His face was deathly grim, his eyes bloodshot, and his knuckles white from clenching his fists.
He had initiated the provocation only to be instakilled in an instant, forever nailed to a pillar of shame. He had utterly humiliated the dignity of a prince!
Flender consoled him, "Mubai, this is exactly why mental-type Soul Masters are so troublesome."
He paused, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. "However, if it's just a matter of sleep... the next time you face him, you might try using pain to break the effect."
Being well-traveled and experienced, Flender immediately devised a countermeasure.
Pain!
Sleep could be dispelled by pain. In a team battle, one could be woken by teammates. In a duel, one could only rely on the clash between sharp pain and drowsiness.
"Pain?" Dai Mubai etched those words deep into his soul. "Next time—next time, I absolutely will not lose to him again!"
The motto "One who does not cause trouble is a mediocre talent" resonated deeply with him. His princely pride ensured that he remembered this disgraceful defeat vividly. Even though he knew Shrek Academy was in the wrong first, he selectively ignored that fact. Instead, he harbored a deep hatred for the name "Zhao Liuyun"—the culprit who had caused him public humiliation twice in a row.
What a damnable wretch!
Shadows swirled in his gloomy eyes as Dai Mubai secretly swore to avenge this disgrace in the future. His thirst for power had never been more intense. He said, "Dean, no need for rest. Let's head straight to the soul hunt."
He would become a Soul Elder first and obtain his first thousand-year Soul Ring. As for Zhao Liuyun, a minor Rank 22 Soul Master, who knew how long it would take for him to reach that level? Having won a small victory in his mind, the stifling frustration in Dai Mubai's chest finally eased slightly.
On the other side, at the Ye family shop.
After a brief exchange with Shi Nian, Ye Wenxi pulled Zhao Liuyun aside under the regretful gaze of Meng Yuan.
"Little Liuyun, you are brilliant and gifted; I am sure you have realized it by now."
"These past two months were, in truth, an ordeal. We could not reach a conclusion based solely on hearsay. We needed to witness your character and cultivation progress with our own eyes."
The results were delightful. Zhao Liuyun had grown rapidly, gaining a full rank. He was polite and knew how to repay kindness. His claim that "focus" could accelerate cultivation speed was clearly no lie.
"I know." Zhao Liuyun's expression remained neutral. "What are you trying to say?"
"You have passed the test. Are you willing to inherit your grand-master's legacy and truly join my Ye family as a Provisional Guest Elder?"
Though Ye Wenxi was smiling, he felt it was a bit premature. It had only been two months—hardly the time to show all his cards. But he had no choice but to rush. Shi Nian's sudden arrival had disrupted the pace of his observation and his original plans.
The Ye family could not stop a genius from striving to grow. It was foreseeable that Zhao Liuyun would inevitably agree to Shi Nian's offer. Zhao Liuyun possessed a pure heart, while Shi Nian was like a... a blot of ink. When ink dyes clear water, it is hard to remain untainted. That man had a notorious reputation, and they had to be on guard.
The Ye family could not sit idly by while a talent was recruited by another. If they waited for Zhao Liuyun to leave with him, the rapport they had built might never be mended. Since time was of the essence, certain things had to be clarified before the fledgling spread its wings, lest the "cooked duck" fly away.
"I am willing," Zhao Liuyun replied crisply. He sensed the old man had more to say.
Sure enough, Ye Wenxi let out a long sigh and brought up another secret: "The Ye family's ancestral Martial Soul is known as the 'Nine-Hearted Flowering Crabapple,' the world's number one healing Tool Martial Soul."
"Though it cannot regrow severed limbs, its healing power is unrivaled in this era. It is said that 'as long as a single breath remains, they can be brought back to life.'"
Zhao Liuyun showed an appropriate expression of awe, his eyes carrying a hint of inquiry.
"However," Ye Wenxi shook his head regretfully, "the Martial Soul follows a strict line of single succession. There can only be one heir in each generation, and only two Nine-Hearted Flowering Crabapple Soul Masters can exist at the same time."
"The current heir to the Nine-Hearted Flowering Crabapple is a young lady."
"You mean..." Zhao Liuyun knew it was Ye Lingling, but the specific mention clearly had a deeper intent.
Ye Wenxi said slowly, "The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan has a rule that a support-type Soul Master's spouse cannot be another support-type. Our Ye family is the same!"
"Support-type Soul Masters are naturally lacking in combat power. No matter how many Soul Masters we recruit or how wide our connections are, it is ultimately external strength. Only by finding a partner with exceptional combat prowess can one receive unwavering support."
It seemed like a deep conversation for such a short acquaintance, but for a support-type Soul Master to stand firm in the long run, they had to take human nature into account and ensure every aspect was covered.
Ye Wenxi had already figured out Zhao Liuyun's temperament. Despite his young age, the boy's intellect far exceeded his peers, making him more mature than most adults. The thing a genius hated most was deception. By laying everything out clearly, Zhao Liuyun could make his own judgments, preventing any future resentment.
So, he wants me as a grandson-in-law!
Zhao Liuyun understood and proactively listed his own shortcomings: "I am still quite young."
"Your mind is mature."
"My innate Soul Power is only Rank 5. I cannot compare to those true geniuses with Rank 8, 9, or even Innate Full Soul Power. I might hit a bottleneck at the Soul Emperor stage."
This was, of course, a lie; he had never encountered a bottleneck. It might be the merit of his status panel or the benefit of his naturally immense mental strength. But one must use shortcomings as a mirror to gain an accurate assessment.
Ye Wenxi remained composed, refuting him point by point: "Innate Soul Power does not represent everything. Your cultivation talent is not weak at all."
"I have already sent people to Notting City to visit your mentor and questioned that boy Huang Xin thoroughly. You gained eight ranks in two years at the academy and rose six ranks in just fifteen months at the hunting town. Even a genius with Innate Full Soul Power would find that hard to match."
Since they were sincerely recruiting, a background check was essential. Zhao Liuyun's origins were clean, and his past was traceable. Two months was more than enough time to investigate everything thoroughly.
"I come from a humble background. I have no parents."
Ye Wenxi smiled. "Such a background is exactly what every support-type power truly values."
Take the powerful Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan; even with several thousand Soul Masters, had they not failed to find a suitable genius boy to match with Ning Rongrong? The Ye family dealt in both medicine and martial arts with vast connections, yet they too lacked a suitable candidate. Thus, they had to choose from the bottom rungs of the Soul Master world—truly like panning for gold in the silt.
To find a genius Soul Master who cultivated quickly, possessed a firm will, was well-mannered, understood gratitude, had a strong Martial Soul, was mentally mature, and boasted exceptional combat power... and most importantly, had no factional ties behind him—it was truly as difficult as ascending to heaven.
Fortunately, heaven had been kind; such a young genius had emerged from their own network of connections. Everyone has flaws, but as Ye Wenxi looked him over, he truly couldn't find a single blemish on Zhao Liuyun aside from his Rank 5 innate power. If he had to name one thing, it was that almost stubborn, resolute conviction of his, which more than made up for everything else. His composed handling of sudden changes further showed his sense of propriety, which aligned with the Ye family's philosophy of harmony.
Ye Wenxi changed the subject: "Of course, this isn't a direct arranged marriage. Soul Masters value free love. We will only treat you with sincerity and will not force any feelings upon you."
He avoided an official engagement to prevent causing offense, and since the boy was so young, he truly needed a few more years to grow so they could observe his future development. By not overpromising and leaving enough room, he could avoid many unnecessary troubles.
"Grandpa Ye, do you want me to refuse Senior Shi Nian?" Zhao Liuyun asked. He knew Ye Lingling was at the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. If he could join them directly, he would be very close to the Immortal Herbs.
Ye Wenxi shook his head. "No. What Shi Nian said is true. Pure mental-type Soul Masters are very few and far between in this world. He is more suited to be your teacher than Meng Shenji, the education committee member of the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. Blue Sunshine Academy is indeed a good place for you."
The original plan had been the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. But Ye Wenxi was clear-headed; this concerned a young man's path. One must not block another's future, or a true grudge would be formed.
His expectations dampened, Zhao Liuyun felt a bit disappointed and waited for the rest.
Ye Wenxi coughed twice and stated the reason: "Girls have delicate thoughts and are naturally more emotional. That girl's name is Ye Lingling. Though she is a few years older than you, because she carries the inheritance of the Nine-Hearted Flowering Crabapple, she has endured much pressure since childhood. Her personality is... somewhat problematic."
"My intention is for you to join Blue Sunshine Academy first and cultivate with Shi Nian for a time. Then, travel to Heaven Dou City to meet the Clan Head and try to get along with Lingling."
They could only recommend; ultimately, it was up to the Clan Head to judge and evaluate the boy!
This was taking the relationship a step further, providing a chance to acquire Whale Glue. In the future, through Ye Lingling, he could also naturally come into contact with Dugu Yan.
This aligned perfectly with Zhao Liuyun's intentions. However, he did not show his hand, instead maintaining a pensive posture to avoid appearing suspicious.
He sat in silence, appearing to be in deep thought.
Seeing him remain silent, Ye Wenxi thought he was refusing and offered a way out: "If you are unwilling, we will not force it. You will still be a Provisional Guest Elder of our Ye family."
"No, I agree." A faint smile appeared in Zhao Liuyun's eyes. "I come from a life of hardship; I do not expect the so-called 'romance' found in storybooks."
He looked at Ye Wenxi, his tone sincere: "You have been extremely good to me, Elder. For your sake, I am willing to try. Feelings and the like can be cultivated over time, and I believe I can earn the Clan Head's approval."
Zhao Liuyun needed the Ye family's resources and channels to obtain Whale Glue, and he needed Dugu Yan to reach Dugu Bo. Why would he refuse? He truly wasn't good at matters of the heart, hence he only said he would "try." But in the world of Soul Masters, as long as one's talent and character were recognized, many things would naturally fall into place.
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