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"Here… Here…"
At this moment, Ah Yin couldn't even form a complete sentence. As the Blue Silver Emperor who had emerged from the Blue Silver Forest, she was intimately familiar with its essence. Although the forest before her still appeared lush and green, it was incomparable to its former vitality.
If forced to describe the current state of the Blue Silver Forest using her own understanding, it would resemble her condition after being resurrected post-sacrifice—appearing somewhat restored on the surface but fundamentally hollow inside.
Ye Wen revealed a mischievous smile and said cheerfully:
"It's just as you thought, Ah Yin. This is indeed the Blue Silver Forest."
"But… but why has the Blue Silver Forest become like this?" Ah Yin asked in confusion.
Ye Wen didn't answer directly. Instead, he maintained his sly grin and replied nonchalantly, "Regarding that, why don't you use your Blue Silver Domain to ask these Blue Silver Grasses why they're like this? Or, relying on your spiritual perception, you should be able to sense some familiar energy signatures, right?"
Clearly, Ye Wen saw through Ah Yin's self-deception. Having been in close contact with Tang Hao for over a decade, how could she fail to recognize the soul force aura of her own partner?
Ah Yin was merely deceiving herself at this point.
"Why has it come to this?"
Ah Yin's mournful voice echoed from within the Blue Silver Emperor, though no illusory figure materialized. If it had, Ye Wen mused, it would probably have been a pitiable sight—a beautiful woman shedding tears.
Unfortunately, Ye Wen had no interest in married women or second-hand lovers. His heart was as cold as iron. While he sympathized with Ah Yin for her misfortune in choosing the wrong man, Ye Wen's rationality was terrifying. From the start, Ah Yin had been nothing more than a tool for him to deal with Tang San or Tang Hao in the future.
After allowing Ah Yin to wallow in sorrow for a while, Ye Wen judged the timing to be right and spoke:
"Ah Yin, do you now believe that Tang Hao never truly loved you—that he only used you?"
Ah Yin didn't respond, but her silence conveyed the most truthful answer. Thus, Ye Wen continued:
"I have an excellent plan to exact revenge on Tang Hao and his son. Would you be willing to assist me when the time comes? If you agree, I'll not only restore this Blue Silver Forest quickly but also ensure that your Blue Silver Grass clan reaches unprecedented strength."
The agreement Ye Wen had previously made with the Blue Silver King involved helping the Blue Silver King ascend as the new Blue Silver Emperor and nurturing the Blue Silver Forest. However, strengthening the entire Blue Silver Grass clan was not part of those promises.
Yet, Ah Yin remained silent for a long time, giving Ye Wen no response. Realizing his offer might not have been enticing enough to fully sway her against Tang Hao, Ye Wen added:
"Ah Yin, do you remember the topic we left unfinished last time? The one about Tang Hao abusing Tang San."
!?
The previously lifeless Blue Silver Emperor trembled violently, clearly captivated by Ye Wen's words.
By now, Ah Yin had accepted the reality that Tang Hao didn't love her. But what concerned her more was the child she had never met since his birth.
However, Ye Wen didn't delve into the specifics of Tang Hao's abuse of Tang San. Instead, he said:
"Do you know, Ah Yin, that after you sacrificed yourself for Tang Hao, he carried your newborn child into a three-day, three-night battle against the previous Pope, Qian Xunji? Two Super Douluo-level powerhouses fighting while carrying a baby—I can't imagine how an infant could survive the aftermath of such a battle. Even a young soul beast like you, a Blue Silver Emperor, wouldn't be able to withstand the residual shockwaves."
Upon hearing this, Ah Yin's leaves trembled even more violently. A nameless terror consumed her, and she stammered:
"M-Mr. Ye, what do you mean?"
This time, Ye Wen didn't beat around the bush. He countered directly:
"I've already made it so clear, Ah Yin. How can you still not understand? What I'm saying is this:
Your child died in Tang Hao's arms the moment he was born!"
Ah Yin felt as if struck by lightning. Her entire form as the Blue Silver Emperor froze stiff.
For a mother who endured ten months of pregnancy and the pain of childbirth, the most unbearable truth was that her child had perished immediately after birth.
This principle applied perfectly to Ah Yin. Although Blue Silver Grass plants scattered seeds indiscriminately, the higher the rank of a spirit beast, the harder it was to conceive offspring. Even during her time as a spirit beast, Ah Yin hadn't produced another Blue Silver Emperor.
Thus, learning that her child had died at birth was too much for her to bear. Instinctively, she retorted:
"No, that's not true! You're lying to me! My son is still alive! Though Tang Hao may not love me and abused our child, my son Tang San is alive in this world. Why are you deceiving me?"
At this moment, Ye Wen wondered if he had gone too far with his psychological manipulation. Ah Yin's current state resembled mental instability. Softening his tone slightly, he murmured:
"Sigh, accept reality, Ah Yin.
In the Douluo Continent, even the offspring of the most powerful True Dragon spirit beasts cannot survive a battle between two Title Douluos comparable to hundred-thousand-year spirit beasts.
As for why Tang San is still alive… have you ever heard of something called 'soul usurpation'?"
Ye Wen then explained the concept of soul usurpation to Ah Yin. With a tone of pity, he added:
"Of course, if you only care about the continuation of your bloodline, then your son Tang San's physical body is indeed still alive—it's just that his soul has been replaced by someone else's."
At this moment, the branches of the Blue Silver Emperor in Ye Wen's hand trembled violently, as if convulsing. Clearly, Ah Yin was on the verge of losing her mind. However, to Ye Wen's surprise, her branches suddenly went limp again, collapsing weakly around the edges of the pot.
While most spirit beasts cared only about the continuation of their bloodline, this applied mainly to lower-tier beasts. Fully sentient hundred-thousand-year spirit beasts thought like humans, possessing their own unique emotions. How could they not care deeply about the intrinsic nature of their lineage's continuation?
Otherwise, enduring the immense pain of a ten-month pregnancy only to have her child's identity usurped by another would make her, Ah Yin, nothing more than a spare parts manufacturer!
Suddenly, Ye Wen frowned as a faint spiritual ripple emanated from the Blue Silver Emperor in his hand. However, this attack wasn't specifically aimed at Ye Wen—it spread indiscriminately in all directions.
It was akin to someone lashing out in anger, venting their frustration indiscriminately.
But due to her sacrifice, although Ah Yin's soul had been preserved, her spiritual realm was far weaker than before, making her incapable of harming Ye Wen at this moment.
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