Twin Martial Souls

"Overlord Drumstick."

The moment the name slipped out, even Gao Ren froze.

It was as though his Martial Soul itself had told him its name was Overlord Drumstick.

"Overlord Drumstick?" Xuan Zi's eyes lit up. "That colossal drumstick of yours certainly deserves the word 'Overlord'! As expected of my disciple—even your Martial Soul's name is as mighty and imposing as I am!"

Gao Ren: ?

"Uh... Xuan Zi, when did I become your disciple?"

Xuan Zi did not answer at once. After finishing the drumstick, he said in a tone that suggested it was the most natural thing in the world:

"You brat, you really don't know what's good for you! I'm a Level 98 Super Douluo! I'm also the deputy master of Shrek Academy's Sea God Pavilion and deputy commander of the Shrek Inspection Corps!"

"Becoming my disciple is a blessing you earned over eight lifetimes! Other people beg me to take them in, and I still turn them down!"

With that, Xuan Zi gave his shoulder a heavy pat, making his six-year-old frame sway three times.

Wait, when did I ask you to take me as your disciple? How come I don't know anything about it?

Before Gao Ren could say a word, his uncle had already made the decision for him:

"A-Ren, hurry up and kowtow to Xuan Zi as your master! This is an opportunity sent from heaven!"

Gao Ren had seen this coming.

Knowing that gluttonous old man Xuan Zi, there was almost no chance he would "let Gao Ren go" if Gao Ren awakened a Food-type Martial Soul.

So—

"Can I negotiate?"

Gao Ren's words had caught the other two present by surprise.

Worried Gao Ren would anger Xuan Zi, Gao Wei's expression changed. He hurriedly apologized:

"Xuan Zi, he's just a child and doesn't know any better. Please don't take what he said to heart!"

Xuan Zi was amused by Gao Ren. He gestured for Gao Wei to stay out of it:

"Every disciple I've taken has dropped to their knees and kowtowed in fear and trembling. This is the first time someone has tried to negotiate the moment I offered to take him in.

"Let's hear what conditions this little fellow has in mind."

Xuan Zi had always been a tolerant, broad-minded man.

Of course, that was because Gao Ren was a Food-type Soul Master who could make delicious things.

If Gao Ren's Martial Soul had been something inedible, Xuan Zi might have beaten the insolent brat until his backside bloomed.

Now that he had permission to negotiate, Gao Ren said what was on his mind.

"I hope you'll listen to me on certain matters, Xuan Zi. If I tell you there's something you absolutely mustn't do, please don't do it."

He had proposed this condition not only to protect himself, but also to stop Xuan Zi from turning into a walking absurdity... Having a master who was a Level 98 Super Douluo yet could let a Soul King escape would be far too embarrassing!

"All right. I'll listen to you."

Xuan Zi agreed to Gao Ren's proposal without hesitation.

"If you tell me not to do something, it must be something you'd hate. If you'd hate it, then I simply won't do it.

"I only have one demand of you: let me eat the drumsticks you make every day."

Seeing that Xuan Zi had agreed, Gao Ren stopped fussing and promptly knelt and kowtowed to him as his master.

Xuan Zi nodded in satisfaction and personally helped Gao Ren up.

"Rise, my good disciple." Then his tone shifted, and his eyes gleamed. "You have a Second Martial Soul too, don't you?

"When you awakened your Martial Soul, I smelled meat and wine. But there wasn't a trace of wine flavor in your Overlord Drumstick."

Gao Ren nodded in admission.

"I do have a Second Martial Soul."

He raised his left hand. With a thought, the hazy image of a wine jar appeared in his palm.

Xuan Zi leaned in and tried to grab it. Finding that he could not hold it like the Overlord Drumstick, he frowned. "Your Second Martial Soul doesn't look particularly special... It's much like your mother's Daughter Red. It doesn't seem to be on the same level as the Overlord Drumstick."

For Twin Martial Souls to form, both Martial Souls had to be top-tier, and their quality had to be comparable.

Gao Wei cut in. "A-Ren, can you summon your Second Martial Soul like the Overlord Drumstick, without using a Soul Skill?"

"I'll try."

Gao Ren immediately gave it a shot.

The next second, a wine vat much taller than Gao Ren himself appeared out of thin air above his left hand!

The instant it appeared, Gao Ren's face went white, and he began to sway.

That single vat of wine had drained all his Soul Power.

Xuan Zi and Gao Wei both jumped in alarm. They rushed in from either side and took the enormous vat from him.

"A-Ren, are you all right?!" they shouted together.

"I'm fine. I think I just ran out of Soul Power..." Gao Ren added, "That vat of wine didn't seem to weigh anything while I was holding it."

Seeing that Gao Ren had merely exhausted his Soul Power and was otherwise unharmed, both men relaxed.

But Gao Wei grew thoughtful when he heard that the vat had been weightless in Gao Ren's hands.

"A-Ren, your Second Martial Soul has some offensive potential in the early stages of cultivation.

"That vat of wine must weigh at least a thousand catties. If you used it to ambush a low-level Soul Master, taking them down in one hit wouldn't be impossible."

Gao Ren nodded. He had thought the same thing.

Compared with other Food-type Soul Masters, at least he could fight back and give anyone who underestimated him a nasty surprise.

Xuan Zi wiped his mouth and sighed in admiration. "As expected of a Martial Soul awakened alongside the Overlord Drumstick. When it comes to sheer size, there's nothing to complain about."

No sooner had he spoken than the gluttonous old man's craving for wine flared up.

He lifted the cloth cover from the vat, and a rich aroma of wine instantly filled the room.

Xuan Zi took a wine dipper and a bowl from his Storage Soul Tool, deftly filled the bowl, then tipped back his head and drained it.

"Smooth on the tongue, a warm line down the throat... Fine wine! What fine wine!"

He smacked his lips, his eyes growing brighter. "This wine truly shows why they call it 'food for the spirit'—drinking it actually increases spiritual power!

"The drumsticks strengthen the body, and the wine boosts spiritual power! You're not Food-type, brat. You're Treasure-type!"

Xuan Zi paused, then looked at Gao Ren with excitement.

"A-Ren, come on! I'll take you to get your First Soul Ring!"

"All right."

As soon as Gao Ren agreed, Xuan Zi gripped his shoulder and vanished from the Faculty Dormitory, leaving Gao Wei behind.

Gao Wei eyed the uncovered wine vat and could not help taking a deep breath. He pulled a wine dipper and bowl from his Storage Soul Tool.

"Such a rich aroma. It goes straight to the heart. Let me taste the wine Ah Ren made, too."

He had barely taken a step when Xuan Zi returned with Gao Ren.

"Nearly forgot this vat of wine."

Xuan Zi put the vat into his Storage Soul Tool and once again took Gao Ren toward the Star Dou Great Forest.

"Xuan Zi! At least leave me a bowl to try!"