Chapter 208— The Limits of Talent and Loyalty
"This…"
Looking at the blood-red 100,000-year soul ring behind Xiao Lan, and feeling the shift from mental pressure to coldness, it became clear that Xiao Lan also possessed twin martial spirits. Her second martial spirit's first soul ring had already reached the 100,000-year level. Compared to Xiao Xiao's twin martial spirits, whose second spirit's first soul ring was only at the 100-year level, Xiao Lan's starting point was incomparably higher.
Even later…
Xiao Xiao thought to herself that it was probably impossible for her second martial spirit to fuse a 100,000-year soul ring starting from the second soul ring.
If she could acquire the 100,000-year soul technology and bring it back to Shrek, that would be ideal. If not, having two 100,000-year soul rings should be the absolute limit within Shrek.
"My brother said the Soul Palace is no longer short of saints. Of course, if you want to start from the grassroots and accumulate merits slowly, it's not impossible."
Xiao Lan said this and left without waiting for Xiao Xiao's response.
Xiao Lan had been gone for a long time before Xiao Xiao gradually recovered. She considered leaving immediately but remembered Shrek's promise, Du Weilun's appeal, Mu Lao's kindness, and the hopes placed on her by Du Weilun and other Shrek executives. Xiao Xiao's loyalty to Shrek compelled her to make one final attempt.
She believed that with her talent, even starting from the bottom, she still had the chance to become a high-ranking member of the Soul Palace. Although the Soul Palace now had another twin martial spirit owner besides Xiao Qiang, such talents were rare, and the uniqueness of twin martial spirits destined her to stand out.
So Xiao Xiao found a Soul Master in the Soul Palace and asked about the basic duties there. Then…
"You were from Shrek before?"
"Yes."
"Normally, first-ring Soul Masters in the Soul Palace focus solely on cultivation. Second-ring Great Soul Masters go to mountain villages to provide free martial soul awakenings to ordinary people, with wages paid by the Soul Palace."
"The second-ring Great Soul Masters are the most basic level, usually not even staying inside the Soul Palace."
Xiao Xiao frowned. "So I have to help people awaken their martial souls?"
The Soul Master shook his head. "No, even at the grassroots, a three-ring soul master won't be sent to awaken others' martial souls. That would be a waste. Usually, three-ring soul masters handle basic tasks like selling hundred-year-old souls in small cities. But you're from Shrek…"
"What's wrong with being from Shrek?"
"The hall master worries that people from Shrek might try to steal specific soul information, so you won't be selling hundred-year-old souls. The hall master's orders are that if someone from Shrek wants to join the Soul Hall, their only tasks for five years are…"
"Only what?"
"Only serving the daily needs of the saints—bringing water to wash their feet, emptying their chamber pots."
Xiao Xiao: "…"
...
"So Xiao Xiao left?" Xiao Qiang asked from the hall master's exclusive seat.
"Yes, hall master." An eight-ring Soul Douluo elder bowed respectfully.
"Did she say anything before she left?"
"Uh… Palace Master, those words were not very pleasant."
"Then forget it. No need to dwell on it."
"Yes, but Palace Master, is this really okay? After all, she's a genius with twin martial spirits. Isn't it a waste?"
"Of course, I have my own plans. I don't have too many hundred-thousand-year souls to cultivate all twin martial spirits."
"My subordinate spoke wrongly, please forgive me, Lord."
"No problem. You may leave."
"Yes."
The elder left quickly. Xiao Qiang looked out the window, watching Xiao Xiao's retreating figure.
"Xiao Xiao…"
Originally, Xiao Qiang had invited Lan Susu, Lan Luoluo, Ling Luochen, and Xiao Xiao because he had no usable talents at the time.
Nana was one, Yu Mengdi and Ye Guyi were acceptable, but even with the Holy Spirit Church's involvement, this handful wasn't enough.
The Soul Palace would grow into a large organization, requiring many Title Douluo to manage its affairs. Mu Qingxue and her siblings needed to remain central, meaning only three of Xiao Qiang's subordinates were available to be sent elsewhere.
In such a shortage of talent, Xiao Qiang chose to poach from Shrek.
He knew the so-called glory of Shrek was mostly brainwashing. Poaching from them wasn't ideal, but he was desperate.
Ling Luochen would be suppressed in soul power and spirit, but Xiao Qiang believed he could replicate Wang Jinxi's obedience to Tang Wulin.
Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo didn't care—they'd been treated poorly in Shrek and had only stayed there briefly, never entering the inner courtyard.
As for Xiao Xiao…
She was the only one among the four whom Xiao Qiang had seriously considered inviting.
Compared with the controllable Lan Susu, Lan Luoluo, and Ling Luochen, she was the most uncontrollable.
As one of the Shrek Seven Devils in the original story, Xiao Xiao was the "love-brained" one, second only to Huo Yuhao and Wang Donger.
While Huo Yuhao and Wang Donger's love-brained antics were somewhat understandable, Xiao Xiao's were incomprehensible.
Her twin martial spirits could have been a great advantage, but she chose He Caitou—someone who couldn't die for her but for whom she would die.
She hadn't completely abandoned her parents, but she had barely thought of them.
Like Huo Yuhao, she couldn't make huge investments because any investment could be lost at any time.
When he was desperate, Xiao Qiang considered making a binding agreement with her, but she never showed up, and nothing happened later.
With the addition of the Qianfeng family, Xiao Qiang no longer lacked talent. And with Xiao Lan becoming a twin martial spirit holder, Xiao Xiao went from dispensable to unnecessary.
After all, with the same resources, giving them to his own sister was more cost-effective than giving them to a love-brained person who could be swayed by a bowl of porridge.
Therefore, Xiao Xiao's defeat and eventual departure were inevitable.
"She's talented, but unfortunately, there's really no way to help her rise."
Xiao Qiang sighed and turned his attention away from Xiao Xiao's affairs. Not long after, Meng Hongchen burst in angrily with a list.