"All right, get some rest. It's too hot in here. I'll head outside and catch a breeze."
Dong Zi'an suppressed the emotions surging within him, and grew even more resolute about the idea taking shape in his mind.
"Uncle, what should I call you?"
Just as Dong Zi'an was about to leave, Jiang Xiu asked softly.
"My name's Dong Zi'an. Just call me Uncle Dong."
Dong Zi'an stopped and left him with those words. Then he opened the Soul Tool door and strode out.
"Dong Zi'an? Fierce Wolf Douluo!"
At the name, Jiang Xiu's violet eyes flickered. He murmured to himself, and memories of Dong Zi'an surfaced.
Dong Zi'an was the commander of the Western Legion and a God-Rank Mecha Master. His standing in the military was second only to Divine Pen Douluo Yu Guanzhi and Shrek Academy's reclusive Chen Xinjie. He was also one of the leading figures of the Federation's Hawk Faction.
But what had left the deepest impression on Jiang Xiu wasn't any of that. It was Dong Zi'an himself. He hadn't come from a great family; he'd been born a commoner, and even his Martial Soul was nothing more than the most ordinary Green-Faced Wolf.
Yet with sheer grit, Dong Zi'an had fought his way through, step by step, from the lowest ranks of the army to where he stood now—as a Limit Douluo and legion commander.
The words a certain Grandmaster had once offered as consolation—"There are no useless Martial Souls, only useless Soul Masters"—seemed to have been proven true by Dong Zi'an.
Most importantly, even after rising to such a position and gaining so much power, Dong Zi'an was still willing to share life and death with the soldiers of the Western Legion. When the time came to fight the Abyss Plane, he would lead the charge himself.
"What a fierce warrior."
Jiang Xiu couldn't help but sigh, feeling a measure of admiration. Unfortunately, in the end, Dong Zi'an had been set up by a Spirit Pagoda spy, leaving him with an indelible stain.
"So, General Dong, what will you choose?"
The corner of Jiang Xiu's mouth lifted slightly as he gazed out the window at the howling wind.
Outside the Soul Guidance Emergency Center.
"Commander, we've finished investigating. Jiang Xiu's parents both served in the Blood God Legion and died in battle four years ago. His mother, Xu Ruoxi, had Silver Moon as her Martial Soul..."
When Dong Zi'an emerged, Li Jie hurried over and reported what he'd found.
"All right, I know all that already."
Dong Zi'an waved him off. "Send someone to Snow City now and retrieve those two medals. The sooner, the better."
"Understood!"
Li Jie nodded and immediately sent a message to the soldiers in Snow City. Afterward, seeing his commander lost in thought, he couldn't help asking:
"Commander, Jiang Xiu has incredible talent. Are you thinking of taking him as your disciple?"
Li Jie knew his commander well. The man had never married and had spent his whole life in the army. Aside from killing Abyssal Creatures, his greatest passion was nurturing and promoting talented people.
Besides, Jiang Xiu's parents had both served in the Blood God Legion, and his background was clean.
"You're a sharp one, aren't you? No wonder I personally promoted you. You really are like a worm in my gut. I do have the inclination, but I'm afraid I wouldn't know how to teach him."
Dong Zi'an first scolded him with a laugh, then looked into the distance and sighed pensively.
"You're joking. Is there anyone you can't teach?"
Li Jie thought his commander was only joking.
"Jiang Xiu doesn't just have the Purple Imperial Heaven-Extinguishing Dragon Martial Soul. He has Twin Martial Souls, and both are Ultimate Martial Souls."
"You've got to be kidding!"
Li Jie stared at him in disbelief. But when he saw Dong Zi'an's calm expression, he realized his commander wasn't joking.
Silence fell. Even the cold wind seemed to ease.
Seeing his usually decisive commander hesitate for once, Li Jie gritted his teeth and spoke up.
"Commander, do you know what a genius's flowers represent?"
"What?"
Dong Zi'an raised an eyebrow, confused.
"First come, first served!"
Li Jie spoke from the heart. "Think about it. He's the child of our brother legion. In other words, he's one of our own! Jiang Xiu's talent is extraordinary, and you're saying even you might not be able to teach him. How many people in the world are better than you?"
"Are you really willing to hand him over to some unknown nobody?"
Seeing his commander's resolve harden, Li Jie cleared his throat, ready to add one final spark.
"What if his future teacher turns out to be as unreliable as that Sea God Pavilion Elder from ten thousand years ago who loved chicken drumsticks? What if—"
"Enough. Why not say Jiang Xiu will walk out the door and get abducted into the Holy Spirit Cult by an Evil Soul Master? Stop pestering me. I've made up my mind."
Dong Zi'an cut him off as Li Jie's words grew more and more outrageous, but he had already reached a decision.
"So you're taking Jiang Xiu as your disciple?"
Li Jie grinned, pleased with himself.
"Mm. But I can't do it alone. Professional work should be left to the professionals."
Dong Zi'an nodded slightly. A strange glint flashed in his eyes, and he spoke in a low, mysterious tone.
Then he took out his Communication Soul Tool, scrolled through his contacts, and stopped at a number saved as "Cook." He called it.
"Hello? Who's this? I'm cooking, so don't bother me... Watch me add a spoonful of sauce!"
A hearty voice came through the Communication Soul Tool, accompanied by the faint sound of a spatula scraping a pan.
"Old Mu, I've found a genius with a Body Martial Soul and an Ultimate Attribute. Since you're busy, I'll look for someone else. Goodbye..."
Dong Zi'an let out a regretful sigh and, as if expecting what came next, moved the Communication Soul Tool away from his ear.
"What?! Don't hang up!"
A tremendous roar burst from the Communication Soul Tool.
"What's wrong? Aren't you busy?"
Dong Zi'an smiled knowingly, as if he had everything figured out.
"Oh, it's you, Old Dong! I thought it was Old Dong. You said you found a genius with a Body Martial Soul and an Ultimate Attribute? Where are they? I'll fly over right now."
The voice sounded again, plainly impatient.
"Weren't you cooking? There's no rush. Ah, what a shame—the kid also has Twin Ultimate Martial Souls. But it's fine. I can find someone else."
Dong Zi'an spoke with carefree regret.
"What am I supposed to do with the food now? Don't you know my sect's talent is dwindling? We're practically on the verge of extinction! And you're still joking with me? Don't forget, you owe me a share of the credit for that God-Rank Mecha of yours.
"Tell me the address right now, or I'll come over with my kitchen knife and turn you into a dish! I'm quite skilled at cooking people, too."
Dong Zi'an could practically see the furious look on the other man's face through the Soul Tool. Knowing the moment had come, he spoke unhurriedly.
"Snow City. Hurry. First come, first served."
"Wait for me, I'll be there in a—Oh no! It's burnt!"
"Beep, beep, beep..."
After a startled cry, the call ended.
"Looks like you really care about Jiang Xiu. But that Purple Imperial Heaven-Extinguishing Dragon Martial Soul..."
Li Jie chuckled at the scene, but then seemed to remember something. A hint of worry appeared in his eyes.
"Hmph. It's been ten thousand years. It's time to turn the page. If anyone refuses, I'll turn it for them."
A vicious glint flashed through Dong Zi'an's eyes, and an intangible aura of slaughter spread around him.
Inside the Soul Guidance Emergency Center.
"Is my shadow really gone?"
Jiang Xiu looked beneath himself, summoned the Shadow Monarch again, and examined it closely.
But suddenly, he seemed to sense something. Something within the Shadow Monarch Martial Soul was calling to him, giving him a sudden flash of insight.
After a moment's thought, Jiang Xiu slowly sank his consciousness into the Shadow Monarch Martial Soul. His vision went dark at once, and he felt as if his soul had left his body.
"Rustle, rustle, rustle!"
A faint sound arose. It felt as if countless ants were crawling beside his ears. His eyes slowly opened.
But in the next instant, Jiang Xiu froze. Countless ants were truly crawling all around him.
They were dark purple, each as large as a young dog, with a golden stripe on its back. Their entire bodies radiated an aura of devouring.
Jiang Xiu looked around. The ground was crawling with these ants, stretching as far as the eye could see. The sky was empty, without sun, moon, or clouds. Beneath his feet lay black soil, and the air was thick with the smell of smoke.
"Wait, where the hell have I ended up? Is this even Douluo Continent?!"
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