Wang Yan's Advice

"That's right. Ralts is equivalent to a human toddler."

Holding Ralts close, Bai Cai said sincerely, "Deep Sea Mermaids and Heavenly Snow Women are hard to find for their Soul Rings. So, what about a Cyclops Soul Ring?"

A deal was also a form of pressure: to gain a suitable advantage, one had to apply enough pressure. If Bai Cai first asked for a Cyclops Soul Ring, the academy would consider it carefully and would likely lower its standards for providing assistance in acquiring one.

The highest request was a Cyclops Soul Ring; the highest request was a Deep Sea Mermaid or Heavenly Snow Woman Soul Ring. The staff needed to assist in acquiring each type were entirely different.

For the former, a Soul Saint might lead the team, or, at most, a Soul Douluo. If they encountered another Mental Attribute Soul Beast of a suitable age, they would surely suggest that Bai Cai absorb its Soul Ring, even if it wasn't from a Cyclops.

For the latter, a Titled Douluo would likely lead the team, or even a Super Douluo. They would specifically seek out humanoid Mental Attribute Soul Beasts, such as Deep Sea Mermaids, Heavenly Snow Women, or mutated Cyclopes. An ordinary Cyclops was the bare minimum.

"An ordinary Cyclops Soul Ring is low quality. It certainly wouldn't be suitable as an external stimulus for complete awakening."

Wang Yan turned the tables and rejected Bai Cai's choice. Humanoid Mental Attribute Soul Beasts were neither common nor particularly rare, and ordinary Cyclopes ranked somewhere in the middle to lower end.

"Succubi from the Sun Moon Continent, Nightmares, and Medusas from Sunset Forest are all outstanding humanoid Mental Attribute Soul Beasts. They're very suitable for adding Soul Rings to your Martial Soul."

Shrek Academy's library had a system of confidentiality levels. Records of some endangered Soul Beasts had already been erased, and records of Soul Beasts native to the Sun Moon Continent were scarce and incomplete.

Bai Cai's access privileges were low. She could only look up some impractical humanoid Mental Attribute Soul Beasts, as well as those that were widely known.

High-ranking Soul Masters who dared to poach Deep Sea Mermaids or Heavenly Snow Women either perished in the depths or the Far North, or kept their secrets under strict wraps. Almost no detailed information ever made it onto paper.

Wang Yan truly lived up to his reputation as a senior teacher at Shrek Academy. He casually named three humanoid Mental Attribute Soul Beasts with the highest bloodline inheritance.

"But it's too soon to add a Soul Ring from a humanoid Mental Attribute Soul Beast."

Wang Yan changed tack and patiently explained, "The quality of a Soul Ring depends on the type of Soul Beast and its age."

"The Soul Skills attached to Deep Sea Mermaid and Heavenly Snow Woman Soul Rings might not be any more effective in actual combat than powerful Soul Skills produced by certain special Mental Attribute Soul Beasts."

"Illusion Foxes are Mental Attribute Soul Beasts whose Soul Skills tend to create illusions, making them extremely effective at controlling groups."

"Human-Faced Owls are Mental Attribute Soul Beasts whose Soul Skills tend toward mind control, making them extremely effective at controlling a single target."

"Ghost Apes are Mental Attribute Soul Beasts whose Soul Skills tend toward curses and substitutes, with extremely powerful exhaustion effects."

"In actual combat, some of these Soul Skills are no weaker than those produced by Soul Beasts such as Medusas and Cyclopes."

"A low-year Medusa Soul Ring produces either petrifying poison or a petrifying ray. Medusas' signature Soul Skill, Time Freeze, can only be produced by a Medusa royal with at least thirty thousand years of cultivation, and the odds are extremely low."

"So, before your fifth ring, there's no need to insist on a Soul Ring from a humanoid Mental Attribute Soul Beast. A Soul Ring that grants a stronger Soul Skill would be more suitable. At your fifth ring and beyond, adding a Soul Ring from a humanoid Mental Attribute Soul Beast would grant a stronger Soul Skill and greatly increase the chance of complete awakening."

"The effect of a Hundred-Year Soul Ring on Martial Soul Evolution is worlds apart from that of a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring."

With examples to illustrate his points and an analysis of the pros and cons, Wang Yan even concluded that the threshold for Ralts's complete awakening—or evolution—would be at the Five-Ring Soul King stage. His insight was razor-sharp.

Bai Cai had previously estimated the different thresholds for Ralts's three stages of evolution.

For the first stage, once her Soul Power Level reached Level 30 and she added a Thousand-Year Soul Ring, Ralts would begin to grow and evolve into Kirlia.

For the second stage, once her Soul Power Level reached Level 50 and she added a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring, Kirlia would reach adulthood and evolve into Gardevoir.

For the third stage, once her Soul Power Level reached Level 70 or Level 90 and she added a high-quality Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring or a hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring, Gardevoir would break through her limits and evolve into Mega Gardevoir.

Furthermore, by adding a Soul Ring from a humanoid Mental Attribute Soul Beast, Ralts could rapidly shed her nonhuman features and become ever more like a human.

"Teacher Wang Yan, how do you tell which Soul Rings are suitable?"

Bai Cai straightened her posture and asked politely, "For the Second Soul Ring, Third Soul Ring, and Fourth Soul Ring, what types of Soul Skills would be best? As for Soul Beasts, should I choose an Illusion Fox, a Human-Faced Owl, a Ghost Ape, or another Mental Attribute Soul Beast?"

"No. Soul Rings produced by those Soul Beasts wouldn't suit your Martial Soul."

Wang Yan shook his head, then gazed at Ralts. "With a talent like materializing spiritual power, you should choose a renowned, super-tier Soul Skill."

"Student Bai Cai, have you heard of Food God Douluo Oscar, one of the original Shrek Seven Devils?"

"I've heard a few stories about him," Bai Cai replied hesitantly.

"Do you know what Soul Beast produced Food God Douluo Oscar's Sixth Soul Ring, or what its Soul Skill does?"

Without waiting for Bai Cai to answer, Wang Yan quickly gathered his thoughts and explained calmly, "Food God Douluo Oscar's Sixth Soul Ring came from a Mirror Shadow Beast. Its Soul Skill lets him copy other people's Martial Souls and Soul Skills."

"The Mirror Shadow Beast is a Mental Attribute Soul Beast. As a food-type Soul Master, Sausage Douluo could bring out at most half, or even only a third, of the Mirror Shadow Beast Soul Ring's potential."

"Food God Douluo's Sixth Soul Skill uses another person's blood as a catalyst to create an image sausage that copies their Martial Soul and Soul Skills."

"Ralts's Martial Soul possesses extraordinary mental power. If you choose to add a Mirror Shadow Beast Soul Ring, you'll be able to bring out its full potential, and perhaps even surpass the Mirror Shadow Beast itself."

"What do you think of adding a Mirror Shadow Beast Soul Ring as your Second Soul Ring?"

Wang Yan gave a knowing smile. A flash of light passed over the silver bracelet on his wrist, and a worn, leather-bound Soul Beast Pokédex landed in front of Bai Cai.

Opening the Pokédex, he found the Mirror Shadow Beast entry in the index and quickly turned to its page.

"Mirror Shadow Beast. Known to appear in the Far North, with confirmed habitats in Ice-Sealed Forest, the ice fields, and Snow Mountain. It often forages beneath the aurora. Features of a Hundred-Year Mirror Shadow Beast..."

Reading the entry aloud word for word, Wang Yan handed Bai Cai an application form. The blank portion covered three-quarters of the page.

"Ordinary students applying for the academy's assistance in acquiring a Soul Ring don't need to fill out an application form."

"But Student Bai Cai, given your potential and the fact that you're so exceptional, the academy will carefully evaluate the type of Soul Beast you choose and your reasons for choosing it."

"The potential of Ralts's Martial Soul and the theoretical evidence have convinced me. I'll request the highest level of team support for your expedition to acquire a Mirror Shadow Beast Soul Ring."

"Now, fill out the application form and go pack your bags. The journey to the Far North will be exceptionally long, but it'll be worth the wait."