"Do you know what a ninety-percent Martial Soul compatibility rate means? Sister Dabai and Xiao Bai have been together day and night since childhood, inseparable as shadow and form, and even their Martial Soul compatibility rate isn't ninety percent."
Leng Yaozhu picked up the celadon teacup on the table, ready to lay things out for Na'er.
She took a sip of black tea and patiently explained, "There are countless factors that affect Martial Soul compatibility. At their core, they boil down to four things."
"First, the Martial Souls share the same origin or complement each other. This allows the two sides to form a perfect link between their Soul Powers, giving them an innate advantage. Second, blood ties. Close relatives tend to have higher compatibility. Third, their hearts are in sync. When their hearts and souls resonate, their Martial Soul compatibility naturally far exceeds that of ordinary people. Fourth, long-term joint cultivation. Spending day after day together and honing their rapport can also effectively improve their Martial Soul compatibility."
Leng Yaozhu took another sip of tea, then continued, "Across the entire Douluo Continent, the most classic Martial Soul Fusion Skill is the Hell White Tiger of the Dai Clan and the Zhu Clan of the Star Luo Empire."
"The two clans have intermarried for generations, and their Martial Souls—the Evil Eye White Tiger and the Hell Spirit Cat—complement each other by nature. They meet almost all four of the core conditions."
"But even so, the descendants of the Dai and Zhu Clans wouldn't dare hope for a ninety-percent Martial Soul compatibility rate. Anyone who can successfully manifest the Hell White Tiger is enough to soar straight into the clan's inner circle."
She looked at Na'er, her tone growing more serious. "It's the same with Sister Dabai and Xiao Bai. The Space Unicorn and Light Unicorn Martial Souls share the same origin, twins are naturally in sync, and they've spent nearly twenty years together, cultivating side by side. Few can match their rapport."
"With such extraordinary advantages, their Martial Soul compatibility rate is still only around eighty percent. Do you understand now how far-fetched a ninety-percent compatibility rate is?"
Na'er, however, was brimming with confidence. "Just because Sister Dabai and Sister Xiao Bai can't do it doesn't mean I can't."
She declared proudly, "I've already looked it up. The two people with the highest Martial Soul compatibility in the history of the Douluo Continent were the founder of the Spirit Pagoda, Spirit Ice Douluo Huo Yuhao, and his beloved, Dragon Butterfly Douluo Tang Wutong."
"The two of them had a full four Martial Soul Fusion Skills. My goal is to surpass them!"
Leng Yaozhu's mouth twitched uncontrollably.
She didn't need to ask to know that Na'er had read about it on the Soul Net encyclopedia.
Shrek Academy and the Tang Sect had stood tall on the continent for twenty thousand years, their influence deeply rooted. Their devoted followers were everywhere. As for the things they promoted, well, everyone knew how that went.
Take Taotie Douluo Xuan Zi, as Shrek called him. They'd painted him as a perceptive, conscientious talent scout, claiming that he'd recognized Huo Yuhao's potential from the very first day he entered the academy and had done everything in his power to secure resources for him. They called him the fated mentor who'd made Huo Yuhao's career.
Setting aside the fact that Xuan Zi was a Level 98 Super Douluo who'd supposedly been keeping an eye on a brand-new student, could the words "perceptive" and "conscientious" really be used to describe him?
The "God of Death" was hailed as the strongest Soul King in history. Even among the lawless Evil Soul Masters, no one challenged his reputation. But who had provided the record of his achievements?
Anyone who knew the truth could only find the whole thing laughable.
Of course, it was true that Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong had four Martial Soul Fusion Skills.
But as a high-ranking member of the Spirit Pagoda, Leng Yaozhu knew the secrets behind it. Tang Wutong's identity as Dragon Butterfly Douluo was dubious; she was very likely the daughter of Sea God Tang San.
With a god secretly meddling, Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong's Martial Soul compatibility was hardly a meaningful point of comparison.
Leng Yaozhu didn't explain any of this to Na'er. She simply played along, teasing, "When Spirit Ice Douluo first met Dragon Butterfly Douluo at Shrek Academy, where she was using the alias Wang Dong'er, he happened to be eleven years old. You'll be eleven in five years too. What a coincidence. Good luck!"
After teasing her disciple, Leng Yaozhu couldn't help thinking of another outrageous thing about Shrek Academy.
Shrek and the Tang Sect had actually been loudly proclaiming that the Sun Moon Empire was an evil invader and that Huo Yuhao was a hero who'd led Shrek Academy and the three great empires in resisting the Sun Moon Empire's invasion and defending peace across the continent—all within the Sun Moon Federation, which had inherited the Sun Moon Empire's legacy.
The more she thought about it, the more unbelievable it seemed, and the more she agreed with the Spirit Pagoda's decision to split from Shrek Academy.
And then there was Qiangu Dongfeng. In all his years as Pagoda Master, probably the best thing he'd done was sever ties with Shrek Academy completely and deliberately downplay the connection between the Spirit Pagoda and its founder, Huo Yuhao.
Otherwise, who knew when Shrek and the Tang Sect would drag them into their mess?
Seeing that Leng Yaozhu wouldn't budge, Na'er had no choice but to tug on her sleeve and plead, "Teacher, please let me go to Shangling City. You're so busy, and you don't have time to keep me company. It's so boring being alone at the Spirit Pagoda."
Leng Yaozhu's brows instinctively furrowed.
Na'er had a point. She really didn't have time to stay by her side, and sending Na'er to Shangling City to keep An Lan company would be better than leaving her to cultivate alone at the Spirit Pagoda.
"No."
The thought had barely crossed her mind before she pushed it aside.
She'd nearly let Na'er talk her into it. Leng Yaozhu shot her an exasperated look. "You're at the Spirit Pagoda to study and cultivate, not to play. Why do you need someone to keep you company?"
"Besides..." She picked up her teacup and took a sip of black tea, easing her frustration a little before continuing, "Aren't Sister Dabai and Xiao Bai there? How are you alone?"
"Oh, right!"
Na'er's eyes suddenly lit up. Just as Leng Yaozhu thought she'd finally given up on going to Shangling City, the girl's next words left her utterly stunned.
Na'er clutched Leng Yaozhu's sleeve, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Please, Teacher! Let Sister Dabai and Sister Xiao Bai come to Shangling City with me too!"
Leng Yaozhu's crimson eyes flew wide open. She stared at her astonishingly brazen disciple, unable to speak for a moment.
The little girl wasn't satisfied with going by herself. She wanted to take Sister Dabai and Xiao Bai along too.
She slumped back into the cushioned chair, staring blankly at the ceiling, and could only think that this disciple was beyond saving.
At that moment, she could finally understand how Yun Ming had felt when he was rejected the day before.
In the end, Na'er got her wish and went to Shangling City with An Lan, with the twin sisters Bai Haoze and Bai Zhicen in tow.
When Leng Qingning and Le Lingzhao heard the news, they were a little surprised but didn't object.
After all, Na'er was Leng Yaozhu's direct disciple and practically one of their own. Besides, finding An Lan a cultivation partner was a good thing.
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