As splendid fireworks burst in the sky, Shrek Academy was alight with color and noise. Millions watched the live broadcast in a daze, unsure what Zang Xin was actually trying to do.
"What is this…" Leng Yaozhu's red lips parted in shock.
"Fireworks?!"
She stood in full four-word battle armor, at her peak. Just now, Zang Xin almost unleashed Eternal Heaven, scaring her pale. But this scene seemed like sheer farce, leaving everyone utterly dumbfounded.
"Tang Vice Sect Master, what is the meaning of this?"
"After so much trouble, was it all to scare us?"
"Fireworks... no, this isn't right. I talked to Chen Xinjie myself. He told us the Eternal Heaven's hiding place. There's no way there's a problem… no way…" Zang Xin's expression was crazed, his lips trembling.
He suddenly looked up at Qiangu Dongfeng: "It's you!!!"
"Tang Vice Sect Master, are you playing with us?!" Qiangu Dongfeng appeared furious: "It was clearly that Ghost Emperor who threw the bomb. You demanded we give an explanation without knowing the whole story. Now, you don't even believe me, and used a fake Eternal Heaven to nearly destroy me… and yet you blame me?"
"Zang Xin! What are you trying to do?"
"I, I…"
Zang Xin quivered, slowly closing his eyes.
"I've said it all along, Cao Dezhi deserved to die. I don't know which evil god bewitched him, but he deliberately broke the law and released all those Abyssal creatures."
"You, the Tang Sect! Shrek Academy! From beginning to end, you've never cared for the common people's lives."
"You never even reflect on your mistakes. Now, I'm enforcing justice for all the fallen soldiers and innocent civilians. I killed Cao Dezhi, yet you ignore the truth, and for your selfish desires want to march to death with tens of thousands of innocents."
"Zang Xin, your Tang Sect deserves to be remembered as the greatest sinner in human history!"
"Traitor!"
"Abyssal creatures infiltrated our people… a mole!!"
Qiangu Dongfeng enunciated every word.
"Pfft…"
Zang Xin spat blood, clutching his chest; several Tang Sect members came to support him as he slumped like a pile of mud, completely spent.
Every word hit him like a blow to the spine.
The so-called tangsect "glory" was completely torn apart, exposed to the entire continent.
In the eyes of the Tang Sect, perhaps only Shrek Academy and their own disciples mattered.
But to the tens of thousands of ordinary people and normal soul masters, they didn't even count as people in their view.
The Tang Sect's former glory was praised and flattered to the heavens, but now…
Not only will they fall from the altar, but their name will live in infamy.
And this… was a web he spun himself.
His chosen path.
"Take him." Leng Yaozhu snorted coldly, waving a hand for her subordinates to arrest him.
Meanwhile, the other Tang Sect leaders exchanged glances, cold determination flashing in their eyes. They suddenly burst forth, unleashing the Tang Sect's secret weapons—deadly contraptions blending hidden weapons and soul technology—spreading chaos all around.
A mist of blood filled the air.
But it was not the blood of the surrounding Spirit Pagoda soldiers—it was that of the various Tang Hall Masters, and Zang Xin himself.
"Still trying to resist?"
Su Wen coldly glanced at the Tang Sect members being crushed into a bloody paste, snorting.
"Lord!!!"
Qiangu Dongfeng's pupils shrank, quickly bowing deeply.
"Well done. You didn't let the Tang Sect's trick succeed."
"I knew long ago about their scheme to steal the Eternal Heaven. I swapped out the true one in advance, leaving only a fake. Incredibly, they really are that malicious."
Su Wen nodded slightly.
A wave of his hand.
A golden vine shot out from his sleeve, and in moments became a towering golden tree radiating vibrant life energy in the air, healing Qiangu Dongfeng and others.
For those struck by Zang Xin's final blow, their abdominal wounds visibly began to heal.
He waved off their thanks.
Crushing the streaming device at his chest, Su Wen walked directly over to the wilted Golden Ancient Tree.
He intended to fulfill the promise made to Ah Yin.
As for how the Tang Sect would be discussed on the federated web—who could guess?
Within the Golden Ancient Tree, at the core hub—
A light-blue figure appeared, her face pale. Even though she was nearly godlike, she had just been seriously wounded by two attacks from 12th-level fixed-installed soul cannons.
If Yun Ming hadn't shielded her, the whole Golden Ancient Tree might have been obliterated.
"Let's pack up first…"
Ah Yin's expression flickered.
Shrek Academy was gone now, so she had to grab what she could, set the Golden Ancient Tree to standby, and wait for Wulin and the others to grow strong enough for a possible comeback.
"Wait… something's not right!!"
Absorbing the tree's core energy, Ah Yin suddenly narrowed her eyes, looking into the distance.
"You're quite alert."
Inside the core space, an identical figure to Ah Yin slowly appeared, gazing coldly at her.
"Who are you?!" Ah Yin stared in disbelief at the other her.
"I'm you from another space-time. But… you don't need to know much."
"You are my shame. Before I return to my time, I must devour you—otherwise, my Dao heart is not solid."
"…"
No more pointless talk.
The two identical Ah Yins began to fight.
Blue light flashed repeatedly in the tree's inner world. The injured Ah Yin kept losing ground, staring in terror at her other self.
"Wait… that day—it was you?"
"Heh, you're not that stupid after all." The other Ah Yin glanced down at her. Her Blue Silver Emperor had already evolved into the Golden Vine, naturally attuned to the Golden Ancient Tree. In mere minutes, she beat Ah Yin and took full control of the ancient tree.
"Are you going to betray Tang San and Hao-ge and the others?" the injured Ah Yin asked in despair.
"Betray? Who betrayed who first?!" The other Ah Yin clenched her jaw, eyes blazing.
"You think you can fool yourself with that line?"
Ah Yin closed her eyes, a tear falling. So much from the past—she didn't want to confront it. Her son became a god; her husband was gentle again. She treated that old story as just a dream, never reopening those wounds.
But now…
It was like a demon in her heart, split wide open.
Could she really fool herself again?
"It's over." The other Ah Yin said flatly. "I'll treat you as my everlasting shame. After I devour you, there will be no more Blue Silver Emperor, no more Ah Yin."
With that, she erased Ah Yin completely.
Absorbed the excess energy.
Took real control over the Golden Ancient Tree.
"Master."
"It's done?"
Su Wen spoke softly.
"Yes, it's finished." The pale-blue beauty smiled sweetly, erasing Ah Yin's corpse, as if wiping away her own shame.
"That guy is coming." Su Wen coughed softly.
"Who?" Ah Yin looked puzzled.
"Tang Hao."
Su Wen smirked.
Ah Yin: "…"
A brief trace of embarrassment and annoyance crossed her flawless face. "Does Master mean…?"
"Let him get lost," Su Wen said lightly.
"I understand." A playful glint flashed in Ah Yin's eyes, but she still knelt at his feet, slender pale hands loosening her belt.
Su Wen: ???
Wait, what do you understand?
But the next instant, a wave of bliss washed over him.
"Phew…"
Su Wen was left dumbfounded. Is this really okay?
Ah, whatever…
He glanced at her mature beauty: an absolute stunner earnestly serving him.
He held her head, intensifying his movements.
Outside the Golden Ancient Tree, among the ruins—
Tang Hao was frantic.
Calling for Ah Yin.
No matter how he shouted, inside was deathly quiet.
He'd noticed something off at the start of the explosion.
He was angry—yet helpless.
After all, Shrek Academy was still there. As long as he could evacuate Tang Wulin and the others, there was hope of rebuilding.
But now—Ah Yin was gone?!!
Where did such a huge Ah Yin disappear to?
Even though the Golden Ancient Tree was damaged, it hadn't been destroyed, and just a while ago, he'd clearly sensed her aura.
"Ah Yin, Ah Yin?"
Tang Hao's face darkened. "If you still don't answer, I'm coming in!"
"What do you want?"
A cold voice came from the Golden Ancient Tree.
"Thank goodness, Ah Yin!" Tang Hao's eyes lit up, about to grab her shoulder, but an invisible golden ripple sent him flying.
"What do you want? Just say it." Ah Yin looked at him with chilly eyes, barely hiding her disgust.
But there lingered a touch of flush on her face.
If you looked closely, her clothes were a bit disheveled—as if she'd just had an intimate moment.
But Tang Hao didn't notice this at all. He was only confused by Ah Yin's reaction, since she'd never been like this before…
Now, she seemed like an entirely different person.
"Ah Yin, I…"
"Let's leave quickly!" Tang Hao said urgently.
Though the Golden Ancient Tree was damaged, his strength was intact. Even facing the fake Dragon God, he wouldn't flinch. He planned to bring Ah Yin to the core of the world, secretly guarding Tang Wulin.
"Go? Where?" Ah Yin asked coldly.
"To the world core. You're hurt—you need rest!" Tang Hao replied instantly.
"Heh." Ah Yin sneered.
"I'm afraid you'll just trap me in that dark cave again—your so-called loving care, life without sunlight, only a few dead leaves to eat, barely better than death."
"What do you mean by this, Ah Yin?" Tang Hao's face turned deathly white.
His throat bobbed.
That ugly truth he'd buried for years—uncovered at last.
He feared. He was also angry.
Why couldn't they let the past go?
Didn't he have regrets?
Did he want that outcome?
He'd feared she'd fully recover and leave him, so he abandoned himself to despair and locked Ah Yin away, letting her wither in darkness.
Later, as Tang San grew, he had no choice but to retrieve her, helping her restore her power.
And Ah Yin, all this time, had never brought it up again.
So why now…?
"Ah Yin, what's gotten into you?!" Tang Hao roared in rage, trying to hide his fear with anger.
"Heh, the path is different, so we can't walk together." Ah Yin's voice was cold: "I've figured it out. From now on, you walk your road, I walk mine."
"Tang Hao, I've already suppressed my desire to kill you. Don't force me further."
"How could this be…" Tang Hao saw the killing intent in Ah Yin's eyes—true killing intent! If she didn't hold back, she'd actually kill him.
"Let's just hide away together, leave all this behind." Tang Hao pleaded, reaching out.
"You disgust me." Ah Yin glanced at him coldly, repulsing him.
"Get lost!"
"I have a new body now—I'm not the fool you once tricked so easily."
"Tang Hao, if you think you can woo me back with sweet lies, keep dreaming!"
Tang Hao trembled, staring at Ah Yin in despair.
"Does it really have to be this way…?"
"Ah Yin."
"You're not worthy to call my name. Get lost," Ah Yin snapped. She raised her hand, the Golden Ancient Tree humming with new life. A faint golden barrier sent Tang Hao flying.
The tree spawned a new area.
Lush greenery quickly spread.
Within, Ah Yin gave Su Wen a flirtatious look.
"Master, are you satisfied?"
Su Wen: "…"
He coughed lightly.
"I really think, Ah Yin, you've misunderstood something."
"Is it really a misunderstanding?" Ah Yin smiled, her blue eyes gazing into Su Wen's.
"…"
...