Chapter 2: Chicken Legs Galore!
He looked at Xuanzi's rare, ecstatic expression, then at Xuan Jingchu, a complex look flashing in his eyes.
"A pure Taotie martial soul, innate full soul power, and that devouring characteristic…" Mu En muttered to himself, "Xuan Zi, the grandson you picked up is no ordinary person."
Yan Shaozhe retracted his spirit rings and walked to Mu En's side, his expression solemn: "Teacher, this child's martial spirit seems to be even purer than Elder Xuan's. I have never seen a martial spirit that can autonomously devour external energy right after awakening."
"The ancient Taotie was known for devouring all things," Mu En said slowly. "Xuan Zi's martial soul is the Taotie Divine Ox. Although he has Taotie blood, it is ultimately a mutated martial soul. And this child..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but Yan Shaozhe already understood.
Xuan Jingchu's awakened form may be the legendary true ancient ferocious beast martial spirit, the Taotie itself.
"What happened today is classified as a top secret of the academy," Mu En said in a deep voice. "No one other than the three of us is allowed to know the full truth about Jing Chu's martial soul. To the outside world, we will only say that it is a top-tier mutated Gluttonous Divine Ox martial soul with innate full soul power."
"Yes," Yan Shaozhe replied solemnly.
On the other side, Xuan Zi finally put Xuan Jingchu down, but still had his arm around his shoulder, grinning from ear to ear: "Kid, tell me! What reward do you want! Chicken legs galore!"
Xuan Jingchu's eyes lit up: "Really? Then I want Juxianlou's secret-recipe roasted chicken legs, three... no, five every day!"
"Ten will do!" Xuan Zi waved his hand, then suddenly remembered something, and lowered his voice mischievously, "But you have to promise me one thing..."
"What?"
"Next time we're fighting over chicken legs, can you let this old man have his way? That old man Mu En always laughs at me for not even being able to beat my grandson, it's so embarrassing!"
Xuan Jingchu blinked, then flashed a bright smile: "No way! It's all about skill, that's what you said."
"Hey, you little rascal!"
Seeing the grandfather and grandson bickering again, Mu En and Yan Shaozhe exchanged a glance, both seeing the smile and seriousness in each other's eyes.
The peaceful days of Poseidon's Pavilion are probably coming to an end.
Xuan Jingchu was currently feeling the newfound power within his body.
He could "hear" the "voice" of the martial spirit, a perpetual, primal hunger, a desire to devour the world.
But at the same time, he could also feel another kind of warm power, from the big hand that was wrapped around his shoulder, from the old man who always called him "little rascal" but had given him everything.
"Don't worry, Old Deng," Xuan Jingchu thought to himself, "No matter what kind of martial soul I have, I am still your grandson."
Outside the window, Sea God Lake remained calm and undisturbed.
But Shrek's fate has begun to slowly turn in a direction no one can predict, thanks to this boy's awakening.
It was evening on the third day after the awakening of the martial spirit.
Xuan Jingchu sat on a large rock by the Sea God Lake, staring blankly at the lake surface.
He held half a chicken leg in his hand, but had no appetite at all.
Ever since awakening his martial soul, a strange "hunger" has lingered over him.
It wasn't hunger, but something deeper. Whenever he saw flowing soul power, glowing soul tools, or even the energy halo surrounding others during cultivation, he would feel a strong urge to "swallow" it.
Something almost happened last night.
He woke up in the middle of the night and found his hand unconsciously reaching out the window, a faint suction force coming from his palm, devouring the free-floating spiritual energy in the air.
Even more terrifying is that his "vision" can penetrate walls and "see" the points of soul power flowing within the sleeping students on Sea God Island, like alluring stars in the night sky.
It took immense willpower for him to force himself to stop, and his clothes were soaked with cold sweat.
"What's wrong? Even chicken legs don't taste good anymore?"
Xuan Zi's voice came from behind him. The old man sat down beside him, took the chicken leg from his hand, and took a bite: "Hmm, Jingchu's cooking is quite good today."
Xuan Jingchu forced a smile: "Old Deng, I'm a little... scared."
Xuan Zi paused in his chewing. He put down the chicken leg and looked at his grandson seriously: "What are you afraid of?"
"I'm afraid of this martial spirit," Xuan Jingchu said in a low voice. "It seems... to have its own thoughts. I almost..."
"I know," Xuan Zi said calmly.
Xuan Jingchu looked up in surprise.
"You think that old man Mu En's Sea God Pavilion is just for show?" Xuan Zi snorted. "There are three warning arrays, two soundproofing barriers, and an emotion monitoring array around your room. Mu En and I knew about your abnormal soul power fluctuations the moment you appeared last night."
"Then you..."
"We're watching you." Xuan Zi gaze deepened. "Watching you struggle, take control, and win."
Xuan Jingchu was stunned.
"Jing Chu, the Taotie Martial Soul is a top-tier beast martial soul, but it is also the most dangerous," Xuan Zi said slowly. "Its essence is devouring, which means it is always in a state of hunger. If you cannot become its master, you will become its slave, a monster driven by the instinct of hunger."
The old man reached out and placed his hand on Xuan Jingchu's shoulder:
"That's why we didn't intervene last night, because this was the first hurdle you had to overcome on your own. And you did it."
Xuan Jingchu felt a lump in his throat.
He then realized that during that long, agonizing night, there were always two pairs of eyes watching over him and believing in him.
"So what do we do next?" he asked.
"Acquire your first spirit ring." Xuan Zi stood up. "Only through the spirit ring can you establish a formal channel between your martial spirit and your will, allowing you to truly control it. Tomorrow morning, we will go to the Star Dou Great Forest."
"Tomorrow? So soon?"
"The sooner the better." Xuan Zi expression was serious. "You're like holding a barrel full of gunpowder right now. The spirit ring is the fuse. Either ignite it safely, or wait for it to explode on its own."
Xuan Jingchu nodded solemnly.
"Alright, stop making that face." Xuan Zi reverted to his playful old man manner, shoving the remaining chicken leg back into Xuan Jingchu's hand.
"Finish eating, then go play with Bei Bei for a while. That kid has come to see you three times today, saying he has some new discoveries to show you."
"Bei Bei?" Xuan Jingchu's eyes lit up.
"Yes, he is Elder Mu's great-grandson." Xuan Zi waved his hand. "Go on, go on, remember to come back before dark."
Xuan Jingchu jumped off the rock and ran towards the student accommodation area on the west side of Sea God Island.
Bei Bei was the first friend he made after coming to Shrek. They were the same age, both six years old.
He ran to the front of an exquisite little building, and before Xuan Jingchu could even knock, the door opened.
"Jingchu!" Bei Bei poked his head out, with blue hair and blue eyes, dressed in a neat white robe, and a gentle smile on his face. "You've finally arrived. I've been waiting for you for so long."
"Sorry, sorry, I got a lecture from Old Man." Xuan Jingchu slipped in. "You said you made some new discovery?"
Bei Bei mysteriously closed the door and took a wooden box out of his desk drawer: "Look at this."
Upon opening the wooden box, one finds a fist-sized crystal emitting a soft blue light, with what appears to be flowing electric current-like patterns within it.