"Silver Dragon Spear? What kind of Martial Soul is that?"
Phantom Brain Douluo Han Tianyin was surprised.
Speaking of that name,
it reminded Han Tianyin of a genius named Wang Qiu'er who had once appeared in Shrek Academy's history. Her Martial Soul had been the golden dragon, and she had apparently wielded a formidable divine artifact called the Golden Dragon Spear.
Of course,
Han Tianyin remembered Wang Qiu'er not because she herself had been particularly special, but mainly because she had been connected to Huo Yuhao, the founder of the Spirit Pagoda.
Leng Yaozhu took out the information she had reviewed earlier.
"A super Martial Soul, possibly even a divine-grade one."
"Innate full soul power. But she seems to have some memory loss. She can't remember her family-or perhaps she has no family."
Han Tianyin nodded. "She certainly has potential. At her age, she must have only just awakened her Martial Soul. Having her study alongside Li Zha would be perfect."
"But where did you find her?"
A recollection flashed through Leng Yaozhu's mind.
"She came to me herself. I ran into her a week ago, when I was returning to Shrek City from a trip."
"She stole some buns from a vendor, and the owner chased her for several streets. She was eating as she ran, and without looking where she was going, she crashed straight into my arms."
"She was filthy all over and looked so pitiful, so I paid for her buns."
"And then the little girl followed me all the way back to the tower."
After hearing this, Han Tianyin chuckled.
"Pagoda Master Leng, you're truly kindhearted. Did it never occur to you that she might have been putting on an act?"
"That Sky-Cleaving... Shrek's Sea God Pavilion has clearly grown lax in managing its subordinates, and the Holy Spirit Cult has been running increasingly rampant lately."
"Public security in Shrek City has been getting worse along with it. You have no idea-there are groups in the city that specifically organize children to beg and scam people out of money. To make a profit, they'll even cripple the children."
Han Tianyin had meant to say Sky-Cleaving Douluo, but remembering that Pagoda Master Leng and that man had once had a relationship, he quickly stopped himself and said Sea God Pavilion instead.
But regardless,
this was the reality Shrek City now faced.
As the home of the continent's foremost academy and one of its only two supercities, its public security was worse than that of some small cities on the outskirts.
Leng Yaozhu's gaze sharpened.
She knew everything Han Tianyin had said was true.
As the continent's foremost academy, Shrek Academy recruited students once every three years, attracting vast numbers of gifted young Soul Masters to apply each time.
Yet there were only three hundred places available each time.
This left thousands of troops and horses fighting to cross a single narrow bridge, with most Soul Masters serving as nothing more than a backdrop.
And after those young Soul Masters failed to make the cut, not all of them chose to return to their hometowns. A considerable number stayed in Shrek City and turned to crime.
Because Shrek City was one of the Douluo Continent's only two supercities, as renowned as Mingdu, even working as a thief or pickpocket here earned them more than staying back home.
"Shrek City... sigh. Shrek Academy is the continent's foremost academy, and ultimately, they're the ones who call the shots in this city."
"Although our Spirit Pagoda is flourishing, we can't openly clash with them."
Leng Yaozhu felt
that she needed to bring this matter to the attention of the man she secretly loved.
Sky-Cleaving Douluo's combat strength was among the very best, and his cultivation talent might well have been the greatest of his generation. But he did not handle management well.
Otherwise,
how could the Holy Spirit Cult have planted so many spies within Shrek?
Without those spies turning traitor, the Holy Spirit Cult might not have managed to drop those two Class 12 Fixed Soul Cannon Shells.
"We've strayed from the topic. Let's get back to Zha'er."
"You've seen this child's talent and temperament for yourself."
"Starting tomorrow, I'll be entrusting both Zha'er and Na'er to you."
Han Tianyin nodded.
He was already looking forward to it.
Even in Shrek Academy, where monsters gathered like clouds, Li Zha's talent would very likely have ranked first.
In the near future, he would be someone who could dominate an entire era.
As a teacher, Han Tianyin naturally found great fulfillment in nurturing a prodigy of that caliber.
Early the next morning,
Li Zha got out of bed feeling somewhat exhausted.
"Holy Spirit Cult!"
Li Zha rose and clenched his fists, looking around. The Spirit Pagoda remained safe and sound.
"That dream was way too real!"
Li Zha felt as though he had survived a catastrophe.
"That fucking Holy Spirit Cult actually dared to kill me in a dream. Dark Bell and the Three Heavenly Kings, huh? Just you wait!"
Li Zha suppressed his anger and silently added it to their debt.
After getting up and washing,
Li Zha called Big and Little Xiao Bai for room service. A large dining cart was delivered to his room, piled high with all kinds of rare delicacies, including deep-sea lobster, Far North snow crab, and more.
But Li Zha's favorite was still the stewed drake meat, especially its satisfyingly springy texture when he chewed it.
Just as he was about to feast,
Leng Yaozhu entered the room, leading a little girl by the hand.
Leng Yaozhu wore a casual long dress that day, and her right hand held that of a silver-haired, silver-eyed girl.
The girl looked about Li Zha's age. She wore a little white dress and a pair of slippers.
Her little face was fair with a rosy tint, as delicately carved as jade, with double-lidded silver eyes, rosy lips, and finely defined features.
Even at such a young age, she already had the bone structure of a beauty. It was easy to imagine that she would grow into a woman whose beauty could topple cities and kingdoms.
The moment she entered Li Zha's room,
the silver-haired girl widened her eyes and looked around, her gaze finally settling on the boy who was about to feed.
Yes, feed.
"Zha'er, come here. This is my new disciple. From now on, the two of you will train and study together."
Li Zha turned his head and was slightly startled the moment he saw Na'er.
What's going on?
Am I dreaming again?
Silver hair and silver eyes-this is definitely Na'er, not Gu Yue. But damn it, wasn't Na'er supposed to go to Tang Wulin and then enter Shrek Academy?
Why is she at the Spirit Pagoda?!
This isn't how the plot goes!
Leng Yaozhu failed to notice anything amiss with Li Zha. She merely assumed that he was a little uncomfortable meeting another child for the first time.
Leng Yaozhu led Na'er over to the dining cart.
"Zha'er, let me introduce you. This is Na'er. Her Martial Soul is the Silver Dragon Spear. She's six years old, just like you, and she also has innate full soul power."
"Na'er, this is your big brother Li Zha. He's your senior disciple brother. You'll be together from now on, so make sure you get along."
Na'er blinked as she studied Li Zha before her.
For some reason,
Na'er felt her legs going weak.
It was as though
the boy before her
was her natural predator!
"All right, I have some things to take care of. You children should get to know each other. You'll start attending classes together next week."
"Mm-hmm. Got it, Teacher."
Li Zha nodded.
Once Leng Yaozhu had left, Li Zha looked at Na'er with a bright smile.
Na'er instinctively backed away two steps.
She had run away from the Star Dou Great Forest. As an avatar of the Silver Dragon King, she had inherited thirty percent of her power.
To escape capture by the powerful Soul Beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest, Na'er had followed Leng Yaozhu all the way back to the Spirit Pagoda.
She had thought she would be safe here and could settle down to living as a human.
But what the heck is up with this kid?!
Under Li Zha's gaze, Na'er instinctively wanted to summon the Silver Dragon Spear, but in a rare show of resistance, the spear indicated that it did not dare come out!
Hey, hey,
aren't you supposed to be a divine artifact?
"Little Sister Na'er, have a seat."
Na'er hurriedly sat down, pinching the corners of her dress with both index fingers, her expression frightened.
Thanks for asking.
Silver Dragon King's avatar here. Just arrived at the Spirit Pagoda, sitting like a little monkey.
"You must be hungry. Have something to eat."
Na'er looked at the dining cart and couldn't help swallowing.
"Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Big Brother."
Na'er had inherited the Silver Dragon King's enormous appetite. Seeing these delicacies now, she immediately dug in once she had permission.
"Hey, you have to peel the shell off that shrimp before eating it. I'll peel it for you."
Li Zha peeled off the shrimp's shell and handed it over.
"Thank you, Big Brother."
Na'er accepted it. She began to think that this boy seemed quite nice.
Na'er picked up a drake rib and offered it to Li Zha. "Big Brother, you should eat too."
"Mm."
Li Zha sat down beside Na'er, his gaze falling on the drake meat... and beyond it, on Na'er's lotus-white, springy arm.
"Na'er, you smell so good. Why do I feel like you'd taste even better than this drake meat...?"
Li Zha looked at Na'er and swallowed.
The rib held between Na'er's chopsticks immediately fell into her bowl. Her expression stiffened, and she suddenly had a bad feeling.
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