Rewards According to Merit

The next morning.

Papal City.

A neat convoy of Purple Cloud Eagles landed in Spirit Hall Square before Papal Hall.

Xie Yue stood among the assembled group, wrapped in bandages. After being treated by a healing-type Soul Master, he had finally regained consciousness.

This time, I'll definitely make everyone see me in a new light.

Xie Yue thought to himself.

In order to obtain the Blood Demon Wolf's soul ring, Xie Yue had nearly died at its hands.

Even so, he had stubbornly refused to fire the signal flare, because he did not want to be left behind by those two.

I just wonder how old their soul rings are. They should be about the same as mine, right?

As Xie Yue pondered this, Qin Shi's shout rang out across the square.

"Everyone, assemble!"

All the students quickly formed up.

"Mm." Qin Shi nodded in satisfaction. "This year, your survival rate reached one hundred percent. That is extremely rare among past soul-hunting operations. I congratulate you all."

"At the same time, this soul-hunting operation has come to an end. On behalf of Spirit Hall, I will now award you the corresponding rewards."

"The first-place team will receive twenty trial points per person, along with an additional thousand-year spiritual herb."

"The second-place team will receive ten trial points per person, along with an additional Level Three soul tool."

"The third-place team will receive five trial points per person, with no additional reward."

"Anyone who obtained a soul ring over a hundred years old during this operation will receive an additional five trial points."

Qin Shi applauded.

"I have finished announcing the reward rules. Now, children, show us the soul rings you have obtained."

"Yes!"

Yellow and white lights immediately flickered across the square.

For most of those present, their first soul rings were merely white soul rings. Fewer than one-third had managed to hunt a hundred-year soul beast and obtain a yellow soul ring.

The yellow soul ring beneath Xie Yue's feet slowly rose. It was a four-hundred-year soul ring with four bands of light, exceptionally dazzling amid the crowd.

"Xie Yue actually has a four-hundred-year soul ring! That's amazing."

"I heard he hunted it alone, without even any teammates. He's ridiculously strong."

"Sigh, if I'd known, I would have teamed up with Xie Yue. With those results, he'll definitely take first place, right?"

"Tch, even if you found him, he might not have accepted you. As for first place... hehe, have you forgotten there's still someone else?"

Qin Shi nodded at Xie Yue in satisfaction.

"Mm, not bad. My efforts were not wasted."

"Thank you for your praise, Senior."

Xie Yue bowed with cupped fists, the corners of his lips curling upward.

Hehe, this should mean those two won't be able to widen the gap between us anymore, right?

At this point, most people in the square had already displayed their soul rings. Aside from those without soul rings, only two people remained who had yet to reveal their martial souls.

"Captain, we've finished recording everyone else's information. Only Hu Liena and Meng Xuanji remain."

"Alright, I understand."

Qin Shi had deliberately saved the two for last, intending for them to shine brilliantly before the crowd and establish their future standing.

But although he had worked so hard to curry favor with them, why was Meng Xuanji looking at him with such resentment?

Could he really have done something wrong?

He had even scared off a thousand-year wolf king. His soul ring could not possibly be that low in age, could it?

"Hu Liena, Meng Xuanji, reveal your martial souls."

"Yes, Senior."

Hu Liena stepped forward first, standing at the very center of the square as she basked in the sunlight and the expectant gazes of the crowd.

What kind of result would this student of His Holiness the Pope achieve?

"Nine-Tailed Fox."

Hu Liena lightly waved her jade-like hand. A seductive and enchanting Nine-Tailed Fox swept over her body amid a faint pink mist, lazily and arrogantly crouching upon her shoulder.

As the mist dissipated, a soul ring glowing bright purple slowly emerged, standing out sharply among the predominantly white soul rings!

It was like a depth charge plunging into a bottomless trench, its explosion triggering a thunderous roar!

"A thousand-year soul ring!!!"

Aside from Meng Xuanji, everyone was stunned.

Even Xiang He and Qin Shi, who had already known the outcome, were no exception.

"A first soul ring of a thousand years... no matter how many times one sees it, it is still astonishing. With such talent, she will surely lead Spirit Hall as the next generation's Holy Maiden," Xiang He murmured.

After a wave of fervent praise, the scene suddenly fell completely silent.

Simple words no longer seemed worthy of this Holy Maiden of such distinguished birth. Nearly every student present racked their brains, wondering how they could praise her in a way that would leave an impression in her heart.

Hu Liena turned slightly to look at Meng Xuanji, gazing at him expectantly as a smile spread across her face.

"Meng Xuanji, it's your turn. Let me see your martial soul."

Hu Liena's breathtaking smile nearly melted the hearts of every boy present. Some were so excited that they fainted on the spot.

"So... so beautiful." That was practically all the unconscious boys could mutter.

"Sigh, fine then."

Meng Xuanji shook his head helplessly and walked to the center of the square.

"My martial soul might be a little dangerous. Aren't you going to move aside?"

"We're friends. You said you wouldn't hurt me, didn't you?"

"Fine, you're right."

Meng Xuanji lightly stamped his foot, and Dark Blue Silver Emperor vines burst from the earth beneath him. Thick vines rose high into the air, forming an eerie dark forest across the square.

Even though Meng Xuanji had tried his best to restrain the Dark Blue Silver Emperor's aura, the moment the martial soul appeared, it still instinctively altered the surrounding terrain.

Hu Liena was surrounded by Dark Blue Silver Emperors, only one step away from Meng Xuanji.

A slender tendril slowly extended and wrapped around Hu Liena's finger, weaving itself into a delicate little ring.

It seemed to be thanking her for trusting it so much.

"What a beautiful ring. Was that your intention?"

"No. And I suggest you take it off. It gave you that ring for more than just liking you. It wants to eat you."

"If I weren't suppressing its desires, you would already be wrapped up like a rice dumpling."

Meng Xuanji reached out to remove the ring for Hu Liena, but she dodged away.

"What's wrong with you? That thing won't do you any good."

"I don't want to. You gave it to me, so I won't let you take it back. Besides, I think this ring looks quite nice. Look, it put itself on me, and these Blue Silver Emperors have become much gentler toward me. If you don't believe me, see for yourself."

As she spoke, Hu Liena took the initiative to stroke the branch of a Blue Silver Emperor. It consciously retracted the barbs on its body and lightly trembled as if it were being scratched.

Meng Xuanji was speechless.

So this martial soul was actually quite the actor.

"Meng Xuanji, where is your first soul ring?"

Qin Shi's voice came from outside. He could hardly wait to witness the birth of another legend.

Hu Liena also studied Meng Xuanji curiously. Nearly everyone was waiting for his performance.

"Haa... fine, I'll satisfy you all."

Snap!

With a snap of Meng Xuanji's fingers, a silver-white first soul ring slowly emerged. It circled high above the dark forest, completely out of place among the black tendrils.

Meng Xuanji brushed aside a lock of hair and looked helplessly at the crowd.

"As you can see, I only obtained a ten-year soul ring. It's not that I wanted to keep you in suspense. I was just too embarrassed to show my martial soul in front of you."

"That's impossible, you..."

Meng Xuanji pressed a finger against Hu Liena's lips.

"Shh, young lady. This is our secret."

Meng Xuanji gave Hu Liena a meaningful look.

"If you want to know the exact age of my soul ring, I can show you when we get to the library. There are too many people here. Revealing my soul ring makes me feel very unsafe."

Atop the clock tower on the north side of the square, She Long stared darkly at that silver-white ten-year soul ring, as though it had slapped him across the face.

"Such trash will amount to nothing in the future. I think the Second Enshrined is simply worrying too much. Even if this kind of person becomes an evil Soul Master, he'll only be an ant. There is no need to fear him."