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Yan Shaozhe had finally agreed to Yuwen Tuo's deal.
He was already inclined to agree, and with Mu En's orders backing it, how could he refuse?
Not long after, Beast King Gong Changlong was summoned.
"Old Yan, you called for me?" Gong Changlong's voice boomed as usual. The door wasn't opened normally—it was kicked open with a single stomp.
"Beast King, please take this child to the beast cages and let him choose a soul beast for his second soul ring," Yan Shaozhe instructed.
Gong Changlong glanced at Yuwen Tuo. "You again, kid? Seriously, the academy worked so hard to collect these soul beasts, and sooner or later, this brat will drain us dry. But since it's the principal's order... Kid, come with me."
In truth, he was somewhat surprised. How had this boy managed to convince Yan Shaozhe so quickly? What kind of under-the-table deal had they made?
"Then I'll trouble you, Elder Beast King," Yuwen Tuo said politely, bowing slightly. He turned to Xiao Xiao. "Xiao Xiao, I'll be back soon. We'll meet at Lake Haishen later."
"Got it! Go for it, Tuo Tuo!" Xiao Xiao grinned, giving him a thumbs-up.
Yuwen Tuo had already become incredibly popular in the class. If there was one thing he still lacked compared to Wang Dong, it was cultivation. Wang Dong was already at the second ring, with a thousand-year soul ring, while Yuwen Tuo only had one ring. In this world where strength reigned supreme, cultivation level mattered far more than a handsome face.
But after today, Xiao Xiao knew her beloved Tuo Tuo wouldn't lose to anyone anymore.
Yuwen Tuo followed Gong Changlong out of the principal's office. Yan Shaozhe then spoke up. "Alright, Xiao Xiao, I've done my part of the deal. Now it's your turn. Tell me, where is this friend of yours with twin martial souls? I'll send someone to fetch them immediately."
Xiao Xiao shook her head. "No need, Principal. That person… is me."
As she spoke, Xiao Xiao raised her hand and called out, "Nine Phoenix Rites Flute!"
With that, a jade-green flute engraved with phoenix patterns appeared in her palm, surrounded by a yellow hundred-year soul ring.
Yan Shaozhe was shocked. "This… Xiao Xiao, don't tell me the friend with twin martial souls you mentioned is actually yourself?"
Xiao Xiao sheepishly scratched her head. "Hehe, sorry, Principal. This trick was taught to me by Tuo Tuo. It's called 'Creating Friends Out of Thin Air' and 'Darkness Beneath the Lamp.'"
"Darkness Beneath the Lamp, indeed!" Yan Shaozhe nearly spat blood from frustration. All his careful calculations had been outwitted by a mere child and a young girl.
"Fine, even though I was deceived, at least you didn't lie about the most important thing," Yan Shaozhe waved it off, no longer dwelling on it. Instead, he grew visibly excited as he stared at the flute in Xiao Xiao's hand. He had reviewed Xiao Xiao's records earlier—she was one of the few prodigies with top-tier martial souls.
He remembered that Xiao Xiao's first martial soul was the Three Lives Soul-Sealing Cauldron. Therefore, this Nine Phoenix Rites Flute was undoubtedly her second martial soul, equally powerful.
"Excellent… excellent… Our Shrek Academy has finally welcomed another genius with twin martial souls!"
Just as Yan Shaozhe was rejoicing, his expression darkened when he noticed the hundred-year soul ring attached to the flute. "Xiao Xiao, if this Nine Phoenix Rites Flute is your second martial soul, why have you already added a soul ring to it?"
"Because I wanted to gain the academy's attention and planned to use my second martial soul to achieve good results in the academy's New Student Tournament!" Xiao Xiao replied honestly.
"Foolish!" Yan Shaozhe snapped angrily. "Xiao Xiao, wanting the academy's attention is a good and correct aspiration, but why go through all this trouble? You could have simply come to me and revealed your martial soul. With the title 'twin martial souls,' how could the academy not pay attention to you? Now you've wasted an extremely important soul ring slot, which will be a significant loss to your future."
"I'm sorry, Principal. I know I made a mistake. Tuo Tuo scolded me for this too," Xiao Xiao lowered her head. She now realized she had made a foolish decision.
"Enough. The soul ring has already been added, and it can't be replaced. Fortunately, only one has been attached, so there's still time to correct it," Yan Shaozhe sighed. "But remember this: before you fully cultivate your strength, do not casually add soul rings to your second martial soul. First, your body isn't strong enough to handle cultivating two martial souls simultaneously, which could lead to your body exploding—a precedent exists in the history of our continent. Second, the talent of twin martial souls is one in ten thousand. Do not waste such an extraordinary gift."
Xiao Xiao nodded. "Mm-hmm, Tuo Tuo told me the same thing. Principal, rest assured—I won't make this mistake again."
"Xiao Xiao, do you have feelings for Yuwen Tuo?" Yan Shaozhe noticed that Xiao Xiao couldn't go three sentences without mentioning Yuwen Tuo. It was clear what this little girl's heart desired.
"I like Tuo Tuo." Despite being a young loli, Xiao Xiao had a straightforward personality that rivaled any boy's. If she liked someone, she wouldn't hide it.
She was the complete opposite of Ma Xiaotao's tsundere nature.
"Indeed… But it seems my disciple might also…" Yan Shaozhe rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on. Back in his younger days, he had been something of a playboy.
He had left behind quite a few women, among whom the most formidable were Xian Lin'er, the current dean of the Spirit Tool Department and known as the Flying Valkyrie, and a powerful female evil soul master.
He knew how complicated romantic relationships could be.
But on the other hand, this wasn't necessarily a bad thing. It was clear to him that Yuwen Tuo didn't harbor feelings for his disciple Ma Xiaotao. Trying to use Ma Xiaotao to resolve Yuwen Tuo's resentment toward Shrek Academy wouldn't be easy.
However, it seemed Yuwen Tuo treated Xiao Xiao exceptionally well. If Xiao Xiao could help mend this grudge, it wouldn't be a bad outcome.
If Yuwen Tuo knew what Yan Shaozhe was thinking, he would undoubtedly laugh at him for overthinking it.
Xiao Xiao was Xiao Xiao, and Shrek Academy was Shrek Academy. Yuwen Tuo wouldn't confuse the two.
In the future, he would surely leave Shrek Academy and even demand something in return. Perhaps he would even take away Xiao Xiao, this genius with twin martial souls.
"Xiao Xiao, get along well with Yuwen Tuo. To be honest, we at Shrek Academy owe him a bit. If possible, I hope you can make him genuinely like Shrek Academy," Yan Shaozhe advised.
"Owe him?" Xiao Xiao was taken aback. She didn't know about Yuwen Tuo's grievances with Shrek Academy and didn't rashly agree. Instead, she said, "I'll treat Tuo Tuo well."
Yan Shaozhe nodded.
Meanwhile, Gong Changlong had already led Yuwen Tuo to the area housing the thousand-year soul beasts.
"Elder Beast King, you're very much on point today. You know I've already outgrown hundred-year soul rings," Yuwen Tuo chuckled.
"Tch, do you think I'm stupid? Your first ring is already eight hundred years old. Your second ring must be at least a thousand years old. Do you think I can't figure that out?" Gong Changlong pointed behind him. "The soul beasts here are all between one thousand and two thousand years old. Pick one yourself."
"Thanks!" Yuwen Tuo expressed his gratitude and walked over to the rows of beast cages.
The soul beasts collected by the academy weren't particularly powerful, but it didn't matter. A soul ring didn't need to come from the strongest beast—it needed to come from the most suitable one.