Soul Master Rules: Why Not Have an Exciting Soul Battle!

[Soul Beast]: Phoenix-Feathered Red Demon Bird

[Age]: 782 years

[Innate Abilities]: First, Scarlet Flame Purification; second, Flame Feather Arrow

[Path to Death]: This Soul Beast had the word "demon" in its name. Combined with the noise it made from screeching just now, it was clearly consumed by its beastly nature and had fallen into demonic madness. It had earned itself a path to death.

Its screeching just now was probably because it sensed the threat of death. This path to death was getting more and more far-fetched...

This 782-year-old Phoenix-Feathered Red Demon Bird possessed Scarlet Flame Purification, which could remove negative effects from itself, and Flame Feather Arrow, a long-range area attack. Both innate abilities were quite good.

After Bao Jingjing absorbed Scarlet Flame Purification, it should give her abalone an antidote effect.

The age was just right, and its abilities suited her attributes. There was no reason to let this demon bird go.

Xu Huxiao looked at the five-ringed Soul King hovering in midair with a pair of eagle wings spread behind him, dressed in standard armor. This was the man who had spoken to stop them.

The Eagle-Winged Soul King, Chen Feng, landed. With considerable politeness, he raised his right fist to his chest, nodded to Jin Huan in salute, and said with a smile.

"Senior Soul Sage, we encountered this Phoenix-Feathered Red Demon Bird first. The slash marks on its wings were left by me. Please hand this demon bird over to me, Senior."

Jin Huan discreetly glanced at Demon Bear Douluo beside him. Seeing Xu Bayan wearing an amused expression as though watching a show, he immediately understood the role he was supposed to play.

"Hand it over to you? Little brother, the rule for hunting Soul Beasts in the Soul Master world is that whoever catches it owns it. There's no rule saying whoever sees it first owns it."

"So put away your greed and get the hell out while I'm still in a good mood."

His words were domineering and arrogant. The smile vanished from Chen Feng's face, and his expression gradually turned ugly. But the man before him was a Soul Sage.

Chen Feng could only grit his teeth and force himself to say, "Senior, I am the commander-in-chief of the Cupid Kingdom's Imperial Guard. This demon bird was first chosen by Prince Yan of our kingdom. I hope Senior can yield it to us. I am willing to offer ten thousand Gold Soul Coins as compensation."

Jin Huan sneered, the gemstone rings of various colors on his fingers gleaming.

"Do I look like someone short on Gold Soul Coins? Forget some damn prince taking a fancy to it—even if your king came himself, he wouldn't get a single feather from me!"

"Understand? Get lost."

Hearing that this man actually dared insult the prince and showed no respect for the queen at all, a surge of anger rushed to Chen Feng's head, and his grip on his sword tightened.

"You! You refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit! How dare you insult our royal family? So what if you're a Soul Sage? Where is the Royal City Imperial Guard? Seize them for me!!"

With a piercing cry from Chen Feng, twenty flying Soul Masters charged out from the barren island opposite them. All were three-ringed Soul Masters, and in the blink of an eye, they surrounded Xu Huxiao's group.

Seeing this formation, Jin Huan's seven Soul Rings pulsed even more intensely. With His Excellency Demon Bear backing him up, he was not afraid of making a scene.

"So you came prepared. Then don't blame me for hitting hard."

At that moment, Xiao Kong stepped forward one step at a time with a yawn. With every step, a Soul Ring bloomed around him.

Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black.

Another seven-ringed Soul Sage!

Jin Huan, who had been about to act, said irritably, "Why did a single dog like you come out? I can handle this."

After Martial Soul Possession, Xiao Kong's body only grew slightly taller. What drew attention was the long blue-gray hair flowing from his back to his thighs, as well as the pair of claws wreathed in azure wind-element energy.

"With how slow and wishy-washy you are, who knows when you'll finish off these flies? I've got an appointment with a beauty."

Xiao Kong did not want Jin Huan, that old bastard, to steal the spotlight before his big brother, so he wanted to show off a little.

Jin Huan shot Xiao Kong a contemptuous look. Surrounded as he was, he did not want to waste more words on this bastard.

"Fine, then let's do it. We'll see who takes down more."

Seeing another Soul Sage emerge, Chen Feng's heart skipped a beat. Yet in the next instant, his gaze became firm.

The queen's name could not suffer any insult!

"Brothers, charge! For Cupid's honor!!"

"Fight!"

"Fight!!"

Just as battle was about to erupt, a luxurious purple-gold ship emerged from behind the barren island opposite them. Its hull was nearly sixty meters long, every inch covered in exquisite carved patterns.

A white flag bearing pink heart-shaped wings fluttered in the wind atop the ship's rail.

It was the royal flag of Cupid Kingdom!

Clang!

With the crisp sound of a wooden staff striking, a ring of green light spread outward. An elderly man in gray robes, with white hair and beard and a withered, thin frame, appeared in midair between the two sides that were about to fight.

When Chen Feng saw the old man arrive, his spirits rose. He immediately said, "Grand State Preceptor, these two Soul Sages not only seized Prince Yan's Phoenix-Feathered Red Demon Bird, but also insulted Her Majesty and the prince. I was just about to arrest them!"

Mu Sen, the gray-robed elder, had cloudy and indifferent green eyes. When he looked toward Xu Bayan, he lightly nodded. Then he turned to Chen Feng and said, "Commander Chen, withdraw your Martial Soul. This is only a misunderstanding."

Mu Sen's voice was ancient and slow, yet it carried the unquestionable authority of one in a high position.

Chen Feng opened his mouth, gripping his longsword tightly. In the end, he did not offer a single rebuttal and lowered his head to obey.

Xu Bayan spoke as well. "Xiao Kong, Jin Huan, with Mu Sen Douluo before you, why haven't you paid your respects?"

"Mu Sen Douluo?" Xiao Kong froze for a moment before quickly reacting.

"The former State Preceptor of Tiandou, Mu Sen Douluo, who vanished from the Soul Master world twenty years ago!"

"What?! Didn't they say Mu Sen Douluo had already entered Douluo Hall?" Jin Huan was also shocked.

Xu Bayan kicked Jin Huan and laughed as he scolded him, "Nothing good ever comes out of your mouth. He's perfectly fine—what do you mean, entered Douluo Hall? Mu Sen Douluo, please don't take offense."

"It is nothing. I have indeed retired from the Soul Master world for many years." No joy or sorrow could be seen on Mu Sen's withered face.

Standing behind Xu Bayan, Xu Huxiao discreetly studied the gray-robed elder. Three seconds later, a string of information appeared in his mind.

[Human]: Mu Sen

[Age]: 128 years old

[Martial Soul]: Green Crystal Staff

[Level]: 91

[Soul Skills]: First Yellow—Wooden Armor; Second Yellow—Wooden Soldier; Third Purple—Forest Prison; Fourth Purple—Great Tree Python...

[Inner Monologue]: Sigh, time is a cycle, and I am about to reach the end of this journey.

He was already a Title Douluo over a hundred years old. Judging by Mu Sen's condition, he was probably no match for Father.

Although Xu Huxiao could not see through the true depth of this Title Douluo's strength, some surface signs alone showed that Mu Sen Douluo's vitality was nearly exhausted. Death was not far away.

Since Father could defeat him, then this Phoenix-Feathered Red Demon Bird should still belong to them. Based on Xu Huxiao's understanding of his father, Xu Bayan did not have the awkward pride of respecting the old and caring for the young.

Sure enough, Xu Bayan changed the subject. "Haha, since it was a misunderstanding, I'll be taking this demon bird with me. I happen to have a little one here who needs it as his second Soul Ring."

Mu Sen seemed somewhat slow to react. Before the old man could speak, the luxurious purple-gold ship docked. A beautiful mature woman with thick, long golden curls and a rose-red gown slowly disembarked, surrounded by maids.

"This demon bird was captured by Your Excellency Demon Bear, so it should naturally belong to Your Excellency. On behalf of the recklessness of my kingdom's people, Meriel offers her apologies. I hope they have not disturbed Your Excellency's good mood."

The woman who had disembarked and spoken was the queen of Cupid Kingdom, Meriel Muse. Her voice carried a spring-breeze gentleness, and the moment she appeared, she became the center of everyone's attention.

Beautiful, noble, like a delicate and full-blooming red rose.

Xu Bayan stared blankly for a moment. Hearing her words, he felt a little embarrassed instead.

"Your Majesty is too polite. This commander was only doing his duty. It is my two brothers who were somewhat unruly. Xiao Kong, Jin Huan, hurry up and apologize to Commander Chen."

"Sorry, brother."

The two were somewhat unwilling, but they still did as told.

Chen Feng had not expected the arrogant Soul Sages from before to apologize to him. For a moment, he was at a loss.

"N-No, it's fine. I was too impulsive as well."

With the conflict resolved, Xu Bayan smiled. "Then Your Majesty, carry on. We'll be leaving first."

"Xiao Kong, bring the demon bird. We're heading back."

Meriel looked at Xu Bayan, a strange glint passing through her eyes as she was about to speak.

A childish and unwilling voice beat her to it. "Mother, Phoenix-Feathered Red Demon Birds are extremely rare. We were clearly the first to pursue and capture it. How can we just give it to them like this?!"

"This demon bird is ours! We can't let them take it away!"

The one speaking was the little boy at Meriel's side, dressed in a red-and-gold brocade robe—the prince of Cupid Kingdom, Yan!

Yan had red hair. Unlike Orleans's wine-red hair, his was a brighter, fiery red.

Hearing this, Meriel was about to rebuke him. But then she looked at the beautiful demon bird, her gaze shifting as she said, "Yan, enough. In the Soul Master world, strength is supreme. Naturally, whoever captures a Soul Beast owns it. No matter how precious this Soul Beast is, you cannot act so unreasonably."

"Remember, as royalty, you must carry yourself with royal bearing. You cannot be blinded by profit like ordinary Soul Masters."

When Meriel said these words, her pleasant voice carried the nobility of one in a high position.

Although she was not targeting anyone in particular, Xu Bayan's brow imperceptibly furrowed. Still, he did not stop walking as he led the others toward the ship.

As the seven-person team passed the people of Cupid Kingdom, Orleans glanced at the frustrated Yan, who was sulking helplessly. Raising a brow, she said with a smug smile, "Goodbye, stingy prince~"

Yan clenched his fists. Under his mother's reprimand, he could only endure it at first. But upon hearing Orleans's words, he could no longer hold back.

"You! Red-haired girl, you are not allowed to leave!" Yan shook off his mother Meriel's hand and pointed at the seven-person team as he shouted.

"Yan, did you not understand what I said? As the prince of a kingdom, where have all your usual lessons gone? Go back and reflect for five days, then copy noble etiquette three thousand times!"

Meriel's words were stern, but she took no actual action to stop him.

Yan raised his head. In that moment, his spirit flared up, and he feared no one. He retorted, "Mother, I accept the punishment, but you just said that strength is supreme in the Soul Master world."

"Then Soul Beasts should naturally belong to the strong."

"I, Yan, possess the Flame Lord Martial Soul and am a level-twenty assault-type Battle Soul Master. I challenge you!"

"The winner gets the Phoenix-Feathered Red Demon Bird. Do you dare accept?"

The seven-person team stopped. Orleans turned around, somewhat puzzled. "Who did you say you wanted to challenge?"

Yan wore a proud expression as he pointed at all seven of them in succession. "I challenge all of you. Whether you fight me one after another or all at once, I'm not afraid. As long as you can defeat me, you can take this demon bird, and I will accept it wholeheartedly."

"Otherwise, you are all nothing but thieves!"

Orleans had a fiery temper as well. Once provoked, she immediately could not suppress her prideful nature.

"You're the thief! Fine, we'll fight! Just don't go back on your word when you lose!"

"I won't lose." Yan crossed his arms, utterly confident.

The adults' conflict had been resolved, but the children on both sides were now at each other's throats.

Meriel wore an expression as though she wanted to lose her temper but had no choice but to endure her son's willfulness. She said, "Your Excellency Demon Bear, please do not mind the children's foolishness. Take the demon bird with you. When we return, I will teach this brat a proper lesson, and he will accept it."

Before Xu Bayan could speak, Orleans stepped forward first. "Uncle Xu, accept their challenge. We have to make this stingy prince admit defeat wholeheartedly!"

Xu Bayan looked at the other side.

A delicate queen, an unconvinced child, and an old man at death's door.

Combined with what had just been said, it made him look as though he was relying on brute strength to bully the weak.

Xu Bayan stroked his thick beard. His reputation did not matter much, but if he could earn a good one, that would naturally be better. Besides, it would not take much effort.

With his son's strength, would he not crush the other side?

"Hehe, it's fine, Your Majesty. Let the children decide their own affairs. In a moment, I'll seal this demon bird's Soul Power, so don't worry about it self-destructing. Since His Highness wishes to show off, then let's use this demon bird as the wager for a Soul Battle."

"That would be fairer and more just."

Hearing Xu Bayan agree, Orleans stood before the team and said, "Stingy prince, we won't bully you either. Your capital, Bhikkhu City, has a Great Soul Arena, right? How about we settle this with a seven-versus-seven team battle at the Great Soul Arena?"

Although Orleans could not stand being provoked, she was definitely not a mindless brute. The other side was an assault-type Soul Master who wanted a one-on-one duel, and for fairness, their side would naturally have to send someone to fight him one-on-one as well.

But the only person guaranteed to win a one-on-one fight was Xu Huxiao.

If that happened, Xu Huxiao would take all the spotlight, and as captain, her prestige within the team would likely grow weaker and weaker afterward.

Therefore, a one-on-one duel would not do. Only a team battle would satisfy both sides. With Huxiao, that monster, holding down the fort, she could show off her skills too.

"Fine, but you'll only lose even worse in a team Soul Battle." Yan accepted the challenge. After all, as the sole noble prince of Cupid Kingdom, he had a star Soul Master team.

"Anyone can talk big. Whether you have real skill is what matters. But our team has traveled hard all day today, so let's schedule the team Soul Battle for tomorrow morning at the Great Soul Arena in Bhikkhu City," Orleans said.

"Fine."