Taking a Disciple

Seeing the two of them so shocked they were nearly speechless, Leng Yaozhu smiled understandingly. She slowed her speech, her tone reassuring:

"Please, there is no need to be nervous."

"I came here in person today for a very simple reason: I recognized Wang Chuan's talent and wish to take him as my personal disciple."

"So, you need not regard me as some lofty figure. Simply think of me as your son's future teacher."

"Take... take a disciple?!"

Wang Zhe finally found his voice, but his extreme shock and excitement made him stammer, his face instantly flushing red.

He had never dreamed that on the very first day his son awakened his Martial Soul, such a highly respected powerhouse would personally come to take him as a disciple!

This was far more than bringing honor to the family!

It was practically smoke rising from their ancestors' graves!

"Indeed."

Leng Yaozhu nodded firmly, her gaze sincere.

"Wang Chuan's talent could be called a once-in-a-century—no, perhaps even a once-in-a-millennium—unparalleled gift."

"Since fate has allowed me to encounter such exceptional talent, I naturally do not wish to let him slip away."

"I wonder, what do the two of you think?"

Wang Zhe was so excited that his face remained red, and he could barely sit still.

He had never imagined that his son would be so outstanding!

Just then, there was a light knock on the reception room door. Wang Chuan, having completed his test, entered under the guidance of a staff member.

His gaze was immediately drawn to Leng Yaozhu, who sat across from his parents.

Her fiery red hair, jade-like features, unique aura of passion interwoven with cool detachment, and the seemingly calm body that concealed vast Soul Power fluctuations all proclaimed her extraordinary nature.

Seeing his son enter, Wang Zhe hurriedly suppressed his excitement and introduced him.

"Xiaochuan, come here!"

"This is Tower Master Leng from the Spirit Pagoda Headquarters, His Excellency Heavenly Phoenix!"

"Her Excellency, she..."

"She wants to take you as her personal disciple!"

Wang Chuan was only slightly surprised before quickly calming down.

His Martial Soul was the Five Virtues Phoenix, while Leng Yaozhu was Heavenly Phoenix. There was a natural attraction and resonance between them.

Coupled with his exaggerated talent profile, it was perfectly normal that he would draw Leng Yaozhu's personal attention and inspire her to take him as a disciple.

He recalled the scattered information he knew about Leng Yaozhu.

She was acknowledged by both the Spirit Pagoda and the continent's Soul Master world as a peerless beauty. Her strength and status were both at the pinnacle, and her reputation seemed fairly good as well...

After giving it some thought, Wang Chuan decided that accepting this master would not be a bad choice.

Leng Yaozhu's gaze also settled on Wang Chuan.

This six-year-old boy had clear, steady eyes. Although he regarded her with curiosity and scrutiny,

he showed none of the timidity or excessive excitement common among children. His temperament pleased her even more.

She spoke directly, her voice clear and melodious.

"Student Wang Chuan, I wish to take you as my disciple, personally teach you the path of a Soul Master, and have you inherit my legacy in the future."

"I wonder, what do you think?"

Without the slightest hesitation, Wang Chuan took two steps forward, faced Leng Yaozhu, and respectfully bowed in a standard disciple's salute. His voice was crisp and resolute.

"This disciple, Wang Chuan, pays respects to Master!"

"Good! Good! Good!"

A bright, captivating smile instantly blossomed across Leng Yaozhu's face. She said "good" three times in succession, clearly in an exceedingly joyful mood.

Looking at the small figure before her, so exceptional in both talent and temperament, she could not help but feel a trace of distraction and emotion.

With Wang Chuan's qualities, if word spread, who knew how many factions and powerhouses across the continent would fight desperately to take him into their ranks.

That she had managed to get ahead of them and accept him as her disciple before he had fully revealed his brilliance meant that, in a sense, she had truly picked up an enormous bargain.

Amid her delight, Leng Yaozhu immediately thought of a meeting gift for her new disciple.

She turned to Wang Zhe and Luo Ya, who were still immersed in overwhelming joy, and said warmly:

"Please sit here for a while and have some tea and refreshments."

"Since Xiaochuan has already reached level ten, he naturally needs to obtain a Soul Ring."

"As his teacher, I shall first take him to select a suitable Soul Spirit as a gift for joining my school."

Wang Zhe and Luo Ya naturally had no objections. They nodded eagerly, their faces overflowing with irrepressible smiles.

Seeing how seriously and attentively Leng Yaozhu treated Wang Chuan, the last trace of unease in their hearts vanished, leaving only satisfaction and pride.

Leng Yaozhu led Wang Chuan to a Soul Spirit Selection Room within the Spirit Pagoda Branch that required higher authorization.

This room was even more spacious than the testing room. Most eye-catching of all was the enormous Soul Guidance Display on the front wall, three meters tall and six meters wide. Its screen was black, waiting to be illuminated.

Leng Yaozhu personally operated the control panel as she explained to Wang Chuan:

"Though this is only a branch, it has stored image data for some fairly high-quality Hundred-Year Soul Spirits. Take a look first and see whether any catch your eye."

As she spoke, three-dimensional images and detailed information on various Soul Spirits began appearing on the screen one after another.

Flame Lion, Gale Demon Wolf, Iron-Armored Rhino, Phantom Cat, Sonic Bird...

Each one was vividly lifelike, with its attributes, specialties, possible Soul Skill directions, and fusion requirements listed beside it.

Leng Yaozhu patiently explained the advantages and disadvantages of every Soul Spirit to Wang Chuan, analyzing their compatibility with the Phoenix Martial Soul.

After introducing all the displayed Soul Spirits, she saw that Wang Chuan was still pondering without reaching a decision, so she added:

"If none of these appeal to you, that is no problem."

"Your master can take you directly to the Spirit Ascension Platform at the Spirit Pagoda Headquarters, or to a more advanced Soul Spirit Repository, to make your selection..."

"If you are dissatisfied with all of those, I can also apply to headquarters and have the most suitable Soul Spirit plan customized for you."

"Now that you have entered my school, you need not worry about resources. Naturally, I will give you the best."

Wang Chuan's heart trembled slightly as he marveled inwardly.

Damn, taking this master was an absolute steal!

The treatment afforded to the personal disciple of the Spirit Pagoda's vice tower master was indeed extraordinary.

This level of generosity felt far more lavish than even Shrek Academy's rumored investment in its core disciples. It was practically a matter of paving every road before him and giving him whatever he wanted.

However, he did not let it go to his head. Instead, he calmly considered his own circumstances.

His Five Virtues Phoenix Martial Soul inherently contained the power of the Five Elements and Five Virtues. It was naturally close to and capable of controlling the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth.

Moreover, he could sense changes in heaven and earth, foresee the future, command all birds, and use melody for attack or support.

Therefore, he believed that his choice...

did not necessarily need to be limited to directly enhancing a particular elemental attack. Instead, he could consider a Soul Spirit that complemented or worked in synergy with both his powerful Mental Power and the many talents of his Five Virtues Phoenix Martial Soul.

But he did not directly state his thoughts.

Instead, he gave Leng Yaozhu a detailed description of his Martial Soul's ability to control the five elements and its music-related abilities, then respectfully sought her guidance:

"Master, this disciple's understanding of Soul Spirits is still shallow. Given my current circumstances, what kind of Soul Spirit would be the most suitable choice?"