A Sudden Mutation

"Rip—"

The razor-sharp spider legs tore through the dragon scales and sliced open flesh.

The instant blood seeped from the wound, Bei Bei's right arm had already turned purple. Black fluid trickled down, while a wisp of black vapor rapidly spread upward along his arm.

The poison was so potent that even Dragon Transformation could barely suppress it.

Large beads of sweat continuously slid down Bei Bei's forehead. Even his right hand was beginning to show signs of decay.

Naturally, the Man Faced Demon Spider would not miss such a fine opportunity. Two spider legs shot out, targeting Bei Bei's heart and head.

"Bei Bei!"

Tang Ya's face went pale in an instant.

Just then,

the ground suddenly shook violently without warning.

The ground beneath the Man Faced Demon Spider exploded, and countless sharp wooden spikes burst from the earth, stabbing upward at even greater speed!

"Cutting!"

Before the Man Faced Demon Spider could react, several wooden spikes had already pierced its abdomen. Its human face twisted in agony, and all its movements came to an abrupt halt.

Then, willow leaves drifted down silently, one after another.

The moment they entered Bei Bei's right arm, the Life energy within them erupted, instantly purging all the Man Faced Demon Spider's toxins.

"Bei Bei, are you okay?!"

Tang Ya hurried to Bei Bei's side. Seeing the color return to his face, the worry in her heart finally eased.

"I'm fine now."

Steadily himself with a stumble, Bei Bei cast a grateful glance to the side. Tang Ya followed his gaze and was just about to offer thanks, but the words that slipped out changed immediately.

"Wow—what incredible presence!"

Bei Bei was left speechless. "..."

He knew Xiao Ya's personality, but wasn't that a little too inappropriate for the situation?

"Ahem—"

He coughed dryly, pulling Tang Ya back to her senses.

As she playfully stuck out her tongue, Bei Bei cupped his fists toward Liu Yuan and said, "Bei Bei and Tang Ya of Shrek Academy thank you both for your help."

"No need to thank me." Liu Yuan waved a hand. "Since I came across someone in trouble, I merely lent a hand while I could."

"We truly have you to thank, sir." Remembering how close he had come to death after being poisoned, Bei Bei could not help feeling lingering fear. If someone had not stepped in, he would truly have been finished.

"If there is anything we can help with later, Xiao Ya and I will never refuse."

Liu Yuan did not refuse this promise.

Instead, he pointed at the barely living Man Faced Demon Spider and turned to Tang Ya. "I noticed your Soul Power fluctuations earlier. It seems you need a Soul Ring, so I deliberately held back. If your Martial Soul can absorb its Soul Ring, don't waste the opportunity."

"Really?!"

Tang Ya's eyes immediately lit up!

The reason they had fought the Man Faced Demon Spider was because, after encountering it, she had wanted to follow the Soul Ring configuration left behind by their ancestor Tang San and absorb this thousand-year Man Faced Demon Spider as her Third Soul Ring.

Who would have thought the Man Faced Demon Spider would be so powerful? Even Bei Bei, a Soul Elder, could not defeat it. They could only fight while retreating, until they ended up in that predicament.

But now, the Soul Ring was theirs!

Tang Ya immediately stepped forward and gave the Man Faced Demon Spider a quick death. Once its body stopped struggling, a faint purple glow leaked from its corpse. In the end, it condensed into a purple Soul Ring in midair.

Then she sat down right there and began absorbing it.

Seeing Tang Ya act so decisively without even offering thanks, Bei Bei said apologetically, "Sorry, sorry. Xiao Ya is rather innocent and doesn't know any better..."

"It's fine. It's no big deal."

Liu Yuan shook his head and did not hold it against her.

Still, Tang Ya was innocent enough for it to show plainly on her face.

After all, what person with even a little sense would reply, "That's wonderful," after someone said, "There's no one else left in my family"?

Fortunately, she had been lucky.

She had met a boyfriend who was wealthy, talented, handsome, well-connected, and deeply devoted to her.

Otherwise,

she should have died after falling into becoming an Evil Soul Master!

At least, that was how Liu Yuan saw it.

Once evil, always evil. Understand?

Meanwhile, Bei Bei began chatting with Liu Yuan, while Huo Yuhao sat nearby as a listener.

Before long, he learned from Liu Yuan that they were only eleven years old and were heading to apply to Shrek Academy as this year's New Students.

The news left Bei Bei frozen in shock!

"What?! You're only eleven?!"

"That's right."

Once it was confirmed, Bei Bei's pupils constricted.

To kill a Man Faced Demon Spider in a single move, his cultivation had to be at least that of a Soul Elder—and likely not one who had only recently entered that rank.

Eleven years old, and a Soul Elder!

This talent...

Even as shock filled his heart, Bei Bei gradually composed himself and turned to look at Huo Yuhao beside him.

He had heard this junior call Liu Yuan "brother." If they were biological brothers, then Huo Yuhao's talent...

Thinking of this, Bei Bei grew curious.

But he soon discovered that Huo Yuhao's Soul Power fluctuations were not strong. It was hard to say whether he had even reached level fifteen.

After hesitating for a moment, he finally asked, "Junior Liu, your younger brother hasn't reached level fifteen yet, has he?"

Liu Yuan nodded. "He hasn't."

There was nothing he could not admit about that.

"That's troublesome."

Bei Bei frowned slightly and said awkwardly, "He won't be able to enter Shrek Academy. The minimum requirement for admission is level fifteen cultivation."

"How about this..."

Bei Bei's eyes suddenly lit up as he thought of something.

He glanced from the corner of his eye at Tang Ya, who was absorbing the Soul Ring. "Junior Liu may not know this, but Xiao Ya and I are from the Tang Sect. We have an exemption slot. If you don't mind, we can give that slot to this little brother. Consider it a token of our gratitude."

"Thank you for your concern, Senior." Liu Yuan smiled as he accepted Bei Bei's goodwill, yet gently declined. "My younger brother is actually already very close to level fifteen. It won't be long before he breaks through. So Senior and Senior Sister should keep that exemption slot."

Hearing this, Bei Bei did not say anything more.

As time passed,

Tang Ya finished absorbing the Soul Ring as well. Two yellow Soul Rings and one purple Soul Ring shone in turn around her Blue Silver Grass.

But just as she opened her eyes in delight and said, "Bei Bei, my Third Soul Skill..." before she could finish, petals suddenly began drifting down from the sky. Each was like crystal glass, and beneath the moonlight, their glittering radiance made everyone's eyes ache.

Before she could figure out what was happening, a willow branch suddenly yanked her back. When she opened her eyes again and saw the situation clearly, Liu Yuan and Bei Bei had already risen to their feet. Six Soul Rings pulsed around them as they assumed guarded stances.

Because on the other side of those petals, a peculiar soul beast had appeared at some point.

The aura it gave off alone was enough to make everyone present shudder in fear.