On this day, under the tranquil canopy of the Great Star Dou Forest, Song Qing stepped forward, a gentle smile on his face as he placed a hand on Ah Yin's shoulder.
"Xiao Wu, Da Ming, Er Ming," he began, his voice carrying clearly across the still air, "I would like you to meet someone special."
The three spirit beasts turned their attention towards Ah Yin, their eyes filled with curiosity. Xiao Wu, her bunny ears twitching, hopped closer, her gaze inquisitive. Er Ming, with his characteristic childlike wonder, lumbered forward, his large eyes blinking. Da Ming, his ancient wisdom radiating from him, observed Ah Yin with a calm intensity.
"This is Ah Yin," Song Qing announced. "She is the Blue Silver Empress."
A collective gasp of surprise rippled through the spirit beasts. Xiao Wu's ears stood straight up, her playful demeanor momentarily replaced by awe. Er Ming's jaw dropped slightly, his childlike fascination reaching new heights. Da Ming's gaze softened with respect.
"The… the Blue Silver Empress?" Xiao Wu stammered, her eyes wide.
Er Ming tilted his massive head, looking at Ah Yin with newfound reverence. "The ruler of all Blue Silver Grass?" he asked, his voice filled with wonder.
Da Ming simply nodded slowly, his ancient eyes recognizing the powerful aura emanating from Ah Yin.
Song Qing nodded in confirmation. "Yes. Due to some unfortunate circumstances, she was forced to sacrifice herself for a human, becoming his Soul Ring. Her physical body was reverted back to a seed."
He paused, allowing them to absorb this information.
"I used my Primordial Life Tree Spirit to heal her seed," Song Qing continued, "to advance her cultivation. Now, she is with me as my maidservant, to repay that favor."
This explanation seemed to satisfy the spirit beasts. They trusted Song Qing implicitly, and the logic of the situation made sense to them.
"A maidservant?" Xiao Wu tilted her head, her playful curiosity returning. She looked at Ah Yin with a friendly smile. "Welcome! It's nice to meet you!"
Er Ming, forgetting his initial awe, bounded forward, his large hand reaching out to gently touch Ah Yin's arm. "You're so pretty!" he exclaimed with his usual childlike honesty.
Da Ming stepped forward, his massive form radiating a gentle warmth. "Welcome, Blue Silver Empress. It is an honor to finally meet you."
Ah Yin smiled warmly at the spirit beasts, her heart touched by their immediate acceptance. "It is an honor to meet all of you as well," she replied, her voice soft and melodious.
A'Rou, who had been watching the interaction with a gentle smile on her spectral face, now turned her attention to Song Qing. She had observed how easily her daughter and her nephews had accepted Ah Yin.
She floated closer to Song Qing, her ethereal form shimmering slightly. "Qing," she began, her voice soft but carrying a hint of concern, "what was your true reason for bringing her here? It cannot simply be to introduce her to my daughter and these two naughty nephews of mine."
Song Qing nodded, understanding A'Rou's perceptive nature. He led her a few steps away from the others, ensuring their conversation remained private.
"You are right, Aunt A'Rou," he said, his voice low. "While I did want them to meet Ah Yin, there is another reason."
He paused, choosing his words carefully. "I want to find the Blue Silver Grass Forest."
A'Rou's eyes widened slightly in surprise. "The Blue Silver Grass Forest? Why?"
"I need to know if Tang San has accepted his inheritance there," Song Qing explained. "After all, I initially awakened his Blue Silver Grass spirit to the Blue Silver Grass King back at Shrek Academy. With the inheritance from the forest, it should be easy for him to awaken it further, to the Blue Silver Emperor."
He frowned slightly. "I need to gauge his progress, to understand the extent of his power."
A'Rou nodded, understanding his strategic mind.
Song Qing then added, his gaze softening slightly, "Also… it would allow Ah Yin to return to her true home. The Blue Silver Grass Forest is her origin. All the plant spirit beasts there must care for her deeply."
A'Rou smiled gently, her ethereal hand reaching out to touch Song Qing's arm. "That is kind of you, Qing. It will mean a great deal to her."
"And perhaps," Song Qing mused, a hint of a plan forming in his mind, "Ah Yin's presence there might even… influence things. We shall see."
He turned back towards the others, a smile on his face. Xiao Wu, Er Ming, and Da Ming were now happily chatting with Ah Yin, their initial surprise replaced by genuine warmth and acceptance. Ah Yin seemed to be enjoying their company as well, her gentle nature resonating with the spirit beasts.
Xiao Wu was excitedly telling Ah Yin about her adventures in the forest, her playful energy infectious. Er Ming was showing off his strength, flexing his massive muscles with a grin. Da Ming was sharing ancient wisdom, his deep voice resonating with authority and kindness.
A'Rou watched them all, a sense of peace settling over her spectral form. Her daughter was happy, her nephews were entertained, and Ah Yin seemed to have found a sense of belonging among them.
"They like her," A'Rou observed softly, turning back to Song Qing.
"Yes," Song Qing replied, his gaze also fixed on the group. "She is the Blue Silver Empress, after all. It is only natural."
He knew that having Ah Yin by his side would be invaluable in locating the Blue Silver Grass Forest and understanding the potential threat that Tang San posed. And perhaps, in time, he could even use Ah Yin's connection to the forest to his advantage.
~~
After spending the entire day by the Lake of Life, with A'Rou enjoying the presence of her daughter and nephews, the time for their departure arrived. With a gentle sigh, A'Rou's spiritual form faded, returning to the sanctuary within Song Qing's Dark Soul Emperor's Crown.
Song Qing turned to Ah Yin, his gaze soft. "Ready to go?" he asked.
Ah Yin nodded, her blue eyes filled with a mixture of anticipation and a hint of sadness at leaving her new acquaintances so soon.
Song Qing reached out and gently placed his hand on her waist, intending to provide her with support during their flight. Ah Yin's breath hitched slightly at his touch.
'His hand… it feels so… stable,' she thought, a faint blush warming her cheeks. He wasn't doing anything improper, just a firm, supportive hold. Yet, a strange flutter of excitement stirred within her, a sensation completely new and rather… thrilling.
Song Qing, oblivious to the inner turmoil his simple touch was causing, unfolded his External Spirit Bone, the magnificent Ancient Void Dragonbone Wings, from his back. The massive wings shimmered with an ethereal light, their intricate patterns hinting at the ancient power they possessed.
"Hold on tight," he instructed gently.
With a powerful beat of his wings, they soared into the sky. Song Qing activated his Aerial Supremacy skill, a subtle spatial element enhancing his speed. Small spatial tears seemed to momentarily appear and disappear around his wings, propelling them forward at an incredible pace.
Ah Yin gasped, her grip tightening on Song Qing's arm as the wind rushed past them. The sensation of flying at such speed was exhilarating, a stark contrast to her previous existence as a stationary spirit.
As they flew, guided by Ah Yin's innate connection to her ancestral home, Song Qing's senses, amplified by his Primordial Life Tree Spirit, scanned the landscape below. Soon, he could sense it – a subtle distortion in the natural flow of the forest's energy, an illusionary restriction carefully woven around a specific area.
"There it is," he murmured, his eyes narrowing.
With a focused surge of his spiritual power, combined with a subtle manipulation of the surrounding plant life through his Primordial Life Tree Spirit, Song Qing effortlessly shattered the illusion. The air shimmered, and a hidden valley, filled with an unusually dense and vibrant growth of blue silver grass, came into view.
This was it. The Blue Silver Grass Forest.
As they descended into the valley, the scene that unfolded before them was breathtaking. An endless expanse of blue silver grass stretched as far as the eye could see, its leaves shimmering with a faint, ethereal blue light. The air hummed with a palpable life force, a sense of ancient power and deep connection.
And then, they sensed it – a powerful consciousness, a regal presence that dominated the entire forest. The Blue Silver King.
As if sensing the return of its Empress, the blue silver grass began to sway and ripple, creating a mesmerizing wave-like effect across the entire forest. A feeling of joyous excitement emanated from every blade of grass, a silent welcome to their returning ruler.
But then, the Blue Silver King's powerful consciousness focused on the unfamiliar human holding their Empress so intimately by the waist. A wave of surprise, followed by an undeniable sense of reverence, washed over the forest. The King couldn't comprehend why it felt such profound respect for this human, but the feeling was undeniable.
Song Qing gently released his hold on Ah Yin's waist as they landed in a clearing within the forest. He watched as Ah Yin took a tentative step forward, her blue eyes filled with emotion as she gazed upon her ancestral home.
The blue silver grass around her seemed to reach out, their leaves gently brushing against her legs, a silent greeting from her loyal subordinates, her closest family.
Ah Yin closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath, as if trying to absorb the very essence of the forest. Then, she opened her eyes and a gentle smile bloomed on her face.
A wave of mental communication washed over her, a chorus of voices filled with concern and affection.
'Empress! You have returned! Are you alright? Where have you been all these years? Why are you with this human? Who is this human? We feel such… power… from him. Such reverence…'
Ah Yin gently unleashed her spirit, the ethereal form of the Blue Silver Empress shimmering around her. The blue light intensified, bathing the forest in a soft glow. She reached out with her spiritual power, gently touching the consciousness of every blade of grass, every plant spirit within the forest, including the powerful Blue Silver King.
'My dear family,' she replied mentally, her voice filled with warmth and love. 'I am alright. I have been through… much. This human… he helped me. He saved me. You can trust him.'
She answered their questions patiently, explaining her sacrifice, her time as a Soul Ring, and Song Qing's role in her return.
Then, a different voice, the powerful consciousness of the Blue Silver King, resonated within her mind.
'Empress,' it said, its tone filled with a mixture of pride and a hint of confusion, 'we sensed your bloodline not long ago. From a young human child who visited this forest a few months past. We helped him. We guided him to awaken his Blue Silver Grass King to the Blue Silver Emperor.'
Ah Yin's eyes widened in surprise. 'Little San… he was here?'
She turned to look at Song Qing, noticing the calm expression on his face. He seemed to have expected this.
'He knew,' she realized, a strange mix of emotions swirling within her.
She turned her attention back to her loyal subordinates, her mental voice filled with a mother's eager curiosity. 'Tell me about my son. Tell me everything. How is he? How strong has he become?'
The Blue Silver King's consciousness responded, its mental voice filled with pride. 'Your son is strong, Empress. For his age, incredibly so. He was at level forty when he arrived, just thirteen years old. After he awakened his Blue Silver Emperor spirit, I, your loyal Blue Silver King, personally guided him. I helped him condense his Fourth Soul Ring. His soul power reached level forty-three directly.'
Song Qing, who had been quietly observing the reunion, listened intently to this exchange. A flicker of satisfaction crossed his face.
'Level forty-three at thirteen… Tang Hao certainly hasn't wasted any time,' he thought. 'Unlike that useless Yu Xiaogang.' He had to admit, a part of him was impressed by Tang San's rapid growth, even if that growth ultimately meant a future confrontation.