Taking a Master

Yan Shaozhe stood quietly to one side, a smile on his face as he waited patiently.

Only when Xia Ming opened his eyes again, the sharp glint in them restrained and his aura even steadier, did he speak.

"Let's go inside."

"Creak—"

Yan Shaozhe pushed open the seemingly ordinary wooden door.

The scene beyond the door came into view.

The first thing Xia Ming felt was the warm light element and Life aura, several times richer than outside.

Even breathing felt like drawing in and exhaling liquid Soul Power.

The interior was far more spacious than it appeared from outside, though its furnishings were exceedingly simple.

At its center stood a long table, ancient and weighty, as though it had weathered countless years.

Several chairs were arranged neatly along both sides of the table.

At the far end of the table, near the inner wall, sat a simply styled recliner.

An old man lay quietly upon it.

He was thin and wrapped in plain gray cloth. His face was aged, deeply lined with wrinkles.

His eyes were half-closed, as if he were taking a nap.

No powerful Soul Power fluctuations emanated from him. He looked like any ordinary elderly man, peacefully enjoying his twilight years.

Yet the instant Xia Ming saw him, his heart abruptly tightened.

An indescribable pressure settled over him, not one born of sheer aura.

Instead, it came from an invisible gulf in the level of life and realm of spirit, making him instinctively hold his breath.

Yan Shaozhe stepped forward a few paces and stopped beside the long table.

He gave the old man in the recliner a deep bow, his tone more respectful than ever before.

"Teacher, I've brought Xia Ming."

"Mm." That gentle, kindly voice rang out again—the same voice that had invited them inside.

The old man in the recliner, Dragon God Douluo Mu En, slowly opened his eyes.

The instant he did, Xia Ming's vision blurred.

The next moment, Mu En had appeared before Xia Ming.

"Child," Mu En's voice echoed directly in Xia Ming's heart, gentle yet carrying an unquestionable penetrating force.

"Show me your Martial Soul, as well as the domain that awakened alongside it."

"Yes." Xia Ming took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement and slight nervousness as he answered solemnly.

He knew this was the critical moment that would determine how high his starting point at Shrek Academy would be.

"Martial Soul Possession!"

With a low shout, Xia Ming leaned forward slightly.

A fierce, tyrannical aura from the depths of his bloodline erupted from his small body like a slumbering lion awakening with a roar!

Pale golden light burst from his body, and his hair stirred without wind.

A sharp golden gleam flashed deep in his eyes. The muscles all over his body swelled slightly, brimming with explosive power.

At the same time, a strange halo emerged beneath his feet.

Then—

"Domination Domain, activate!"

Xia Ming's aura visibly surged by a tremendous margin.

At last, a distinct ripple appeared in Mu En's unfathomably calm eyes.

He carefully sensed Xia Ming's Soul Power after his Martial Soul Possession, especially the powerful aura released after his innate domain had opened.

After a moment, he nodded faintly, a hint of satisfaction appearing on his face.

"Mm. This Martial Soul is indeed incomparably powerful, especially when paired with this innate domain."

Mu En spoke slowly, every word carrying immense weight. "He truly has been blessed by heaven."

It was an extraordinarily high evaluation!

Then Mu En's gaze became incomparably solemn.

He stared into Xia Ming's eyes, as though his gaze could pierce through flesh and see directly into the depths of his soul.

"Xia Ming, are you willing to take me as your master?"

There was no lengthy preamble, nor any complicated test. Having personally confirmed Xia Ming's unimaginable potential—

This Limit Douluo at the peak of the continent directly extended his most sincere invitation.

Xia Ming's heart jolted, followed by a surge of overwhelming joy.

Without hesitation, he said, "This disciple, Xia Ming, pays respects to Master!"

His voice was clear and resolute.

To him, becoming Mu En's disciple meant far more than gaining a powerful protector.

It meant he would directly enter Shrek Academy's most central line of inheritance and receive the finest guidance and resources.

Without question, this was the best possible start he could secure at Shrek Academy.

"Good, good." A genuine, gratified smile appeared on Mu En's face.

He said "good" twice in succession, clearly quite pleased by Xia Ming's decisiveness as well.

"From this day onward, you are my final disciple, Mu En's final disciple."

He paused briefly, his tone shifting to instruction. "Stay in Sea God Pavilion tonight and consolidate your cultivation.

Tomorrow, have Shaozhe take you to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt your first Soul Ring.

The choice of a Soul Ring is of utmost importance. It concerns your future path, so you must be cautious.

When the time comes, I will offer you some advice."

"Yes!" Xia Ming bowed once more.

Then he and Yan Shaozhe left Sea God Pavilion together.

As soon as they stepped outside, Yan Shaozhe spoke.

"All right, Junior Brother.

From now on, at Shrek Academy, you are the most central successor of our branch."

That single address, "Junior Brother," completely closed the distance between them and formally confirmed Xia Ming's position within Shrek's core circle.

"Teacher had you stay temporarily in Sea God Pavilion so you could adapt to its unique environment as quickly as possible and stabilize your foundation.

However, living there long-term would not be entirely beneficial for your current cultivation. Too much can be as bad as too little."

Yan Shaozhe explained, then changed the subject.

"Therefore, I have arranged another residence for you on Sea God Island."

He raised a hand and pointed toward a quieter area deeper within Sea God Island, where the Soul Power fluctuations were noticeably richer.

"That is the core residential district on Sea God Island." Yan Shaozhe's tone carried the familiarity of someone introducing his own territory.

"It differs from the shared dormitory area for those outstanding Inner Court students.

Most of them live around the island's outskirts, near the teaching area and training grounds.

Your residence has been arranged closer to the area where we teachers live."

"It is quiet there, with few disturbances, making it suitable for secluded cultivation.

The concentration of Soul Power naturally cannot compare to inside Sea God Pavilion, but it still far exceeds every other area of the island. It will greatly benefit you in consolidating your cultivation and breaking through bottlenecks."

As Yan Shaozhe spoke, he motioned for Xia Ming to follow.

"Besides, it isn't far from my residence. If you have any questions about cultivation in the future, you can come find me anytime."

The two walked along a secluded path toward the core residential district.

Along the way, Xia Ming could sense several hidden, profound auras, strong and weak alike, sweeping over from different directions with scrutiny and curiosity.

But after sensing Yan Shaozhe's aura, they quickly and amicably withdrew.

Before long, an independent little courtyard appeared before them.

The courtyard was not large, but it was refined.

A low fence covered in lush green vines enclosed its perimeter.

At the center stood a two-story wooden house. Its style was simple and ancient, matching Sea God Pavilion's design, though it felt more suited to everyday living.

A small open space lay before the wooden house, furnished with a stone table and stone stools.

There was even a small, neatly tended patch of soil in one corner, seemingly suitable for growing medicinal herbs.

A blank wooden plaque hung above the small building's doorway.

"This is it." Yan Shaozhe stopped and smiled.

"This courtyard has been vacant until now, but it has been maintained regularly. It has all the basic living facilities inside." He looked at Xia Ming.

"As for that plaque, according to tradition, whoever lives here may give their residence a name.

Think it over and carve it onto the plaque. Consider it officially making a home here."

He pushed open the half-closed courtyard gate and led Xia Ming inside.

Sure enough, the courtyard was neat and clean, filled with the fresh scent of grass and trees.

The interior of the little building was simply and practically furnished. It was not luxurious, but it was certainly comfortable.

The floor of the meditation room in the courtyard seemed to have undergone special treatment.

Sitting inside, Xia Ming could clearly feel gentle Soul Power pulses rising from beneath his feet, faintly linked to the earth veins of all Sea God Island.

"It is already late. Get some rest and familiarize yourself with the surroundings."

Yan Shaozhe patted Xia Ming on the shoulder.

"Tomorrow morning, I will come take you to hunt your Soul Ring.

Remember Teacher's words: your first Soul Ring is crucial. It concerns your future path.

Tonight, you can also think carefully about the traits of your Martial Soul and domain, and what you expect from a Soul Ring."

"Yes, Senior Brother. Thank you for taking such care in arranging everything." Xia Ming thanked him sincerely.

Whether in location, environment, or symbolic meaning, this residence far exceeded his expectations.

"We are fellow disciples. No need for such courtesy." Yan Shaozhe waved his hand, his smile gentle.

"Get to bed early and conserve your strength. Tomorrow will be the first real step on your path as a Soul Master."

With that, he did not linger. He turned and left, his figure quickly merging into the night.

Xia Ming stood alone in the courtyard of his new home, looking around.

In his previous life, he never would have imagined that Shrek Academy had a place like this.

Fortunately, he had been allowed to remain directly on Sea God Island, and he did not need to compete with those Inner Court students for a place to live.

After all, Shrek Academy's Outer Court was famously known for having four hundred people fighting over one toilet.

His current living conditions were undoubtedly much better.

"Let's rest first. I'll need to prepare to hunt a Soul Ring first thing tomorrow morning."