The Strongest Person on the Continent Is a Process, Not a Goal
On the other side, Du Boshou gradually calmed down after experiencing a brief but intense shock.
He swallowed hard and looked at Yu Hao blankly, his eyes still filled with disbelief.
"Yu Hao… are you really a soul master with three martial spirits?"
To be honest, this was not because Du Boshou's temperament was unstable or because he had never seen great storms.
Rather, the existence of a Three-Life Martial Spirit was simply too shocking.
Even as a level ninety-eight Ultimate Douluo, someone who stood at the peak of the Douluo Continent, he had never heard of such a thing.
Yu Hao had already returned to his normal appearance at this moment. He looked calm and composed as he replied:
"Teacher, didn't you already see it just now?"
As he spoke, Yu Hao continued to stare straight into Du Boshou's eyes.
The reason he did not want to expose his true talent was precisely because the third martial spirit—or even the possibility of a fourth—was simply too terrifying.
This had long exceeded the definition of a genius.
Such an existence should be described as a monster, or even something abnormal.
At the same time, such talent would inevitably provoke the greed and covetousness of others.
As mentioned before, twin martial souls could still be considered the domain of geniuses. But a third martial soul belonged to the realm of monsters—things that could not be understood.
And when people encountered things they could not understand, their first instinct was often to study them.
Especially when Yu Hao's apparent cultivation was only that of a second-rank soul master.
Yu Hao was also worried that the Poisonous Douluo standing before him might give rise to such thoughts.
Although with the existence of the Black Dragon逆鳞, Yu Hao did not need to worry about his own life being threatened.
But if that happened, he would have no way of continuing to remain within the Noumenon Sect.
Fortunately, Du Boshou had no such intention at all.
He suddenly strode forward, grabbed Yu Hao by the shoulders, and spoke excitedly:
"Good! Good! This is truly wonderful! I never imagined that in my lifetime, I would be able to accept a peerless genius with three martial spirits as my disciple. This is my honor—and it is also the greatest honor of the Noumenon Sect!"
Du Boshou looked at Yu Hao with joy, expectation, and an almost fanatical sense of hope in his eyes.
"Yu Hao, from today onward, I will teach you with all my strength. At the same time, all the resources of the Noumenon Sect will be tilted toward you. I will personally retrieve the treasure that Mu En holds for you. As for the Soul Master Elite Competition? There's no need to go at all. Just stay in the sect and cultivate in peace."
"My good disciple, I promise you—within ten years, you will become the strongest existence on the Douluo Continent!"
A Three-Life Martial Spirit was more than enough for Du Boshou to mobilize the entire sect to nurture it at all costs.
Yu Hao did not expect that his teacher—whom he had only acknowledged for a few days—would say such words. He was naturally moved, but at the same time, he did not want to spend ten full years secluded within the Noumenon Sect.
"Teacher," Yu Hao said seriously, "I understand what you mean. But I have always believed in one truth."
"Flowers raised in a greenhouse will never truly grow."
"I possess talent that no one else can match, and I also have your teachings. With the sect as my backing, becoming the strongest person on the continent is only a matter of time."
"But that is not my ultimate goal."
As he spoke, Yu Hao's eyes burned with intense determination as he looked up toward the boundless sky. His gaze seemed to pierce through the clouds and cross the horizon itself.
Hearing Yu Hao's words, Du Boshou was deeply shaken.
The strongest person on the continent… was not Yu Hao's ultimate goal?
Then what did he want to become?
A god?
Becoming a god was not an illusion.
Thousands of years ago, someone had done it—and more than one person at that.
But in the following ten thousand years, not a single soul master had succeeded in ascending to godhood.
Even with ambition as lofty as the heavens, Du Boshou had never believed he could compare to those legendary figures of ancient times.
But in Yu Hao, he truly saw hope.
The talent of a Three-Life Martial Spirit was unprecedented, unmatched in ancient and modern times. Even among the gods of ten thousand years ago, no one could rival Yu Hao in pure potential.
"Perhaps… Yu Hao can really do it."
Once this thought appeared in Du Boshou's mind, it took root and sprouted uncontrollably.
A look of fervent excitement appeared on his face.
A god.
An existence forever out of reach, untouchable.
And yet now—he had the chance to personally nurture one.
How could this not be madness? How could it not be exhilarating?
"Hahaha… good!"
Du Boshou laughed loudly, then lowered his head to look at Yu Hao. Locking eyes with him, he said solemnly:
"Yu Hao, you are more ambitious than I ever was. If others heard what you just said, they would think you were daydreaming. But I believe you can do it."
"Go and do whatever you want. I—and the entire Noumenon Sect—will be your strongest backing!"
Seeing the usually stern Du Boshou laugh so freely, Yu Hao felt a warmth surge in his heart.
He stepped forward and bowed deeply, his voice heavy with sincerity.
"Teacher, your disciple will never forget your guidance today."
Previously, Yu Hao had not held much genuine respect for Du Boshou. He had even regarded him merely as a tool and a backer.
But at this moment, he truly felt the old man's sincerity.
"Hahaha, good disciple!"
Du Boshou naturally sensed the change in Yu Hao's attitude, which made him even happier.
...
After the day's cultivation ended, Yu Hao gained tremendously, especially in his understanding of the "Unity of Heaven and Man."
Du Boshou, sitting nearby, was equally satisfied. After a full day of instruction, he had come to understand his disciple's talent even more deeply.
Aside from the Three-Life Martial Spirit that shocked past and present alike, Yu Hao's temperament, comprehension, and willpower were all top-tier.
He perfectly matched the image of an ideal disciple in Du Boshou's heart.
Thinking again of Yu Hao's earlier words, Du Boshou felt his emotions surge once more. He took several deep breaths before barely calming himself.
He glanced again at Yu Hao, who was standing still with his breath restrained, and couldn't help but curse inwardly.
"I've lived for so many years in vain. My mental state isn't even as stable as my own disciple's."
In truth, this was understandable.
After all, the concept of "godhood" had always been something completely beyond his reach.
At this moment, Yu Hao opened his eyes and noticed Du Boshou acting somewhat strangely.
"Teacher, is something wrong?" he asked.
"Ah—no, nothing," Du Boshou replied quickly, waving his hands. He didn't want to show such instability in front of his disciple.
After coughing lightly twice, he said:
"Yu Hao, I think it's best that you do not easily expose your third martial spirit. There are far too many villains with ill intentions in this world. Just think about that old dog Xuan—what was the first thing he wanted to do when he saw your martial soul? He wanted to kill you without shame."
"If the talent of a Three-Life Martial Spirit is exposed, all the major forces on the continent will be unable to remain calm."
"Although I will do my utmost to protect you, there will inevitably be times when I cannot watch over you."
Yu Hao naturally understood Du Boshou's warning.
Although it wasn't only Du Boshou and the Noumenon Sect protecting him—there was also Di Tian, the strongest existence on the continent—Yu Hao still remained cautious.
"Don't worry, Teacher," Yu Hao replied seriously. "Before I fully grow up, I will never easily expose my third martial spirit."
Du Boshou was extremely satisfied with this answer.
Proud but not arrogant. Cautious yet ambitious.
Truly a perfect disciple.
This made Du Boshou couldn't help but think inwardly:
"Why am I so fortunate… to have taken in such an outstanding apprentice?"