"Your Eminence, you called for me!" The Mother of Crimson respectfully bowed to Leng Yaozhu.
"No need for formalities, have a seat," Leng Yaozhu smiled and said. "I heard you won again—congratulations."
"You jest, Your Eminence. He was only a Soul Emperor. Defeating him is hardly anything to boast about—not worth your personal congratulations," the Mother of Crimson replied.
"Do you know who your opponent was?" Leng Yaozhu asked with a smile.
"I do. Before the match, I bought his information. He's Tang Wulin from Shrek Academy, the husband of the Light-Dark Douluo," the Mother of Crimson said. Although Tang Wulin had tried hard to conceal his identity at the start of the competition...
After all, he was only a Soul Emperor. During the elimination rounds, when he was forced to reveal his Blue Silver Emperor and Golden Dragon King bloodlines against a Soul Sage with a battle armor...
His true identity was exposed.
When his identity came to light, it caused quite a stir.
Shrek Academy had been accused of stealing from the Eternal Heaven and was designated a traitorous organization by the Sun-Moon Federation.
Eventually, Yali personally disbanded Shrek Academy.
Through Yali's mediation, students who promised to leave Shrek Academy only needed to register with the Sun-Moon Federation and periodically report their whereabouts.
Just like Yuanen Yehui and Ye Xinglan.
As for those who refused to leave Shrek Academy—
To save their lives, Yali personally had them sent to prison.
Tang Wulin, being the husband of the Light-Dark Douluo Long Yeyue, had once held a high-profile wedding in Mingdu's Royal Plaza.
He had also served as the Sea God Pavilion Master for a time.
During that period, Tang Wulin was as renowned as Xia Yizhi.
When it became known that he was determined never to renounce Shrek Academy—
Many watched closely, curious to see what kind of punishment the Federation would deal him.
Unexpectedly, Tang Wulin was broken out of prison.
A fugitive like him, daring to so brazenly participate in the Federation-wide Star Dou Battle Network Challenge—
How could it not cause a sensation?
Initially, the Sun-Moon Federation wanted to blacklist Tang Wulin entirely.
But they also wanted to use the tournament to locate and capture him.
So they allowed him to continue competing—
Hoping to track down the location of his Star Dou cabin.
Unfortunately, with Long Yeyue and Chen Xinjie—both Limit Douluos—protecting him, every time the Federation pinpointed his location, he was relocated beforehand.
They missed him every time.
Now Tang Wulin's identity was so widely known that any organization selling competitor info could easily provide his data.
So it was no surprise the Mother of Crimson knew.
"What do you think of his strength?" Leng Yaozhu asked again.
"He's very strong. Among those of his level, he's a standout. If not for the cultivation gap, I wouldn't be his match," the Mother of Crimson said, though unwillingly.
"What if I told you that he's the son of Sea God Tang San? Would you still think defeating him wasn't worth celebrating, even if it was due to a cultivation crush?" Leng Yaozhu asked again.
"Sea God Tang San... Founder of Shrek Academy and Tang Sect. The lone hero who once defeated two gods from the Spirit Hall..." the Mother of Crimson's breathing grew rapid, her chest heaving, eyes full of disbelief.
"'Lone hero,' huh." Leng Yaozhu's expression stiffened slightly. She hadn't expected the Mother of Crimson to instinctively recall that title. But she still nodded. "Yes, it's him. So? Defeating the son of the Sea God—shocking, right?"
The Mother of Crimson seemed genuinely stunned. It took her a long moment to recover, then she took a deep breath and said, "Your Eminence, I... I find that hard to believe."
"I've no reason to lie to you," Leng Yaozhu smiled slightly. "Your martial soul is Devouring Flame, correct?"
"Yes, Your Eminence," the Mother of Crimson nodded.
"Good. The Spirit Transmission Tower can now produce pseudo 100,000-year artificial soul spirits. Do you want one? If so, tell me which soul spirit you need, and I'll personally see to its creation. I guarantee it'll be a pseudo-100,000-year one. If you'd rather wait for a real one, I won't object—but I must remind you, even if the tower pools its top researchers, it'll still take years to develop true artificial 100,000-year soul spirits. Be mentally prepared," Leng Yaozhu said seriously.
In truth, even now, the Spirit Transmission Tower couldn't create pseudo-100,000-year spirits without Gu Yue's help.
On its own, the tower wasn't capable.
When the Mother of Crimson joined the Spirit Transmission Tower, she was already at the peak of Rank 89 Soul Douluo.
She joined for better soul spirits.
Leng Yaozhu didn't want her to wait any longer.
If needed, she'd humble herself and beg Gu Yue again—for the Mother of Crimson.
"Your Eminence, I think I'll wait a little longer. A few years—I can afford that," the Mother of Crimson said with furrowed brows.
"Are you sure? Your body is at its prime now. If you wait too long, your physical condition will decline. That'll hinder your chances of reaching Super Douluo or Limit Douluo," Leng Yaozhu said.
Looking at her, Leng Yaozhu continued, "If you think a pseudo-artificial 100,000-year soul spirit from the tower is too cheap for you, I'll make a promise: in the future, I'll give you a full set of four-word battle armor, materials and forging included."
The Mother of Crimson was thirty-three. For a Soul Douluo, failing to break through would soon mean decline.
Waiting for a real 100,000-year spirit while wasting her prime years?
That, to Leng Yaozhu, was unwise.
She valued the Mother of Crimson deeply.
After all, the core of her divine realm had come from her.
If possible, Leng Yaozhu wanted her to become a god herself.
Even if she couldn't forge her own godhood, Leng Yaozhu would help her inherit one.
But that required effort from the Mother of Crimson.
If her cultivation stalled—there was nothing Leng Yaozhu could do.
Hearing all this, the Mother of Crimson had no choice but to say, "Your Eminence, may I think it over? I'll give you an answer after the Star Dou Federation Tournament ends."
She really didn't want to break through to Titled Douluo just yet.
Doing so without further progress would arouse Leng Yaozhu's suspicion.
But if she advanced and reached Limit Douluo, Leng Yaozhu would surely help her craft a divine seat.
Even if she failed to forge her own, she'd inherit one.
She could tell—Leng Yaozhu truly wanted to thank her.
But binding her divine seat to Leng Yaozhu's divine realm core?
That would be like chaining herself.
She wouldn't accept that.
She still hoped to return to her Crimson Realm and forge her own divine realm.
Then, she would be its master.
Surely better than serving under Leng Yaozhu.
"Alright then," Leng Yaozhu nodded, her face turning serious. "One more thing."
"What else, Your Eminence?" the Mother of Crimson asked, noticing the change in tone.
Leng Yaozhu took a deep breath and said gravely, "Shenhong, would you be willing to take me as your teacher?"
"Take a teacher?!" Even the Mother of Crimson was stunned for a moment.
She was a half-step God King!
Did she really need to take a Limit Douluo as her teacher?
"I had a student before... a rebellious one," Leng Yaozhu snorted, gritting her teeth. "One only called me teacher on special occasions, the other annoyed me daily. I gave them everything—and they lied to me for years. Used me. If fate hadn't intervened, I might never have discovered their true identities. Hmph! Traitors, both!"
At this moment, Leng Yaozhu truly showed her emotions. From the moment Gu Yue took her as a master, she'd done her best to fulfill that role.
But Gu Yue had hidden her true identity, and only used Leng Yaozhu's status at the start.
Every time she thought of that, she clenched her teeth.
Her antics with Gu Yue—freeloading, sparring—were partly her way of venting.
"Please calm down, Your Eminence," the Mother of Crimson quickly consoled her. "What exactly did Master Xia Yizhi and Miss Gu Yue lie to you about?"
She could see that Leng Yaozhu wasn't truly angry.
"It's complicated," Leng Yaozhu smiled again, then said, "We're both fire-type. I believe I have some attainments in fire-element cultivation. When you break through to Titled Douluo, Super Douluo, even Limit Douluo, I can guide you. Even now, I believe I can still help."
"Your Eminence, I..." The Mother of Crimson opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say.
Take Leng Yaozhu as her teacher?
She couldn't get past that, personally.
But given Leng Yaozhu's status—if she publicly declared she was taking a disciple—
Even Super Douluos would beg to join.
And now Leng Yaozhu had gone so far. Refusing would seem ungrateful.
Might even make Leng Yaozhu suspicious.
"I won't force you. Think about it. If you're willing, come find me anytime. I promise, if you accept, I'll throw you a grand apprenticeship banquet—let the whole world know you're my student. That ungrateful disciple never got that," Leng Yaozhu said with a mischievous smile.
Hmph!
Gu Yue, you never treated me sincerely as your teacher?
I'll show you what a loyal student looks like.
"Thank you, Your Eminence. I'll think about it seriously," the Mother of Crimson said again with some reluctance.
"Mm." Leng Yaozhu nodded gently. "I don't want to burden you mentally. Whether you accept or not, don't overthink it—don't let it affect your next match."
How can I not overthink it? You're a Limit Douluo, asking a half-step God King to be your disciple! You want a grand banquet? In front of everyone? That means kneeling and bowing? the Mother of Crimson grumbled internally.
While kneeling wasn't customary anymore, a public ceremony would require it.
Formal teacher, formal student.
Even if she didn't care about such things, given Leng Yaozhu's sincerity, she didn't dare accept.
Gu Yue and Xia Yizhi had already made Leng Yaozhu gnash her teeth.
If she became a disciple, and Leng Yaozhu later learned her true identity—
She'd lose her mind.
Just imagining that scenario sent chills down the Mother of Crimson's spine.
"Never push a woman to the edge. The consequences are yours to bear," she warned herself again.
"Yes, Your Eminence. I need to prepare for my next match, so I'll take my leave now," she said, taking a deep breath. She had to leave—who knew what Leng Yaozhu might demand next?
"Go on," Leng Yaozhu waved her off. Noticing her reluctance, she added, "Even if you don't take me as your teacher, you can still come to me with any questions during your cultivation. Don't be shy."
"Thank you, Your Eminence. I'll take my leave!" The Mother of Crimson nodded and turned away.
Watching her go, Leng Yaozhu sighed lightly.
She had wanted to take her as a disciple mainly because of the 100,000-year artificial soul spirit.
Even with Gu Yue's help, they could only make pseudo versions for now.
And the Mother of Crimson wasn't satisfied with those.
That left only real 100,000-year artificial spirits.
Leng Yaozhu knew Gu Yue could make one—
But it required the Genesis of Creation.
Gu Yue had already agreed to make one for Muxi.
As for the Mother of Crimson—she had helped forge Leng Yaozhu's divine core.
Asking Gu Yue to return to the Genesis Realm just for her?
Leng Yaozhu didn't know how to ask.
But if the Mother of Crimson became her disciple, and she threw a banquet—
Then she wouldn't even have to ask.
As the senior disciple, Gu Yue would be expected to bring a gift for her new junior sister.
A real 100,000-year soul spirit wasn't too much to ask.
That's why she thought of this apprenticeship idea.