The Flame Lion King before him was a full three meters long and one and a half meters tall at the shoulder. Its fiery red fur gleamed in the sunlight, making it look mighty and imposing. The mane around its face, characteristic of lions, felt exceptionally soft to the touch.
Song Mu wondered if this was the same Flame Lion King from the original story, the one that had been scared off by Huo Yuhao's Ice Jade Empress Scorpion.
The Panel Martial Soul showed that this Flame Lion King had pretty good talent. Among the Soul Beasts he had caught these past few days, it was in the top tier.
Aside from Wang Dong'er, the Soul Beasts he currently owned fell into three talent categories: somewhat inferior, average, and pretty good.
The Panel Martial Soul hadn't explained what the different talent levels meant, but Song Mu guessed they represented the upper limits to which Soul Beasts could grow.
The growth limits of these three categories corresponded to the levels of Soul Beasts that ordinary, Intermediate, and Advanced Gulu Balls could capture.
As for Wang Dong'er's outstanding talent, she definitely had the potential to reach Level 90 or higher.
There was one talent category between hers and the others, corresponding to the Super Gulu Ball. Song Mu didn't know what it was, since he hadn't encountered it yet.
He'd used an Intermediate Gulu Ball to catch the Flame Lion King. If the Soul Beast grew to the ten-thousand-year level, he'd have to replace it with an Advanced Gulu Ball.
These Gulu Balls could only contain Soul Beasts within their designated age range. If a Soul Beast exceeded that range, the ball risked breaking.
Fortunately, Wang Dong'er was in a King Ball, which wouldn't need replacing until she reached the Titled Douluo level.
There was another mechanic for releasing Soul Beasts that Song Mu found very interesting.
The first time he released a Soul Beast, he'd receive some fruit based on its level, but the Gulu Ball wouldn't be returned.
The fruit was the energy that could raise a Soul Beast's cultivation, the same thing Song Mu had mentioned to Du Weilun earlier.
It could be fed to any Soul Beast Song Mu had captured, not just Wang Dong'er.
The upper limit to which a Soul Beast could be cultivated was determined only by its own talent, not by Song Mu's level.
Moreover, even if a Soul Beast he'd cultivated far surpassed his own level, it would still obey him. That was different from directly catching a high-level Soul Beast, which wouldn't listen to him.
The second time he released a Soul Beast, and every time after that, he wouldn't receive any fruit, but the Gulu Ball would be returned as usual.
Song Mu thought, If I caught every Soul Beast in the Beast Fighting Zone and then released them all, how strong would Wang Dong'er become if I fed her all the fruit I got?
Just today, Song Mu had also accepted a special quest.
It required him to cultivate a Soul Beast by a certain number of levels within one year.
The special reward was a Light-type Skill Stone. Its skill was called Refraction.
The Martial Soul hadn't explained how to use the Skill Stone or what Refraction did. He'd have to complete the quest to find out.
Over the next few days, Song Mu spent his time either in his dormitory or catching Soul Beasts in the Beast Fighting Zone.
Soon, the day of formal classes arrived.
In Boys' Dormitory 108, Huo Yuhao sat cross-legged on his bed, cultivating. These past few days, aside from going to the cafeteria to eat, he'd spent all his time cultivating in the dormitory.
Just then, Wang Dong walked over and kicked the leg of Huo Yuhao's bed, interrupting his cultivation.
Huo Yuhao raised his head and looked at her expressionlessly.
Over the past few days, Wang Dong had often interrupted his cultivation to make him bring her food from the cafeteria.
Was she interrupting him this time to make him buy her breakfast?
Still, she'd gotten up pretty early today. Usually, she didn't get up until almost noon.
Wang Dong said, "Do you even know that classes start today?"
Classes started today? Huo Yuhao had been so absorbed in cultivation these past few days that he'd forgotten when classes began.
Seeing Huo Yuhao's bewildered expression, Wang Dong realized he'd definitely forgotten.
She complained, "If I hadn't gotten up early today, we'd both be late! I don't know why you work so hard at cultivating when your talent's so useless."
With a cold snort, Wang Dong walked away without looking back.
Huo Yuhao still wore no expression as he quietly got out of bed.
Over the past few days, Wang Dong had constantly mocked him for being useless.
It didn't matter. He'd heard those words countless times at the Duke's Mansion.
For now, he'd just put up with her. Once Huo Yuhao grew strong, he'd repay her a hundredfold for every humiliation he'd suffered!
Freshman Class Nine.
The homeroom teacher, Mu Jin, had just finished introducing herself. Next, she decided to appoint the class monitor and deputy monitor.
At the front of the classroom, Mu Jin's gaze swept across every student.
Mu Jin said, "After analyzing your records, I've selected the two students with the highest strength or Soul Power levels to serve as class monitor and deputy monitor."
"Song Mu, Soul Power Level 25, will be class monitor; Ning Tian, Soul Power Level 31, will be deputy monitor."
As soon as Mu Jin finished speaking, someone below raised an objection.
"I object!"
Mu Jin looked toward the girl who had spoken. She had short, fiery red hair and matching red eyes.
Mu Jin knew her. Her name was Wu Feng, her Martial Soul was the Red Dragon, and her level was 25.
Mu Jin said, "What's your objection? Go ahead."
Wu Feng stood up and said, "Ning Tian is a Soul Elder, while Song Mu is only a Level 25 Soul Grandmaster. How can Ning Tian be deputy monitor?"
She had a point. Judging solely by Soul Power Level, Ning Tian was indeed far stronger than Song Mu.
However, as the class's homeroom teacher, Mu Jin had received some information about Song Mu, including a brief introduction to his Martial Soul.
So Mu Jin knew that Song Mu was strong enough to be class monitor.
Mu Jin said, "I chose Song Mu as class monitor because he has the strength of a Soul Elder. He's the strongest in Class Nine and is qualified for the position."
That wasn't enough to convince Wu Feng.
She hadn't seen it with her own eyes, so she naturally wouldn't believe that someone with the same Soul Power Level as her had the strength of a Soul Elder.
Wu Feng continued, "Just taking Teacher Mu Jin's word for it isn't very convincing. Unless Song Mu can beat me, I won't accept him as class monitor."
Mu Jin thought that sounded reasonable enough, but whether to accept the challenge was up to the person involved.
She looked toward Song Mu, seated by the window at the back of the classroom, and asked, "What do you think, Song Mu?"
Song Mu stood up and replied, "I accept the challenge."
Song Mu didn't really care whether he became class monitor or not.
If they wanted him to take the position, he would. If they didn't, he wouldn't fight for it.
As for battling Wu Feng, he was very interested. Ever since his Martial Soul Awakening, he hadn't fought another Soul Master.
Song Mu's fists were itching. He was eager to fight!
Mu Jin nodded slightly and said, "Does anyone else have an objection?"
No one else spoke up.
After all, Song Mu had a Soul Power Level of 25, higher than everyone else's.
And Mu Jin had said he had the strength of a Soul Elder. Even if she'd exaggerated, he was still probably far stronger than other Soul Masters of the same level—not someone they could hope to challenge.
When no one else stood up, Mu Jin said, "In that case, let's go to the Soul Fighting Zone."
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