"You refuse?"
Elder Xuan repeated with a slightly stunned expression. A Rank 98 Titled Douluo had proactively offered to take on a disciple, only to be mercilessly rejected!
If word got out, he'd be laughed at by the old relics of his generation!
"Yes, Elder Xuan, I refuse."
Ling Bai's jade-like face bore a seemingly gentle smile, yet it conveyed an unwavering determination.
Yan Shaozhe was equally surprised, but he quickly collected himself and said in a deep voice, "Ling Bai, don't make a hasty decision. I neglected to explain earlier what it means to become Elder Xuan's close-door disciple.
First of all, although you already have a teacher, a Spirit Master's life can have many teachers. For instance, Ancestor Tang San had Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang as his teacher, but weren't Flender, Liu Erlong, and Zhao Wuji also his teachers? So there's no need to worry too much about that.
Second, as someone from the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, you should understand that the higher one's spirit power, the harder it is to cultivate further. By becoming Elder Xuan's disciple, I guarantee that within twenty years, you'll definitely break through to become a Titled Douluo! You're eleven now, so by the time you're thirty-one, you'll be a Seraphim Titled Douluo renowned throughout the continent!
Third, Shrek Academy will fully allocate resources to you. Your future spirit rings will be provided by the academy; you won't need to worry about them at all. Furthermore, the academy will spare no effort in finding spirit bones that match your attributes, each at least at the 10,000-year level! When you break through Rank 90 spirit power, the academy will help you hunt a 100,000-year spirit beast!
Fourth, Shrek Academy is just that—an academy. Whether as Elder Xuan's disciple or as the Sea God Pavilion Master, the academy does not force anyone to join or leave their clan. You will still be a disciple of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan!
These are the promises made to you jointly by me, the Dean of the Martial Spirit Department of Shrek Academy, Elder Xuan of the Sea God Pavilion, and the number one academy on the continent, Shrek Academy."
"Dean Yan's words represent my intentions as well."
Elder Xuan, being an experienced elder, immediately affirmed, reinforcing the credibility of Yan Shaozhe's words. They eagerly awaited Ling Bai's change of heart.
Ling Bai leaned back slightly upon hearing this and sighed, "It's truly an offer that is hard to refuse..."
Yan Shaozhe lived up to his reputation as the Dean of the Martial Spirit Department. Cunning and decisive. Each of the four promises he made was extraordinary and strategically sound.
He feared that Ling Bai might refuse Elder Xuan due to concerns about having multiple teachers, so he directly cited Tang San from ten thousand years ago to alleviate his worries.
Then he enticed him with benefits, commonly known as 'painting a big picture.'
Titled Douluo, full-body spirit bones, 100,000-year spirit rings, 100,000-year spirit bones...
Each promise was more tempting than the last, and given Shrek Academy's ten-thousand-year reputation, Ling Bai had no reason to doubt them!
The most cunning was the fourth point. Ling Bai was a disciple of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan; the teacher he mentioned was most likely someone from his clan.
Initially, Yan Shaozhe and Elder Xuan indeed harbored thoughts of having Ling Bai sever ties with the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. After all, who would want to share a successor?
But upon seeing his outright refusal, Yan Shaozhe immediately changed his approach, emphasizing that Shrek Academy wouldn't interfere with his relationship with the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan to reassure him.
They were willing to do whatever it took to keep Ling Bai.
If someone were to ask Yan Shaozhe and Elder Xuan whether it was worth it, their answer would undoubtedly be: absolutely!
Shrek Academy's immense influence was a double-edged sword. The Sun Moon Empire viewed it as a thorn in their side, and the three Douluo Empires were also wary of Shrek. The fact that they hadn't sent any direct imperial family members to enroll in the last century subtly conveyed their stance.
The Seraphim was historically the most gifted God-level Martial Spirit. With Ling Bai holding the line, Shrek's lofty status for the next three hundred years would remain unchallenged.
More importantly, history had proven that the Seraphim was a God-level Martial Spirit capable of stable inheritance!
Shrek Academy had produced three Ultimate Martial Spirits, but their descendants did not inherit the ultimate attributes.
Ma Xiaotao was a living example. Ten thousand years ago, Phoenix Douluo Ma Hongjun's Martial Spirit evolved into the Nine Headed Fire Phoenix, and the phoenix flames evolved into the Ultimate Fire. Yet his direct descendant, Ma Xiaotao, still struggled with the torment of the Evil Fire!
Yan Shaozhe and Elder Xuan had planned everything in advance. Once Ling Bai became Elder Xuan's disciple, the academy would groom him step by step to become the Sea God Pavilion Master. They would then have Ma Xiaotao pair up with him and use his holy power to purify the Phoenix Evil Fire while ensuring that the Seraphim bloodline remained within the academy!
From then on, the Seraphim would be synonymous with Shrek Academy!
In the face of future glory spanning millennia, what did these temporary investments matter?
"We hope you'll consider this seriously and thoroughly," Yan Shaozhe said earnestly.
Ling Bai did not give an immediate answer but instead asked, "Elder Xuan, Dean, do you know who my teacher is?"
"Old Zhou?"
Elder Xuan thought that only Jianmu Douluo could make Ling Bai refuse him.
"Yes," Ling Bai nodded.
Yan Shaozhe frowned and said, "While Senior Jianmu's strength is indeed formidable, his Martial Spirit is plant-type. What he can teach you might not be entirely suitable. Over ten thousand years, Shrek Academy has produced countless Spirit Masters and cultivated three Ultimate Martial Spirits; we can provide you with the best education and resources."
"The Dean is correct, but what I'd like to convey is how much my teacher and the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan have invested in me over the years."
A light breeze stirred Ling Bai's golden hair while his eyes remained deep and serene:
"10,000-year Deep Sea Demonic Whale Rubber and 10,000-year Demon Soul Great White Shark Oil—I've been consuming them since I was a child. The 10,000-year Jade Spirit Fruit has been my everyday fruit. Moonlight Rice from the Extreme North, 10,000-year Earth Dragon Tendons, 10,000-year Deep Sea Lobsters... the ingredients for my three daily meals never repeat from one day to the next.
My physique, spirit power, and spirit rings that surpass the limits were all gradually built up with resources provided by the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. Moreover, after battling Du Busi, my teacher was left with hidden injuries, but he chose to endure the recurrence of these injuries to forcibly refine the Bright Emperor Pill for me."
"The Bright Emperor Pill..."
Just thinking about the materials required to refine the Bright Emperor Pill made even the usually frugal Yan Shaozhe wince.
The main ingredient of the Bright Emperor Pill was the inner core of a 100,000-year light-attribute spirit beast, supplemented by dozens of mild 10,000-year light-attribute heaven and earth treasures. It was hailed as the number one pill on the continent.
Mysterious Water Pill, Spirit Ascension Pill, Spirit Nourishing Pill, Xuanwu Divine Pill...
All of these pills, which were considered unattainable treasures in the eyes of the world, were mere scraps compared to the Bright Emperor Pill!
Upon hearing about the Bright Emperor Pill, both Elder Xuan and Yan Shaozhe understood that Shrek Academy couldn't compete with the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
Shrek Academy was still 'painting a big picture,' while the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan had already hand-fed him the real thing!
There was a term in gambling that perfectly described the behavior of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan—going all-in.
They had placed all their bets on Ling Bai, betting on his smooth growth and hoping he wouldn't forget the clan once his wings were fully grown.
Ling Bai decided to speak openly. He looked at Elder Xuan and Yan Shaozhe and said:
"The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan has been at odds with the Body Sect ever since my teacher fought Dugu Busi. One must know how to repay kindness. If the day comes when the two factions go to war, I will not abandon the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
As far as I know, Shrek Academy doesn't involve itself in conflicts between factions. When the Ten Thousand Year foundation of the Tang Sect was seized, Shrek chose not to intervene. Would you accept a successor who might one day be in a life-and-death struggle with the Body Sect?"
Yan Shaozhe and Elder Xuan fell into complete silence. The Body Sect was a super sect, no less formidable than Shrek's Sea God Pavilion.
Risking the entire academy for Ling Bai wasn't worth it, no matter how they calculated it.
"The matter of apprenticeship can be discussed later."
Yan Shaozhe broke the heavy atmosphere. "Focus on your studies at the academy. I haven't decided on a reward yet for helping Ma Xiaotao last night. How about this. I promise that if you encounter any difficulties in the future, just come to me, and I'll resolve them."
Originally, Yan Shaozhe was just being polite, but to his surprise, Ling Bai immediately spoke up.
"Dean, I want to change rooms."
"Is that all?"
Yan Shaozhe responded with little interest, "Feel free to choose any place on Sea God Island."
"Then I'd trouble the Dean to arrange a room for me at the Ancient Golden Tree."
"Sure... wait a minute!"
Yan Shaozhe's eyes almost popped out of their sockets.
"The Ancient Golden Tree?! Don't be ridiculous, kid!"