Xiao Xiao Joins the Sect, Taking a Disciple on His Master's Behalf

"Cheers!"

That evening, to celebrate their opening victory over a Soul Grandmaster Team, Yuwen Tuo personally cooked a meal to reward the two heroes.

After defeating the Ning Tian Team that morning, they fought another match in the afternoon. However, the opposing team's strongest member was merely a Soul Grandmaster, making them even less of a match for Yuwen Tuo. Xiao Xiao did not even have to make a move, and before he had time to unleash Blade Dance, the other three had already surrendered.

Their first day had gone even more smoothly than expected.

Minors were not allowed to drink alcohol, so Yuwen Tuo personally squeezed fresh fruit juice.

Lian Yue had actually felt a little embarrassed about attending the celebration, since apart from using a soul skill at the start, she had spent the entire match watching from the sidelines.

But Yuwen Tuo did not mind. She was an auxiliary-type soul master to begin with, and he had recruited her for that one soul skill. As long as she fulfilled her duty, that was enough.

"Yuwen, your strength is truly astonishing. I'm sorry. Before the match began, I kept saying discouraging things. I won't do that again. I'll trust our captain and do my best to support you and Xiao Xiao," Lian Yue said, raising her cup to apologize to them.

Before the match, she had thought they were doomed to lose. Yet she had never expected Yuwen Tuo and Xiao Xiao to cooperate so seamlessly and achieve such a beautiful victory.

The three Soul Grandmaster Teams should not have differed too greatly in strength. Since they could defeat the Ning Tian Team, they naturally had a chance against the remaining two teams as well.

Yuwen Tuo nodded. "It's fine, Lian Yue. Let's just do our best together."

After several rounds of juice, it was already late. Yuwen Tuo suggested that the two girls return early to rest, but Xiao Xiao wanted to take another walk with him. She had eaten too much and said she needed to digest.

Lian Yue tactfully returned to the dormitory alone. She had no desire to be a third wheel.

"Ah... I'm so full. Tuo Tuo made my stomach big again... hic!"

By Sea God Lake, Xiao Xiao burped as she spouted words that could easily be misunderstood.

When it came to romance, this girl was incredibly bold. She made no attempt to hide her affection for Yuwen Tuo, and she was always deliberately saying flirtatious things to tease him.

Yuwen Tuo was helpless with her.

"By the way, Tuo Tuo, I never expected my Meng Chun Six Melodies to become so powerful when combined with your Blade Dance. But lately, whenever I cultivate, I feel as though these six pieces still leave something unfinished. Does this cultivation method have more to it?" Xiao Xiao asked.

The beautiful scene of her performing music while Yuwen Tuo danced that day had not only stunned everyone else—it had stunned her as well.

She realized that she truly loved that feeling. She wanted to play more melodies, one after another, for the person she loved.

Yuwen Tuo smiled. "It seems your attainment in music has improved quite a bit lately, Xiao Xiao. You can already sense the continuation of Meng Chun Six Melodies. That's right. These six pieces are only one quarter of the complete cultivation method. There are another eighteen pieces after them."

"E-Eighteen more?" Xiao Xiao was utterly shocked. She had thought she had already achieved a little success in Sound Skill, but now it seemed she had merely stepped through the doorway.

"What is it, Xiao Xiao? Do you want to learn them?" Yuwen Tuo looked at Xiao Xiao with a mischievous grin. He knew this day would come sooner or later. Once Xiao Xiao discovered that the cultivation method was incomplete, she would come looking for him. He simply had not expected it to happen so quickly. Xiao Xiao truly was gifted.

"I do!" Xiao Xiao nodded, blinking her large eyes expectantly at Yuwen Tuo.

"But Xiao Xiao, the cultivation method I taught you is my master's wife's unique secret art. Teaching you the introductory portion was naturally not a problem, but the rest is an untransmitted secret."

"I see... I'm sorry, Tuo Tuo. I overstepped." Xiao Xiao lowered her head, somewhat disappointed. Still, she had to admit that even the introductory mental cultivation method was far more advanced than the Meditation Method she had practiced before.

How could she possibly have the nerve to ask for the untransmitted secrets of Yuwen Tuo's sect?

Just then, Yuwen Tuo abruptly changed course. "However, it's not as though there's no way to make an exception."

"What kind of exception?" Xiao Xiao's eyes lit up. If there was a way, she still did not want to miss out on such a powerful cultivation method. To a soul master like Xiao Xiao, such a formidable Sound Skill that suited her so perfectly was no less tempting than a table full of exquisite food—or Yuwen Tuo taking a bath.

"Join the sect!" Yuwen Tuo said solemnly. "Xiao Xiao, are you willing to join my master's sect? I can accept you as a disciple on my master's behalf, making you my master's wife's disciple. Then I can teach you her cultivation method openly and properly."

"Become a disciple!" Xiao Xiao froze, then quickly understood.

That truly was the only way to make an exception. It was only natural for sect disciples to learn their sect's cultivation methods.

This was the little trap Yuwen Tuo had dug for Xiao Xiao long ago. After all, he wanted to build his own force in the future.

A force could not possibly consist of only him, could it? Xiao Xiao possessed the unparalleled talent of Twin Martial Souls, and she was so innocent and easy to fool. If he did not trick her into joining him at an opportunity like this, could he still call himself human?

Yuwen Tuo had long known that once she learned Meng Chun Six Melodies, she would eventually become interested in the later pieces.

On Douluo Continent, matters of masters and sects were taken very seriously. A person could only acknowledge one master in their lifetime; others could at most be called teachers. Likewise, one could only join a single sect, or else they would be scorned by the entire continent.

Yuwen Tuo wanted to establish that kind of relationship with Xiao Xiao first.

"Tuo Tuo, you're so wicked. How am I supposed to refuse?" Although Xiao Xiao was innocent and easy to fool, she was also very clever.

Yuwen Tuo had already stirred up all her curiosity about the later parts of the cultivation method. On top of that, she had long since fallen for him, leaving her with no way out.

"Very good. Then, Xiao Xiao, there is no need to kneel in my sect. Just bow toward her," Yuwen Tuo said, knowing Xiao Xiao had agreed. He struck the surface of Sea God Lake with his palm.

In an instant, a spray of lake water erupted. Yuwen Tuo guided the streams with Soul Power, and the water actually gathered in midair to form the image of a peerlessly beautiful woman.

"That's amazing!" Xiao Xiao exclaimed. She had not known Yuwen Tuo possessed such an entertaining technique.

Yuwen Tuo smiled. "Xiao Xiao, what are you waiting for?"

"Yes. Disciple Xiao Xiao greets Master!" Xiao Xiao bowed nine times in succession to the woman's image, formally becoming her disciple.

Yuwen Tuo said, "Master's wife Dugu Ningke, bear witness. Today, Xiao Xiao of the Heaven Dou Empire admires the Xuan Sect and joins Ghost Valley. I accept her as a disciple on my master's behalf. From this day onward, she shall be the second disciple of our sect."

Xiao Xiao picked up a great deal of information from Yuwen Tuo's words. "Tuo Tuo, our sect is called Ghost Valley, right? My master is named Dugu Ningke, and I'm the second disciple of the sect. That means your master only ever took you as a disciple!"

"That's right. I told you before that my master and I share the same name. He is also called Yuwen Tuo. He studied under Yang Su, and his adoptive father was Yang Yichen. Ghost Valley was his adoptive father's sect. My master's wife was not originally a member of Ghost Valley. She had no sect or school of her own, but since she married my master, she naturally became part of Ghost Valley as well." Yuwen Tuo briefly explained the origins of his sect.

Xiao Xiao listened quietly. "So that's how it is!" Naturally, she had never heard of this sect before. It was likely a reclusive sect, but since it possessed such powerful cultivation methods, it had to be an exceptionally formidable sect.

Happily wrapping her arms around Yuwen Tuo's arm, Xiao Xiao said, "Tuo Tuo, I guess I've officially joined the family now, right? When will you teach me the new cultivation method? Oh, and should I call you Senior Brother from now on? But I think Tuo Tuo sounds more intimate. Can I keep calling you that?"

Yuwen Tuo patted her little head. "It's called joining the sect, you silly girl. Don't worry. Once you have mastered all of Meng Chun Six Melodies, I'll teach you new Martial Arts. As for what you call me, call me whatever you like."