Ideological Conflict, Strike First Then Report

"Yes," Su Ming replied without any concealment.

Flender's expression turned instantly furious. "This is sheer nonsense! Did you treat my words as nothing but wind?"

"Look at your martial soul now! The flames during possession are getting smaller and dimmer; they aren't even half as strong as Ma Hongjun's anymore! You are turning a top-tier phoenix into a mangy crow!"

Facing Flender's barrage of questions, Su Ming remained steadfast in his convictions, responding calmly:

"Dean, a larger fire does not mean it is stronger. The fire has diminished because the impurities have been stripped away, leaving only the ultimate essence behind."

"Nonsense! You are simply stubborn beyond reason!"

Flender slammed his hand against the desk, producing a thunderous boom.

He pointed a finger at Su Ming's nose. "I am telling you, even though your soul power has been rising these past two years, if you continue like this, you will be completely ruined!"

"Since you have reached level twenty, you must listen to me this time. Your second soul ring must be the purest fire-attribute ring to correct your path!"

"Only then will you avoid going down the wrong road!"

Su Ming stared directly into Flender's eyes. "And if I refuse?"

"Refuse?!"

Flender's voice rose sharply, his eyes instantly filled with overbearing pressure.

"Su Ming, I am your teacher, and furthermore, the Dean of Shrek! You will not be allowed to act so willfully here!"

"I will lay it out for you today: if you dare to obtain a soul ring without following my plan again, I will no longer consider you my student, and Shrek Academy will never tolerate a rebellious disciple like you!"

"I'll give you one day to think it over. Now, get out and reflect on this!"

Facing Flender's aggression, Su Ming did not say a word.

He couldn't even be bothered to offer a redundant defense.

He turned directly and walked out of the office.

Watching Su Ming's retreating back, Flender's anger refused to dissipate. "It is truly infuriating. I have never encountered a student so set in his own ways. Does he not realize I am doing this for his own good?"

After leaving Flender's office, Su Ming did not return to the dormitory.

Instead, he went straight into the city.

Since Flender wanted to force him to absorb a specific fire-attribute soul ring, he would simply act first and report later.

Soon, Su Ming arrived at the Soto City Spirit Hall Mercenary Association.

The Spirit Hall Mercenary Association.

It was an organization under the banner of Spirit Hall that earned commissions by completing tasks released by employers.

Because it was guaranteed by Spirit Hall, the people within were relatively trustworthy.

Su Ming entered the lobby, walked straight to the front desk, and pulled gold soul coins from his robe.

"Hello, I would like to post a commission. I need to hire two Great Soul Masters, or one Spirit Hall Deacon of Soul Venerable rank, to accompany me to hunt for my second soul ring."

"Very well. Would you like to choose a direct commission or an outsourced one?"

A direct commission meant selecting personnel directly affiliated with Spirit Hall; it was more expensive, but offered greater security.

Outsourcing meant hiring non-Spirit Hall personnel, usually freelance soul masters. It had certain constraints, but too much uncertainty.

Su Ming's current strength was not high, so he naturally chose the safest option.

The clerk quickly counted the gold soul coins.

Then, they handed a hiring contract bearing the Spirit Hall emblem to Su Ming.

This contract was created with a special soul tool, with the identities of the employer and the employee engraved within it.

Once anyone violated the contract, they would face severe punishment from Spirit Hall.

In most cases, Spirit Hall employees would not break their word; after all, the honor of being a Spirit Hall Deacon was the greatest reliance of their lives.

For Su Ming, this provided excellent security.

Soon, someone accepted Su Ming's commission.

The man wore the black uniform of a Spirit Hall Deacon. He was a level thirty-six agility-attack system Soul Venerable named Green, whose martial soul was a Ghost Shadow Eagle.

He was quite surprised to see a child posting a commission alone.

But he did not ask any unnecessary questions.

Professional conduct dictated that one should only do the job and not ask questions.

Perhaps the other party was a young master from some great family out on a journey.

Besides, the price of this commission was very high, twenty percent above the average.

Soon, the two arrived at the entrance of the forest.

"The entrance to the forest is just ahead," Green said, offering a reminder. "According to your requirements, I have pre-screened a few types of soul beasts."

"There is a Blazing Hound of about six hundred years, and a Crimson Flame Flying Eagle of seven hundred years. Both are very suitable for your phoenix martial soul."

"If you're lucky, I might even be able to help you track down a seven-hundred-and-fifty-one-year-old soul beast, which is nearly the limit for a Spirit Master's second soul ring."

Su Ming shook his head calmly in refusal. "Thank you for your trouble, but please help me find a flying-type soul beast with dark or evil attributes."

Green was stunned upon hearing this.

He couldn't help but advise, "Your martial soul is a top-tier Fire Phoenix; absorbing fire-attribute soul beasts is the proper path. Soul beasts with dark and evil attributes are violent and bloodthirsty, and their energy is prone to backlash. If you do this..."

"Deacon Green."

Su Ming interrupted him, his tone wrapped in a gentle distance. "Thank you for the reminder, but I have my own considerations. Please help me locate the target and cripple it. I would be very grateful."

Green's expression stiffened. Sensing the faint, pervasive indifference radiating from the youth, he chose to shut his mouth. "Fine, as you wish."

The two entered the forest, pushing forward along the way.

Relying on his strength as a Spirit Venerable and his extensive experience in soul hunting, Green steered them clear of several large soul beast habitats along the way.

Half a day later, they arrived at a dense area.

"Kree--!"

Suddenly, a shrill, chilling cry shattered the silence.

Both of them immediately grew vigilant.

The cry didn't sound like a normal bird; instead, it resembled a person wailing in despair, sharp and ear-piercing.

Under the influence of this cry, the leaves on the surrounding trees actually began to show faint traces of withered yellow.

Green instantly activated his martial soul.

His eyes locked onto a dead tree ahead.

Perched on the trunk was a giant, monstrous bird over two meters in size.

Its entire body was covered in ink-black feathers, and eerily, its face resembled that of a malevolent ghost covered in twisted, bulging veins. A pair of blood-red eyes were staring fixedly at Su Ming and Green on the ground.

"It's a Nine-Nether Demon-Faced Owl!" Green frowned slightly.

"This beast is extremely ferocious and possesses strong mental corruption and dark corrosive attributes. Judging by the number of demonic patterns on its head, this beast's age is nearing eight hundred years!"

Green turned his head to look at Su Ming. "This beast does meet your requirements, but unfortunately, it exceeds the absorption limit for a second soul ring. Let's find another target!"

"No, there's no need to change." A hint of joy tugged at the corners of Su Ming's mouth. "Deacon Green, do it. This is the one."

"???!" Green stared at him in shock.

Su Ming remained firm. "Deacon Green, rest assured. If I die from the absorption, it won't affect your payment. I have already written that into the contract."