Thank you, Young Sect Master, you're truly a good person

Ning An gently rolled his wrist. Facing the Third Elder's concerned gaze, he shook his head slightly. "It's fine. There's no discomfort at all."

Those few simple words left everyone dumbfounded once more.

The most shocked of all was the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Third Elder, who had been closely watching Ning An's condition!

The more tyrannical and extraordinary a martial soul and soul skill was, the more terrifying the toll it took on a soul master's body, soul power, and spirit!

The first time Ning An used those two soul skills, he had ended up wrapped head to toe in bandages.

And now!

This was Ning An's second time using them, and he had even slain a thousand-year-old Mandala Snake.

After unleashing such violent power and erupting with such combat strength, he was actually... fine?

"A monster... The Young Sect Master truly is a monster!"

The Third Elder's pupils trembled violently, and his aged body shook faintly. Unprecedented turmoil surged through his heart as he muttered in amazement.

He had always worried that Ning An would suffer an unbearable physical burden after using this martial soul, but now it seemed that all his worries had been unnecessary!

Their Young Sect Master had long surpassed all common sense and shattered everything they thought they knew.

Beside him, Ning Tian blinked his clear apricot eyes. The worry hanging in her heart finally settled completely, and her delicate little face blossomed with a proud smile.

Just as expected!

Her brother was amazing. It was only his second time using it, yet he could already ignore the side effects.

Tang Ya and Bei Bei, meanwhile, stood frozen in place, utterly unable to speak. Their minds were blank, and their blood boiled wildly throughout their bodies!

Shock!

An ultimate, unprecedented shock gripped both their hearts and minds!

They had witnessed firsthand what it meant to crush someone on an entirely different level!

A thousand-year-old Mandala Snake was a famously venomous soul beast on the continent. Even if Bei Bei were at his peak and gave it everything he had, with Tang Ya assisting and restraining it, killing one would still take tremendous effort. More likely than not, they would be injured by its deadly venom!

But in Ning An's hands?

One hundred-year soul skill to control it, one thousand-year soul skill to kill it instantly!

He destroyed it with absolute ease, without the slightest hesitation!

Most absurd of all, he was only an eleven-year-old boy!

Bei Bei's throat felt dry and tight, while his clenched fists trembled faintly.

As Mu En's descendant, he was also an outstanding student and young genius at Shrek Academy.

Yet before Ning An, his so-called talent and strength were as insignificant as ants and dust—beneath mention!

At that moment, he was completely convinced. Toward this young Young Sect Master, he developed a reverence that came from the depths of his soul.

Tang Ya stared blankly at the youth standing proudly in white, her eyes full of complicated shock and emotion.

Her earlier defeat in their movement technique contest had made her realize that the Tang Sect Secret Arts were merely incomplete scraps of the Nine Treasure Arts, shattering the faith in her sect that she had held onto for years.

And this earth-shaking battle now let her fully see Ning An's terrifying strength!

She and Bei Bei had desperately tried to keep him safe earlier. Looking back on it now, how laughable it was!

Huo Yuhao's dark eyes were already brimming with admiration.

He stared fixedly at Ning An's upright back, the obsession in his heart growing ever deeper.

To follow such a gentle and powerful Young Sect Master was the greatest fortune of his life.

Just as everyone present remained immersed in their shock, unable to recover for a long while—

Ning An's gaze shifted slightly, passing over the wreckage covering the ground before settling calmly on the emotionally unsettled Tang Ya.

"Your soul power has already reached rank thirty, but you haven't absorbed a soul ring yet, have you?"

Tang Ya shuddered all over and abruptly raised her head, staring at Ning An with a face full of astonishment.

Before she could recover, Ning An raised his hand and pointed at the Mandala Snake's mutilated remains, which still retained a faint trace of life and twitched continuously. He spoke slowly.

"This thousand-year-old Mandala Snake is quite suitable for your third soul ring."

"You do it. Kill it, then absorb its soul ring while you're at it."

The instant his words fell!

Tang Ya froze completely in place, and her eyes instantly reddened!

A blazing warmth swept through every inch of her body in an instant.

She was completely stunned!

She had never imagined that this immensely powerful Young Sect Master could be so thoughtful!

So he had deliberately not killed it outright, all so she could finish it herself and absorb its soul ring?

The unwillingness from her earlier defeat, the despair of her faith collapsing, and the terror of her sect's destruction all vanished completely at that moment!

All that remained was warmth filling her heart, along with guilt and an indescribable gratitude!

The Young Sect Master's breadth of mind and vision were truly vast!

He set aside past grudges and helped her obtain a soul ring. I'm literally crying.

"Young Sect Master..."

Tang Ya's voice choked up. Her nose stung, and crystalline tears welled in her eyes, yet she stubbornly refused to let them fall.

She bowed deeply, her tone filled with sincerity and gratitude.

"Thank you! You... you really are a good person!"

Ning An: ...

That didn't sound like a compliment!

Bei Bei, who had witnessed the scene firsthand, was likewise deeply moved and grateful.

Ning An's bearing, broad-mindedness, strength, and vision had all won his complete admiration!

"Thank you, Young Sect Master!"

Bei Bei bowed solemnly, his posture respectful and devout, his reverence coming straight from the heart.

Seeing how moved and grateful they were, Ning An remained gentle and composed as ever. He lightly waved a hand.

"Hurry up and kill it. Absorb the soul ring."

"Alright!"

Tang Ya nodded firmly, suppressing the surging emotions in her heart. She raised a hand to wipe the moisture from her eyes, and her gaze became incomparably resolute.

She stepped forward, Blue Silver Grass soul power quietly circulating around her as she approached the still-gasping thousand-year Mandala Snake.

After Ning An had beaten the Mandala Snake half to death, it posed no threat at all. Even a passing dog could have come over and kicked it twice.

Tang Ya raised her hand and activated her soul power. Tough, flexible Blue Silver Grass instantly coiled around the snake, precisely snuffing out its last trace of life.

A dense, pure dark-green soul light rose from the snake's body, condensing into a purple soul ring that floated in the air.

Tang Ya immediately sat down cross-legged, calmed her mind, and began absorbing the soul ring.

Her soul power circulated as the soul ring entered her body. Tang Ya's aura steadily rose, and the level-thirty bottleneck that had constrained her for so long was broken.

In just a short while—

Buzz—!

A distinct wave of soul power suddenly spread outward!

Level thirty-one!

Tang Ya had successfully broken through the Great Soul Master bottleneck and entered the realm of Soul Elder.

A brand-new thousand-year purple soul ring steadily rose beneath her feet. Her three soul rings pulsed in sequence, shining brilliantly. She had grown stronger by far more than just a little.

After finishing the absorption, Tang Ya slowly opened her eyes. Her gaze was radiant, and she looked completely renewed.

The first thing she did after rising to her feet was bow deeply to Ning An, her heart full of respect.

Ning An gave a slight nod. His gaze swept over everyone as he spoke calmly and evenly.

"Now that the absorption is complete, it's time for us to head to Shrek Academy."

"Tian'er and Yuhao can use their admission exemptions, while I'll take the recommendation letter from the main city and participate in Shrek Academy's entrance assessment."

"I remember there are four rounds to the assessment." Ning An looked at Bei Bei. "For the final round, you have to last the time it takes an incense stick to burn against an inner courtyard student. Do you know which inner courtyard student will be in charge of the final round this time?"