"Not too many, not too few—exactly one hundred!" Zhu Ziyang said proudly and smugly.
"Good heavens!" Xia Yu was stunned. "You really opened my eyes. I already thought highly of you, but I still underestimated you!"
"So? Brother Yu, you still have time to back out," Zhu Ziyang teased.
"No way! I, Xia Yu, may have fallen from grace, but I can still come up with a mere five million gold soul coins!" Xia Yu exclaimed. "You're joking, right? I'm the young master of the Liuyun Commerce Guild. You think I'd be short on money?"
As he spoke, Xia Yu pulled out a metal card, handed it to Zhu Ziyang, and said, "Take this card to the Liuyun Guild branch in Shrek City. Give it to any manager and mention my name—they'll hand you the money."
"Got it!" Zhu Ziyang took the card without hesitation. "I'll be off, then."
He left the office.
—
"Brother, how did it go?" Jiang Nannan asked, coming up to him.
"Hahaha!" Zhu Ziyang couldn't hold back his excitement any longer and burst out laughing. His sudden joy left Jiang Nannan puzzled. Before she could ask, he swept her up in his arms and spun her around before setting her down. "Nannan, we're rich!"
"Really?!" She didn't quite understand, but her eyes lit up. If Zhu Ziyang said they were rich, then it had to be true.
"Mhm!" Zhu Ziyang then explained the deal with Xia Yu buying the Juyuan Pills.
"Tsk~ Teacher Xia Yu is so generous!" Jiang Nannan said, her eyes practically turning into gold coins.
"Hehe, let's go! Time to collect the money!" Zhu Ziyang said, grabbing her hand.
The two headed straight for Shrek City.
—
Zhu Ziyang successfully collected the five million gold soul coins. Xia Yu's name and card worked flawlessly—no drama, no trouble.
With the money in hand, the two enjoyed a lavish meal in the city.
After the meal, Zhu Ziyang went to a courier station operated by Shrek Academy, intended for student use. He sent Juyuan Pills, a letter, and two million gold soul coins to Zhu Changhe and Liang Ying.
Once done, the two returned to Shrek Academy, where they happened to run into Tang Ya and Yu Beibei, who had just returned from acquiring Tang Ya's soul ring.
"Ah! Zhu Ziyang! Thank you!" Tang Ya exclaimed the moment she saw him. She ran over and threw her arms around him, leaving both Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan stunned.
Jiang Nannan quickly recovered from the joy of both the windfall and seeing Tang Ya again. Her expression changed as she pulled Tang Ya's hand and said, "Xiao Ya, what are you doing? Let go of my brother Ziyang!"
"Hehe, sorry! I got a little too excited," Tang Ya said, releasing him and grabbing Jiang Nannan's hand instead. "I'm just so grateful and amazed. Zhu Ziyang's advice was incredible!"
"Hmph! Of course it was!" Jiang Nannan said proudly, then smiled and asked, "Xiao Ya, did you get your second soul ring?"
"Yup! And not just that!" Tang Ya said excitedly, her face flushed with joy.
"Ziyang, I really have to thank you!" Yu Beibei said sincerely as he approached.
"Sounds like Tang Ya gained a lot," Zhu Ziyang smiled. "Care to share?"
"Of course!" Tang Ya now trusted Zhu Ziyang completely. Without hesitation, she told them everything that had happened.
After hearing Zhu Ziyang's advice, she had thought long and hard. Confused and lost, she remembered her parents and the Tang Sect leaders of past generations. That gave her the courage to try a different path.
When Yu Beibei came looking for her, she told him her thoughts. He supported her and took her to the elders of his clan. Together, they went to the Yunhe Grand Canyon, as Mu En had suggested, in search of a suitable Tianxing Vine for her second soul ring.
When Tang Ya asked why Tianxing Vine instead of the Mo Jade Bamboo, Yu Beibei explained that the choice came from the family elders. He said Tianxing Vine and Ghost Vine were both vine-type soul beasts, but Tianxing Vine was more powerful. It satisfied Zhu Ziyang's logic while retaining the characteristics of her previous soul ring—making it the perfect fit.
Tang Ya fully agreed and went to the canyon to find a Tianxing Vine.
From her story, Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan learned that her second soul ring came from a 600-year-old Tianxing Vine.
The Tianxing Vine is a top-tier plant-type soul beast known for its incredible vitality and resilience. Legend says it is a cosmic lifeform that fell from the stars onto the Douluo Continent, capable of absorbing and attacking with starlight. Rare and powerful, a century-old Tianxing Vine is already as strong as a typical millennium plant-type soul beast.
For a Blue Silver Grass Soul Master, the Tianxing Vine is one of the best possible soul beasts. Not only does it drastically enhance the Blue Silver Grass's life force and resilience, but it also strengthens the user's body.
Tang Ya's experience proved this perfectly.
After absorbing the ring from the 600-year-old Tianxing Vine, her martial soul was restored and strengthened. Her soul power instantly rose to Level 22, and her first soul skill evolved into a more powerful form: Blue Silver Web. Her entire martial soul advanced—greater toughness, more vitality, and even her physical condition improved.
Most importantly, her second soul skill came from the Tianxing Vine's abilities: Blue Silver Star Chain. It released a vine infused with starlight that could entangle a target, reducing their defense, or wrap around an ally, boosting their defense and soul power recovery. As a control-type soul master, this skill was perfect for Tang Ya.
In short, Tang Ya underwent a complete transformation after obtaining her second soul ring. Her talent and power both received a major boost.
This was why she had been so emotional when she saw Zhu Ziyang again. She knew—without his advice, she would have stayed on her old path, likely repeating her parents' tragic fate.
So now, Tang Ya felt immense gratitude and admiration toward Zhu Ziyang.