Chapter 2305: Chapter 2309: Awakening
Buzz, buzz, buzz!
A series of wild and violent energy fluctuations emanated from Ouyang Song. At this moment, there was no focus in Ouyang Song’s eyes. He had already fallen into the inner illusion set by the Heart Demon Seed!
Hu Yiqiu and others continuously enhanced the seal with the power of the Great Dao. However, the collective seal seemed to tremble incessantly, as if it might collapse at any moment!
"What’s going on? Since when did Ouyang become so powerful?"
Hu Yiqiu looked at Ouyang Song with a look of astonishment.
The joint seal of their seven powerful figures was something that even an ordinary Integration Realm Peak expert couldn’t easily break. Yet, Ouyang Song, in an unconscious state, seemed about to shatter their seal, leaving them incredulous.
"Elder Ouyang’s aura..."
Jiang Chen seemed to have realized something, a peculiar look flashing in his eyes.
"Young Jiang, what did you figure out?"
Hu Yiqiu glanced at Jiang Chen and asked casually.
It was a reflexive question, as Hu Yiqiu understood that Jiang Chen could perceive something was off with Ouyang Song due to his experience as a former commander on Yuan Star, where he had trained many cultivators and was sensitive to shifts in a cultivator’s state of mind.
However, believing Jiang Chen could discern something from Ouyang Song’s aura seemed a stretch, given Jiang Chen’s Mid Divine Infant Realm strength. Spotting nuances in the aura of an Integration Realm Peak expert seemed a fantasy.
Perceiving Hu Yiqiu’s nonchalance, Jiang Chen hesitated momentarily, then glanced at Su Qingluan and another person beside him, before whispering, "Master, do you remember what I told you from my hometown about what merged into my soul?"
Hmm?
Upon hearing this, Hu Yiqiu was taken aback, a look of shock overtaking his face.
Ancestral Dragon Soul!
With Jiang Chen’s reminder, Hu Yiqiu suddenly recalled the uniqueness of Jiang Chen’s soul and immediately looked at him with anticipation, "Did you actually notice something?"
"Ever since refining my Primordial Spirit, my Divine Sense has been able to detect the aura of Integration Realm experts and distinguish their strength,"
Jiang Chen whispered, "Elder Ouyang’s aura now is comparable to that of the elder Tong Jiang who attacked the academy. In other words, Elder Ouyang might have, like me, been suppressing his own strength to maintain the superficial title among the Eight Great Elders, and he may have been capable of breaking through the Integration Realm Peak long ago but chose not to."
"What!?"
Hu Yiqiu exclaimed in shock, furrowing his brows tightly, his gaze at Ouyang Song filled with complex emotions.
Years ago, they were both influential figures in the Changling Main Court. Later on, Hu Yiqiu was chosen for the Inner Court, while Ouyang Song was selected for the Outer Court. Since then, Hu Yiqiu felt there was something separating them.
Thinking back now, perhaps Ouyang Song was unwilling in his heart!
Hu Yiqiu was aware of how proud Ouyang Song was at heart. The defeat of those years could have been a blow to his self-esteem, possibly affecting his Dao Heart!
"Ouyang Song, how can a mere Outer Court Elder satisfy you? You used to be a regular on the Inner Court’s Dragon Rankings—can you really be content staying in the Outer Court? If you truly value these superficial titles, then strive for an Inner Court Elder position. If it’s not merely for the superficial title, then break through so I can witness it!"
At this point, Hu Yiqiu roared loudly, "If you’re truly capable, reach the Saint Realm faster than this old man, then you’ll have truly proven yourself. If you’re stagnating because of the Outer Court Elder’s title, then I look down on you!"
Buzz!
Just as Hu Yiqiu’s words fell, Ouyang Song’s aura surged dramatically. With this surge, the violent intent within it became more evident, making the seven’s Great Dao seal tremble fiercely.
It wasn’t that the seven couldn’t truly suppress the explosive aura of Ouyang Song, but they weren’t suppressing it with full strength. If they did, they feared they might harm Ouyang Song.
"Ouyang Song! Was it because of your greed for power, afraid of death, that you gave up the quota to go outside and let Cui’er and me go? Was Cui’er’s death indirectly caused by your cowardice? Was my Primordial Spirit injury and a century of stagnation in cultivation due to your power-hungry actions, you, whom I considered my brother?"
Hu Yiqiu bit his lip and roared angrily.
Su Qingluan, Ouyang Ruoxue, and others looked at Hu Yiqiu in surprise.
They knew Hu Yiqiu once served as an Inner Court Elder in the Changling Main Court, but they didn’t know why he suffered a Primordial Spirit injury and came to Changlin Academy. Now, they seemed to understand a bit more.
So it was!
Jiang Chen’s gaze sharpened. When they talked about Hu Yiqiu’s nemesis earlier, he had his suspicions.
Now, it was confirmed. The injury to his master’s Primordial Spirit and the unknown teacher-mother’s death back then were indeed due to the coveted quota to go outside!
Buzz, buzz, buzz!
A look of struggle appeared on Ouyang Song’s face, and a hint of pain flickered in his eyes. A trace of avoidance flashed and vanished in his gaze as his aura became even more chaotic.
"Ouyang, I sensed something was off with you back then, so I left the Changling Main Court. Though there was resentment toward you, it was more about not wanting you to be too guilty and affect your own state of mind. I didn’t expect you to still hold onto it. I’ve let it go; I don’t blame you anymore. So what are you holding onto?"
Noticing the change in Ouyang Song’s expression, Hu Yiqiu’s eyes flashed with a sharp light as he continued to shout, "Don’t make me look down on you! Don’t make me think Cui’er’s death was caused by your cowardice and craving for power, or else I, Hu Yiqiu, won’t acknowledge you as my brother and will never forgive you!"
Finally, Hu Yiqiu was shouting at the top of his lungs, "Wake the hell up!"
"No! It’s not like that! It’s because I knew I wasn’t as good as you, that’s why I let you go. It was to let you bring glory to the academy, that’s why I let you go!"
Suddenly, a hint of madness appeared in Ouyang Song’s eyes as he shouted loudly.
Buzz!
Boom!
Ouyang Song’s aura surged once more, instantly shattering the Great Dao seal set by Hu Yiqiu and the others.
"If not, then wake the hell up and prove it to me!"
Hu Yiqiu continued to shout, joining forces with Jian Cangqiong and a few others to suppress the rampant aura emanating from Ouyang Song once again.
Buzz!
As Hu Yiqiu’s words fell, Ouyang Song’s aura suddenly disappeared, leaving him standing there in a daze, eyes slowly closing, devoid of any aura fluctuation.
Everyone paused, nervously watching Ouyang Song.
"Old drunkard, I’m sorry, thank you!"
A slightly weary voice spoke as Ouyang Song opened his eyes and looked at Hu Yiqiu with visible gratitude in his gaze.
