Inside the Sea God Pavilion, the elders' hearts were all stirred, more or less, by what they had just witnessed.
"Heh! Spirit Souls, huh? If I still had a spot for a soul ring, I'd definitely want one too. It looks really promising!" said Qian Duoduo, his face full of admiration and envy.
"That's right," Xian Lin'er echoed with a smile, "The emergence of Spirit Souls is definitely a blessing for defense-type Soul Masters like Duoduo and support-type Soul Masters like Elder Zhuang!"
"Hahaha! The girl's right!" Elder Zhuang laughed heartily after hearing Xian Lin'er's words. "If soul rings weren't irreversible, I'd consider replacing my ninth soul ring with a Spirit Soul. With Spirit Souls, even pure support-type Soul Masters like us could improve our survivability."
"Hehe, looks like everyone is quite interested in Spirit Souls. That's a great sign!" Mu En, who had been listening in silence, chuckled. "Since that's the case, let's move forward with this. From now on, Shrek Academy will begin preparing for the creation and promotion of the Spirit Soul system. Once Ziyang takes over my position, he'll be in charge of this initiative!"
"Yes!" All the elders nodded in agreement.
"Then, Lin'er, Meier, your task is to select one or two trustworthy students in need of soul rings to accompany Ziyang and try contracting Spirit Souls," said Mu En with satisfaction as he looked to Xian Lin'er and Cai Meier.
"No need to look far, Xiaotao will do," Cai Meier immediately stood up and replied. "She just reached level 70 a few days ago, and I was planning to help her find her seventh soul ring."
"Xiaotao reached level 70?!" The elders all reacted in surprise to Cai Meier's words, but their surprise quickly turned into joy.
"This truly is a blessing for Shrek Academy!" they exclaimed together.
Ma Xiaotao, barely twenty years old, had already reached the Soul Sage level with an Ultimate Fire martial soul. No wonder the elders were so excited. After all, the last Ultimate Fire user took nearly thirty years to reach the same level.
"Alright then, let's just choose that girl Xiaotao!" Mu En was also surprised and delighted. It was like receiving a pillow just when he felt sleepy — perfect timing.
In Mu En's eyes, if he had to rank all the students by trustworthiness, Ma Xiaotao would definitely be among the top. As Yan Shaozhe's disciple and Mu En's own grand-disciple, she was a true-blooded member of Shrek Academy.
"Teacher, if it's Sister Xiaotao, I have an idea," said Zhu Ziyang, the moment he heard Ma Xiaotao was chosen. A bold thought suddenly emerged in his mind — one he felt was quite viable.
"Let's hear it," said Mu En.
"The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well," Zhu Ziyang said calmly. Mu En immediately understood his intention upon hearing the name.
"You're thinking of letting the hundred-thousand-year Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower become Xiaotao's Spirit Soul?" Mu En guessed correctly, a glimmer of intrigue lighting up his aged face.
"Exactly, Teacher," Zhu Ziyang nodded. "That Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower is extremely compatible with Sister Xiaotao. If it could become her seventh soul ring, it would surely grant her a significant boost in strength."
"Not a bad plan — just a bit troublesome," Mu En frowned in thought but quickly made up his mind. "Troublesome or not, Shrek Academy has never been afraid of trouble. Ziyang, we'll go with your plan!"
The other elders, who listened to the conversation between master and disciple, exchanged uncertain looks. Though they had heard of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, they didn't know that it housed hundred-thousand-year soul beasts — let alone that those beasts were immortal herbs transformed. To them, Zhu Ziyang and Mu En's idea seemed overly audacious.
"Teacher, Ziyang, isn't it a bit too rushed for Xiaotao to absorb a hundred-thousand-year soul ring for her seventh?" Cai Meier voiced her concern as Ma Xiaotao's mentor.
"Don't worry, Senior Sister," Zhu Ziyang reassured her with a smile. "Sister Xiaotao's martial soul is the Fire Phoenix, and it's Ultimate Fire. Her compatibility with the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower is over ninety percent. With the Spirit Soul contract assisting, the absorption will be tough, yes, but the gains will be tremendous."
Though Zhu Ziyang's explanation eased some of Cai Meier's concerns, she still wasn't entirely convinced.
"How about this — Meier, go and bring Xiaotao here. Let her decide for herself," said Mu En. "The rest of you may leave. Lin'er, stay behind."
Cai Meier left to find Ma Xiaotao, and the other elders reluctantly exited the Sea God Pavilion. They were still brimming with curiosity about Spirit Souls, but Mu En had dismissed them.
As for Xian Lin'er, she was puzzled about why she'd been asked to stay — until Zhu Ziyang explained the situation inside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Then she understood: they wanted her as a bodyguard.
She could only sigh and wave her hand helplessly.
"Elder Mu, I agree with Ziyang's proposal!" Ma Xiaotao soon entered the Sea God Pavilion with Cai Meier. As soon as she stepped in, she shouted her answer without hesitation.
Following behind, Cai Meier rubbed her forehead helplessly. She shouldn't have mentioned it to Ma Xiaotao on the way here — the girl was too brash and had no trace of a lady's poise.
"Good, good child, I understand," Mu En said with a wide smile after hearing her determined voice. "In that case, return and prepare yourself. Get into your best condition. In one or two days at the earliest, four or five days at the latest, you'll gain your seventh soul ring!"
"Yes! I will!" Ma Xiaotao nodded excitedly, then turned and dashed out of the Sea God Pavilion. Cai Meier sighed again and held her forehead.
"Alright, Lin'er, Meier, I have a task for you two!" Mu En turned to Xian Lin'er and Cai Meier. "You'll go to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and bring the hundred-thousand-year Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower back to the Academy. Let Ziyang use it to form a Spirit Soul contract with Xiaotao."
"Understood!" The two women accepted the task without hesitation.
But Zhu Ziyang was stunned. He opened his mouth to object, only to be stopped by Mu En, who said, "Enough, you two may go now."
After Xian Lin'er and Cai Meier left, Zhu Ziyang finally spoke.
"Teacher, why don't you let Sister Xiaotao and me go to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well ourselves? Senior Sister and Junior Sister may not gain the approval of the immortal herbs there. What if they end up in a fight? Our plan could fall apart!"
"Hehe! Wouldn't that be better?" Mu En chuckled. "If that happens, the Academy would gain a batch of immortal herbs and hundred-thousand-year soul bones!"
"Ah...!" Zhu Ziyang hadn't expected that and was left speechless. He replied, "Well, that's one way to see it, but it feels a bit like killing the goose for the eggs. Teacher, please allow me and Sister Xiaotao to go instead. Besides, I was hoping to look for my own opportunity there."
"Hahaha! So that's your true motive," Mu En laughed. "You've been cooped up in the Academy for half a year and now want to roam the continent?"
"Hehe! You saw right through me, Teacher!" Zhu Ziyang smiled awkwardly, but quickly regained composure. "I do wish to travel, and I hope for your approval."
"Sigh... If it were before the Soul Master Tournament, I might have let you," Mu En sighed. "But now, I can't. You're far too important. If any evil force catches wind of your whereabouts, the consequences could be disastrous!"
"Teacher, it's not that serious!" Zhu Ziyang said helplessly. "It's been half a year — the storm has long passed. And I'm not asking to wander around just yet. I only want to go to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Maybe I'll even make a breakthrough after returning!"
"Let me think..." Mu En closed his eyes and fell into deep thought. "For a strong Soul Master, roaming the continent is inevitable. I won't stop you. But don't rush it. At least wait until you reach the Soul Douluo level — until you're strong enough to face Title Douluo or even Super Douluo — then you can travel."
"Teacher, I already have ways to deal with a Super Douluo!" Zhu Ziyang knew he had to persuade Mu En. Otherwise, he wouldn't be allowed to leave until Mu En passed on. If so, there'd be no chance to complete the God Trial.
So, he was ready to reveal part of the truth — starting with the Divine Test.
(End of Chapter)
---
This Fanfiction Has Been Completed on Patreon, There is 2 Chapters Ahead of Release for Free Members on my Patreon.
Support me if you like this Fanfiction.
Patreon,com/Fallen_Archangel_
(Remove comma for dot.)
Leave a 5 star Review and a Power Stone.