Chapter 135: The Human Heart Is Hard to Fathom, the Sea Is Hard to Measure

"If I didn't do this, how could I test whether you are truly worthy of your reputation? If you were really tripped up by this tiny piece of Scorching Condensation Stone, it would only prove that you lack the ability to complete the tasks I assign you. In that case, a useless person who exists in name only would hardly be a loss, even if they died for such a reason! But if you truly have the talent, how could this stone possibly harm you? On the contrary, it should be of great help to you!" The Great Elder looked at the two of them, speaking with an air of indifference. He felt not a shred of remorse for his actions; instead, he considered his behavior a well-intentioned gesture, entirely appropriate.

"In that case, this junior must thank you for your kind intentions, Senior. But I wonder, are you satisfied with the result now?" Yushang desperately suppressed the rage burning within him, forcing a strained smile as he addressed the Great Elder. This old man was indeed far more cunning than the old Dean, and his ability to justify himself was on par with that old codger! It must be said that this Yanlan Academy is truly a place where talent abounds; just these two ancient, unkillable fossils were enough to make many others concede defeat.

"Your performance did indeed exceed my expectations. At the very least, you can be considered a talent worth molding!" Although the Great Elder did not comment much on Yushang, it was clear that he held the young man in high regard. After all, for a mysterious and enigmatic figure like him, catching the eye of such a person was no small feat. However, Yushang did not see it that way. The more this old man valued him, the less peaceful his future would be. Who knew what strange tricks he would come up with to manipulate them, or how many high-sounding excuses he would invent to make them do his bidding?

"But I suspect that you, old man, went to such great lengths to pose as Cheng Lan not just to lure this brat here. Why did you have to drag me into this as well? Do not tell me that you didn't know I would follow him. You should know very well what my relationship with Lan is. It is impossible that you didn't anticipate I would appear here. The only explanation is that you intentionally lured me into this," Xiaoyin said, looking at the smug Great Elder with visible irritation. To think he dared to plot against me—this old man must be tired of living!

"You aren't as foolish as you look. Indeed, as you said, I intentionally drew both of you here. As far as I know, the bond between you two is profound, as close as brothers, with no secrets between you. Eventually, Yushang would have told you the truth, so it was better to have you involved from the start to increase the odds of success. However, while you are the Blood-Red Snake Spirit, I am not yet aware of your true capabilities, which is why I set up this test to properly gauge both of your strengths." The Great Elder smiled gently at Xiaoyin. It seemed this Blood-Red Snake Spirit was truly extraordinary.

"How are you so certain that I will willingly help you? You should know that you hold no leverage over me. I have no need for your assistance, so I have no reason to follow your orders!" Xiaoyin snorted, his voice dripping with disdain. He hated the way this old man acted as if everything were under his control—as if all things must proceed by his design and nothing could escape his expectations. Truly, his demeanor was repulsive.

"I am not so confident in my scheme as I am in your loyalty to Yushang. As long as it involves him, you would brave any danger to complete it, and perhaps even perform better than expected. Since Yushang has already agreed to help me, I am certain you will not let him face the danger alone, so I am confident you will participate, won't you?" The Great Elder finished with a meaningful smile, looking toward the displeased Xiaoyin, awaiting his reply.

"Do you know how detestable your 'everything-is-in-my-hands' expression is? Some things shouldn't be said if they are only going to provoke disgust!" The old man had struck a chord, leaving Xiaoyin unable to retort, forced only to warn him not to speak so recklessly. In truth, Xiaoyin felt exactly that way; if this old man forced the brat into something truly dangerous, he would never sit idly by and watch him face the ordeal alone. To him, the brat was more than just a brother or a healing vessel; when he was with him, he could always be a carefree little snake.

He could leave all the difficult problems to this clever brat to solve, while he waited on the sidelines—to live or die together. Over the years, he had grown weary; the title of "Blood-Red Snake Spirit" was, for him, a burdensome weight. He would rather be the carefree Xiaoyin who ignored the affairs of the world, for where Xiaoyin was, Yushang was always by his side. But for the Blood-Red Snake Spirit, there was no one else; he had to rely on himself, and those days were lonely and unbearable.

Meanwhile, Yushang, who had been silent for a long time, felt a surge of happiness. Xiaoyin was indeed sincere in his care for him. That sincerity and loyalty were clear even to a bystander, but Yushang also felt a sense of worry. In this way, had he not become this little snake's fatal weakness? If one day someone with malicious intent used him to force Xiaoyin into doing something he loathed, he would never be able to repay the kindness shown to him.

Yet, he would not let that happen. He would become strong—strong enough to protect those around him and those who treated him well. He would be strong enough to kill those who plotted to take his life. Sooner or later, he would unlock the mysterious seals within his body and become the King of Kings. Then, he would take those he cherished to ascend to another realm, find his parents, and once reunited, leave behind the useless burdens of the past to live a peaceful, worry-free life. That was the future he truly desired.

"Senior, you know us so well; I am truly impressed. However, do not pin too many hopes on this competition. It will be full of experts, and I fear I may not be able to prevail and win the qualification to go to that mysterious region to help you. Besides, you were the one who broke our agreement first—how can you expect me to keep mine? You said you would impart all your cultivation to me, yet I woke up the next day without any changes. And looking at how spirited you are now, you don't look like someone who has lost their cultivation. Don't you think you should explain this?" Yushang smiled at the Great Elder, though there was no joy in his tone.

Trying to take advantage of him was a joke. Even if the Great Elder's cultivation rivaled that of an ancient god, Yushang was not someone to be bullied; he would find a way to pay him back. If he wanted Yushang's help, he would have to pay a price. Casual words and empty pretenses wouldn't suffice. Yushang was determined to gain something from this old man, or else the trade would be a loss for him. Even if he couldn't gain much, he had to dampen the old man's arrogance.

"Do not think I am unaware of where you have been these past few days. Without my permission, do you think you could have entered? Rest assured, you have the ability to win, reach that mysterious region, and seize what you want—and what I want. As for the cultivation, I did indeed channel it into your seals, though I cannot know how much use it will be to you. Moreover, if I can stand before you intact despite losing a portion of my soul, what does that so-called loss of cultivation matter? In short, I have done what I promised; now, it depends entirely on you, boy!" the Great Elder said, his voice low and expressionless.

*Humph!* He had roamed this world for countless years and had met innumerable clever people. Although this boy was an outlier, with his own skills, he would never lose to this greenhorn. Trying to gain something from him was harder than reaching the heavens. It had always been he who plotted against others, never the other way around. He wanted the boy to be restrained, but he also wanted the boy to be compliant! After all, Yanlan Academy would depend on him in the future; if he didn't establish some authority now, wouldn't he be at the boy's beck and call later, stripped of all status?

"I am a man of my word, and what I have promised, I will do. But you must promise me that you will not drag others into this. Otherwise, do not blame me for turning heartless and revealing everything. If that happens, even if you manage to distance yourself, you will have plenty of trouble," Yushang warned. He was already deeply unhappy that Xiaoyin had been dragged into this without cause; if others were pulled in, it would be truly dangerous. The matter was far-reaching, and one slip could cost them their lives. Moreover, they did not fully know the truth of what happened all those years ago. They could not let others know they were involved, or the consequences would be endless.

This old man had some talent, having seen through his intentions to counter-attack. But Yushang was no fool; he would not be so easily controlled. Regardless of the old man's motives, he would not allow him to succeed, or he would lose his freedom entirely. Since he could not crush the old man's arrogance in one go, he would do it bit by bit, infiltrating his defenses to dismantle those unwanted designs. To Yushang, challenging this so-called Great Elder was far more interesting than provoking the old Dean.

"Rest assured, I also hope that only we know this secret. After all, the more people who know, the more likely it is to spread. That would benefit no one. I trust you will keep your mouths shut, yes?" The Great Elder's smile had vanished, replaced by cold indifference. Yushang suddenly felt that the tragedy of the past had left a profound mark on this old man. Whenever it was mentioned, he revealed a chilling, sorrowful detachment, accompanied by a trace of guilt so faint it was nearly imperceptible.

Seeing him like this, Yushang could not help but recall the scene where the Great Elder had lost control and slaughtered all his students. It was heart-wrenching, bloody, and brutal—something no witness could ever forget. His ruthlessness, his cold-bloodedness, and his terror all originated from within. In that moment, he was no longer the Great Elder, but a bloodthirsty demon—a demon who would not spare even the students he had raised himself. No matter the reason for his rampage, it could not hide the cruelty of that time; he had only wanted to kill, leaving no one alive.

The scene was enough to make even Yushang, who was usually indifferent to things that did not concern him, unable to look away. No matter how kind and gentle the Great Elder appeared now, it could not conceal the beast that drank blood. Suddenly, Yushang shuddered. He wondered if he, too, would one day become like this for the sake of some goal. If he had to take such a step to succeed, it would be too cruel—not only to others, but to himself.