Transformation

Half a month had passed since that chaotic battle. Hals never explained why he hadn't sent a signal, but afterward he asked Yu Xiaoya to find a healing soul master to treat the students. He still remembered the shocked expressions on Yu Xiaoya's and the visiting Level 65 healing soul master's faces when they saw the students covered in wounds. Hals said little, brushing it off with "a trial."

Hals kept his promise. He gave the final seven the authority to assign the seven control-type soul masters.

Unlike before, not a trace of joy showed on those seven faces. With cold expressions, they took the control-types in order of their rankings...

Hals was satisfied. Through their icy exteriors, he saw their transformation.

Time proved this.

Hals stood on a branch of a towering tree, looking down at the students' weekly trial.

Hals believed that anyone who once knew his students would be chilled and shocked to see them now. Simply put, the students seemed to have lost their human emotions. They were now like emotionless machines, putting the mission above all else.

The Soul Flame pulsed with an unmistakable soul fluctuation, watching the students' actions through the hood.

To maintain this state, Hals assigned the students a trial every weekend. The content was simple: split into two groups, one defending and one attacking, for a decapitation mission.

Xu Ning fully suppressed his aura, lying prone in the grass at the base of a tree, coldly watching his attacking-side comrades ahead.

One by one, his companions fell with severe injuries, yet they still struggled to use their last soul skill before losing consciousness.

No screams. Only the sounds of battle.

Xu Ning didn't move. His gaze was indifferent.

Fewer than ten attacking-side members remained on the field, while the defending side had a full fifteen engaged in combat. The battle was one-sided. Soon, all ten attackers fell. A golden-haired youth with an ordinary face watched everything with the same cold eyes. Only when the last attacker dropped did he sweep his gaze across the battlefield and issue an order.

"Check the battlefield. Finish every one of them. No survivors."

No reply. The remaining nine defenders silently darted across the field, raised their hands like blades, and chopped down hard on the necks of the fallen—including their own teammates. This was Hals' order, to prevent any captive from falling into enemy hands and leaking secrets.

It also told them: the mission only had two paths—success or death. No other options.

"Haah!"

A roar rang out. The golden-haired youth frowned and looked over. A blood-soaked attacker suddenly sprang up, slashing a blade across the chest of a defender who was finishing off the fallen. Blood sprayed.

The strike was heavy and fierce. The defender was sent flying, crashing into a nearby tree.

The trunk trembled. Countless leaves shook loose, drifting gently to the ground, adding a touch of desolation.

Only then did a hint of unwillingness flicker in the defender's otherwise emotionless eyes.

Seeing the teammate fallen beneath the tree, the golden-haired youth didn't need to speak. The defenders split into two groups: one surrounded the attacker standing with his blade, launching wave after wave of orderly assaults; the other nimbly jumped or ran to the injured teammate's side.

A girl stepped forward, covered her hands with soul power, and roughly checked the injuries. She turned and shook her head at the golden-haired youth watching from the side.

The golden-haired youth understood. That meant the teammate couldn't keep up after treatment. If he lived, he'd be a burden.

Expressionless, the golden-haired youth nodded, then warily scanned the surroundings.

Receiving the signal, the girl turned, raised her hand, and chopped down on the injured teammate's neck. Not a trace of reluctance in her eyes. After confirming "death," she silently returned to the formation.

Soon, the defending side cleaned up the battlefield and quietly took up positions to stand guard.

Seeing his teammates finish, the golden-haired youth calculated the time. His face was cold, his voice slightly icy: "It's getting late. Time to move. We can't give the attackers any chance." A faint sneer crossed his face. "I'm ending this trial."

Without a sound, the defending team silently and swiftly withdrew.

Watching them leave, Xu Ning still didn't move. He remained lying still, breath held.

Xu Ning stayed like that for a full quarter of an hour. Among the "corpses" strewn across the ground, a bloodstained youth rose, coldly swept his gaze around, then turned and swiftly tracked the main force.

Xu Ning's caution paid off, but he still didn't relax. He lay there another five minutes before rising, coldly staring in the direction the defenders had gone, concealing his presence as he followed.

A figure emerged from the shadows, wrapped in a long robe. Only the lower half of the face was exposed, utterly expressionless.

The Soul Flame flickered. An obscure, indescribable fluctuation spread from the head, confirming no human soul fluctuations nearby. Only then did Hals summon the Soul-Guiding Lantern, which he hadn't released in a long time, to his waist.

The lantern flickered dimly and brightly, as if scolding Hals for keeping it sealed away so long, or expressing its craving for new souls.

From beneath the robe, Hals extended his pale, slightly translucent left hand, gently stroking the lantern at his waist—like caressing a lover, or soothing a hungry child.

The Soul Flame in Hals' eye sockets danced gracefully and softly, revealing a gentleness unlike before. His voice, though still low and hoarse, was very tender: "Oh, don't rush, don't rush. Soon, soon. You'll have a chance to taste new souls soon. Don't be impatient. Perhaps you'll even get to taste flavors you've never had before..."

As if agreeing with Hals' words, the lantern's eerie green light slowed and softened, but remained as strange and mysterious as ever.

After stroking the lantern twice more, Hals reached in and pulled out a few soul fragments. He thought for a moment, then put them back, muttering softly: "No, no. Wolf Bandit souls will make you greedy and aggressive. Ring Snake souls are better..."

Looking at the few soul fragments floating before him, Hals gently pushed his left hand forward. The fragments dissolved into Soul Essence, merging in varying amounts into the unconscious students lying on the ground...

"Like this, you'll be perfect... Hehehe."

Hals looked at the students like an artist admiring a masterpiece. Yes, Hals' proud work...

Without another glance at the students on the ground, Hals patted the lantern soothingly a few times, put it away, and turned to vanish into the darkness.

"Time to check on my good disciples. Don't disappoint me, hehehe..."

As his voice faded, the forest fell silent. Only the faint breathing of the group remained. Looking closely, their wounds were slowly healing. But if one peered carefully, faint green glimmers could be seen in the flesh—only to vanish in an instant...

How interesting...