At that moment, Yu Daoyun stood frozen, like a useless succulent, reaching up to touch his cheek in disbelief.
Had he just been kissed against his will?
Why hadn't Sister Lexuan said anything beforehand? So many people were watching.
Nearby, Han Ruoruo stared at the scene, dumbfounded.
Lexuan didn't seem to like the Inner Court's geniuses, but he'd never heard that she liked the kid. Why had she suddenly become a different person?
That heartfelt smile couldn't be faked.
Whatever. As long as Lexuan was happy...
Afterward, under Zhang Lexuan's leadership, the Soul Hunting Squad ventured deep into the mixed zone of the Star Dou Great Forest, prepared for crises that could strike at any moment.
As soon as they entered the mixed zone, they heard terrifying roars.
They were territorial warnings from Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts.
They had barely entered the mixed zone when they were besieged by a group of Blazing Fire Monkey Kings. Zhang Lexuan and Han Ruoruo attacked at the same time, driving off the annoying monkeys.
It was a shame the Blazing Fire Monkey King had such a weak bloodline. Otherwise, it would have been just right for Ma Xiaotao's First Soul Ring.
Two days later.
The Soul Hunting Squad searched all over the mixed zone. Yan Shaozhe and Xian Lin'er were just as diligent, splitting up to look for suitable Soul Beasts.
After failing to find a suitable Soul Ring, Ma Xiaotao couldn't help muttering, "After all these years, the Soul Beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest have gotten clever. They either take refuge in the territory of Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts or hide away. Finding a suitable Soul Ring is just too hard."
Yan Shaozhe said helplessly, "There's no way around it. Soul Masters can't do without Soul Rings. On top of that, Evil Soul Masters have slaughtered them on a massive scale, and the Soul Beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest have dwindled day by day. That's how things have ended up like this."
"If only there were a way to solve the Soul Master profession's problem once and for all. Otherwise, in a few thousand years, our descendants won't have any Soul Rings left to obtain."
Nearby, Yu Daoyun listened to the master and disciple grumble, and couldn't help pondering their words.
It all came down to killing too many innocents. Every few decades, Di Tian launched a beast tide to threaten humanity's standing. How could the low-ranking Soul Beasts endure that kind of turmoil?
Naturally, their numbers dwindled.
But Huo Yuhao's Soul Spirit System was a trap, too. It indirectly pushed the Soul Beasts toward the abyss.
Unless the Soul Spirit System could be perfected.
But that was the Child of Destiny's concern, not his.
Just as the squad began lighting a fire to cook, the ground beneath their feet suddenly trembled as if it were about to split apart.
Yan Shaozhe instantly went on guard and shouted, "Prepare for battle! Something's coming!"
This time, Zhang Lexuan and the others didn't need Yan Shaozhe to warn them. They released their Martial Souls at once and entered battle stance.
Boom!
The ground suddenly burst open, and a dazzling golden light blinded everyone. A pangolin, not particularly large but covered in golden scales, burst out of the earth.
Yan Shaozhe took a closer look, and his breath caught.
It was a twelve-thousand-year Golden Armor Piercer King. Had it just delivered itself right to them?
They'd searched high and low for so long without finding a suitable one, and now they'd stumbled across it by accident.
Yu Daoyun was delighted as well, rubbing his palms together.
This Ten-Thousand-Year Golden Armor Piercer King was just right for his Fourth Soul Ring.
However, the Golden Armor Piercer King didn't attack Zhang Lexuan and the others. It dug through the ground again with its hard claws and disappeared beneath the earth.
Yan Shaozhe immediately said, "Lexuan, Ruoruo, stop that Soul Beast."
Without hesitation, Zhang Lexuan entered her Martial Soul Avatar state and released countless Moon Blades to break through the ground.
The Golden Armor Piercer King emerged once more.
Then Han Ruoruo's Shaking Gold Rope lashed out and wrapped around its limbs, holding it in place so Zhang Lexuan's Soul Skill could strike it head-on.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
After several rounds of Moon Blade attacks, the Golden Armor Piercer King was completely unharmed. It sent every attack ricocheting back. Its golden scales were terrifyingly hard.
Zhang Lexuan's eyes widened. "Those scales are hard! But no matter how tough you are, how many hits can you take?"
"Moonfall!"
In an instant, the silver moon erupted with golden light, transforming into a sickle-shaped crescent that slashed down head-on.
Boom!
The Golden Armor Piercer King let out a pained groan, then raised a claw and swiped at Zhang Lexuan.
"You're asking for death!"
At that critical moment, Yan Shaozhe rushed forward. Bright Phoenix flames burst from his mouth and sent the beast flying.
Then he clenched his fist. His Soul Rings lit up again as he charged at the Golden Armor Piercer King.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
After several rounds of attacks from a Super Douluo, even the Golden Armor Piercer King's astonishing defenses couldn't prevent it from being badly wounded.
Yet even then, the Golden Armor Piercer King kept fighting to the bitter end, enduring several of Yan Shaozhe's attacks with its hard scales.
Just then, Yu Daoyun stepped forward and gripped the Golden Dragon Spear. "Dean, you've underestimated the defensive power of the Golden Bloodline. Let me handle it!"
Yan Shaozhe froze, then turned to look at Yu Daoyun.
Even I, the dean, can't deal with it. Can you? You're just a Soul Ancestor who hasn't obtained his Fourth Soul Ring. What are you going to use to break through the Golden Armor Piercer King's defenses?
This might only be a troublesome Golden Armor Piercer King, but Soul Beasts with the Golden Bloodline had astonishing defenses. Even ordinary Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts didn't want to provoke them.
Still, to keep his student from being discouraged, Yan Shaozhe stepped aside and smiled. "Go ahead!"
Yu Daoyun nodded. Power gathered in his palm, and a Blood Essence Soul Ring rose from beneath his feet.
In an instant, a violent surge of Bloodline Power erupted.
Yan Shaozhe and the senior students present all changed expression, staring at Yu Daoyun in disbelief.
What a violent bloodline power. It even suppressed them.
Was this really the Golden Dragon Martial Soul? How could it be so powerful?
The next moment, Yu Daoyun hurled the Golden Dragon Spear in his hand. A streak of golden light flashed by.
Crack!
The spear pierced the Golden Armor Piercer King's heart. Many of its hard golden scales fell away, and it let out a pained groan before launching a frenzied counterattack against Yan Shaozhe and the others.
"Not bad, kid! That's incredible!"
Yan Shaozhe first praised him with delight, then his gaze turned cold. He released his Bright Phoenix True Body to suppress the Golden Armor Piercer King, preventing it from hurting any of the students.
The Golden Armor Piercer King struggled in its death throes until it was finally suppressed and lost all ability to fight.
If it had come across an ordinary Soul Douluo, Titled Douluo, or even Xuan Zi, it might still have escaped today.
But there was nothing it could do. It had run into Yan Shaozhe.
The old man might have been stingy and a little selfish, but he was still pretty reliable when it came to getting things done.
After the battle ended, Yan Shaozhe walked over with a beaming smile and patted Yu Daoyun on the shoulder. "I didn't expect that I'd underestimated your weapon. It's so powerful that it can even pierce the Golden Armor Piercer King's shell."
"A divine weapon! Truly a divine weapon!"
Excited, Yan Shaozhe even reached out to touch the Golden Dragon Spear.
Yu Daoyun quickly stopped him. "Dean, only I can use the spear. If anyone else takes it, it'll devour their life force."
Yan Shaozhe's hand froze, and he didn't reach for it.
This kid really was stingy. He wouldn't even let him look at his weapon. He'd inherited that trait from him, all right.
Oh well, better not touch it.
Yan Shaozhe changed the subject. "Absorb the Soul Ring first, before anything unexpected happens."
Before you continue