The Mixed Yuan Immortal Herb, the Star Luo Spiritual Pearl, and the Earth Dragon Golden Melon were all chewed and swallowed by Ye Yin in quick succession. A fragrant, powerful aroma permeated the air as the three legendary herbs began to unleash their terrifying energy within him.
Ye Yin could clearly feel the immense spirit power in his body being crushed and condensed under the overwhelming medicinal effects. What was once a vast sea of gaseous energy was now being violently compressed. The gas began to ripple, showing shimmering, liquid-like patterns as it swirled faster and faster. Ye Yin did not try to control it; he simply allowed the process to unfold. The spirit power in his body spun on its own like a massive water vortex, and with each rotation, the gaseous energy solidified a little more, steadily approaching a true liquid state.
At the same time, a powerful force of primordial chaos and the energy of Mixed Yuan One Qi began to form at the vortex's center. This new power acted like a magnet, pulling in the other energies already raging within his body—the power of extreme fire, the power of extreme ice, and the potent, earthen power from the Earth Dragon Golden Melon. The force of chaos fused these disparate elements together, converging them all into the spinning vortex of spirit power.
Time lost all meaning. Days blurred into nights.
Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong had long since finished their own cultivation. They now stood watch over Ye Yin, their faces etched with worry.
"It's already been five days and five nights," Ning Rongrong whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "Why hasn't Yin Ge woken up yet? What on earth did he eat?"
Feeling helpless, they finally decided to call upon Flender, the strongest fighter at Shrek Academy, and Yu Xiaogang, the strongest in theory. Both masters were shocked when they arrived and sensed the changes taking place within Ye Yin's body.
"There's no need to worry," Flender said, his expression a mixture of awe and confusion. "Ye Yin's body is perfectly fine right now. There isn't a single problem with his physical condition. He's very stable." He let out a low chuckle. "The only strange thing is that the power fluctuating inside him doesn't seem like something a Spirit Elder should have. In fact, it feels more like when I was about to break through to become a Spirit Saint."
Flender shook his head at the impossible thought. "A Spirit Elder is emitting the spiritual pressure of a Spirit Saint. No matter how you look at it, this is a good thing for him."
Yu Xiaogang nodded in agreement. "As long as his condition is stable, then there's nothing to worry about. We just need to wait patiently. If what Flender says is true, and this is like a breakthrough to the Spirit Saint realm, then it's perfectly normal for it to take a long time."
With the reassurance from both masters, the three girls finally managed to relax. They settled in to wait quietly.
After another two days and two nights, the vortex inside Ye Yin finally stabilized. He could feel that the spirit power in his body had completely transformed from a gas to a pure liquid. The vortex settled firmly in his dantian, and at its core, something new had formed: an unprecedented chaotic Soul Core, containing the fused powers of extreme ice, extreme fire, extreme earth, and Mixed Yuan One Qi. It was a foundation that could, in the future, absorb even more powers—that was the special nature of chaos.
Opening his eyes, Ye Yin felt his entire body thrumming with incredible power. He glanced at his system panel; his attributes were now comparable to a Level 72 Spirit Saint. Even if Li Yusong and Lu Qibin attacked him together, they wouldn't be his match. They would have a hard time just breaking through his defenses.
"Yin Ge," a soft voice said, filled with relief. "You're finally awake!"
Xiao Wu was looking at him, and she let out a long sigh. "Do you know you were cultivating for seven days and seven nights straight?"
Zhu Zhuqing said nothing, but she quietly handed him a bowl of warm white porridge. Ye Yin took it and drank a few mouthfuls. The warm liquid flowed into his stomach, and he immediately felt much more comfortable.
"I didn't expect it to take me so long," Ye Yin sighed, handing the empty bowl back to Zhu Zhuqing. "My spirit power has reached Level 40 now. What about you all? Xiao Wu, you should also be at Level 40, right? And Rongrong must be at Level 30. Zhuqing, did you make it to Level 40?"
Zhu Zhuqing nodded. "Yin Ge, what kind of herbs did you give us? It actually increased my spirit power by nine levels in one go. It's only been a few days since I broke through to Spirit Elder."
"That's right!" Ning Rongrong added excitedly. She extended her right hand, and the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda spun into existence above her palm. Below its nine magnificent floors, a tenth, golden prototype had appeared. "Yin Ge, look at my Spirit! The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda is almost becoming a Ten Treasure Pagoda! Even though the tenth floor isn't fully developed yet, all of my Spirit Ability amplification effects have increased by five percent, from thirty to thirty-five percent!"
Ye Yin nodded, pleased. "As long as you encounter some more opportunities, it might not be impossible for it to become a true Ten Treasure Pagoda. Who says nine treasures is the limit? Now that our spirit power has reached a bottleneck, it's time for us to get our next spirit rings." He then turned to two of them. "Rongrong, Zhuqing, you two go tell the Dean and the others. Xiao Wu and I have something private to discuss."
Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing were stunned for a moment but nodded and left the dormitory.
"Yin Ge, what do you want to tell me?" Xiao Wu asked, looking a little puzzled.
A brilliant golden light emanated from Ye Yin's eyes. Xiao Wu immediately felt a strange sensation, as if she were completely transparent, as if he could see right through her. No, it felt like he already had.
"Xiao Wu," he said, his voice soft but firm. "I already know your true identity."
Xiao Wu's eyes flickered with panic, but she still feigned a bewildered look. "Yin Ge, what are you talking about?"
Ye Yin spoke slowly, leaving no room for doubt. "Your true identity is that of a 100,000-year Spirit Beast, the Soft Bones Rabbit, in human form. Am I right?"
Xiao Wu's expression instantly froze. She slowly lowered her head, making no further attempt to conceal it. A sad, pink light shimmered in her eyes, and her voice was a low whisper, as if she were talking to herself. "So, are you going to kill me and absorb my spirit ring and Spirit Bone?"
Pa!
Ye Yin raised his hand and gave her backside a light, playful smack. "What are you thinking?" he said, his tone shifting from serious to gentle. "I'm telling you this so you don't have to worry anymore. From the moment you entered this academy, you've been worried about your identity being exposed. You were worried a Spirit Douluo would see through you. You were worried when you met Dugu Bo. But ever since you took all those Soul Cleansing Fruits, that's no longer possible. And after taking the Yearning Heartbroken Red, it's even harder to see through you. Now, you are no different from an actual human."
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