Destined Soul Spirit

Yun Ming narrowed his eyes when he saw the Nine-Curve Soft Armor.

"Listen, Junior Brother. Soul Tools of this type aren't very popular these days. After all, high-level Soul Masters have Battle Armor to protect them."

Guan Yue smiled. "This Soul Tool is a core technological creation of the War God Temple. It can be perfectly combined with Battle Armor, and neither its Soul Power nor its shock absorption interferes with the other."

"Besides, this Nine-Curve Soft Armor can neutralize most toxins and reflect damage. The wearer can control it with a thought."

"Most importantly, the armor doesn't consume any of the wearer's Soul Power. Instead, it automatically converts the power of heaven and earth around it into the Soul Power needed to operate."

Yun Ming gave the Nine-Curve Soft Armor a shake, his gaze burning as he looked at the treasured armor before him.

"Is it really that miraculous?"

Guan Yue couldn't be bothered to say more. He slipped the Nine-Curve Soft Armor onto Yun Ze and said, "Believe it or not, Senior Brother. It's not for you anyway."

Yun Ming clicked his tongue and raised a hand to slap Guan Yue again.

"Hey, you're really getting more and more disrespectful."

Guan Yue ignored Yun Ming completely. He gently picked Yun Ze up, slung him over his shoulder, and said, "Come on, Nephew. I'll teach you your first lesson today."

Yun Ming watched Guan Yue carry Yun Ze out. Standing beside Ya Li, he gave a helpless smile.

"With Guan Yue, Ze'er will at least learn some real skills. But as his parents, we have something else to think about now."

Ya Li looked at Yun Ming. "Have you decided what to give Ze'er as his first Soul Spirit?"

Yun Ming narrowed his eyes and took a deep breath. "That's a question we really need to think over. If we give him something too good, it'll attract attention, but we can't give him something poor, either. He's our only son."

Ya Li said, "I want to give Ze'er that one. It'll keep him safe."

Yun Ming immediately shook his head. "No, no. That Soul Spirit was left behind by Spirit Ice Douluo a thousand years ago. It's also one of the treasures that has helped Shrek Academy maintain its standing all these years."

"As Sea God Pavilion Master, I can't just use it as I please."

Ya Li tugged at Yun Ming's clothes. "How is that using it as you please? Wouldn't letting its power slowly fade over the years, disappear, and return to heaven and earth be the real waste?"

"Or do you think our son will betray Shrek Academy?"

Yun Ming still looked troubled. "Well... This is a huge matter. I need to look into it carefully."

Ya Li said, "I want Ze'er to have it. If I can't count on you, I'll find a way myself!"

Yun Ming scratched his head helplessly. "Don't, don't. We can look into it. You know the situation with that Soul Spirit. It isn't a pure Soul Spirit, but an early artificial one. Whether it'll work depends on whether it's willing to fuse with Ze'er."

Seeing Yun Ming give in, Ya Li softened her tone as well. "I'm only worried about Ze'er. You should know how important a bonded Soul Spirit is in this day and age."

Yun Ming took a deep breath and said to Ya Li, "You have a point. Fine, fine. I, Yun Ming, have lived an upright life and can answer to the Academy with a clear conscience."

"Given the circumstances, if it's truly necessary, I suppose I'll have to use my position for personal gain this once."

Ya Li tried to reassure him. "You don't need to make it sound so bad. Ze'er will be part of Shrek's strength in the future, after all. You can't say this is entirely for personal gain."

"I'm sure that even if we called a Sea God Pavilion Meeting to discuss it, this Soul Spirit would end up in Ze'er's hands."

Yun Ming nodded, evidently persuaded by Ya Li.

Meanwhile, Guan Yue had eagerly begun teaching Yun Ze how to cultivate.

"You Shrek people know more about Soul Power meditation techniques, so I won't say much about those."

"First, I'll demonstrate a few spear techniques I created myself."

As he spoke, a Heaven-Surpassing Divine Spear appeared in Guan Yue's hand.

With the spearhead pointing skyward, Guan Yue stepped forward and assumed his stance.

"When you train with a spear, neglect your waist and your skill will never be great. Let your eyes follow the spearhead, your feet turn with the shaft. As you move, root your feet; clear eyes and a clear mind, then thrust."

As Guan Yue recited his insights, he broke down each move and demonstrated it to Yun Ze.

Yun Ze watched each spear technique, his gaze following Guan Yue's every movement.

After an afternoon of training, Yun Ze was drenched in sweat. He took a bath in his room, wiped the water from his head, and wondered about his Soul Spirit.

Given Shrek Academy's resources, there was only one reason they hadn't given him a Soul Spirit yet: his Soul Spirit was probably of exceptional quality.

Yun Ming was hesitating over how to give him a high-quality Soul Spirit in a way that would seem proper.

Sure enough, late that night, Yun Ming knocked on Yun Ze's door.

"Good, you're still awake. Come on out. I'll take you to get your Soul Spirit."

Yun Ming instructed Yun Ze, who quickly straightened his clothes and followed him out of the room.

After leaving the room, Yun Ze followed Yun Ming through a winding route until they reached a hidden room beneath the Golden Ancient Tree.

Yun Ming looked at Yun Ze. "Ze'er, once you enter this room, you must think of yourself as part of Shrek Academy. Remember, this asset wasn't earned by your father. It's a legacy left to Shrek by the Academy's forebears."

"Though the path of a Soul Master doesn't require you to be too upright—you have to be flexible—you should always remember that every favor must be repaid."

Yun Ze didn't quite understand, but he didn't argue. He simply nodded and said earnestly that he understood.

Yun Ming opened the door and led Yun Ze into the room, then opened a second door inside.

Yun Ze immediately felt a mysterious golden aura wash over his face.

Something like a little fox hovered silently in the center of the room.

It was golden all over, with a third eye on its forehead, and looked like a tiny fox cub.

The moment Yun Ze saw the Soul Spirit, he was stunned. It was the Emperor Auspicious Beast Three-Eyed Golden Ni described in the illustrated guide.

Yun Ming explained, "This isn't a real Three-Eyed Golden Lion. It was formed from a fragment of the Power of Fate that Spirit Ice Douluo left to the Spirit Pagoda back then."

"Later, when the Spirit Pagoda and Shrek Academy gradually went their separate ways, the Soul Spirit formed from that fragment of the Power of Fate remained at the Academy."

"Now, after the Shrek Academy Sea God Pavilion Meeting reached its decision, this Soul Spirit belongs to you..."