The four arrived in front of a rather large building. This was the dormitory of Shrek Academy's outer academy, where students from all six years lived.
New students came and went through the dormitory entrance, without disturbing the old man sleeping in a recliner beside it in the slightest.
Yu Tianqing spotted him from a distance and knew this was his grandmaster: the level ninety-nine Limit Douluo, the Radiant Sacred Dragon, Dragon God Douluo, Mu En.
Cai Mei'er led the three over to Mu En and gave him a slight bow, her expression becoming exceedingly respectful:
"Teacher, that child Tianqing is here."
Mu En lifted his eyelids slightly, as though he had just woken up.
Yu Tianqing stepped forward twice and bowed a full ninety degrees to Mu En, shouting:
"Grandmaster! Your grand-disciple missed you so much he could die!"
His voice was so loud it sounded like a wail, frightening Mu En so badly he nearly sprang out of his recliner. The three women who had come with Yu Tianqing all jumped in fright.
Yu Tianqing's shout immediately drew the attention of the people around them. Even Mu En felt a little embarrassed, and with a casual wave, he cast a curtain of light over the group.
The new students who had been watching stood dazed for a moment and rubbed their eyes. All they saw was the same old man lying there, with no one else around.
Mu En looked up at Yu Tianqing and saw him scratching his head and grinning foolishly back at him. Mu En glared at him in annoyance:
"Yelling like that, are you trying to send this old man to his grave?"
"Your grand-disciple... your grand-disciple just missed you too much, Grandmaster."
"Grandmaster, you have no idea. When I found out you were my grandmaster, you couldn't imagine how excited I was. I didn't sleep for three days and three nights!"
"I grew up listening to stories about you: the story of Dragon God Douluo and the Black and White Twin Holy Dragons, especially the Soul Master Tournament held in the Heaven Dou Empire. Even after all these years, tales of your deeds are still told in the taverns of Dragon City."
Yu Tianqing's little mouth was like a honey-smeared machine gun, rattling on for a full dozen minutes or more.
As it turned out, he wasn't just good at sweet-talking aunties. His skill at charming old men was second to none as well.
When people grew old and no longer liked to move around, they loved to reminisce about the past.
All this flattery made Mu En's heart burst into bloom, his wrinkled old face radiant as a chrysanthemum.
His back no longer ached, and his legs no longer hurt.
He felt as though he had returned to his youth, full of vigor and without an equal under heaven.
"Di Tian, come fight me again! See if I don't knock your balls out!"
Seeing Yu Tianqing gesticulating wildly, spittle flying as though he would never stop talking, Mu En waved a hand:
"All right, enough~ Stop flattering this old man, you brat. Don't be so reckless again, understand?"
Mu En gave Yu Tianqing a gentle scolding, but his old face was filled with a warm smile.
"Hehe, isn't it because grandparents and grandchildren are especially close?"
"You're such a smooth talker, you must take after your father. No wonder he managed to trick my youngest disciple into going to the Heavenly Dragon Sect. Come, child, hold out your hand and let me see your cultivation."
Yu Tianqing didn't hesitate and held out his hand.
The old man before him was the strongest human alive. Given their relationship and what Yu Tianqing knew of Mu En, Mu En wouldn't harm him either.
There was no need to hide the secret of Yu Tianqing's Twin Martial Souls. He wasn't like Tang San, who had to hide from Spirit Hall.
A stream of gentle Light Soul Power traveled up his arm and through his body.
Mu En's Martial Soul was the Radiant Sacred Dragon, a mutation of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon.
Coincidentally, Yu Tianqing's Yin Yang Thunder Dragon was also a mutation of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon.
Ten thousand years ago, the two of them had been one family.
After quite a while, Mu En withdrew his hand, though his expression was somewhat complicated.
"Teacher, is something wrong?"
Cai Mei'er asked with concern. From Mu En's serious manner, it wasn't hard for her to notice that something was amiss.
"No. It's just that Tianqing's talent is truly extraordinary-as great as Xiaoyao's and mine combined."
Mu En paused, then sighed:
"It's just that he must be extremely careful throughout his cultivation. One moment of carelessness and his path will be ruined."
"Heroes truly do emerge from the young!"
For Yu Tianqing's Yin Yang Thunder Dragon to maintain a balance between yin and yang was like walking a tightrope: the weight on either side could be neither too low nor too high.
Cultivating in the Earth Dragon Sect's cold spring for twelve years could be called a form of self-torture, yet Yu Tianqing had endured it.
Had an adult soul not been in control, what child could have endured such suffering?
It wasn't hard for Mu En to see how difficult Yu Tianqing's cultivation had been. Yet Yu Tianqing had cultivated all the way to the Quasi-Soul Saint realm without adding a single Soul Ring to his Yin Thunder Dragon, which showed just how arduous his journey had been.
Even with more than two hundred years of experience, Mu En couldn't help but admire him.
He had such ambition, as well as such resolve.
"Child, you're very good, and you made plans for your cultivation long ago. There isn't much this old man can teach you..."
Yu Tianqing's heart stirred, and he thought:
Was it finally coming?
Oil, old timer, drop some gold coins!
"I'll take you as my final disciple. With that status, when you go out to gain experience in the future, you'll be able to get a little consideration from some of the old fellows."
Yu Tianqing was momentarily speechless. This was indeed a little different from what he had expected.
But he had to admit that Mu En's "face fruit" was quite useful at critical moments, such as when facing the other two Limit Douluos.
The final disciple of Dragon God Douluo certainly carried enough weight.
Status was useless in front of ordinary people, but in the eyes of those at a high enough level, no amount of heavenly treasures could buy it.
"Your disciple pays his respects, Master."
Yu Tianqing put away his playful grin and bowed deeply to Mu En.
"All right. When you make a name for yourself in the future, just don't blame this old man for taking advantage of you."
Mu En smiled, lay back down in his recliner, and waved for the group to leave.
"Master, let your disciple show you some filial devotion. I can massage your legs, knead your shoulders, or something like that."
Yu Tianqing rolled up his sleeves, flexed his fingers, and took two steps forward, ready to get to work, only to be stopped by a golden curtain of light.
"Don't resist so much. My technique is really good. Give it a try!"
"Go on, go on. Mei'er, take your junior brother to Sea God Island."
Mu En closed his eyes completely, and gentle golden Soul Power pushed Yu Tianqing more than ten meters away.
Yu Tianqing wanted to keep pestering him, but Cai Mei'er called out to him:
"Junior brother, let's go. There'll be plenty of time to visit Master later."
"Ah~" Yu Tianqing sighed helplessly. "Sister Mei'er, my technique really is good. You can try it sometime when you're free."
"Mm-hm, I know."
Cai Mei'er answered with a smile and led the three away.
Only when they had disappeared completely did Mu En lift his eyelids and look up at the sky:
"He understands the ways of the world, yet has not lost the spirit of youth. He's steadfast of heart and full of vitality. It seems this continent is destined to belong to the young!"