Similar to how they had appeared in the Spirit Pagoda, both Yun Ming and Yun Xian vanished in a flash of light — their figures dissolving into motes of brilliance before the room returned to stillness.
As the glow faded, Gu Yue turned toward Leng Yaozhu, her expression calm yet questioning.
"Teacher," she asked softly, "why did you let him take that Emerald Swan spirit soul for free?"
Leng Yaozhu didn't frown or scold her. Instead, a faint, wistful smile curved her lips. The light in her eyes shimmered with emotion as she replied,
"Yue'er, you're still too young to understand. But one day, you will. When that day comes, you'll know that the joy I felt today... is worth more than anything else in this world."
Her tone was gentle but filled with a depth that carried both warmth and sorrow — a feeling Gu Yue couldn't quite grasp. She fell silent.
Though she appeared young, she was far older than Leng Yaozhu — a being who had witnessed eras pass and races fall. Yet, at this moment, she couldn't deny it: she knew nothing of human emotions.
That was why she chose to blend into their world — to observe, to feel, to understand. Only by knowing the heart of humanity could she truly avenge her kind, the fallen soul beasts.
Her eyes glimmered with cold resolve as she turned away, the faint silver hue within them flashing for an instant.
After all, the one standing here wasn't merely Gu Yue, the Spirit Pagoda student…
She was the Silver Dragon King — a god-level being in disguise.
...
...
...
...
On the other side, a gentle light rippled through the courtyard, and Yun Ming and Yun Xian's figures emerged from it, as if stepping out of a dream. The air still shimmered faintly from the teleportation's afterglow.
Under the warm sunlight, Ya Li sat gracefully on a wooden bench surrounded by blooming flowers. She was softly humming a sweet melody — the kind that carried warmth and peace — perhaps waiting for their return. Her voice drifted like a spring breeze through the courtyard.
"Mom, we're back!" Yun Xian shouted joyfully and sprinted toward her with bright eyes.
Yun Ming, watching his son dash forward, couldn't help but twitch his lips.
(This brat… just now he called Yaozhu 'Second Mom.' Does he even realize what he's saying? If Ya Li finds out… I'm dead for sure.)
Ya Li's eyes softened the moment she saw him. She spread her arms, catching Yun Xian as he leapt into her embrace.
"Oh, Xiao Xian is back," she said with a smile that could melt the coldest heart. "Did you get your spirit soul? Quick, let Mother have a look."
"Yes, Mom! Wait a second!" Yun Xian replied excitedly, stepping back a little. His face was glowing with pride as he raised his left hand.
"Xiao Qing, come out!"
At his call, the familiar radiance of his martial soul flared to life. The Nine Heart Begonia bloomed in his palm — now threaded with more golden veins than before, radiating a divine light that seemed to pulse with vitality.
In the next instant, a soft cry echoed through the air as a graceful Emerald Swan emerged in a swirl of green light. Its feathers shimmered with a jade brilliance, and it gently perched on Yun Xian's arm, spreading its wings slightly before folding them in contentment.
The moment Ya Li's gaze fell on the Emerald Swan, her eyes widened in disbelief. For a brief second, she was speechless — but then her eyes shifted sharply toward Yun Ming, wordlessly demanding an explanation.
Yun Ming immediately felt a chill run down his spine. He raised his hands with a dry laugh and said,
"Alright, alright… let's sit down first, and then I'll explain everything."
Inside, though, he could only smile bitterly.
(There's no way I'm escaping this time… she's definitely going to scold me.)
Once they settled around the stone table in the courtyard, Yun Ming began recounting everything that had happened inside the Spirit Pagoda — from the spirit soul selection to Leng Yaozhu's unexpected decision. He didn't dare hide a single detail.
By the time he finished, Ya Li's lips curved into a frighteningly calm smile. That smile — far too sweet, far too composed — made both Yun Ming and Yun Xian shiver at once.
Before the storm could hit, Yun Xian quickly stepped forward, his small face tensed with nerves.
"Mom, please don't blame Father! It was my decision to call Teacher Yaozhu 'Godmother.' And… there's a reason I did that."
Ya Li didn't interrupt — her smile remained, gentle yet unreadable.
"Oh? Then can Mother hear this reason?" she asked softly.
Yun Xian took a deep breath and said earnestly,
"When I looked into her eyes, I felt a deep sadness inside her. And when she asked me to call her 'Mom,' her eyes looked… expectant. If I had rejected her, I think she would've been hurt even more. So, I called her 'Second Mother.' Because you're my only mother — how could I ever call anyone else the same?"
His innocent voice carried no hesitation, only honesty.
The courtyard fell silent. Yun Ming and Ya Li exchanged a look — both visibly stunned. They didn't need to probe his words; they knew he wasn't lying. And they both understood all too well the source of Leng Yaozhu's hidden sorrow.
Ya Li's expression softened. The tension in her shoulders melted away as she exhaled quietly.
"…I see. I'm sorry, Xiao Xian," she said gently, guilt flickering in her eyes. "I thought you were being mischievous — trying to fool someone."
Yun Xian shook his head and smiled brightly before hugging her tightly.
"No need to apologize, Mom. I understand. You'll always be my Mom — the best in the whole world."
Ya Li's smile turned warm and genuine as she embraced him, the soft sunlight spilling over them like a tender blessing — a tranquil moment of family warmth after a day of divine encounters.
"Okay, since the misunderstanding has been cleared up," Yun Ming said with a faint smile, the tension easing from his voice, "how about you show us what soul skills you gained from Xiao Qing?"
"Alright," Yun Xian nodded eagerly. With a flicker of light, his martial soul appeared once more — the Nine Heart Begonia, glowing softly with a sacred brilliance. Two soul rings — both a deep, majestic purple — rose slowly from beneath his feet, revolving gracefully around him. The entire courtyard shimmered under their radiance.
"Dad, Mom," Yun Xian began, his eyes shining with excitement, "my first soul skill is Healing. It can instantly heal minor physical injuries, and for major wounds — like deep cuts or fractures — it can restore around forty percent."
Yun Ming and Ya Li both nodded slightly; this was what they had expected from the Nine Heart Begonia. But before they could comment, Yun Xian continued — and his next words made their hearts skip a beat.
"As for my second soul skill, it's… different from what you told me before," he said, looking at them earnestly. "You said the Nine Heart Begonia can only produce one type of soul skill — Healing — no matter what kind of soul ring is absorbed. But this time, that didn't happen."
Ya Li's brows furrowed slightly as Yun Xian's expression grew brighter with pride.
"My second soul skill, which I gained from Xiao Qing, is called Recovery. It doesn't restore soul power or spiritual power… but it can recover about fifty percent of physical strength and also relieve mental fatigue."
His words fell like thunder. Both Yun Ming and Ya Li's eyes widened in disbelief, their gazes fixed on the glowing rings around their son.
"This… this shouldn't be possible," Yun Ming muttered under his breath. "The Nine Heart Begonia has never developed an additional soul skill…"
But Yun Xian wasn't done. A small smile crept onto his lips as he added, "Not only that, both of my soul skills grow stronger as the soul ring ages. That means when Xiao Qing evolves into a Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Soul, their effects will increase too."
The courtyard fell silent once again — the only sound was the gentle rustling of leaves and the soft flutter of Xiao Qing's wings. The golden-veined Begonia glowed faintly in Yun Xian's hand, casting a light that seemed to hum with life itself.
"As expected," Yun Ming said, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied the Nine Heart Begonia glowing softly in Yun Xian's hand. The golden veins pulsed faintly within the petals like living threads of light. "The benefits of bonding with the Emerald Swan are exactly as we anticipated. It's clear that your martial soul has evolved — though… perhaps not completely just yet."
"Hehe," Ya Li chuckled softly, her voice warm with pride. "I think so too. Our Xiao Xian will definitely grow even stronger."
As she spoke, she reached out and gently ran her fingers through Yun Xian's soft, jet-black hair. Her touch was tender — filled with the quiet love of a mother who could already see the extraordinary future waiting for her child.
Yun Xian looked up at her, his bright eyes reflecting both her affection and the faint golden glow of his martial soul. The courtyard, bathed in the evening light, seemed to hum with a serene, almost sacred warmth — a moment of peace before the destiny ahead began to unfold.
"Mom, I'll be like you!" Yun Xian said suddenly, his young voice filled with firm conviction. "I'll treat everyone for free, and I won't ever hesitate — not even for a moment!"
His eyes sparkled with sincerity, and in that instant, the faint light of his martial soul reflected off them, making them shine like twin stars. From the time he could understand the world, he had always admired his mother deeply. Though he respected his father as well, Ya Li was different — she was his ideal. The countless stories he'd secretly read about her deeds as the Angel of Hope, healing strangers and saving lives in silence, had left an unshakable impression on him.
Ya Li's heart softened as she listened. A sweet smile bloomed on her face, but behind it was a quiet trace of worry. She reached out, resting her hand gently on his cheek.
"Xiao Xian," she said softly, her voice warm but serious, "I'm proud that you've made such a promise. But you must remember one thing."
Her gentle eyes deepened, carrying the weight of experience and pain.
"If you have the potential to become a strong person, never waste it. Because even if you can save a thousand others… when true danger falls upon you, only your own strength can save you."
Her words hung in the air — tender yet heavy — as the breeze brushed through the courtyard.
Yun Xian looked up at her quietly, the determination in his eyes now mixed with understanding. The glow of the Nine Heart Begonia slowly faded, but the warmth of that moment remained — a lesson carved not into his mind, but into his heart.
"Okay, Mom. I'll never forget your words," Yun Xian said earnestly, his small hands clenched in determination. The sincerity in his tone made Ya Li's smile deepen, pride and affection mingling in her gaze.
Just then, Yun Ming spoke up, his voice steady but tinged with a hint of satisfaction.
"It seems your soul power has already reached level twenty-three. That means… it's time for you to choose your second profession."
Yun Xian blinked, surprised. "But… don't I need to attend a Soul Master Academy for that?" he asked, tilting his head in confusion.
Yun Ming chuckled lightly, folding his arms as he looked at his son.
"You don't need to," he said with a confident smile. "Whatever others can teach you, we can teach you as well. And besides…" — his eyes softened as he gestured toward the grand campus beyond the courtyard walls —
"don't forget where you are right now. This is Shrek Academy, the number one academy on the entire Douluo Continent."
A faint breeze stirred the air, carrying with it the distant echoes of students training, spirit energy surging across the grounds. Yun Xian's eyes widened slightly as he looked around — the realization sinking in that he stood in a place where legends were born.
And under the watchful eyes of his parents — the guardians of Shrek's glory — his own journey was just beginning.