Mu En Passes Down His Skills

The rhythm of the fist technique was slow and steady, the movements circular and fluid. There was no fierce aggression, no surging fluctuations of soul power; it appeared soft and devoid of strength.

Yet, it contained a unique cadence, as if his entire body were merging with the natural world. Every turn and every lift of his hand exuded a charm of using softness to dissolve force, calm and composed.

What surprised Mu En most was that he knew Su Ming's style of conduct all too well. Su Ming usually studied Soul Tool, and his fighting style was one of brute force and aggressive thinking—a character defined by swift and decisive action.

Mu En could never have imagined that such a person would insist on practicing such a peaceful and slow fist technique every single day.

His curiosity grew more intense. When Su Ming finished the set and slowly stood still to withdraw his stance, Mu En slowly opened his eyes. His gaze fell upon Su Ming, and he asked with a tone of inquiry and surprise:

"Little fellow, I see you practicing this set of fist techniques here every day. This old man has seen much in his time, having traversed the Douluo Continent for many years."

"Yet, I have never seen such a martial arts style on the Douluo Continent. I suppose it must be a technique you created yourself? What is it called?"

Su Ming slowly steadied the breath within his body and raised a hand to gently wipe the thin layer of sweat from his forehead. His body felt relaxed and clear, and his mind was exceptionally calm.

He walked over to the stone steps beside Mu En and sat down. After resting for a moment, he replied in a calm tone:

"It can be considered a technique I realized and created myself, called Taiji Fist. The method is nothing special; its core is to overcome the rigid with the soft, to control motion with stillness, and to cultivate the body and temper the temperament through slow practice."

As he spoke, Su Ming thought to himself: Taiji Fist is a martial art from Earth; it is unique and non-existent here on the Douluo Continent.

Even if he claimed to have realized and created it himself, there would be no flaws in his story. It would save him from many unnecessary explanations, so he simply admitted it openly.

After all, he was currently at Shrek Academy, and it was not appropriate to reveal too much. Attributing Taiji Fist to his own creation was the safest choice.

"Oh, Taiji Fist, overcoming the rigid with the soft, controlling motion with stillness." Mu En sat on the rattan chair in the Sea God Pavilion, his gaze fixed on Su Ming, who was practicing not far away, his fingertips tapping lightly on the armrest.

He pondered the subtleties of this fist technique repeatedly. The more he tasted it, the more he felt that the martial principles contained within were extraordinary, far beyond the reach of ordinary pugilism.

His gaze remained on Su Ming, and the appreciation in his eyes grew deeper.

Having spent every day together for the past few years, he had long since thoroughly understood the character of this youth. Su Ming's talent far exceeded his peers, his soul power cultivation speed was extremely fast, and he was inherently intolerant of evil.

Whenever he encountered wicked evil soul masters, he was never merciful. His only shortcoming was that his fighting style was too fierce and reckless, knowing only how to attack head-on without knowing how to adapt.

It was precisely this appreciation that quietly gave birth to the idea of taking an apprentice in Mu En's heart.

He knew his own physical condition better than anyone. Although he had barely won that life-and-death battle against Du Bisi back then, he had been poisoned, which invaded his meridians and completely damaged his cultivation foundation. His vitality was fading rapidly, and he would not last many more years.

Yet, the three great ultimate techniques he had spent his life refining still had no successor, which had become his greatest regret.

It was not that he hadn't considered Bei Bei. Bei Bei was pure of heart and a junior he valued, but his talent was ultimately lacking.

His martial soul remained the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon and had failed to complete its evolution into the true Bright Sacred Dragon, making it impossible to carry his ultimate light techniques.

He had originally planned to pass the position of Sea God Pavilion Master to Bei Bei, but Bei Bei had ended up with Tang Ya of the Tang Sect. After falling into the throes of love, his heart for cultivation was far less firm than before. He was distracted and slack, his cultivation progress was slow, and he could not even focus on studying his own techniques, let alone mastering his three great ultimate skills.

Thinking that his life's work might be lost, Mu En was filled with sorrow and gloom. And it was at this moment that the appearance of Su Ming solved his dilemma.

He had seen everything Su Ming did: he was upright and righteous, possessed a sense of justice, and was decisive in killing evil soul masters without a shred of misplaced mercy.

In terms of temperament, character, and talent, he perfectly met his requirements for a successor, and he was identified as the most suitable candidate at a glance.

After much thought, Mu En finally decided to take him as an apprentice, but having lived for hundreds of years, he was a man of keen insight.

He did not want to force it, and not being sure if Su Ming was willing to enter his tutelage, he decided to test the waters first.

He shifted his body slowly, leaning lazily against the soft recliner. His expression was relaxed, and his tone seemed casual, though it was actually filled with deliberate nonchalance as he spoke to Su Ming:

"You little fellow have extraordinary talent and excellent bones. Do you have a master? When I was young and traveling the continent, I accumulated quite a few insights on cultivation. Would you like me to teach you?"

When Su Ming heard this, his body suddenly stiffened. A look of surprise appeared on his face, and a stormy sea surged in his heart.

How could he not understand the deeper meaning behind Mu En's words? This was not merely about teaching cultivation insights; it was clearly an intention to take him as an apprentice.

One had to know that Mu En was a rank 99 Limit Douluo, the Dragon God Douluo, a top powerhouse on the continent, and the Master of the Sea God Pavilion at Shrek Academy. Being able to enter his tutelage was an opportunity countless soul masters dreamed of, a chance to ascend to the heavens in a single step.

A strong sense of temptation surged in Su Ming's heart, but this feeling was quickly suppressed by him.

He knew very well that Mu En and Shrek Academy were too deeply intertwined; he was the pillar of Shrek. Once he became his apprentice, he would be branded as a direct disciple of Shrek and would never be able to break free.

He already had plans in his heart: he would eventually leave Shrek, establish his own power, and carve out his own path.

If he wore the title of a Shrek direct disciple, once he established his own force, the high-level officials of Shrek Academy would definitely use the bond of master and apprentice and the righteousness of the academy to intervene in his power, control his development, and make him a mere appendage of the academy.

If Mu En were still alive, with his prestige as a Limit Douluo, he could naturally protect him, and the academy's high-level officials would not dare to be too presumptuous.

But Mu En was now at the end of his rope, with little time left. By the time he truly established his power, Mu En would long be gone, and at that time, he would have no power to resist Shrek's control.

Weighing the pros and cons, Su Ming had already made his decision: no matter what, he could not become Mu En's apprentice.

He suppressed the regret and excitement in his heart, forced a cheeky and casual smile onto his face, and replied with the carefree attitude of a youth:

"When you were young, you traversed the continent, so your knowledge is naturally extraordinary. To receive your guidance and learn your cultivation insights, I would, of course, be more than willing."

"However, I have always been without a sect, accustomed to being free and unfettered. I have a wild nature, I don't like being managed, and I cannot stand the constraints of those sect rules and precepts."

As soon as these words were spoken, Mu En understood Su Ming's meaning instantly. He was openly willing to learn his skills but secretly refusing to enter his tutelage, not wanting to be bound by the name of master and apprentice.

Listening to Su Ming's slippery reply, Mu En was both angry and amused, secretly grumbling to himself.