Flame Spirit Eagle

The days that followed were uneventful. Every day was nothing more than classes, cultivation, and sleep.

Lu Shi used all the Gold Soul Coins he earned from selling venom to buy Whale Rubber, Soul Power Crystals, food for himself, and food for the Mandala Snake.

The Mandala Snake could also grow stronger by devouring Soul Beasts.

His increase in level could affect the Mandala Snake, and the Mandala Snake's increase in level could likewise affect him.

It was practically stepping on his own left foot with his right.

For some unknown reason, Xiao Wu did not grow close to Tang San. Instead, she got along very well with Lu Shi. When they advanced to the second year, she was once surrounded by a group of thugs. Lu Shi happened to pass by, and the two of them drove the thugs away together.

Their relationship grew even closer afterward.

However, Lu Shi never forgot that Tang Hao was watching them from a place no one could detect.

Just like the grassroots hero Xu Xian, the undead knight Ning Caichen, and the immortal master Dong Yong, the Tang family's fine tradition was not seeking people, only Soul Beasts. And Xiao Wu was an excellent fit.

She was practically tailor-made for his son.

Lu Shi feared that getting too close to Xiao Wu would anger Tang Hao. If a Titled Douluo unleashed his power, Lu Shi would not even know how he died.

He could only deliberately keep his distance from Xiao Wu.

Two years later, Lu Shi reached level 20 and needed to obtain his second Soul Ring.

A team needed damage dealers and support. Damage dealers could be divided into primary damage and auxiliary damage, while support could include battlefield control, buffs, healing...

Combat in the skies, on land, and in the sea also had to be considered.

Lu Shi planned for the second Soul Beast he captured to have auxiliary damage capabilities and be able to fly.

There definitely would not be a suitable Soul Beast in the Soul Hunting Forest. He could only search in the Star Dou Forest.

On the outskirts of the Star Dou Forest.

Towering trees over a hundred years old could be seen everywhere. Compared to the tranquility of the Soul Hunting Forest, this place had far more danger and bloodshed.

"Xiao Shi, make sure you stay close to me. The Star Dou Forest isn't only dangerous because of Soul Beasts. Humans are dangerous too, perhaps even more so. Some Soul Master teams specifically hunt humans."

The principal of Notting Academy, dressed in a gray robe, warned Lu Shi.

He definitely could not come to the Star Dou Forest alone, but Lu Shi could not trust anyone else either. Those mercenaries and Soul Masters did not have particularly high moral standards.

The academy attached completely different levels of importance to students based on their talent.

Students with Innate Soul Power at level five or below were led by the dean of studies, a Soul Grandmaster, to obtain Soul Rings together. Those with Innate Soul Power at level six or above were led by Soul Elders. Lu Shi had Innate Full Soul Power and applied for the principal, a Four-Ring Soul Ancestor, to lead him. The principal readily agreed.

As for his Poké Ball Martial Soul, Lu Shi did not explain much. He only said that his Martial Soul had undergone an Innate Mutation and could not absorb Soul Rings, instead needing to absorb the bodies of living Soul Beasts.

The principal did not press further. Martial Souls were incomparably mysterious, and all sorts of situations could arise.

Lu Shi was extremely grateful for that.

They were neither family nor friends, yet the principal was willing to accompany him to such a dangerous place.

The Star Dou Forest covered an area equivalent to the entire Balak Kingdom. It was vast beyond measure and contained all kinds of terrain, including mountains, forests, swamps, wetlands, and volcanoes.

They spent three full days in the forest without encountering a suitable Soul Beast.

The principal comforted him. "Obtaining a Soul Ring depends on luck to begin with, so don't be anxious. If we still don't find one today, we'll leave for now, rest for two days, and then come back."

Lu Shi did not know whether to laugh or cry. He had not expected the principal to comfort him.

Though he was not in a hurry.

They continued onward, and the view ahead suddenly opened up.

In the distance stood an active volcano that occasionally erupted with lava and rumbled like muffled thunder.

They had reached a volcanic region.

The plants here took on entirely different forms and were much sparser. As far as the eye could see, everything was scorched yellow, while the blazing heat warped the air.

"Let's take a look over there."

The principal said.

After only a few steps, they spotted a black Flame Leopard lurking on the ridge across from them.

Its body was covered in lava-like patterns, and it had a long, slender tail. Fortunately, it was only as large as the principal.

"Judging from the markings on its tail, it should be between four hundred and four hundred fifty years old..."

Before he could finish, a clear eagle cry rang out from above.

A massive eagle-type Soul Beast spread its wings, its feathers burning like flames. Just from its cry, they could tell it was formidable.

Fortunately, Lu Shi had the book Yu Xiaogang gave him. He immediately identified it.

A Flame Spirit Eagle.

A Soul Beast that lived in volcanic craters. It was said to possess a faint Phoenix bloodline, could devour lava to recover from injuries and restore Soul Power, and liked feeding on fire-attributed Soul Beasts.

Judging by its tail feathers, it was around six hundred years old.

Lu Shi said excitedly, "Principal, that Flame Spirit Eagle is perfect for me!"

The principal nodded without objection. Lu Shi was the most thoughtful student he had ever seen, and his understanding of Soul Beasts even surpassed that of many teachers. Since he said it was suitable, it had to be suitable.

However, he did not act immediately.

Because ahead of them, the Flame Spirit Eagle and Flame Leopard had begun fighting.

Both were fire-attributed Soul Beasts, so exchanging flames did little good. The Flame Spirit Eagle beat its wings, sending several fierce gusts at the Flame Leopard. Sand and rocks flew everywhere as the Flame Leopard launched a desperate counterattack.

The fierce battle lasted more than ten minutes. In the end, the Flame Leopard failed to evade the Flame Spirit Eagle's frontal dive from the sky. Its skull was pierced through by sharp talons, killing it on the spot.

Scalding blood mixed with white brain matter spilled out, steaming in the heat.

Now!

The principal sprang into action, charging forward with a four-foot sword in hand. Four Soul Rings—white, yellow, purple, and purple—flashed into existence behind him.

The Flame Spirit Eagle tried to dodge, but it was too late. The sword stabbed more than a dozen bloody holes into its body, and lava-hot blood surged from the wounds like an erupting volcano.

With a shrill cry, it fell from the sky and crashed to the ground.

The principal had deliberately avoided its vital areas and had not dealt a killing blow.

"Xiao Shi, hurry!"

There was no shortage of Soul Beasts with keen senses nearby. They might follow the scent of blood here, so they had to move quickly.

Lu Shi did not hesitate. He immediately summoned the Poké Ball and threw it over.

As red light enveloped the Flame Spirit Eagle and pulled it into the ball, Lu Shi finally succeeded in capturing his second Soul Beast.

"Principal, it's done!"

He waved to signal him.

The principal was stunned. That was it? He did not need to absorb a Soul Ring?

But since Lu Shi had said so, it must have been complete. The principal put away his Martial Soul and immediately left with Lu Shi.

He did not ask too many questions.

Meanwhile, a second Small World successfully appeared in Lu Shi's spiritual world.

A... Lava World without lava.

It was nothing but desolate wasteland.

At its center stood an enormous volcano, completely devoid of lava. The Flame Spirit Eagle lay weakly curled up at the bottom of the crater, while the massive riverbed outside had dried up entirely.

Where had the lava gone?

As Lu Shi traveled, he inspected the Small World. Without lava, how was the Flame Spirit Eagle supposed to recover?

The instant the capture succeeded, he established a spiritual connection with the Flame Spirit Eagle, allowing him to understand its current condition.

Its Soul Power was exhausted. It was unconscious, weak, and severely injured.

It was already on the verge of death.

Lu Shi tried several methods, but none worked at all. In his desperation, he directly tried infusing his Soul Power into the Flame Spirit Eagle's body.

Since the Mandala Snake's Soul Power could be transferred to him, perhaps his Soul Power could also be transferred to the Flame Spirit Eagle.

As his Soul Power flowed in, the Flame Spirit Eagle showed no reaction. Instead, a tiny bit of lava actually emerged from the dried-up crater!

It appeared right beneath the Flame Spirit Eagle's feet.

Then it unconsciously absorbed the lava, and its injuries actually began recovering slowly!

It worked!

Joy immediately appeared on Lu Shi's face.

He did not dare stop. He continued guiding Soul Power into the Small World, and small but extremely steady amounts of lava began flowing from the crater.

The Flame Spirit Eagle's wounds slowly began to heal.

After using up half his Soul Power, Lu Shi could only stop. The Flame Spirit Eagle's condition had stabilized, but they still had to travel, and he did not know whether they would encounter danger. To be safe, he would continue after they returned.

On the way, the principal could not help asking curiously, "Xiao Shi, what Soul Skill did you gain from your new acquisition?"