The Second Martial Soul Was Actually a Devil Fruit

The moment he stepped out of the Star Dou Great Forest,

Wang Xiao truly set foot upon the land of Douluo.

He was at a loss for where to go, so he simply decided to return to Shrek Academy with Tang Ya.

On the way back,

Tang Ya orally passed down the Mysterious Heaven Skill and Tang Sect techniques to the two of them.

Wang Xiao was somewhat stunned. He had obtained the Mysterious Heaven Skill, which was worth two hundred yuan, for free just like that?

He felt no psychological burden and began practicing it on the spot.

To put it bluntly, Tang San had been a thief. The Mysterious Heaven Skill was not something he had created, and if one traced its origins, even the hidden weapons had come from the mother planet.

Very quickly, Wang Xiao discovered a fatal flaw in these techniques: the cost of practice was too high, and they took an extremely long time to cultivate.

"What the hell? Reaching the third stage of the Purple Demon Eyes requires consuming heavenly treasures?"

After listening to Tang Ya's complete explanation, only two words remained in Wang Xiao's mind: utterly useless!

The Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, touted as an "unpredictable footwork technique,"

was actually inferior to even the lowest-tier Body Flicker Technique from Naruto, let alone high-level techniques like Lightning Body Flicker, Tailed Beast Body Flicker, and the Flying Thunder God Technique.

The Purple Demon Eyes were even more useless to him. They took far too long to cultivate and could not compare to the Mangekyō Sharingan. Furthermore, the Mangekyō consumed eye power, so there was no possibility of the two complementing each other.

Wang Xiao had too many techniques to cultivate and also had to balance Soul Power cultivation. Wasting time on Tang Sect techniques would undoubtedly be putting the cart before the horse.

"Out of all these techniques, it seems only the Mysterious Heaven Skill is somewhat useful. It can slightly increase cultivation speed."

Wang Xiao still did not want to cultivate it. The increase was negligible. Tang San, despite possessing Twin Martial Souls, had cultivated for another six years before reaching Innate Full Soul Power.

"It still can't compare to the improvement from a Mysterious Water Pill or Soul Ascension Pill."

He lay down in the carriage and completely lost interest in the Mysterious Heaven Skill.

Meanwhile, Tang Ya, Bei Bei, and Huo Yuhao were a little rebellious. Rather than riding inside the carriage, they ran up onto its roof to chat.

"Little Yuhao, cultivating the Purple Demon Eyes can increase your spiritual power. It happens to complement your martial soul, so you must practice diligently," Bei Bei instructed.

"Brother Bei, I'll definitely cultivate properly." Huo Yuhao looked like a child who had found a priceless treasure. His expression was excited as he swore not to disappoint their expectations.

Inside the carriage, Wang Xiao listened to the three of them laughing and chatting while fully concentrating on studying his second martial soul.

The Ice Devil Fruit. Just from its name, he knew it was a Logia-type fruit.

Wang Xiao was an old anime fan, yet he had never heard of this fruit before. That left him troubled, unsure of how to develop it.

He closed his eyes and carefully sensed it.

Within a pitch-black space, a blue banana floated in the middle, wrapped around by nine chain-like restraints.

Now that he had broken through to level fifteen, one of the chains had actually shattered.

"How strange. It seems the fruit's abilities are bound by some kind of energy. Did it seal itself, or is the system behind this?"

Wang Xiao was certain that he had previously been unable to use the fruit's abilities. He had tried summoning them several times, all without success.

When his Soul Power had broken through level eleven, he had discovered in surprise that some sort of switch seemed to have opened, allowing him to use the power of ice.

The feeling was incredibly strange, as though it had gone from nothing to something, then become as innate as breathing. Two complete extremes.

"Could it be that each time I break through a major realm, I can shatter one chain and release part of the ice abilities?" Wang Xiao guessed.

The Soul Tool carriage traveled onward, passing through forests, deserts, and countless towns before finally reaching its destination—a massive city with a population of one million.

The continent ten thousand years later had undergone earth-shaking changes.

The city was bustling with traffic and densely populated. The advancement of Soul Tools had made transportation convenient and affordable.

Under Tang Ya and Bei Bei's guidance, Wang Xiao and Huo Yuhao finally arrived at Shrek Academy.

It was known as the strongest academy on the entire continent, free from interference by any faction.

However, Wang Xiao could not enter just yet. He and Huo Yuhao stood foolishly outside the gates.

He knew better than anyone how strict Shrek's admission requirements were. Before turning twelve, one had to cultivate Soul Power to at least level fifteen. Neither of them qualified.

Although Wang Xiao had Innate Full Soul Power, he had a blank period of thirteen or fourteen years. It could be said that he had only truly embarked on the path of cultivation three days ago.

"Little Brother Wang, Little Yuhao, neither of your Soul Power levels meets the academy's enrollment requirements."

Tang Ya sighed softly and said with some reluctance, "Our Tang Sect only has one admission-exempt quota each year, so..."

She did not continue, but Huo Yuhao already understood. Only one of him and Wang Xiao could enter the academy.

He desperately needed this opportunity. Only by becoming a Soul Master could he avenge his mother.

Tang Ya's gaze never left Wang Xiao. Although she loved Huo Yuhao's grilled fish, she was actually very biased and hoped her Little Brother Wang would be the one to stay.

"Forget it. Give it to him." While Huo Yuhao was still hesitating, Wang Xiao spoke first.

Huo Yuhao suddenly raised his head, staring at Wang Xiao with shock written all over his face.

This was a spot at the number one academy on the continent, something worth a fortune and impossible to obtain. He was just giving it to him?!

Bei Bei was surprised as well. Countless people dreamed of an admission-exempt quota, yet Wang Xiao could give it up so freely, without the slightest hesitation.

Such character far surpassed that of his peers.

Tang Ya, on the other hand, felt somewhat heartbroken. Just thinking of Wang Xiao leaving alone filled her heart with an indescribable emptiness.

She did not know when it had begun, but this little brother's place in her heart had nearly become equal to Bei Bei's.

Perhaps it was because of their first contact—the resonance in their bloodlines and the echo between their martial souls—that Tang Ya had begun treating Wang Xiao as family.

"No. Little Brother Wang, you must stay. I'll speak to the Academic Affairs Office as the Tang Sect's sect master." Tang Ya gritted her teeth, grabbed Bei Bei, and ran into the academy.

Wang Xiao did not need to guess the result. Given Shrek's arrogant nature, it would be a miracle if they gave a fallen Tang Sect any consideration.

Still, Tang Ya's actions moved him deeply. Such a wonderful woman should not fall into becoming an evil Soul Master.

Even if she were to fall, she should fall for him.

"Wang... Brother Wang!"

Huo Yuhao's eyes reddened. He opened his mouth but did not know what to say.

This favor seemed to have been granted by the Tang Sect, but it was Wang Xiao who had given it to him.

Huo Yuhao actually understood very clearly that Wang Xiao's talent far surpassed his own, and Tang Ya liked Brother Wang more as well.

"What are you feeling sad about? It's just one quota. It's not as if I can't get in."

Wang Xiao said arrogantly, "With my strength, if I reveal even a little of my talent, they'll probably be begging me to join Shrek."

Not long after, Bei Bei and Tang Ya returned.

Tang Ya puffed out her cheeks, her face clearly showing her displeasure.

"There's good news and bad news."

Bei Bei smiled gently. "The good news is that Teacher Zhou Yi agreed to let you join the academy as exceptions."

"There must be a condition, right?" Wang Xiao wanted to hear this bad news.

Tang Ya looked furious as she said indignantly, "That old hag must be insane. She actually wants Little Wang Xiao to defeat a Second-Ring Soul Grandmaster."

"If she doesn't want to let him in, then she shouldn't! How can she humiliate him like this?"

Tang Ya was so angry that her chest heaved violently.

She felt that old hag was doing it on purpose. How could someone at level fifteen possibly defeat a Second-Ring Soul Grandmaster?!

Bei Bei shook his head as well. He possessed the strongest beast martial soul in the world and the greatest attack power, yet even at level fifteen, he would not have dared claim he could challenge a Second-Ring Soul Grandmaster.

Not to mention that Wang Xiao had only awakened an ordinary martial soul—the most useless Blue Silver Grass.

Neither of them thought there was any hope.

When Wang Xiao heard it, he felt quite pleased. This condition did not seem harsh at all.

"Isn't it just fighting a Second-Ring Soul Grandmaster? It's not a Soul Elder. Xiaoya, stop begging them. I think this condition is quite good."

"I was wondering where I could test my strength anyway. Where do I register? I'll go take part right now!"