"System, can a Soul Beast that hasn't taken human form be accepted as a disciple?"
Mu Chen was curious about this.
[Yes!]
At that, Mu Chen began considering how to take Ah Yin as his disciple and what reward he might receive for doing so.
"If I take Tang San as my disciple now, Tang Hao will surely keep an eye on me while watching Tang San grow. Acting rashly would only bring trouble down on me. I'd better wait."
"I should go eat breakfast, too."
Mu Chen stretched and headed to the cafeteria.
On the way,
he happened to run into Yu Xiaogang, who looked dejected and melancholy. Mu Chen rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Without Tang San, Yu Xiaogang would probably be stuck at Nuoding Academy for good.
Yu Xiaogang also noticed Mu Chen.
Through his connection with the dean, he'd learned about the abilities Mu Chen had revealed.
Light Sacred Dragon Martial Soul!
Soul Elder!
His age was unknown, but judging by his appearance, he was extremely young!
Yu Xiaogang couldn't help but sigh.
If his Martial Soul hadn't mutated, he might have been even more outstanding.
Yu Xiaogang avoided Mu Chen's gaze and quickened his pace.
Three months passed in a flash.
Mu Chen's Soul Power Level reached fifty, and he went alone to Star Dou Forest.
A plan took shape in his mind.
Deep in the forest, morning light broke into scattered fragments beneath layer upon layer of leaves.
A brilliant golden glow quietly flickered in Mu Chen's eyes. A low dragon's roar rumbled from within him as the Radiant Dragon King Martial Soul instantly possessed him.
In an instant, fine, dazzling scales of holy white light appeared all over his body.
Next, dragon horns emerged from his forehead, followed by golden, gleaming dragon claws, wings, and a dragon's body. His draconic might surged forth, vast and mighty, while the purest aura of light swept in every direction.
Aside from the Gold and Silver Dragon Kings, the Radiant Dragon King was one of the Nine Great Dragon Kings, the most powerful beings beneath the Dragon God.
All lesser dragon species, lower-ranking dragons, dragon-shaped Soul Beasts, and Martial Souls in the world would instinctively tremble when faced with the Radiant Dragon King Martial Soul. Their bloodlines would be forcibly suppressed, cutting their strength by more than half.
Several lesser dragon Soul Beasts lurking nearby sensed this aura. They immediately cowered in terror, afraid to move, their very souls gripped by fear.
On a rocky beach not far away, a hulking Light-Scaled Earth Dragon suddenly raised its head.
Facing the Radiant Dragon King's aura pouring from Mu Chen, its massive body trembled uncontrollably, its limbs turning weak.
The Light-Scaled Earth Dragon let out a low, timid hiss, stripped of its usual ferocity. It wanted nothing more than to turn and flee.
"Not so fast!"
Though the Light-Scaled Earth Dragon was over thirty thousand years old, Mu Chen was still confident he could hunt it alone.
Four Soul Rings—purple, purple, purple, and black—rose abruptly.
Mu Chen used Kirin Heaven-Treading Steps and caught up to the Light-Scaled Earth Dragon in an instant.
"Fourth Soul Skill, Radiant Dragon Judgment!"
As the fourth Soul Ring activated, a domineering golden blade suddenly appeared and swept automatically toward the Light-Scaled Earth Dragon!
This Soul Skill countered all lower-ranking dragons!
The blade came down in one clean stroke. Holy light burst forth, and under the absolute suppression of its bloodline and the Soul Skill's counter, the Light-Scaled Earth Dragon collapsed in an instant!
The other lesser dragon Soul Beasts nearby had already fled without a trace. Mu Chen looked at the Light-Scaled Earth Dragon's black Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring, sat beside its corpse, and began absorbing the ring to break through.
After a long while,
Mu Chen opened his eyes. Golden light flashed across them and vanished. Five Soul Rings—purple, purple, purple, black, and black—circled him, and his Soul Power reached level fifty-one.
He searched the Light-Scaled Earth Dragon but found no Soul Bone. After a hearty meal, Mu Chen got up and left. He didn't return to Nuoding Academy, instead heading for Holy Soul Village.
Mu Chen proceeded cautiously and eventually found the cave where Ah Yin was hidden.
"Hello."
Mu Chen released the Radiant Dragon King's aura. This bright, sacred power made Ah Yin, who lay dormant, feel instinctive delight.
Mu Chen reached out and gently touched Ah Yin with a finger.
Ah Yin instinctively extended a branch and coiled it around Mu Chen's finger.
"I want to take you as my disciple."
"If you don't say anything, I'll take that as a yes."
Mu Chen released an even richer aura of light and holiness, enveloping Ah Yin.
Ah Yin extended more branches and wound them around Mu Chen's finger. Her body swayed, clearly delighting in the sacred light Mu Chen released.
[ Ding—! The host has successfully taken Ah Yin as a disciple!]
[Potential: S!]
[Reward obtained: Seed of Life!]
[Fuse?]
"Seed of Life? Fuse!"
Mu Chen still didn't know what the Seed of Life meant, but fusing with it could only do him good.
In an instant,
a vast, surging force of life radiated from his body.
The voices of all things in heaven and earth flooded his mind.
The soft rustle of grass breaking through the soil, the pulse of ancient trees growing, the rhythm of flowing water, the murmurs of flowers blooming, the breath of mountains and earth...
Countless delicate notes of nature circled his ears.
"Gasp!"
Mu Chen was shocked.
Suddenly, he noticed Ah Yin growing at an astonishing pace, all because of the dense aura of life radiating from him.
[Fusion successful!]
[The host has become the Child of Nature and obtained the divine-level Domain: Domain of Life!]
In an instant, the forest within a thousand meters of Mu Chen underwent a sudden transformation!
Life energy spread across every plant. At that moment, all the plants began growing wildly, and Mu Chen could even feel their joy.
At the same time, he could sense the reverence and affection all the plants felt for him.
Mu Chen looked at Ah Yin, who had grown much larger and nearly filled the entire cave. After a brief pause, he tried to communicate with her.
"Thank you, Master, for waking me."
A gentle, ethereal female voice reached Mu Chen's ears.
"You can talk now?"
Mu Chen looked surprised.
"I still can't speak like a normal human. Right now, I can only communicate with Master through my thoughts."
Ah Yin's voice sounded in Mu Chen's mind again.
Mu Chen considered this thoughtfully.
It was closely connected to his fusion with the Seed of Life.
Still, it was good that she could speak.
It was just...
Ah Yin's way of addressing him was a little strange.
"Why do you call me Master?"
"I... don't know. I just feel that Master is very dear to me, and very noble, far above my level. I couldn't help calling you that."
Mu Chen smiled faintly.
"Very well."
"From now on, call me Master."
This was a pleasant surprise.
"Yes~"
Mu Chen still had one more question. "Do you remember what happened before?"
"Master, I fell asleep because my injuries were so severe. My memories are still intact."
Mu Chen began making plans to put Ah Yin into the system space first.
By his estimate, Ah Yin had already reached the level of a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. He needed to keep her with him. Perhaps one day, he'd even get the chance to become Tang San's stepfather.
"Take the Soul Bone, too!"
Mu Chen quickly found a lead box above the stone chamber. Inside was Ah Yin's Soul Bone, from her right leg.
However, he had no plans to absorb this Soul Bone for now.
Before you continue