The pale green glow around Xiao Feng seemed more restrained and solid than before. Clearly, these past few days of hunting and roaming freely had helped him begin to adapt to and use his newfound power and the "Wind Messenger" talent.
A'Man, standing beside him, showed no changes.
But that was only temporary. Once A'Man absorbed all the experience points accumulated in the Prism Ball, becoming a thousand-year Soul Beast was a certainty.
At the same time, Xiao Qing wanted to see whether A'Man could trigger a bloodline evolution. He wanted to know whether bloodline evolution was unique to Xiao Feng or whether every Soul Beast that broke through a thousand years could undergo it.
If it was the former, Xiao Qing would have to find a way to determine what triggered bloodline evolution. If it was the latter, he might have to stay in Sunset Forest and search for materials.
The next day, early in the morning.
Xiao Qing got up early and released A'Man and Xiao Feng from the Prism Ball. After a full night, A'Man had absorbed all the experience points it had gained over the past few days.
Before, although A'Man's defense was astonishing, his Soul Power fluctuations had remained at the seven-hundred-year level. He was large, but lacked the solid heft of a qualitative transformation.
Now, standing beside Xiao Feng, A'Man seemed to exude an imposing pressure that was hardly inferior to his companion's.
His body appeared to have grown another size larger. His shoulders and back were broader, his limbs like stone pillars, and his brownish-yellow fur had taken on a texture like rock.
Most importantly, his Soul Power fluctuations had broken through that crucial bottleneck and reached the thousand-year level! Through the Prism Ball's mental link, Xiao Qing could sense his age with greater precision: one thousand and twenty-four years.
A'Man walked up to Xiao Qing and lowered his enormous head, letting out a low, affectionate whine.
Xiao Qing reached out and patted his forehead, hard as iron. He could clearly feel the even greater power beneath A'Man's fur.
"Very well done."
Xiao Qing sent a congratulatory thought to both Xiao Feng and A'Man. Xiao Feng lifted his head proudly, while A'Man contentedly rubbed against his hand.
Yet as he carefully sensed A'Man's condition, a realization crossed Xiao Qing's mind. A'Man had successfully broken through a thousand years, his Soul Power transformed, his body strengthened, and his soul grown more solid. It was undoubtedly a tremendous improvement.
But when A'Man had advanced, the Prism Ball had not sent him any information about a bloodline evolution, as it had when Xiao Feng evolved. Nor had it indicated that any special materials needed to be collected.
A'Man was still an Iron Armor Bear, only now a thousand-year Iron Armor Bear. His essence had not touched upon the chance for a deeper bloodline transformation.
Drawing on the information available to him and the knowledge from his previous life, Xiao Qing tried to deduce the conditions for bloodline evolution.
It seems the conditions for triggering bloodline evolution through the Prism Ball are extremely strict. Breaking through a thousand years of cultivation doesn't necessarily trigger it.
Xiao Feng's evolution required three highly compatible, high-quality materials: the Storm Iris, the Wind-Thunder Falcon Egg, and the Fierce Wind Wolf King Essence Blood. It also required guidance from a formation.
It was more like a prepared, targeted ascension ritual. A'Man's breakthrough came from ordinary accumulation of cultivation and battles. He lacked the corresponding "key" and "ritual."
Or perhaps the Iron Armor Bear's bloodline potential hasn't yet been pushed to the threshold where evolution is needed. Alternatively, I still haven't discovered the right materials and method to guide its evolution.
This discovery did not disappoint Xiao Qing. Instead, it gave him a more rational understanding of the Prism Ball's mechanisms.
Bloodline evolution was an opportunity, a leap forward, but steady cultivation, taking one step at a time, was the foundation of his Soul Beast companions' growth.
With a thought, he returned Xiao Feng and A'Man to the Prism Ball's space.
Throughout the whole process, Zhao Wuji had been leaning against a distant rock wall. He seemed to be casually watching the sunrise, but in truth, he had taken everything in.
He had seen A'Man transform from a Hundred-Year Soul Beast into a thousand-year Soul Beast in a single night. He had also witnessed the wordless understanding between Xiao Qing and his Soul Beasts.
After Xiao Qing put the Soul Beasts away, and while Oscar was still quietly marveling at A'Man's breakthrough, Zhao Wuji walked over.
First, he said to Oscar, "Kid, your Clear Heart Sausage really is good. Once we're back, train hard and try to reach level thirty as soon as possible."
Then he seemed to casually change the subject. He glanced at Xiao Qing before turning his gaze to Oscar and lowering his voice, though every word remained crystal clear.
"What you saw today, especially the progress of Xiao Qing's Soul Beasts, as well as your new Soul Spell, Oscar—once we're back at the academy, don't mention any of it to anyone except the headmaster."
"Especially not to other students or outsiders. If anyone asks, just say that after obtaining our Soul Rings, we did some practical training. Understood?"
Oscar was taken aback, but when he saw the rare seriousness in Zhao Wuji's eyes, he immediately nodded firmly. "I understand, Teacher Zhao! I won't tell anyone!"
Zhao Wuji grunted, then looked at Xiao Qing.
Xiao Qing met his gaze calmly and nodded. He understood what Zhao Wuji meant.
His method of growing stronger was entirely different from that of an ordinary Soul Master. Others looked at Soul Power Levels, but his real combat strength depended to a great extent on the cultivation and number of his contracted Soul Beasts.
Xiao Feng's evolution and A'Man's breakthrough to a thousand years were far too eye-catching if word got out. They might invite unnecessary scrutiny or even hostility.
Growing quietly and keeping key information hidden was the wisdom of survival. Zhao Wuji was protecting him and Oscar in his own way, while also safeguarding the potential interests of Shrek Academy.
Xiao Qing's strength certainly could not be measured by his Soul Power Level alone.
With level twenty-three Soul Power, a thousand-year Storm Wolf King, and a thousand-year Iron Armor Bear, Xiao Qing's actual combat power and tactical versatility were enough to crush Soul Masters of the same level—and even some Soul Elders.
And this was only the beginning.
Zhao Wuji couldn't begin to see what Xiao Qing might become in the future. The only thing he could guess was that as long as Xiao Qing survived, he would become the strongest Titled Douluo in history. Without a doubt.
"All right. After a full night's rest, I'm sure you're all well rested. Now it's time to head back to Shrek Academy!"
After Xiao Qing and the others had eaten breakfast, Zhao Wuji prepared to leave Sunset Forest. It was not a safe place for Soul Grandmasters like Xiao Qing and Oscar, so it was best to leave as soon as possible.
The journey back to Shrek Academy from Sunset Forest went more smoothly than the trip there.
Zhao Wuji led Xiao Qing and Oscar out of the forest and onto a carriage for the return trip, eager to get home.
Inside the carriage, Oscar was still immersed in the excitement of obtaining his Second Soul Ring, repeatedly mulling over his new Soul Skill.
Zhao Wuji folded his arms and rested with his eyes closed, but every now and then, when he opened them, a trace of curiosity and appraisal toward Xiao Qing flickered in his gaze—something he couldn't entirely conceal.
Xiao Qing sat by the window, continually reviewing the gains and losses of the forest expedition.
First, Xiao Feng had successfully evolved into a Storm Wolf King and gained the "Wind Messenger" talent. That was the greatest reward. Second, A'Man had broken through to a thousand years, making his increase in combat power a sure thing.
Then there was Xiao Qing's own Soul Power, which had reached level twenty-three. His enhanced mental strength had also expanded his command range, but these were just minor bonuses and hadn't greatly improved his current strength.
Finally, Oscar had proven the idea Xiao Qing proposed to be effective. When Oscar chose his next Soul Ring, he definitely wouldn't overlook this approach.
That way, even if Shrek Academy didn't have a Mimicry Training Ground, Xiao Qing's cultivation speed wouldn't slow down. With Oscar's support, he might even cultivate faster.
Overall, the gains from this trip far exceeded expectations, while the risks had been almost nonexistent.
As for traveling with Zhao Wuji, Xiao Qing had deliberately shown him some of his Martial Soul's abilities, both directly and indirectly, and successfully earned this powerful figure's initial approval and protective attitude.
Only now could Xiao Qing truly be considered a member of Shrek Academy.
Before you continue