NABC Chapter 13: The Speaker's Order to Accept Disciples - East Sea Academy
Chapter 13: The Speaker's Order to Accept Disciples - East Sea Academy
Chapter Thirteen: The Speaker's Order to Accept Apprentices
Donghai College, Class Zero Forging Room.
The air seemed to freeze, with only the hissing sound of metal cooling.
Tang Wulin knelt on the ground, panting heavily. Sweat dripped from his nose onto the scorching metal floor, instantly evaporating into white mist. His arms ached so much that they were almost numb—a physiological reaction to overexertion.
Opposite him, Mo Yan was still dressed in a black trench coat, hands in his pockets, not even the hem of his coat was disheveled. He looked down at Tang Wulin, his eyes showing no pity, only a scrutinizing gaze as if looking at an uncut gem.
"It only lasted thirty seconds."
Mo Yan spoke softly, his voice low, yet it struck Tang Wulin's heart like a whip.
"If it were a life-or-death battle, you would have died thirty times already. Your Blue Silver Grass is tough, but your reactions are too slow, and your use of power is as crude as a bull."
Tang Wulin gritted his teeth, braced himself with his hands on the ground, and tried to stand up.
"I...I can still fight."
"Who told you to hit him?" Mo Yan frowned slightly, and an invisible wave of soul power instantly enveloped Tang Wulin, pressing him firmly to the ground, unable to move.
"Listen carefully, what I'm about to teach you isn't how to attack, but how to... take a beating."
Mo Yan walked up to Tang Wulin and gently tapped Tang Wulin's shoulder with his toe: "The power of the Golden Dragon King is domineering and unparalleled, but if your body can't withstand it, that power will backfire on you first. What I want you to do is learn to use the power of the Golden Dragon King's blood and qi to strengthen your skin, muscles, and even bones under my attacks. This is called 'Body Tempering'."
"Body tempering?" Tang Wulin was taken aback.
"That's right." A cold glint flashed in Mo Yan's eyes. "Don't worry, I'm your senior brother's (Huo Yuhao's) martial uncle. How could a martial uncle truly kill his nephew?"
In the sea of consciousness, Huo Yuhao, who was calmly observing the situation, suddenly shrank back upon hearing the words "Uncle-Master," wishing he could disappear into a crack in the ground.
"Holy crap! It's that jinx?!"
Huo Yuhao's voice boomed in Tang Wulin's mind, filled with obvious terror, "Junior brother! Good luck! Don't ever mention my name! This uncle is a notorious 'Black-faced Yama'! Back when Master (Yue Mianmian) punished me by making me copy books, he was the one supervising me, stabbing me with his spiritual power while he supervised! He's extremely ruthless and has absolutely no restraint!"
Before Tang Wulin could process this information, Mo Yan's hand chops had already landed.
"Snapped!"
It didn't use soul power, just physical strength, yet it still produced a sonic boom.
"ah--!"
Tang Wulin let out a scream, his whole body trembling violently as he lay on the ground. It wasn't just physical pain; a shockwave shot up his spine and into his brain, making his very soul tremble.
"Stand up!" Mo Yan coldly ordered.
Tang Wulin shakily got up, but before he could stand up, Mo Yan's second attack came.
"Snapped!"
"Stand up!"
"Snapped!"
"Stand up!"
Inside the forging room, there was only the monotonous sound of hammering and the stubborn panting of a young boy.
"Your vital energy is resisting? Then I'll beat you until you submit!"
As Mo Yan fought, he coldly analyzed, "The Golden Dragon King's bloodline is domineering, but it is also your servant. Your current state is like an infant wielding a giant hammer; you'll crush yourself sooner or later. What I need to do is help you forge this hammer into your bones."
With each strike, Mo Yan precisely landed on the point where Tang Wulin's qi and blood circulation was most obstructed.
Although he was in excruciating pain, Tang Wulin was horrified to discover that with each strike, the restless golden dragon bloodline within his body was actually beginning to docile. The previously blocked meridians began to slowly clear under the stimulation of the intense pain and shock.
"This...is this the strength of my martial uncle?" Tang Wulin was shocked.
Just when Tang Wulin thought this torture would continue indefinitely, Mo Yan suddenly stopped.
He looked at Tang Wulin, who was lying on the ground, with a hint of admiration in his eyes. Then he took out a golden badge from his pocket and tossed it in his hand.
"Get up, that concludes today's special training."
Mo Yan's voice suddenly became serious, even carrying a hint of barely perceptible solemnity.
"Tang Wulin, listen carefully. I'll only say this once."
Tang Wulin struggled to sit up, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and looked at the important figure from the Federation with a puzzled expression.
"My trip to the East China Sea this time is not just for inspection." Mo Yan stared into Tang Wulin's eyes and said, word by word, "My cousin, who is also the Speaker of the Federal Parliament, Mo Runshu, asked me to pass on a message to you."
"Chairman Mo...?" Tang Wulin's heart skipped a beat.
"That's right." Mo Yan's lips curled into a meaningful smile. "The Speaker reviewed your file and, based on my feedback, saw your potential. He believes that this rough gem of a person needs a true master to polish it."
Mo Yan stepped forward, patted Tang Wulin on the shoulder, and said something surprising:
"The Speaker has decided to accept you as his apprentice."
"Wh...what?!"
Tang Wulin's eyes widened, thinking he had misheard.
To...to take me as your disciple?
That's the Speaker of the Federal Parliament! A level 99 Quasi-God-level powerhouse! A four-word Battle Armor Master!
I'm just a minor Soul Master, and my Martial Soul is the useless Blue Silver Grass. What makes me so special?
Within the sea of consciousness, Huo Yuhao was in complete chaos.
"What?! Taking on a disciple?! Grandmaster wants to take Junior Brother as his disciple?!" Huo Yuhao's voice was filled with disbelief and madness. "What a joke! Grandmaster has only given me guidance a few times, he has never formally taken on a disciple before! If Junior Brother becomes Grandmaster's disciple, then Junior Brother will be... my Uncle-Master? Or Junior Brother?"
Huo Yuhao felt like his worldview was about to collapse. If the seniority system got messed up, how would he ever be able to survive in his sect again?
"That's impossible..." Tang Wulin shook his head subconsciously. "I...I'm too weak, and I already have a teacher. Teacher Wu is very good to me..."
"Wu Changkong?" Mo Yan scoffed. "He is indeed good, but what can he teach you? How to control the Golden Dragon King's blood and qi? Or how to fight against the God Realm? Only the Speaker is qualified to teach you, who possesses the Golden Dragon King's bloodline."
Mo Yan's smile vanished, his expression turning extremely solemn: "Tang Wulin, you must understand, this is not a discussion, but... an opportunity. The Speaker values you because you possess the potential to disrupt the world's order. If you refuse, not only will you regret it, but those around you will likely be implicated."
This statement contains a clear threat, but it is even more tempting.
"Think it over carefully." Mo Yan turned and walked out. "During the inspection three days from now, the Speaker will be watching you through a soul-guided projection. If you perform well, he will personally hold an apprenticeship ceremony for you."
After saying that, Mo Yan pushed open the door and left, leaving Tang Wulin alone in the forging room, bewildered.
……
Meanwhile, in the adjacent element control room.
The atmosphere was extremely oppressive.
Gu Yue stood in the center of the room, surrounded by spheres representing the four elements: wind, fire, water, and earth. Her face was pale, and her forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat.
Opposite her, Mo Yan did not make a move; he simply stood there quietly.
But the aura emanating from him gave Gu Yue an unprecedented feeling of suffocation.
"Elemental control is all about 'resonance'."
Mo Yan's voice echoed in the empty room, "Your current control is like hammering a nail; it can drive it in, but it's too rigid. True elemental control should be as natural as your own arm, as fluid as mercury flowing across the ground."
Gu Yue gritted her teeth, a stubborn light flashing in her purple eyes. She could sense that the man in front of her was testing her.
"I don't need you to teach me," Gu Yue said coldly, as the fire element ball in her hand instantly expanded, transforming into a roaring fire dragon.
"Oh? You don't need it?"
Mo Yan's lips curled into a cold smile. He didn't even dodge; he simply raised a finger and gently tapped the fire dragon's forehead.
"break."
boom!
The fire dragon, powerful enough to melt steel, instantly disintegrated under Mo Yan's finger, turning into countless sparks that vanished into nothingness.
"Is this all you've got?" Mo Yan shook his head. "Too weak. If it were the Silver Dragon King in its true form, even just a wisp of its aura would instantly reduce me to ashes. But you're not; you're just a child who hasn't grown up yet."
These words precisely struck a nerve with Gu Yue.
"Who exactly are you?" Gu Yue stared at Mo Yan, the purple light in her eyes growing stronger.
"Who I am is not important." Mo Yan's eyes narrowed, and a vast spiritual power erupted instantly, pressing down on Gu Yue like a mountain.
"Certainly."
Gu Yue felt a "buzz" in his mind, and the Dragon God bloodline in his body seemed to have encountered a natural enemy, instantly freezing.
"puff!"
Gu Yue suffered a backlash, spitting out a mouthful of blood and swaying precariously.
"During the inspection three days from now, I will arrange a special 'performance' for you." Mo Yan turned and walked towards the door. "If you don't want Tang Wulin to die, then do everything in your power to become stronger. Remember, your lives are now given to you by me."
……
Evening, in the dormitory of Class Zero.
Tang Wulin lay on the bed like a lump of mud, but his mind was in turmoil.
"Wu Lin, what happened to you? Did Teacher Mo beat you so badly that you went crazy?" Xie Xie asked gleefully from the side.
Tang Wulin ignored Xie Xie, frantically calling out to Huo Yuhao in his mind, "Senior Brother! Senior Brother! Come out quickly! Is it true that the Speaker wants to take me as his disciple? What should I do?"
In the sea of consciousness, Huo Yuhao was squatting on the ground, holding his head, looking utterly hopeless.
"Junior brother... don't ask me... my mind is a mess right now," Huo Yuhao said weakly. "Our grandmaster wanting to take you in is an incredible stroke of luck. But... if it works out, how should I address you? Should I call you junior brother? Or senior uncle?"
"Huh?" Tang Wulin was also dumbfounded.
"Moreover, our master is extremely protective of his own, but also extremely strict. He didn't take on disciples just for fun. Junior brother, you may be carrying not only the power of the Golden Dragon King, but also the future of the entire Federation."
Just then, there was a gentle knock on the door.
"Come in," Tang Wulin said weakly.
The door opened, and Gu Yue walked in.
She changed into clean clothes, her face was still a little pale, but her eyes were more determined than usual.
"Gu Yue? What brings you here?" Xie Xie asked in surprise.
Gu Yue ignored Xie Xie and went straight to Tang Wulin's bedside. She took out a small bottle from her pocket and placed it on the bedside table.
"This is a pill to restore your qi and blood, specially made by the Spirit Pagoda," Gu Yue said calmly. "Eat it; you'll have training tomorrow."
Tang Wulin looked at the exquisite little bottle, and a warm feeling welled up in his heart.
"Thanks."
Gu Yue glanced at him, hesitated for a moment, and said in a low voice, "Tang Wulin, no matter what happens, don't give up. The inspection three days from now... is very dangerous."
"I know." Tang Wulin clenched his fist. "To become stronger, to protect everyone, I'm not afraid of anything."
Gu Yue gave him a deep look, then turned and left.
"What a strange girl." Xie Xie scratched his head. "But those pills look pretty good. Wu Lin, everyone gets a share..."
"roll!"
……
Late at night, in Mingdu.
The top floor of the Federal Parliament building.
Mo Runshu stood in front of the French windows, toying with the "Sun and Moon Token" that had already been retrieved.
"Are you really going to take him as your apprentice?" Yue Mianmian's voice came from behind, tinged with surprise.
"Why not?" Mo Runshu smiled. "Yuhao is a good kid, but he's too much like you—too soft-hearted. This Tang Wulin, on the other hand, has the passion of the Golden Dragon King and the tenacity of the Tang family. He's the best successor."
"But..." Yue Mianmian frowned, "If he knew your identity, knew that you are..."
"Then let him find out slowly." Mo Runshu turned around, his eyes gleaming with wisdom. "Taking him as a disciple is not only for training him, but also for... controlling him. Only by keeping him under my watchful eye can I feel at ease."
"You're always so confident." Yue Mianmian walked to his side and gently leaned on his shoulder.
"My confidence stems from my ability." A glint of light flashed in Mo Runshu's eyes. "This game has only just begun."
Outside the window, thunder rumbled faintly; a storm that would sweep across the entire continent was quietly brewing.