Chapter 248: Ah Yin Becomes a Servant
Qian Renxue left. As she exited the palace, many onlookers caught sight of the Crown Prince's disappointed face.
Everything was proceeding according to plan.
The Crown Prince had been stopped by a beggar pleading for justice, the beggar had been ruthlessly killed by a royal guard, and then the Crown Prince had gone to confront Emperor Xue Ye—only to leave the palace dejected.
Word of this chain of events spread swiftly throughout Heaven Dou City.
Even with guards strictly limiting discussion, one could only silence the streets, not the shadows.
Most commoners, upon hearing the news, immediately concluded that Emperor Xue Ye was cruel and inept.
The Crown Prince wished to save the people, but lacked the power to change their fate.
A storm was brewing in the city—silent, but inexorable.
As the architect of it all, Luo Ling, meanwhile, had arrived at the Icefire Yin Yang Well.
Returning there after years, he found it transformed.
More medicinal herbs had sprung forth, and even some immortal grasses had regrown and taken root.
At the center of the spring, a gentle, elegant woman sat quietly.
Sensing an intruder, she opened her eyes.
In an instant, thick strands of Blue Silver Grass surged from beneath her feet, lashing toward the newcomer.
"What do you intend to do to your master?" a low voice echoed through the cavern.
The strands froze midair.
Seated beside the spring, the woman gazed at the figure ahead, expression complex, and sighed softly.
"What are you doing here again?" she asked wearily.
Luo Ling approached slowly. The woman before him was the Blue Silver Empress—Ah Yin.
Ah Yin had become his servant in full. The soul seed had completely eroded her—she was the first to be wholly parasitized.
Looking at the beautiful woman, Luo Ling thought of Tang Hao, and a trace of dark amusement rose within him.
There were two outcomes for the soul seed's parasitism.
In one, the seed took root and grew into a new soul, devouring the host's original soul while inheriting everything about them—yet, in essence, becoming someone else.
In the other, the seed completely eroded the host's soul. The host retained their self and memories, indistinguishable from before—but in the presence of Luo Ling, they could not resist or perform any act that might harm him.
Ah Yin was the second case.
"I came to see my servant," Luo Ling said with a wicked smile. "You've been here long enough. It's time to leave."
Ah Yin blinked, surprised he would allow her to depart.
Though she had once sacrificed herself, her revival had restored her to the power of a seventy-to-eighty-thousand-year soul beast—nearing her former peak as a hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Empress.
"You would let me leave? There's nowhere else suitable for my cultivation outside," Ah Yin said calmly. "It will slow my recovery to a hundred thousand years."
"What difference does it make if you recover to a hundred thousand?" Luo Ling asked.
Ah Yin opened her mouth—but had no answer.
Even if she regained her peak, what then? She was still a slave.
"I'm taking you out—to see Tang Hao and Tang San," Luo Ling added.
At those names, her expression finally changed.
A flicker of panic crossed her eyes.
"What do you intend to do to Ah Hao?" she asked quickly.
Luo Ling smiled. "The Clear Sky Sect set a condition for Tang Hao and Tang San's return—to kill me. What do you think I'll do?"
Months earlier, when Tang Yuehua returned to the capital, she had relayed everything that had happened at the Clear Sky Sect.
Hearing that Luo Ling intended to kill Tang Hao, Ah Yin grew more anxious. She tried to speak, but a wave of dizziness washed over her—the soul seed interfering with her will.
Watching her pained expression, Luo Ling said blandly, "Remember your station. As my servant, do not harbor other thoughts. Obey."
…
Elsewhere, Tang Hao had brought Tang San to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
There, Tang San reunited with his old Shrek companions—Yu Tianheng, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar.
"Long time no see," Tang San said, genuinely moved.
Among the Shrek companions, these four had formed a true unit—different from Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, or even Xiao Wu.
At the thought of Xiao Wu, a shadow crossed Tang San's eyes.
"You're Xiao San?" Yu Tianheng was the first to react.
Oscar and Ma Hongjun stared in shock.
Tang San's appearance was startling—his hair wildly overgrown, a suffocating murderous aura clinging to him.
Tang San gave a wry smile. He had cleaned himself up on the way, but the killing intent from the Slaughter City still could not be controlled at will.
"Xiao San… how did you become like this?" Yu Tianheng asked, incredulous.
The difference from the past was too great. Even he felt oppressed by that horrifying aura.
Beneath his surprise, a glint of wariness flashed in his eyes.
How many had he killed to nurture killing intent like this?
What had Tang San done in these two years?
…
Within the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
Yu Yuanzhen and Emperor Xue Ye sat cross-legged at the center of a ritual array. The room was saturated with a dense, blood-red mist.
Terrifying fluctuations of soul power surged from both men.
Half an hour later, the scarlet aura in the air was completely drawn into their bodies.
They opened their eyes, both struggling to suppress their excitement.
Emperor Xue Ye had only recently broken through to Titled Douluo—now he was about to rise another small level, to ninety-two. The speed left him awestruck.
Yu Yuanzhen's joy was even greater. He had originally been a rank ninety-five Titled Douluo. After two years of sacrificial rituals, he had broken through to ninety-six.
From ninety-five onward, each level was a chasm—yet he had crossed it in just two years.
As they basked in their gains, a knock sounded at the door.
"Father, the Haotian Douluo and Tang San have returned."
It was Yu Tianheng's voice.
Yu Yuanzhen and Emperor Xue Ye exchanged a glance, then rose and stepped out.
They entered the clan's great hall, where many had already gathered—Tang Hao, Tang San, Yu Xiaogang, and members of the former Shrek group.
At the sight of Yu Yuanzhen and Emperor Xue Ye, the hall fell silent.
Tang Hao studied the two men and felt his brow lift slightly—both their auras had clearly grown stronger.
(END CHAPTER)
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