"My chicken Martial Soul is a mutated Beast Martial Soul. It can leave its host's body and fight on its own. It's also known as an External Martial Soul. I named it Torchic. Because of the Martial Soul Mutation, I possess Innate Full Soul Power."
"Also, my name is Ye Chen. I'm six years old, a work-study student from Pallet Village, and my dream is to become a Martial Soul training Grandmaster."
After hearing Ye Chen's explanation, Wang Sheng asked curiously, "Was that flame Torchic spat out just now a Soul Skill?"
"I haven't even obtained my First Soul Ring yet. How could I possibly have a Soul Skill?" Ye Chen concealed the truth. "Torchic is a fire-attribute Martial Soul. The flame it spat out just now was nothing more than hot breath."
"Huh? Its breath alone is that powerful?" A roommate in the opposite bed stood up and asked, "Then, Boss, after your Torchic Martial Soul leaves your body, is only the Martial Soul powerful, while you yourself have no combat ability?"
Ye Chen nodded. "More or less. But I've studied fist techniques, so I have some close-combat ability."
"What kind of fist technique did you study?" Wang Sheng pressed.
"I studied Chicken Fist." As he spoke, Ye Chen rolled his shoulders twice.
"Chicken Fist?" Wang Sheng murmured, then suddenly understood. "No wonder you dared to take my place as Boss—you've studied martial arts. Boss, with you and Torchic around, we won't have to fear those noble students bullying us anymore!"
That evening.
At Nuoding Academy, in the dean's office.
Dean Ding was sitting behind his desk, reviewing the materials submitted by the new students that day.
A middle-aged man pushed open the door and entered the dean's office. His name was Yu Xiaogang, an old friend of Dean Ding's who was currently staying at Nuoding Academy.
"Ding Yuan, did you need something?"
Seeing Yu Xiaogang standing before him, Dean Ding set down the pipe he had been holding in his mouth and rose to his feet. "Xiaogang, there's something I want to show you. I'm sure you'll find it interesting."
"Oh?" Yu Xiaogang narrowed his eyes. "What is it?"
"Just take a look." Dean Ding handed him a document.
Yu Xiaogang took the document. The trace of languor and dejection in his eyes gave way to astonishment.
"Ye Chen. Chicken Martial Soul. Due to a malignant Martial Soul Mutation, the Chicken Martial Soul remains permanently outside its host's body. Innate Full Soul Power. Enrolled as a work-study student from Pallet Village."
After reading the information in the document, Yu Xiaogang's astonishment intensified. He fell silent for a moment before calming himself and asking mildly, "An External Martial Soul. Ding Yuan, is this what you wanted to show me?"
"That's right. Xiaogang, don't you see a reflection of yourself in this child named Ye Chen?"
As he spoke, Dean Ding stepped over to Yu Xiaogang and took back the document. He mused, "Your own Beast Martial Soul became an External Martial Soul because of a malignant Martial Soul Mutation. And your External Martial Soul's original form was the top-tier Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon."
"Using you as a reference, could this Chicken Martial Soul have come from a malignant mutation of the top-tier Beast Martial Soul, the Phoenix?"
At this, Yu Xiaogang snorted. "Ding Yuan, do you also think this child's Chicken Martial Soul underwent a malignant mutation?"
"Isn't that the case?" Dean Ding asked in return.
With his hands clasped behind his back, Yu Xiaogang declared confidently, "According to one of the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul that I proposed, Innate Soul Power is directly proportional to the quality of a Martial Soul. A Martial Soul with a malignant mutation is extremely poor in quality. It could never grant its host Innate Full Soul Power."
"Since this child named Ye Chen possesses Innate Full Soul Power, there are only two possibilities."
"The first possibility is that, besides his Chicken Martial Soul with its malignant mutation, he has another, even more powerful Martial Soul. In other words, he is a legendary bearer of Twin Martial Souls."
"The second possibility is that his Chicken Martial Soul didn't undergo a malignant mutation but a beneficial one. Its quality went from poor to excellent, which is why he has Innate Full Soul Power."
"Throughout the continent's history, beneficial mutations have occurred far more often than Twin Martial Souls have appeared. And Chicken Martial Souls are subject to all sorts of mutations. So I'm more inclined to believe his Chicken Martial Soul underwent a beneficial mutation."
After hearing Yu Xiaogang's analysis, Dean Ding nodded in deep agreement. "Mm. You make a good point, Xiaogang. This child named Ye Chen possesses Innate Full Soul Power. In terms of talent alone, he's twenty times better than you. How could it be a malignant mutation? It must have been beneficial!"
Yu Xiaogang thought it over for a moment, then suddenly understood. "Ding Yuan, you didn't call me here just to show me this child's External Martial Soul and Innate Full Soul Power, did you?"
"Nothing gets past you." Dean Ding laughed excitedly. "Xiaogang, you've been living at Nuoding Academy for a long time. You should know the state of the academy. Innate Full Soul Power is rare across the whole continent, and it's the greatest cultivation talent any student in our academy has ever had."
"I called you here because I hope you'll take this child named Ye Chen as your disciple. You both have External Martial Souls, and you've been through it yourself. You're also a learned Grandmaster of theory. With you coaching him in cultivating an External Martial Soul, he'll surely achieve great things. Whether Nuoding Academy can one day cling to the coattails of a Titled Douluo depends entirely on your nurturing him."
After hearing this request, Yu Xiaogang considered it for a while before agreeing. "All right. Innate Full Soul Power is rare indeed, especially in someone from a commoner background. It's fate that this child and I have crossed paths. Ding Yuan, arrange a time when you can. After I meet the child named Ye Chen, I'll decide whether or not to take him as my disciple."
Dean Ding gave a mysterious smile. "Xiaogang, before I called you here, I'd already asked Director Su to bring that child named Ye Chen over. He should arrive any moment. Well, old friend, what do you think of the surprise I prepared? Thorough enough?"
Yu Xiaogang shook his head. "Very well. We may as well meet now. If he impresses me, there's no harm in taking him as my disciple right away."
After a long while.
Ye Chen was brought to the dean's office by Director Su.
At that moment, Dean Ding sat behind the desk, while Yu Xiaogang sat on the sofa to its left. Ye Chen had just been summoned and was standing in front of the desk, reporting his personal information.
After hearing about Torchic's Martial Soul, Dean Ding and Yu Xiaogang exchanged glances. They both saw the same look of sudden understanding on each other's faces.
"Neither your parents nor your grandparents possessed a powerful Martial Soul bloodline. That proves your Torchic Martial Soul underwent a beneficial mutation, which is why you have Innate Full Soul Power."
"Child, you're very lucky. Grandmaster awakened an External Martial Soul just like you, but he wasn't nearly as lucky."
As he spoke, Dean Ding looked at Yu Xiaogang, who was seated in a chair, and asked, "Xiaogang, would you be willing to show this child your Luo Sanpao Martial Soul?"
At this, Yu Xiaogang felt rather awkward. He glanced at Torchic, standing beside Ye Chen, before nodding.
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