Apprenticing Under Mu En

After sending the two girls back to their dormitory, Xiao Yi passed by the freshman dormitory building and greeted Mu En, who was sitting downstairs as usual.

In Shrek Academy, being valued by Yan Shaozhe was not the most important thing; this old man was the key. Of course, it was possible he had already caught the old man's eye.

Mu En watched Xiao Yi, unable to suppress his satisfaction. At twelve years old, he possessed level 43 soul power and an incredibly solid foundation; even Mu En himself hadn't reached this level at that age. Just as Xiao Yi walked in front of him, he sensed a very familiar fluctuation of energy.

Mu En's gaze sharpened, and he called out to stop Xiao Yi, who was about to leave.

"Child, come here for a moment." Mu En beckoned to Xiao Yi, signaling him to approach.

Xiao Yi stepped forward, already having a guess in his mind. He figured the Bright Sacred Dragon within him had been detected; he had always kept the fact that his soul beasts could evolve a secret.

It's just that this evolution was too drastic; I suppose it couldn't be hidden forever, Xiao Yi thought to himself.

"Senior, did you need something from this humble one?"

Mu En smiled kindly, feeling even more curious about this little fellow.

"Child, your name is Xiao Yi, correct? Did you happen to know my identity?"

"This humble one did not, but my martial soul is unique and has a special sensitivity toward dragon-type martial souls," Xiao Yi replied. This wasn't a lie, though Xiao Yi had known who Mu En was all along.

"That is not surprising, then. I do indeed possess a dragon-type martial soul," Mu En said, stroking his beard with a smile.

"I heard your martial soul can contract snake-type soul beasts. Would it be convenient for you to show me your fourth soul ring?" He was intensely curious about Xiao Yi's fourth soul ring. The familiar aura of light he had sensed earlier had even led him to a bold hypothesis.

Xiao Yi hesitated for a moment before nodding. Mu En gave a slight nod, and Xiao Yi felt the space before him shift; the two of them were transported to an open area by the side of Sea God Lake.

Four deep, ten-thousand-year soul rings rose beneath Xiao Yi's feet. Although Mu En had long known this was an innate ability of Xiao Yi's martial soul, he was still shocked. But the moment Xiao Yi's soul ring flashed and that soul beast appeared, an expression of utter disbelief erupted in the eyes of this Limit Douluo.

Xiao Yi's Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils rotated slightly, and his fourth soul ring flickered. Ripples appeared in the space behind him, and a massive creature flew out. It coiled behind Xiao Yi in a protective stance, its enormous head nudging against him.

Zhao Lan could no longer rub its head against Xiao Yi like before; after all, the height of its head alone already surpassed Xiao Yi.

After its bloodline had completely stabilized and transformed into a dragon, Zhao Lan's current size was more than three times what it had been as a Radiant Flood Dragon. Although it was only a juvenile Bright Sacred Dragon in terms of age, it was already dozens of meters long.

Looking at the incredibly familiar dragon before him, this Limit Douluo, who was usually as calm as still water, felt ripples stir within his heart. His lips trembled, unsure of how to speak, but he quickly regained his composure and asked with a hint of excitement.

"Child, your martial soul does more than just simply increase the age of soul beasts, doesn't it?"

"That is correct, Senior. To be precise, my martial soul increases the age and bloodline of the soul beast based on the soul ring age I can withstand, eventually leading to a dragon transformation."

"Are there any limitations?" Mu En could barely suppress his emotions.

"There are no limitations. As long as the soul beast itself is close to dragon transformation, or its own bloodline level is high enough, this humble one can use my martial soul to make it transform."

"Good, very good." Mu En slowly stood up from his rocking chair. A light called hope flickered in his cloudy old eyes as he looked at the Bright Sacred Dragon before him; it was as if he were seeing his younger self through it.

A new Sacred Dragon had come to Shrek to take up the mantle of this old dragon.

"Child, let me introduce myself. I am the current Pavilion Master of the Sea God Pavilion at Shrek Academy. Would you be willing to take me as your master?" Mu En fixed his gaze back on Xiao Yi, his eyes filled with undisguised appreciation.

With his life nearing its end, the thing he couldn't let go of most was Shrek Academy. Having encountered the perfect successor in his final days, how could he suppress the emotions in his heart?

Xiao Yi first displayed a look of shock, fitting for someone who had just discovered that the gatekeeping dorm manager was actually the highest authority in the academy. This part was pure acting.

What followed was excitement, which was a genuine display of emotion; becoming Mu En's disciple was his most ideal choice to begin with.

Now, it was no exaggeration to say that Shrek would belong to him in the future. Becoming Mu En's disciple meant he had entered the most core circle of Shrek.

Xiao Yi knelt down smoothly and performed a standard apprenticeship ceremony.

"Disciple Xiao Yi greets Master."

"Good... good child, rise." A gentle force of soul power lifted Xiao Yi up, and the old man's eyes were filled with an undisguised fondness for him.

"To tell you the truth, I had originally intended to find a suitable opportunity to take you as my disciple, but I never imagined that you, little fellow, would possess such shocking abilities." Mu En stroked his beard and sighed with emotion.

After handing Xiao Yi a small booklet, Mu En indicated he had other matters to attend to and vanished using spatial abilities. Xiao Yi couldn't help but feel envious of this ability, which only a Limit Douluo could wield.

It's a good thing I'll be able to use it once I reach the Soul Douluo realm.

There was still much to be done.

Xiao Yi opened the booklet Mu En had given him. Four large characters came into view: it was Mu En's signature combat technique—Dominating the World.

This was a combat technique that integrated physical attacks, mental shocks, and an ultimate aura of pressure into one. Based on elemental soul power, it channeled massive amounts of mental energy into physical strikes to achieve the dual effect of physical trauma and mental suppression. It was a rare, all-in-one offensive and defensive technique that could be adapted to any physical attack.

There were also the derivative techniques, Dragon Emperor Evil-Breaking Slash and Dragon Emperor Domain-Shaking Realm. Whether in terms of elemental compatibility or otherwise, they were perfectly usable for Xiao Yi, as were the insights and experiences recorded within.

Xiao Yi felt a surge of excitement. After all, these were self-created soul skills and experience handed to him for free, both of which were incredibly precious. Compared to developing soul skills himself, getting them for free was simply too sweet. Moreover, the logic behind Dominating the World was suitable for most elemental soul skills, making it a perfect synthesis material.

Xiao Yi immediately activated his Bright Sacred Dragon possession and began practicing Dominating the World. In any case, practicing self-created soul skills would not affect his cultivation speed in the slightest; having a cultivation cheat was just that unreasonable.

On the other side, Mu En once again summoned the various elders of the Sea God Pavilion.

Not much time had passed since the last Sea God Pavilion meeting, so the elders looked at the old man at the head of the table with some confusion.

"Everyone, I have taken the child Xiao Yi as my disciple. Lin'er, Shaozhe, that child will be your junior brother from now on. After the meeting, you will all accompany me to meet him."

Upon hearing this, Yan Shaozhe felt a bit of regret, but he was genuinely happy. He just didn't know why his teacher had become so urgent this time.

"Furthermore, there is one more thing. Besides being able to contract snake-type soul beasts, that child's martial soul allows the soul beasts to evolve alongside his own growth." Mu En paused here.

"His fourth soul ring was originally a Radiant Flood Dragon, but it has now transformed into a Bright Sacred Dragon," Mu En said, stroking his beard with a smile.

Upon hearing this, the elders were first stunned, and then these words acted like a bomb dropped into a calm lake, causing an immediate uproar. A group of Title Douluos, who were revered by everyone outside, began to chatter like a group of old men and women at a vegetable market; the atmosphere was just like a grocery bazaar.

Yan Shaozhe was also a bit dazed. Good heavens, no wonder Teacher was in such a rush.

He calculated in his heart that he would have to tell that girl Xiao Tao to hurry up; besides the master-disciple relationship, there needed to be another bond.