By all reason, Wang Dong was an excellent fit for the Lightning Left Leg Bone.
First, Wang Dong was currently the team's main damage dealer. After gaining a movement Soul Skill, combined with the Light Goddess Butterfly's gift for flight, she would become far more threatening when diving into the enemy's back line and much quicker to roam and support her teammates.
Second, the Light Goddess Butterfly favored ranged attacks. After Martial Soul Possession, it did not enhance the body as much as top Beast Martial Souls like the Red Dragon, White Tiger, and Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon. The Lightning Left Leg Bone could strengthen Wang Dong's left leg, making up for her weakness in close combat.
Finally, Wang Dong's contribution to the team in both the round-robin and knockout stages had been beyond question. Bai Cai and Xiao Xiao lacked offensive Soul Skills. When facing Huang Chutian, Ao Wei, Wu Feng, and Dai Huabin, Bai Cai Team would have fallen short of the top eight if Wang Dong had not turned the tide.
Of course, Tool Soul Masters were physically fragile, so there was nothing wrong with Xiao Xiao fusing with the Lightning Left Leg Bone. Besides, Wang Dong had been born with a silver spoon in her mouth and pampered all her life. Perhaps she wanted a Soul Bone that better matched her own attributes.
So Bai Cai left Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao to decide between themselves who would get the Lightning Left Leg Bone. She would not interfere.
A gentle breeze stirred beneath clear skies and bright sunshine. Wang Dong's pink-and-blue bob was slightly tousled, and her skin was fair and tender. Smiling brightly, she gently pushed away the precious Soul Bone just inches from her.
"I'm giving it up voluntarily." Xiao Xiao glanced at Wang Dong and said decisively, "Wang Dong, if I were you, I'd happily accept the Soul Bone!"
She offered no explanation, but her gaze was suggestive. It was common knowledge among Soul Masters that when two male Soul Masters used a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, their fused appearance would not take on feminine features.
The moment the angelic girl descended to the mortal realm, Xiao Xiao knew she had been forced to lose her love.
"Xiao Bai..."
Wang Dong stood there, stunned and at a loss. She did not want to fight over the precious Soul Bone, but what if Xiao Bai misunderstood her?
"Take it." Bai Cai handed the Soul Bone to Wang Dong, then turned to Xiao Xiao with a serious expression. "Xiao Xiao, Wang Dong has already received a Soul Bone. When we get another one, you'll be the first to receive it."
"Got it, got it." Xiao Xiao waved impatiently, then grinned. "It's not easy to get a Soul Bone, is it? If you feel bad, why not treat me to dinner?"
"Xiao Xiao, I'm afraid you won't get that meal."
A cold voice rang out abruptly. Zhou Yi walked up to the three of them with a smile. "Because I'm going to give you a Soul Bone."
The silver bracelet on her right wrist flashed. A brown leather pouch dropped into her hand, identical in style to the one Director Du Weilun had given them.
She handed the pouch to Bai Cai and said coolly, "The homeroom teacher of Class Four argued with me over the outcome of the quarterfinals. He lost this Soul Bone."
"Now, it's yours. The Soul of Arcane Left Arm Bone is an incomplete Soul Bone. I'll spare you the details of where it came from. After you fuse with it, it can increase your Soul Power by five percent."
"Beyond fusion, the Soul of Arcane Left Arm Bone can guide two Soul Bones with similar attributes to combine with it, forming a single Soul Bone of excellent quality."
"All right, divide it among yourselves. I'm leaving." Zhou Yi waved goodbye and hurried off, apparently in high spirits.
"Xiao Xiao, take it." Bai Cai handed her the brown pouch. "It's yours."
The pretty girl glanced at Wang Dong, then stepped forward and hugged Bai Cai, grinning. "Thanks, Captain. You're the best. I might even consider falling for you."
For the first time, Xiao Xiao had called Bai Cai "Captain."
The three returned to the classroom, immediately drawing complicated looks from the entire class.
Grade 1 Class 1 had taken over Freshman Class One's classroom. But the seats once occupied by Bai Cai, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao had been taken by unfamiliar students. The world had changed beyond recognition.
As was customary, Wang Yan congratulated the class on passing the freshman assessment and officially becoming students of Shrek Academy. Then he proposed candidates for class monitor.
"All the students in our class are either Power Attack System or Control System. So students from each system will serve as class monitor and vice monitor. We'll choose them through a secret ballot."
"Based on your performance in the freshman assessment, let's begin the nominations."
Facing the blackboard, Wang Yan wrote down two rows of names. The first row, labeled Power Attack System, listed Wang Dong, Dai Huabin, Wu Feng, Zhou Sichen, and Huang Chutian.
The second row, labeled Control System, listed Bai Cai, Cao Jinxuan, Lan Susu, Lan Luoluo, and Xiao Xiao.
Ten names appeared on the blackboard, and the election for class monitor and vice monitor heated up. As a key member of the champion team, Wang Dong had an impressive record for all to see. Dai Huabin came from the White Tiger Duke's Estate and had already become a Soul Elder, earning him no shortage of classmates eager to curry favor with him.
As a key member of the champion team, Bai Cai kept a low profile. The Lan sisters, Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo, had plenty of admirers. But their admirers attacked one another and called one another heretics, so they were too divided to amount to much.
After fierce competition, Wang Dong and Bai Cai stood at the lectern. They took the positions of class monitor and vice monitor, respectively.
With the class monitor and vice monitor chosen, the classroom settled down, and Wang Yan began the lesson.
"Our first lesson: hunting Soul Beasts and adding Soul Rings."
"As everyone knows, ten thousand years ago, Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang summarized the experience and lessons of those who came before him and proposed the Ten Core Competencies. Even today, the Ten Core Competencies and the theories derived from them still hold a special place in history and offer valuable guidance. They're well worth exploring in depth."
"For example, what are the advantages and disadvantages when a Soul Master with a Beast Martial Soul adds a Soul Ring from a Plant Spirit, or when a Soul Master with a Plant Martial Soul adds one from an animal Soul Beast?"
Bai Cai listened intently. Wang Yan truly was a senior teacher: not only was he learned, he was also skilled at guiding students to think. His analysis was thorough and incisive.
"Obviously, you can obtain a more powerful Soul Skill, but the possibility of Martial Soul Evolution decreases."
"Why?" Wang Yan looked around the class. "Who would like to answer?"
During the free time after finishing her studies at the junior Soul Master academy, Bai Cai had researched this question and already reached a conclusion.
Soul Rings could change the nature of a Martial Soul.
For example, when Blue Silver Grass gained a Ghost Vine Soul Ring, its form would tend toward vines, with barbs growing from its leaves. With a Dragon Sword Grass Soul Ring, its form would tend toward clustered growth, with long, sharp leaves.
Although Blue Silver Grass changed somewhat after gaining Soul Rings from Datura Snakes or Man Faced Demon Spiders, its fundamental form did not change. A clump remained a clump, and a vine remained a vine.
Soul Masters with high-quality Martial Souls did not need to pursue Soul Rings that matched their Martial Souls' evolved forms. Matching attributes was enough.
Soul Masters with low-quality Martial Souls were better off choosing Soul Rings that matched their Martial Souls' evolved forms. They could rely on outside help to improve their Martial Soul quality and enhance their cultivation talent.
Then how should Ralts choose its Soul Rings?
Ralts was highly intelligent and had a humanoid form. Setting aside Ice Silkworms, most Plant Spirits, and most animal Soul Beasts, the targets were obvious:
Cyclopes, Deep Sea Mermaids, Plant Spirits, and Heavenly Snow Women.
The first two were humanoid Soul Beasts whose primary attribute was mental power, while the latter two were humanoid Soul Beasts whose secondary attribute was mental power. All were excellent fits for Ralts.
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