Azure Phoenix (Please Bookmark)

Holy.

That was Mu En's impression of Xiao Xiao's martial soul. Pure, gentle light streamed endlessly from her body, like the first ray of sunlight piercing the morning mist in spring. When that holy power touched Mu En's senses, even the baleful aura within his dragon core weakened by a fraction.

Mu En's pupils constricted almost imperceptibly. His withered fingers tightened around the armrest of his wicker chair for a moment before slowly relaxing.

Just as Mu En was marveling at it, the soul bone that had fallen beside Xiao Xiao suddenly seemed to sense some summons. Its silver runes all lit up, letting out a low hum as it rose from the grass on its own. It transformed into a slender streak of silver light and 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 simultaneously, the cauldron and flute reflecting each other. Her holy power became even denser and purer, tinting the surrounding air with a faint glow.

You little bastard, you really are something else, using luck to suppress someone else's future.

The two strands of luck had become entangled, suppressing Xiao Xiao's original top-tier talent and turning the Azure Phoenix Cauldron into the Soul-Suppressing Cauldron. Fortunately, the Nine Phoenixes' Ceremonial Flute still contained part of the Azure Phoenix's power. This time, it had been directly awakened by her luck and that special soul bone, transforming the Three Lives Soul-Calming Cauldron into the Three-Pattern Azure Phoenix Cauldron as well.

The black patterns originally covering the cauldron became Azure Phoenixes coiling around it one after another.

Once Xia Liang took away the luck that did not belong to Xiao Xiao, her talent underwent a tremendous transformation.

"Twin top-tier martial souls, and both possess the holy attribute."

Mu En looked at Xiao Xiao's martial souls. In his aged eyes, the azure-gold light flowing around her body was reflected. Both of these martial souls were top-tier; they could even rival his Bright Sacred Dragon martial soul.

This child had to remain at Shrek!

That was Mu En's decision. Then he turned to Huo Yuhao.

"Yuhao, has Xiao Xiao joined your sect?"

"No. This was only a transaction. Xiao Xiao can go wherever she wants afterward."

Huo Yuhao spoke. Xia Liang did not care where Xiao Xiao ultimately ended up. After all, no matter how great her potential was now, the limit was still only the mortal world. If she had the possibility of becoming a god, he might have given her another glance.

"Mm..."

Mu En nodded, then thought of someone—his granddisciple.

"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 would like to ask your elder to help her overcome this ordeal."

Mu En said this because he could feel 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 viciously it would rebound. If that evil fire completely burned through her meridians one day, at best her martial soul would shatter; at worst, she would die. Even he, a Limit Douluo, might not be able to save her then.

The force behind Huo Yuhao was extremely unusual. Perhaps they had a way to resolve the problem with Xiaotao's martial soul.

"It can't be done."

Huo Yuhao shook his head and explained, "That Golden Apple releases the power within a person's body. If Senior Sister Ma Xiaotao consumed 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 to be done. He had actually considered crippling Ma Xiaotao's martial soul first, then using the Golden Apple to awaken it again.

But after hearing the Golden Apple's true function, he abandoned that idea. If the evil fire awakened again, it would only make things worse.

A clear phoenix cry descended from the sky. At that moment, Xiao Xiao's awakening had reached its conclusion.

"Level 25?"

Xiao Xiao felt the cultivation within her body in surprise. She had actually risen three levels at once! What a profit!

Hm? Wait, a soul bone?

Xiao Xiao could clearly sense an additional soul bone in her right leg. It even 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
Purifies negative effects on allies, lasting 2.5 seconds

Second Soul Bone Skill: Azure Phoenix Stealth
Turns invisible and increases speed, also granting brief flight

I can fly?

As that thought crossed Xiao Xiao's mind, Azure Phoenix Stealth activated. A pair of illusory wings appeared on her back, and with a gentle flap, Xiao Xiao slowly rose into the air.

"I can fly!"

The two people below paid no attention to Xiao Xiao soaring freely through the sky. Mu En looked at Huo Yuhao.

"Do you think that little girl would 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 in the future, and a ninety percent chance of possessing combat strength close to the limit at Rank 98.

"Oh, right, Grandpa. After some time, my elder will come take me to obtain my second soul ring. Please help me take an early leave when the time comes."

"Alright. Is it that World Douluo? May I meet him?"

Mu En naturally agreed. It was only a small matter, though he also wanted to meet that World Douluo.

"Mm, it is."

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 Rank One and a Half Soul Engineer badge, while his cultivation was suppressed at Rank 20.

Only a few hours remained before they would depart for the Extreme North.

Mu En and the World Douluo Xia Liang finally met officially.

"Your Excellency World, your strength is truly unfathomable."

Mu En could clearly sense the extreme danger radiating from Xia Liang. If Shrek became enemies with him, they would likely both suffer grievous losses.

"If Your Excellency Dragon God were not severely 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 hard to say who would win.

"Now that we've met, I'll take Yuhao and leave."

Xia Liang waved at 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. 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, every powerhouse from Shrek Academy appeared before him.

"I never expected this World Douluo not to be from the Haotian Sect."

Yan Shaozhe wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, secretly relieved that they had not acted.

Over the past few days, he had even considered taking that ten-thousand-year soul bone back from Huo Yuhao. Fortunately, fortunately he had not done so.

"Treat them with more respect in the future. Especially you, Shaozhe. Stop entertaining those petty thoughts. Acting so hesitant and indecisive—what kind of Titled Douluo are you?"

Mentioning Yan Shaozhe gave Mu En a headache. Before this, he had thought Yan Shaozhe understood the bigger picture, but he had not expected him to harbor such selfish thoughts. He was unwilling to give even a core disciple to them. Fortunately, Huo Yuhao did not care and had gone to study in the Soul Guidance Department.

At that moment, Xian Lin'er, the dean of the Soul Guidance Department, felt that she had struck it rich lately. She had never expected Huo Yuhao's background to be so profound. She just wondered whether any of Huo Yuhao's seniors were Rank Nine Soul Engineers. She hoped one of them could offer some guidance.

"Disperse. Stop standing here and getting in my way."

After Mu En spoke, the powerhouses dispersed. Mu En continued resting in his recliner, and no one knew that three golden apples had appeared within his storage soul tool.

[Consider them a meeting gift from a junior to a senior. They should be enough to have you act three times.]

After all, Xia Liang was still not in a position to act openly. Leaving these behind was simply a precaution.

"Xia Liang, remember the deal between us."

While Xia Liang flew with Huo Yuhao, Tianmeng's voice sounded. A tiny ice silkworm appeared on Huo Yuhao's shoulder.

For this deal, Tianmeng had practically sold himself to Xia Liang.

"Don't worry. As long as she agrees, I won't make a move."

At Xia Liang's speed, they would reach the Extreme North by tomorrow.