With Ma Xiaotao leading the way, Yang Jian soon met a middle-aged man dressed in white. He was handsome, with an air of refined ease, and his entire person radiated a brightness much like that of the Golden Tree.
Yan Shaozhe, dean of Shrek Academy's Martial Soul Department, a Level 95 Super Douluo.
Yang Jian couldn't help lowering his head to look at Xiao Bai in his arms. The tuft of hair on her head was still sticking straight up. If Xiao Bai looked like a little puppy right now, then Yan Shaozhe was an old puppy.
No wonder this old-fashioned, refined heartthrob had captivated countless young women back in the day.
As Yang Jian looked at Yan Shaozhe, Yan Shaozhe was also sizing up the boy before him. He had already learned from Bai Yu just how astonishing Yang Jian's Martial Soul was. At this point, only one thought remained in his mind: he had to keep Yang Jian at Shrek Academy by any means necessary.
A Titled Douluo with a full nine Ultimate Attributes!
What did that even mean?
With nine Ultimate Attributes, he could probably put up a fight even against a Limit Douluo, couldn't he?
What was more, if Yang Jian didn't die young, becoming a Level 99 Limit Douluo in the future was practically a foregone conclusion.
If a genius like him stayed at Shrek Academy and became the Sea God Pavilion Master, he could safeguard the academy's prosperity for another few centuries!
Even after his teacher passed away, Yang Jian could still shoulder the burden of Shrek Academy!
The only real problem was Yang Jian's identity.
As the Star Luo Empire Offering Hall's newest Titled Douluo, Bai Yu's position likely reflected the wishes of the entire Star Luo Empire Offering Hall, and perhaps even the Star Luo Imperial Family.
They were hardly likely to let such a genius stay at Shrek Academy.
Even more troublesome was the fact that Shrek Academy hadn't raised Yang Jian itself.
Yang Jian had grown up in the Star Luo Empire Offering Hall, where he had access to resources every bit as abundant as Shrek Academy's. Just from the fact that he ate Xuanqing Pills like Sugar Beans, it was clear the Offering Hall was raising him as its future heir.
Under the circumstances, Yan Shaozhe couldn't think of a single way to entice Yang Jian to stay at Shrek Academy.
What about the big promises he was usually so good at making?
Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings, Soul Bones, and the like... Whatever Shrek Academy could provide, the Star Luo Empire Offering Hall could provide too—and might even do better.
After all, no matter how much Shrek Academy valued Yang Jian, it couldn't possibly pour every last resource into him alone. But the Star Luo Empire Offering Hall really could send out every Titled Douluo it had, without holding anything back, to hunt the Soul Beasts Yang Jian needed for his Soul Rings.
Compared to the Star Luo Empire Offering Hall, Shrek Academy didn't seem to have much of an advantage at all...
Could he resort to a beauty trap?
The moment he thought of what he'd learned about the Star Luo Imperial Family planning to marry a princess to Yang Jian, then looked at Ye Qingyuan, Elder Ye's great-granddaughter, Yan Shaozhe couldn't help sighing inwardly.
He'd already lost his chance to play the beauty card!
After thinking it over and failing to come up with a better idea, Yan Shaozhe put on a gentle smile and looked up at Yang Jian.
"Yang Jian, Xiaotao has told me what you're looking for. As it happens, I may know of something that fits."
Yang Jian's heart stirred slightly, but he kept his expression calm and looked Yan Shaozhe straight in the face, without the slightest hint of being affected.
Seeing this, Yan Shaozhe couldn't help sighing inwardly.
Exceptional talent, a fine temperament, neither arrogant nor impatient.
The more he looked at Yang Jian, the more he liked him!
"Many years ago, while traveling across the continent, I discovered a Soul Beast with the bloodline of an ancient god. It was a phoenix, with the Ultimate Fire Attribute. At the time, it was around twenty thousand years old, and I planned to make it Xiaotao's Fifth or Sixth Soul Ring. Unfortunately, when I took Xiaotao to look for it, we couldn't find a trace of it."
"Back then, I thought it was a pity and assumed the Soul Beast had died. I never imagined it was still alive. It had simply left the Star Dou Great Forest and gone to the Sunset Forest."
"Now, that phoenix is deep in the Sunset Forest and hasn't left for a long time. It's as if something there is drawing it in. I've already sent two Titled Douluo from Shrek Academy to track it down. As soon as they learn anything, they'll pinpoint its location and report back."
A twenty-thousand-year-old Fire Phoenix?
The Sunset Forest?
Yang Jian's heart stirred slightly.
He had a good guess why the Fire Phoenix had left the Star Dou Great Forest and traveled all the way to the Sunset Forest.
Other than the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well in the Sunset Forest, he couldn't think of another reason.
It wasn't as if the Fire Phoenix had some ability to sense murderous intent and had fled in advance after sensing that Yan Shaozhe planned to kill it and make it Ma Xiaotao's Soul Ring, right?
Still...
The Attribute was right, and its species was top-tier. Its cultivation was just a little too low.
Seeing Yang Jian furrow his brows, Yan Shaozhe continued softly, "Of course, this Fire Phoenix's cultivation is still a little below what you'd ideally want in a Soul Beast. So I've already activated Shrek Academy's intelligence network to search everywhere for Soul Beasts that meet your requirements. I'll also issue a long-term mission through the Shrek Inspectorate to help you find one."
"Although I don't know your exact Soul Power Level, I can promise that we'll find the most suitable Soul Beast for you before you reach Level 40."
"What do you think?"
Yan Shaozhe rarely made a losing deal.
At least in his eyes, Yang Jian was worth mobilizing this much power for. He was worth investing in.
He still hadn't figured out how to keep Yang Jian at Shrek Academy, but until then, he could at least earn some goodwill.
As for what came after that... he'd think of something suitable when the time came.
Hearing this, Yang Jian quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
If he could find an older Soul Beast, of course he'd prefer that. But if they really couldn't find one, the twenty-thousand-year-old Fire Phoenix could be his backup choice.
A Soul Ring with a slightly lower age limit but the Ultimate Fire Attribute was still better than one old enough but lacking that Ultimate Fire Attribute.
"Then thank you, Dean Yan. And as for Xiaotao's Evil Fire... I have no objections."
"I can suppress Xiaotao's Evil Fire whenever you need me to."
He hadn't left with Ma Xiaotao right away because he didn't want to do the job for free. Now that Yan Shaozhe had shown his sincerity, there was no reason for him to refuse.
It was no trouble at all.
Besides, he wanted to gain a little something for himself while suppressing the Evil Fire.
Before you continue