The Power of the Moon, Wind-Plumed Gray-Feathered Dove

Afterward, everyone ate a peaceful meal without any mishaps. Because of Xiang Yang's influence, this Soul Hunting trip had taken place more than half a year early, so naturally they didn't run into Blue Sunshine Academy. Even if they had, the current Shrek students wouldn't have picked a fight for no reason.

It was worth mentioning that Tang San and Xiao Wu had reached level thirty even before Oscar, showing that intense battles really could accelerate Soul Power cultivation to some extent.

Early the next morning

The ten members of the Shrek group packed up early and set out for the Star Dou Great Forest, heading for the outer area where thousand-year Soul Beasts lived.

Two hours later, Xiang Yang and Tang San led the group, while Dai Mubai brought up the rear and the two support members stayed in the middle. Xiao Wu and Ma Hongjun covered the left and right flanks respectively, while Zhu Zhuqing ranged around the group, occasionally darting up into the treetops to check places they couldn't see from the ground.

Flender and Zhao Wuji watched over them from the shadows. This was a kind of training too. After all, they couldn't be students forever, and since they would have to go Soul Hunting in the future, it was only natural to make arrangements for them in advance.

Both men were high-level Soul Saints. Although they wouldn't dare claim to be great experts, it was no exaggeration to say they had no rivals in this outer area, where there wasn't a single Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.

As Tang San advanced, he studied a parchment map in his hands. It showed a simple outline of the terrain, with two circles drawn on it.

Just as when Xiang Yang had obtained his second Soul Skill, this information had come from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's intelligence network. There were only two circles because Xiao Wu had said she didn't need one.

After reaching level thirty a little later than Tang San, she had left for two days. As soon as she returned, she showed them her first Thousand-Year Soul Ring—Power of the Moon:

First, it boosted her attack and defense by thirty percent. When used, all her Soul Power transformed into a silver moon attribute. Every attack during that time left a "moon mark" on her opponent that could be detonated.

It currently lasted ten minutes, and the duration could increase with her level.

It suited Xiao Wu's fighting style well. She didn't have Dai Mubai's formidable physique, making it difficult for her to fight head-on.

Unless the gap in strength was too great, she usually needed a lengthy, drawn-out fight to find an opening. That was why Xiang Yang said she was more like an agility-type assassin relying on short bursts of power than a power-attack warrior. Unfortunately, she didn't agree.

Tang San stopped and raised a hand, signaling everyone to halt. "The spot is just ahead. Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, go take a look. Little Oscar, get ready."

"Okay." ×2

Oscar was visibly excited. He first glanced at Ning Rongrong, then looked at Xiang Yang's back and gave an emphatic "Mm!"

After a while, there was a soft whoosh, and a dark figure abruptly appeared. It was Zhu Zhuqing. "The target is in its nest. Xiao Wu is keeping an eye on it." Her words were brief and clear.

"Good. Let's split up as planned and surround it. Move slowly. We can't scare it away."

Everyone nodded and scattered. Xiang Yang took a direction on his own and lay in wait at his assigned position. About five or six minutes later, a shrill "Coo!" came from up ahead.

Then came the sound of wings beating rapidly. Xiang Yang didn't move. A few seconds later, a resounding tiger roar, accompanied by a crackling noise, echoed through the dense forest.

Martial Soul, out!

Golden disk, gather the sun; fill to the brim and give birth to light!

Xiang Yang began preparing his Sunlight Cannon-Modified: Sunlight Bullet.

In destructive power, this move was considerably weaker than the original, but its Soul Power consumption hadn't decreased at all. That was because it changed the Sunlight Cannon's spherical shape into a bullet, using a large amount of Soul Power to refine its shape and provide propulsion, turning the high-intensity explosive damage into a penetrating effect. He couldn't calculate its exact speed, but it should have been around the speed of sound. In any case, it wasn't something this target could dodge.

That was mainly because he hadn't known much about this field in his previous life. He could only be sure it reached the speed of sound because it produced a sonic boom.

As he silently recited the Soul Incantation, time passed. One second, two seconds... He saw a stumbling gray shadow trying to pass by on his left.

Gather radiance into a beam; pierce realms and cleave the winds!

Whoosh! Smack!

A golden line shot through the gray shadow, and it fell like a kite with its string cut.

When Xiang Yang arrived, he saw that Oscar was already absorbing the Soul Ring under Dean Flender's watch. He was somewhat startled. He could only say that the speed of an agility-type Soul Saint was terrifying indeed: Flender could move that fast even while carrying someone, and Xiang Yang hadn't even noticed him.

"That move just now was your new Self-Created Soul Skill, right, Brother Yang? Wasn't it still unfinished? I wonder when I'll get a second Self-Created Soul Skill."

That loud voice, that tone—one listen was enough to tell who it was. Without looking back, Xiang Yang said, "Your Evil Fire is only suppressed right now. It's still affecting you all the time, especially your precise control of Soul Power."

"Sigh, it's not like I don't know, it's just... sigh." The fellow sighed repeatedly. His Martial Soul had mutated, fine, but why did it have to come with a bomb? Honestly, it made his usual cultivation a good deal more troublesome than everyone else's.

Now, watching his closest brother about to become a Soul Elder, he was happy for him, but in his heart~ there really was a feeling he couldn't quite put into words.

If he had said it aloud, Xiang Yang would have known what it was: he was afraid his brother wouldn't do well, but also afraid his brother would drive a Land Rover.

But since he didn't say anything, Xiang Yang simply assumed he wanted help. "Mm, if you could find some Soul Beasts with a pure yang attribute and divine beast bloodlines, that little bit of Evil Fire of yours would be nothing. But you know..." He stopped abruptly at the end.

"Mm." Ma Hongjun's voice was muffled, but he quickly adjusted. "Hey, I want to be the first to try Little Oscar's Thousand-Year Soul Skill in a bit. The previous ones were either tofu or sweet garlic. We can finally get some meat."

Xiang Yang blinked. Of all the Shrek students, aside from Tang San and the not-so-sharp Xiao Wu, this little fatty trusted him the most. It wasn't hard to understand: to Ma Hongjun, Xiang Yang was like timely rain. The others had either experienced great ups and downs or came from distinguished backgrounds, so naturally they had more to think about.

Oh, right. Although Ma Hongjun had consistently suppressed his Evil Fire through his appetite—and he loved to eat to begin with—under the training equipment Xiang Yang provided and the daily training plan Grandmaster devised, he had long since lost the round, chubby appearance he'd had when they first met. He actually looked much thinner than Xiang Yang.

Sizzle~ sizzle~

"It's already started, huh? Zhu Zhuqing, let's go sit over there." Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing arrived one after the other, and within two minutes, the others arrived in succession as well.

Flender and Zhao Wuji watched it all from a short distance away. This Soul Hunting trip could be called a great success. No one had been hurt, and there had been no other mishaps. Everything had gone according to plan, and the life of a thousand-year Soul Beast had quietly vanished.

After more than two hours, a wave of Soul Power burst from Oscar as he sat cross-legged in the clearing. Then the purple Soul Ring settled firmly around him.

As soon as he opened his eyes, he let out a foul-sounding laugh. "Heh heh heh, hahaha..."

"Stop laughing, you sleazy uncle. Hurry up and check your Soul Skill." Ma Hongjun could hardly contain himself. This was the first thousand-year-level support Soul Skill in their team, and according to Brother Yang, it could let people fly. The only people in the whole academy whose Martial Souls had wings were the dean and him, yet he still couldn't fly.

As the possessor of a Phoenix Martial Soul, he had an instinctive yearning to soar through the sky. He could use Oscar's to practice first, so he wouldn't have to spend extra time on it later.

Oscar shot him an unfriendly glare. "Hmph, since you ask so earnestly, I'll let you see it."

As the purple ring flashed, he chanted:

"Swiftly Fly Through the Sky, Breaking the Wind!

Third Soul Skill—Sky-Piercing Cloud-Penetrating Pigeon Wing Crisp!"