The Xiao Family, Xiao Xiao

In the Star Dou Great Forest, a fair-skinned little girl with a small, round face was following several elders to obtain a soul ring.

She had long, dark-green hair and bright, emerald-green eyes.

"Xiao Xiao, once we find another soul ring suited to your second martial soul, won't getting into Shrek be as easy as plucking something from your palm?"

She, Xiao Xiao, could be called the hope of the entire Xiao Family!

Xiao Xiao's family was not a wealthy powerhouse in the area, but they did have businesses of their own.

Now that they had money, the family's next step was to produce a somewhat powerful soul master, so they could develop steadily.

Unfortunately, the martial souls and innate soul power of the family members who had emerged over the preceding years had been nothing special-until Xiao Xiao's awakening.

Born with twin martial souls and innate full soul power! Her two martial souls were even the Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron and the Nine-Phoenix Comes-to-Instrument Flute, two top-tier tool martial souls!

The Xiao Family patriarch had thrown back his head and laughed on the spot. "My daughter Xiao Xiao has the makings of a Titled master!"

All one could say was that her top-tier talent lived up to its name. Despite her young age, Xiao Xiao had already reached rank 20, easily meeting Shrek's admission requirements.

Unfortunately, her family had never read How Divine Disciples Are Made by that Grandmaster from ten thousand years ago, and did not know that with twin martial souls, it was best to wait until later before adding martial souls.

Simply so she could have an easy time at Shrek Academy and secure a place for herself there, the Xiao Family decided to add a soul ring to Xiao Xiao's second martial soul first.

"There's a hundred-year Lone Bamboo here. It's extremely tough. What a shame. If someone had a plant-type martial soul, absorbing this would be a wise choice."

The speaker was Xiao Shan, a rank-40 Soul Ancestor.

"Wait, something's moving."

The air around them suddenly grew turbulent, and the branches and leaves overhead shook wildly.

Xiao Shan's expression abruptly tightened. Four soul rings lit up in an instant as he stepped in front of Xiao Xiao and took a defensive stance.

A piercing screech suddenly tore through the woods, and three Wind Demon Sparrows swept in on a gale.

"Three hundred-year Wind Demon Sparrows? Xiao Xiao, get back!"

Xiao Shan barked a warning. Earth-yellow soul power coated his arms as he forcibly blocked two attacks.

"Weighty vessel of the nation, Cauldron's Tremor! Cauldron's Swing!"

Unwilling to be outdone, Xiao Xiao unleashed her soul skills directly on the last one, pressing it down. Seeing this, the others immediately seized the chance to attack and drove that Wind Demon Sparrow back as well.

The three Wind Demon Sparrows circled in the air again, joining forces to whip up a fierce wind with their wings. Dust and sand flew as they launched their second round of attacks.

Taking advantage of the moment when Xiao Xiao and the others could not open their eyes, the three Wind Demon Sparrows swooped low again.

Xiao Shan was, after all, a rank-40 Soul Elder. He seized the right moment to strike one of them in the flank, then used the force that sent it flying to make it crash straight into another.

Amid the chaos, one Wind Demon Sparrow's eyes suddenly turned red. Its wings trembled violently, and it ignored its injuries as it hurtled at Xiao Xiao as though it no longer cared whether it lived.

"Xiao Xiao, watch out!"

Xiao Xiao had yet to react. By the time she came to her senses and tried to unleash a soul skill, the Wind Demon Sparrow's sharp beak and claws were already right before her eyes.

At that very moment, Xiao Xiao felt herself being scooped up and carried straight onto a branch. The Wind Demon Sparrow crashed into the ground instead, rolled several times, and lay motionless.

"Huh?"

Xiao Xiao glanced to the side. Holding her in his arms was a handsome boy with ice-blue eyes and blue-and-white hair.

The tips of her ears suddenly burned, and a blush rose on her fair cheeks.

Wow, what a pretty boy!

Xiao Xiao was inwardly ecstatic. She was actually a sucker for good looks, and now that Huo Yuhao was holding her like this, she could not help stealing several more glances.

"Um, could you get down?"

"Ah, sorry, sorry."

Just like that, the two jumped down from the tree.

The moment her feet touched the ground, Xiao Xiao was still a little dazed.

The warm touch of the boy's arm seemed to linger against her back. The sense of safety she had felt while soaring up into the tall tree was like a feather settling gently into her heart, tickling its very tip.

During that brief interval, seeing that Xiao Xiao was unharmed, Xiao Shan had unleashed his fourth soul skill, leaving the two remaining Wind Demon Sparrows barely alive.

Their attribute was just right for Xiao Xiao's martial soul. It could be considered a case of fortune and misfortune leaning on one another.

"Xiao Xiao, come finish them off and absorb a soul ring!"

"Okay!"

"Wait a moment, Miss Xiao Xiao. Are you planning to absorb it for your second martial soul?"

Huo Yuhao had happened to pass by just as Xiao Xiao was using the Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron. Her soul power was only a little above rank 20, and the cauldron had already used two soul skills.

From the looks of it, Xiao Xiao should have a second martial soul. But adding a soul ring now...

Hearing Huo Yuhao say it aloud, Xiao Xiao widened her eyes and could not help growing curious. "How did you know, young man?"

"I guessed. But don't you know it's best to wait and obtain soul rings around the ten-thousand-year level directly for your second martial soul?"

"Huh, really?"

Xiao Xiao lightly rested a fingertip against her chin and tilted her head, looking thoughtful.

She seemed to be pondering it seriously, but her mind was actually a complete blank. She had entirely failed to understand Huo Yuhao's explanation.

"Young brother, are you saying that we can obtain better soul rings for the second martial soul later?"

"..."

Xiao Shan appeared to know a fair amount about soul beasts, but most of it was simply experience. When it came to actual theoretical knowledge, he knew very little.

It was just that, as the strongest person in the family, no one had ever questioned his theories.

And so, Huo Yuhao poured out everything he had previously read in books.

"The greatest advantage of twin martial souls is that the quality of their soul rings isn't restricted in the later stages. An ordinary soul master's first ring can only be a hundred-year one at most, and it's difficult to break free of those shackles later. But twin martial souls allow for a perfect configuration..."

Xiao Shan closed his eyes and nodded as though he had reached an understanding.

"So that's how it is. A single mistaken thought of mine nearly led me to commit a grave error against the family. From now on, I'm going to read widely!"

In just a short while, Xiao Shan had completely abandoned his earlier idea, and his heart was filled with admiration for the young boy before him.

"It's all thanks to you, young brother. By the way, that outfit of yours... you don't seem to be from the surrounding area?"

"I'm just a soul master traveling around to train. Once Shrek's new term starts, I plan to go to the academy and take the entrance assessment."

"Shrek?!"

Xiao Xiao abruptly looked up, her emerald eyes lighting up in an instant. Her voice was full of delighted surprise. "What a coincidence! I'm going to Shrek Academy too. We'll be classmates then!"

Hearing this, Xiao Shan's appreciation for Huo Yuhao deepened further. As expected of a student intending to apply to Shrek-with such bearing, he truly was a dragon or phoenix among men.

Looking at Xiao Xiao's delighted face, Huo Yuhao smiled as well. "Yes, it really is fate. I'll be counting on you to look after me, then."

Seeing Huo Yuhao looking at her, Xiao Xiao hurriedly lowered her head and pretended to be demure, the tips of her ears red enough to drip blood.

I got too excited just now. What should I do? I didn't leave a bad impression, did I?