Cultivation and Secret Arts

"Although your Soul Power has already reached rank twenty, the age of the Soul Rings you can obtain also depends on what your body can withstand. Therefore, if you want to increase the strength of your first two Soul Rings as much as possible, your most urgent task is to improve your physique rather than begin cultivating Soul Power immediately."

With just a few brief words, Ye Xishui pointed out Mu Feng's current cultivation direction. As an Ultimate Douluo, she had seen Mu Feng's weakness at a glance.

Mu Feng possessed two god-grade martial souls, so there was naturally nothing to question about his talent. However, his physical strength was his weakness.

If he hastily obtained Soul Rings, it would not have much impact on his early development alone.

But if he wanted to go further down the path of cultivation, or even, like her, challenge the level of an Ultimate Douluo, then such an unstable foundation would bring endless future troubles.

Although Mu Feng had many objections to this domineering woman, he had no choice but to admire her cultivation methods.

Ye Xishui took out a black box and tossed it to Mu Feng before continuing, "When you return, take this pill first. After absorbing it, follow the secret art I gave you. Even without obtaining Soul Rings, you can still cultivate your Soul Power normally until rank thirty."

"This pill was mainly refined for the martial soul in your right hand. While it will not raise your Soul Power by much, it can nourish your meridians very effectively."

Mu Feng opened the black box, and a powerful sacred aura immediately rushed toward him. Inside lay a yellow pill surrounded by a faint golden mist.

Ye Xishui explained, "Since you are going to enter Shrek Academy, that strange angel martial soul in your left hand cannot be revealed. Therefore, you will focus primarily on cultivating the martial soul in your right hand."

"The ones beside you are the Cult's death warriors specially responsible for assassination matters. They are Sixteen and Seventeen, and from now on, they will be responsible for looking after you."

She added, "Sixteen can speak. Seventeen cannot."

Hearing this, Mu Feng looked from side to side in surprise. No wonder only one of them had spoken to him since he met them. He had merely thought the other was rather quiet; he had not expected that to be the reason.

However, "Sixteen" and "Seventeen" were truly awkward to say. Mu Feng pointed at Sixteen and Seventeen respectively. "From now on, you will be called Little White, and you will be called Xiao Hei."

At the doorway, Long Xiaoyao, who had been listening to the sounds within, could not help raising the corner of his lips. "Both of them are wrapped head to toe in black cloth, yet you named one of them Little White."

Long Xiaoyao could not help laughing at Mu Feng's mischievous decision. He had once worried that this boy would become immersed in his previous painful experiences, suffer a devastating mental blow, and be unable to move forward even a single step.

It seemed he had worried too much. This boy is rather interesting. It was rare enough for a six-year-old child to possess such a strong mind, let alone his astonishing talent. His future could only be limitless.

From the moment Ye Xishui assigned them to Mu Feng, he had become the master of the two of them. In response to Mu Feng's playful naming, Little White merely lowered his head and answered, "Yes."

"This pill was refined by me using the blood of more than a dozen sacred-attribute soul beasts along with heavenly treasures. It will definitely be of great benefit to the martial soul in your right hand. As for other pills that can improve your physique, someone else will deliver them to you."

Mu Feng stroked the black box in his hand, enjoying its smooth texture. This box alone is probably worth quite a bit. I never expected this pill to have been personally refined by Ye Xishui. Outside, it would likely be priceless.

Although it was utterly against common sense for an evil soul master to refine a sacred-attribute pill, he quickly remembered that Ye Xishui also possessed a Light Phoenix martial soul that had never been exposed.

"Thank you, Teacher."

Although he had resolved to completely destroy Ye Xishui's life's work—the Holy Spirit Cult—Ye Xishui could absolutely be considered dutiful and conscientious regarding his cultivation. Thus, Mu Feng's gratitude at this moment was sincere.

Ye Xishui stared at Mu Feng as he bent down to thank her and froze for a moment. Seeing no reaction from her, Mu Feng hurriedly left to cultivate with his two guards.

Mu Feng calculated his age. He had just turned six this year, and there were still five years until he would go to Shrek Academy to enroll at the age of eleven. During those five years, Huo Yuhao had made virtually no progress, only barely reaching rank ten and becoming able to obtain his first Soul Ring.

At this moment, he stood at a higher and farther starting point than Huo Yuhao. Burdened with a blood-deep vendetta, he also had a more important reason than Huo Yuhao to become stronger.

More than five years. Mu Feng silently repeated that time frame to himself. He had to become strong enough so that he could seize as many opportunities as possible.

Watching the backs of Mu Feng and the other two disappear into the shadows, Long Xiaoyao spoke. "That child is quite interesting. His clear distinction between gratitude and resentment gives him a certain bearing."

Ye Xishui knew that Long Xiaoyao was referring to Mu Feng thanking her just now. Naturally, both of them could sense that Mu Feng's gratitude had come from the bottom of his heart.

He clearly knew that all his pain and suffering had been caused by the Holy Spirit Cult, yet he still thanked her sincerely. Compared to before, he seemed like an entirely different person.

Ever since Mu Feng realized that putting on a lifeless wooden expression was useless against the two old foxes before him, each of whom had lived for more than a hundred years, he had changed his approach. In any case, Ye Xishui currently had him under her control, and there was no possibility of escape.

He had also seen through it. Ye Xishui clearly knew that he harbored a deep hatred for the Holy Spirit Cult, yet she still appointed him as the Holy Son. She had obviously concluded that he could not stir up any trouble. In that case, he might as well be more straightforward; it would also make his mind much clearer while cultivating.

Long Xiaoyao's voice echoed through the empty hall as Ye Xishui said, "Let him do as he wishes. The greater his potential, the more valuable he is to use."

In the hall, Ye Xishui's upper body was hidden in shadow, making her face impossible to see clearly. Long Xiaoyao let out a soft sigh.

After returning to his small room, Mu Feng saw a wrist guard placed on the table. It was made of mithril and lined with excellent beast hide. This should be the cultivation resources sent by the Holy Spirit Cult.

Mu Feng played with the wrist guard. It felt excellent in his hand. After putting it on and probing inside with his spiritual power, he found several jade boxes apart from daily necessities. Mu Feng opened one of them, and a rich aroma entered his nostrils, making his entire body feel refreshed.

"As expected of the Holy Spirit Cult. Though it is an evil soul master sect, it is undoubtedly wealthy and powerful." Just from its scent, Mu Feng could tell that the pill was extraordinary.

What Mu Feng did not know was that his status as the Holy Son was far more than an empty position verbally bestowed by Ye Xishui. It was not merely a title either.

In terms of status alone, he already ranked no lower than the eight elder Titled Douluos within the Holy Spirit Cult. Not to mention that Ye Xishui had personally accepted him as her disciple—how could Zhongli Wu not take his cultivation seriously?

Mu Feng closed the lid. He still firmly remembered Ye Xishui's words: there was no need to rely on pills to increase his strength just yet. Strengthening his foundation was the most important thing. If he wished to go further in the future, Mu Feng did not dare ruin his foundation for the sake of temporary progress.

"What is the strength of you two?" Mu Feng was still curious about the two guards Ye Xishui had assigned him. Since they could carry out the Holy Spirit Cult's assassination missions, the two of them were certainly quite formidable.

"Master, we are both seven-ring Soul Sages. I am rank seventy-five, while Xiao Hei is rank seventy-three."

The two were like machines. If Mu Feng did not speak, they showed little reaction, so they naturally had no objections to the names he gave them.

Mu Feng nodded. With their strength, they would be qualified to serve as branch altar masters if sent out to a branch. Yet Ye Xishui had casually dispatched them to serve as his guards. The Holy Spirit Cult, which could trade blows with the deeply established Shrek Academy, truly possessed immense resources.

"You two may leave first."

"Yes."

Mu Feng opened the pill refined by Ye Xishui. Its sheen and refreshing fragrance were far stronger than even the fine pill in the jade box earlier.

According to Ye Xishui, this pill was mainly used to enhance the martial soul in his right hand and could also nourish his meridians. For his current self, it could not have been more suitable.