Mu En's Speculation, Wang Dong Awakens

"Xiaotao can be saved!"

Yan Shaozhe immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Then his tone shifted as he asked in confusion, "Since Xue Nianbing has already reached Level 40, why hasn't he added a Soul Ring? Could it be that no one helped him search for and hunt one?"

"If that's the case, I can personally take him to the Star Dou Great Forest, or even the Far North, and find him a suitable Soul Ring."

With his disciple's life at stake, he shed his usual pettiness and prepared to personally take Xue Nianbing to find a Soul Ring.

"No."

Mu En shook his head. A trace of wisdom flashed through his eyes as he said calmly, "From what I can see, Xue Nianbing has been at Level 40 for some time. Perhaps he deliberately remained there, waiting for something."

"Waiting for what?"

Yan Shaozhe froze, thoroughly puzzled.

After pondering for a moment, Mu En said, "His first three Soul Rings were all at the Thousand Years level, each around nine thousand five hundred years."

"Logically speaking, his second Soul Ring was fully capable of absorbing one at the Ten Thousand Years level. Yet according to Xue Nianbing himself, he could not resolve the spiritual shock from a Ten Thousand Years Soul Beast, so he chose a Thousand Years one instead."

"That explanation is reasonable enough."

"My guess is that Xue Nianbing is waiting for his spiritual power to improve, until he can withstand the spiritual shock of a Ten Thousand Years Soul Beast and attempt a Ten Thousand Years Fourth Soul Ring."

After hearing this, Yan Shaozhe nodded deeply in agreement and smiled. "As expected of a monstrous genius. His vision is far more far-reaching than that of ordinary Soul Masters."

"It goes beyond that."

Mu En shook his head again. "Xue Nianbing may already be capable of absorbing a Ten Thousand Years Soul Ring, but his ambitions are greater."

"What he wants is not merely a Soul Ring of ten thousand years. It is very likely one of twenty thousand years, perhaps even older."

The moment those words were spoken.

Yan Shaozhe's eyes widened in shock.

Twenty thousand years!

An ordinary Soul King only had one Ten Thousand Years Soul Ring, and even that was usually only around twelve thousand years.

A twenty-thousand-year Soul Ring was already at the level of a Soul Emperor.

Xue Nianbing actually wanted to absorb a Ten Thousand Years Soul Ring that only a Soul Emperor could absorb while still a Soul Ancestor. It was simply astonishing.

"With such talent, yet still able to think rationally and maintain such composure, he truly is a rare monstrous genius."

Mu En nodded slightly, extremely satisfied with Xue Nianbing.

Hearing this, Yan Shaozhe thought of a possibility and asked, "Teacher, could it be that you want to... take Xue Nianbing as your disciple?"

"Yes."

Mu En nodded in acknowledgment. "A Soul Ring configuration unlike any ordinary person's, Twin Martial Souls, one possessing Extreme Ice, while the other is a Martial Soul even more powerful than the Bright Holy Dragon."

"If such a genius is properly nurtured, then when he succeeds to the position of Sea God Pavilion Master in the future, he will surely ensure the academy remains safe for a hundred years."

"This..."

Yan Shaozhe could not help feeling a little awkward.

"Hm?" Mu En was slightly startled. "Shaozhe, is there a problem?"

"Uh."

Yan Shaozhe fell silent for a moment before saying, "Teacher, I originally wanted to bring Xiaotao and Xue Nianbing together. That way, Xiaotao's Evil Fire problem could also be resolved."

"But if he becomes my junior brother, then the seniority between the three of us..."

The moment Mu En heard this, he instantly understood what his disciple meant.

"Sigh." Mu En helplessly shook his head. "Shaozhe, those matters do not conflict in the first place. When the time comes, the three of you can simply address one another however you like."

Yan Shaozhe: "..."

You really were open-minded, old master. No wonder you had been such a romantic rogue in your youth.

Of course, Yan Shaozhe only dared say that in his heart. He would never dare say it in front of Mu En.

"Shaozhe, there is one more matter."

"Xue Nianbing is different from ordinary students. He will not care about some of the rules you have set for the academy, so you should be mentally prepared."

Mu En said.

"Rest assured, Teacher. Your disciple will properly teach Xue Nianbing and set him on the right path," Yan Shaozhe declared righteously.

"..."

Mu En was silent for a long while before saying, "Did you not hear that little fellow say just now, 'My rules are the rules'?"

"Teacher, you do not mean for me to grant him special privileges, do you?"

"As long as he does not harm the academy, let him do as he pleases."

"This..."

"There is nothing to struggle over. Geniuses all have privileges, and that goes without saying for a monstrous genius like Xue Nianbing. As long as we can make him feel a sense of belonging to the academy, everything is worth it," Mu En said.

After hearing this, Yan Shaozhe pondered for a moment, then nodded. "Teacher, your disciple understands. I will certainly do my utmost to satisfy Xue Nianbing's requests and make him feel a sense of belonging to the academy."

"Yes."

Mu En nodded in satisfaction.

Although Yan Shaozhe had the flaw of being petty, his strength was that he understood things the moment they were pointed out.

Dormitory 102.

Xue Nianbing carried the unconscious Wang Dong back and casually tossed her onto the bed.

Only after doing so did Xue Nianbing return to his own bed.

Somehow, he had found a copy of the Soul Beast Encyclopedia, which recorded the various existing and extinct Soul Beasts of Douluo Continent.

Since he had come to Shrek Academy, Xue Nianbing was not here merely to show off and entertain himself.

He naturally wanted to learn more.

After spending more than a decade in the Far North, he knew most Ice Attribute Soul Beasts, but he knew relatively little about other Soul Beasts.

This Soul Beast encyclopedia from Shrek Academy could indeed help him.

Setting aside Shrek's disgusting indoctrination, its training of Soul Masters truly had its own unique strengths.

Time gradually passed, and in the blink of an eye, evening arrived.

Xue Nianbing remained immersed in the ocean of knowledge.

As for Wang Dong, she still showed no signs of waking.

"I should also visit the Soul Tool Department when I have time. Learning how to use certain Soul Tools is necessary."

After thinking for a moment, Xue Nianbing left the dormitory.

He went to the cafeteria to get some food and also brought a portion back for Wang Dong.

When he returned to the dormitory, Wang Dong was still unconscious.

If not for her steady breathing, Xue Nianbing might have thought the little girl had passed away.

Soon, evening came.

"Mm..."

Wang Dong slowly opened her eyes. The first things she saw were the dormitory ceiling and a lighting lamp that required Soul Power to activate.

The next moment, countless memories flooded back into her mind.

Wang Dong shot upright from the bed, looked around, and finally fixed her gaze on Xue Nianbing, who was cultivating on the bed opposite hers.

"You're awake?"

Xue Nianbing opened his eyes as well, his gaze calm.

"..."

Wang Dong was silent for a long time before finally saying awkwardly, "I lost."

He had not even used his Martial Soul, yet he had defeated her in one move.

That was enough to show just how terrifying Xue Nianbing's strength truly was.

"If you lost, then keep training..."

Xue Nianbing spoke indifferently.

Wang Dong thought he would offer her a few words of comfort, but Xue Nianbing continued, "Though no matter how much you train, you still won't catch up to me."

Wang Dong: "..."

What an annoying person.

She had already lost, yet he would not even say a few nice things to comfort her. He really had no tact at all.

Still, she could not really say anything.

After all, that was the truth. She had lost, and lost terribly at that.

"Hmph, don't get cocky. I'll definitely defeat you someday." Wang Dong looked completely serious.

One defeat meant nothing.

Sooner or later, she would win it back.

She believed even more strongly in her own talent. No one could compare to her.