Twin Martial Souls, and Mu En's Grand Promise

"I want to take the assault path."

For some reason, Xiao Xiao made up her mind right away.

"The assault path?"

"Then you could try increasing the cauldron's weight."

Jiang Bai suggested it. He felt that if it became heavy enough, she might be able to try smashing ordinary Soul Douluo after reaching seven rings. As for Titled Douluo, that was probably unlikely.

Modern Titled Douluo had Soul Cores and were far stronger than those from ten thousand years ago. If this were 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 gets heavier, wouldn't its power increase too?"

Jiang Bai: "..."

A dark line appeared on Jiang Bai's forehead. Looking at the thoughtful Xiao Xiao, he said helplessly, "Soul skills are a soul master's secrets. Don't just tell people about them, okay?"

"Hehe, that's because we're close."

Xiao Xiao chuckled and spoke indifferently.

"Sigh, do whatever you want."

"But if you're taking the assault path, you can try finding a gravity-control soul skill in the future. It can suppress enemies and increase your own weight too."

"Oh, oh! You're right!"

Xiao Xiao nodded hard. She felt like she had asked exactly the right person today.

"You should still ask teachers about this sort of thing in the future. If that doesn't work, ask older people. They know more about soul beasts."

"Okay."

There was no helping it. In that case, she could only ask Teacher Zhou.

But Xiao Xiao really didn't want to talk to her.

"Can I ask your teacher instead?"

"You'd better not."

He remembered the rivalry between Zhou Yi and Stone 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 couldn't she ask?

"They don't get along. They argue all the time."

Jiang Bai thought for a moment before answering. He couldn't exactly say they were romantic rivals, could he?

"Alright."

Hearing that, Xiao Xiao lowered her head in disappointment. With Old Hag Zhou's temper, how could she possibly have friends?

"Alright, I'm heading back. You should hurry up and cultivate too. Reach level twenty."

"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 her question tomorrow.

Why couldn't my teacher be a little gentler? No, she just needed to be normal.

But if she didn't ask her, who else could she ask? There didn't seem to be anyone nearby 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 had to be stronger than Zhou Yi, that Soul Emperor.

Thinking of this, Xiao Xiao stopped climbing the stairs and hurried back downstairs.

She looked around and spotted the old man sunning himself under the eaves. He reclined half-lazily in a rattan chair with his eyes closed, like a piece of dried old tree bark.

"Grandpa, do you know much about soul beasts?"

Hm? Who's come to disturb this old man's sleep now?

The old man opened his eyes. People had been constantly interrupting his naps these past few days. Things clearly hadn't been like this long ago.

When he saw the little girl in front of him, the old man thought of Jiang Bai.

"I know a little. What do you want to ask, little girl?"

Seeing hope, Xiao Xiao immediately poured out all her thoughts. She spoke quickly, as though she feared the old man would fall asleep before she finished.

"Mm... bears, oxen, 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 of them could increase the cauldron's weight and grant powerful soul skills, but why turtles?

Wouldn't absorbing one give her 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 may develop cracks."

The cauldron's weight was bestowed by soul skills, but martial souls experienced pressure while bearing those skills. If the martial soul couldn't withstand it, it might shatter. That was a crucial issue.

Especially with Xiao Xiao's idea, the Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron's toughness became 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—a treasure in the home.

The old man's experience was simply too broad.

"Um, Grandpa, are you a Soul Saint?"

Xiao Xiao asked. She had already had an idea in mind, but she didn't know who would be best to tell.

This matter was too important. She couldn't make the decision alone.

"Hmm? A little stronger than a Soul Saint."

The old man thought for a moment before answering.

Stronger than a Soul Saint? Then he was a Soul Douluo? Eight rings?!

As for the Titled level, Xiao Xiao didn't dare think about it. Besides, Titled Douluo were generally younger, right? They couldn't possibly be this old.

"Then, Grandpa, can you contact the dean or vice-dean?"

Regarding Twin Martial Souls, her family had also told her to keep them hidden as much as possible. The fewer people who knew, the better.

That was only under the premise that she had no backing.

So Xiao Xiao felt it would be best to go directly to one of the academy's big shots.

However, those big shots didn't seem like people a small fry like her could meet.

"I can, but why do you want to see the dean? They're very busy."

There were barely any who had free time anyway. Being busy was better.

The sorrow of an empty-nest elder.

Bei Bei didn't even know to come visit him.

"Um... because of this."

After hesitating for a moment, Xiao Xiao held out 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 nervous. She felt a heavy pressure pressing down on her, as though a mountain were slowly descending from above her head.

That pressure wasn't aimed at her. It was merely a trace of aura the old man had inadvertently leaked, but even that trace made every hair on her back stand on end.

So strong.

"Mm. Cultivate well. Tell me when you reach level twenty, and I'll notify the dean."

"Also, take this. You can go to the Academic Affairs Office every week to collect cultivation resources. Take this branch as well. If there's anything you can't handle, bring this out."

The old man took out a token. With it, Xiao Xiao could collect a set of resources from the Academic Affairs Office each week. As for the branch, it was in case anyone in the academy provoked this little genius.

"Consider this my meeting gift for a little genius."

Then the old man took out a piece of warm red jade.

Red Jade could nourish a soul master's physique.

It suited Xiao Xiao perfectly.

"Th-thank you."

Looking at the many extra items in her hands, Xiao Xiao froze for a moment.

"Remember to tell me after you reach level twenty. If you have any cultivation problems, you can come ask me every evening."

"Rest assured. With your talent, you'll definitely become Titled in the future."

That night, Xiao Xiao didn't know when she finally fell asleep.

The old grandpa had drawn such a huge promise for her that she didn't even dare take a bite.

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 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.

When Xiao Xiao approached, Xue Ying immediately dodged away.

"Huh?"