"Since you've taken me as your master, you'll need to follow my rules," Leng Yaozhu stated with a stern expression. "First, you must never kill indiscriminately or stray into the dark path!"
"Yes, Master!" Jing Shaoyu replied respectfully.
"Second, never betray or disrespect your master."
"Yes!"
"And third… I haven't thought of it yet, so we'll leave it at that for now!" The serious atmosphere was abruptly broken by Leng Yaozhu's playful laugh. "Now that we have some ground rules, it's time for your initiation gift!"
With a graceful flip of her hand, a ring adorned with a crimson gemstone appeared in her palm, radiating a soft warmth alongside a faint pulse of soul power.
"Look, this ring, called the 'Sky Phoenix Ring,' is my token for you," Leng Yaozhu explained. "Besides being a storage soul tool, it holds a unique offensive ability. The golden phoenix carved into the gem contains a sliver of my Phoenix Flame. Just infuse it with your soul power, and it can deal with even a Titled Douluo."
"Thank you, Master!" Jing Shaoyu said, thrilled, as he slipped the ring onto his finger.
When he examined the ring's internal space, he was stunned to find it nearly as large as the training field at Eastsea Academy.
"Now that we're master and disciple, there's no need to be so formal," Leng Yaozhu said with a smile as she sat down lazily on a nearby sofa, crossing her legs. "Let's see... what should I call you? Shaoyu? No, that feels too distant. A-Yu? Too plain."
Hearing her murmur to herself, Jing Shaoyu felt a sudden sense of foreboding.
"Aha! I know!" Leng Yaozhu exclaimed, beaming. "I'll call you 'A-Yuan'! It's unique and fits you perfectly!"
Jing Shaoyu blinked in confusion. "Master, why that name?"
"In ancient texts, the 'Yuan' bird was a young phoenix. Since I'm the Phoenix, and you're my disciple, calling you 'A-Yuan' is just perfect, don't you think?" Leng Yaozhu said proudly. "Isn't it a clever nickname?"
"Um… Isn't it a bit too obscure?" Jing Shaoyu asked cautiously.
"What's that? You don't like it?" Leng Yaozhu's gaze sharpened, and he immediately felt a chill down his spine, prompting him to surrender instantly.
"Not at all!" Jing Shaoyu said quickly. "As long as it makes you happy, Master!"
"Hmph! That's more like it!" Leng Yaozhu huffed in satisfaction before asking, "A-Yuan, do you have twin martial souls?"
Jing Shaoyu's heart skipped a beat as he carefully considered his response. Since Leng Yaozhu had already picked up on it, he realized honesty was the best option for trust between them.
"Yes, Master."
"Your second martial soul is a spear, correct?" Leng Yaozhu's eyes sparkled, and she smiled. "Show it to me."
Jing Shaoyu summoned the "Endbringer Divine Spear."
The moment the spear materialized, the room was filled with a violent and destructive aura, prompting Leng Yaozhu to sit up straight, her face reflecting both caution and awe.
"Such a powerful aura!" she murmured, her eyes flashing with golden-red light as an intense, holy energy suppressed the spear's aura.
"A-Yuan, what's the name of this martial soul?" she asked.
"Master, I call it the 'Endbringer Divine Spear,'" Jing Shaoyu replied.
"Endbringer Divine Spear?" Leng Yaozhu paused, then chuckled. "Quite an ambitious name… but I like it. Alright, you can put it away now."
"Yes." Jing Shaoyu withdrew his spear.
"Now, let me see your Origin Sprite martial soul."
"Yes." Jing Shaoyu then activated his Origin Sprite.
As his appearance transformed, Leng Yaozhu's eyes gleamed with curiosity. She observed the "Crown of Nature" hovering behind his head, recognizing its extraordinary nature, though she couldn't fully comprehend it. She reached out to touch it, only for her hand to pass through.
An illusion?
Her curiosity deepened, and she asked, "A-Yuan, does this ring have a name? And does your ability to control plants, as well as the fire and water skills, come from it?"
"Yes, Master," he replied. "It's called the 'Crown of Nature,' the core of my Origin Sprite martial soul. The gemstones on it are known as Dao Source Stones. The fire and water techniques are granted by them."
"Dao Source Stones?" Leng Yaozhu's eyes flashed with understanding. "That explains the strong fire element I sensed… so fascinating! Tell me, A-Yuan, does the number of these stones increase as you grow? And do they bring new skills?"
"Yes, Master," he replied. "The Origin Sprite has ten Dao Source Stones. Each one grants a resistance to a particular element and an associated skill."
Leng Yaozhu looked astonished; her guess had been correct. "Incredible, A-Yuan! Your martial soul is extraordinary!"
Jing Shaoyu laughed. "It's… not bad."
"'Not bad'? Don't play it down!" Leng Yaozhu gave him a disapproving look before shifting her gaze to the wings on his back.
As she examined the pure white wings, a hint of displeasure flashed in her eyes, as if reminded of something unpleasant. "Your martial soul even has white wings… doesn't really match your style."
"Is… that so? I think they're alright," Jing Shaoyu said, feeling confused by her reaction.
"A-Yuan, here's a goal for you," Leng Yaozhu said, her tone half-playful, half-serious. "Become the top healer on the continent and surpass that Yali woman!"
Jing Shaoyu held back a laugh as he asked, "Master, who is Yali? Do you have a grudge against her?"
"She's a sanctimonious healer," Leng Yaozhu replied through gritted teeth. "Her martial soul, the Wishing Angel, is also a high-level healing soul. But unlike your Origin Sprite, it only has healing abilities, no combat potential."
Hearing her description, Jing Shaoyu couldn't help but smile inwardly. Seems like there's some rivalry here.
"She stole the man I liked! As my disciple, you must surpass her and claim the title of the top healer for my sake!" Leng Yaozhu declared.
"Master, if Yali truly is that much of a saint, wouldn't she not care about the title?" Jing Shaoyu pointed out. "Even if I surpassed her, it might actually make her happy."
"Uh—" Leng Yaozhu paused, her previously excited expression falling. Frustrated, she asked, "Well, then what do you suggest? You're my disciple; you have to find a way to avenge me!"
Jing Shaoyu rolled his eyes and replied, "Master, you seem to have high expectations for me. I'm only a Spirit Elder right now, and if Yali is truly the top healer on the continent, she's probably a Titled Douluo. How exactly am I supposed to get you justice?"
Leng Yaozhu realized her mistake, looking embarrassed as she laughed awkwardly. "This only shows how much faith I have in you, A-Yuan! With your talent, you could surpass not only Yali but even… him."
She trailed off, her voice becoming softer as her expression filled with excitement.
Jing Shaoyu looked at her in confusion.
With a gleeful laugh, Leng Yaozhu exclaimed, "A-Yuan, with your martial soul, you would actually be a perfect disciple for Yali or… him. But I found you first! Even if they want to take you as a student later, they'll have to acknowledge me as your first teacher! Haha!
Although my martial soul isn't as compatible with yours as theirs might be, that's trivial for a Limit Douluo like me. So no worries there! I just thought of a really interesting idea… Oh, I can't wait!"
Watching her laugh with joy, Jing Shaoyu couldn't shake a strange feeling of unease.
Probably just my imagination… he thought, hoping his new master's "interesting idea" wouldn't be too troublesome.
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