The three—Zhu Zhuqing, Oscar, and Dai Mubai—didn't even flinch when hearing Salas's demands. Especially Zhu Zhuqing, who felt like she was dreaming the moment she heard Salas say he could even make someone with low innate soul power become a Titled Douluo. It felt like she had finally seen light in her life.
Although what he said sounded boastful and against the norm of the world, the improvement Xiao Wu had shown after becoming Salas's disciple was also something that defied worldly logic. Zhu Zhuqing had seen it with her own eyes just yesterday—Xiao Wu's current physical strength was almost on par with Dai Mubai's. And her cultivation had already reached level 33 long ago—one level higher than Tang San. Wasn't that the best proof?
Of course, Tang San would have also broken through level 33 if he had been cultivating normally. But for the past two weeks, he had locked himself up forging something. He only emerged from that damn forging room of his in the morning to listen to Salas's guidance, then went right back in to continue working on who-knows-what.
Zhu Zhuqing didn't want to miss this chance at all... What kind of requirement was this? Wasn't it a disciple's duty to follow their master? Let alone that—if Salas asked her to put her life on the line, she would have done so without hesitation.
In the end, Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, and Oscar looked back at Salas with firm expressions, stating that they were willing to take the chance and become his disciples.
"Haha! You three's character isn't lacking. Since that's the case, I'll give you a chance..." Salas laughed heartily.
"The test is not hard. All you have to do is answer the question I'm going to ask. If your answers satisfy me, I'll accept you as my disciples. If not... that will be the end of it."
Hearing that, the three visibly relaxed a little—but their hearts continued pounding rapidly.
Xiao Wu, still hugging Salas's arm, also looked relieved. She had helped them as much as she could. From here on, it was up to fate. She couldn't interfere anymore.
She also felt a little curious and perked up her ears to listen to Salas's words attentively. After all, if not for her brothers and their karma, she too would have had to go through such a test to become the disciple of such a powerful and caring master. So she felt that she needed to have an answer for his question as well. Even if she didn't say it out loud, she should have an answer in her heart.
"Here is my question... Speak honestly. Without becoming my disciple, without receiving any guidance from me—if you happened to become someone else's disciple or simply cultivated on your own—in your own words, what is the highest level you think you could reach? Think carefully before answering."
After stating the question, he casually turned his attention to Xiao Wu, who had a thoughtful expression on her face. He patted her head gently.
Meanwhile, the three's expressions changed drastically. They had expected the question to be something else entirely—they never thought it would be this simple.
'What could be the motive behind His Majesty Boxuan asking this question?' That was their immediate thought—even before they could consider an actual answer.
But in the end, they couldn't find any deeper meaning behind it. So they simply focused on giving an honest answer...
Zhu Zhuqing was the first to respond.
"Your Majesty Boxuan, in my opinion, the highest level I could reach in the future would probably be Soul Saint at most. It doesn't matter whether I'm taken as a disciple by someone else or cultivated on my own. My innate talent can only take me that far. However, whether I even survive long enough to reach that level is an entirely different matter."
Unlike her usually reserved self, Zhu Zhuqing spoke more than usual. But she gave the answer in her heart truthfully.
Salas just laughed aloud and said nothing more, which made Zhu Zhuqing feel nervous for no reason.
Before she could overthink things, Oscar took the lead and stepped forward to answer next.
"Your Majesty, considering my innate soul power level, I believe I could probably reach the Titled Douluo level in the future and break the longstanding norm of this world—where no auxiliary-type Spirit Master has ever reached that realm. However, since auxiliary-type Spirit Masters are known to cultivate slower than battle-type Spirit Masters, I'd likely only be able to reach that level near the end of my life.
But that's also under the condition that my full innate soul power helps me break through the so-called 'curse' of auxiliary Spirit Masters. If not, I would be the same as my predecessors—only able to reach Soul Douluo at best.
This is my answer," Oscar said calmly.
For someone like him—an innate full soul power food-type Spirit Master—he would be valued wherever he went. He didn't actually need to insist on becoming Salas's disciple, unlike the other two, who truly needed it.
But... who asked him to fall in love with Ning Rongrong?
And who asked Salas to openly reveal Ning Rongrong's identity as the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's young miss in front of everyone?
It could only be blamed on Salas's cunning. He had schemed everything perfectly. If not for that, Oscar wouldn't have needed to sell his soul so easily. Salas would've had to spend time and effort slowly turning him into an underling.
Now that Oscar knew Ning Rongrong's identity, if he wanted to take her as his partner, he needed to possess a status equal to hers. Only then would he even have a chance. And the only way to obtain that status—was by becoming Salas's disciple.
Not to mention... he was also drawn to Salas's vast knowledge and teachings.
So here he was—together with Zhuqing and Dai Mubai—hoping to be accepted as Salas's disciple.
Salas's reply to Oscar was the same as before: just a light laugh, nothing more.
Next came Dai Mubai.
"Your Excellency, in my opinion, although I may not be able to reach the Titled Douluo level—since reaching that stage usually requires at least level 9 innate soul power—I am confident that I could become a Soul Douluo in the future. But as Zhuqing said, the prerequisite is staying alive. This is my honest answer," Dai Mubai said solemnly.
He had been listening attentively to Salas's teachings for the past two weeks. From the knowledge Salas had shared, many talented individuals with level 8 or even level 9 innate soul power still only reached around level 80+ by the time they were in their eighties.
That was the reality of cultivation.
When they thought about the powerful people they personally knew—be it his own father and relatives, or the three principals of Heaven Dou Empire Academy, or even the leaders of the top seven sects—almost all of them were in their eighties or nineties, yet their levels were only around 82 to 85. Very few had broken through the Soul Douluo level in their seventies. And even then, from that point forward, each level of improvement would take three to five years, sometimes more.
During the past week, whether Salas shared any way to improve cultivation or not, he had shared knowledge about other people's cultivation and let them compare themselves. The motive? Of course, it was to strike at their hearts and let them realize their own worth—and not to overestimate themselves.
In the Douluo Dalu 2 era, it was normal for people to cultivate quickly and reach higher levels at a younger age. But in the current era, it was different. If not for consuming immortal grasses or going to Sea God Island, their cultivation could only reach the levels they just described—and that too, only when they got older. Salas wanted them to realize just that.
When Dai Mubai finished giving his honest answer, Salas didn't even turn to face them. With a faint smile on his lips, he simply looked at Xiao Wu and said:
"It seems our Little Wu has gained three junior brothers and sisters..."
When those words reached Xiao Wu's ears, her eyes lit up. She looked at Salas joyfully, completely forgetting the sorrow she had felt earlier when she tried to think of her own answer to Salas's question.
The other three were even more ecstatic. From today onward, their lives were about to change—completely and irreversibly.
Zhu Zhuqing, Oscar, and Dai Mubai immediately knelt down and began kowtowing on the grass-covered ground.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Salas could hear the soft sound of their foreheads gently striking the earth.
As for where they had learned this ceremony?
Of course—from Xiao Wu, just yesterday. How could she let them skip the kowtow when she herself had done it? Wouldn't that be disrespectful—to her, and to her dear master?
So she had patiently taught them the etiquette that Tang San once taught her. She had also explained the saying: "A teacher for a day is a father for life."
And so this moment arrived: three new disciples bowing before their master—filial and respectful.
Salas smiled inwardly as he gently pinched Xiao Wu's ear in feigned helplessness.
Meanwhile, his gaze quietly swept over Zhu Zhuqing's kneeling figure in the grass.
Cat-style, not doggy-style, he noted.