chsdbacks Chapter 149 Becoming an Apprentice
Chapter 149 Becoming an Apprentice
After Xiao Xiao emerged from seclusion, she went straight to Zi Ji, who was inside the Spirit Transmission Tower.
"Teacher Ziyan," Xiao Xiao stood straight, her eyes exceptionally bright, "I've thought about this for a long time."
I admire your strength, and I admire even more the precision and control you display in battle. Please accept me as your apprentice.
Murasaki put down the scroll in her hand and looked up at the stubborn girl in front of her.
She remembered Xiao Xiao's performance: twin martial souls, outstanding talent, and what was even more rare was her indomitable spirit.
"My training isn't about 'hardship,' it's about 'life and death.'" Murasaki asked, "Are you sure you want to choose this path?"
"I'm sure." Xiao Xiao didn't hesitate at all. "I don't want to be bound by the labels of 'control type' or 'support type.' I want to become like you... well-rounded and powerful."
A moment of silence spread through the room.
"Alright." Zi Ji's lips curled up almost imperceptibly. "Starting from 5:00 AM tomorrow, the training ground on the third basement level of the Spirit Pagoda. For each instance of being late, you will receive an extra three hours of training."
"Yes! Thank you, teacher!" Xiao Xiao's eyes shone with enthusiasm as she solemnly performed a disciple-acceptance ceremony.
Meanwhile, Tang Ya and Bei Bei also found Bi Ji and applied to join the Spirit Pagoda. After passing the test, Bei Bei and Tang Ya successfully joined the Spirit Pagoda.
Inside the Spirit Pagoda, after turning through the corridor, lies the newly established "Assessment Room." To facilitate the assessment of future disciples, Huo Yutong, following Elder Yi's guidance, personally inscribed the core of the formation on the wall.
Now, even if she is not inside the tower, as long as someone activates their soul power, the formation can operate on its own, interrogating one's true nature.
Then Tang Ya found herself under that familiar ancient tree. Wan Shu was still lying on the wicker chair, seemingly dozing, its aura blending seamlessly with the surrounding vegetation.
"Grandpa Wanshu," Tang Ya called softly, holding a simple earthenware jar in her hands. "This is a new tea that I made, roasted with morning dew from Blue Silver Grass. It's refreshing and calming."
The old man slowly opened his eyes, took the earthenware jar, lifted the lid and sniffed it lightly, a contented smile appearing on his face: "Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Xiaoya."
"Grandpa Wanshu," Tang Ya took a step back, her expression becoming extremely solemn, and suddenly bowed deeply, "Please accept me as your disciple."
Wan Shu paused in his rocking chair. He looked at Tang Ya and said, "Xiao Ya, with your current talent and status as one of the Shrek Seven Devils, any elder in the Sea God Pavilion would be willing to teach you diligently. Why bother worshipping me, this idle 'Soul Saint' old man?"
"It's different." Tang Ya straightened up, her eyes clear and firm. "When I was still a lowly Soul Master, and the Tang Sect was at its lowest point, you didn't find me annoying, you were willing to listen to my ramblings, and you gave me guidance."
You taught me to observe the "breathing" of plants, to feel the resonance between my martial spirit and nature... These are foundations that no profound skill can buy.
She paused, her voice filled with gratitude: "Moreover, the Spirit Pagoda's help was crucial to the Tang Sect's success today."
For both emotional and rational reasons, and from my own heart, I want to learn from you. Please grant my request.
A moment of silence fell beneath the tree, broken only by the rustling of leaves in the breeze.
"...Sigh." Wan Shu sighed, but there was a hint of relief in his sigh. "You silly girl, always so stubborn. Get up."
Tang Ya looked up, her eyes filled with anticipation.
"Then I will accept you as my disciple." Wan Shu smiled, the wrinkles on his face smoothing out like the rings of an old tree.
"However, let me be frank from the start: the cultivation of plants requires patience. You must have the patience to accompany the seed as it slowly sprouts."
"Yes! I understand! Thank you, teacher!" Tang Ya was overjoyed and bowed solemnly again.
Gongyang Mo and Mo Xuan have passed the initial "Questioning the Heart Formation," and they have naturally received the teachings of the Spirit Transmission Tower techniques.
At first, they were just happy about the accelerated circulation of their soul power. But after a few days, they were shocked to discover that this technique could subtly nourish and increase their spiritual power!
Such efficacy would be a closely guarded secret in any sect.
Biji has devised a special training plan for Gongyang Mo's Rainbow Dragon Martial Soul, but it requires several rare spiritual items, which will take some time to prepare.
In contrast to the orderly and hopeful scene inside the Spirit Pagoda, the Shrek Academy's higher-ups have recently been shrouded in gloom.
The problem lies with the spirit rings.
Both the old and new generations of Shrek Seven Devils members have reached a bottleneck in their cultivation and urgently need to acquire soul rings to advance.
However, the Star Dou Great Forest today is no longer what it used to be.
Deep within the mixed zone, the aura of 100,000-year-old soul beasts is no longer uncommon.
Although the outer area remains the primary habitat for ten- to ten-thousand-year-old soul beasts, the ferocious beasts in the core area have a clear attitude towards human soul-hunting teams:
The outer area can operate as usual, and if the mixed area is just hunting a large number of ordinary ten-thousand-year-old soul beasts, they will turn a blind eye.
However, the situation is quite different when it comes to rare soul beasts that have high cultivation levels, have developed intelligence, and are already few in number.
The Demon King had already established a mental link network with all plant-type soul beasts in the mixed zone. Once such hunting behavior was discovered, he could immediately notify nearby high-level soul beasts to rush over and "dissuade" them.
This plant-type ferocious beast would even personally send out vines, the dark green vines emerging from the ground like ghosts, binding the soul masters into dumplings, spinning them in the air into miserable "spinning tops," and incidentally "accepting" their storage soul tools as punishment.
At these times, the arriving spirit beasts would sit in a row, watching the "spinning tops" spin, and counting how many times they were whipped. If any of them spun too little, the spirit beasts would make a sound to remind them.
They'll spare half their lives, since "it's perfectly normal for Soul Hunters to die or be crippled."
Evil spirit masters, however, were not so lucky; they were simply used as fertilizer.
Over time, a terrifying legend spread among the Soul Hunter teams: "There is a vine spirit in the mixed zone who loves spinning tops and also works as a pickpocket," which deterred many teams from joining.
As a result, the supply of high-quality soul rings suitable for high-level soul masters suddenly became scarce.
Just as the Shrek Academy's top leaders were discussing whether to risk organizing a team of powerful individuals to venture deep into the far north or set sail to search, Zi Ji calmly spoke up during a meeting:
"If you all rest assured, the Spirit Pagoda can take care of the soul rings for this batch of students."
She looked around at everyone and continued, "But there are two conditions:
First, the academy Soul Masters accompanying the Dharma Protector must not exceed the Soul Douluo level in strength, including Ling Luochen and his group who planned to go to the far north to obtain Soul Rings.
Secondly, those going to the Star Dou Great Forest must follow my instructions throughout the entire journey.
"If you agree," Murasaki's tone was convincingly calm.
"The Spirit Pagoda will guarantee the absolute safety of all students and will configure the most suitable spirit rings for each student based on their martial spirit characteristics and potential."
A long silence followed in the meeting room.
Ultimately, after careful consideration, the Shrek Academy leadership agreed to the collaboration.
Compared to the potential risks of facing unknown seas or the unpredictable depths of the far north, the solution proposed by the Spirit Pagoda is obviously much safer. Moreover, they have already established initial trust in Huo Yutong and the power behind her.