Chapter 87: The Naming of Dao Ba
Seeing the hint of confusion flash in Ah Ba's eyes, Ye Wen immediately understood.
"You two don't know what a fallen soul master is, do you?"
The siblings both nodded. Ye Wen slapped his forehead of course. In an era under the watchful eye of the Soul Palace, rogue dark soul masters rarely had a chance to rise. Any that managed to emerge would be hunted down the moment they began slaughtering villages, quickly reported and pursued by Soul Palace enforcers.
This era truly kept dark soul masters in check. Come to think of it, while the Douluo series mentioned the Angel Clan in Douluo Continent I, only three members appeared Qian Daoliu, Qian Xunji, and Qian Renxue. Though they were supposedly part of a clan, only these three members were shown. It suggested that the other Angel Clan members were likely assigned to track down and destroy dark soul masters.
By the time of Douluo Continent II, the Angel Martial Spirit hadn't gone extinct and was still active on the continent. An angel spirit user even participated in the All Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament, but no explanation was ever given. The spirit's reappearance was chalked up to "ancestral reemergence," which made the whole situation murky and rather confusing. The Angel Clan seemed intent on fighting dark soul masters head on, a testament to their questionable decisions.
Setting these thoughts aside, Ye Wen decided to educate the siblings about dark soul masters.
"Oh, so those soul masters who supposedly eat children to scare kids into behaving were actually dark soul masters?" Chen Youyu exclaimed in sudden understanding.
Ye Wen chuckled. Sure enough, every world had adults who spun frightening stories to keep children in line.
"Exactly. Right now, your brother is perilously close to becoming one. He still has some inner restraint, thankfully, or he'd have already slipped into madness. Once you start killing indiscriminately, it's a quick path to losing control," Ye Wen explained, giving Chen Youyu a serious look. She was quick and perceptive, and she understood that her brother's restraint centered around her.
"What should I focus on in my training, Master?" Ah Ba interrupted impatiently. His irritation grew anytime the topic involved his sister.
"Training can wait," Ye Wen replied. "Your mindset is the immediate priority. You've already reached the limits of what your age and condition allow. This next month, you'll balance recovery with reflection, controlling that constant, reckless bloodlust. Without that, I can't teach you. In your current state, losing control would mean turning dark and getting hunted down by the Soul Palace. And I imagine you don't want to worry your sister, do you?"
The mention of Chen Youyu hit Ah Ba's soft spot. He grumbled a bit but ultimately went along with Ye Wen's guidance. Over the next month, Ye Wen crafted Ah Ba's training to focus on discipline and self restraint, guiding him to master his overwhelming urge for constant battle.
"A strong man points his blade at worthy opponents; the weak target those below them. Which do you want to be?"
"A strong man," Ah Ba replied.
"Why do you wield a blade? Why do you train?"
"To protect… my family."
"And if you can't protect them?"
"I'm trash!"
"What is a blade?"
"I am the blade!"
One month of intense mental conditioning transformed Ah Ba's spirit. He now carried himself with a steady, focused demeanor that was free from the wild aggression he once held. Ye Wen looked over his student, pleased with the results.
"You understand now?" he asked.
Ah Ba's entire demeanor had changed from a month ago. He wasn't exactly polite, but he was calmer and more respectful. With a deep bow, he replied, "Yes, Master."
"Good. Maintain this mindset, and you have every chance of reaching the rank of titled Douluo one day," Ye Wen said with a smile.
"Thank you," Ah Ba replied. A trace of hesitation flickered in his eyes before he resolved himself. "Master, could you grant me a new name? I want to move forward."
It was clear that Ah Ba was ready to shed his past, no longer defined by his bond with his martial spirit, but instead by his desire to choose his own legacy. This time, however, Ye Wen felt a pang of uncertainty he was not great at coming up with names, but he couldn't show it. After a thoughtful pause, he answered.
"I've heard that your title in the Soul Arena is Scarblade, and you've dedicated yourself to the path of the blade. How about taking Dao as your surname, in honor of your blade's spirit? And there's no need to give up 'Ba' as your name. From now on, you shall be called Dao Ba."
"Thank you, Master, for the name. From now on, I am Dao Ba," he replied, his heart oddly warmed by the simple name. It was fitting a blade lover, loyal to his weapon and the path it represented. Though he no longer fought to the point of madness, his bond with his martial spirit remained deeply meaningful.
During this month, Ye Wen had come to appreciate Dao Ba's character pure, loyal, and deeply protective of those he loved. To support him, Ye Wen formally welcomed Dao Ba as his ninth official disciple. Despite his unorthodox ways, Dao Ba's soul rings, though not at their full limit, were nonetheless a solid, unified foundation for his future training.
After a month of careful recovery, Dao Ba's body was finally healed to the level of a standard soul master, and he was soon able to exceed 10,000 jin of force, reaching the physical benchmark of a Soul King. Now that he was a formal disciple, Ye Wen granted him access to his custom "Purple Energy," a concentrated aura designed to accelerate cultivation.
Within a week, Dao Ba advanced to the rank of 40, officially entering the realm of the Soul Sect. However, Ye Wen held off on allowing him to hunt for a soul ring. Dao Ba's physical potential wasn't fully realized yet, an indication that his Remnant Blade martial spirit though considered flawed might indeed be a top tier martial spirit. Only those of immense potential had such powerful physical gifts.
Similarly, Chen Youyu was progressing, though Ye Wen planned to observe her longer before advancing her training. The ranks of his disciples were growing, each with immense potential. Satisfied, Ye Wen gathered Hu Quan and the other senior students along with Dao Ba in his private chamber a week later, ready to begin the next phase.
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