Flender Gets a Shock from Xue Tianxing

They traveled on and off, and before they knew it, they had spent an entire day making their way through the forest.

As the sunset glow filtered through the treetops and dyed everything orange-red, Flender suddenly stopped and raised a hand to signal everyone to be quiet.

"Found it."

Flender lowered his voice and pointed toward a clearing not far ahead.

Following his gesture, they saw a waist-high plant growing in the center of the clearing. Its leaves were shaped like stars, and the tip of every leaf shimmered with a faint silver glow. They swayed without wind and gave off gentle Soul Power fluctuations, but venomous creatures such as snakes and scorpions surrounded it.

"It's Star Grass."

Satisfaction flashed through Flender's eyes.

"A plant-type Spirit Beast around seven hundred years old. It has a mild temperament and pure Soul Power, making it ideal for Little Ao's second Soul Ring."

Oscar's eyes lit up at the sight of the Star Grass. He instinctively wanted to step forward, but Flender grabbed him.

"Don't rush. Plant-type Spirit Beasts may be mild, but they still have ways to protect themselves. Those venomous creatures around it are one of them. Although Star Grass detoxifies poison, it releases a scent to attract poisonous creatures and use them as protection."

As he spoke, Flender darted out like a civet cat and landed beside the Star Grass.

With a slight movement of his fingers, Soul Power stirred. A gentle yet irresistible current of air spread outward, sending the poisonous vines wrapped around the Star Grass, the lurking venomous spiders, and the snakes and scorpions flying away. The creatures crashed into distant tree trunks with soft thuds and instantly went still.

Only after clearing away the obstacles did Flender slowly approach the Star Grass.

A layer of silvery-white light suddenly surfaced over the Star Grass's leaves, forming a translucent barrier with faint Soul Power flowing through it.

Flender chuckled. Yellow and purple Soul Ring light gathered at his fingertips, and with a flick, he tore through the barrier with a sharp hiss.

Then Flender bent down and pulled up the Star Grass, roots and all. The silver gleam on its leaves immediately dimmed.

"Come on, Little Ao."

Flender returned to Oscar's side and handed him the Star Grass.

Oscar drew a deep breath and accepted it.

Though he felt somewhat reluctant, because the grass had looked truly beautiful as it glimmered silver among the trees, he also knew that this was a necessary path toward becoming strong.

He tightened his fingers. With a crack, the stem snapped. The Star Grass's leaves rapidly withered, and a yellow Soul Ring slowly rose from its body, floating in midair.

"Sit properly and focus on absorbing it."

Flender patted him on the shoulder.

Oscar nodded, sat cross-legged, and formed hand seals to draw in the Soul Ring.

The yellow Soul Ring slowly descended and settled around him.

The absorption process went more smoothly than expected. About half a day later, as the last trace of sunset vanished from the horizon, the light of the Soul Ring around Oscar suddenly withdrew. He abruptly opened his eyes, a bright gleam flashing within them.

"I did it!"

Oscar sprang to his feet and excitedly waved at Flender and Xue Tianxing. "Dean! Tianxing! Look at my second soul skill!"

As he spoke, Oscar circulated his Soul Power and began reciting the chant for his soul skill.

"I have a little sausage!"

As the chant ended, a small sausage the length of a finger joint appeared in his palm out of thin air. It was light brown and carried a faint medicinal fragrance.

"This is a Detoxifying Sausage!"

Holding up the sausage, Oscar explained with sparkling eyes.

"No matter what kind of poison it is, as long as it isn't fatal, eating this will cure it!"

Xue Tianxing showed a look of realization, but inwardly, he already understood.

Sure enough, it was still the Detoxifying Sausage from the original story.

Xue Tianxing smiled and nodded.

"Not bad, not bad. This soul skill is extremely practical. When we hunt Spirit Beasts in a team in the future, we won't have to fear venomous creatures with you around."

Flender stroked his beard and laughed as well.

"Good lad, you got lucky. You picked the right soul skill."

Oscar blushed from the praise. Clutching the little sausage, he secretly glanced at Xue Tianxing. The hesitation in his eyes had long vanished, replaced by firm resolve.

After Oscar finished absorbing his Soul Ring, the group rested briefly before turning their attention to finding one for Xue Tianxing.

Liu Tianfeng was quite familiar with the Star Dou Great Forest. He led the group straight toward its depths, where the trees grew increasingly sparse and the air itself was steeped in biting cold. It was precisely the territory where ice-attributed Spirit Beasts gathered.

Upon arriving, Liu Tianfeng was the first to spread out his Soul Power to investigate. Flender also summoned his Martial Soul and used the keen senses of an agility-attack Soul Master to assist in the search.

Xue Tianxing and Oscar followed nearby. The former occasionally observed the surroundings, while the latter gripped his newly acquired Detoxifying Sausage, his eyes filled with curiosity.

Before long, Flender suddenly poked his head out from behind an ancient tree and called softly to Liu Tianfeng.

"Senior Cold Sword, over here!"

The group quickly followed. In the clearing ahead, a blue-gray bird with a wingspan of nearly ten feet was preening its feathers. Its beak gleamed icy blue, and every flap of its wings caused a thin layer of frost to form on the ground. It was a Frost Bird.

"About eight hundred years of cultivation, pure ice attribute, and condensed Soul Power."

Flender pointed at the Frost Bird and spoke to Liu Tianfeng.

"Senior Cold Sword, this Frost Bird is very suitable as His Highness Tianxing's second Soul Ring."

Upon hearing that, Xue Tianxing understood at once—Flender had misunderstood.

Still, it was not Flender's fault. Suotuo City belonged to the Balak Kingdom, and more than a year ago, the Royal Family had announced that he had awakened the Ice Phoenix Spirit and possessed Innate Full Soul Power. Flender had surely heard about it.

Thus, in Flender's eyes, Xue Tianxing had naturally come to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt for his second Soul Ring. Reaching Level 20 at seven was already an astonishing achievement. Who would dare imagine him as a Level 30 Soul Elder?

But how could Flender possibly know that Xue Tianxing possessed Innate Level 20 Spirit Power?

Xue Tianxing did not blame him.

For an ordinary Soul Master fortunate enough to awaken Innate Full Soul Power, reaching Level 20 in a little over a year would already make him a top genius.

Who could have expected Xue Tianxing to possess Innate Level 20 Spirit Power? With the support of a Mimicry Cultivation Room built specifically for him, his cultivation speed had long surpassed all common sense.

"Dean Flender,"

Xue Tianxing smiled and shook his head, speaking frankly to Flender.

"This Frost Bird's age is too low. If it were eight thousand years old, it might be worth considering. The Spirit Beast I am hunting this time is an eight-thousand-year one."

"E-eight thousand years?"

Flender was so startled that he nearly jumped. Suspecting there was something wrong with his ears, he asked uncertainly.

"Your Highness, did you say... eight thousand years?"

Then Flender instinctively looked toward Liu Tianfeng, his eyes full of disbelief as he sought confirmation.

Liu Tianfeng nodded calmly and added.

"Tianxing is already a Level 30 Soul Elder. He is hunting his third Soul Ring, with a target age of eight thousand years."

"L-Level 30?!"

Flender was truly dumbfounded now, his mouth wide enough to fit an egg.

He stared at Xue Tianxing and looked him over several times. A seven-year-old Soul Elder?

If word of this got out, it would probably make the entire Soul Master world's jaws drop!

He suddenly recalled how he had previously thought that reaching Level 20 at seven was already heaven-defying. Now his cheeks burned, and his final concern about Oscar going to the Balak Kingdom completely vanished. With a monster like this, how could Oscar lack a future?

With such a genius protecting him, Oscar should be able to grow smoothly.

Xue Tianxing paid no attention to his shock. His gaze had already returned to the Frost Bird, and he gently shook his head.

"This one truly isn't enough. Grandpa Liu, let's head deeper into the forest."

Liu Tianfeng responded and took the lead.

Flender froze for a moment before hurrying after them. Yet the look in his eyes when he gazed at Xue Tianxing no longer held the previous politeness—only pure amazement remained.