Mu En, twin martial souls

At the end of the long table stood a wicker recliner, its color suggesting it had seen quite a few years.

An old man in gray-white cloth garments lay quietly upon it. His hair and beard were white, and wrinkles covered his face like terraced fields.

Zhang Lexuan brought Chen Tianyuan over to him, then said respectfully, "Mu En."

The old man before them gave off no soul power fluctuations and seemed no different from an ordinary person. Yet he was none other than Dragon God Douluo Mu En, who had once swept across the continent and commanded its storms. Even such a dazzling figure, however, could not withstand the grinding passage of time.

Mu En opened his eyes and studied Chen Tianyuan with a cloudy yet deeply penetrating gaze. He nodded slightly, and Zhang Lexuan moved forward to help him up.

Mu En waved her off and sat up on his own. Looking at Chen Tianyuan, he said, "Child, release your martial soul."

Chen Tianyuan murmured his assent. With a thought, violent purple lightning swirled around him, followed by a silver dragon silhouette appearing behind him.

Sensing that violent aura, Mu En's pupils trembled slightly. He reached out and rested a hand on Chen Tianyuan's shoulder, sending a gentle stream of soul power into his body to examine his martial soul.

Chen Tianyuan felt as though he had stripped naked and run through a bustling street, exposing every inch of himself to everyone's eyes.

A moment later, Mu En withdrew his soul power, his voice carrying an almost imperceptible excitement. "Ultimate lightning!"

Zhang Lexuan froze at his words, then looked at Chen Tianyuan in disbelief.

An ultimate attribute had not appeared on the continent for a hundred years. She had even thought it was merely a legend, yet the child she had casually brought back actually possessed one.

Naturally, Zhang Lexuan would not question Mu En's judgment. If even Mu En could not discern it, no one in the world could.

Mu En studied Chen Tianyuan carefully, growing fonder of him the longer he looked. He asked gently, "Child, what is your name?"

The child replied firmly, "My name is Chen Tianyuan."

Zhang Lexuan looked a little surprised, then leaned toward Mu En's ear and whispered a few words.

After hearing her out, Mu En sighed, his gaze becoming even more loving as he looked at Chen Tianyuan. "My name is Mu En. My martial soul is the radiant sacred dragon, a mutation of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon. That makes me something of an elder to you. You can call me Great Ancestor."

Chen Tianyuan had never imagined he would find such a mighty leg to cling to. He immediately greeted him obediently. "Hello, Great Ancestor."

Mu En smiled and nodded, then looked at Zhang Lexuan. "Lexuan, go fetch Bei Bei."

Zhang Lexuan murmured her assent and quickly left the Sea God Pavilion.

For a time, only the old man and the young boy remained in the vast Sea God Pavilion.

Mu En stroked Chen Tianyuan's head and asked, "Child, what is your other martial soul?"

"My other martial soul?" Chen Tianyuan was a little startled. He had no idea he possessed twin martial souls.

Seeing his reaction, Mu En understood. "So it's only half-awakened. No wonder your innate soul power is deficient."

Chen Tianyuan was utterly bewildered by Mu En's words. He carefully searched within his body but still could not find any trace of a second martial soul.

Mu En chuckled. "Silly child, your second martial soul is you."

Chen Tianyuan exclaimed in surprise, "A body martial soul?"

But he quickly realized he had misspoken. He was supposed to be an inexperienced six-year-old child. How could he know about such things?

Mu En's attention, however, was elsewhere. He said, "That's right. When a part of the body serves as a martial soul, it is called a body martial soul."

"People believe body martial souls are weak, but they are all mistaken. The more important the organ serving as the martial soul, the stronger it is. As for people like you, whose entire bodies serve as their martial souls, there have been no more than five in the whole history of soul masters."

"In fact, at the same rank, a soul master with a body martial soul is stronger than an ordinary soul master."

Mu En looked at Chen Tianyuan and said solemnly, "Child, until you become a Titled Douluo, you must not reveal this martial soul under any circumstances. Do you understand?"

Chen Tianyuan nodded emphatically. "I understand, Great Ancestor."

Had he not known about the Body Sect, Mu En's tone alone would have made Chen Tianyuan think his second martial soul was an evil martial soul.

A few minutes later, Zhang Lexuan returned, holding the hand of a boy of six or seven.

As Chen Tianyuan studied him, the boy studied him in turn. The two simply stared at each other.

Chen Tianyuan thought in surprise, This kid looks like a little demon, and he's actually the refined, gentle Bei Bei as a child? Who would believe it?

Mu En beckoned for Bei Bei to come closer.

Standing beside each other, the difference in their heights became immediately apparent. Bei Bei was more than a full head taller than Chen Tianyuan, and his body was sturdier as well. By comparison, Chen Tianyuan was as thin as a sheet of paper.

"Bei Bei, his name is Chen Tianyuan. He's your younger brother. Don't bully him."

Bei Bei murmured his assent, then patted Chen Tianyuan's shoulder and said solemnly, "Don't worry, little brother. From now on, I'll look out for you."

Chen Tianyuan could not help laughing. Bei Bei looked thoroughly puzzled at this. Patting his chest, he said, "I'm not lying. I'm already a soul master, and my first soul ring is four hundred years old."

Only then did Mu En relax. His concern had been that the two children might dislike each other.

He lay back down and said to Zhang Lexuan, "All right, Lexuan. Take the two of them downstairs."

"Oh, and have Xuan Zi and the others come see me."

Zhang Lexuan nodded and led the two children out of the Sea God Pavilion, holding one by each hand.

The Sea God Pavilion was the center of power for all of Shrek Academy. Any decision made here could affect the entire continent.

In a rare sight, every wooden chair on either side of the long table was occupied. Only one person sat at its head: Mu En.

Looking at the four deans on his left and the four senior elders on his right, Mu En slowly began to speak.

"That girl Lexuan brought back a six-year-old child named Chen Tianyuan. His martial soul is a mutated Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, so he can be considered a junior of mine."

They exchanged glances. Finally, Yan Shaozhe, seated first on the left, asked, "Teacher, did you call a Sea God Pavilion Meeting just for this child?"

Mu En nodded, then made a startling declaration. "I have decided to groom him as the successor to the Sea God Pavilion Master after the next."

What did that mean? After Mu En, Xuan Zi would take over as Sea God Pavilion Master, and after Xuan Zi, the position would pass directly to Chen Tianyuan.

Considering their ages, Mu En could only live another ten-odd years. Xuan Zi was already advanced in years as well, and would probably retire after serving for a dozen or so years. And how old was Chen Tianyuan? Six.

Even with a generous estimate, he would probably only be in his thirties or forties when he became Sea God Pavilion Master. Even if he possessed extraordinary talent, he would likely have only just become a Titled Douluo. How could he command everyone's respect? How could he shoulder the great banner of Shrek Academy?

Before anyone could object, Mu En continued, "I know you disagree, but hear me out."