Qin Yexuan walked into the soap bubble.
The mountain valley of Lingmeng Mountain had been brutally pierced through. After passing through four tunnels, a vast basin unfolded.
The Northern Military completely controlled this area, with transport helicopters constantly taking off and landing.
On the other side of the mountain, a highway was being temporarily repurposed.
Students were being evacuated in an orderly fashion.
Qin Yexuan watched for a while, satisfied with Li Tianxing's actions. He turned and traversed the valley. The stone tablet rotated slowly, and on the other side lay a drastically changed small world.
It was thriving with vitality.
What was once a simple cottage and farmland had now become a massive ranch.
A Yu, wearing a hard hat, stood in front of the ranch.
Just ahead of him, four colossal white oxen, as large as trucks, were using their peculiar twin horns to push through the rugged terrain.
The soil became loose, large stones shattered, and small stones flew. Wherever the white oxen passed, it transformed into excellent arable land.
"You're here. How does it feel?" A Yu spun around, reverting to his simple youthful appearance.
Qin Yexuan looked at the newly established ranch. "Not bad. Have you acquired more souls?"
"Yes. Souls are the energy of this world. The souls of the Dongling guards killed by Di Xin in the battle at the east gate of the academy, I've collected them all. The most potent souls are from those hundreds of monk soldiers; degenerates with faith, their souls are the most delicious."
A Yu smiled. "But alas, currently, the only high-quality souls that satisfy me are from that demoness Rakshasa you sent last time."
The demoness who possessed Su Xueqing?
Qin Yexuan saw her. That female Rakshasa stood on a white ox, emitting a strange energy, driving the giant white ox to till the land.
"This soul is so capable," Qin Yexuan couldn't help but stroke his chin.
A Yu smiled. "Indeed, that's why I called it a high-quality soul."
At this moment, the mysterious power within Qin Yexuan issued a warning: "Look closely at that soul. There's something... hidden within her soul. This A Yu, though a soul controller, can only see souls and nothing else."
Qin Yexuan had already seen it.
Hidden within the female Rakshasa was a scroll!
He suddenly understood: "Old fellow, our guess was correct. The mastermind deliberately let Xueqing appear. She knew I would bring Xueqing to Tianyugu, and this plan was a gift offered with borrowed flowers. By doing so, she hid the Hell Scroll within the valley. A brilliant move."
"So, when the Dragon Gate Assembly begins, they can seize the opportunity to activate the mountain village's Hell Transformation Diagram, merge it with this small world, and unlock the 'stone like jade but not jade' among the three riddles!"
The mysterious power chuckled. "Do you want to tell this A Yu?"
"We've already taken one small world out, and we can create a new one. If this soul controller, A Yu, cooperates, I'll save him. If not, let it be destroyed."
Qin Yexuan looked at A Yu.
A Yu frowned. "Did you bring any new souls this time?"
Qin Yexuan shook his head. "I'm here to ask for help."
"I hope you can make the soap bubble space a bit larger and extend it to cover the commercial district of Chaoge City, assisting us in completing the evacuation plan."
Qin Yexuan was very sincere. "In return, all the souls of the enemies who died in the battle of Chaoge will be yours."
A Yu's expression turned cold. "I've opened many spatial portals in Chaoge. The deceased will naturally be drawn in as energy. You can't use something that already belongs to me to make a deal with me."
He spoke ruthlessly. "I am not your subordinate, and I don't need to listen to you. This world belongs to me, and you are just a gatekeeper."
Qin Yexuan wasn't angry. "Then what are your terms? I came here to negotiate."
A Yu looked at him. "Originally, your soul was what I desired most, but I believe you wouldn't agree."
Qin Yexuan said indifferently, "You'd have to have the ability to take it."
A Yu nodded. "So, I can settle for the next best thing. Among the people around you, there's a teacher named Wang Jiaqian, right?"
Qin Yexuan remained silent.
A Yu said solemnly, "I want Wang Jiaqian's soul. No other terms are negotiable."
"Why her?" Qin Yexuan was furious inwardly, but his expression remained calm.
A Yu smiled, with the demeanor of a superior. "Because her identity is unusual. I won't explain. Student Qin, your strength is formidable, but you still can't compare to us."
"And who are you?"
A Yu's eyelids drooped. "We are gods, the gods that humans worshipped long ago. Do you understand? Humans now have forgotten their faith in gods, misguided by money, pleasure, and that thing called technology."
Qin Yexuan interrupted him. "The negotiation ends here. You don't need to act so high and mighty; I don't like that kind of pretense."
"Remember your status. As my gatekeeper, you're already considered a servant of the gods."
A Yu left coldly.
This monster who controlled hell had changed so much compared to last time.
His personality was completely different.
Qin Yexuan didn't leave immediately. Instead, he took the opportunity to visit student Wang Yulan.
Wang Yulan lived alone in a wooden house on the ranch. Upon seeing Qin Yexuan, she hesitated to speak.
Qin Yexuan smiled. "Classmate Wang, you look troubled. Is it related to A Yu?"
Wang Yulan clutched her clothes and after a long pause, whispered, "This child changes every day, I mean his personality. Even towards me, he's been rather indifferent lately."
Qin Yexuan said faintly, "That's normal. As more souls enter here, his abilities recover faster. Classmate Wang, you must understand, he is not your son; you are merely a vessel."
"Once the souls become powerful enough to restore this world, A Yu will regain his original memories and personality, becoming the so-called god who controls hell."
"And you, in the end, are just a human."
Wang Yulan couldn't understand these words, nor could she accept them.
When Qin Yexuan left, she was still knitting a small sweater in her wooden house, preparing it for her "son."
Wang Yulan was immersed in her own perceived world, and it seemed difficult for her to escape.
Qin Yexuan returned to the academy through the passage. The first thing he did was look for Wang Jiaqian.
"Teacher Wang? She just left. Her family called, a person named Doctor Zhao." Secretary Zhu scratched his head. "I said it was dangerous outside, but Teacher Wang said it was fine and that she would bring her sister to school."
Qin Yexuan nodded. "It's alright. That Doctor Zhao is treating her sister."
Secretary Zhu took out a piece of paper. "This is Teacher Wang's address. It's in Yun Jia Alley, a rented place."
Qin Yexuan took the slip of paper and waved Secretary Zhu away to attend to his duties. He then glanced at his office.
Miss Lotus was alone inside, keeping the door closed, behaving very well.
Qin Yexuan pondered for a moment, then gently clapped his hands. From beneath the ground, Old Stone slowly emerged.
The monster, covered in stone armor, stretched its neck. "What do you want me for?"
"You and Lion Cat, guard this door. No one is allowed in or out!"
With that, Qin Yexuan left the academy under the cover of night. He quickly reached the neighborhood where Wang Jiaqian lived, using the route controlled by the military from the east gate.
Just outside Teacher Wang's house, he spotted four men in black.
They were divided into two groups, guarding the front and back of the house respectively.
A man in his forties arrived by car. Upon alighting, the black-clad men bowed respectfully. "Doctor Zhao, you're here? Wang Jiaqian just went inside."
The so-called Doctor Zhao waved his hand gently. "Old rule: guard the front and back doors. No one is allowed in or out!"
Then, he hurried into the house.
Qin Yexuan's eyes flashed. "Heh, this is getting interesting."