Questioning the Heart

"Cultivate, cultivate."

Yao Shi sat cross-legged on the bed. He had suppressed himself at level 29 for a long time. Now that there was hardly anyone left at the academy, it was the perfect time to break through.

He shut his eyes tightly as soul power rapidly circulated around him. The strength that had accumulated within his body for so long began continuously battering every inch of Yao Shi's meridians. Time slowly passed.

Bzz—

With a buzz, the shackles broke free.

Level 30—achieved!

The soul power drifting around Yao Shi slowly gathered into a ring. The ring gradually condensed, transforming into a golden-green soul ring of an unusual color.

After the third ring formed on its own, the breakthrough did not stop. The airflow around him continued to surge violently, and his soul power kept rising—31, 32, 33...

In the end, Yao Shi's soul power steadily settled at level 37.

"Not bad. In nearly four months since enrolling, my soul power has increased by a full thirteen levels."

Yao Shi was fairly satisfied with his current soul power level.

He then examined the soul skill granted by the unusual-colored third soul ring.

[Glazed Abundance Pure Land (Beginner)] An independent small world, unconstrained by the laws of the universe. It can also capture outside living beings and bring them inside, allowing the user to use abilities they possess. Once inside, it can isolate them from slaughter and conflict outside. Outside living beings can accelerate their cultivation upon entering, and believers can be connected, allowing them to be instantly pulled into the Pure Land regardless of where they are in the world.

At the same time, the third ring possessed an additional trait: Path Resonance. Once activated, it forcibly bound the target to the host and turned them into a believer, taking control over their life and death. It could also grant those sensed a small portion of the host's abilities.

After reading the soul skill granted by the third soul ring, Yao Shi could not help frowning. "No matter how I look at it, this Glazed Abundance Pure Land doesn't seem like a soul skill. It has no offensive capabilities. It's more like a residence, though it could serve as an escape method during battle."

As he spoke, he looked again at Path Resonance. Compared to Longevity Blessing's subtle conversion of people into believers, Path Resonance was clearly far more forceful and decisive.

Having finished reviewing the effects of his soul skills, Yao Shi stopped circulating the soul power within his body and slowly opened his eyes.

After cultivating through the night, when he opened his eyes again, it was already noon the next day.

"It's time to leave this place."

With that, Yao Shi got up and packed his belongings in Dormitory 108. He did not have much here; aside from several changes of clothes, there was nothing else.

Once he had finished packing, he simply washed his face. Just as he left the dormitory building and prepared to depart, someone blocked his path. It was the current sect master of the Tang Sect—Tang Ya.

Because of Yao Shi's involvement, Huo Yuhao had not joined the Tang Sect. Thus, Tang Ya was not as close to them as she had been in the original story.

The two had only met once before. When Yao Shi approached, he merely nodded at her in greeting. Just as he was about to pass by, Tang Ya called out to him.

"Yao, Junior Yao, wait!" Her voice was anxious.

Yao Shi paused and looked at her. "Uh, Senior Tang Ya, do you need something from me?"

The moment Yao Shi finished speaking, Tang Ya stared intently at him. "Junior Yao Shi, I need you to help me cultivate."

Yao Shi: "????"

Tang Ya also realized that her words sounded rather strange and hurriedly explained, "I-I mean, I hope you can help me increase my cultivation, the way you helped Yuhao."

"Oh? Senior, haven't you come to the wrong person? Do you think I can do something like raising someone else's cultivation? Do you take me for a god?"

Yao Shi became interested upon hearing this and asked in return.

"It's my guess, but I'm certain you can do it." Tang Ya was not swayed in the slightest by Yao Shi's words, her tone firm.

"When I first met Yuhao, he was only a level-ten soul master without even a soul ring. Yet in just a few hours, after meeting you, his soul power instantly soared to level nineteen. I don't believe he could have encountered such a great opportunity in that short time. The only explanation is that he met you. You were the one who made him so strong."

It turned out that when Huo Yuhao had first begun selling grilled fish, Tang Ya had often visited his stall. In order to quickly increase her strength, revive the Tang Sect, and avenge her parents, she had repeatedly probed Huo Yuhao about what opportunity had allowed his cultivation to rise so dramatically. Yet Huo Yuhao had firmly remembered Yao Shi's warning and refused to reveal anything.

Just when she was about to give up, the results of the freshmen assessment came out. She heard that Yao Shi had defeated an opponent with at least the strength of a Soul Ancestor all by himself. Then, she connected every detail from when she had first encountered Yao Shi and Huo Yuhao.

Everything made sense. Her expression turned excited. "That's right, it was Yao Shi. Huo Yuhao must have improved so quickly only after meeting Yao Shi. I have to find him. As long as he can help me raise my cultivation, I'll definitely be able to take revenge with my own hands!"

Thus, ever since the freshmen assessment ended, Tang Ya had waited outside Yao Shi's dormitory whenever she had time. Yet she had never encountered him. Until today, when nearly all the students had gone home for the break, she had not considered whether Yao Shi might have left early as well. From the moment Huo Yuhao put away his grilled fish stall last night, she had waited until now, finally seeing Yao Shi.

After hearing Tang Ya's words, Yao Shi saw that there was no one else around and no longer bothered to conceal it. "You're right. I do have a way to help others increase their strength."

Then his tone shifted. "But why should I help you? What benefit is there for me?"

"As long as you can help me increase my strength, I'm willing to pay any price, no matter what it is!" Tang Ya said anxiously upon hearing his words.

Yao Shi's tone became somewhat teasing. "Oh? Anything?"

Tang Ya seemed to think of something, and her face reddened slightly, but she still said, "Y-Yes, anything."

Before Tang Ya could continue wondering what Yao Shi might do to her, his indifferent voice reached her ears.

"Then what if I told you to give up the Tang Sect?"

Tang Ya was startled.

What? Give up the Tang Sect?

Hearing Yao Shi's words, Tang Ya's heart immediately turned icy. For me to give up the Tang Sect... can I really do that?

Yet Tang Ya did not immediately refuse. Instead, she began thinking carefully about the past years. When she was young, her parents had been killed, her sect occupied, and she alone had been left to become the current sect master of the Tang Sect. That year, she had been ten years old.

Over the years, she had begged many people and made countless efforts to revive the sect.

She had pleaded with Shrek Academy, but Shrek Academy said it remained neutral and did nothing. Then she had gone to plead with the Clear Sky Sect, but they said they aided the needy, not the poor, and did nothing.

They all said that Ancestor Tang San had become a god, but why had he watched helplessly as the sect declined without taking any action? Why had all her efforts been useless? Why had she begged so many people without receiving any help? Why had Ancestor Tang San become a god, yet failed to protect the sect he himself had founded, standing by and doing nothing?

Why?

Why?

Again and again, those questions began to crush Tang Ya's determination to revive the Tang Sect, a determination she had clung to for years.

For the Tang Sect, her parents had died at the hands of another sect. To revive the Tang Sect, she had struggled her way forward alone, without receiving even the slightest help.

Shrek Academy and the Clear Sky Sect, both connected to Ancestor Tang San, had chosen to stand by and watch. Even Ancestor Tang San himself had ignored the Tang Sect as it neared destruction.

Since none of you care whether the Tang Sect should continue to exist, then from today onward, neither will I.

From now on, I will only grow stronger to avenge my parents. What does the Tang Sect's survival have to do with me?

At that thought, a flash of resolve passed through Tang Ya's eyes.

"I can."

"What?" Yao Shi asked back.

P.S.: Taking Tang Ya in is so she can personally beat Tang San in the future.