Evolving the Blue Silver King, Planting Ah Yin in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well

Tang San felt incomparably at ease for the first time. So the body could reach a state of unity between body and mind without relying on external objects.

The first thing he did was walk around Shen Qingling in a circle, expressing how he felt.

"Teacher, after absorbing the soul bone, my soul power has reached level twenty-seven. Just as you said before, my martial soul has evolved into the Blue Silver King.

"The soul bone has two soul skills: Flight and Wildfires Cannot Burn It All, Spring Breezes Bring It Back to Life."

With Flight, he could travel through the air as well.

Shen Qingling reached out and rubbed Tang San's head, praising him.

"Teacher is very satisfied. Keep working hard."

Feeling the large hand filled with fatherly affection, Tang San was overjoyed. "Yes, Teacher. I'll work hard."

He would definitely keep working hard. He needed to cultivate diligently and break through soon. Then he could defeat his father. His mother should be better suited to Teacher anyway, not that drunken father.

His mother had also told him that the reason she could condense a phantom was because Shen Qingling had given up a great deal of his origin power.

Otherwise, with her own abilities, it would have been virtually impossible for her to recover enough to condense a phantom.

That only confirmed it further: Father was suited to Teacher. Teacher already had a wife, though. If his master's wife was willing, being a second wife would be fine too. It might be hard on Mother, but she would surely be willing.

People always needed time for feelings to grow through daily companionship.

"Teacher, I think planting Mother in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well should allow her to regain her human form."

Tang San thought of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. The spiritual energy there was far too suitable for his mother, even more so than the Blue Silver Forest.

Shen Qingling nodded. "It certainly can. I had the same thought. The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well is rich in spiritual energy and can accelerate the recovery of your mother's origin. It won't be long before she can fully take human form."

A flash of delight crossed Ah Yin's eyes, and warmth welled up in her heart. After being trapped in that dark cave for seven years, being able to move somewhere full of life and recover her human form sooner was naturally the best possible outcome. She looked at Shen Qingling, her gratitude deepening further. This man always considered everything so thoroughly.

"Little San, carefully dig up your mother's original body. We're preparing to leave."

"Yes, Teacher!" Tang San answered crisply. He crouched down, moving with the utmost care as his fingers slowly brushed away the soil along the roots, afraid of causing even the slightest damage.

He knew his mother's original body was fragile. Every movement was exceptionally cautious, and he did not stop even when a fine sheen of sweat formed on his forehead.

As he dug up the main plant, he caught sight of a small Blue Silver Grass growing beside it. It had sprouted after being nourished by his mother's aura for years.

Tang San hesitated for a moment, then pulled out the small Blue Silver Grass and replanted it in Ah Yin's pit, gently pressing down the soil.

That should be enough to pass it off as the real thing.

Only after finishing did he stand up while holding Ah Yin's original body, a smile on his face. "Teacher, it's done."

Once everything was in order, Ah Yin returned to her Blue Silver Emperor body. Shen Qingling set off with everyone, heading all the way toward Sunset Forest.

When they arrived at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well again, the basin was empty. Dugu Bo and his grandson had already left. Presumably, they had completed the detoxification and martial soul evolution, then returned to Heaven Dou City to handle some matters.

Holding the Blue Silver Emperor's original body, Tang San walked to the spot east of the spring where the spiritual energy was most abundant.

He carefully dug through the soft soil, gently placed the plant inside, then covered it little by little and packed the earth down. His movements were so light, as though he feared damaging even a single leaf.

His heart was filled with anticipation. The spiritual energy here was a hundred times richer than in that dark cave, and it was nourished by the powers of ice and fire.

Mother would surely recover quickly. At the thought of seeing her take human form again before long, the corners of his mouth could not help but rise.

The instant it was buried, the Blue Silver Emperor's roots spread frantically in every direction, plunging deep into the fertile soil beside the spring.

The pure energy of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well flowed endlessly into its original body through the roots. The golden light on the plant grew brighter and brighter, its leaves slowly unfurling as the life force around it visibly strengthened.

Ah Yin's gentle voice came from within the plant, carrying obvious joy. "This place truly is wonderful. My recovery speed has increased considerably."

Shen Qingling raised a hand, sending a strand of pale golden origin power into the soil to nourish the spreading roots.

"Rest and recover in peace. It won't be long before you can take human form."

Blue light flickered faintly, and Ah Yin's figure emerged from the plant once more. Her form was a little more solid than it had been in the cave.

She looked at Shen Qingling and gave a slight bow, her voice gentle.

"Thank you, benefactor, for looking after us all this way. Please take extra care of Little San from now on."

After speaking, a faint, inexplicable melancholy swept through her heart. Shen Qingling would not often come to Sunset Forest in the future, and their opportunities to meet would surely be few. Thinking of that, she felt a subtle tightness in her chest.

She hurriedly suppressed the thought and frowned inwardly. Had her feelings for Hao truly faded?

Back then, she had willingly sacrificed herself. Yet years of waiting and disappointment, coupled with Shen Qingling helping her time and again, his steady and reliable manner, had somehow thrown her heart into disarray.

She quickly collected herself and warned herself not to entertain such wild thoughts. He had a wife and family, while she had a husband and child. This gratitude should not be mixed with anything else.

Shen Qingling did not notice the complexity in her eyes. His tone remained calm.

"Don't worry. Little San will be safe by my side. Rest here in peace. Taking human form as soon as possible is what matters most."

"Mm." Ah Yin nodded softly, her gaze falling on Tang San, filled with reluctance. Yet she also knew her son could not remain here forever.

She waved her hand, her voice gentle. "Little San, listen to your teacher and cultivate well. Mother will wait for you here."

Tang San nodded forcefully. "Don't worry, Mother. I'll definitely work hard and come visit whenever I can!"

At Shen Qingling's signal, he turned and led Tang San and Xiao Wu out.

Gu Yuena walked at his side. Her peripheral vision swept over Ah Yin's figure, and an imperceptible smile curled at her lips. She said nothing, only quickening her pace to follow Shen Qingling.

After a long journey, everyone finally returned to Notting City.

Tang San stretched his limbs and smiled at Shen Qingling.

"Teacher, my soul power is now level twenty-seven, and my martial soul has evolved into the Blue Silver King. I can completely graduate from Notting Academy now."

"I was thinking the same thing." Shen Qingling nodded slightly. "Once we finish some procedures, I'll take you somewhere more suitable for cultivation."

As the two spoke, a figure approached them from ahead. He had a short crew cut and a thin frame, holding a booklet on martial soul theory in his hands. It was Yu Xiaogang.

Yu Xiaogang spotted Tang San at once, and his eyes immediately lit up. He quickly stepped forward.

"Little San, you're back? I was just about to go to the academy to find you."

He looked Tang San up and down, vaguely sensing that the other's aura was much stronger than before. He was somewhat surprised.

Tang San's expression was indifferent, but his tone clearly conveyed his dislike for Yu Xiaogang. "Master, what are you here for again?"

He knew full well that Yu Xiaogang only treated his bullshit theories like treasures. Cultivating under Shen Qingling was true cultivation. Those so-called ten core competencies were not worth mentioning in the face of real strength and insight.

"I saw that you haven't returned to the academy these past few days. Your teacher must have taken you off to fool around again. Why not cultivate with me instead? I can give you a better future. This is an opportunity not to be missed."