Far in the future…
Deep beneath the calm surface of the great lake that concealed the domain of the Silver Dragon King, the air trembled faintly.
Not from power.
Not from battle.
But from something far more subtle.
A ripple.
It was not visible to the eye, nor detectable by ordinary spiritual perception. Yet for those bound by fate, blood, and resonance—
It was unmistakable.
Inside the vast chamber of silver light, a figure slowly opened her eyes.
Silver hair cascaded down her back like flowing moonlight. Her gaze, usually calm and distant, now held a faint trace of irritation.
Gu Yuena.
She remained silent for a moment.
Then—
"…Strange."
Her voice echoed softly through the chamber.
Not far from her, another presence stirred.
A surge of dark, draconic aura flickered as Zi Ji lifted her head, golden eyes narrowing slightly.
"…You felt it too."
Gu Yuena did not answer immediately.
But her expression confirmed it.
Moments later, a gentle green light bloomed nearby as Bi Ji opened her eyes as well, her usual warmth replaced by quiet confusion.
"…It's happening again."
Silence followed.
A strange, shared sensation lingered in the air.
Not pain.
Not danger.
Something else.
A subtle, inexplicable discomfort.
As if something important…
Was shifting.
Zi Ji frowned.
"…Why do I feel annoyed?"
She crossed her arms, clearly displeased.
"It's like…"
She paused, searching for the right words.
"…like someone is doing something irritating."
Bi Ji blinked softly.
"…Not just irritating."
She placed a hand lightly over her chest.
"…It feels… closer."
Closer.
That was the strange part.
Whatever was causing this—
It wasn't distant.
It wasn't unfamiliar.
It felt connected.
Gu Yuena slowly stood.
Her silver eyes narrowed slightly as she reached out with her senses.
The connection was still there.
Faint.
But stable.
The dragon scale.
The anchor that tied her to Lin Huang across space—and now, across time.
"…He's fine," she said calmly.
Zi Ji snorted.
"I wasn't worried about that."
She turned away slightly.
"I'm just… annoyed."
Bi Ji tilted her head.
"…You're always annoyed."
Zi Ji shot her a look.
"That's not the point."
Gu Yuena ignored their exchange.
Her focus remained on the distant resonance.
There was no sign of injury.
No instability.
No danger.
Yet the feeling remained.
That subtle disturbance.
That faint pull.
That irritating…
presence.
Her eyes narrowed further.
"…He's getting involved with more people."
The words were calm.
But the meaning was clear.
Zi Ji froze for a moment.
Then her expression darkened slightly.
"…I don't like that."
Bi Ji hesitated.
"…It's increasing."
Silence settled over the chamber once more.
This time heavier.
More defined.
They could not see what was happening.
They could not hear it.
But instinct—
Ancient, draconic instinct—
told them one thing.
Lin Huang was not alone.
And whatever he was doing…
Was beginning to create bonds.
Far away.
Ten thousand years in the past.
Unseen.
Unnoticed.
Those bonds were quietly taking shape.
Like ripples spreading across still water.
Growing.
Expanding.
Reaching further with each passing day.
Back in the chamber, Gu Yuena slowly closed her eyes again.
But her expression no longer held the same calm as before.
"…Forty days…"
She murmured softly.
Time flowed differently for her.
But she could still feel it.
Still count it.
Still track the distance between them.
Zi Ji exhaled slowly.
"…He better not be doing something stupid."
Bi Ji smiled faintly.
"…He always is."
A brief silence followed.
Then—
almost at the same time—
all three of them felt it again.
That same strange sensation.
Slightly stronger now.
Zi Ji frowned deeply.
"…That's definitely new."
Bi Ji covered her mouth lightly.
"…It feels like…"
She hesitated.
Then finished quietly:
"…jealousy?"
Zi Ji immediately denied it.
"…It's not that."
But her tone lacked conviction.
Gu Yuena said nothing.
She simply remained still.
Eyes closed.
Senses extended.
Feeling the faint resonance of someone who stood far beyond time itself—
Yet still managed to disturb them.
"…Troublesome."
Her voice was quiet.
Almost inaudible.
And far away…
In the past…
The ripples continued to spread.
Fourteen days had passed since Lin Huang returned to Tianshui Academy.
Forty days since he first arrived in this era.
And in that time…
Tianshui Academy had changed beyond recognition.
Morning light spread gently across the lake.
Mist rose from the water, thin and silver, drifting through the courtyards and training grounds. But unlike before—
The mist did not move randomly.
It flowed.
Guided.
Circulating through the academy like a living current.
Students walking through the pathways felt it immediately.
A subtle pressure.
Not oppressive.
But present.
Like the air itself had grown heavier.
Denser.
More… refined.
The source of that change stood at the heart of the academy.
A tree.
But not an ordinary one.
Its trunk shimmered faintly, carrying a soft glow that pulsed in rhythm with the surrounding environment. Its branches stretched wide, leaves swaying gently despite the still air.
And beneath it—
Energy gathered.
Not just soul power.
But something purer.
More stable.
Several students sat cross-legged beneath the tree, cultivating.
Their breathing was steady.
Their expressions calm.
Even those who previously struggled to maintain focus now entered meditation more easily.
A faint layer of impurities slowly surfaced from their bodies—
And dissipated into the air.
Nearby, a group of instructors watched in silence.
One of them finally spoke.
"…The efficiency increased again."
Another nodded slowly.
"And the fluctuations are almost gone."
A third instructor exhaled softly.
"…This isn't natural."
"It was never meant to be."
The voice came from behind them.
Calm.
Unhurried.
They turned.
And saw him.
Lin Huang stood at the edge of the courtyard, his expression relaxed as he observed the academy.
Perched on his shoulder, Tushan Honghong stretched lazily.
"…You've gone too far this time."
Lin Huang tilted his head slightly.
"Not yet."
Honghong snorted.
"…That tree alone could support a sect."
She wasn't exaggerating.
Because beneath the surface—
The entire academy had changed.
Deep underground, invisible to most—
Energy flowed.
Not randomly.
Not chaotically.
But in structured paths.
Veins.
Four distinct systems had taken shape beneath Tianshui Academy.
Vital Veins nourished the body.
They strengthened physical foundations, improved recovery, and enhanced endurance.
Spiritual Veins refined mental energy.
They stabilized perception, improved focus, and reduced internal interference during cultivation.
Soul Veins enhanced soul power circulation.
They purified energy, reduced waste, and increased efficiency of techniques.
And at the center—
Connected directly to the sacred tree—
A Celestial Vein.
Unlike the others, it was not meant for general cultivation.
It acted as a core.
A stabilizing axis.
Supporting the entire system.
Energy flowed from it into the surrounding veins.
Filtered.
Balanced.
Refined.
Honghong glanced downward.
"…You're building layers now."
Lin Huang nodded.
"Different energies require different foundations."
Above ground, the effects were already visible.
On one of the training fields, a group of students moved through coordinated exercises.
Their movements were sharper.
More precise.
Even their posture had improved.
Nearby, inside one of the training chambers—
A student held a rotating sphere of soul power in her palm.
The Rasengan.
For several seconds—
It remained stable.
"…I did it!"
Her voice echoed excitedly through the chamber.
Outside, several others turned in surprise.
Then excitement spread.
Not far away, Shui Yue'er crossed her arms proudly.
"I told you it would work eventually."
Yu Hairou rolled her eyes.
"You said that every day."
But even she couldn't deny it.
The progress was real.
In another area, Xue Wu moved across a shifting platform within the agility hall.
Her steps were lighter now.
More controlled.
She no longer stumbled.
Further beyond—
Several instructors stood in a quiet courtyard.
Eyes closed.
Breathing steady.
Then—
A pulse.
One of them stiffened.
Her aura surged slightly—
Then stabilized.
Her eyes snapped open.
"…I…"
She hesitated.
Then slowly raised her hand.
Her soul power circulated smoothly.
Without resistance.
Without disruption.
"…It formed."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"…The core… it formed."
The others froze.
Then immediately gathered around her.
Shock.
Excitement.
Disbelief.
Not far from them—
A woman watched silently.
She stood slightly apart from the others.
Dressed in black.
Her presence was calm.
But heavy.
No one questioned her.
No one approached her.
And no one dared to ask why she was there.
Her gaze moved slowly across the academy.
From the training fields.
To the instructors.
To the sacred tree.
Then—
To Lin Huang.
"…So this is what you've been doing."
Her voice was quiet.
But it carried.
Lin Huang did not turn.
"I thought you would take longer."
Tushan Honghong flicked her tail.
"…You two talk like this is normal."
Lin Huang finally glanced sideways.
Bibi Dong stood there.
Unhidden.
Unmasked.
Simply present.
For the past several days—
She had remained within Tianshui Academy.
Observing.
Watching.
Saying very little.
Now—
Her eyes moved again.
Toward the center of the courtyard.
Where a figure stood.
Shui Linlong.
Her aura was no longer the same.
It was deeper.
Heavier.
More complete.
And behind her—
A faint red glow flickered.
A hundred-thousand-year soul ring.
Bibi Dong's gaze sharpened slightly.
"…You helped her."
Lin Huang answered calmly.
"She succeeded."
That was all.
But the meaning behind those words—
Was far heavier than they sounded.
Because what stood before them now—
Was no longer just an academy.
It was something else.
Something growing.
Something evolving.
And at its center—
Lin Huang remained still.
Watching.
Observing.
As the ripples he created continued to spread.
The academy did not slow down.
If anything—
It became faster.
Beneath the sacred tree, more students had gathered.
Not because they were ordered to.
But because they felt it.
The environment itself had changed.
Breathing became easier.
Circulation became smoother.
Even those who once struggled with unstable soul power now found themselves entering meditation with surprising ease.
Lin Huang stood quietly at the edge of the courtyard.
Watching.
Not interfering.
Perched on his shoulder, Honghong flicked her tail lazily.
"…They're adapting faster than expected."
Lin Huang nodded slightly.
"The environment is stabilizing them."
It wasn't just training anymore.
It was alignment.
A group of students sat in a circle beneath the tree.
Their breathing synchronized unconsciously.
Not forced.
Natural.
Energy flowed.
From the veins beneath the ground—
Through the tree—
Into the air—
And into them.
For a moment…
It almost looked like the academy itself was breathing.
Nearby, Shui Bing'er stood with her eyes closed.
She raised one hand slowly.
Moisture gathered.
Not drawn.
Not forced.
It simply responded.
A thin layer of water formed in her palm.
Then—
Without effort—
It froze.
A perfect balance.
Liquid and ice coexisting.
Stable.
Natural.
She opened her eyes slightly.
And did not seem surprised.
Lin Huang observed quietly.
"…She's getting closer."
Honghong tilted her head.
"…Closer to what?"
Lin Huang didn't answer immediately.
Because at that moment—
Another fluctuation appeared.
Not from the students.
Not from the veins.
From the instructors.
In a nearby courtyard, three figures sat in meditation.
Their auras flickered.
Unstable—
Then—
Boom.
A low pulse spread outward.
Not explosive.
But dense.
The air trembled slightly.
One of them opened her eyes abruptly.
Her breathing uneven.
Her body stiff.
"…It's forming…"
A second pulse.
This time—
Stable.
Her aura compressed inward.
Condensing.
Refining.
Then—
It settled.
Her eyes widened.
"…A core…"
Beside her, another instructor exhaled sharply.
"…You succeeded."
The woman looked at her hands.
Then slowly clenched them.
Her energy no longer leaked.
No longer fluctuated.
It circulated cleanly.
Smoothly.
"…I understand now…"
She whispered.
"…It's not about forcing it…"
"It's about stabilizing everything else first."
Not far away—
Another instructor followed the same rhythm.
Her breathing steadied.
Her aura aligned.
Then—
A pulse.
Not as strong.
But clear.
Lin Huang watched.
Silently.
Honghong glanced sideways.
"…You gave them the key."
Lin Huang shook his head slightly.
"No."
"They opened the door themselves."
At the far end of the academy—
A different kind of pressure rose.
Heavy.
Dense.
Commanding.
The ground beneath it seemed to tremble faintly.
Students nearby instinctively paused.
Turning.
And then—
They saw her.
Shui Linlong stepped forward.
Her aura was no longer hidden.
A deep, ocean-like pressure spread outward from her body.
Calm—
But overwhelming.
Behind her—
A crimson soul ring slowly rotated.
One hundred thousand years.
The moment it appeared—
The entire training ground fell silent.
Even the instructors froze.
"…She…"
"…She really…"
No one finished the sentence.
They didn't need to.
Because the answer stood right in front of them.
Rank 90.
A Titled Douluo.
But more than that—
Her aura was different.
Not just stronger.
Complete.
Her energy no longer fluctuated.
No longer wavered.
It flowed.
Like a stable current.
Her gaze swept across the academy.
Then stopped—
At Lin Huang.
For a moment—
Neither of them spoke.
Then—
She inclined her head slightly.
"…Thank you."
Lin Huang replied calmly.
"You did it yourself."
Shui Linlong did not argue.
But her eyes showed something different.
Understanding.
Because she knew—
Without the system.
Without the environment.
Without the guidance—
She would not have reached this point.
From a distance—
Another pair of eyes watched everything.
Bibi Dong.
Her expression did not change.
But her gaze sharpened slightly.
She had seen breakthroughs before.
She had seen Titled Douluo.
But this—
This was not the same.
It wasn't just an individual rising.
It was a system producing results.
Her eyes moved again.
From Shui Linlong—
To the instructors—
To the students—
Then—
Back to Lin Huang.
"…He didn't raise one…"
She thought quietly.
"…he raised all of them."
At that moment—
A sudden voice broke the silence.
"Teacher Lin!"
Shui Yue'er ran forward, holding her hand up.
A small rotating sphere of soul power hovered above her palm.
Stable.
"…I did it!"
She grinned brightly.
Behind her, Yu Hairou crossed her arms.
"…Took you long enough."
Shui Yue'er shot her a look.
"Say that again!"
The tension broke.
Laughter spread.
Even some of the instructors smiled.
Lin Huang looked at the small sphere.
Then nodded once.
"Maintain it longer."
Shui Yue'er puffed her cheeks.
"…You're impossible."
Honghong snorted softly.
"…He always is."
The academy returned to motion.
Training resumed.
Energy flowed.
Progress continued.
And above it all—
Lin Huang stood quietly.
Watching.
As everything he had built…
Began to move on its own.
The academy did not return to what it once was.
It moved forward.
Beneath the sacred tree, cultivation continued without pause.
Students rotated in shifts.
Some meditated.
Some trained.
Some simply sat—adjusting to the new environment.
But not all eyes there were the same.
Some watched.
Not with curiosity.
Not with excitement.
But with intent.
At the edge of the courtyard, Bibi Dong stood silently.
Her gaze moved slowly across everything.
The veins beneath the ground.
The flow of energy through the tree.
The synchronization of breathing among the students.
The stability of the instructors.
Nothing escaped her notice.
"…It's too efficient."
She spoke quietly.
Not to anyone in particular.
Lin Huang stood a short distance away.
He did not turn.
"Efficiency reduces waste."
Bibi Dong's eyes shifted slightly.
"…It also reduces control."
That made Honghong snort.
"…There it is."
Lin Huang finally glanced sideways.
"…Control isn't the same as suppression."
Bibi Dong did not respond immediately.
Her gaze returned to the students.
One of them failed to stabilize her energy.
The Rasengan collapsed.
But this time—
It didn't explode.
It simply dispersed.
The girl blinked.
Surprised.
Then tried again.
"…They're allowed to fail."
Bibi Dong observed.
Lin Huang answered calmly.
"They learn faster that way."
Silence followed.
Because she understood what that meant.
In Spirit Hall—
Failure had consequences.
Here—
Failure had room.
Her gaze shifted again.
Toward Shui Bing'er.
The girl stood beneath the tree.
Eyes closed.
Breathing steady.
The air around her moved.
Water gathered.
Ice formed.
Not controlled.
Aligned.
Bibi Dong's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…That one is different."
Lin Huang nodded.
"She is."
Further away—
Shui Yue'er shouted again.
"I almost had it that time!"
Yu Hairou sighed.
"You said that five times already."
"…This time I mean it!"
The energy sphere in her hand trembled—
Then stabilized.
For a few seconds.
Her eyes widened.
"…Wait—wait—don't move—"
It held.
Then—
She laughed.
Bright.
Unrestrained.
Bibi Dong watched the scene.
And said nothing.
Her attention shifted again.
To the instructors.
Several of them now sat in meditation.
Their auras more stable than before.
More contained.
One of them opened her eyes.
Then slowly released her energy.
Clean.
No leakage.
No distortion.
"…Another one."
Bibi Dong murmured.
Lin Huang did not respond.
Because he didn't need to.
The truth was already visible.
This place…
Was no longer normal.
Bibi Dong took a step forward.
Her presence alone caused the nearby air to grow heavier.
Not oppressive.
But undeniable.
Several students instinctively straightened.
Even without knowing why.
Her gaze passed over them—
Then settled on the sacred tree.
"…This is the core."
Lin Huang nodded once.
"Yes."
"…And if it's removed?"
Honghong raised an eyebrow.
"…Straight to the point."
Lin Huang answered calmly.
"It wouldn't collapse."
Bibi Dong's eyes flickered slightly.
"…No?"
"It would weaken."
He continued.
"But the foundation would remain."
Silence.
That answer mattered.
Because it meant—
This wasn't dependent on a single structure.
It was…
Distributed.
Bibi Dong exhaled slowly.
Her gaze returned once more—
To Lin Huang.
"…You're not building power."
A pause.
"…You're building something else."
Lin Huang looked at her.
For a brief moment—
Neither spoke.
Then—
He answered.
"A foundation."
The word lingered in the air.
And for the first time—
Bibi Dong did not immediately analyze it.
She simply…
Considered it.
Because deep down—
She understood what that meant.
Power could be taken.
Controlled.
Forced.
But a foundation—
Was something entirely different.
Her gaze shifted again.
Toward the students.
The instructors.
The tree.
The flowing energy.
Then back—
To Lin Huang.
"…Troublesome."
Honghong grinned slightly.
"…Another one."
Bibi Dong did not react.
But she didn't deny it either.
And as the academy continued to move—
To grow—
To evolve—
Her presence remained.
Silent.
Observing.
Learning.
As something within her…
Slowly began to change.
The training grounds shifted as the day progressed.
Groups rotated.
Energy flowed.
The academy moved like a living organism.
But not all changes were visible on the surface.
Near the lake—
Where the mist was thicker, and the presence of water was strongest—
A different kind of training was taking place.
Bo Saixi stood alone.
The surface of the lake remained still.
Yet the air around her—
Moved.
Not violently.
Not forcefully.
But with depth.
Her long hair swayed gently behind her, carried by currents that did not exist to ordinary perception.
Her eyes were closed.
Her breathing calm.
And within her—
Something new pulsed.
A core.
Not a soul core.
Not entirely.
A seed.
A faint golden-blue light flickered within her chest.
Subtle.
But undeniable.
The Divine Seed.
It did not erupt with power.
It did not dominate her body.
It integrated.
Her aura no longer carried the presence of the Sea God.
That authority—
That invisible restraint—
Was gone.
In its place—
Something else had begun to grow.
Her own path.
She raised her hand slowly.
Water rose from the lake.
Not summoned.
It responded.
The liquid gathered, forming a sphere.
Then—
Compressed.
The pressure increased.
The density deepened.
Yet—
It remained stable.
Bo Saixi opened her eyes.
There was no strain in them.
No resistance.
Only clarity.
"…So this is what it feels like."
A voice answered from behind her.
"Freedom?"
She turned slightly.
Lin Huang stood at the edge of the lake.
Perched on his shoulder, Honghong flicked her tail.
"…Or confusion."
Bo Saixi didn't react to the comment.
Her gaze remained on Lin Huang.
"…Both."
She lowered her hand.
The sphere of water dissolved quietly.
For a moment—
Neither spoke.
Then she asked:
"…Is this enough?"
Lin Huang looked at her.
Not at her aura.
Not at her power.
At her.
"No."
The answer was immediate.
Calm.
Bo Saixi didn't seem surprised.
"…I thought so."
She turned slightly, looking out across the lake.
"…But it's different."
A pause.
"…Before…"
She hesitated.
"…everything felt decided."
Her fingers curled slightly.
"…Now…"
She exhaled slowly.
"…I don't know what comes next."
Honghong tilted her head.
"…That's the point."
Lin Huang nodded faintly.
"You're no longer following something."
"…You're choosing."
Bo Saixi was silent.
That concept—
Was unfamiliar.
For most of her life—
Her path had never been hers.
Now—
It was.
And that was…
Unsettling.
Behind them—
Another presence approached.
Light.
Measured.
Controlled.
Bibi Dong.
She stopped several steps away.
Her gaze moved between the two.
Then settled—
On Bo Saixi.
"…You changed."
The words were simple.
But carried weight.
Bo Saixi met her gaze.
"…So did you."
Silence.
Two women.
Both once bound.
Both now changing.
In different ways.
Bibi Dong stepped closer.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"…You're no longer connected."
She didn't need to specify.
Bo Saixi nodded once.
"…No."
A brief pause.
"…And you?"
Bibi Dong's expression did not change.
"…I control it."
That was her answer.
Not freedom.
Control.
Honghong watched them both.
Then muttered:
"…Two completely different problems."
Lin Huang said nothing.
Because both paths—
Had their own weight.
Bibi Dong's gaze shifted again.
This time—
To Lin Huang.
"…You did this."
It wasn't a question.
Lin Huang answered simply.
"She chose."
Bo Saixi did not deny it.
A brief silence followed.
Then—
Something subtle shifted.
Bo Saixi's gaze lingered on Lin Huang—
Just slightly longer than before.
Not obvious.
Not deliberate.
But present.
Bibi Dong noticed.
Her eyes flickered.
Just for a moment.
Then returned to calm.
"…Troublesome."
Honghong smirked.
"…That's becoming common."
The wind moved softly across the lake.
The surface rippled.
And beneath that calm—
Two paths had already begun to diverge.
Freedom.
And control.
Both growing.
Both changing.
And at the center of it all—
Lin Huang remained still.
Watching.
As hearts—
Once bound—
Began to move on their own.
The academy did not slow.
If anything—
It became more organized.
Days passed.
Not marked by rest—
But by progress.
Training schedules stabilized.
Rotations became smoother.
Even the once chaotic flow of students moving between facilities now followed a natural rhythm.
It was no longer forced.
It had become habit.
In the central courtyard—
Beneath the sacred tree—
Several instructors gathered once more.
This time—
Not to observe.
But to attempt.
One of them stepped forward.
Her aura already stable.
Her cultivation nearing the peak of Soul Douluo.
She closed her eyes.
Breathing slowed.
The surrounding energy shifted slightly—
Aligning with her rhythm.
She did not force it.
Did not compress it recklessly.
Instead—
She stabilized everything first.
Her body.
Her meridians.
Her circulation.
Then—
A pulse.
Soft.
Controlled.
Her aura condensed inward.
Not explosively.
But steadily.
Then—
It formed.
Her eyes opened abruptly.
"…It's there."
A faint tremor ran through her voice.
Another instructor beside her stepped forward immediately.
"…Let me try."
The same process began.
And again—
A pulse.
Less stable—
But successful.
Lin Huang watched from a distance.
Honghong crossed her arms.
"…That's too fast."
Lin Huang shook his head slightly.
"They were already close."
What he had done—
Was remove the barrier.
Not create the path.
Across the courtyard—
More instructors attempted the same.
Some failed.
Some stabilized.
Some succeeded.
But unlike before—
Failure did not end the process.
They adjusted.
Corrected.
Tried again.
At the edge of the field—
Bibi Dong observed.
Her gaze remained steady.
"…They're replicating it."
Lin Huang nodded.
"Yes."
"…Without you."
"That's the point."
Silence.
That answer—
Meant more than it sounded.
Because what stood before her now—
Was not a singular achievement.
It was a method.
A system.
Her eyes moved again.
Toward the training fields.
Shui Yue'er darted across the ground—
A rotating sphere of soul power in her hand.
This time—
It didn't collapse.
She grinned.
"I told you!"
Yu Hairou sighed.
"…You're still unstable."
"…I lasted longer than you yesterday!"
"…Barely."
Nearby—
Xue Wu moved through the agility hall.
Her steps were fluid now.
She no longer hesitated.
No longer misstepped.
Each movement connected naturally to the next.
Further beyond—
Another group trained in formation.
Their synchronization had improved.
They no longer interfered with each other's energy.
Instead—
They adjusted.
Adapted.
Under the sacred tree—
Shui Bing'er remained still.
Her presence had deepened.
The air around her responded before she moved.
Moisture gathered.
Ice formed.
Not through effort—
But through existence.
Lin Huang watched quietly.
"…She's stabilizing faster than expected."
Honghong glanced at him.
"…You sound pleased."
Lin Huang did not deny it.
At that moment—
A heavier presence approached.
The ground itself seemed to quiet slightly.
Shui Linlong.
Her aura no longer needed to be restrained.
It flowed naturally.
Deep.
Steady.
Complete.
Behind her—
A faint crimson glow flickered.
The hundred-thousand-year soul ring.
But more important than the ring—
Was her presence.
No instability.
No leakage.
Only control.
She stopped near Lin Huang.
For a moment—
She observed the academy.
Then spoke:
"…They're growing."
Lin Huang nodded.
"Yes."
She remained silent for a few seconds.
Then—
"…This will spread."
Not a question.
A conclusion.
Lin Huang did not answer.
Because he didn't need to.
From a distance—
Bibi Dong watched the exchange.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"…She understands."
Honghong muttered:
"…Of course she does."
Shui Linlong turned slightly.
Her gaze moved across the instructors.
The students.
The entire academy.
"…This is no longer just Tianshui."
A pause.
"…It's becoming something else."
Lin Huang remained still.
Because that—
Had always been the intention.
The wind moved gently across the courtyard.
The sacred tree swayed.
Energy flowed through the veins.
Students trained.
Instructors advanced.
And above it all—
A structure had taken shape.
Not forced.
Not imposed.
But growing.
On its own.
The academy had grown quieter.
Not because training had stopped—
But because it had become… natural.
There was no longer the same noise.
No frantic attempts.
No constant failures.
Only movement.
Flow.
Rhythm.
Beneath the sacred tree, several figures trained together.
Not as individuals.
But as a group.
Soul power circulated.
Not clashing.
Not interfering.
But aligning.
Shui Yue'er moved first.
A rotating sphere formed in her hand—
Stable.
She grinned immediately.
"Look!"
Yu Hairou didn't even turn.
"…You say that every time."
"…But this time it didn't explode!"
"…Yet."
Xue Wu stepped lightly across the ground, her movement synchronized with the shifting flow beneath her feet.
"…Your control improved."
Shui Yue'er puffed her cheeks.
"…You're all so annoying."
Not far from them—
Shui Bing'er stood quietly.
She did not join their conversation.
She didn't need to.
The air around her moved differently.
Water gathered—
Then froze—
Then flowed again.
Seamlessly.
Her presence had become part of the environment.
Not dominating it.
But existing within it.
At the edge of the courtyard—
Lin Huang watched.
Arms relaxed.
Expression calm.
He did not interrupt.
Did not correct.
Because they no longer needed constant guidance.
Honghong stretched slightly on his shoulder.
"…They're getting used to you not doing anything."
Lin Huang replied calmly.
"That means they're progressing."
Honghong smirked.
"…Or they're becoming dependent."
Lin Huang shook his head slightly.
"No."
"They're stabilizing."
Behind them—
Soft footsteps approached.
Bo Saixi.
She did not announce her presence.
But her aura—
Was different.
No longer carrying divine authority.
No longer bound.
Instead—
It was deep.
Ocean-like.
And calm.
She stopped beside Lin Huang.
For a moment—
She didn't speak.
Her gaze lingered on the training field.
Then—
Shifted.
To him.
"…They're changing quickly."
Lin Huang nodded.
"The environment supports them."
She remained silent.
But her eyes did not leave him.
Not immediately.
Honghong glanced sideways.
Then muttered quietly:
"…You're staring again."
Bo Saixi turned her head slightly.
"…I'm observing."
"…Of course you are."
A brief silence followed.
Then—
Another presence approached.
Heavier.
Sharper.
Bibi Dong.
She stopped a few steps away.
Her gaze moved across the group.
Then—
To Lin Huang.
"…You're not guiding them anymore."
Lin Huang answered simply:
"They don't need it."
Bibi Dong's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Or you're testing them."
"…Both."
She didn't respond.
Instead—
Her attention shifted.
To the girls.
She watched their movements.
Their coordination.
Their energy flow.
Then—
She spoke quietly.
"…They follow you."
Lin Huang replied calmly.
"No."
"They follow the results."
That answer lingered.
Because it was true.
There was no force.
No command.
No imposed authority.
Only—
Progress.
Bibi Dong's gaze remained steady.
"…And if the results stop?"
Lin Huang looked at her.
"They won't."
Silence.
But this time—
It wasn't empty.
Because she understood what he meant.
This wasn't temporary.
It wasn't a technique.
It was a structure.
Her eyes shifted again.
To Bo Saixi.
Then—
Back to Lin Huang.
Something subtle changed.
Not visible.
But present.
A pause.
Then—
She spoke again.
"…You won't stay."
Not a question.
A statement.
Lin Huang answered without hesitation.
"No."
The word was simple.
But the weight behind it—
Was not.
For a moment—
No one spoke.
Even the sounds of training seemed to fade slightly.
Bo Saixi's gaze lowered.
Just slightly.
Shui Bing'er, from a distance—
Paused for a brief moment.
Shui Yue'er stopped mid-sentence.
"…Wait, what?"
Then quickly shook her head.
"…No, nothing."
The moment passed.
But not entirely.
Bibi Dong exhaled slowly.
"…Then this…"
Her gaze swept across the academy.
"…will remain."
Lin Huang did not answer.
Because the answer was already visible.
The tree.
The veins.
The people.
They were no longer dependent on him.
They had begun to grow—
On their own.
The wind moved softly through the courtyard.
Leaves rustled.
Energy flowed.
And somewhere beneath that calm—
A distance had already begun to form.
Time.
Separation.
Departure.
Unspoken.
But inevitable.
Lin Huang turned his gaze toward the sky.
The faint distortion was there.
Subtle.
Almost invisible.
But he could feel it.
"…Not much longer."
Honghong sighed softly.
"…Finally."
Behind him—
The academy continued to move.
To grow.
To evolve.
Unaware—
That the one who started it all…
Would not remain forever.
The night settled gently over Tianshui Academy.
The lake reflected the moonlight.
The sacred tree stood quietly at the center, its leaves glowing faintly as energy continued to circulate through the veins beneath the ground.
Even in stillness—
The academy did not stop.
Training had ended for the day.
Most students had returned to rest.
But not all.
A few figures remained beneath the tree.
Shui Yue'er lay on the grass, arms spread.
"…I'm exhausted."
Yu Hairou sat nearby, still maintaining a steady breathing rhythm.
"…That means you trained properly for once."
"…I always train properly!"
Xue Wu chuckled softly.
"…You just complain more."
A short distance away—
Shui Bing'er remained seated in meditation.
Her breathing was slow.
Even.
The air around her responded gently.
Not forced.
Natural.
At the edge of the courtyard—
Lin Huang stood beneath the quiet night sky.
His gaze was no longer on the academy.
But beyond it.
Toward something distant.
Unseen.
Honghong flicked her tail lazily.
"…You're thinking about leaving."
Lin Huang did not deny it.
"Yes."
Behind him—
Footsteps approached.
Bo Saixi.
Then—
Bibi Dong.
Neither spoke immediately.
The three of them stood in silence for a moment.
The wind moved softly between them.
Bibi Dong was the first to speak.
"…It's happening soon."
Lin Huang nodded.
"The distortion is stabilizing."
"…Or collapsing."
"Both."
Bo Saixi's gaze shifted toward him.
"…You're leaving."
This time—
It sounded less like a statement.
More like confirmation.
Lin Huang turned slightly.
"Yes."
Silence followed.
But it was different now.
Not uncertain.
But accepted.
Then—
Lin Huang spoke again.
"I'll return."
Both of them looked at him.
"…When the time is right."
A brief pause.
"…Around the Elite Soul Master Tournament."
Bibi Dong's eyes narrowed slightly.
She understood immediately.
That wasn't just a return.
It was timing.
A moment of convergence.
Bo Saixi said nothing.
But her gaze did not leave him.
Lin Huang continued calmly.
"Until then…"
He looked toward the academy.
The tree.
The veins.
The students.
"…This place will remain stable."
His gaze shifted to Bibi Dong.
"You'll know if something changes."
It wasn't a request.
It wasn't a command.
It was acknowledgment.
Bibi Dong held his gaze.
For a moment—
Neither spoke.
Then—
She nodded.
"…I understand."
That was all.
But it carried weight.
Because this time—
There was no control.
No authority.
Only responsibility.
Lin Huang then turned slightly.
His gaze settled on Bo Saixi.
"…And you."
She straightened unconsciously.
"If you choose to stay…"
A pause.
"…protect it."
The words were simple.
But the meaning behind them—
Was not.
Bo Saixi did not hesitate.
"…I will."
Not because she was asked.
Not because she was bound.
But because she chose to.
Honghong glanced between them.
Then muttered quietly:
"…Now there are two."
Lin Huang ignored her.
The wind moved again.
The sacred tree swayed softly.
Energy flowed beneath the ground.
The academy remained.
Alive.
Growing.
Lin Huang looked at it one last time.
Not with attachment.
But with certainty.
"…It's enough."
Above him—
The sky distorted.
Faint.
Almost invisible.
But real.
The pull had begun.
Behind him—
The academy continued.
Unaware—
That the one who built its foundation…
Was already beginning to leave.
Far in the future—
The ripples continued to spread.
And soon—
They would return.