Wang Yan's Suggestion

"That is correct. Ralts is equivalent to a human toddler."

Clutching Ralts tightly, Bai Cai said earnestly, "Since soul rings from a Deep Sea Mermaid or a Heavenly Snow Woman are difficult to obtain, how about a soul ring from a Cyclops?"

A negotiation is a form of pressure; to obtain appropriate benefits, one must exert sufficient pressure. If Bai Cai had requested the Cyclops soul ring first, the academy would have deliberated cautiously and likely lowered the standards for the assistance provided in obtaining the ring.

The highest requirement for a Cyclops soul ring versus the highest requirement for a Deep Sea Mermaid or Heavenly Snow Woman soul ring involves vastly different personnel configurations for the assistance team.

For the former, a team led by a Soul Saint, or at most a Soul Douluo, would suffice. If they encountered other spirit-type soul beasts of a suitable age, they would certainly urge him to absorb those instead, even if they weren't from a Cyclops.

For the latter, the probability of a Titled Douluo or even a Super Douluo leading the team is high, specifically searching for humanoid spirit-type soul beasts—such as the Deep Sea Mermaid, Heavenly Snow Woman, or a mutated Cyclops—with the ordinary Cyclops being the absolute minimum standard.

"The quality of an ordinary Cyclops soul ring is relatively low; it is certainly not qualified to serve as the external stimulus for a complete awakening."

Wang Yan took the initiative, rejecting Bai Cai's choice. Humanoid spirit-type soul beasts are neither common nor rare, and the ordinary Cyclops belongs to the lower-middle tier.

"The Succubus and Nightmare of the Sun Moon Continent, and the Medusa of the Sunset Forest, are all standouts among humanoid spirit-type soul beasts and are very suitable for your Martial Soul."

The Shrek Academy library sets strict confidentiality levels; records for some endangered soul beasts have been erased, and there is very little detailed information regarding the unique soul beasts of the Sun Moon Continent.

Bai Cai's access level is low, allowing him to query only a few impractical humanoid spirit-type soul beasts and those that are widely known.

As for the Deep Sea Mermaid and Heavenly Snow Woman, high-level soul masters who dare to poach from these groups either perish in the deep sea or the Far North, or they keep their secrets strictly guarded, leaving almost no detailed information on paper.

Wang Yan is truly a high-level teacher at Shrek Academy, able to casually name three types of humanoid spirit-type soul beasts with top-tier bloodline inheritance.

"However, it is too early to attach a soul ring from a humanoid spirit-type soul beast."

Wang Yan changed his tone, guiding him patiently: "The quality of a soul ring and the species of the soul beast are related to the age of the beast."

"In terms of actual combat effectiveness, the soul skills provided by a Deep Sea Mermaid or Heavenly Snow Woman soul ring are not necessarily superior to the powerful skills produced by some specific spirit-type soul beasts."

"The Illusion Fox, a spirit-type soul beast, produces soul skills that tend toward creating illusions, with extremely strong group control effects."

"The Human-Faced Owl, a spirit-type soul beast, produces soul skills that tend toward mind control, with extremely strong single-target control effects."

"The Ghost Ape, a spirit-type soul beast, produces soul skills that tend toward curses, decoys, and consumption, with extremely strong effects."

"The actual combat effectiveness of some of these soul skills is not even weaker than those produced by soul beasts like the Medusa or Cyclops."

"A low-age Medusa soul ring produces soul skills that are either petrification poison or petrification rays. The signature soul skill of a Medusa soul ring, Time Stasis, can only be produced by a Medusa royal with at least thirty thousand years of cultivation; the probability of obtaining it is extremely low."

"Therefore, before the fifth ring, there is no need to be overly demanding about humanoid spirit-type soul beast rings; it is more appropriate to attach soul rings with stronger soul skills. From the fifth ring onwards, attaching a humanoid spirit-type soul beast ring is much more likely to yield stronger soul skills and a complete awakening."

"The effect of a hundred-year soul ring versus a ten-thousand-year soul ring on stimulating Martial Soul evolution is like heaven and earth."

By providing examples and analyzing the pros and cons, Wang Yan even concluded that the critical point for Ralts's complete awakening—or evolution—lies at the fifth ring, the Soul King level; his insight was sharp.

Bai Cai had previously estimated the different critical points for Ralts's three-stage evolution.

The first stage of evolution: upon reaching Soul Power Level 30 and attaching a thousand-year soul ring, Ralts begins to grow and evolves into Kirlia.

The second stage of evolution: upon reaching Soul Power Level 50 and attaching a ten-thousand-year soul ring, Kirlia reaches adulthood and evolves into Gardevoir.

The third stage of evolution: upon reaching Soul Power Level 70 or 90 and attaching a high-quality ten-thousand-year or hundred-thousand-year soul ring, Gardevoir breaks its limits and evolves into Mega Gardevoir.

Furthermore, by attaching a soul ring from a humanoid spirit-type soul beast, Ralts could even rapidly shed its non-human characteristics and approach the human form infinitely.

"Teacher Wang Yan, how should I judge which soul rings are suitable to attach?"

Bai Cai straightened his posture and asked politely, "For the second, third, and fourth soul rings, what type of soul skills should I choose? As for the soul beasts, should I choose the Illusion Fox, Human-Faced Owl, Ghost Ape, or other spirit-type soul beasts?"

"No, the soul rings produced by the aforementioned soul beasts do not fit your Martial Soul."

Wang Yan shook his head in denial, then stared at Ralts. "With such a talent for materializing spiritual power, you should choose a legendary super soul skill."

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

"I have heard of some of his deeds," Bai Cai said hesitantly.

"Do you know about the sixth soul ring and soul skill effect of the Food God Douluo?"

Without waiting for Bai Cai to answer, Wang Yan quickly organized his thoughts and stated calmly, "The Food God Douluo Oscar's sixth soul ring came from a Mirror Shadow Beast, and the soul skill effect is to copy the Martial Soul and soul skills of others."

"The Mirror Shadow Beast is a spirit-attribute soul beast. As a food-system soul master, the Sausage Douluo could only utilize at most one-half, or even one-third, of the Mirror Shadow Beast's potential."

"The effect of the Food God Douluo's sixth soul skill is to use another person's blood as a catalyst to create a Mirror Image Sausage that copies their Martial Soul and soul skills."

"The Ralts Martial Soul possesses extraordinary spiritual power; choosing to attach a Mirror Shadow Beast soul ring would allow you to fully unleash the potential of the Mirror Shadow Beast's ring, perhaps even surpassing the Mirror Shadow Beast itself."

"How about attaching a Mirror Shadow Beast soul ring for your second ring?"

Wang Yan smiled enigmatically. A light flashed from the silver bracelet on his wrist, and an old, hardcover soul beast encyclopedia landed in front of Bai Cai.

Opening the encyclopedia and following the index to find the entry for the Mirror Shadow Beast, Wang Yan quickly turned to the corresponding page.

"The Mirror Shadow Beast inhabits the Far North; known activity locations include the Ice-Sealed Forest, the Ice Plain, and the Snow Mountain. They often forage while accompanied by the aurora. The characteristics of a hundred-year Mirror Shadow Beast are..."

Reading the entry on the Mirror Shadow Beast word for word, Wang Yan casually handed Bai Cai an application form, with the blank space occupying three-quarters of the page.

"Normal students do not need to fill out an application form to request the academy's assistance in obtaining soul rings."

"However, Student Bai Cai, based on your potential and your uniqueness, the academy will carefully evaluate the soul beast species you choose and your reasons for doing so."

"The potential and theoretical evidence of the Ralts Martial Soul have convinced me. I will apply for the highest-spec team configuration for you to assist in obtaining the Mirror Shadow Beast soul ring."

"Now, fill out the application form and go back to pack your luggage. The journey to the Far North is exceptionally long, but it is worth the wait."