Parting

Of course, the Nine Heavens Genesis Phoenix Method was not limited to cultivating Soul Power. It also came with an incredibly domineering Bloodline Tempering Secret Method.

Although the Phoenix God King was known as the universe's foremost True Phoenix, he had not possessed the strength of a Supreme God King from birth.

Back then, he had relied on this secret method to continuously burn away the impure impurities in his bloodline. While tempering his body, he devoured the bloodlines of other divine beasts to replenish his losses, gradually pushing his True Phoenix Bloodline to its limit. In the end, he attained the position of Supreme God King and achieved uniqueness in the universe.

Ling Tianchen, however, was different. He was ultimately still in a human body, and the True Phoenix Bloodline within him was far less pure than the Phoenix God King's had been. Naturally, it needed to be tempered anew.

But there was a problem. He could not exactly devour the bloodlines of other divine beasts as the Phoenix God King had.

Thus, only one path remained before him.

Eat—and he had to eat the flesh and blood of Soul Beasts that were especially nourishing to the body and rich in vitality, preferably all sorts of powerful tonics.

Although he could also extract a trace of weak bloodline power from food to replenish himself this way, its efficiency was undoubtedly worlds apart from directly devouring bloodlines.

Yet the amount of bloodline power required for bloodline tempering was astronomical.

As a result, over the past five years, the Ling family's financial situation had worsened by the day.

The family's stockpiled medicinal herbs, Soul Beast meat, and supplements had nearly all been consumed by him alone.

Even Ling An's eyelids sometimes twitched uncontrollably when he looked over the family account books.

Finally, once Ling Tianchen's cultivation and age both met the requirements, Ling An waved a hand and directly packed him off to Shrek Academy.

Before he left, Ling An patted his shoulder earnestly.

"Shrek Academy is home to many first-rate factions. With your talent, it shouldn't be difficult for you to build good relations with several major powers. That way, your food problem in the future will be solved as well. Of course! Don't sell yourself to someone else. You'll always be a member of the Ling family, and you still have to come back someday to inherit the position of family head!"

Ling Tianchen merely responded with a disdainful smile.

How could a true man, born between heaven and earth, remain confined beneath Skywater City for long?

The sea was wide enough for fish to leap, and the sky high enough for phoenixes to soar.

Did a mere Skywater City think it could tie him down?

Ridiculous.

Of course, if the entire Heaven Soul Empire were handed over to him, he would not be entirely unwilling to consider it seriously.

Still, the enormous expense of bloodline tempering really was a problem.

It seemed he would have to find himself a wealthy patron in the future.

Pah, pah, pah!

How could a Soul Master's cultivation be called mooching off the rich? This was clearly a mutually agreeable investment.

As for whether anyone would be willing to invest in him, Ling Tianchen had never even considered that question.

He only needed to show a little of his ability, and he would already be at the very limit of the entire era of The Unrivaled Tang Sect.

Ultimate Ice, an eleven-year-old Soul Elder, and a heaven-defying gold-purple-black Soul Ring configuration—any one of those alone would have shaken the entire continent, let alone all of them being gathered in one person.

With this setup, let alone in the present day, even ten thousand or twenty thousand years later, it would still be absurdly powerful.

Under Ling Luochan's lead, Ling Tianchen quickly completed his freshman registration and enrollment.

He received a dormitory key, two well-fitting white school uniforms, and a white badge signifying his status as a new student.

Upon reaching the entrance to the freshman dormitory area, Ling Tianchen stopped.

"Sis, this is far enough. Don't tell me you were planning to walk me all the way into the dorm?"

Ling Luochan blinked and said with a smiling expression,

"That wouldn't be impossible, but I won't go into the dormitory area. Your sister is heading back to the Inner Court first. I'll come see you often from now on. Tianchen, work hard too and get into the Inner Court soon. When the time comes, your sister will take you out to have fun."

"Got it."

Ling Tianchen waved a hand and said with feigned distaste,

"But, Sister Luochan, don't keep coming over to see me all the time. If you stick by my side every day, those little girls in the Outer Court will think I'm taken."

"Wouldn't that be a good thing? It'll save them from circling around you all day."

The corners of Ling Luochan's lips curved up slightly.

"What's so good about that? Sister Luochan, don't think about keeping your little brother all to yourself."

"What nonsense are you talking about? Your sister is just afraid some little fellow will get tricked away by bad girls outside while he's still so young."

Ling Luochan reached out and lightly flicked his forehead.

"Don't worry. Since ancient times, I've always been the one fooling others. When has anyone ever fooled me?"

Ling Tianchen patted his chest, his face brimming with confidence.

"It had better be that way."

Ling Luochan smiled softly, then took two steps back and waved to him.

"Then Tianchen, your sister is really leaving now."

"Go on, go on."

Ling Tianchen waved his hand, looking thoroughly impatient.

"It's only a Sea God Lake between us. Why are you making it seem like a final farewell?"

"What a heartless little brother."

Ling Luochan gave a soft huff, looked at him one last time, then turned and walked toward the Inner Court.

Before long, that graceful light-blue figure vanished at the end of the tree-lined path.

Ling Tianchen watched the direction in which she had left and sighed helplessly.

"Ah, being the little brother of a sister-con is really too hard."

Ling Tianchen soon arrived beneath a white dormitory building. Half-reclining in a wheelchair at the entrance was an old man so frail he looked as though the wind could snuff him out, his face wrinkled enough to trap flies.

Dragon God Douluo Mu En. Ling Tianchen quietly took note. He had not expected him to have aged into such a state; Long Xiaoyao, who was the same age as him, was still full of life.

Ling Tianchen did not ignore Mu En. He gave him a slight nod in greeting before heading upstairs.

After his figure disappeared around the stairway corner, Mu En slowly opened his cloudy eyes.

"An Ice Phoenix martial soul... and Ultimate Ice at that. His manners are proper enough, and his temperament seems steady as well."

Mu En gently stroked his beard, a trace of approval flashing through his eyes.

"He is a good seed worth cultivating with special attention."

Naturally, Mu En being able to see through his Ultimate Ice was something Ling Tianchen had intended.

In any case, he would sooner or later make a name for himself at Shrek. The Ultimate Ice attribute of his Genesis Ice Phoenix martial soul could not be concealed at all.

Rather than hide it constantly, it would be better to leave a favorable impression in the mind of the master of Sea God's Pavilion in advance.

After all, between a prodigy with astonishing talent and a mysterious youth whom even Mu En could not see through, the former would clearly find it easier to earn Shrek's trust.

Of course, he still would not reveal what needed to be hidden.

Even Mu En could only see what Ling Tianchen was willing to let him see.

However, he could keep his Twin Martial Souls hidden for now. At a critical moment, they might become a bargaining chip for him.

Following the number on his dormitory key, Ling Tianchen soon stopped before a door marked "109."

The door was half-open. It seemed someone had arrived before him.

Ling Tianchen pushed the door open and entered, only to see a youth seated cross-legged on a bed in cultivation slowly open his eyes.

The dormitory was spotless at a glance, clearly having already been carefully cleaned once.

The youth was around twelve years old. His short dark-green hair was slightly messy, and while his features were not stunning, they were quite pleasing to the eye.