"It won't be long. When you obtain your Second Soul Ring, I'll awaken again."
"I think you understand that the path I'm taking isn't the usual three-dantian Soul Core method used on the continent, right?"
Lin Yuan nodded in agreement. If he followed the traditional three-dantian Soul Core method, there was no way he could fit five Soul Cores inside himself—not even four.
And the flame element in his heart, which could be called the Origin Fire, was already there. If he followed the Five Elements Soul Core path, his Soul Cores would most likely be placed in his five internal organs.
Heart Fire, Lung Metal, Liver Wood, Spleen Earth, Kidney Water—this concept existed even on Blue Star, where there was no supernatural power.
"If you can, I recommend absorbing dragon-type Soul Beasts with highly pure Five Elements attributes for your first five Soul Rings."
God of Destruction stirred the Origin Fire in Lin Yuan's heart. Lin Yuan felt his heart's pumping speed increase noticeably.
"Of course, don't force it. Once you obtain heavenly treasures later, you can make up for it that way, too."
"The Origin Fire in your heart is an example. It's far too weak."
"Then, Master, is there anything else I need to prepare for my Soul Cores?"
Lin Yuan had never thought condensing Soul Cores would be easy, especially since he planned to start extremely aggressively with only three rings.
"Of course. You'll need to temper your body, and ideally, learn some body-cultivation combat techniques. That's an absolute necessity."
Lin Yuan gazed at God of Destruction with pleading eyes, hoping to coax a combat technique out of him.
"Don't even think about it. My Super Divine Artifact is a staff. You can tell I'm no good at close combat. Besides, the close-combat techniques I know aren't very compatible with this world's rules and power system. If you practice them recklessly and something goes wrong, there won't be anything I can do."
"All right." Lin Yuan sounded a little dejected.
"But your master can point you in the right direction." A hint of amusement entered God of Destruction's voice.
"What direction?"
"Your master once got along very well with an outstanding junior. I learned this Soul Core method from him." God of Destruction's voice grew nostalgic.
Lin Yuan immediately realized who God of Destruction meant.
Who else could it be but Huo Yuhao—no, Dai Yuhao?
"Teacher, you don't mean the Body Sect, do you?"
God of Destruction paused briefly, then said in surprise, "I didn't expect you to know so much, brat. I'm getting more and more curious about what goes on in the head of an otherworldly demon like you."
Lin Yuan was alarmed. Was God of Destruction about to pry into his memories?
If God of Destruction learned about his memories, it was hard to say what would happen, but it would definitely be troublesome.
Seeing Lin Yuan's expression, God of Destruction merely scoffed. "I'm teasing you, brat. Everyone has their secrets. If you don't want to talk about yours, I won't force my way in and look. You're a good person by nature. Your master believes that one day you'll be willing to tell me everything."
"...Teacher, I'm sorry."
"There's nothing to apologize for. Haven't I been using you to get my revenge, too?"
Lin Yuan patted his cheeks, putting away his complicated emotions.
"The Body Sect's combat techniques are indeed excellent. Their methods of tempering the body would be useful to me, too. But a sect like theirs probably wouldn't accept outsiders, would it?"
"Then take another master. You already have me teaching you internal cultivation and that little Title Douluo teaching you swordsmanship. What's so hard about taking another master to learn combat techniques and body cultivation?"
"But..." Lin Yuan looked troubled.
Although Tang San had brought fairly positive teacher-disciple traditions to this world, he had also brought along some dross.
On Douluo Continent, once a person became someone's disciple, it was almost impossible to change masters for the rest of their life.
If Lin Yuan did this, Cao Xin and Du Busi might understand, but the countless people on the continent would point fingers at him behind his back.
"What is it?"
Lin Yuan froze, then shook his head and finally gave a self-mocking smile.
"It's nothing. I was just thinking about something unimportant."
What was he hesitating over?
Did his reputation really matter that much?
By the time he became the strongest, would he still care about what people said behind his back?
By then, learned scholars would surely argue his case, and Du Busi would never turn away a truly gifted disciple.
Even if he couldn't enter the Body Sect's gates, he could still become Du Busi's personal disciple.
That way, the Body Sect could also tie itself to his warship, giving him one more chance of defeating Tang San in the future.
Du Busi had no reason to let an opportunity to bind a future powerhouse to the Body Sect slip away. If Lin Yuan showed his full potential, any faction would be willing to invest heavily in him.
"Good. Then I'll go back to sleep. I believe you'll find a way to make this happen."
"Understood. Farewell, Master."
--
Half a year later.
Heaven Dou Empire, Clear Sky Sect.
The Clear Sky Sect was filled with celebration and cheer. It had been a long time since they had enjoyed such a happy occasion.
The reason was that the sect's little princess was going to undergo her Martial Soul Awakening today. To accommodate her temperament, everyone had become unusually lively.
"Yay! I want to ride the big horse! Ride the big horse!" Wang Dong'er, dressed in a white dress, sat on Tai Tan's shoulders and happily patted his head.
"Xiao Dong, could you stop being so naughty? You're going to hurt your second dad, too." Niu Tian spoke helplessly to Wang Dong'er from behind them.
"Is that so?" Wang Dong'er turned around, touching her lower lip as she asked in confusion.
Looking at Wang Dong'er's utterly adorable face, Niu Tian felt his heart melt.
"No, your second dad is strong." Tai Tan flashed a toothy grin and flexed one of his arms.
"Your big dad's just jealous. Xiao Dong, do you like your big dad or your second dad more?"
"Second dad!" Wang Dong'er happily hugged the back of Tai Tan's head, choosing him without hesitation.
"You spoil her too much," Niu Tian said helplessly.
"So what?" Tai Tan looked at Niu Tian with disdain.
"Our Xiao Dong is so adorable. Isn't she meant to be pampered? Besides..." Tai Tan suddenly stopped grinning and met Niu Tian's eyes, his expression turning somber, his tone impossible to describe.
Niu Tian knew what Tai Tan meant. Sooner or later, their adorable Wang Dong'er would have to face her cruel fate.
All they could do was make her happy for as long as they could before she left.
"Besides what?" Wang Dong'er looked at the two of them, their faces downcast, and asked in confusion. She didn't understand what had happened.
"Nothing, nothing. I just can't decide what we should have for dinner." Tai Tan put on his carefree grin again.
"Xiao Dong, your second dad will take you to awaken your Martial Soul."
"Okay! Giddy-up!" Wang Dong'er rode Tai Tan like a horse as he headed toward the Awakening Chamber.
As the Martial Soul Awakening began, divine light fell from the Divine Realm high above and enveloped Wang Dong'er.
This was Buddha Ancestor Tang's tremendous power at work, granting Wang Dong'er the Light Goddess Butterfly, the Clear Sky Hammer, and the Sea God Martial Soul.
Beside the pillar of light, an almost imperceptible spatial rift opened.
A small orb of light, carrying the same source of power as the Sea God's divine light, quietly drifted out. No one noticed it.