Qian Daoliu Takes a Disciple

Zhao Mingyi and the two severely injured students were arranged in several small buildings at the very back.

Azure Luan Douluo personally treated them with the Azure Luan Power from his soul skill.

Beneath the blue radiance, their wounds healed at a visible pace, and their broken bones rejoined.

"Do not engage in strenuous activity for the next three days."

Azure Luan Douluo withdrew his hand, gave them a mild reminder, and turned to leave.

Zhao Mingyi lay on the bed, watching his departing figure as turmoil churned within him.

Another Titled Douluo.

In his decades at Zhengtian Academy, he had only ever seen one Titled Douluo—the Dean.

Yet here, in less than half an hour, he had already seen at least three.

Just what was the background of this academy...?

The hall was brightly lit.

Qian Daoliu sat in the seat of honor, while Golden Crocodile, Guang Ling, Mighty Lion, and several other Offering Elders sat on either side.

Shen Zhou stood beside Qian Daoliu. Er Ha lay at his feet, still chewing on something.

Yu Mengdi, Tang Ya, Bei Bei, and Huo Yuhao sat in the guest seats. Zhao Mingyi and the other students were still receiving treatment and had not come over.

The atmosphere was somewhat delicate.

Tang Ya and Bei Bei exchanged a glance, neither daring to speak loudly.

Though they did not know these people's exact cultivation levels, the faint pressure surrounding them made them afraid to even breathe too hard.

Yu Mengdi felt even more like she was sitting on pins and needles.

Ever since entering this academy, she had felt her Martial Soul constantly stirring, as if urging her to do something.

And that middle-aged blond man—Qian Daoliu—had not taken his eyes off her since she entered.

It was not the kind of gaze that made one uncomfortable, but rather a... warm gaze carrying emotions that had been suppressed for far too long.

"Big Brother."

Shen Zhou broke the silence with a playful grin. He walked up to Qian Daoliu, pulled a handkerchief from his sleeve, and solemnly handed it over.

"Wipe your eyes. They're all red."

Qian Daoliu's face darkened as he shot him a glare.

"Nonsense."

"Big Brother, I'm not talking nonsense."

Shen Zhou sat down in the chair beside Qian Daoliu with a grin, crossed his legs, and said, "You should've seen the look in your eyes at the entrance just now. Tsk, tsk, tsk... If I didn't know you were my big brother, I'd have thought you were looking at your own daughter."

"Shut up."

"Alright, alright, I'll shut up."

Shen Zhou raised both hands, but his mouth did not stop. "Still, Big Brother, let's talk business."

"This Yu Mengdi has a Two-Winged Angel Martial Soul and is at the peak of four rings, only one step away from becoming a Soul King."

"Her talent is... pretty good for this era. The key is that her Martial Soul is pure and has never been contaminated."

Qian Daoliu nodded slightly, signaling for him to continue.

"I was thinking, Big Brother, you have a Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul, while she has a Two-Winged Angel Martial Soul. Your Martial Souls share the same origin. Who knows, maybe you were one family several hundred years ago."

Shen Zhou picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip. "Letting such a fine seedling slip away would be an affront to heaven."

"So?"

"So, Big Brother, why not take a disciple?"

Shen Zhou set down his teacup and spread his hands. "You've already taken in seven younger brothers. One more disciple won't make much difference."

Qian Daoliu did not answer immediately. His gaze fell upon Yu Mengdi again.

Yu Mengdi felt uncomfortable under his gaze. She subconsciously straightened her back and placed her hands on her knees, looking exactly like an elementary school student called upon by her teacher.

"Taking a disciple..."

Qian Daoliu pondered for a moment, then glanced at Shen Zhou again.

Shen Zhou winked at him, his lips moving silently to form two words.

Qian Daoliu was initially stunned, then his old face reddened.

This brat was actually hinting that he should marry Yu Mengdi?

"Absurd!"

Qian Daoliu rebuked him in a low voice. "This year, I..."

He did not continue, but the meaning was obvious.

Though Qian Daoliu appeared to be only in his thirties or forties, he was actually already well past sixty or seventy.

Yu Mengdi was only in her early twenties, even younger than his son, Qian Xunji.

Marrying a girl several decades younger than himself—leaving aside whether he himself was willing, if word got out, where would he put his old face?

Seeing Qian Daoliu's flushed cheeks, Shen Zhou suppressed his laughter and said seriously, "Big Brother, I didn't say anything. You were the one whose thoughts went astray."

"You..."

Qian Daoliu took a deep breath and could not be bothered to argue with the brat.

He rose to his feet and walked over to Yu Mengdi, looking down at her from above.

Yu Mengdi hurriedly stood up. She moved too abruptly and tugged at the wound that had not fully healed, making her frown in pain.

"Sit down."

Qian Daoliu raised a hand in indication, his voice much gentler.

Yu Mengdi obediently sat back down and looked up at him.

"Yu Mengdi."

Qian Daoliu spoke. "Are you willing to take me as your master?"

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Tang Ya's eyes widened, and Bei Bei's mouth opened slightly as well.

Huo Yuhao was not very surprised. When his master, Shen Zhou, had said those things earlier, he had already guessed what would happen.

Not bad. At least he would have some company.

He had a very good impression of this angel sister. If she cultivated at the academy too, he would have someone to keep him company in the future.

As for White Emperor, that guy was never reliable when it came to small matters. Other than teasing people, he could not do a damn thing.

Yu Mengdi froze.

Take him as her master?

This existence who possessed a Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul, someone before whom even her own Martial Soul had to submit, wanted to take her as a disciple?

"Senior, I..."

"You need not answer immediately."

Qian Daoliu interrupted her. "I can tell you a few things."

"First, my Martial Soul is the Six-Winged Angel, and it shares the same origin as your Two-Winged Angel."

"If you become my disciple, I can teach you how to develop the true power of the Angel Martial Soul."

"Second, this academy, Martial Soul Academy, possesses resources beyond your imagination."

"The Spirit Pagoda, Mimicry Cultivation Area, Soul Tool Workshop... these things alone can multiply your cultivation speed several times over."

"Third..."

Qian Daoliu paused. A trace of nearly imperceptible tenderness flashed through his brilliant golden eyes.

"You are the first person with an Angel Martial Soul I have seen in this era."

"I do not want to lose you."

Yu Mengdi's eyes reddened.

She could not explain why, but when she heard the words "I do not want to lose you," it felt as though something had struck her heart hard.

She had grown up without a mother. Though her adoptive father treated her well, he never spoke of her origins.

She did not know where she came from, why she possessed an Angel Martial Soul, or that there were others in this world who had the same Martial Soul as her.

Yet now, the person before her was telling her that he too possessed an Angel Martial Soul.

He understood her Martial Soul, her loneliness, and the confusion she had carried for all these years.

"I am willing."

Yu Mengdi rose to her feet. This time, she did not tug at her wound, because she could no longer feel any pain.

She bent her knees and knelt, then kowtowed three times with utmost solemnity.

"Master, please accept this disciple's bow!"

Qian Daoliu did not stop her. He accepted her three bows, then bent down and helped her up.

"Rise."

His hand was warm, like the sun.

Yu Mengdi stood, and tears finally slipped uncontrollably down her cheeks.

"Master..."

"Yes."

Qian Daoliu nodded, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly into the benevolent smile only an elder showed a junior.

"From today onward, you are a disciple of mine, Qian Daoliu."

"Qian... Qian Daoliu?"

Yu Mengdi was startled.

She had never heard that name before.

But at this moment, the name was no longer important.

What mattered was that she finally had a home.

"This Emperor wants to take a disciple too!"