"Xiaotao can be saved!"
Yan Shaozhe immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Then, changing the subject, he asked in confusion, "Since Xue Nianbing has already reached Rank 40, why hasn't he added a Soul Ring? Could it be that no one is helping him find and hunt one?"
"If that's the case, I can personally take him to the Star Dou Great Forest or the Far North and find him a suitable Soul Ring."
With his disciple's life at stake, he cast aside his usual pettiness and prepared to personally take Xue Nianbing to obtain a Soul Ring.
"No."
Mu En shook his head, a glint of wisdom flashing through his eyes. "From what I can tell, Xue Nianbing has reached Rank 40 for some time already. Perhaps he is deliberately holding back, waiting for something."
"Waiting for what?"
Yan Shaozhe froze, even more puzzled.
After pondering briefly, Mu En said, "His first three Soul Rings are all at the Thousand-Year level, around 9,500 years each."
"Logically speaking, his second Soul Ring should have been capable of absorbing a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring. But as Xue Nianbing himself said, he had no way to resolve the soul shock of a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, so he absorbed a Thousand-Year one instead."
"That explanation is reasonable enough."
"My guess is that Xue Nianbing is waiting for his spiritual power to improve to the point where he can withstand the soul shock of a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, then attempt a Ten-Thousand-Year Fourth Soul Ring."
After hearing this, Yan Shaozhe nodded in deep agreement and smiled. "As expected of a monstrous genius. His vision is far beyond that of ordinary Soul Masters."
"There's more to it than that."
Mu En shook his head again. "Xue Nianbing may already be capable of absorbing a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring, but his ambitions are greater."
"What he wants is not merely a Soul Ring of ten thousand years. It is very likely twenty thousand years, perhaps even more."
The moment those words were spoken.
Yan Shaozhe's eyes widened in shock.
Twenty thousand years!
An ordinary Soul King would only have one Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring, and even that would usually be 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-Year Soul Ring that only a Soul Emperor could absorb while still a Soul Ancestor. It was simply astonishing.
"With such talent, and the ability to think rationally while maintaining such a temperament, 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 confirmation. "An extraordinary Soul Ring configuration, Twin Martial Souls, one possessing Extreme Ice, the other a Martial Soul even stronger than the Bright Holy Dragon."
"If such a genius is properly nurtured, then when he succeeds the Sea God Pavilion Master in the future, he will surely keep the academy safe for a hundred years."
"This..."
Yan Shaozhe could not help feeling a little awkward.
"Hmm?" Mu En was slightly stunned. "Shaozhe, is there a problem?"
"Um."
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 be resolved as well."
"But if he becomes my junior brother, then the seniority between the three of us..."
The instant Mu En heard this, he understood what his disciple meant.
"Sigh." Mu En shook his head helplessly. "Shaozhe, these matters do not conflict. When the time comes, the three of you can each address one another however you please."
Yan Shaozhe: "..."
You really were open-minded, old man. 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 to Mu En's face.
"Shaozhe, there is one more matter."
"Xue Nianbing is not like 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. This disciple will properly teach Xue Nianbing and guide him onto the right path," Yan Shaozhe said righteously.
"..."
Mu En was silent for a long while before saying, "Did you not hear what that little fellow just said? 'My rules are the rules.'"
"Teacher, surely you do not mean for me to grant him special privileges?"
"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 toward the academy, everything is worth it," Mu En said.
Yan Shaozhe pondered for a moment, then nodded. "Teacher, this disciple understands. I will do my utmost to fulfill Xue Nianbing's requests and make him feel a sense of belonging toward the academy."
"Mm."
Mu En nodded in satisfaction.
Although Yan Shaozhe had the flaw of being petty, his strength was that he understood things as soon as they were explained.
Dormitory 102.
Xue Nianbing carried the unconscious Wang Dong back and casually tossed her onto the bed.
Only after doing that did Xue Nianbing return to his own bed.
Somehow, he had dug out a copy of the Soul Beast Encyclopedia, which recorded all kinds of existing and extinct Soul Beasts on Douluo Continent.
Having come to Shrek Academy, Xue Nianbing was not here merely to show off and amuse himself.
He naturally wanted to learn more.
After spending more than ten years in the Far North, he knew most Ice Attribute Soul Beasts, but he did not know much about other Soul Beasts.
Shrek Academy's Soul Beast Encyclopedia could indeed be of great help to him.
Setting aside Shrek's nauseating brainwashing methods, its cultivation of Soul Masters did have merits of its own.
Time slowly passed, and before long, evening arrived.
Xue Nianbing remained immersed in an ocean of knowledge.
As for Wang Dong, she still showed no signs of waking.
When I have time, I should also visit the Soul Tool Department. Learning how to use some Soul Tools is necessary.
After thinking for a moment, Xue Nianbing left the dormitory.
He went to the cafeteria to get food and brought back a portion for Wang Dong as well.
When he returned to the dormitory, Wang Dong was still unconscious.
If not for her steady breathing, Xue Nianbing would almost have thought the little girl had passed away.
Soon, evening came.
"Mm..."
Wang Dong slowly opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was the dormitory ceiling and a lamp that required Soul Power to activate.
The next moment, countless memories flooded into her mind.
Wang Dong shot upright on the bed, looked around, and finally fixed her gaze on Xue Nianbing, who was cultivating on the opposite bed.
"You're awake?"
Xue Nianbing opened his eyes as well, his gaze calm.
"..."
Wang Dong remained 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 a single move.
That alone showed just how terrifying Xue Nianbing's strength was.
"If you lost, then keep practicing..."
Xue Nianbing spoke indifferently.
Wang Dong thought he would offer her a few comforting words, but Xue Nianbing continued, "Though no matter how much you practice, you still won't catch up to me."
Wang Dong: "..."
What an awful person.
She had already lost, yet he would not even say a few nice words to comfort her. He really had no tact at all.
Still, she could not say much.
After all, it was the truth. She had lost, and lost terribly at that.
"Hmph, don't get cocky. I'll definitely defeat you someday," Wang Dong said with a serious expression.
One defeat did not mean anything.
Sooner or later, she would win it back.
She believed even more firmly in her own talent. No one could compare to her.
Before you continue