Douluo: I am the True Master

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Chen Youyu inwardly admired Huo Quan's knowledge. She hadn't expected that a student who hadn't even graduated yet could analyze her martial soul so thoroughly. 

"Not bad at all. It seems your foundational knowledge hasn't slipped." 

Suddenly, a faint voice came from behind Huo Quan, causing his entire body to shiver. 

Huo Quan stiffly turned around and saw the young man standing behind him. He forced a smile and said, "Master, you're back." 

"Yes, I just returned to see you get knocked flying. Truly, you've done me proud," Ye Wen said sarcastically in a languid tone. 

Hearing this, Huo Quan's face fell. He knew he was in for it this time. 

"Pfft—sorry, it wasn't intentional. Pfft—" Chen Youyu tried to stifle her laughter but couldn't help herself. 

Ye Wen looked at the girl with some surprise. Her sense of humor seemed unusually low-key. 

"Double your training when we get back," Ye Wen said sternly to Huo Quan. 

At this moment, Ah Ba, who had been standing to the side, turned to face Ye Wen. His eyes gleamed as he looked at the person currently at the peak of fame on the continent. 

"Not bad talent. No wonder you were able to beat my second disciple like that," Ye Wen praised. 

He had clearly observed Huo Quan's battle. It wasn't that Huo Quan lacked skill—it was just that his opponent was even more reckless, fighting with complete abandon. Even someone as skilled as Huo Quan found it difficult to withstand such an onslaught. 

After all, judging by the wounds on Ah Ba's body, it was clear he favored the "kill a thousand, lose eight hundred" style of combat. While Huo Quan's technique was top-notch, his instinctive restraint naturally put him at a disadvantage. 

"Master, can you teach me how to grow stronger? I feel like my soul power growth is slowing down. At this rate, I'll never break through to Soul Sage," Ah Ba asked earnestly. 

Ye Wen didn't answer immediately. Instead, he looked at Ah Ba meaningfully and said: 

"Teaching you to become stronger is certainly possible, but it depends on whether you have what it takes to earn my guidance. 

Come to the academy tomorrow and pass my test. If you succeed, you'll naturally become my disciple, and I'll help you resolve your cultivation issues afterward." 

With that, Ye Wen tossed a token to Ah Ba and left with Huo Quan. 

Ah Ba tightened his grip on the black token engraved with golden characters that read "Tian Xing." 

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The next day, Ah Ba and Chen Youyu arrived before Ye Wen as planned. In front of them was Huo Quan, furiously lifting weights, drenched in sweat, his face flushed red, looking like he was on the verge of collapse. 

"Master, I'm sorry! I really can't go on!" Huo Quan pleaded. 

"Hmph, you still have the energy to shout. Keep going. 

It seems you've been slacking off during the half-year I was away. Your aptitude surpasses Xiao Rui's, yet she's almost caught up to your soul power level. What excuses do you have left? Prepare yourself for a month of hellish training." 

"Ahh! Mistress, save me~" 

Huo Quan tried to elicit sympathy from Ah Yin with his pitiful cries, but to no avail. 

"You're here. Let's begin the test," Ye Wen said indifferently, glancing at the siblings. 

Without hesitation, Ah Ba summoned his martial soul and prepared himself. However, Ye Wen ignored him and turned to Chen Youyu instead. 

"What are you waiting for? Summon your martial soul." 

Chen Youyu pointed at herself in disbelief. 

"But my talent is quite ordinary. I'm already grateful just to be admitted. Master Ye Wen, please don't waste your time on me." 

"Your martial soul is as unique as your brother's. It only appears mediocre because you haven't found the right cultivation method. If you pass my test, you can become as outstanding as your brother," Ye Wen said confidently. 

With the support of immortal herb essences, even the most ordinary martial souls could be cultivated into top-tier ones under Ye Wen's guidance. 

However, such treatment wasn't available to just anyone. First, they had to prove their worth and loyalty. Even if Ah Ba and Chen Youyu were accepted as disciples, Ye Wen only intended to temporarily enroll them as nominal disciples. Their future progress would determine whether they'd receive further investment. After all, this continent was never short of geniuses. 

For any faction, only those geniuses who could be of use held value. As for other so-called talents—what were they worth? Not killing them was already an act of mercy. 

Chen Youyu realized her opportunity had arrived. Taking a deep breath, she summoned her broken sword. 

"Come here," Ye Wen called to the four young disciples training nearby. 

Hu Rou, Xu Teng, Dongfang Jiaojiao, and Dugu Xin. 

Hu Rou and her younger brothers were disciples Ye Wen had raised since birth. Their loyalty and strength were beyond question. 

As for Dugu Xin, his father was the current honorary principal of Tian Xing Academy, a Soul Sage-level powerhouse. With his family's deep heritage, he too was a formidable opponent. 

Looking at the four youngsters, who were clearly shorter than him, Ah Ba sneered disdainfully. Chen Youyu, on the other hand, grew more serious. Though older than them, her cultivation was far inferior. 

"They are all my direct disciples. 

Now, choose an opponent. Defeat them, and you can become my disciple," Ye Wen said, pointing at the four. 

Ah Ba had no interest in fighting girls and turned his attention to the two boys—Dugu Xin and Xu Teng. 

"Let's go!" A Ba pointed his blade at Dugu Xin. 

Since they were both direct disciples, the older one must be stronger. Clearly, Xu Teng, who had just turned ten, wasn't even on Ah Ba's radar. 

Dugu Xin, having recently recovered from the effects of the Bìlín Snake Poison, now exuded the aloof charm of a cold male lead. He glanced coldly at Ah Ba and walked to the side with him. 

Chen Youyu, however, hesitated. Without summoning her martial soul, she couldn't gauge her opponent's strength. 

Because of their martial souls, both Hu Rou and Dongfang Jiaojiao appeared somewhat delicate. Unable to decide, Chen Youyu ultimately chose Hu Rou. 

"Hu Rou, martial soul: Soft Bone Rabbit, 28th-level agility-type battle soul master." 

Hu Rou spoke softly, but the moment her martial soul manifested, there was an undeniable allure. 

Her figure suddenly elongated, a pair of fluffy pink ears sprouting atop her head. Her long, slender legs were covered in pink armor-like true-body armor. 

What shocked Chen Youyu the most were Hu Rou's two soul rings—one yellow, one purple—a super-rare combination she had only seen in Ye Wen's 'Path to Soul Ancestor'. 

Sss!

Chen Youyu marveled inwardly. No wonder these were the disciples of a renowned master. At just ten years old, they had already reached the pinnacle that many ordinary soul masters spent their entire lives striving for. 

But Chen Youyu also began to worry about herself. An eight-level gap in soul power wasn't something easily bridged. 

Immediately, she summoned her own true-body armor onto her right arm. It was simple yet sleek, adorned with a few greenish-blue patterns symbolizing wind elements. 

"Chen Youyu, martial soul: Broken Sword, 20th-level battle soul master. Please guide me."

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