"Gu Yue—you finally deign to visit your teacher?"
Leng Yaozhu teased, voice laced with affection.
"Teacher—I'm here now, aren't I?" Gu Yue replied softly, eyes crinkling with warmth.
She glided to Leng Yaozhu's side, looping her arm through her teacher's.
"Mm," Leng Yaozhu nodded, gaze tender. "Come—sit."
As Leng Yaozhu settled into the plush sofa, Fang Yang and Gu Yue took seats opposite.
"This must be Fang Yang—the one you keep mentioning?"
Leng Yaozhu leaned back, studying Fang Yang with keen interest.
Her tall frame and exquisite curves radiated mature allure, lounging with effortless grace.
"Yes, Teacher!" Gu Yue bowed slightly, respectful.
Fang Yang rose, bowing deeply: "Junior Fang Yang pays respects to Heavenly Phoenix Douluo!"
"Mm—not bad. Truly a dragon among men—dignified, striking," Leng Yaozhu approved, eyes gleaming.
"Your praise is too kind, Elder," Fang Yang deflected modestly.
"But Gu Yue mentioned your Martial Soul is Flame," Leng Yaozhu sat up straighter, tone sharpening.
"Show me."
Her gaze burned with scrutiny—and curiosity.
Gu Yue had spoken of him endlessly—she needed to see his worth for herself.
"Understood," Fang Yang replied.
Six soul rings blazed beneath his feet:
Black, Black, Black, Black-White-Gold, Azure-Gold, Black!
Each ring pulsed with suffocating pressure, but the Black-White-Gold and Azure-Gold rings radiated apocalyptic might—as if holding cosmic ruin in their glow.
He raised his right hand—black flame erupted in his palm.
This fire swirled with arcane runes, halos of primordial chaos flickering.
It burned silently—yet threatened to devour souls.
"This…"
Leng Yaozhu's eyes widened—shock flashing in her gaze.
Her Heavenly Phoenix Martial Soul—the pinnacle of phoenix bloodlines—was being suppressed by his flame!
"Such power! Level 60 Soul Emperor at your age? Impressive!"
She masked her astonishment, pride warming her voice.
Now she understood Gu Yue's devotion.
"Fang Yang—which lineage of the Spirit Pagoda do you belong to?" Leng Yaozhu asked suddenly.
"Lineage?" Fang Yang frowned, puzzled. "I'm under Senior Liu Yang."
"Liu Yang?!"
Leng Yaozhu's mind raced.
The Spirit Pagoda wasn't monolithic—it was split into factions:
- Qiangu Family: Three Limit Douluos
- Phoenix Family: One Limit Douluo
- Neutral Deputy Pagoda Master Han Tianyi.
Then came Liu Yang—a Level 99 Limit Douluo.
Both the Qiangu and Phoenix Families sought to recruit him—but he joined the Qian Family, a minor faction, instead.
Just like that, the structure of the Spirit Transfer Pagoda underwent an unexpected change.
After Liu Yang joined the Qian Family, the Qian Family Old Ancestor successfully achieved a Breakthrough to Level 99 Limit Douluo.
Even so, the Qiangu Family initially didn't take it seriously, until the appearance of another Level 99 Titled Douluo, Su Tao!
The Qian Family not only possessed three Limit Douluo but also won over the previously consistently neutral Han Tianyi.
The Qian Family nearly toppled Qiangu's rule—until Old Pagoda Master Qiangu Dieting intervened.
A secret pact silenced them… but the Qian Family's shadow lingered.
Leng Yaozhu's eyes deepened with intrigue.
Fang Yang—Qian Family's hidden blade?
As the Phoenix Family's leader, she needed allies… and this boy was tied to Gu Yue.
"Heavenly Phoenix Elder?" Fang Yang prompted, noticing her distraction.
"Nothing," Leng Yaozhu smiled, dismissing it.
If he didn't know Liu Yang's true role, she wouldn't enlighten him.
"Fang Yang—will you become my disciple?" she asked abruptly.
Fang Yang nodded instantly: "I will."
She offered status, resources, and safety—unlike Yun Ming, whose discipleship meant becoming a target for Shrek's enemies.
Here—in the Spirit Pagoda—he'd thrive.
He bowed deeply, sealing the master-disciple bond.
"Excellent. From today, you're my direct disciple," Leng Yaozhu declared.
"In cultivation, ask freely—no need for restraint."
"For resources—Battle Armor materials, soul spirits, rare herbs—request them. As my disciple, you'll receive the best."
("This angel investor just secured her ROI!" she thought smugly.)
"Thank you, Teacher," Fang Yang said, deeply satisfied.
Yun Ming's discipleship offered prestige—but resources were earned through blood.
Leng Yaozhu's patronage? Absolute.
As Spirit Pagoda's Deputy Pagoda Master, her authority was vast: It could be said that as long as it wasn't for strategic materials, other materials...
Even ten-thousand-year old spiritual items and precious Spirit Bones, Fang Yang had the qualification to purchase them.
(Author's Note: Spirit Pagoda Family lore is fanon!)
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