"Grandmaster, that student is named Huo Yuhao. His Martial Soul is a Mutated Body Martial Soul—his eyes. Although he's only at the first ring of cultivation, he has enormous potential. His Martial Soul can even continue mutating after gaining Spirit Rings. I was thinking that if we could nurture him properly, he would undoubtedly achieve great things in the future!"
Wang Yan addressed Xuanzi respectfully.
"A Body Martial Soul? And a mutated one at that?" Some unpleasant memories from his youth suddenly surfaced in Xuanzi's mind.
When Xuanzi had roamed the continent in his youth, he had crossed paths with members of the Body Sect and had firsthand experience of the power and mystery of Body Martial Souls.
But after those unpleasant encounters with the Body Sect in his youth, he had developed an instinctive aversion to Body Martial Souls.
Now that he heard his own grand-disciple had come to see him to seek better training for someone with a Mutated Body Martial Soul, he felt a trace of displeasure.
"You say his Martial Soul can mutate again after gaining a Spirit Ring. Is that really true?" Xuanzi suddenly asked.
Wang Yan looked up, his voice full of anticipation. "Of course it's true, Grandmaster. In his case, if—"
He hadn't finished speaking when Xuanzi waved a hand and cut him off. "That means each mutation could also turn out to be a harmful one, doesn't it?"
Wang Yan froze, unsure how to respond.
Xuanzi shook his head again. "Wang Yan, I know you like reading and studying Martial Souls, but don't put your faith in so-called Mutated Martial Souls. In this world, there are countless Mutated Martial Souls, but truly beneficial mutations are exceedingly rare."
"What's more, this person has a Mutated Body Martial Soul. He's even less worth cultivating. What if he eventually defects to the Body Sect?"
"I know you want to help Shrek Academy discover talent, but at a time like this, we need top-tier Martial Souls like Xiaotao's—the kind that are normal."
"Take the mysterious Ultimate Ice and Ultimate Fire Martial Souls we saw today. If we could bring either of those people into our academy and nurture them properly, Shrek Academy could flourish for at least another three hundred years!"
"Alas, these are troubled times. Ultimate elemental Martial Souls are rarely seen even once in a century, yet two appeared today, and both were found within the academy. It's truly strange."
"As for that Mutated Body Martial Soul, give him the standard treatment. Put special training on hold for now."
Xuanzi rambled on to himself, then pulled the gourd from his waist and took a long swig before leaving.
He hadn't paid the slightest attention to Wang Yan's words.
Wang Yan stood alone where he was, a wry smile on his face.
"Grandmaster, why is your vision so narrow? If the academy keeps going like this, how long can its so-called glory possibly last?"
Wang Yan let out a quiet sigh.
Meanwhile, Huo Yuhao, his body still terribly uncomfortable, left Shrek Academy and returned to the room he had rented at a hotel outside the campus.
After carefully locking the doors and windows, he sat cross-legged on the bed and took the Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Glue out of his Storage Soul Tool Ring.
"Teacher, how do we refine this Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Glue?"
In Huo Yuhao's Spirit Sea, an aged figure slowly appeared above the gray Soul Bead.
Electrolux replied in a low voice, "Leave it to me. I'll extract all the life essence from this item and use it to improve your physique. Perhaps this time, you really have turned misfortune into a blessing."
Huo Yuhao asked in confusion, "Turned misfortune into a blessing? What do you mean, Teacher?"
Electrolux chuckled. "If you had swallowed this item under normal circumstances, you could have absorbed at most one or two tenths of its life essence. Most of it would have gone to waste."
"But you forced yourself to use the latent power in your eyes, leaving your body's cells in a state of extreme energy starvation. If you swallow the essence now, you'll be able to absorb all its benefits, transforming your body completely. How could that not be turning misfortune into a blessing?"
Huo Yuhao's face lit up with joy. "Thank you, Teacher."
"But, Teacher, will using your power to help me this time affect you?" Huo Yuhao suddenly remembered and asked worriedly.
"Silly boy, I'm already dead. With this remnant of a body, I'm fortunate just to be lingering in this world. Why should I concern myself with such things? Using up some of my soul power this time will send me into a deep sleep. But Yuhao, I'll preserve a little of my remaining spiritual power. When you break through to the second ring, I'll wake up. Then I'll pass on some of my legacy to you. After that, I'm afraid I'll fall into a complete slumber."
"If you want to wake me again, you'll probably have to find some rare natural treasure that can nourish the soul."
Elder Yi spoke with easygoing nonchalance.
Huo Yuhao's expression darkened, but then he said firmly, "Teacher, I'll find something that can nourish the soul and wake you up one day."
Elder Yi nodded with a warm smile. "All right, Yuhao. Don't be sad. First, let me refine this Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Glue for you."
In the quiet room, a stream of gray air seeped from Huo Yuhao's body. Then a wisp of black flame rose from within it.
The flame was small, but the heat it gave off was enough to make anyone's heart tremble.
The Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Glue in Huo Yuhao's hand slowly rose and floated to the center of the black flame.
The next moment, the black flame completely engulfed the Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Glue.
Smoke kept rising from the center of the black flame.
Huo Yuhao knew it was the impurities contained in the Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Glue.
As time passed, the pitch-black mass of glue gradually grew smaller and smaller. In the end, it became a single drop of black liquid that gave off a strange fragrance.
"Yuhao, now!" Elder Yi's voice suddenly rang in Huo Yuhao's ear.
As if by instinct, Huo Yuhao opened his mouth and swallowed the black liquid as it flew toward him.
As soon as the black liquid entered his stomach, a wave of heat rose from his lower abdomen.
A moment later, a surge of warm, pure energy burst forth, spreading from his lower abdomen throughout his limbs and body.
At that moment, every cell in Huo Yuhao's body was like a hungry baby or a sapling parched by drought, finally blessed with rain.
They greedily absorbed the life essence.
Huo Yuhao sat cross-legged with his hands forming Hand Seals, guiding his body to turn the somewhat excessive energy to his own use.
Surging energy coursed through Huo Yuhao's body, making his meridians and flesh ache in waves.
As time passed, Huo Yuhao felt every inch of his skin and flesh, and every one of his meridians, constantly breaking apart and re-forming.
But with each reformation, they grew tougher!
Gradually, the old skin on his body began to crack and peel, like the bark of a century-old tree. Beneath it was a fresh new layer of skin, gleaming with a healthy luster!
After an unknown amount of time, Huo Yuhao let out a long breath. As the stale air left him, he suddenly opened his eyes.
A sharp glint seemed to burst from them.
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