To celebrate the end of the year and the upcoming New Year, I'll be running a promo: 40% OFF WITH CODE 97167. If you've wanted to check out the advanced chapters and Patreon exclusive novel, now's your chance! Promo ends on January 1st 2026 11:59pm AEDT!
---------------------
"You've broken through to Level 50?"
At Bei Bei's residence in Shrek City, everyone at the dining table was shocked upon hearing this news!
"My goodness."
Xu Sanshi let wine slip from his cup, amazed. "I remember it hasn't even been a year since you broke through to Level 40."
"Eight months."
Lifting his cup, Chen Junting calculated for everyone.
"After absorbing the ten-thousand-year soul ring, I was at Level 42. During the vacation, I absorbed a 'soul bone' and broke through to Level 45. Combined with Elder Mu's gift and two deep meditations, I reached Level 49. Finally, with the help of a left leg bone, I reached the bottleneck of Level 50."
Hearing this, Bei Bei took over the conversation.
"So you're about to obtain your fifth soul ring."
Chen Junting nodded. "Yes. Coincidentally, Yuhao and Xiao Xiao have also reached the bottlenecks of Level 40 and Level 30 respectively. I'll apply to the academy and use up the rewards from the tournament."
"Xiao Xiao? The girl with the twin martial souls?"
"That's her."
Chen Junting nodded slightly. Xiao Xiao's breakthrough to Level 30 was something he had just learned from Wu Feng. Originally, Xiao Xiao had planned to return to her sect during the vacation to have them handle it.
But since he was going to hunt for soul rings anyway, he might as well take her along. The academy probably wouldn't mind.
Hearing about going to the Great Star Dou Forest, Wang Dong, who had been sitting quietly eating, suddenly became energetic!
Leaning forward, he asked with concern: "Can you take me along this time? I've never been to the Great Star Dou Forest before."
Everyone looked at him in surprise upon hearing this.
Never been to the Great Star Dou Forest?
That was truly rare!
While Chen Junting was inwardly skeptical, Wang Dong's words suddenly gave him an idea: Wang Dong wasn't the type to lie. And from the original story's descriptions, Wang Dong and even the sect disciples of the Hao Tian Fortress might obtain their soul rings from divine-bestowed soul rings.
Not all of them, but at least some.
If that was the case... would he have a chance to obtain a divine-bestowed soul ring himself? This might help him research how divine-bestowed soul rings are formed, potentially leading to a method for creating artificial soul rings.
As Chen Junting was deep in thought, Huo Yuhao had already asked in confusion to Wang Dong's words: "Wang Dong, if you've never been to the Great Star Dou Forest, where did you get your soul rings?"
After all, since the disappearance of artificially cultivated soul beast forests, apart from the Great Star Dou Forest, Demon Devil Mountains, and Ming Dou Mountains, there were basically no forests with thousand-year soul beasts in the wild.
Moreover, Wang Dong's soul rings were of such high quality.
Perhaps feeling overconfident, or perhaps trusting everyone present, Wang Dong revealed without much defense that his soul rings came from an important place in his family.
However, the specific details remained deeply guarded.
But even so, this confirmed Chen Junting's suspicions.
"This..."
Seeing Wang Dong's enthusiasm for going to the Great Star Dou Forest undiminished, Huo Yuhao looked at Chen Junting with difficulty. Clearly, he wanted senior brother Junting to make the decision, as he couldn't bring himself to refuse.
Under Wang Dong's expectant gaze, "No."
The firm tone directly shattered his fantasy.
Chen Junting's finger lightly tapped the table, his tone severe. "Do you think the Great Star Dou Forest is some safe place? Taking you along... do you think this is a sightseeing trip? This is soul hunting!"
"Young brother Chen is right."
Bei Bei's tone was equally firm, showing agreement.
Anyone who had been to the Great Star Dou Forest knew its inner regions were extremely dangerous. Anyone going there needed to be extremely cautious.
Taking another person along?
Was he asking for trouble?
"Senior brother." Seeing Bei Bei also oppose him, Wang Dong wanted to argue back but was cut off by the next words. "Junior brother, this matter is non-negotiable. At most, when you need your fourth soul ring later, we can go to the Great Star Dou Forest then."
Is this really about wanting to go to the Great Star Dou Forest?
This is about not wanting to be separated from Yuhao!
Realizing he couldn't get his way, Wang Dong couldn't help but feel sullen, bowing his head and picking at the food on the table.
Seeing this, Bei Bei couldn't help but shake his head.
Then he looked at Chen Junting, slightly hesitant.
"Young brother Chen, could I trouble you with something?"
"Senior brother Bei Bei, what trouble? If there's something, just say it directly. No need to beat around the bush." As he spoke, Chen Junting waved his hand, gesturing for Bei Bei to continue.
"Actually, it's about Xiao Ya. She's broken through to Level 40."
Hearing this, Chen Junting's cup suddenly paused.
Just at this moment, "What are you all talking about?"
Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.
Tang Ya was seen slowly approaching from the kitchen direction, carrying a plate of food. After setting it down, Xu Sanshi quickly said.
"Xiao Ya, tell Nannan and Auntie to stop cooking. There's already more than enough food for everyone. More would just be wasted. Have them rest and come eat while it's hot."
"Alright, this is the last plate anyway."
Tang Ya pursed her lips while rolling her eyes.
Every movement carried an indescribable charm.
Yet this very grace made Chen Junting see through her.
If the past Tang Ya was like a Blue Silver Grass—plain but pure—then the current Tang Ya was more like a mandala flower, with poison hidden beneath her beautiful exterior.
This was a change in her aura, representing a change in Tang Ya's heart. Even though she seemed to be smiling now, the gloom in her eyes was hard to hide.
In other words...
"I was just telling young brother Chen about your breakthrough to Level 40." Bei Bei met Tang Ya's gaze, a sweet smile appearing on his lips. "Since they're going soul hunting anyway, you can go with them too. You'll definitely get a very suitable soul ring."
"A very suitable one for me..."
For some reason, Tang Ya smiled self-deprecatingly.
But this smile vanished in an instant, so fast that even Bei Bei hadn't fully processed it.
In his daze, he could only think he had seen wrong.
Coming back to his senses, he continued to speak.
But when Bei Bei mentioned that a certain high-level academy official would also be going along, a flicker of confusion appeared in Tang Ya's eyes. She then made excuses, using the need to serve food as a reason to hurriedly leave, seemingly not wanting Bei Bei to continue the topic.
"Bei Bei, what's wrong with your Xiao Ya?"
Even Xu Sanshi had noticed something was off with Tang Ya. Looking at Bei Bei, he saw that the previously cheerful man now wore a forced smile.
"Senior brother, what's wrong with teacher Xiao Ya?"
Seeing Bei Bei silent, Wang Dong hurriedly pressed.
"Xiao Ya has become insecure."
Bei Bei couldn't help but sigh deeply. "Ever since we returned from the fighting tournament, Xiao Ya has been like this." He looked at Xu Sanshi and continued: "And I've asked Auntie too. It turns out that since we left Shrek City, Xiao Ya's mood has been getting lower each day. It's only recently that it's completely erupted."
But at this moment, Chen Junting suddenly asked him bluntly, "Senior brother Bei Bei, haven't you noticed anything else that's wrong?"
Anything else wrong?
Compared to before, Bei Bei's face was now gloomy.
Hadn't he noticed anything wrong with Tang Ya?
Of course he had!
Just her cultivation level alone was hard to explain.
Without the help of soul bones, pills, or similar items, for Xiao Ya to advance 9 levels through her own talent in just over a year was practically impossible, yet she had done it.
"Holy crap."
Xu Sanshi slammed his cup on the table, exclaiming: "Xiao Ya couldn't have used some method that damages her foundation, could she?"
Chen Junting shook his head, his gaze fixed on Bei Bei.
"Senior sister Xiao Ya's mindset has clearly developed problems. Senior brother Bei Bei, you've kept the person, but her heart is completely lost."
These words made Bei Bei fall silent immediately.
He was smart enough to understand Chen Junting's meaning.
But he was reluctant to believe it.
His pleading eyes turned to Chen Junting, only to receive a shake of the head in response. This gave a faint glimmer of hope in Bei Bei's eyes.
However, in the following moments, facing the table full of delicious food, Bei Bei found it tasteless, and the others were also distracted.
This left Jiang Nannan and the others who later joined the table deeply puzzled.
But none of them explained what had happened.
...
Night fell, lights gradually dimmed.
Yet a figure came to a corner of the city. Blue Silver Grass grew here, though some had already withered.
When this graceful figure stopped, under the moonlight, her true appearance was revealed. It was none other than Tang Ya.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."
It was unclear to whom these repeated apologies were directed.
As a faint purplish-red glow emanated from her eyes, Tang Ya summoned her martial soul. Blue-black vines instantly shot out from the ground, covering a small patch of grass.
After three breaths, the vines retreated.
Left on the ground were only withered Blue Silver Grass.
Just as Tang Ya was about to repeat the process...
"Xiao Ya."
A familiar voice suddenly came from behind her.
Tang Ya's delicate body trembled violently, then slowly turned around.
Bei Bei stood at the forefront, accompanied by Xu Sanshi, Jiang Nannan, Chen Junting, Ning Tian, He Caitou, and Huo Yuhao—a quasi-Soul King, five Soul Ancestors, and a quasi-Soul Ancestor appeared behind her. Except for Bei Bei, the other six gradually formed a hexagram formation, surrounding Tang Ya at the center.
"Bei Bei, have you come to capture me?"
At this moment, Tang Ya ignored everyone else, looking only at Bei Bei, her eyes filled with indescribable emotions.
"Xiao Ya." Jiang Nannan, seeing her good friend in such a state, couldn't help but show sorrow in her eyes.
But more heartbroken than her was Bei Bei.
Looking at the withered Blue Silver Grass, his heart was both worried and relieved. At least Xiao Ya hadn't completely fallen, everything could still be salvaged.
"Xiao Ya, stop this."
"Stop?"
At this moment, Tang Ya's sorrow grew even deeper.
The next second, she completely erupted!
"Bei Bei, I can't stop anymore. Whenever I close my eyes now, all I see is the scene of my parents' tragic death. My blood feud with the Iron Blood Sect—I can't hold it back any longer!"
"I want revenge!"
As she spoke, she slowly raised her hand.
When Blue Silver Grass appeared, everyone thought she was about to attack, but Tang Ya revealed the secret of her Blue Silver Grass martial soul—her martial soul naturally possessed a devouring attribute.
Now, she probably couldn't turn back.
"It's not too late!" Bei Bei's gaze was resolute. "As long as you haven't indiscriminately killed innocents to increase your cultivation, there's still a way."
"Xiao Ya, come back with me now! Don't forget, later we're supposed to work with junior brother to revive the Tang Sect!"
At this moment, a tear slid down from the corner of Tang Ya's eye. "Bei Bei, I no longer have the heart or strength to revive the Tang Sect. What I want now is revenge! The responsibility of reviving the Tang Sect can only be entrusted to you."
"Xiao Ya!"
Seeing this, Bei Bei still wanted to continue awakening her.
But the next second, "Swish—"
A sound of wind breaking through air cut through, and Tang Ya instantly lost consciousness.
"Why so much talking."
Chen Junting had already appeared behind Tang Ya, one hand pressing against her back. With a slight push, she fell into Bei Bei's arms. "With all this time wasted, it's better to take senior sister Xiao Ya back first and see what solutions we can find."
Bei Bei held Tang Ya, his eyebrows trembling slightly.
"Alright! I'll go beg Ancestor right now."
------------------------------------------------------
40+ Chapters Ahead: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)