"That's right." Su Ming didn't hide anything.
Flender's expression instantly darkened with fury. "This is complete nonsense! Have you been treating my words like wind in your ears?"
"Look at your Martial Soul! The flames get smaller and darker every time you possess it. Now they're not even half as big as Ma Hongjun's! You're turning a perfectly good top-grade phoenix into a bald crow!"
Despite Flender's barrage of questions, Su Ming held firm to his own views and calmly replied:
"Dean, bigger flames don't mean greater strength. The flames have grown smaller because the impurities have been stripped away. Only the purest essence remains."
"Utter nonsense! You're completely incorrigible!"
Flender slammed his hand down on the table, producing a deafening boom.
He pointed at Su Ming's nose. "I'm telling you, your Soul Power has been increasing these past two years, but if you keep this up, you'll be completely ruined!"
"Now that you've reached level twenty, you have to listen to me this time. Your Second Soul Ring must come from the purest fire-attribute Soul Beast. I'll have you change your attributes!"
"Only then can you avoid taking a wrong turn!"
Su Ming met Flender's gaze. "What if I refuse?"
"Refuse?!"
Flender's voice shot up, and his eyes instantly filled with domineering pressure.
"Su Ming, I'm your teacher, and I'm also the dean of Shrek! You don't get to throw tantrums here!"
"I'll make this clear right now: if you dare obtain a Soul Ring against my wishes again, then I won't have a student like you, and Shrek Academy will never tolerate a traitorous disciple like you!"
"You have one day to think it over. Now get out and think carefully!"
Faced with Flender's domineering attitude, Su Ming said nothing.
He couldn't be bothered to offer a single unnecessary explanation.
He simply turned and walked out of the office.
Watching Su Ming's retreating figure, Flender's anger refused to subside. "This is infuriating! I've never met a student so stubborn and set in his ways. Doesn't he know I'm doing this for his own good?"
After leaving Flender's office, Su Ming didn't return to the dormitory.
Instead, he headed straight into the city.
Flender wanted to force him to absorb a fire-attribute Soul Ring, so he'd simply act first and ask later again.
Before long, Su Ming arrived at the Spirit Hall Employment Association in Suotuo City.
The Spirit Hall Employment Association
was an organization under Spirit Hall. It earned commissions by completing tasks posted by clients.
Since it was backed by Spirit Hall, its members were relatively trustworthy.
Su Ming entered the hall and went straight to the front desk, pulling out Gold Soul Coins.
"Hello, I'd like to post a commission. I'm hiring two Soul Grandmasters, or one Spirit Hall attendant at the Soul Elder level, to accompany me in hunting for my Second Soul Ring."
"Certainly. Would you like a direct commission or an outsourced commission?"
A direct commission meant selecting personnel directly affiliated with Spirit Hall. It cost more, but offered greater security.
Outsourcing meant hiring people who weren't affiliated with Spirit Hall. They were usually independent Soul Masters who took commissions. There were some restrictions, but too many uncertainties.
Su Ming wasn't very strong at the moment, so naturally he chose the safest option.
The staff member quickly counted the Gold Soul Coins.
Then he handed Su Ming an employment contract bearing the Spirit Hall emblem.
The contract had been stamped using a specialized Soul Tool, and bore the identifying marks of both the client and the employee.
Anyone who violated it would face severe punishment from Spirit Hall.
In most cases, Spirit Hall employees didn't go back on their word. After all, the honor of being a Spirit Hall attendant was their greatest support in life.
This offered Su Ming excellent protection.
Before long, someone accepted Su Ming's commission.
The man wore the black uniform of a Spirit Hall attendant. He was a level-thirty-six agility-type Soul Elder named Green, and his Martial Soul was the Ghost Shadow Eagle.
He was surprised to see a child posting a commission alone.
But he didn't ask any questions.
Professional integrity came first: do the job, don't ask questions.
Perhaps the other party was the young master of some great clan, out traveling.
Besides, the commission paid well—twenty percent more than the usual rate.
Soon, the two arrived at the forest entrance.
"The forest entrance is just ahead,"
Green reminded him. "Based on your request, I've already shortlisted several kinds of Soul Beasts."
"There's a Blazing Hound around six hundred years old, and a seven-hundred-year-old Crimson Flame Flying Eagle. Both would suit your Phoenix Martial Soul."
"If you're lucky, I might even help you find a Soul Beast that's seven hundred and fifty-one years old. That's practically at the limit for a Soul Master's Second Soul Ring."
Su Ming calmly shook his head. "Thank you for your trouble, but please help me find a flying-type Soul Beast with dark or evil attributes."
Green was astonished to hear this.
He couldn't help advising him, "Your Martial Soul is a top-grade Fire Phoenix. Absorbing a fire-attribute Soul Ring is the right path. Soul Beasts with dark and evil attributes are violent and bloodthirsty, and their energy can easily backfire. If you do this..."
"Attendant Green."
Su Ming interrupted him, his tone gently distant. "Thank you for the warning, but I have my own considerations. Please help me find a target and cripple it. I'd be very grateful."
Green's face stiffened. Sensing the faint chill in the boy's manner, he decided to keep quiet. "All right. As you wish."
The two entered the forest and continued deeper.
Relying on his strength as a Soul Elder and his extensive Soul Hunting experience, Green avoided several large settlements of Soul Beasts along the way.
Half a day later, they reached a densely wooded area.
"Caw—!"
Suddenly, a piercing, frigid cry shattered the silence.
The two immediately went on alert.
The cry didn't sound like that of an ordinary bird. It was more like a person wailing in despair—sharp and grating.
Under the sound's influence, the leaves on the surrounding trees seemed to turn faintly yellow.
Green immediately activated Martial Soul Possession.
His eyes instantly locked onto a dead tree ahead.
A gigantic, grotesque bird more than two meters tall was perched on its trunk.
Its entire body was covered in pitch-black feathers. Strangely, its face resembled a wicked ghost's, crisscrossed with twisted veins. Its blood-red eyes were fixed on Su Ming and Green below.
"It's a Nine-Nether Demon-Faced Owl!" Green frowned slightly.
"This beast is extremely savage, with powerful mental pollution and dark-corrosion attributes. Judging by the number of demonic markings on its head, it's nearly eight hundred years old!"
Green turned to Su Ming. "This beast meets your requirements, but unfortunately, it's beyond the absorption limit for a Second Soul Ring. Let's find another target!"
"No, there's no need to change targets." Su Ming's lips curled into a delighted smile. "Attendant Green, attack. This is the one."
"???" Green stared at him in shock.
Su Ming's resolve was firm. "Attendant Green, don't worry. If I die while absorbing it, your payment won't be affected. I've already written that into the contract."