Holy.
This was Mu En's impression of Xiao Xiao's martial soul. Pure, gentle light flowed endlessly from within her, like the first ray of sunlight piercing the morning mist in spring. When that holy power touched Mu En's senses, even the hostility within his Dragon Core weakened somewhat.
Mu En's pupils contracted imperceptibly. His withered fingers tightened around the armrest of his wicker chair for a moment before slowly relaxing.
Just as Mu En was marveling, the Soul Bone that had fallen beside Xiao Xiao suddenly seemed to sense some kind of summons. Its silver runes lit up in unison with a low hum. It rose from the grass on its own, becoming a slender streak of silver light that precisely fused with Xiao Xiao's right leg.
The instant that Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone merged with her, the light around Xiao Xiao abruptly surged. The auras of her two martial souls rose at once, the cauldron and flute reflecting one another. The holy power became even richer and purer, tinting the surrounding air with a faint glow.
Little Scumbag, you really were no good. You actually used fate to suppress someone else's future.
Two strands of fate had become entangled, suppressing Xiao Xiao's originally top-tier talent and turning the Azure Phoenix Cauldron into the Soul-Suppressing Cauldron. Fortunately, the Nine Phoenixes' Ceremonial Flute still contained some Azure Phoenix power. This time, it had been directly awakened by fate and that special Soul Bone, while the Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron had transformed into the Three-Pattern Azure Phoenix Cauldron.
The black patterns on the cauldron had turned into Azure Phoenixes winding around it.
When Xia Liang took away the power of fate that did not belong to Xiao Xiao, her talent underwent a tremendous change.
"Twin top-tier martial souls, both with holy attributes."
Mu En looked at Xiao Xiao's martial souls. Xiao Xiao's blue-gold radiance was reflected in his aged eyes. Both martial souls were top-tier, capable of standing alongside even his Bright Sacred Dragon martial soul.
This child had to remain at Shrek!
That was Mu En's decision. At the same time, he looked at Huo Yuhao.
"Yuhao, has Xiao Xiao joined your sect?"
"No. This was merely a transaction. Xiao Xiao can go wherever she wants afterward."
Huo Yuhao said that Xia Liang did not care about Xiao Xiao's final destination. No matter how great her potential was now, she was still limited by the mortal realm. If she had the potential to become a god, Xia Liang might have spared her another glance.
"Mm..."
Mu En nodded, then thought of someone—his disciple's granddaughter.
"Yuhao, you've met that child Ma Xiaotao, haven't you?"
"Mm."
Huo Yuhao nodded. He had indeed met her—he had nearly died at her hands.
"I want to ask your elder to help her overcome this ordeal."
Mu En said this because he could sense that the Evil Fire within Ma Xiaotao was growing fiercer year by year. Yan Shaozhe had tried countless methods and could only barely suppress it, but the longer it was suppressed, the more violently it would rebound. If that Evil Fire ever completely burned through her meridians, her martial soul would shatter at best, and she would die at worst. Even he, a Limit Douluo, might not be able to save her then.
The force behind Huo Yuhao was extremely unusual. Perhaps it had a way to solve Xiaotao's martial soul problem.
"That can't be done."
Huo Yuhao shook his head and explained, "That Golden Apple releases the power within a person's body. If Senior Ma Xiaotao swallowed it, it would only release her Evil Fire power. It would not have any purifying effect."
"I see..."
Mu En sighed. In that case, there was nothing they could do. He had actually considered crippling Ma Xiaotao's martial soul first, then using the Golden Apple to awaken it.
However, after learning how the Golden Apple truly worked, he abandoned that idea. If it awakened Evil Fire again, the loss would outweigh the gain.
A clear phoenix cry descended from the sky. At this moment, Xiao Xiao's awakening had reached its end.
"Level 25?"
Xiao Xiao sensed the cultivation within her body in astonishment. It had actually risen by three whole levels! She had made a killing!
Hm? Wait, a Soul Bone?
Xiao Xiao could clearly feel that there was now a Soul Bone in her right leg. It actually contained two soul skills!?
One Soul Bone with two soul skills? Wasn't that exclusive to Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bones?
First Soul Bone Skill: Azure Phoenix Cry
Purified negative effects on allies for 2.5 seconds.
Second Soul Bone Skill: Azure Phoenix Stealth
Turned invisible, increased speed, and granted brief flight.
I can fly?
The thought flashed through Xiao Xiao's mind. Azure Phoenix Stealth activated, and a pair of illusory wings appeared on her back. With a slight flap, Xiao Xiao slowly rose into the air.
"I can fly!"
The two below did not pay much attention to Xiao Xiao soaring freely through the sky. Mu En looked at Huo Yuhao.
"Do you think the little girl will agree to become my disciple?"
Mu En asked. He truly wanted to take Xiao Xiao as his disciple now. With such talent, Mu En believed she had an eighty percent chance of reaching the Limit realm in the future, and a ninety percent chance of possessing combat power close to the Limit realm at Rank 98.
"Oh, right, Grandpa. After some time, my elder will come take me to obtain my second Spirit Ring. Please help me arrange an early leave when the time comes."
"Alright. Will it be that World Douluo? May I meet him?"
Mu En naturally agreed. It was only a trivial matter. However, he also wanted to meet that World Douluo.
"Mm, that's right."
In the end, Xiao Xiao became Mu En's disciple, while Huo Yuhao went to register with the Soul Guidance Department and began studying Soul Tools.
Among them, Electrolux discovered that many instruments within the Soul Guidance Department were useful to him. Thus, under Huo Yuhao's cover, the Soul Guidance Department gained a hidden researcher.
Five months later, Huo Yuhao successfully obtained a Level One-and-a-Half Soul Engineer badge, while his cultivation was suppressed at Level 20.
Only a few hours remained before they departed for the Extreme North.
Mu En and World Douluo Xia Liang finally met formally.
"Lord World, your strength is truly unfathomable."
Mu En could clearly sense the extreme danger emanating from Xia Liang. If Shrek became enemies with him, they would likely both suffer severe losses.
"If Lord Dragon God had not been gravely injured, I would have to avoid your edge for now as well."
Xia Liang's current strength was only Rank 99. If he truly fought Mu En at his peak, it was impossible to say who would win.
"Now that we've met, I'll take Yuhao and leave."
Xia Liang waved to Huo Yuhao, who obediently walked to his side.
"Goodbye, Grandpa."
"Mm, see you when school starts." Mu En nodded.
Then Xia Liang placed a hand on Huo Yuhao's shoulder. In the next instant, their figures turned into a streak of light and shot into the sky, heading for the Extreme North.
"Come out. They bear no ill will toward Shrek."
Mu En spoke to the empty sky. The next moment, all the powerful figures within Shrek Academy appeared before him.
"I never expected this World Douluo not to be from the Clear Sky Sect."
Yan Shaozhe wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, secretly rejoicing that they had not acted.
Over the past few days, he had even thought about taking that Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone back from Huo Yuhao. Luckily, luckily.
"Treat them with more respect from now on. Especially you, Shaozhe. Don't entertain any petty thoughts. Acting so indecisively—what kind of Titled Douluo are you?"
Mentioning Yan Shaozhe gave Mu En a headache. He had previously thought Yan Shaozhe understood the bigger picture, but he had not expected him to harbor such petty thoughts. He had even been unwilling to give them a core disciple. Fortunately, Huo Yuhao did not care and had gone to study in the Soul Guidance Department.
At this moment, Xian Lin'er, the dean of the Soul Guidance Department, felt that she had truly struck it lucky lately. She had not expected Huo Yuhao's background to be so profound. She just did not know whether any of Huo Yuhao's seniors were Nine-Level Soul Engineers. Hopefully, one of them could offer her some guidance.
"Disperse. Don't stand here getting in my way."
After Mu En spoke, the powerful figures dispersed. Mu En continued resting in his recliner. No one knew that three golden apples had appeared inside his storage Soul Tool.
[Consider them a meeting gift from a junior to a senior. They should allow Senior to act three times.]
After all, it was still inconvenient for Xia Liang to act openly. Leaving these behind was also a precaution against unforeseen circumstances.
"Xia Liang, remember our deal."
As Xia Liang flew with Huo Yuhao, Tian Meng's voice appeared. A tiny ice silkworm appeared on Huo Yuhao's shoulder.
For this deal, Tian Meng had practically sold himself to Xia Liang.
"Don't worry. As long as she agrees, I won't make a move."
With Xia Liang's speed, they would reach the Extreme North by tomorrow.
Before you continue