Mu Ye Takes a Disciple

Mu Chen, Mu Ye, and Zhen Hua stood quietly to the side, watching the extraordinary transformation unfolding within Tang Wulin, towering waves surging through their hearts.

The dragon might that suddenly erupted around the boy was vast and overwhelming, carrying a terrifying, suppressive force that had long since surpassed anything a rank-sixteen or rank-seventeen Soul Grandmaster should possess. Its pressure had firmly reached the level of a Soul Elder!

Given their cultivation, a Soul Elder's power was hardly remarkable, much less worth mentioning. Yet for such pressure to appear in a boy barely into his teens, who had only just reached rank seventeen, was utterly shocking. Against any Soul Master of his rank, this dragon might would be crushing. To opponents at the same level, it was a catastrophic suppression from an entirely higher plane, leaving them no room to resist.

From the moment Tang Wulin activated his bloodline and manifested the dragon apparition, Mu Ye's gaze had remained fixed on him, brilliant sparks flashing incessantly in his eyes.

His experience was extensive, his knowledge far beyond that of ordinary people. By now, he had seen through the most fundamental secret.

Ordinary martial souls were all external entities, either objects or beast forms. Though they appeared to merge with their Soul Masters' bodies, they were actually independent of them. Tang Wulin's martial soul was entirely different. This was no ordinary beast martial soul, but a body martial soul, the rarest and most unusual kind in existence!

Everything became clear to him, and his conviction only deepened.

This martial soul was a dragon, the supreme golden dragon. Yet it was not entirely a dragon, for it had fused completely with Tang Wulin's flesh, bones, bloodline, and essence, each existing within the other.

The golden dragon was Tang Wulin, and Tang Wulin was the golden dragon.

Martial soul and bodily essence had become one, inseparable, sharing life and breath. Such a unique Body Golden Dragon Martial Soul was a heaven-defying existence rarely seen throughout the history of the Douluo Continent.

As Mu Ye looked at Tang Wulin and his supreme body dragon martial soul, brilliance blazed in his eyes, and he made his decision in an instant.

Such a unique body martial soul might appear only once in ten thousand years. This boy was unquestionably one of the greatest cultivation prodigies in the world! He could not let such a promising seedling slip away.

He immediately cleared his throat twice and stepped forward, gently resting his broad palm on Tang Wulin's right shoulder.

The seemingly casual pat made Tang Wulin feel as though an immense weight had descended upon his shoulder. His entire body stiffened, his feet wavered, and he nearly lost his balance. More than half the strength that had just revived within him was instantly suppressed.

A hearty yet solemn smile appeared on Mu Ye's face. His steady, middle-aged voice slowly broke the silence in the room. "Since this is our first proper meeting, allow me to introduce myself."

"My name is Mu Ye, and my title is Body Douluo. I am the current sect master of the secluded Body Sect."

Mu Ye looked intently at the boy before him, his voice filled with unmistakable appreciation and sincerity as he went straight to the point. "Wulin, you possess a supreme Body Golden Dragon Martial Soul, one of the rarest in existence. The miraculous dragon bloodline within you is your martial soul itself. You are a perfect match for our Body Sect. Would you take me as your master and join the Body Sect?"

Tang Wulin's gaze went slightly blank, his heart filled with astonishment.

He had never imagined that Mu Ye would extend such a momentous invitation at their very first proper meeting. It truly caught him off guard.

Flustered, he once again turned a somewhat pleading gaze toward Mu Chen, hoping that the teacher who had first guided him could help him decide.

But Mu Chen merely looked away, his expression calm. Clearly, he wanted Tang Wulin to follow his own heart and make his own choice, without any interference.

Tang Wulin drew a deep breath, his emotions churning as he quickly weighed his options.

He knew that although the Body Sect had long since lost its former glory and was steadily declining, none of its inherited secret arts had been lost. In physical tempering and bloodline development in particular, its foundations surpassed even the elite Shrek Academy. It was a perfect match for his Golden Dragon King Bloodline, the cultivation path best suited to him.

Yet his identity was special, and his future already held a hidden course.

As the biological son of Sea God Tang San, abandoning the Tang Sect and distancing himself from Shrek to join a declining secluded sect would hardly make sense.

The Tang Sect possessed the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, a supreme treasure of heaven and earth and an ideal place for him to temper his body and nourish his bloodline in the future. Shrek Academy's Sea God Pavilion housed countless rare treasures and secret arts, with foundations unrivaled across the continent. His impeccable lineage already gave him a uniquely privileged right of entry.

Moreover, all three of the greatest powers of the era had deep ties to him. As for the Spirit Pagoda, if Tang Wulin remembered correctly, wasn't its founder and first pagoda master his brother-in-law? It would be perfectly reasonable for him to inherit it in the future.

Huo Yuhao: ???ᕱ⑅ᕱⓌⓗⓐⓣ?

Tang San, Tang Wutong: You dare object!!! (○｀3′○)

Huo Yuhao: (⌯˃̶̥̆д˂̶̥̥̥̆ू)

With such exceptional resources and backing in his hands, abandoning a future with the three greatest powers to throw himself into the declining Body Sect was not a particularly wise move.

After weighing the advantages and disadvantages, Tang Wulin had made his decision.

He raised his eyes to Mu Ye, his expression sincere and his voice solemn yet gentle. "I'm sorry, Your Excellency Body Douluo."

"In forging, I already have a master. My teacher is the Eight-Star Saint Craftsman Mu Chen. He has painstakingly nurtured me and taught me the true essence of forging. And on the path of Soul Master cultivation, I already have a guide as well. Although that teacher's soul power is nowhere near as vast or profound as yours, he has helped me tremendously with cultivation knowledge and guidance for the road ahead, laying a solid foundation for me."

He paused briefly, his gaze firm and every word clear. "However, he is a teacher who imparts knowledge, not a master to whom I have formally entrusted my cultivation. If I formally take a master on the Soul Master path in the future, I have already made up my mind-I will take the strongest person of this age, an unprecedented supreme expert, as my master."

Once those words fell, their deeper meaning was self-evident.

On the present-day Douluo Continent, only one person was universally recognized as the pinnacle of combat strength: Shrek Academy's Sea God Pavilion Master, Sky-reaching Douluo Yun Ming!

Mu Ye instantly understood the tactful yet firm rejection.

The eagerness in his eyes slowly faded, replaced by a sadness he could not conceal. All that remained in his heart was endless regret.

A supreme Body Golden Dragon Martial Soul rarely seen in this world, a dragon-bloodline prodigy encountered only once in ten thousand years, was slipping past both him and the Body Sect.

Still unable to resign himself to it, he gazed into Tang Wulin's sincere, clear eyes and could not help asking softly, "Are you certain you won't reconsider?"

Faced with Mu Ye's earnest, reluctant gaze, Tang Wulin was momentarily at a loss for words. He did not know how to respond, and the atmosphere settled into a subtly awkward stalemate.

Seeing this, Zhen Hua hurried forward with a smile to smooth things over. "Mu Ye, don't go joining the fray. Little Wulin has lofty aspirations. He wants the supreme expert standing at the continent's pinnacle as his master. Such ambition is rare."

Amid the stalemate, Tang Wulin considered the matter quietly. After a moment of earnest thought, he looked up and spoke again.

His eyes were clear and sincere as he looked at the downcast Mu Ye, his tone carrying a solemn, tentative note. "Senior Mu Ye, although I cannot take you as my master and enter the Body Sect to devote myself to the body cultivation path, if you are willing, perhaps you could teach me in another way."

At those words, Mu Ye's dimmed eyes immediately brightened again. He stared at Tang Wulin, hope rekindling in his gaze. "Oh? Tell me."

"The mecha path," Tang Wulin said firmly, enunciating every word.

"I know that Soul Master cultivation flourishes on the continent today, but Level Nine Mecha Masters are few and far between. Even counting every last one, there are no more than ten. You are one of them, and a supreme expert who possesses a divine-grade red mecha."

He took a small step forward, his bearing utterly sincere. "If you are willing, Senior, I would like to take you as my master and devote myself to learning every aspect of mecha knowledge and skill. On the mecha path, I would choose you as my master without the slightest hesitation!"

As Mu Ye gazed at the still-young Tang Wulin before him, towering waves were already rising in his heart.

He saw through the boy's intentions at a glance.

To others, Tang Wulin's actions might seem far too greedy. Forging, Soul Master cultivation, and mechas were three supreme paths. For an ordinary person, mastering even one over an entire lifetime was already the limit. Yet he wanted to explore them all and reach the summit of each.

But Mu Ye had lived for nearly a century and witnessed every facet of human life. He had his own judgment.

A mediocre person's greed meant reaching beyond their grasp, overestimating themselves, and ultimately achieving nothing. A strong person's greed meant holding mountains and seas within their heart, with their sights set on the summit. That was not greed, but ambition!

At this moment, he could clearly see that boundless ambition in Tang Wulin's youthful features.

The boy refused to confine himself to a single path. In forging, he wanted to become a God Craftsman; as a Soul Master, he wanted to reach the ultimate summit; in mechas, he likewise sought the crown of the age. He wanted to carry all three of the most difficult paths to their utmost limits. Such boldness surpassed even that of the continent's foremost expert, Sky-reaching Douluo Yun Ming!

Such character, such talent, such vision-one might not encounter them in a thousand years.

All the regret in Mu Ye's heart vanished like smoke, replaced by wholehearted admiration and hope. He nodded firmly, his voice ringing with strength. "Good! I agree! From this day onward, I will teach you every essence of the mecha path!"

Mu Chen and Zhen Hua stood quietly nearby, gladly bearing witness to the formation of this bond between master and disciple.

Upon receiving his agreement, Tang Wulin's expression turned solemn. He stepped forward, straightened his posture, and respectfully performed the most proper ceremony for taking a master before Mu Ye.

He bowed and lowered his head, observing every courtesy with a reverent attitude.

With that bow completed, their relationship was established.

Mu Ye, the rank-ninety-four Titled Douluo bearing the title Body Douluo, one of the continent's foremost Level Nine Mecha Masters, and the current master of the Body Sect, formally accepted this peerless disciple who spanned the three paths of forging, Soul Master cultivation, and mechas.

After formally accepting Tang Wulin as his disciple, Mu Ye devoted an entire day to careful instruction, starting from scratch to establish every foundation of the mecha path for him.

He had thought Tang Wulin's heaven-defying talent belonged only to forging and Soul Master cultivation. Yet after a day of teaching, all that remained in Mu Ye's heart was endless astonishment. He discovered that Tang Wulin's talent for mechas was no less impressive than his talent for forging. His comprehension was monstrously exceptional.

No matter how obscure the theory, the slightest explanation made everything clear to him. He could infer three things from one, absorbing knowledge at a speed far beyond ordinary imagination.

Mu Ye carefully outlined the core branches of the mecha system for him: Mecha Designer, Mecha Manufacturer, and Mecha Repairer.

He specifically pointed out that the foundations of all three core mecha professions rested on forging. They complemented one another and were inseparable. This happened to be Tang Wulin's greatest advantage. He was already a genuine Level Three Blacksmith, well versed in metal properties, tempering methods, and material structures. Mu Ye needed to expend no extra words on the core knowledge related to forging, saving a great deal of teaching time.

Thus, Mu Ye devoted all his energy to detailed explanations of mecha design and mecha repair.

He solemnly told Tang Wulin that mecha design was not simply about pursuing a flashy appearance or pleasing aesthetics. Its true core lay in meeting the demands of actual combat, matching combat capabilities, and ensuring structural stability. Every contour and every component placement had to undergo countless practical combat tests, balancing defense, speed, explosive power, and endurance before a truly top-tier mecha could be created.

For an entire day, he poured out everything he knew, holding nothing back.

When the lessons ended and they were about to part, Mu Ye even brought out the treasured collection he had compiled through a lifetime of painstaking effort. He handed Tang Wulin everything, from introductory texts for mecha beginners to all his handwritten notes on reaching Level Nine Mecha Master and comprehending the mysteries of divine-grade mechas. Precious knowledge, cultivation insights, and practical combat experience were all included. It was equivalent to reproducing his entire mecha path and passing it on intact to his new disciple.

With every arrangement complete, Mu Ye prepared to leave with Zhen Hua.

As the Federation's God Craftsman, Zhen Hua held an immensely exalted status. Yet behind that unparalleled prestige lay endless trouble and hidden dangers. The position of God Craftsman drew the eyes of the world, ensuring that he could never enjoy an ordinary person's leisure and freedom. Even his personal safety was constantly under threat.

Mu Ye was not only Zhen Hua's closest friend, but also his dedicated guardian and strongest bodyguard.

The world's Evil Soul Masters had long coveted Zhen Hua, watching him like tigers eyeing their prey. This was because Zhen Hua possessed the continent's one and only Four-Word Battle Armor Forging Method, and was also the only blacksmith capable of forging four-word battle armor. Countless powers and Evil Soul Factions dreamed of obtaining someone like him. For the sake of four-word battle armor, Evil Soul Masters would risk anything, constantly awaiting a chance to abduct Zhen Hua.

For precisely that reason, Mu Ye had to remain at his side at all times, shielding him from every danger lurking in the shadows.

Master and disciple hurriedly bid farewell. Mu Ye and Zhen Hua left together, leaving only Tang Wulin, laden with priceless treasures and a promising future, and Mu Chen, who had quietly remained by his side, in the room.

Silence returned to the room.

The table was piled with the thick volumes and lifetime's worth of mecha notes Mu Ye had left behind. The pages were substantial, and every word was a priceless treasure.

Holding the stack of invaluable books, Tang Wulin stood where he was, a trace of unease still lingering in his heart. He looked up at Mu Chen beside him, his eyes cautious and apprehensive, and asked softly, "Teacher... will you blame me for taking another master?"

He still felt uneasy. He had already taken Mu Chen as his master to study forging, and now he had taken Mu Ye as his master to explore mechas. With two masters, he feared his beloved teacher would resent it, thinking him greedy, restless, disloyal, and unfocused.

Seeing the boy's anxious, considerate, and restrained expression warmed Mu Chen's heart. With helpless affection, he raised a hand and lightly tapped Tang Wulin on the head.

His expression was gentle, his tone open and generous. There was not a trace of displeasure, only heartfelt gratification. "Silly child, why would I blame you?"

"There are countless paths of cultivation, and more skills are never a burden. You have talent, ambition, and opportunity. You are willing to keep surpassing yourself and climbing higher peaks. I could not be happier, so why would I blame you?"

Mu Chen looked gently at his disciple and continued slowly, "I specialize in forging. All I can teach you is the Craftsman's Furnace Flame and the arts of forging metal and shaping iron. The Soul Master path and the mecha path have never been my areas of expertise."

"Mu Ye is a rank-ninety-four Titled Douluo and one of the continent's foremost Level Nine Mecha Masters. Having him accept you as his disciple and teach you wholeheartedly is an enormous blessing. You are young and ambitious, unwilling to remain confined to one corner, and you want to advance along all three paths together. That resolve far surpasses that of ordinary people."

He raised his hand and patted Tang Wulin's shoulder, his voice utterly sincere. "Study hard. Whether it is forging, Soul Master cultivation, or mechas, as long as it is the path you have chosen, go ahead and follow it freely. I will always stand behind you. I will only pave the way for you, never hold you back or restrict your future."

Listening to his teacher's selfless, openhearted, and gentle words, all the apprehension and unease in Tang Wulin's heart vanished like smoke, leaving warmth spreading through him.