Chapter 54: Xiang Xiang Naer Almost Gets Exposed, the Yin-Yang Jin Ni, and the Huang Jinshu Spirit

A new day, a new beginning.

The two walked along the tree-lined path toward the Lingban Sect teaching building. Xiang Xiang Naer darted in front of Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen, the Silver Baiyin Baiyin Longqiang swirling with majestic power, carving out rifts in space as she vividly recounted:

"Yesterday afternoon, I fought Qitian Limit Douluo for eight hundred rounds. We went back and forth, nearly shattering the Sea God Island and eroding the Sea God Lake!"

"Is that so?" Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen showed a hint of surprise at just the right moment.

"Of course!" Xiang Xiang Naer flicked the spear tip, spinning nine silver-white spear flowers. "Otherwise, what makes you think we could go to the Huang Jinshu?"

"This feat is greater than the heavens." Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen gave a thumbs-up, praising her sincerely.

With the Silver Baiyin Baiyin Longqiang strapped to her back, Xiang Xiang Naer turned her back to Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen. Sunlight pouring from the high sky outlined half of her breathtakingly beautiful profile. Adopting the air of a grand master, she sighed deeply:

"Qitian Limit Douluo, not bad!

Pity he met me. With my world-shattering wisdom, I saw through his weakness, and with my supreme strength, I delivered a fatal blow, earning the chance to attain enlightenment at the Huang Jinshu!"

"Yes, yes, yes, Great Emperor Xiang Xiang Naer is unmatched under the heavens!"

Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen clapped, smiling as he said, "How about I help you publish a book? I've already thought of the title.

'The Goddess Descends: Ten-Year-Old Me Overthrows the World's Number One'."

Hearing Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen's so generous support, Xiang Xiang Naer became even more overjoyed. The Silver Baiyin Baiyin Longqiang thrust out again and again, her blood boiling as she exclaimed:

"Based on my years of drifting on the Soul Net and reading hundreds of books, this book will definitely be a smash hit! Remember to make me look handsome... Hey, let me describe the battle details to you in more detail..."

"Got it, we've reached the teaching building. We'll talk about your great deeds after class." Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen said with a smile.

"The road is really short; I haven't finished talking yet."

Xiang Xiang Naer looked full of regret, pouting as she retracted the Silver Baiyin Baiyin Longqiang.

Shi Shi Laike Academy has classes five days a week, and the Lingban Sect is no different. Actual combat is always the foundation of a Soul Master's strength, so the curriculum includes three days of combat training, while the remaining two classes are for Battle Armor and Soul Master theory/Moral Education.

Shen Yi was teaching a branch of the Soul Master theory course today: Beast Theory.

Although soul beasts on the continent are becoming increasingly scarce, reaching a state of near extinction, Soul Spirits, Beast Martial Souls, and Beast-shaped Tool Martial Souls still retain soul beast characteristics.

Recognizing soul beasts is actually about understanding the three aforementioned types, giving students a basic impression of them and clarifying their strengths and weaknesses.

"Beast Martial Souls, as the name suggests, are martial souls that are real, existing soul beasts. The development path for Beast Soul Masters should be to study soul beasts, maximizing their strengths and avoiding their weaknesses..."

Shen Yi's teaching voice reached their ears. Those lessons had long been imparted by Han Han Tianyi, who had used real Illusionary Realms to simulate various soul beast phantoms, sending Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen and Xiang Xiang Naer into battle against them.

Xiang Xiang Naer propped her chin with one hand. Before long, she began to zone out. She never liked boring theory classes, let alone old knowledge repackaged. Bored, she secretly turned her head to observe Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen at the neighboring desk.

Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen's expression was calm as water. He kept staring at Shen Yi on the podium, treating it merely as a review session.

As Xiang Xiang Naer watched, she gradually couldn't look away. In her impression, her childhood friend rarely showed signs of impatience and was always full of patience in everything he did.

At this very moment, in the spacious and bright classroom, brilliant sunlight poured through the window lattice. That clear and handsome face was so good-looking it was unreasonable, stunning the pink-hearted girl.

Her posture changed to cupping her face with both hands. Under the desk, her slender legs involuntarily crossed. Her small white teeth were exposed to the breeze. Xiang Xiang Naer felt that attending class wasn't bad at all; secretly watching Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen all day would never get old.

The Lingban Sect has only four students. Even if Shen Yi were dull, he wouldn't ignore Xiang Xiang Naer. Seeing the silver-haired girl whose thoughts had drifted to the highest heavens, an idea sprang to his mind:

"Next, let's discuss the most special soul beasts: the hundred-thousand-year soul beasts.

Ancient texts record that when a soul beast breaks through to a hundred-thousand-year cultivation, it gets a chance to transform into human form, and the awakened martial soul is its own original body. For example, Tang San's ancestor's mother was a hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Emperor, and his wife, the Soft Bone Limit Douluo Xiao Wu, was a hundred-thousand-year Soft Bone Rabbit reincarnated.

However, there are exceptions to everything.

Ten thousand years ago, the Spirit Ice Limit Douluo, Huo Huo Yuhao's ancestor, once met a Golden Dragon Soul Master named Wang Qiu. Her true form was actually the Emperor's Auspicious Beast, the Three-Eyed Golden Jin Ni.

The academy speculates that when special soul beasts like Auspicious Beasts transform, they possess the rare ability to trigger a certain bloodline within their bodies, making it their own martial soul. The Three-Eyed Golden Jin Ni flows with Golden Dragon bloodline, which is why it can possess the Golden Dragon martial soul and wield a Divine Tool-level Golden Baiyin Baiyin Longqiang.

Speaking of the Golden Baiyin Baiyin Longqiang, the teacher suddenly remembered that it is quite similar to the martial soul of a student in this class.

The Silver Baiyin Baiyin Longqiang and the Golden Baiyin Baiyin Longqiang; it just so happens to be the Silver and Gold Twin Dragon bloodline. How coincidental, isn't it, Classmate Xiang Xiang Naer?"

"!!!"

Xiang Xiang Naer mechanically jerked her head around, her silver-white eyes widening to the size of saucers. Her expression was shocked beyond measure. Wait, how did I almost get exposed?

"Shen Laoshi, according to your meaning, is Xiang Xiang Naer also a soul beast?" Xu Xu Lizhi raised his hand to ask.

As soon as these words were spoken, Xiang Xiang Naer instantly broke out in a cold sweat. Her eyes darted everywhere; she scratched here and touched there, pretending to be very busy.

Shen Yi smiled and said, "Classmate Xu Lizhi is brave to ask questions, which is worthy of praise, but you overlooked a detail.

Wang Qiu's Golden Baiyin Baiyin Longqiang exists as a weapon; her martial soul is still the Beast Martial Soul, the Golden Dragon. However, Classmate Xiang Xiang Naer's Silver Baiyin Baiyin Longqiang is a Tool Martial Soul of the weapon type. There is an essential difference between the two.

If Classmate Xiang Xiang Naer were a soul beast transforming like Wang Qiu, her martial soul would inevitably be the Silver Dragon, holding the Silver Baiyin Baiyin Longqiang as a weapon.

Therefore, the conclusion is obvious: Classmate Xiang Xiang Naer is not a transformed soul beast; she is a normal human Soul Master."

The situation took a dramatic turn. Xiang Xiang Naer's soul, which had almost scattered, reassembled. The feeling of standing on the edge of a cliff made her heart race. She stared at Shen Yi with a mournful look, her expression hovering between that of a resentful wife whose husband ran away and an innocent bystander wrongly accused and thrown in jail.

Seeing Xiang Xiang Naer obediently listening to the lesson, Shen Yi smiled slightly and continued, "For over twenty thousand years, scholars in the Soul Master world have summarized a method to distinguish hundred-thousand-year reincarnated soul beasts.

Reincarnated soul beasts can only have Beast Martial Souls or Plant-type Martial Souls. Those with Tool Martial Souls like the Silver Baiyin Baiyin Longqiang or Star God Sword, Body Martial Souls, Food-type Martial Souls, and so on—these Soul Masters are definitely not soul beasts.

Everyone can rest assured; all your classmates are human Soul Masters.

Today's class ends here. Dismissed."

After Shen Yi left the classroom, Xiang Xiang Naer immediately went limp, collapsing onto her desk.

Xiang Xiang Naer finally realized that just now, instead of listening to the class, she had been staring intensely at Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen, almost drooling. Shen Yi used this method to remind her to listen seriously.

But Shen Yi's unintentional effort bore fruit. Whether Xiang Xiang Naer admitted it or not, she belonged to a transformed soul beast, and she was part of the Soul Beast Ancestor, the Silver Dragon King!

"That was terrifying. Fortunately, the Silver Baiyin Baiyin Longqiang became my martial soul..." Xiang Xiang Naer secretly rejoiced in her heart.

The next second, a black shadow loomed over her head. Xiang Xiang Naer looked up and saw Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen smiling at her.

"Feeling guilty, little Silver Dragon?"

"Little Silver Dragon my foot!

Do I look like a dragon to you?"

The silver-haired girl was indignant. She raised both hands and made two horns above her head.

Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen laughed as if he had heard something amusing. While laughing, he looked at the tsundere girl and said softly:

"Even if you are, it doesn't matter. I'll keep raising you."

"Eh!?"

Xiang Xiang Naer tilted her head to dodge the telling blow, whipping her silver hair at light speed, covering her flushed cheeks in a gesture that screamed "nothing to hide here," her heartbeat speed becoming severely unbalanced.

"What, what! Who asked you to support me!" Xiang Xiang Naer, losing the argument but not the stance, pretended to be fierce and said, "Rumors start with a mouth, but refuting them makes legs run until they break. Didn't you hear Shen Laoshi's twist? They are not Silver Dragons at all!"

"Good~ You are the Baiyin Baiyin Longqiang Goddess Xiang Xiang Naer. Let's go eat."

"Hehe, let's go!"

If Gu Yue were nearby at this moment, she would have absolutely no idle thoughts about eating, but the silver-haired girl's superlative insensitivity failed to realize that while she had used "like" in her speech, Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen had quietly switched to "is."

One was making a scene, the other laughing, as they walked out of the classroom together. Ye Ye Xinglan, having taken it all in, saw a strange light flickering deep within her sapphire eyes.

"Sister Ye Xinglan, what's wrong?" Xu Xu Lizhi asked cautiously.

"Nothing."

Ye Ye Xinglan shook her head, stood up, and walked out of the classroom. She could vaguely see the two figures ahead playfully bickering. She didn't know why, but suddenly, she felt a bit envious of them...

After finishing lunch, Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen and Xiang Xiang Naer headed toward the core of the Sea God Island, the Golden Ancient Tree.

The Golden Ancient Tree stood in the center of the Sea God Island, emitting boundless life energy that nourished the entire island.

A wooden house was built leaning against the Huang Jinshu. A black plaque hung above it, with three gilded characters marking its supreme status: Sea God Pavilion.

The Sea God Pavilion is the highest deliberation place of Shi Shi Laike, and also the treasure vault of Shi Shi Laike Academy; all secrets are stored here.

The two stopped before the Sea God Pavilion. Only ten Sea God Pavilion Elders were permitted to enter and exit the Huang Jinshu. Ordinary Inner Court disciples had only one chance in their lives to enter the Huang Jinshu to comprehend the Dao, while Outer Court disciples had no qualification to even dream of it, left only to covet from afar.

"Senior Qingtian, we have arrived!"

Xiang Xiang Naer shouted loudly. Immediately, the entire Sea God Pavilion lit up, with brilliant golden light blooming outward. The Sea God Pavilion turned into a dazzling gold, resembling a pavilion built entirely of pure gold.

Thick, soft Jin Guang drifted down. Before Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen and Xiang Xiang Naer's eyes, everything was blindingly bright. When their feet touched solid ground again, they were already in a vast hall with several corridors on either side. In the center of the hall stood a young man.

"Senior Qingtian."

This was Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen's first time meeting Qingtian Limit Douluo. Compared to Xiang Xiang Naer, who was mostly curious yesterday, his gaze was deeper, containing emotions that were hard to describe.

Xiang Yunming nodded slightly and said, "You are currently in the underground space of the Huang Jinshu. Shi Shi Laike's ancestors built one hundred and eight rooms here, encompassing cultivation environments for all martial souls on the continent.

The rooms beneath the Huang Jinshu are equivalent to exceptionally powerful pseudo-cultivation sites, but this place is not just for you to simply cultivate. The important thing is to use this opportunity to think and find your own unique path to the future."

His voice paused. Xiang Yunming looked at Xiang Xiang Naer meaningfully and spoke:

"Xiang Xiang Naer, go to the fifth corridor on the left and enter the third door. Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen, go to the eighth corridor on the right and enter the last room.

When you awaken from meditation, your comprehension of the Dao will be over."

Although Xiang Xiang Naer was reluctant to separate from Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen, their martial soul attributes were vastly different, destined to prevent them from cultivating together. She waved her hand and walked to the left.

The golden door was made of Huang Jinshu wood. It was slightly ajar. Xiang Xiang Naer pushed it open, and a massive surge of spatial energy rushed toward her. In an instant, her entire body was dyed crystal clear silver-white.

The room seemed like a miniature of endless space. Light bands like a galaxy flowed on the walls, and countless twinkling stars floated on the ceiling. Xiang Xiang Naer took a deep breath; every pore on her body expanded, forming a wonderful connection with this space.

"A room of spatial attributes, how magical..."

Xiang Xiang Naer murmured to herself, sat cross-legged on the ground, closed her eyes, and tried to communicate with this space, guiding that spatial power to flow into her body.

While enjoying the beauty of spatial power, Xiang Yunming's voice suddenly rang out: "Xiang Xiang Naer, this room is filled with spatial crystals; it is truly the best place for a spatial-attribute Soul Master to enter seclusion.

Besides cultivation, I hope you will consider again becoming my only direct disciple."

"Okay, Senior Qingtian."

Xiang Xiang Naer replied in a deep voice, but in her heart she was perfunctory. After a few breaths, she entered deep meditation. Spatial elements flowed naturally, soul power circulated at high speed, and spiritual power was more vigorous than ever before, giving rise to various realizations.

As the meditative state deepened, Xiang Xiang Naer's thoughts gradually became light, as if merging with this space. She could see every tiny fluctuation in the space and even manipulate them to create small spatial domains.

This unprecedented sensation filled her heart with shock and joy, and her various abilities integrated and became clear through this realization.

On the other side, Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen also pushed open the wooden door. It was a dim and solemn room. Ancient yin-yang totems were carved on the walls all around, and an oppressive atmosphere permeated the air.

The sense of oppression came from the center of the room, or rather, from two massive soul beast corpses in the center of the room.

The two soul beasts were of the same clan. Their beast bodies were a hundred zhang long. One was clad in platinum scales, the other in the opposite deep black-gold. The edges of the scales were sharp as blades, engraved with mysterious ancient runes. They should have shone like the sun, but now they had lost their former brilliance. In the dimness, a color of dead silence permeated, as if darkness had swallowed all vitality.

Though the beasts were dead, their pressure remained. The two great beasts, one yin and one yang, formed a yin-yang field from their remains, like a huge cage imprisoning Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen, constantly pressing inward.

After a brief moment of surprise, Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen released his True Self martial soul. The Taiji Diagram rotated rhythmically, resisting the oppression transmitted by the two great beasts. He sat down on the cushion in the center of the room, gathered his mind, and focused his spirit.

Xiang Yunming's voice rang out again: "Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen, the soul beast remains before you are the Ten-Thousand-Year Yin Yang Qilin and the Ten-Thousand-Year Yang Yang Qilin.

Thirteen thousand years ago, the Yin and Yang Yang Qilin once wreaked havoc on the Limit Douluo Continent, attempting to destroy the human race. Finally, Shi Shi Laike Academy intervened, and five Sea God Pavilion Elders joined forces to slay them.

The Yin and Yang Yang Qilin bloodlines are noble, not inferior to the true dragon bloodlines of the Dragon Clan. The interaction of yin and yang will make you feel immense pressure, but the process of growth is the process of bearing pressure.

Such an opportunity comes only once."

As his words fell, the aura of the Yin and Yang Yang Qilin erupted violently. Layers of black and white ripples rose within the room, forcing Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen to go all out to resist.

After a long time, Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen's state stabilized. His body then began to accommodate the energy flow of the Yin and Yang Yang Qilin. Immediately, a huge golden light sphere suddenly burst into his spiritual world.

"Roar—"

Teng She awoke instantly, opening its blood-red beast eyes. It let out a furious roar at the golden light sphere, with fierce flames gathering deep in its throat, ready to erupt.

"Wait, Teng She."

Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen spoke to stop Teng She, and a hoarse voice also came from the light sphere.

"Apologies, Lord Teng She. I mean no harm; I am simply forced to communicate with you in this manner."

The light sphere transformed into an old man with a hunched figure. His beard hung down to the ground, and a pair of pale golden eyes were extremely clear. His voice was gentle as he said:

"Hello, variable of fate."

(End of this chapter)