Breakthrough and Farewell

The breakthrough came earlier than expected.

One night, Yun Zhiyu held her younger sister by the window, admiring the moon, when a strange sense of clarity suddenly rose within her.

It was like a riverbed clogged for years being washed open by a spring flood, like a dust-covered mirror being swept clean by a gentle breeze—she "saw" the flow of soul power within her body. Every strand was as solid as mercury, slowly circulating through her meridians, yet unable to find an outlet.

From level twenty-nine to level thirty, that barrier was as thin as a cicada's wing yet as tough as dragon sinew. She had deliberately suppressed herself for two years, honing every level to its utmost limit. Now, it had finally come naturally.

"Big Sister?" Yun Zhishu shifted in her arms, her amber-gold eyes half-open. "Why aren't you moving?"

Yun Zhiyu did not answer. She gently set her sister down and sat cross-legged on the windowsill. Her silver hair streamed behind her in the night wind, while the slit in her violet eyes opened fully, reflecting the stars that filled the sky.

The Torch Dragon Bloodline boiled within her meridians, and the phantom of the Winged Dragon raised its head in a long cry within her spiritual sea. She sensed a summons from the depths of the system space, from the ten slumbering Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Spirits—they were waiting for a host strong enough to bear their immense wills.

Northern Nether Black Tortoise! she silently called its name.

Within the system space, a dark-blue orb of light slowly rose. Inside it was the phantom of an enormous beast, with a turtle's head and a serpent's tail. Ancient River Map and Luo Writing were inscribed upon its shell. Every step it took stirred monstrous waves, and every low roar summoned tides from all four seas.

In the Northern Nether, there was a fish called Kun. No one knew how many thousand li it spanned. It transformed into a bird called Peng, and the Black Tortoise was the ancestor of the Kunpeng, the source of all waters, and the true spirit guarding the north.

"Are you willing to merge with me?" Yun Zhiyu's consciousness touched the orb of light.

The Black Tortoise phantom slowly opened its eyes. Deep blue shimmered within its serpent pupils, as though the entire Northern Nether Sea had been condensed inside them. "Torch Dragon Bloodline... ancestor of dragons. You are qualified."

"But I'm only ten."

"Age is merely a measure for mortals," the Black Tortoise said in a voice as deep as ocean tides. "Your soul has already endured through eternity."

Yun Zhiyu hesitated no longer. She drew upon her soul power, took the orb from the system space, and placed it before her brow. Dark-blue radiance erupted at once, enveloping her entire body. It was like a drop of water merging into the sea, like a star falling into the Milky Way.

Yun Zhishu was startled awake by the light. Her eyes widened as she watched her sister become wrapped in a dark-blue sphere of water. Ancient runes flowed across its surface, like some covenant formed at the beginning of heaven and earth.

She wanted to cry out, but a warm hand covered her mouth—Yali had appeared behind her at some point. The soul power of the Wish Angel quietly circulated, protecting them both within holy light.

"Don't disturb her," Yali said, her voice trembling but firm. "Zhiyu is breaking through."

Yun Ming stepped out from the shadows, his black robe dark as ink. He stared calmly at the sphere of water. He could sense the immense will contained within—it was no ordinary Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Spirit, but something more ancient and majestic, like a fragment of a god left behind in the mortal world.

"Hundred-thousand-year..." he murmured, disbelief in his voice. "Perhaps even higher."

Inside the sphere, Yun Zhiyu's consciousness was undergoing a transformation.

The Black Tortoise's power merged with the Torch Dragon Bloodline within her. Water and fire, yin and yang, softness and strength formed a perfect cycle through her meridians. Her bones were scoured and reforged by soul power, producing faint crackling sounds; her blood alternated between boiling and condensing until it finally turned into a strange liquid carrying a pale golden sheen.

Her spiritual sea was also undergoing tremendous changes. The once-vast lake was expanding.

In the depths of the lake, a Black Tortoise phantom slowly sank down. Its turtle head and serpent tail, the River Map and Luo Writing on its shell, the Xuanyuan Sword, and the Winged Dragon formed a triangular arrangement, like some ancient formation.

"Spirit Sea Realm..." Yun Zhiyu murmured within her consciousness.

Her spiritual power broke through alongside her soul power. Her former high-level Psychic Realm, washed over by the Black Tortoise's will, suddenly shattered its bottleneck and reached five hundred and ten points. Her spiritual sea transformed from a "lake" into an "ocean," boundless and unfathomably deep. Above its surface, the phantoms of the Xuanyuan Sword, the Winged Dragon, and the Black Tortoise reflected one another.

Boom—

The sphere of water shattered.

Yun Zhiyu slowly descended to the floor. Her silver hair clung wetly to her cheeks, yet not a single droplet remained on her skin—every drop evaporated into faint mist the instant it touched her.

She opened her eyes. The slit in her violet eyes had become complete dragon pupils. Deep within them, the serpent shadow of the Black Tortoise intertwined with the dragon shadow of the Torch Dragon, creating a strange and majestic totem.

"Level thirty-one," she said softly, sensing the mercury-solid soul power within her. "Rank-three Soul Elder."

Yali rushed forward and hugged her daughter tightly. At last, tears fell from her eyes. "You scared Mommy to death... you scared Mommy to death..."

Yun Ming stood to one side. The hand beneath his black robe trembled faintly, but he only watched in silence. His gaze fell upon the pale-blue soul power circulating around his daughter. Its aura was ancient and imposing, enough to make even him, a Limit Douluo, feel a trace of pressure.

"Third soul skill." Yun Zhiyu freed herself from her mother's embrace and formed a sword gesture with two fingers. "Black Tortoise: Azure Abyss Sword Shield."

Dark-blue soul power poured from her palm, condensing into a massive sword-shaped shield in the air. Ancient River Map and Luo Writing flowed over its surface, while turtle-shell patterns layered upon one another, each containing supreme defensive power. Even stranger, when Yun Ming casually flicked out a strand of soul power to test it, the shield trembled slightly and absorbed nearly half the impact, transforming it into Yun Zhiyu's own circulating soul power.

"Absorption and conversion?" Yun Ming's pupils contracted sharply.

"Yes." Yun Zhiyu withdrew her stance, and the shield dispersed into specks of blue light. "The Azure Sword Shield can absorb part of the impact and feed it back to me. It also carries a slowing effect. When an enemy attack is blocked by the shield, their movements will slow for an instant."

She paused, then added, "There is also a fourth soul skill, Black Tortoise: Azure Tide Seal, but I lack the soul power to use it. I will need to reach level forty. Its effect is a large-scale water-domain restriction that binds enemies, suppresses soul skills, and slowly heals injuries."

The room fell silent for a long time.

Long Yeyue entered from the doorway, leaning on her cane. A sharp glint flared in her cloudy eyes. "Two soul skills... and both are standard abilities. Girl, this Soul Spirit of yours..."

"Northern Nether Black Tortoise," Yun Zhiyu said honestly. "An ancient true spirit. It chose me."

Long Yeyue and Yun Ming exchanged a look. Both saw gravity and relief in the other's eyes. A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Spirit, and one at the level of an ancient true spirit. It meant Yun Zhiyu's future would far exceed their expectations—and it also meant the challenges awaiting her would be even more dangerous.

The third day after her breakthrough was the day of her official departure.

Yun Ming called his daughter to the study. His black robe was ink-dark, his back straight as a pine. He took a jet-black jade slip from a hidden compartment. Faint golden light flowed over its surface, as though some destructive power had been compressed within.

"A Quasi-God Strike." He placed the jade slip in his daughter's palm, his deep voice resonating like a cello. "I sealed thirty percent of my soul power inside. Crush it, and it will be released. It can block a Limit Douluo and injure a Quasi-God, but it can only be used once. Unless it is a matter of life and death, you are not to use it."

Yun Zhiyu clenched the jade slip, sensing the immense will contained within—it was her father's protection, his pride, and his silent yet profound love.

"Thank you, Dad."

"And this." Yun Ming took out a silver-white bracelet, its surface inlaid with fine soul-tool runes. "Tang Sect's latest communication bracelet. It can transmit voices over a thousand li and track your location in real time. No matter where you are in East Sea City, as long as you remain on this continent, you can contact Sea God's Pavilion."

He paused, and a faint smile curved his lips. "You can write your daily letter with this. It's faster than sending messages by carrier pigeon."

Yun Zhiyu's eyes grew warm. She fastened the bracelet around her wrist, its silver-white sheen forming a strange harmony with her pale skin.

Yali's preparations filled three storage soul tools.

There was a Federation gold card with enough credit to buy all of East Sea City; Federation Credits in cash for emergencies; clothes she had sewn herself, from undergarments to coats, every stitch carrying a mother's warmth; all kinds of dried soul beast meat and spirit fruit pastries in Yun Zhishu's favorite flavors, yet packed into her elder sister's luggage; and mountains of cultivation resources, from pills that restored soul power to medicinal solutions that tempered the body, from soul tools that aided meditation to bandages for emergency treatment. Nothing had been overlooked.

"Mom..." Yun Zhiyu's voice trembled as she looked at the three bulging storage soul tools.

"Take them." Yali fastened her luggage for her, her movements gentle but firm. "East Sea City is not like Shrek. You will have to rely on yourself in everything. These are your mother's concerns."

She pulled her daughter into her arms, resting her chin against the crown of silver hair. Her voice was light as a dream. "Zhiyu, Mommy doesn't ask you to become some legend. I only ask that you... come back safely."

Yun Zhiyu buried her face in her mother's shoulder, breathing in the comforting medicinal fragrance, and nodded firmly.

Zhen Hua arrived on the night before she left.

He had rushed all the way from Heaven Dou City, dusty and travel-worn, yet he did not even stop to rest before stuffing a ring into his disciple's hand. The ring was entirely black, with a tiny star embedded in its surface, refracting a profound gleam in the light.

"The Heavenly Forged Star Ring." Zhen Hua's tired voice could not conceal his pride. "It has one hundred thousand square meters of storage space. I forged it myself. There are some rare metals inside, as well as forging master badges from level one through level six. Don't rush to wear it. Keep a low profile, understand?"

He paused, then continued, "There's a Forging Masters Association in East Sea City. Its president is my junior brother, Mu Chen, a Saint Craftsman. If you run into trouble, tell him my name. If he dares refuse to help you, I'll break his legs."

Yun Zhiyu held the ring, feeling the rough yet tender warmth unique to her master, and solemnly bowed. "This disciple understands. Take care, Master."

"Take care my ass." Zhen Hua glared, though his eyes had reddened slightly. "I'll wait for you to come back and forge Heavenly Forging for me!"

Long Yeyue's gift was a protective jade pendant, paired with the one she had given Yun Zhishu six years ago. A strand of light-and-dark intertwined soul power was sealed within the warm jade. In a crisis, it could activate automatically and form a god-level shield.

"This old woman has little to give," she said as she tied the pendant around Yun Zhiyu's neck, her aged voice distant and profound. "Let this strand of soul power accompany you."

Zhuo Shi and Feng Wuyu gave more practical gifts—the former stuffed a bag of fire-attributed soul beast inner cores into her hands, saying, "East Sea City is cold and damp. Keep these to warm yourself"; the latter simply carried over a chest of forging materials, everything from refined iron to Spirit Forged metals. "Don't end up over there with nothing to practice on."

Cai Yue'er gave her a cloak woven from moonlight gauze, its silver radiance flowing as it warded off water and fire; Xu Lizhi steamed a basket of buns overnight and froze them in a storage soul tool. "Eat them on the road, Sister Zhiyu"; Yuan En stuffed her most precious possession, the only protective charm left to her by her family, into Yun Zhiyu's luggage; Ye Xinglan said nothing at all, merely hugging the Meteor Scabbard to her chest and standing outside the forging room for an entire night.

Na'er was the last to appear.

She held the Heavenbreaker spear, rare emotion stirring in her silver eyes, like feelings on the verge of overflowing. She walked up to Yun Zhiyu and removed a small ornament from her silver hair—a Silver Dragon-shaped hairpin Yali had personally placed in her hair when she first arrived at Shrek.

"Senior Sister." She placed the hairpin in Yun Zhiyu's palm, her voice as soft as falling snow.

"This... is for you. My Silver Dragon power is sealed inside. In a critical moment, it can block one attack for you."

Yun Zhiyu looked at the hairpin and felt the Silver Dragon power within it resonate with her own Torch Dragon Bloodline. Her eyes suddenly grew hot.

She remembered Na'er's distance and loneliness when she had first arrived a year ago; remembered their conflict that had nearly left both sides badly hurt; remembered their eventual reconciliation and, over the past year, the silent companionship of that silver figure always following behind her.

"Na'er." She pushed the hairpin back. "Keep it. Senior Sister has Dad's Quasi-God Strike, Mom's pills, Master's Star Ring, Elder Long's jade pendant... I already have too much. Your Silver Dragon power is your final protection."

Na'er shook her head. Rare stubbornness appeared in her silver eyes. "Senior Sister said that between friends, there is no such thing as precious."

Yun Zhiyu froze for a moment, then laughed. She remembered saying those very words when she had upgraded Yuan En's gauntlets. She had not expected Na'er to return them to her unchanged.

"...All right." In the end, she accepted the hairpin and tied it beside her Tang Sect Bracelet. "Senior Sister will keep it, but you must promise me—"

"What?"

"Cultivate well and grow up well." Yun Zhiyu rubbed her silver hair. "When Senior Sister comes back, I want to see a stronger Na'er."

"...Mm."

On the day of departure, morning frost covered Wutong Avenue outside Sea God's Pavilion.

Yun Zhiyu carried her luggage on her back, her silver hair tied in a ponytail, the slit in her violet eyes hidden deep within, like a small statue about to set off on a long journey. Behind her stood Yun Ming, Yali, Yun Zhishu, Yuan En, Ye Xinglan, Xu Lizhi, Na'er, Feng Wuyu, Zhuo Shi, Long Yeyue... Everyone was there. Everyone was silent.

"Big Sister!" Yun Zhishu finally could not bear it any longer. She rushed over and wrapped herself around Yun Zhiyu's leg, tears striking the hem of her clothes in large drops. "You promised! You have to think about me every day! You're not allowed to forget me!"

"I promised." Yun Zhiyu crouched down to meet her sister's gaze and wiped away her tears. "Big Sister never breaks her word."

"Pinky promise?"

"Pinky promise."

Their little fingers hooked together and swayed amid the morning frost. Yun Zhishu finally smiled, hugging the Violet Firmament Sword even tighter, as if holding onto a promise.

Yun Ming stepped forward and lifted his daughter into his arms—this was something he often did when she was little. Now she was already ten, and had grown taller. Yet he still wanted to hold her once more. His black robe spread like wings, sheltering everyone beneath its shadow. His voice was low, carrying a father's pride and reluctance.

"Go. Shrek is your home. It always will be."

Yun Zhiyu buried her face in her father's shoulder, breathing in his reassuring scent. "I know. That's why... I will come back."

He set her down. She turned and slowly walked along Wutong Avenue. Morning frost cracked beneath her feet with faint sounds, like a silent farewell. She did not look back, because she feared that if she did, she would never be able to keep walking.

Yet her spiritual power quietly spread outward, "seeing" everything behind her—Yali leaned against Yun Ming's shoulder as tears silently fell; Yun Zhishu clutched the Violet Firmament Sword, her small chest heaving violently; Yuan En's fists were clenched until her knuckles turned white; Ye Xinglan pressed the Meteor Scabbard to her chest; the smile on Xu Lizhi's chubby face had stiffened; Na'er's silver hair danced in the morning breeze, her silver eyes reflecting Yun Zhiyu's departing figure like a snow statue about to melt.

Wait for me to come back, she silently said. Wait for me to change everything. Wait for me... to show you a better world.

At the end of Wutong Avenue, morning light pierced the clouds and dyed the sea molten gold. Yun Zhiyu boarded Sea God's Pavilion's private flying car. In the final instant before the cabin door closed, her silver hair swept back like a fish swimming into the deep sea.

The Tang Sect Bracelet on her wrist glimmered faintly. Zhen Hua's Star Ring flowed with profound light around her finger. Na'er's Silver Dragon Hairpin rested alongside her father's Quasi-God Jade Slip against her skin, sending waves of warmth through her.

She closed her eyes and felt the solid soul power of level thirty-one within her, the vast spiritual power of the Spirit Sea Realm, and the imposing presence of the Northern Nether Black Tortoise slowly sinking through her spiritual sea.

East Sea City, she silently called the name. Tang Wulin, Gu Yue, Xie Xie, Xu Xiaoyan...

The flying car rose into the sky, leaving Shrek Academy behind, leaving the shimmering waters of Sea God Lake behind, and temporarily leaving everyone she loved behind.

Ahead lay new stories, new challenges, new bonds, and—

She opened her eyes. The slit in her violet eyes opened fully, reflecting the Flowing Cloud Series beyond the window, like some ancient prophecy and like fate's gentlest gift.

—new hope.