Explosive Flame Falcon!

More than three months after awakening his Martial Soul.

One morning.

Inside the Shrek Academy dormitory, a surge of Soul Power suddenly erupted from Ji Bai's body.

"Finally, Level 10!"

"Whew!"

"That wasn't easy!"

A flicker of joy appeared in Ji Bai's eyes, and the corners of his lips lifted slightly.

He glanced at the bed across from him. Ma Hongjun was nowhere to be seen. Not bothering to dwell on it, he got out of bed and quickly went to find one of the academy teachers.

After searching around without finding Flender, Ji Bai remembered that Flender owned a shop in Suotuo City and spent most of his days there, watching the store and selling things.

If even the headmaster was like this, the other academy teachers were naturally no different. There was practically no theoretical instruction for the students. As Flender put it, the academy could only teach them how to use their Martial Souls.

After that, they would all be dragged off to the Soul Fighting Arena.

When Ji Bai found Zhao Wuji, he was lying in a rocking chair, basking in the sun.

As autumn and winter approached, the weather had grown colder and colder. Yet Zhao Wuji wore only thin clothing and did not seem to feel the cold at all.

"Teacher Zhao!"

Ji Bai stepped forward and called out softly.

"Hm?"

Zhao Wuji opened his eyes to slits and looked at Ji Bai. He did not want to say a single extra word and simply waited for him to continue.

"Teacher Zhao, my Soul Power has reached Level 10. The headmaster said that once we reach Level 10, we can hunt Soul Beasts and absorb Soul Rings. Can you take me to hunt Soul Beasts?"

Upon hearing that, Zhao Wuji opened his eyes fully, surprise appearing within them.

"You've already reached Level 10? Innate Soul Power at Rank 9 really is an impressive talent."

Ji Bai did not feel happy because of the praise. All he wanted was to obtain a Soul Ring.

"Little Ma has the same talent as you. He should reach Level 10 soon enough. Once he breaks through as well, I'll take both of you together. That'll save trouble." Zhao Wuji closed his eyes again and waved a hand. "Go back for now."

Ji Bai froze for a moment.

Fine, then!

Ji Bai looked at Zhao Wuji, who was leisurely sunbathing, and felt helpless.

Then I'll wait a little longer...

Not being able to immediately search for a Soul Beast was only a little unbearable. It was not really a problem.

Although he had reached a Soul Power bottleneck, as long as he kept cultivating, his Soul Power would continue to grow. It simply could not show itself yet.

Once he absorbed a Soul Ring and broke through the bottleneck, the Soul Power he had accumulated would erupt all at once. He might even break through several levels in succession.

Remembering that he had not eaten breakfast yet, Ji Bai turned and headed for the cafeteria. But when he arrived, he found that breakfast had long since been eaten, leaving behind only some watery leftovers.

"Things will get easier once I become a Soul Master."

Ma Hongjun had run off somewhere unknown. Ji Bai wanted to remind him, but he could not find him.

It was not until lunchtime that he finally found Ma Hongjun in the cafeteria.

As he passed by Ma Hongjun, Ji Bai reminded him, "Hurry up and cultivate your Soul Power. Don't waste your talent. My Soul Power has already reached Level 10."

Ma Hongjun froze, swallowed the food in his mouth, then widened his eyes and asked in disbelief, "You're already at Level 10? Really?"

Ji Bai said blandly, "Why would I lie to you?"

"See? The gap is obvious now." An upperclassman laughed. "Little Ma, you're not doing too well! You awakened your Martial Souls together and have the same talent, but he's already at Level 10 while you still aren't!"

Ma Hongjun curled his lips. "What's so impressive about that? I'll break through to Level 10 soon too!"

More than a month later, Ma Hongjun finally increased his Soul Power by one level and reached Level 10.

Flender personally led Ma Hongjun and Ji Bai to the Star Dou Great Forest in search of suitable Soul Beasts.

Since his own Martial Soul was also avian, Flender had more experience than Zhao Wuji and the others when it came to finding suitable Soul Beasts for bird-type Martial Souls.

Along the way, Flender kept explaining the situation in the Star Dou Great Forest and the dangers posed by Soul Beasts.

After two days of searching, they finally found a flock of century-old Flamingos. Flender selected one that was roughly two to three hundred years old as Ma Hongjun's first Soul Ring.

"Let me show you the power of a Soul Sage!"

As his words fell, Flender released his Cat Owl Martial Soul and completed his possession.

Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black!

Seven Soul Rings in total!

Like a tiger charging into a flock of sheep, he rushed into the Flamingos and instantly seized one of them. The others had no ability to resist and scattered in all directions.

Ji Bai stared intently at Flender, observing every detail.

This was the first time he had seen a battle between a Soul Master and a Soul Beast.

However, against these century-old Soul Beasts, Flender's strength was rather excessive.

Before long.

Flender tossed a Flamingo at Ma Hongjun's feet and handed him a short knife.

"Hong Jun, do you remember what I told you before? If you want to absorb a Soul Ring, you must kill the Soul Beast with your own hands!"

"O... okay..." Ma Hongjun took the short knife and slowly approached the Flamingo.

He pressed the knife against the Flamingo's throat, then shut his eyes tightly and stabbed down with all his strength.

"Pssh—"

Blood sprayed from the Flamingo's neck and splattered across Ma Hongjun's face.

"Sigh..."

Flender rubbed his brow in speechless exasperation.

When the Flamingo finally stopped breathing, a yellow Soul Ring appeared above it.

Ma Hongjun slowly opened his eyes, but his vision was blurred. The Flamingo's blood had smeared all over his face.

Flender tossed him a towel and said irritably, "Wipe yourself off, then absorb this Soul Ring using the method I taught you."

Ma Hongjun did as instructed.

Ji Bai rubbed his chin and watched quietly.

Just then, Flender abruptly raised his head toward the sky. A ball of fire was descending from above, hurtling toward Ma Hongjun at an astonishing speed.

"Boom—"

Hearing the commotion above, Ji Bai instinctively looked up. A black shadow suddenly flashed before his eyes as Flender shot into the air and collided with the incoming fireball.

"Boom!!!"

A deafening explosion rang out in the sky. Once the fireball vanished, it revealed a crimson firebird. It was not particularly large, but its eyes were exceptionally sharp, giving it a fierce and valiant air.

Flender returned while holding the "firebird."

"Headmaster, what kind of Soul Beast is this?" Ji Bai could actually see ferocity in the eyes of the "firebird."

Flender said regretfully, "An Explosive Flame Falcon, a fire-element bird-type Soul Beast skilled at surprise attacks. It would suit Hong Jun quite well, but he has already begun absorbing the Flamingo's Soul Ring. You can absorb this Explosive Flame Falcon instead."

Ji Bai asked, "Headmaster, how old is this Explosive Flame Falcon?"

Flender inspected it carefully and racked his brains for a while before saying, "Not that old. Somewhere between three hundred and five or six hundred years. It's just right for a first Soul Ring."

Ji Bai drew in a deep breath.

What the hell...

It seemed he would have to change schools early.

"Kill it."

After knocking the Explosive Flame Falcon unconscious, Flender tossed it before Ji Bai and handed him a short knife—the very same one Ma Hongjun had used earlier.

Ji Bai took the knife, pressed down on the Explosive Flame Falcon's neck, and drove the blade in.

"Hm?"

Flender was somewhat surprised by the sight. It was also Ji Bai's first time killing a Soul Beast, yet he seemed far calmer than Ma Hongjun.