth for a long time. The ice dragon, formed by a streak of ice-blue sword energy that spanned the sky, carried biting cold and sharp edges as it collided directly with Tang Hao's hand.

"BOOM--"

A deafening explosion rang out. Frigid air quickly clung to Tang Hao's arm, and shards of ice crystals scattered in all directions. The resulting shockwave caused the sandy ground to sink by several feet.

Although the ice dragon shattered inch by inch upon impact, turning into a sky full of ice dust, Tang Hao's hand, which had been reaching for Xiao Wu, was forced back by this immense power. His arm, which had not yet been shielded by soul power, was coated in a thick layer of frost, the chill causing his limb to go numb.

Tang Hao let out a muffled grunt. His figure swayed slightly, and he took half a step back, leaving a footprint in the ground. He snapped his head up, a fierce light erupting in his eyes as he glared at the source of the sword energy.

Amidst the drifting ice crystals, a tall, upright figure stood in the sky. Beneath his feet trod the phantom of an ice dragon condensed from cold ice, his robes rustling in the fierce wind. Sunlight filtered through the ice dust, casting a hazy halo around him, making him look like a sword immortal. His expression was cold, and with sharp eyes, he raised the Sky Frost Sword in his hand, pointing it at Tang Hao below. Just by standing there, the soaring sword intent made everyone at Shrek Academy watching the battle feel as though their breathing were constricted.

"Gu Han!"

Xiao Wu cried out in a mix of surprise and joy, tears instantly welling up. Gu Han's arrival brought her a sense of profound peace. Zhao Wuji and Flender struggled to lift their heads; seeing that figure in the sky, their eyes were filled with complexity. They had never expected that this student, who usually kept such a low profile, possessed such terrifying strength that he could directly shake Haotian Douluo.

"Who are you?"

Tang Hao shook his slightly stiff arm, his voice filled with violence. He stared fixedly at Gu Han. This suddenly appearing youth not only possessed shocking strength, but his Ultimate Ice attribute had even managed to make him suffer a setback.

Before Gu Han could answer, another calm voice clearly reached everyone's ears: "Tang Hao, it has been many years. You have truly regressed with age. To still want to kill a junior from an academy—is this the way of Haotian Douluo? It is truly despicable."

As the words fell, a figure in white appeared out of thin air, standing in the sky not far from Gu Han. The newcomer had a handsome face, a full head of silver hair, and an upright posture; it was none other than Sword Douluo Chen Xin. He had received an urgent message from Gu Han via a special transmission and had rushed over at full speed, arriving just in time to witness the scene.

Chen Xin's appearance caused Tang Hao's pupils to dilate. A youth capable of taking his strike head-on, combined with the peerless offensive power of Sword Douluo—the situation had instantly spiraled out of control.

"Chen Xin! This matter has nothing to do with you. Get lost."

Tang Hao roared, and the massive Clear Sky Hammer instantly appeared in his hand. Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, red—nine soul rings emitted a suffocating aura. In particular, that red soul ring seemed to cast a crimson filter over the entire world.

"When I see injustice, I draw my sword."

Chen Xin said indifferently. The Seven Kill Sword appeared out of thin air, and a sharp, peerless sword intent soared into the sky, contending with Tang Hao's momentum. "Furthermore, he is a member of our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. His business is my business."

"Fine, then I shall deal with you as well." Tang Hao was completely deranged; for the sake of Tang San, there was nothing he would not do.

"Clear Sky Avatar."

The massive phantom of the Clear Sky Hammer rapidly expanded, crashing toward Chen Xin and Gu Han like a mountain.

"Seventh Soul Skill, Seven Kill Avatar."

Chen Xin did not show weakness. Man and sword became one, transforming into a giant blade that carried a sharpness capable of tearing the heavens as it met the attack head-on.

BOOM--!!!

The collision between the two Title Douluos seemed as if it would tear the sky asunder. Violent energy shockwaves scattered in all directions; had Chen Xin not intentionally controlled the aftermath, the entire Shrek Academy would likely have been razed to the ground.

Chen Xin's sword intent was peerless and his attacks sharp, but Tang Hao's Clear Sky Hammer was heavy, powerful, and immense. Coupled with the terrifying amplification provided by the hundred-thousand-year soul ring, they were evenly matched for a time. However, Tang Hao knew he had to take down Gu Han quickly before he could control Chen Xin. A flash of ruthlessness crossed his eyes.

"Ring Detonation!"

The first soul ring on his body suddenly exploded, a surge of violent energy merging into the Clear Sky Hammer, causing its power to instantly skyrocket to an unimaginable level. He sent Chen Xin's Seven Kill Avatar reeling with a single hammer strike, while his other hand gathered all his strength. He intended to condense his soul power to the absolute limit and strike at Gu Han, aiming directly for his vitals.

"Careful!"

Chen Xin's expression changed. He tried to move to rescue him but was forced back by the shockwaves of the Ring Detonation. Facing this sudden strike, Gu Han's pupils constricted. The Sky Frost Sword erupted with unprecedented light, his fifth soul ring flashing frantically as ice crystals instantly condensed into an ice dragon, attempting to block the blow.

But the power of Tang Hao's enraged Ring Detonation was simply too overwhelming. The phantom of the ice dragon shattered the moment it made contact, and the Ultimate Ice emitted by the Sky Frost Sword failed to hinder the soul power containing Tang Hao's full-force strike in the slightest.

As that soul power was about to pierce through Gu Han's defenses...

At the critical moment, a soft, blue light filled with the aura of life emerged from in front of Gu Han without warning. The light expanded rapidly, transforming into the phantom of a Blue Silver Emperor with thick blades of grass and faint golden patterns.

Although it appeared delicate, it radiated a sense of resilience, standing firmly yet gently before Gu Han to intercept that lethal surge of soul power.

Because Gu Han's Breath Soil served as the foundation for Ah Yin to take root, her growth had accelerated rapidly, reaching the level of the Blue Silver Emperor she had once attained.

"Pfft..."

A sound like a dewdrop shattering rang out.

The black light collided with the phantom of the Blue Silver Emperor, only to vanish like a stone cast into the sea; its power was layered away and absorbed by that gentle life energy until it dissipated entirely.

The phantom of the Blue Silver Emperor grew significantly dimmer, as if it had expended a vast amount of life energy.

This sudden turn of events left everyone stunned.

The moment Tang Hao's furious gaze met that phantom of the Blue Silver Grass, his expression froze as if struck by a bolt of lightning, instantly shifting into extreme shock, bewilderment, and then a trace of...

A sharp, soul-deep agony and tremor that even he could not comprehend.

That familiar aura... that sensation of the origin of life...

"Ah... Yin...?"

He murmured, his voice trembling and filled with disbelief.