An Irresistible Promise (Part 2)

"You're refusing?"

Xuan Zi repeated it, looking slightly stunned. A Rank 98 Titled Douluo had personally offered to take someone as a disciple, only to be ruthlessly rejected!

If word got out, antiques from an entire era would laugh him to death!

"Yes, Elder Xuan, I refuse."

The seemingly gentle smile on Ling Bai's jade-like face carried an unshakable resolve.

Yan Shaozhe was equally surprised, but he quickly recovered and said solemnly, "Ling Bai, don't make a hasty decision. I overlooked something earlier—I should have told you what it means to become Elder Xuan's final disciple."

"First, you already have teachers, but a soul master may have many teachers in a lifetime. Take Ancestor Tang San, for example. Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang was his teacher, but weren't ancestors like Flender, Liu Erlong, and Zhao Wuji also his teachers? So you needn't worry too much about that.

"Second, as a disciple of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, you should understand that cultivation becomes harder the deeper one's Soul Power grows. If you become Elder Xuan's disciple, I guarantee that you will break through to Titled Douluo within twenty years! You are eleven this year, so twenty years from now, at the age of thirty-one, you will become a Six-Winged Angel Titled Douluo who roams the world unhindered!

"Third, Shrek Academy will devote all its resources to you. The Academy will take responsibility for your future soul rings, so you need not worry about them at all. At the same time, the Academy will do everything possible to find a complete set of soul bones suited to your attributes, each one at least ten thousand years old! Once your Soul Power reaches Rank 90, the Academy will personally help you hunt a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast!

"Fourth, Shrek Academy is an academy. Whether you become Elder Xuan's final disciple or the master of Sea God Pavilion, the Academy will never force anyone to join or leave a sect. You will still be a disciple of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect!

"This is a promise jointly made to you by Shrek Academy's Spirit Soul Department Dean, Yan Shaozhe; Sea God Pavilion elder, Elder Xuan; and Shrek Academy, the continent's foremost academy."

"Shao Zhe speaks for me as well."

Xuan Zi was an old hand. He immediately stated his position, reinforcing the credibility of Yan Shaozhe's words. They hoped Ling Bai would change his mind.

Hearing this, Ling Bai leaned back slightly and sighed. "It truly is... an irresistible promise."

Yan Shaozhe was indeed the dean of the Spirit Soul Department—cunning and bold. Each of the four promises was extraordinary and strategically calculated.

He feared that Ling Bai would refuse Xuan Zi because of his two teachers, so he directly invoked Tang San from ten thousand years ago to dispel Ling Bai's concerns.

Then came the lure of benefits—commonly known as painting a big picture.

Titled Douluo, a full set of soul bones, a hundred-thousand-year soul ring, a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone...

Each promise was grander than the last, and Shrek Academy's reputation, built over ten thousand years, gave Ling Bai no reason for doubt!

The most cunning part was the fourth condition. Ling Bai was a disciple of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, and his teachers were most likely members of that sect as well.

Yan Shaozhe and Xuan Zi had initially intended to make Ling Bai part ways with the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. After all, who would want to share an heir with someone else?

But upon seeing Ling Bai refuse outright, Yan Shaozhe immediately changed his mind and emphasized that Shrek Academy would not interfere in Ling Bai's relationship with the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect in order to keep him steady.

They would spare no cost just to keep Ling Bai.

If someone asked Yan Shaozhe and Xuan Zi whether this was worth it, their answer would certainly be: yes!

Shrek Academy's immense influence was both a blessing and a curse. The Sun Moon Empire viewed it as a thorn in its side, while the Douluo Three Kingdoms were deeply wary of Shrek as well. Over the past century, their imperial families had subtly expressed their stance by no longer sending direct descendants to enroll.

The Six-Winged Angel was the divine-grade martial soul with the greatest talent in history. With Ling Bai standing guard, Shrek's lofty status would remain unshakable for the next three hundred years.

More importantly, history had proven that the Six-Winged Angel was a divine-grade martial soul that could be passed down reliably!

Shrek Academy had once produced three Ultimate martial souls, yet their descendants had failed to inherit those Ultimate attributes.

Ma Xiaotao was a living example. Ten thousand years ago, Phoenix Douluo Ma Hongjun's martial soul had evolved into the Nine-Headed Fire Phoenix, and his Phoenix Flame had evolved into Ultimate Fire. Yet his direct descendant, Ma Xiaotao, was still painfully enduring the torment of Phoenix Evil Fire!

Yan Shaozhe and Xuan Zi had already discussed it. After Ling Bai became Xuan Zi's disciple, the Academy would gradually cultivate him into the master of Sea God Pavilion. Then they would bring Ma Xiaotao and Ling Bai together, using his sacred power to purge her Phoenix Evil Fire while also leaving behind the bloodline of the Six-Winged Angel at Shrek Academy!

From then on, the Six-Winged Angel would become another name synonymous with Shrek Academy!

For the glory of the next ten million years, what did those temporary sacrifices matter?

"We hope you will consider it seriously and thoroughly," Yan Shaozhe said sincerely.

Ling Bai did not give an answer. Instead, he asked, "Elder Xuan, Dean, do you know who my teacher is?"

"Zhou LaoTou?"

Xuan Zi believed that only Jian Mu Douluo could make Ling Bai refuse him.

"Yes." Ling Bai nodded.

Yan Shaozhe frowned. "Senior Jian Mu may be powerful, but his is a plant-type martial soul. What he teaches you may not necessarily suit you. Shrek has produced countless soul masters over ten thousand years and cultivated three Ultimate martial souls. We can offer you the finest education and resources."

"The Dean is right, but what I want to say is how much my teacher and the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect have invested in me over these years."

A breeze swept past, stirring his golden hair. Ling Bai's eyes were deep and calm. "Ten Thousand Year Deep Sea Magic Whale Jelly, ten-thousand-year Demon Soul Great White Shark oil—I ate them from childhood onward. Ten Thousand Year Jade Spirit Fruit was my daily fruit. Extreme North Moonlight Rice, Ten Thousand Year Earth Dragon Tendon, Ten Thousand Year Deep Sea Lobster... the ingredients for my three daily meals were never repeated.

"My body, my Soul Power, and my soul rings that surpassed the limits were all accumulated bit by bit through resources provided by the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. Moreover, after my teacher's battle with Du Busi left him with lingering injuries, he would rather endure those injuries flaring up than refrain from forcibly refining Ming Huang Pills for me."

"Ming Huang Pills..."

At the thought of the ingredients required to refine Ming Huang Pills, even the usually miserly Yan Shaozhe felt his gums ache.

The main ingredient of a Ming Huang Pill was the inner core of a hundred-thousand-year light-type soul beast, supplemented by dozens of ten-thousand-year light-attributed heavenly treasures with mild medicinal properties. It was hailed as the number one pill on the continent.

Mystic Water Pills, Soul Ascension Pills, Soul Nurturing Pills, Black Tortoise Divine Pills...

Compared to Ming Huang Pills, those pills that ordinary people regarded as unattainable were nothing but trash!

The moment they heard about the Ming Huang Pills, Xuan Zi and Yan Shaozhe understood that Shrek Academy could not compete with the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.

Shrek was merely painting a big picture, while the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect had already fed that picture directly into Ling Bai's mouth!

There was a professional gambling term to describe the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's actions: all-in.

They had placed every bet on Ling Bai—betting that he would grow up safely, betting that once his wings had fully grown, he would not forget his sect.

Ling Bai simply laid everything out in the open. Looking at Xuan Zi and Yan Shaozhe, he said, "My teacher fought Du Busi, and from that day onward, the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and the Body Sect became enemies. One must know how to repay kindness. If the two sects ever go to war, I will not abandon the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.

"As far as I know, Shrek Academy does not involve itself in battles between sects. Back when the Tang Sect's ten-thousand-year legacy was taken, Shrek chose not to intervene. Would you accept an heir who might one day fight the Body Sect to the death?"

Yan Shaozhe and Xuan Zi fell completely silent. The Body Sect was a super sect no weaker than Shrek's Sea God Pavilion.

To stake the entire Academy on Ling Bai, no matter how they calculated it, this deal was a loss.

"We can discuss becoming master and disciple another day."

Yan Shaozhe broke the silence. "Study at the Academy without worry. I have yet to decide on your reward for helping Xiaotao last night. How about this? I'll give you a promise. If you encounter any difficulties in the future, just tell me, and I'll resolve them."

Yan Shaozhe had merely been polite, but Ling Bai unexpectedly spoke at once.

"Dean, I want to change rooms."

"That's all?"

Yan Shaozhe said listlessly, "Pick anywhere you like on Sea God Island."

"Then I'll have to trouble the Dean to give me a room inside the Golden Tree."

"Fine... wait!"

Yan Shaozhe's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

"The Golden Tree!? Kid, don't be absurd!"