The First Demon King (Part 1)

Before they knew it, six years had passed, and Lin Qing, Xiao Wu, and Tang San were about to graduate from Nuoding Academy.

"Xiao Wu, which advanced academy are you planning to attend after graduation?" Tang San asked.

Tang San looked uneasy, as though he feared Xiao Wu had already chosen a destination and he would no longer be able to study at the same academy as her. After all, he had already promised his teacher that he would enroll at Shrek Academy in Suotuo City, Balak Kingdom.

Xiao Wu looked at Lin Qing, took his hand, and said, "I'll go wherever Lin Qing goes."

Seeing how attached Xiao Wu was to him, Tang San felt a stab of pain in his heart, but he did not show it. In Tang San's current mind, Xiao Wu would never truly look at him until he had defeated Lin Qing. Thus, seeing Xiao Wu rely on Lin Qing so deeply only strengthened Tang San's resolve. At the same time, he once again marked Lin Qing for death in his heart.

Lin Qing shook his head. "I haven't decided yet. After all, I don't know much about the advanced Soul Master Academies on the continent."

Not knowing much was true, but not having decided was a lie. With his talent, if he went to Heaven Dou, even Heaven Dou Royal Academy, which only accepted nobles, would have to politely invite him in.

However, that place was still too dangerous for Xiao Wu. She had no way to conceal her aura yet, and if the three Soul Douluo at Heaven Dou Royal Academy examined her carefully, they could still discover her identity. Not to mention that Heaven Dou City had a Titled Douluo who could appear at any time.

Besides, compared to Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Lin Qing would rather attend Shrek Academy. That place was quite interesting, wasn't it?

In truth, it made no difference to Lin Qing whether he attended a Soul Master Academy or not. An academy could not teach him anything at all.

"Then, Xiao Wu, my teacher happened to recommend Shrek Academy to me. Would you like to go with me?" Tang San asked eagerly.

Xiao Wu looked at Lin Qing again.

Seeing Xiao Wu's reaction, Tang San felt somewhat powerless. He had no choice but to invite Lin Qing as well. "Lin Qing, since you haven't decided which academy to attend, why not come to Shrek with us?"

"Yeah, Lin Qing, let's go together. We'll have company," Xiao Wu said sweetly.

"Fine, then we'll go to Shrek," Lin Qing said.

"However, I still have some matters to handle before going to Shrek Academy, so I may leave a few days later. When the time comes, you and Tang San can go to Suotuo City first. I'll arrive later," Lin Qing said.

"But, Lin Qing, I don't want to be separated from you."

Over the past six years, Lin Qing and Xiao Wu had practically eaten and slept together, inseparable at all times. Xiao Wu had become completely dependent on him, so she was extremely unwilling to leave him.

"Alright, Xiao Wu, you can't always rely on me. You need to learn to be independent too, or you'll become useless," Lin Qing said, pinching her nose.

"But I just don't want to be apart from you." As she spoke, Xiao Wu's voice began to tremble with tears. She hugged Lin Qing and pressed her head against his chest.

Seeing Xiao Wu like this, Lin Qing could only helplessly stroke her head and say in a doting tone, "Alright, Xiao Wu. It's only for a few days, not as if we'll never see each other again. Besides, didn't we also separate when we hunted Spirit Rings on our own before? The longest time was nearly a month. It's only a few days this time. I believe you can endure it."

"Yeah, Xiao Wu. Lin Qing must have something extremely important to do, and bringing you along might be inconvenient. We can just wait for him in Suotuo City. There's no need to cause Lin Qing trouble right now," Tang San jumped in to persuade her.

When he heard that Lin Qing had business to attend to and could only let Xiao Wu go to Suotuo City with him, Tang San was overjoyed. As long as he could spend time alone with Xiao Wu, even if they merely talked, it would be tremendous progress.

Seeing Tang San trying to persuade her too, how could Lin Qing not understand what Tang San was thinking? However, as he looked at Xiao Wu in his arms, his gaze toward Tang San was filled with disdain. Still, just in case, Lin Qing placed a mark on Xiao Wu so that he could transfer her into Infinity Castle if she encountered danger.

"Then hurry up and come, or else, or else I won't speak to you for three days!" With tears still at the corners of her eyes, Xiao Wu fiercely threatened Lin Qing.

"Alright, I'll hurry. I'll do my best to catch up with you," Lin Qing promised.

Afterward, Lin Qing parted from Xiao Wu, while Xiao Wu followed Tang San onto the road to Suotuo City.

Lin Qing began making his own arrangements. He stayed at the academy for three or four days, estimating the timing in his heart. Only after Tang Hao had likely left completely did Lin Qing set out for Holy Soul Village.

By Lin Qing's calculations, Tang Hao would remain at Tang San's side during this period, protecting Tang San and Xiao Wu. In the original story, Tang Hao did not disappear until after Tang San enrolled and Tang Hao gave Zhao Wuji a vicious beating. Lin Qing guessed that was when Tang Hao temporarily returned to Holy Soul Village.

During this time, Lin Qing had ample opportunity. He had nearly a month to act.

Lin Qing arrived at Holy Soul Village disguised, avoiding the villagers so that Tang Hao would not find any clues and trace them back to him.

Then, based on the original story's description, Lin Qing spent a full two days before finally finding that waterfall.

"This should be the place. Tang Hao's wife, Tang San's mother, Ah Yin, the Blue Silver Emperor, should be inside, right?" Lin Qing muttered as he looked at the waterfall before him.

"Water Breathing: Third Form: Flowing Dance!" Lin Qing unleashed Water Breathing, turning into a stream of water and merging into the waterfall. He flowed upstream against the current, passed through the waterfall, and arrived inside a stone cave.

Upon entering the cave, Lin Qing put away his Nichirin Blade, transformed into a fierce demon, and walked deeper inside.

At the end stood a stone door. Lin Qing felt around the wall for over ten minutes before finally finding a protrusion.

Lin Qing pressed it down. With a rumbling sound, the stone door opened, revealing a stalk of Blue Silver Grass that emitted a faint blue glow.

The Blue Silver Grass had thick roots, and golden patterns ran across its leaves, signifying her noble status as the emperor of the Blue Silver Grass clan.

Yet this Blue Silver Grass had been planted in this dark, sunless cave. It looked weak and wilted, its leaves drooping.

"Tell me, did Tang Hao plant you in a cave without sunlight because he was foolish, or did he do it deliberately?" Lin Qing murmured as he stroked the leaves of Ah Yin, the Blue Silver Emperor.

"Forget it. Once you become a demon, you'll sincerely acknowledge me as your master anyway. There's no need to go through so much trouble just to make you see Tang Hao and Tang San's true faces so that you'll be loyal to me." With that, Lin Qing summoned his second Martial Soul.

"First Spirit Skill: Azure Blue Spider Lily."

Lin Qing activated his first Spirit Skill, and an Azure Blue Spider Lily radiating dense demonic aura immediately appeared in his hand. He held the spider lily above Ah Yin and used Soul Power to turn it into liquid.

The spider lily's juice poured over her leaves, flowed down her stem into the soil where she was rooted, and was greedily absorbed by her roots.

After absorbing the essence of the Azure Blue Spider Lily, the Blue Silver Emperor emitted a faint blue light, and an aura that did not belong to this world gradually appeared around her. That aura was demonic aura. Once it covered her entire body, she would completely transform into a fierce demon.

Moreover, she would be a fierce demon with the potential to become a Demon King.

Lin Qing no longer paid attention to Ah Yin's transformation. Instead, he began searching the stone walls around the cave for something.