The Wish-Granting Tree's Ability Unsealed

"Wang Sheng, congratulations on reaching level ten."

"But I still hope you'll think this through."

"The Wish-Granting Tree Martial Soul grants wishes regardless of whether you live or die, and Soul Hunting is especially dangerous."

"You'd better not count on getting lucky."

The fourth month of the semester soon arrived.

The Wish-Granting Tree Martial Soul's number of wishes reset once again.

This time, however, Wang Sheng wanted a Wish Slot.

That very morning, Wang Sheng's Soul Power had reached level ten.

Now he only needed to find a suitable Soul Ring to become a Soul Master!

From then on, he could collect a Soul Master stipend every month.

For a Work-Study Student, that was a leap across class lines.

But Wang Sheng's next move shocked everyone.

He had gone to Xu Yuan, hoping to compete for this month's Wish Slot.

Accidents were all too common during Soul Hunting.

Even Xu Yuan couldn't guarantee that nothing would go wrong.

So he didn't agree right away. He told Wang Sheng to think it through first.

"Exactly, Wang Sheng. Xu Yuan's Martial Soul ability is no joke."

"Tang San got away with it by sheer luck, but that doesn't mean you will!"

"Listen to Sister Xiao Wu. The Wish-Granting Tree Martial Soul's waters are too deep for a Soul Master like you to navigate."

As a seasoned victim of the Wish-Granting Tree Martial Soul, Xiao Wu couldn't help speaking up.

She remembered Wang Sheng telling Tang San not to make a wish just a month ago.

Now, one month later, he had turned the tables completely.

"Sister Xiao Wu, Brother Yuan, you don't need to persuade me."

"I know you're looking out for me, but I still want to make a wish!"

"If I pass up this chance, the Soul Ring I find in the Soul Hunting Forest will definitely be a Ten-Year Soul Ring!"

"But the teachers say I'll only have a chance of reaching Soul Elder if my First Soul Ring is a Hundred-Year Soul Ring!"

Wang Sheng lowered his head and gritted his teeth, but he remained determined to make the wish.

Yu Xiaogang was another reason he felt so strongly.

The teachers at Nouding Academy used to mock Yu Xiaogang, calling him the infamous clown of Martial Soul Theory.

But after Yu Xiaogang became a Soul Elder, those voices grew much quieter. What people felt instead was envy for the Soul Elder stipend.

A full hundred Gold Soul Coins!

One month's stipend equaled the combined income of ten Soul Grandmasters.

Even that useless Grandmaster, whose Martial Soul was a pig, had managed to become a Soul Elder.

Was Wang Sheng supposed to settle for being a Soul Grandmaster for the rest of his life?

Heh. Utterly foolish!

Without Teacher's wisdom and Martial Soul Theory research to guide them, how could they hope to master the Wish-Granting Tree's power?

Now they should understand who the real clown is!

Tang San stood in the dormitory with a smile on his lips, feeling as though he alone was sober while everyone else was drunk.

"If you insist, then of course you can!"

"As for competing for a Wish Slot... we can discuss that once you become a Soul Master and start collecting your stipend."

Xu Yuan gave Wang Sheng a long look, then summoned the Wish-Granting Tree Martial Soul.

Pale golden, glasslike radiance spilled into every corner of Dorm Seven.

Wang Sheng took a deep breath and stepped before the Wish-Granting Tree.

"I hope to find a Hundred-Year Soul Ring that suits me when I enter the Soul Hunting Forest this time!"

He clasped his hands tightly, closed his eyes, and made his wish.

"As you wish!"

Dazzling white light filled the entire dormitory.

Wang Sheng felt as though he were immersed in warm water.

When the light faded, nothing had changed.

"That's it?"

Wang Sheng looked himself over in surprise but noticed no difference.

"Be extra careful in the Soul Hunting Forest."

Xu Yuan put away the Wish-Granting Tree Martial Soul and offered that reminder.

Was what I felt just now an illusion?

Ever since I absorbed that mass of Spiritual Origin and cultivated the Purple Demon Eye to the Micro-Perception stage...

My connection to the Wish-Granting Tree Martial Soul seems to have grown stronger and stronger.

Xu Yuan stared thoughtfully at his hands.

At the instant he granted Wang Sheng's wish, he had vaguely sensed some indescribable power ignite.

"Oh, right, Wang Sheng. When are you going Soul Hunting?"

Xiao Wu asked curiously.

She figured that in another year or so, she would have to find a suitable Second Soul Ring herself.

"The teacher said we'd have to wait until at least the end of this month before—"

Before he could finish, a teacher walked into Dorm Seven.

"Which one of you is Wang Sheng, who registered at the academic affairs office this morning?"

"I am!"

Wang Sheng raised his hand uneasily.

"All right. Pack your things, quickly. Director Su happens to be heading to the Soul Hunting Forest, so you can go along!"

With that, the teacher turned and left.

"So soon?"

Wang Sheng's eyes widened in disbelief. He had thought he would have to wait at least a month for an opening.

After all, the trip also required a recommendation letter from a noble.

Getting one wasn't difficult for a student, but it took time.

Thanks to Director Su, he could skip all that.

"Brother Yuan, Sister Xiao Wu, I'm off!"

Wang Sheng hurriedly packed a few things, called goodbye to Xu Yuan and Xiao Wu, and ran out of the dormitory.

"Xu Yuan, was that your Wish-Granting Tree Martial Soul at work?"

Xiao Wu swung her feet, sending her shoes slipping off.

Then she bent her knees and hopped easily onto the bed. Her pale, delicate feet landed on the bedding, and she could hardly keep still.

"How many times have I told you not to bounce around on the bed? What if you fall on me?"

Sitting on the bed, Xu Yuan sounded helpless.

"Hmph, who are you looking down on? Sister Xiao Wu's Martial Soul is the Soft Bone Rabbit, and I'm a Power Attack System Soul Master!"

"Never mind a couple of hops. I could even..."

Xiao Wu raised an indignant eyebrow, put her hands behind her back, balanced on one foot, and spun sharply.

The next moment, Xu Yuan felt a faint breeze. Her pert little backside pressed against the side of his face as she fell onto the bed.

Pinned to the mattress, Xu Yuan happened to meet Tang San's gaze. He blinked.

Tang San's expression shifted, but when he saw Xu Yuan looking at him, he gritted his teeth and forced a smile.

"Huh?"

Xiao Wu sat on Xu Yuan's face, seemingly too stunned to react.

Xu Yuan froze too. A considerable amount of his Soul Power had suddenly evaporated, almost without warning...

Wait!

It didn't disappear without warning. What I wanted actually came true!

As the thought struck him, Xu Yuan's eyes gradually lit up.

Could the Wish-Granting Tree Martial Soul also grant ordinary wishes by consuming my own Soul Power?

"Sorry, Xu Yuan! Are you all right? I didn't mean to..."

Xiao Wu came to her senses and quickly reached out to pull Xu Yuan up.

But as soon as she did, she found him grinning from ear to ear.

"Xu Yuan, you..."

"Even if Sister Xiao Wu is charming, you don't have to be that happy just because I sat on you!"

Xiao Wu's cheeks reddened, and she clenched her fists in embarrassment and anger.

"You've got the wrong idea!"

Xu Yuan's smile vanished, and he rolled his eyes at Xiao Wu.

He was simply happy to have discovered a new ability of the Wish-Granting Tree Martial Soul.

"Hmph. You say one thing and mean another!"

Xiao Wu huffed twice, then settled down to cultivate.