Evolution Paths

With Dai Mubai, Oscar, and the others introducing him, Su Ming got to know the teachers at the academy one by one. Just as in the original story, but because they were four years younger, their levels were lower.

Immovable Bright King, Zhao Wuji: Martial Soul, Great Strength Diamond Bear; Soul Power, level 74 Soul Sage.

Teacher Li Yusong: Martial Soul, Dragon Pattern Staff; Soul Power, level 62 Soul Emperor.

Teacher Lu Qibin: Martial Soul, Star Luo Chess; Soul Power, level 62 Soul Emperor.

Teacher Shao Xin: Martial Soul, Candy Bean; Soul Power, level 71 Soul Sage.

Finally, the four rode Cloud toward the window of the dean's office, then flew up outside it.

From nearby, Su Ming saw Flender sitting at his desk, surrounded by a huge pile of draft paper. There were also crumpled sheets in the wastebasket beside him. He's probably writing a letter to Yu Xiao Gang. It looks like the friendship they shared back then, as the Golden Iron Triangle, still means a lot to the dean.

Seeing Flender writing his letter with such concentration, Su Ming called out, "Dean!"

Hearing Su Ming shout "Dean," Flender, absorbed in his letter, jumped in fright. His hand shook, the pen slipped, and the letter was ruined.

Flender turned to look out the window and saw Su Ming floating outside on Cloud.

"Wait, Su Ming, what are you doing here? And where are Dai Mubai and the other two? Didn't I ask them to show you around the campus and introduce you to the teachers?"

At that moment, Dai Mubai and the other two came floating over on Cloud, swaying leisurely.

"Dean, we're over here."

"Teacher, we're over here."

Flender saw the other three riding Cloud as well and finally realized something was off.

"Su Ming, this is one of your Soul Skills, right? A group-support type?"

"That's right, Dean."

"Besides letting people fly, how many can you use it on at once? Does it have any other abilities?"

"Right now, I can control seven people at once. It can also boost the whole body by 10%."

Hearing that Su Ming could control seven people at once and boost their whole bodies by 10%, Flender was taken aback.

"Your Innate Soul Power was only level six, wasn't it? How could you possess a group ability that only top-tier Martial Souls should have?"

Looking at Flender's disbelieving expression, Su Ming said, "I don't know either, Dean."

"But, Dean, could my Martial Soul be top-tier in quality, despite my low Innate Soul Power?"

Flender nodded thoughtfully.

"That's certainly possible. But top-tier Martial Souls should have other abilities, too, like the Dragon Transformation of the Blue Sky Overlord Dragon family. Do you have anything like that?"

Su Ming nodded without hesitation.

"I do, Dean. I have another ability now: healing. I got it as soon as I awakened my Martial Soul."

"When I first awakened my Martial Soul, I could only heal minor external injuries. Now, combined with my first Soul Skill, its healing effect is doubled."

Flender looked calm, but inside he was overjoyed. He'd really struck gold.

"Good. Excellent."

"What are you doing here? You've already met all the teachers." As he spoke, Flender looked toward Dai Mubai and the others.

"Teacher, we've already shown Su Ming around and introduced him to everyone. He hadn't been to your office yet, and with his Soul Skill, we thought we'd fly up and take a look."

"Besides, Su Ming also came up with a way to solve the side effect of my Martial Soul."

When Flender heard that the side effect of his treasured student's Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul could be resolved, he hurriedly asked, "What way? And let me tell you, Ma Hongjun's side effect is only making him a little irritable for now. Later, as his Evil Fire grows stronger, it'll cause serious problems for his body."

As he spoke, Flender glanced at the area between his treasured student Ma Hongjun's legs.

Noticing his teacher looking at him there, Ma Hongjun blushed, then quickly explained, "Su Ming, our advisor, thought of a solution too. When I hunt and absorb Soul Rings in the future, I should only absorb Soul Beasts with Phoenix bloodlines. That'll make my Martial Soul evolve to become more like a Phoenix."

Flender considered it. The suggestion did seem workable.

"Fine. It's good that there's a solution."

"Go have fun. I'll start your formal training in a few days."

As he spoke, Flender sat back down in his office chair, took out a sheet of letter paper, and resumed writing.

The four watched the dean writing at his desk from the window, then flew off on Cloud.

Over the next few days, Ma Hongjun, Oscar, and Dai Mubai each used Su Ming's Soul Power accelerated cultivation method and found that it really did speed up their cultivation.

Perhaps because he no longer had to worry about fighting his brothers to the death for the throne, Dai Mubai felt more at ease.

Dai Mubai, who had originally been at level 19 Soul Power, broke through to level 20 today.

Dai Mubai had broken through to level 20 early that morning. He got up, washed, and went to knock on Su Ming's dorm room.

The two people in the dorm were fast asleep. They heard two loud knocks, followed by, "Su Ming, are you up? I've reached level 20!"

When no one answered, Dai Mubai knocked again and called, "Su Ming! Su Ming!"

Su Ming opened his eyes, groggy and irritable. He sat up, got out of bed, walked to the door, and opened it.

Dai Mubai stood there, excitedly raising his hand to knock again.

Seeing Su Ming open the door, Dai Mubai paid no attention to his expression, which clearly said, "Isn't it too early to be waking people up?" He excitedly launched into what he had to say.

"Su Ming, I've broken through to level 20. Which Soul Beast should I hunt for my second Soul Ring? Do you have any suggestions?"

Hearing that Dai Mubai had reached level 20 and wanted his advice on a Soul Beast, Su Ming's sleepy expression vanished. His eyes cleared.

"Oh, it's Boss Dai."

"What? You've broken through to level 20?"

"Boss Dai, come in first. I'll go wash up."

He headed for the bathroom. Dai Mubai heard him and followed him into the room.

Seeing Oscar still asleep, Dai Mubai walked over and slapped him.

"Little Ao, wake up."

The slap woke Oscar at once. He opened his eyes and saw Dai Mubai raising his hand, about to slap him again.

Seeing that Oscar was awake, Dai Mubai stopped.

"Since you're awake, get up already. I've reached level 20. We might be heading out to hunt a Soul Ring in a bit."

After saying that, he sat on the bed for a while, waiting for Su Ming.

Meanwhile, Su Ming quickly washed up. When he came out and saw Dai Mubai sitting on his bed, he sat down too.

When Dai Mubai saw Su Ming sit down, he began asking, "Su Ming, what kind of Soul Beast should I hunt for my second Soul Ring?"

"With the Evil-Eyed White Tiger Martial Soul, and your family's long-standing tradition of marrying into the Hell Spirit Cat family, there are three paths that suit you best."

"The first path is to evolve toward the Light Attribute alone. Hunt a Soul Beast with the Light Attribute, and your Martial Soul should ultimately evolve into the Bright White Tiger, then the Sacred White Tiger."

"The second path is to evolve toward darkness and death alone. Hunt a Soul Beast with a dark attribute, and your Martial Soul should ultimately evolve into the Death White Tiger, then the Dark Demon Tiger."

"The third path is to unite light and darkness. Bring the two together, and your Martial Soul should ultimately evolve into the Light-Dark White Tiger."

"Which one do you want to choose?"

Dai Mubai pondered Su Ming's three suggestions.