Ah Yin, You Wouldn't Want Your Husband to Get Hurt, Would You?

Holy Soul Village, rear mountain.

Two auras as deep and vast as the abyss descended.

Using the Qili Belt's third soul skill—Hurricane Blade—Xu Peinian rode the wind and landed steadily.

"Grandpa Golden Crocodile, sorry to trouble you."

"Don't worry, Xiao Nian."

As soon as he finished speaking, Golden Crocodile Douluo's figure vanished abruptly, leaving only Light Feather Douluo behind to ensure Xu Peinian's safety.

A quarter of an hour later.

Golden Crocodile Douluo returned to Xu Peinian's side and shook his head.

"There's no one nearby, much less any Titled Douluo-level soul masters."

"Xiao Nian, are you sure Tang Hao lives around here?"

Xu Peinian could hardly say outright that he had read the original novel, so he could only hedge.

"I inferred it from some known information. Someone said they saw a middle-aged man with a similar appearance in Holy Soul Village. Maybe they mistook someone else for him."

"Then shall we head back now?" Light Feather Douluo interjected.

"Let's search around a little longer. We might find something unexpected."

Xu Peinian knew Tang Hao had most likely gone to protect Tang San by now. According to the original timeline, Tang San should already have become part of Shrek Academy, and Tang Hao still had to give Zhao Wuji a beating for Tang San.

But though the man was gone, his lair remained. Xu Peinian had not forgotten about "Ah Yin," planted behind the waterfall, or the Hundred Thousand Year Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone she had produced.

Even if he could not tell the two worshippers directly, he could guide them toward the waterfall.

Having made up his mind, Xu Peinian immediately sprang into action.

His route seemed scattered, yet it subtly led straight toward the waterfall on the rear mountain.

Before long, the three arrived before the waterfall.

Xu Peinian said, "Let's go in and take a look. Maybe there's some treasure hidden behind it, just like in the storybooks."

"Haha, then we'll accompany Xiao Nian on this little adventure."

The two worshippers spoke casually, as though they were merely indulging a junior's whim.

Golden Crocodile Douluo lightly pointed a finger, and a gap immediately exploded open in the waterfall.

The three then flashed through it and entered behind the curtain of water.

The two worshippers stood atop a naturally formed stone platform and briefly swept the area with their powerful spiritual power. Then both wore strange expressions.

There really was something behind this stone wall?!

"Heh, kid, there really is a hidden chamber behind this stone wall."

As he spoke, Light Feather Douluo raised his hand and pressed down. A section of rock on the wall instantly sank inward, followed by a deep rumbling tremor.

A doorway appeared before Xu Peinian and the others.

The three entered the cave.

The passage within was dark and stretched deep inside.

Before long, they reached the end of the passage.

The surroundings were no longer dim, and their view broadened considerably.

It appeared to be a secret chamber of only around ten square meters.

Xu Peinian looked upward and saw a stone opening in the ceiling.

This was the sole source of light in the entire chamber.

Directly beneath the opening was a small mound of earth, crudely piled yet clearly man-made.

A slender stalk of Blue Silver Grass grew upon it.

This Blue Silver Grass was somewhat different from the ordinary Blue Silver Grass found everywhere in the forest outside.

Faint golden patterns ran across its leaves, making it seem even more noble and extraordinary.

Xu Peinian knew this was no ordinary Blue Silver Grass, but the emperor among grasses—the Blue Silver Emperor.

It was also Tang Hao's wife, Tang San's mother, the hundred-thousand-year transformed soul beast Ah Yin.

Perhaps sensing the unfamiliar auras on the three of them, the Blue Silver Grass's branches and leaves trembled lightly, as though it were deeply afraid of them.

Seeing this, a trace of mischievous amusement arose in Xu Peinian's heart. He spoke to it in a teasing tone.

"Madam, don't get worked up. You wouldn't want your husband to get injured because of you, would you?"

As he spoke, Xu Peinian extended his right hand toward the Blue Silver Grass's leaves.

It was unclear whether the Blue Silver Grass understood Xu Peinian's words, but its branches and leaves tilted backward, seeming highly resistant to his touch.

Yet in the end, Xu Peinian's hand still touched its leaves.

The Blue Silver Grass gave a slight shudder, then gave up resisting and allowed Xu Peinian's large hand to stroke it freely.

"Xiao Nian, what are you doing?"

Golden Crocodile Douluo's voice held a trace of confusion. He could tell that this Blue Silver Grass was extraordinary, but he could not understand why Xu Peinian was saying such strange things and making such strange gestures.

"Ahem." Xu Peinian withdrew his right hand, clenched it into a fist, and covered his mouth as he explained awkwardly, "I was just joking with it."

"Joking? Can a stalk of Blue Silver Grass understand what you're saying?"

The Blue Silver Grass before them was simply too small. Even if it appeared unusual, its cultivation could not possibly be very high, much less high enough to develop intelligence.

Golden Crocodile Douluo's confusion was entirely understandable.

"Perhaps."

Xu Peinian answered vaguely, his gaze sweeping over the surroundings.

A moment later, Xu Peinian raised his hand and suddenly struck the stone wall beside him with his palm.

At the same time, a hidden compartment sprang open.

Xu Peinian peered inside and saw that it contained only a black box.

Opening the black lead box, he found a crystalline blue-gold soul bone lying quietly within.

"This... this is a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone?!"

Golden Crocodile Douluo's astonished voice sounded beside Xu Peinian's ear. When he turned around, Light Feather Douluo's expression was no better.

Had they really encountered the kind of fortuitous opportunity that only appeared in novels and storybooks?

These things looked somewhat familiar. Could it be...

Golden Crocodile Douluo and Light Feather Douluo exchanged a glance but did not investigate further.

As long as Xu Peinian was not in danger, they would not question him excessively. Besides, this was a tremendous stroke of luck.

They had obtained a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone for nothing. Even the experienced pair felt somewhat dazed.

After all, despite Spirit Hall's accumulation over so many years, it did not possess many Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones, much less Hundred Thousand Year ones.

"Grandpa Golden Crocodile, please take that Blue Silver Grass with us too. Keep it alive."

Xu Peinian's words echoed through the chamber, breaking the brief silence.

Golden Crocodile Douluo nodded slightly and took the Blue Silver Grass away together with the small mound of earth.

Xu Peinian also closed the black box containing the Hundred Thousand Year Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone, then stepped over to the two worshippers.

Looking at the completely emptied secret chamber, the three did not linger any longer and headed off in one direction.

On the way back, Xu Peinian and the others picked up Zhu Zhuqing and Hu Liena along the way, then rushed back to Spirit City at full speed.

After returning to Spirit Hall Academy, Xu Peinian and Hu Liena walked forward side by side.

Zhu Zhuqing, however, remained where she was, her clear, secluded eyes watching the handsome young man and beautiful young woman ahead.

The girl's face remained as cool and placid as water, no different from usual.

Yet no one knew how violently her heart churned beneath that calm exterior.

She stood there for a long time. Only after Xu Peinian's back had disappeared completely from sight did Zhu Zhuqing finally move, walking in the direction opposite to the two of them.

Tonight, she did not want to return to the dormitory.

Even though it had once been the place she looked forward to most.