The middle-aged teacher was deeply shocked by Xuan Zi's assessment.
"Elder Xuan, you've reached a conclusion just like that? I really think this boy's constitution is special. He's around fourteen, yet his combat strength is close to a Soul Emperor's. Even the inner-court disciples at our academy can't compare to him at all."
"Besides, his body is powerful, and his Martial Soul is unusual. It's even one of the most mysterious kind, a Body Martial Soul. The Body Sect hasn't discovered him, and if our Shrek Academy recruits him and properly develops his talent, he might even be the next successor to the Sea God Pavilion Master!"
Xuan Zi was somewhat displeased. He grabbed another chicken leg.
"Let me ask you, without Soul Power, how can he continue improving his strength?"
The middle-aged man answered respectfully.
"According to him, he tempers his body every day and breaks through its limits between life and death, thereby gaining the most direct increase in combat strength."
"If we Soul Masters rely on meditation to cultivate, he trains his physical strength and breaks through his limits in place of a Soul Master's meditation."
Xuan Zi couldn't help laughing when he heard that.
"Then let me ask you again. Since he can do it, why is it that among the vast number of ordinary people on Douluo Continent, not one has been able to stand shoulder to shoulder with Soul Masters who have Soul Power by improving their physical strength as he does?"
"This..." The middle-aged man frowned. "Because of the uniqueness of his Martial Soul?"
"Perhaps that's one reason, but I'll tell you this: Soul Power is everything. Only by putting Soul Power above all else can one cultivate to the very pinnacle of Douluo Continent. Without Soul Power, don't even dream of using a Soul Tool."
Xuan Zi took a bite of the chicken leg and continued.
"As for the unusual constitution you mentioned, his Body Martial Soul likely underwent a rather peculiar mutation during his Martial Soul Awakening, causing him to lose his Soul Power and leaving him only the path of improving his physical strength to cultivate."
"But who knows what limit this method can raise a person's physical strength to? Soul Emperor? Soul Saint? Or Soul Douluo?"
"It's all unknown."
"If you take him in, what if he reaches Soul Saint and can never advance any further?"
"Even if he has a Body Martial Soul, what's most important for one? The more vital the body part that forms the Martial Soul, the greater the Body Martial Soul's potential. More important still is a Body Martial Soul's Second Awakening, which is what allows it to reach the level of a super Martial Soul."
Xuan Zi spoke indifferently.
"Most importantly, what makes top Soul Masters stronger? Tell me, how can someone without Soul Power absorb ten-thousand-year or hundred-thousand-year Soul Rings?"
"How can he absorb Soul Bones?"
"And how is he supposed to use a Martial Soul Avatar? If he can't use one and faces a Soul Saint who can, wouldn't he be at an even greater disadvantage?"
"In his case, he can only rely on the unique qualities of his mutation to get somewhat stronger. He might be able to lord it over those below the Soul Emperor level, but without Soul Power, it's ultimately all for nothing. He's not much use."
"That's why I said taking someone like him in would be a waste of the academy's air. It would be a thankless effort and a waste of time and resources."
"If this is all you wanted to discuss, we can end it here."
"Yes, Elder Xuan, I understand." The middle-aged teacher nodded respectfully, then stepped aside and said no more.
He felt it was a great pity.
But Elder Xuan had a sharp eye and was one of the most powerful experts on Douluo Continent. Perhaps... he was right?
Even if he was right, the middle-aged man still seemed to have something he wanted to say. In the end, because of Elder Xuan's attitude, he said nothing more.
He remembered that Toji had told him he did have Soul Skills. It was precisely because he had Soul Skills that he had been able to carve a bloody path through a crowd of Soul Elders and Soul Ancestors.
Could a Body Martial Soul like that really be so poor?
One could only say that Xuan Zi had lived up to his reputation, picking every wrong answer on a multiple-choice test.
And just like that, a Body Martial Soul the Body Sect would have fought to claim had no further connection to Shrek. Perhaps, someday, the boomerang thrown out today would come back to strike them years later.
After winding his way around, Toji finally returned to the Soul Fighting Arena.
He had been careful all the way, avoiding every possible tail and even making several large detours to ensure no one could discover his whereabouts.
When he stepped through the Soul Fighting Arena's gates, he breathed a small sigh of relief.
He would find a chance to refine the Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Glue and strengthen his body. Then he could try absorbing the Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone to improve himself.
He wondered whether it could help him break through his fourth limit and reach Soul Ancestor cultivation.
Being around rank thirty at fourteen probably wasn't too bad, was it?
Besides, his cultivation method was different from a Soul Master's. Cultivating that way was a real hassle, and slow too.
Before Toji could relax, however, he noticed that something was wrong with the atmosphere inside the Soul Fighting Arena.
A number of nobles and wealthy merchants had gathered in the hall, their faces filled with dissatisfaction and anger.
Liang Wu stood to one side, sweating profusely as he tried to placate the agitated guests.
"Boss Liang, what's going on with your Soul Fighting Arena? The last few matches haven't been interesting at all."
A noble in splendid robes complained loudly, his voice full of impatience.
"That's right. We pay to watch matches, not these boring duels between Soul Masters," another wealthy merchant chimed in.
Liang Wu wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and forced an apologetic smile.
"Honored guests, we're terribly sorry. Some of our recent arrangements really have been inadequate. We'll make adjustments as soon as possible and ensure you all get to see more exciting matches."
The nobles clearly weren't buying it. A fat noble snorted coldly, a hint of threat in his voice.
"Boss Liang, don't try to fool us. What we want to see are matches like Tyrant's, where an ordinary person without Soul Power faces Soul Masters and Soul Beasts. Those are the matches that are truly thrilling."
"Tyrant hasn't appeared in a long time. Even going by what you told us before, that he was injured and receiving treatment, his injuries should be healed by now. He should be able to fight, shouldn't he?"
Liang Wu's expression instantly soured. He stole a glance at Toji, who had returned to the Soul Fighting Arena and was standing in a corner, and saw that his face was frighteningly dark.
The sight made him swallow reflexively. He realized that the presence Toji gave off was becoming more and more terrifying.
At first, Toji had merely been a little venomous snake hiding in the dark, lying low in the shadows, watching his target and waiting for a chance to strike a killing blow. He struck when the time came, and that was how Liang Wu had been overthrown by him.
But now... Toji was becoming more and more like a tyrant. The violent presence bearing down on him made Liang Wu feel that the little venomous snake had grown into a gigantic python that towered into the sky, ready to bite everyone who provoked him to death.
Liang Wu took a deep breath and hurriedly told the honored guests:
"Tyrant's injuries haven't healed yet..."
"Boss Liang, is your medical care really that poor? It takes this long to treat an ordinary person?" a wealthy merchant couldn't help saying. "Why don't you sell Tyrant to me? I'll pay a high price-how about ten thousand Gold Soul Coins? I'll get him treated!"
The fat noble was displeased when he heard that.
"If he's going to sell him, he'll sell him to me. Why would he sell him to you? I'll pay a hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins! Boss Liang, if you know what's good for you, sell him to me. With the resources and medical care at my disposal, I guarantee I can have Tyrant jumping around in no time."
As he spoke, his eyes filled with greed, and he licked his lips.
"He's so young, yet his combat strength is so great. More importantly, he's fair and tender, and good-looking too. I really wonder what he tastes like."
As soon as he said that, everyone around him moved away with looks of disgust.
Even Liang Wu began to feel sick, though he also felt sorry for the fat noble.
To dare say that right in front of Toji-buddy, you're in for it. Given his temperament, he's guaranteed to make you pay.