Osler Becomes a Lackey

Xing Tian said, "That's right. This evolution is false and temporary, like this. Once you're no longer under my Soul Power Assimilation, your Martial Soul will slowly return to its original state. As for how long it lasts, that depends on how much Soul Power I provide."

Osler ended his Martial Soul Possession and said with some disappointment, "So that's how it is. You got my hopes up for nothing. I thought I had a chance to break through to Titled Douluo."

"Yeah, you?" Yu Feng retorted. "Don't think you can start dreaming just because it got dark a moment ago. It's still daytime!"

Just then, Xing Tian spoke up. "It might not be impossible."

Overjoyed, Osler took three steps in two and came to Xing Tian's side. "Brother Tian! From now on, you're my big brother! Tell me quickly."

Yu Feng spat and scoffed, "Shameless!"

If you counted his previous life, Xing Tian was more than twenty years older than Osler. Calling him big brother was one thing; calling him uncle would have been perfectly reasonable. Xing Tian felt nothing at all about Osler changing how he addressed him.

Xing Tian explained, "Through my Soul Power Assimilation, you can achieve a temporary Martial Soul Evolution. This state is real, which means that during this time, you truly possess a top-tier Martial Soul, and your cultivation speed will increase as well."

"If you can carefully understand the process of your Martial Soul's evolution, the differences in its Origin, and so on, it'll greatly benefit your cultivation in the future. You might even manage to evolve it on your own."

Hearing this, Osler savored the feeling he'd just experienced and nodded. "That's true. The Soul Power inside me flowed much more smoothly just now. My cultivation speed definitely increased."

But then he sounded a little regretful. "Maybe I'm just not perceptive enough. I don't think I made any breakthroughs in understanding my Martial Soul Origin."

Xing Tian said, "That's normal. It was your first time, after all, and you're only a Two-Ring Soul Grandmaster. It's perfectly normal that your understanding of your Martial Soul isn't deep enough. As your cultivation improves, your comprehension will improve too."

"Besides, although your Martial Soul Evolution is temporary, that may be because my cultivation isn't high enough. Perhaps when my cultivation is strong enough, I won't need Soul Power Assimilation. I might be able to directly transform your Martial Soul Origin and make its evolution permanent."

At once, Osler dropped into a tiger-pouncing-on-its-prey pose and slid onto one knee in front of Xing Tian. He said ingratiatingly, "Brother Tian, from today onward, I'm your lackey! Make sure you look out for me in the future!"

"Disgusting!" Yu Feng scoffed again.

Facing Yu Feng, Osler put on a completely different face. "You're just sour because you can't get any grapes!"

"Taking on a lackey, huh? I never got to experience that in my previous life. I could give it a try."

In his previous life, Xing Tian had been an orphan, raised by his master from childhood. After his master died, he began wandering the martial world.

By then, he was already sixteen, and had reached the Super Saint Entering Divinity realm. He had no trouble protecting himself.

Though he'd met people who wanted to follow him or keep him company, he'd turned them all down because he was a rogue cultivator and was used to being alone.

Having lived a second life, Xing Tian had met all kinds of people at an early age. He decided to try a few new things.

Xing Tian said mildly, "All right. Then I'll issue my first order as the boss."

"Say it!"

Xing Tian said, "Don't tell anyone yet that I can make Martial Souls with the Darkness Attribute evolve temporarily. If word gets out, a whole crowd of people will come knocking. I'm not afraid of them, but it'd be a huge hassle and would delay our cultivation."

Osler agreed at once. "No problem!"

Yu Feng gave a cold chuckle. "Of course he'd agree. He can't wait to be the only one to get a taste, so nobody else can compete with him."

Osler swayed his body and said mockingly, "You're jealous, you're jealous, you're jealous~"

Yu Feng immediately gritted his teeth, his veins bulging. If he were a Soul Master with the Fire Attribute, he'd have set the whole forest ablaze by now.

Shamelessly, Osler draped an arm over Yu Feng's shoulder and gave him an apparently affectionate squeeze. "Come on, don't be mad. We've always been like this, haven't we? We're used to bickering."

How could Yu Feng not know what Osler was thinking? They knew each other far too well. "If you have something to say, say it. Otherwise, quit pawing at me."

Osler said, "I'll definitely keep my mouth shut. You should show some commitment too."

"Are you saying I'd betray a brother? Osler, don't push it! You think I'm worse than you?" Yu Feng snapped.

Osler hurried to placate him. "Calm down. That's not what I meant. I just want to make absolutely sure."

Yu Feng ignored him and headed out of the woods.

Osler cried out, "Hey, where are you going? Are you really mad? It's not that serious!"

Yu Feng didn't look back. He simply said, "It's time to eat. Didn't you notice Xiao Tian's already gone?"

"Huh?" Osler whipped around and saw that Xing Tian really was gone. He'd already walked on ahead of them.

Osler hurried after him. "Wait for me!"

A month later, Yu Tianheng returned to Heaven Dou Royal Academy and once again went to Class One of the Tianwei Level to find Xing Tian.

"Xing Tian, I accept my defeat in our last match. I was simply outclassed. From now on, I'll train twice as hard. Once we've both advanced to the Tiandou Level, I'd like to challenge you to another match."

Xing Tian could tell that Yu Tianheng had changed completely.

Before, Yu Tianheng had been arrogant, conceited, impulsive, and overbearing. Now, he was neither servile nor overbearing. He still had pride, but no arrogance. Xing Tian could sense his confidence and resolve, but saw none of his contempt or haughtiness.

Xing Tian's assessment of him was simple: not bad.

"Sure. I never turn down a challenge," Xing Tian replied.

"Thank you." Yu Tianheng said this and then left quite naturally.

Osler watched Yu Tianheng's retreating figure and said, "Yu Tianheng's changed so much. He used to look down his nose at everyone, but now he can actually talk to people calmly. Is it because the boss beat him up?"

Suddenly, Osler put on a surprised expression, then lowered his voice as if he'd uncovered some secret. "Could he have some kind of unusual fetish?"

At that, Xing Tian, Ye Lingling, and Yu Feng all rolled their eyes at the same time.

Yu Feng scoffed, "Your head's half water and half flour. Give it a shake and your brain turns into a lump of dough!"

Osler looked unconvinced. "Then you understand?"

"No!"

Yu Feng declared confidently, "But I'm still better than you!"

Ye Lingling said, "Yu Tianheng's pride was clearly shattered. The glory of having the number-one Beast Martial Soul, which had blinded him, was torn away, letting him see a much wider world."

"Still, Yu Tianheng used to be so proud. After taking such a blow, he managed to get back on his feet so quickly. His tone is neither servile nor overbearing, but I feel that his presence is even stronger than before. I think Thunder Douluo must have stepped in."

Xing Tian strongly agreed with Ye Lingling. "Sister Lingling is almost certainly right. Given Yu Tianheng's natural insight, he should have been crushed after that battle. Nothing else could have helped him recover except guidance from a Titled Douluo."

Osler sounded a little worried. "A Titled Douluo's guidance... then what about you, Xiao Tian?"

Xing Tian replied confidently, "I'll say it again—I'll give him time to catch up, until he can no longer even see me in the distance."