"Usually, he'll study spiritual cultivation and the Body Martial Soul by your side. Then he'll spend half of each month with me, learning the secret Unyielding Staff Technique of our Qiangu Clan.
"It's a Self-Created Soul Skill. Even people without the Coiling Dragon Staff Martial Soul can cultivate it, and it'll greatly benefit them.
"So I wasn't joking when I said I'd teach him my experience and insights into the Coiling Dragon Staff."
"What if I don't agree?"
"You don't agree?"
A smug smile curled the corners of Qiangu Dongfeng's mouth.
"Han Tianyi, you know what I'm like. I'll stop at nothing to get things done.
"You're no Limit Douluo, so I won't lay a hand on you, but I'll make life miserable for you all.
"On the other hand, if he takes me as his master, I'll do everything in my power to nurture him. We can raise him into a peerless expert together. Wouldn't that be wonderful?
"I'm sure you'd like to see your disciple grow stronger, too.
"The Unyielding Staff Technique is a closely guarded secret of my Qiangu Clan. Even without the Coiling Dragon Staff Martial Soul, learning it can bring a terrifying boost in combat power. And I have other good things to give him, too."
Qiangu Dongfeng had used both threats and enticements. Han Tianyi's expression shifted between dark and bright.
Having half his disciple forcibly taken away felt awful. But no matter how he looked at it, letting Qiangu Dongfeng take Lin Tian as his disciple was the best thing for Lin Tian.
Since it was for Lin Tian's sake, opposing it now would only make him look petty.
After pondering for a while, he could only nod, unwillingly.
"Fine, but you must promise not to force him to cultivate techniques that aren't right for him, and never to force him to do anything wrong.
"I know what you're like, and you know what I'm like."
"Agreed."
Having achieved his goal, Qiangu Dongfeng smiled smugly, patted Lin Tian on the shoulder, and strode away.
Leng Yaozhu wasn't happy about it, but when she thought of the exceptionally talented disciple she'd taken in, Na'er, much of her displeasure faded.
In her eyes, Na'er was no worse than Lin Tian. As long as she nurtured her carefully, Na'er would surely become a peerless expert just as powerful as he was.
And so the farce came to an end. Lin Tian had taken two masters and now belonged to both of the Spirit Pagoda's factions—a first in the Spirit Pagoda's history.
With those matters settled, Han Tianyi and Leng Yaozhu wasted no time preparing Soul Spirits for Lin Tian and Na'er.
They had originally planned to send the two of them to school in Eastsea City, where Han Tianxin was. Han Tianyi trusted her completely.
They had brought the children back now for one reason: to obtain Soul Spirits for them, specifically the Unyielding Soul Spirits found only in the Heavenly Spirit Pagoda.
As she led Lin Tian and Na'er farther inside, Leng Yaozhu asked, "You're both geniuses with Innate Full Soul Power, so you can already absorb Soul Spirits.
"Lin Tian, you know what a Soul Spirit is, right?"
Lin Tian nodded.
"And you?"
Leng Yaozhu turned to Na'er.
Na'er nodded too.
She'd seen Gu Yue studying Soul Spirits over the past few days, so she knew about them. She knew Soul Masters had to absorb Soul Spirits to increase their cultivation.
"If you already know, I won't go into too much detail.
"Soul Spirits are divided into ordinary Soul Spirits, special Soul Spirits, legacy Soul Spirits, and Unyielding Soul Spirits...
"Legacy Soul Spirits are passed down exclusively within individual families. They aren't available to the public.
"Special Soul Spirits are usually found inside the Spirit Ascension Platform, but you don't need to worry about those.
"What we're preparing for you now are Unyielding Soul Spirits. The Spirit Pagoda has a great many of them in its collection.
"These Soul Spirits can't be forcibly subdued. It all depends on compatibility and fate, which makes them ideal for geniuses like you.
"The fact that they can't be subdued easily is proof of their strength. If you can subdue one, your future cultivation will be twice as effective with half the effort."
As Leng Yaozhu spoke, Han Tianyi nodded in agreement.
The two of them led Lin Tian and Na'er toward the most secret Soul Spirit chamber in the Spirit Pagoda.
The Indomitable Soul Spirit Chamber lay deep beneath the Heavenly Spirit Pagoda. Multiple barriers protected it, and its interior was filled with dense spiritual energy.
Above the platform in the center of the room floated over a hundred Soul Spirits in a variety of forms. Each emanated an unyielding will. These were the legendary Unyielding Soul Spirits.
They weren't kept inside special Soul Spirit storage devices. Instead, they simply floated in the chamber, replenishing themselves with the spiritual energy flowing through the air. They couldn't normally be awakened. Only when someone destined to find them drew near would they stir.
With ordinary Soul Spirits, Soul Masters chose the Soul Spirit. With Unyielding Soul Spirits, the Soul Spirit chose the Soul Master.
Han Tianyi and Leng Yaozhu stood at the doorway and spoke solemnly.
"Go in and choose. Remember, don't try to absorb one by force. Just calm yourselves and sense what's there."
Lin Tian and Na'er looked at each other, then entered the Indomitable Soul Spirit Chamber together.
The moment Na'er stepped inside, she didn't even release her aura. Yet the very next second, an astonishing sight unfolded.
All the Soul Spirits floating above the platform began to tremble violently. They drew in their unyielding wills and assumed a submissive posture.
Then, one after another, the Unyielding Soul Spirits imbued with dragon blood rushed toward Na'er. They circled around her, waiting for her to choose.
Lin Tian watched, burning with envy, and thought, As expected of the Silver Dragon King. That bloodline suppression is terrifying. Even the Unyielding Soul Spirits can't resist it.
Han Tianyi and Leng Yaozhu saw it too, and immediately stepped inside.
The sight before them was simply too shocking. Every Unyielding Soul Spirit had submitted at once, which meant Na'er's Martial Soul was extraordinarily powerful and her bloodline unimaginably strong.
"Na'er, your Martial Soul is very powerful. You can choose any Unyielding Soul Spirit here.
"In that case, I recommend this hundred-year Soul Spirit.
"The Silver Dragon Fish. It's the best match for your Martial Soul, and it has Silver Dragon blood in its body."
"The Silver Dragon Fish seems like a good Soul Spirit. Teacher, I'll choose this one."
With her teacher's guidance, Na'er happily chose the Silver Dragon Fish Soul Spirit, which was silver all over and covered in brilliant scales.
Lin Tian, meanwhile, could only struggle to choose a Soul Spirit on his own. Not one of them resonated with him.
Even after he released his Blood Sea Martial Soul and Starfish Martial Soul, not a single Soul Spirit resonated with him. It was deeply discouraging.
Or perhaps the Silver Dragon King's presence had intimidated them all, leaving the Soul Spirits afraid to choose anyone else.
But just then, Lin Tian's gaze settled on a Soul Spirit in the chamber that hadn't reacted to Na'er.
It was entirely black, radiating a bloody aura. A nine-headed bat, it was also the coldest and most indifferent Soul Spirit in the entire chamber.
It paid no attention to the commotion among the other Soul Spirits, floating alone in a corner.