"They don't conflict."
Leng Yaozhu smiled faintly. "President Mu can continue teaching him forging."
"And I can teach him other things—Mecha, Battle Armor, even Soul Spirit creation."
"That doesn't mean he has to take you as his teacher."
Mu Chen continued to argue. "For Mecha and Battle Armor, I can ask Senior Mu Ye. His strength isn't much inferior to yours, Heavenly Phoenix Crown, is it?"
"The Body Douluo?" Leng Yaozhu nodded. "With Four-Word Battle Armor and as a God-Rank Mecha Master, his strength truly does not pale beside mine."
"But little Xu Yue's Martial Soul isn't of the body! How can you be sure Mu Ye will devote himself fully to teaching him?"
"Because of your relationship with Zhen Hua?"
At those words, Mu Chen fell silent.
Zhen Hua was his martial brother, but he had little connection with Mu Ye.
"I know a little about his parents as well," Leng Yaozhu continued. "Their relationship with the Xu Family was far from pleasant. Otherwise, they would not have entrusted him to you. So little Xu Yue cannot rely on the Xu Family's resources at all."
"Can President Mu alone truly fulfill his potential? If you truly want what is best for him, you should not reject my proposal."
At this point, Leng Yaozhu threw out her final bargaining chip.
"Moreover, I can guarantee that I will provide every resource I can to nurture him—the Phoenix Family's connections, the selection of top-tier Soul Spirits, and so on."
"You should understand that no matter which faction he joins—"
"Whether it is the Tang Sect, Shrek, or any other organization, none of them can offer treatment like mine."
Her tone brimmed with powerful confidence.
Yet in a sense, it was also born of helplessness.
If one's own descendants produced a genius, who would be willing to pour resources into someone else?
Upon hearing this, Mu Chen had nothing more to say.
His strength was considerable, and his connections were not lacking, but compared to Leng Yaozhu, the difference was like heaven and earth.
And Soul Spirits were of paramount importance in determining whether a Soul Master could become a top-tier powerhouse.
A ten-thousand-year Soul Spirit enhanced through the Spirit Ascension Platform and a Soul Spirit capable of breaking through to a hundred thousand years or even becoming a Beast were entirely different concepts. The boosts they granted Soul Masters were worlds apart.
But in the end, he left the choice to Xu Yue himself.
At that moment, Xu Yue saw the look Mu Chen gave him and began to consider it as well.
If he wanted to become one of the continent's top powerhouses, resources were indispensable.
Just as Leng Yaozhu had said, even with the assets his parents had left behind and Mu Chen's support, it was still far from enough.
Among the continent's major powers, the Tang Sect was the first to be ruled out.
Then, because of his bloodline, even if he joined Shrek, it would be difficult for him to receive much importance.
After all, the Xu Family and Shrek had been at odds for far more than a year or two.
Even if his parents had some unpleasantness with the Xu Family's main branch, it had ultimately been a family dispute. They had not betrayed the family.
As for the Spirit Pagoda, though it had its own controversies, those were ultimately matters concerning the Qiangu Lineage.
At the very least, Leng Yaozhu's Phoenix Lineage seemed fairly decent.
Its only possible stain was likely the Dark Phoenix Douluo, Leng Yulai.
"I'm willing." Xu Yue immediately nodded to Mu Chen.
Hearing this, Mu Chen sighed, though Leng Yaozhu had actually persuaded him as well.
Across from them, Leng Yaozhu's already stunning face became even more radiant.
"However..." Mu Chen spoke again, drawing Leng Yaozhu's attention with a steady tone.
"Heavenly Phoenix Crown, I know that top-tier Soul Spirits place immense importance on compatibility and fate."
"But I still hope you can give little Yue the right to choose from at least three top-tier Soul Spirits."
Hearing that, Leng Yaozhu's delicate brows furrowed in confusion.
"One top-tier Soul Spirit can completely cover all Soul Ring slots after Soul King."
"I have seen the information on the Soul Spirit little Xu Yue selected. Its quality is excellent and can grant him three Soul Rings."
"After that, adding at most two more will provide all the Soul Rings he needs up to nine rings."
"If they are meant for other people, they can wait until little Xu Yue inherits my position and decide for himself."
"But little Yue has Twin Martial Souls," Mu Chen said gravely.
"Cough, cough..." Leng Yaozhu could not hold it in and coughed aloud.
Those beautiful eyes, like blazing flames, turned toward Xu Yue once more.
"Twin Martial Souls?!"
After looking over the Gem of Truth, Leng Yaozhu was left speechless again.
However, she did not lower her assessment of Xu Yue because of it.
The Gem of Truth possessed extraordinarily powerful traits and was likewise among the very finest Martial Souls.
Combined with his innately powerful spiritual strength, Twin Martial Souls were not a hindrance at all, but an advantage.
Only then did this dispute over taking a master truly come to an end.
Xu Yue rose from the sofa and bowed deeply to Leng Yaozhu.
"Greetings, Teacher!"
"Good!" Leng Yaozhu nodded in satisfaction.
With Xu Yue, the Phoenix Lineage's influence would have a stable foundation. It could also be considered a remedy for some of her failures as the family head, preventing their ancestral legacy from declining completely.
As she thought this, she looked at Xu Yue again.
"Little Yue, are you currently studying at the Primary Academy here in Eastsea City? How do you find it?"
"Teacher, I think it's quite good."
Leng Yaozhu looked at Xu Yue with a thoughtful expression.
In truth, she had intended to bring him back to Shrek City for focused training.
But Xu Yue was still far too young. There was no need for him to bear the pressure from the Spirit Pagoda at an age when he should be enjoying childhood.
Furthermore, once the Qiangu Lineage learned of Xu Yue's talent, there was a high chance they would become wary of him.
Leaving him to develop freely in Eastsea City would instead serve as protection.
"For the next few years, cultivate properly in Eastsea City. Each year, I will make time to come see you and assess your cultivation progress."
"Once you break through to Soul Ancestor, I will take you to Shrek City and teach you about creating Soul Spirits."
As she spoke, Leng Yaozhu beckoned Xu Yue over.
Seeing her gesture, Xu Yue walked closer.
But before he could ask anything, a slender hand, as though carved from jade, gently pressed against his forehead.
The next moment,
Xu Yue saw a noble and magnificent golden-red phoenix rise behind Leng Yaozhu.
"Kree!"
After its piercing cry, the phoenix flapped its wings and flew into his forehead.
When Leng Yaozhu withdrew her hand, Xu Yue touched his forehead. Only a lingering warmth and faint fragrance remained there.
"Teacher, this is...?"
"This is my Heavenly Phoenix Mark. In a critical moment, it can block one fatal attack and also send a message to me."
"It is also this teacher's protection for her disciple."
At the same time, Leng Yaozhu took out a token from her Soul Tool and placed it in Xu Yue's hand.
"This is the Heavenly Phoenix Token that represents my identity. With it, you may freely enter the Spirit Ascension Platform and all other facilities of the Eastsea City Spirit Pagoda."
"I will be staying in Eastsea City for a while. During this time, I will personally teach you some things."
Feeling the faint phoenix within his forehead and the token in his palm, Xu Yue immediately thanked Leng Yaozhu.
"Thank you, Teacher!"
I really shouldn't listen to March 7th.
Red-haired big sisters really are the best! This is amazing!
Don't you agree, Teacher Himeko... I mean, Sis!
Before you continue