Chapter 50: The Master's Analysis, Part 1
Bibi Dong walked Ye Wen out, neither of them saying much. She admitted to herself that she was drawn to Ye Wen's unique aura, but she couldn't bring herself to act on it. This was only their first meeting, and as a girl, she naturally felt a bit shy about expressing interest so soon. She debated with herself, feeling uncertain.
"Should I ask for his contact information? But what if he thinks I'm being too forward? This feeling is so confusing..."
Ye Wen, meanwhile, wasn't reading into her silence. Glancing at the beautiful girl beside him, he couldn't help but feel some pity for her tragic fate as described in the original story. Eventually, he spoke up.
"Lady Bibi Dong," he said, "though it may not be my place, I would advise you to keep your distance from the representatives of the two empires and the Three Great Clans. Especially when it comes to matters of the heart. You're the Holy Maiden of Spirit Hall, and entanglements could only bring harm to you and others. That's all I have to say. I wish you happiness. Goodbye."
Bibi Dong was stunned for a moment, but by the time she processed his words, he had already disappeared from view. She frowned in frustration, muttering to herself, "Who does he think he is? Of course, I know I'm the Holy Maiden of Spirit Hall." With that, she turned and walked away in a huff.
Clearly, she hadn't yet grasped the full weight of Ye Wen's warning. Farther away, Ye Wen watched for a moment before he left.
It's true, he thought, that men often find themselves captivated by beautiful women, and Bibi Dong was indeed breathtaking. He couldn't deny he appreciated the sight, and in any historical drama, wouldn't most men imagine a harem filled with such beauty?
Though Ye Wen's feelings for Ah Yin kept his heart grounded, he still had a natural appreciation for beauty. But he was also a rational person, and he knew that Bibi Dong was burdened with too many fateful entanglements. Beyond being the Holy Maiden, she was gifted with top tier potential and was nearly as talented as himself. He knew that her future journey to the Killing Capital could likely attract the attention of the dark Rakshasa God. Ye Wen shivered.
Rakshasa God the title itself was unsettling. What kind of twisted world allowed such a vile deity to exist?
Inside the Pope's Palace, Qian Xunji was listening to his subordinate report what Ye Wen had said to Bibi Dong. Given his experience, Qian Xunji could easily read his disciple's admiration for Ye Wen and was pleased to hear Ye Wen's sensible advice. If either empire or the Three Great Clans thought to involve Bibi Dong, he would not hesitate to shed blood. Her immense potential was crucial for defending Spirit Hall, and Ye Wen's discernment earned his approval.
Out in the streets, bustling as always, high ranking soul masters kept a watchful eye on Ye Wen as he left the Pope's Palace. He noticed them but feigned ignorance, heading back to his hotel as if oblivious to the attention. Once there, he wasted no time in circulating rumors about his conversation with the Pope, creating an undercurrent of intrigue.
Gradually, more soul masters approached Ye Wen to speak with him. For safety, he decided it was better to tone down his appeal, so he began selling copies of his theories. The price wasn't high a single gold coin per book. For high level soul masters, this was practically free, though he made sure the books had a polished appearance to avoid giving offense.
When the onlookers saw that Spirit Hall had not intervened to halt the sales, they became more convinced of Ye Wen's credibility and rushed forward to buy copies. Some even bought multiple, evidently feeling that it was worth stocking up. Ye Wen had only prepared 300 copies, which quickly sold out.
The seasoned soul masters recognized Ye Wen's value, especially once they understood his intent in establishing an independent academy. Many were pleased that his academy would be neutral and not compete with them for influence. Some even considered sending their most talented young disciples to study under Ye Wen, given the impressive track record of his own students. Even the weakest among them, Su Qiaoqiao, had an optimal soul ring configuration, and Ye Wen's top students, the Huo siblings, had absorbed a 10,000 year soul ring as their fourth ring. Their consistent performance in the Battle Arena was proof of Ye Wen's teaching prowess. Despite being a four ring soul master, Ye Wen had undeniably produced students with outstanding potential, with some likely to reach Soul Douluo status or even Title Douluo in the future.
Three days later, the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament officially began. Watching the soul masters, mostly young people his own age, battling on the arena stage, Ye Wen couldn't help but muse, "There's so much more to being a soul master than fighting."
Due to his influential theories, Ye Wen had been seated among Spirit Hall's senior archbishops. Each of them was a renowned soul master, all at least Soul Emperor level. Initially, they assumed Ye Wen was merely the beneficiary of a high ranking patron. But after hearing about his work, their attitude warmed considerably.
Ye Wen's reputation only grew after he helped a few Soul Emperors who had been stuck at a bottleneck advance to Soul Saint level. They became increasingly respectful, realizing he possessed a rare depth of understanding about soul master theories. Watching these powerful archbishops make progress thanks to his guidance stirred envy among the dignitaries sitting near Qian Xunji.
Ye Wen's reputation was steadily taking root, and his theories were quietly reshaping the soul master community, one breakthrough at a time.
Thunder Douluo Yu Yuanzhen watched Ye Wen chatting and laughing with others across the way, his eyes flickering with interest. After a moment, he turned to Qian Xunji and suggested, "Your Holiness, the current commentary lacks insight. Perhaps Master Ye Wen would make a better analyst?"
Seeing the two mediocre teams on the field, Qian Xunji, who had been struggling to stay awake, suddenly showed interest. Yet, showing restraint, he replied, "I wouldn't want to impose upon him as a guest here. I'll send someone to ask if he'd be willing."
With a nod, Qian Xunji directed a nearby attendant to approach Ye Wen. When the request was delivered, Ye Wen was momentarily taken aback. He hadn't expected this turn he had already achieved everything he'd planned. Yet, refusing the Pope outright could be seen as disrespectful to Spirit Hall, and it was wise not to invite trouble. Reluctantly, he accepted.
As he took the commentator's microphone, he noticed the usual commentator's crestfallen look and offered him a few words of comfort.
"Sorry, friend, I didn't see this coming. If you find yourself out of work, there's always a place for you at the soul master academy I'm establishing."
The man brightened a bit at this, and Ye Wen glanced at the unusual broadcast device, realizing it was a tool soul.
"Another odd soul type," he mused.
He surveyed the current match, which was indeed lackluster. One side was from Thunder Academy, aligned with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, while the other was from the Star Luo Empire's Exotic Beast Academy. Despite their affiliations, the two teams were evenly matched in a slow, dragging contest.
Taking a deep breath to gather his thoughts, Ye Wen began his commentary.
"Esteemed audience, let's start by looking at Thunder Academy's team. The leading three are all attack type soul masters, each with the illustrious Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul. Even in the remotest of places, most soul masters have heard of this renowned martial soul, considered a Super Martial Soul for a reason."
"This soul has a unique ability: partial dragon transformation before the Soul Saint level, greatly enhancing its wielders' battle capabilities. That's one reason the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is so respected across the continent. Those interested can read more about this soul in An Analysis of Martial Souls, which will soon be available in bookstores. It includes detailed information on various martial souls, annotated illustrations, and a guide to cultivating mutated martial souls."
The beginning of his commentary flattered the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, leaving Thunder Douluo Yu Yuanzhen visibly pleased. But Ye Wen's casual insertion of an advertisement drew chuckles from the assembled high ranking officials though none thought Ye Wen would make any money from book sales. The world of Douluo had no copyright protections, and Ye Wen sought fame, not riches.
He had indeed achieved what the so called "Master" Yu Xiaogang had tried and failed to do. Where Yu Xiaogang's theories were eventually mocked, Ye Wen's were revolutionizing how people viewed martial soul cultivation.
Ye Wen thought, Master, hmm... I could get used to that title.
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