"I want to take the assault path."
For some reason, Xiao Xiao made up her mind at once.
"The assault path?"
"Then you could try increasing the cauldron's weight."
Jiang Bai suggested it. He felt that if it became heavy enough, after seven rings, she might even be able to smash an ordinary Soul Douluo. As for a Titled Douluo, that was unlikely.
Modern Titled Douluo possessed Soul Cores and were far stronger than those from ten thousand years ago. If this had been the era of Spirit Hall ten thousand years ago, Xiao Xiao might really have been able to smash one.
"Weight?"
Xiao Xiao's eyes lit up. "My first soul skill is a stunning shockwave. If the cauldron becomes heavier, wouldn't its power increase too?"
Jiang Bai: "..."
A dark line appeared on Jiang Bai's forehead. Looking at the pondering Xiao Xiao, he said helplessly, "Soul skills are a Soul Master's secret. Don't just blurt them out."
"Hehe, aren't we close?"
Xiao Xiao chuckled and said carelessly.
"Sigh, do as you like."
"But if you're taking the assault path, you could try finding a gravity-control soul skill in the future. It could suppress your enemies and increase your own weight as well."
"Oh, oh! You're right!"
Xiao Xiao nodded vigorously. She felt that she had asked the right person today.
"You should still ask your teacher about things like this in the future. If that doesn't work, ask older people. They usually know something about Soul Beasts."
"Okay."
She had no choice. In that case, she could only ask Teacher Zhou.
But Xiao Xiao really did not want to talk to her.
"Can I ask your teacher?"
"You'd better not."
He recalled the rivalry between Zhou Yi and Mu Jin in the original story.
If Xiao Xiao went to ask her, wouldn't something terrible happen?
"Why?"
Xiao Xiao asked in confusion. They were both teachers, so why could she not ask?
"They don't get along. They argue all the time."
Jiang Bai thought for a moment before answering. He could hardly say that the two were romantic rivals, could he?
"Fine."
Hearing that, Xiao Xiao lowered her head in disappointment. With Old Hag Zhou's temper, how could she possibly have any friends?
"All right, I'm going back. You should hurry up and cultivate too. Reach Rank 20 soon."
"Okay."
The two parted ways. As Xiao Xiao watched Jiang Bai's retreating figure return to the dormitory, she climbed the stairs while wondering how she should ask Zhou Yi tomorrow.
Why couldn't her teacher be a little gentler? No, normal would be enough.
But if she did not ask her, who else could she ask? There did not seem to be anyone around who could help.
Wait? There really might be someone.
Xiao Xiao suddenly thought of the old man downstairs. An old man at Shrek Academy had to be at least a Soul Saint, right? At the very least, he should be stronger than Zhou Yi, that Soul Emperor.
With that in mind, Xiao Xiao stopped climbing the stairs and hurried back downstairs.
She looked around and spotted the old man sunbathing beneath the eaves. He reclined half-lounging in a wicker chair with his eyes closed, looking like a strip of dried old tree bark.
"Grandpa, do you know much about Soul Beasts?"
Hm? Who was disturbing this old man's sleep again?
The old man opened his eyes. People had been interrupting his naps often these past few days. It had clearly not been like this long ago.
When he saw the little girl before him, the old man thought of Jiang Bai.
"I know a little. What do you want to ask, little girl?"
Seeing hope, Xiao Xiao poured out all her thoughts at once. She spoke quickly, as though afraid the old man would fall asleep before she finished.
"Mm... bears, bulls, and pigs would all work. If possible, you could also try turtle-type Soul Beasts."
"Turtle-type? Why?"
Xiao Xiao understood the first few types of Soul Beasts. Most could increase the cauldron's weight and grant powerful soul skills, but why turtles?
If she absorbed a turtle-type Soul Beast, should she not gain a defensive soul skill? Wouldn't that conflict with the assault path?
"Because you need to increase your Martial Soul's defensive strength. Otherwise, under the pressure of gravity, your Martial Soul might crack."
The cauldron's weight was bestowed by soul skills, but the Martial Soul itself endured pressure when bearing those skills. If it could not withstand that pressure, it might shatter. That was a crucial issue.
Especially considering Xiao Xiao's idea, the toughness of the Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron was even more important.
"I see."
After talking with the old man for so long, Xiao Xiao finally understood what it meant to have an elder in the family—it was like possessing a treasure.
The old man's knowledge was simply too broad.
"Um, Grandpa, are you a Soul Saint?"
Xiao Xiao asked. She had long had an idea in her heart, but she did not know who would be best to tell.
This matter was too significant. She could not make the decision alone.
"Hm? A little stronger than a Soul Saint."
The old man thought for a moment before replying.
Stronger than a Soul Saint? Then he was a Soul Douluo? Eight rings?!
As for the Titled Douluo level, Xiao Xiao did not dare imagine it. Besides, Titled Douluo were usually younger, weren't they? Surely none would be this old.
"Then, Grandpa, can you contact the dean or vice dean?"
Regarding her Twin Martial Souls, her family had told her to keep them hidden, preferably known by as few people as possible.
That was only under the premise that she had no one to rely on.
So Xiao Xiao felt it would be best to go directly to one of the academy's big shots.
However, those big shots did not seem like people a minor nobody like her could meet.
"I can, but why are you looking for the dean? They're very busy."
There were hardly any who had free time. Being busy was good.
The sorrow of an empty-nest elder.
Bei Bei did not even know to come visit him.
"Um... because of this."
After hesitating, Xiao Xiao extended both hands.
When the old man saw the cauldron and flute in Xiao Xiao's hands, his entire body went blank for a moment.
"Mm..."
Xiao Xiao was very nervous. She felt a crushing pressure descend upon her, as though a mountain were slowly lowering from above her head.
That pressure was not aimed at her. It was merely a trace of aura the old man had accidentally leaked, yet even that trace made every hair on her back stand on end.
So strong.
"Mm. Cultivate properly. Tell me once you reach Rank 20, and I'll notify the dean."
"Also, take this. You can collect cultivation resources from the Academic Affairs Office every week. Keep this branch too. If there's something you cannot handle, take it out."
The old man took out a token. Xiao Xiao could use it to collect one batch of resources from the Academic Affairs Office every week. As for the branch, it was to prevent anyone in the academy from provoking this little genius.
"Consider it a meeting gift for a little genius."
Then, the old man took out a piece of red warm jade.
Red Jade could nourish a Soul Master's physique.
It could not have been more suitable for Xiao Xiao.
"Th-thank you."
Looking at the many new items in her hands, Xiao Xiao froze for a moment.
"Remember to tell me after you break through to Rank 20. If you have any cultivation problems, you can come ask me every night as well."
"Rest assured. With your talent, you will definitely become Titled in the future."
That night, Xiao Xiao did not know when she had finally fallen asleep.
The old man had painted such a huge dream for her that she did not even dare believe it.
The next morning, at breakfast.
"Why are your eye circles so dark?"
Looking at Xiao Xiao's dark circles, Jiang Bai asked.
"I didn't sleep well last night."
Xiao Xiao rubbed her eyes and answered. She had been eating empty promises even in her dreams, so how could she sleep well?
"Little Xue, let me hold you."
Seeing Xue Ying in Jiang Bai's arms, Xiao Xiao reached out to hug her. But this time was different from before.
The moment Xiao Xiao approached, Xue Ying immediately dodged away.
"Huh?"
Before you continue