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"Cheers!"
In the evening, to celebrate their triumphant victory over the Soul Honors team, Yuwen Tuo personally prepared a feast to reward the two heroes of the day.
After defeating Ning Tian's team in the morning, they faced another team in the afternoon. However, this team, whose strongest member was only a Grand Soul Master, posed no challenge for Yuwen Tuo. Xiao Xiao didn't even need to lift a finger, and before he could unleash his Blade Dance, the opposing trio had already surrendered.
The first day had gone far smoother than expected.
Since minors couldn't drink alcohol, Yuwen Tuo hand-pressed fresh fruit beverages for everyone.
Lian Yue felt a bit awkward about attending the celebratory feast. After all, aside from casting a single soul skill at the start, she had spent the rest of the match merely spectating.
But Yuwen Tuo didn't mind. She was there as support, and her role was to contribute that one crucial soul skill. As long as she fulfilled her responsibility, that was enough.
"Yuwen, your strength is truly astonishing. I'm sorry for being so pessimistic before the match. Moving forward, I'll trust the captain completely and give my all to assist you and Xiao Xiao," Lian Yue said, raising her glass in apology.
Before the match, she had assumed defeat was inevitable. Yet, to her surprise, Yuwen Tuo and Xiao Xiao worked together seamlessly, securing a stunning victory.
Among the three Soul Honor teams, the gap in strength shouldn't have been too significant. Since they defeated Ning Tian's team, they stood a reasonable chance against the remaining two.
Yuwen Tuo nodded. "It's fine, Lian Yue. Let's keep working hard together."
After the third round of juice, night had fallen. Yuwen Tuo suggested that the two girls head back to rest early. However, Xiao Xiao wanted to take a walk with him. She claimed she had eaten too much and needed to digest her food.
Lian Yue tactfully excused herself and returned to the dormitory alone, not wanting to be the proverbial third wheel.
"Ah… I'm so full. My stomach feels bigger after eating Tuo Tuo's cooking… Burp!"
By the lakeside of Hai Shen Lake, Xiao Xiao let out a satisfied burp while making playful remarks that could easily be misinterpreted.
This girl was fearless when it came to matters of the heart. Her affection for Yuwen Tuo was plain for everyone to see, and she often teased him with flirtatious comments.
Yuwen Tuo could only shake his head helplessly at her antics.
"By the way, Tuo Tuo, I didn't expect the combination of my 'Six Songs of Early Spring' and your Blade Dance to be so powerful. But recently, during my cultivation, I've felt that these six songs are incomplete. Is there more to this technique?" Xiao Xiao asked.
Today's performance—her music paired with Yuwen Tuo's dance—had not only astonished the audience but also left her deeply moved.
She realized just how much she enjoyed this synergy and wanted to play more songs—one by one—for her beloved.
Yuwen Tuo smiled. "It seems your mastery of music has improved significantly if you're already sensing the continuation of the 'Six Songs of Early Spring.' Yes, these six songs are only a quarter of the entire technique. There are eighteen more songs to follow."
"Eigh… eighteen songs?" Xiao Xiao was stunned. She had thought she was making progress in her cultivation, but now it seemed she had barely scratched the surface.
"So, Xiao Xiao, do you want to learn them?" Yuwen Tuo teased, knowing full well that this day would come eventually. He hadn't expected her curiosity to peak so soon, though—it was proof of her exceptional talent.
"I do!" Xiao Xiao nodded earnestly, her big eyes brimming with hope as she gazed at Yuwen Tuo.
"But Xiao Xiao, the technique I taught you belongs to my master's wife. Passing on the introductory chapters isn't an issue, but the advanced sections are closely guarded secrets."
"I see… I'm sorry, Tuo Tuo. I overstepped," Xiao Xiao lowered her head, feeling a bit disheartened. Still, she acknowledged that even the introductory chapters were far superior to any meditation techniques she had practiced before.
How could she possibly ask for such a precious secret from Yuwen Tuo's sect?
At that moment, Yuwen Tuo added, "However, there is a way around it."
"What kind of workaround?" Xiao Xiao's eyes lit up. If there was a solution, she didn't want to miss out on such a powerful technique. To a soul master like her, a compatible and potent technique held as much allure as a table full of gourmet dishes—or perhaps even more.
"Initiation!" Yuwen Tuo declared solemnly. "Xiao Xiao, are you willing to join my sect? I can accept you as a disciple on behalf of my master and his wife. This way, I can rightfully pass on her techniques to you."
"Join your sect!" Xiao Xiao was momentarily taken aback but quickly understood.
This was indeed the only viable solution. It was natural for sect disciples to learn their sect's techniques.
This was the small trap Yuwen Tuo had laid for Xiao Xiao long ago. After all, he planned to build his own power base someday. A lone wolf couldn't accomplish much, and Xiao Xiao, with her twin martial souls and innocent nature, was the perfect candidate to bring under his wing.
Yuwen Tuo had known that once she mastered the 'Six Songs of Early Spring,' her interest in the subsequent songs was inevitable.
On Douluo Continent, the concepts of lineage and sect affiliation were taken very seriously. One could only ever have a single master in life, and membership in multiple sects was strictly forbidden unless one wished to face universal condemnation.
Yuwen Tuo intended to establish this connection with Xiao Xiao early on.
"Tuo Tuo, you're such a schemer. How can I possibly refuse?" Xiao Xiao pouted. Though naive, she was no fool.
Yuwen Tuo had already sparked her curiosity about the advanced techniques, and given her feelings for him, there was no turning back.
"Very well, Xiao Xiao. In our sect, we don't require kneeling. You may bow to her instead." Knowing Xiao Xiao had agreed, Yuwen Tuo struck the surface of Hai Shen Lake with his palm.
Instantly, a surge of water rose into the air. Using his soul power, Yuwen Tuo shaped the water into the image of a breathtakingly beautiful woman.
"How incredible!" Xiao Xiao exclaimed, amazed by Yuwen Tuo's unexpected trick.
Yuwen Tuo chuckled. "Xiao Xiao, what are you waiting for?"
"Yes, disciple Xiao Xiao pays respects to Master!" Xiao Xiao performed nine consecutive bows to the water-formed figure, officially becoming a disciple.
Yuwen Tuo intoned, "Lady Dugu Ning Ke, above us all, today we welcome Xiao Xiao of the Heavenly Soul Empire, who humbly seeks enlightenment within our Xuan Sect and joins the Gui Gu Sect. I hereby accept her as a disciple on your behalf. From this day forth, she shall be the second disciple under our sect."
From Yuwen Tuo's words, Xiao Xiao gleaned several pieces of information. "Tuo Tuo, so our sect is called Gui Gu? Our master is named Dugu Ning Ke, and I'm the second disciple, which means your master only took you as a disciple, right?"
"That's correct. As I mentioned before, my master shares my name—Yuwen Tuo. His teacher was Yang Su, and his adoptive father was Yang Yichen. Gui Gu was originally his adoptive father's sect. My master's wife wasn't originally part of Gui Gu, but after marrying him, she became affiliated with it." Yuwen Tuo briefly explained the origins of their sect.
Xiao Xiao listened quietly. "I see!" She had never heard of this sect before, but it must be a hidden one. Given the incredible techniques they possessed, it was undoubtedly a formidable organization.
Xiao Xiao happily clung to Yuwen Tuo's arm. "Tuo Tuo, does this mean I've officially joined the family? When will you teach me the new techniques? By the way, should I start calling you Senior Brother now? But I think 'Tuo Tuo' sounds much more intimate. Can I keep calling you that?"
Yuwen Tuo patted her head affectionately. "That's called initiation, silly girl. Don't worry—once you've fully mastered the 'Six Songs of Early Spring,' I'll teach you the next set of techniques. As for how you address me, it's entirely up to you!"