Three purple Soul Rings

"Ma Hongjun, get back here!" Dai Mubai froze, trying to call Ma Hongjun back.

Ma Hongjun acted as though he had not heard Dai Mubai and ran straight toward the academy. He was no idiot. Dai Mubai had provoked someone else, while he had done absolutely nothing. How unfair would it be if he got punished along with Dai Mubai?

Dai Mubai had it a little better. For some reason, the teachers seemed particularly lenient toward him. They even turned a blind eye to his frequent trips to Suotuo City to drink and carouse. But it was different for Ma Hongjun.

Flender was his teacher. Although he treated him well, if he made a mistake, Flender would strip a layer of skin off him.

Most importantly, he felt that these two were very strong. He had a feeling they could pass the academy's tests. As the saying went, those caught in the game were lost in the fog, while onlookers saw clearly. He could see it very clearly.

When that young man had competed with Dai Mubai in grip strength during their handshake, his expression had been utterly calm, as unruffled as a light breeze beneath drifting clouds. Dai Mubai, meanwhile, had used every ounce of strength and still could not pull his hand free. Moreover, that man had deliberately humiliated Dai Mubai. How could he be some nobody?

Since they had come to Shrek Academy because of its reputation, they surely knew that it only accepted geniuses. As a Shrek Academy student, Dai Mubai certainly lacked neither talent nor strength. Anyone who still dared to act against him under those circumstances could hardly be easy prey.

These two might even surpass Dai Mubai in both status and strength.

Naturally, he would not choose to stand with Dai Mubai. If he offended someone he should not, his days at the academy would be difficult from then on.

Ma Hongjun was Flender's disciple, after all. Having absorbed his influence over the years, he might look a little simple on the surface, but inwardly, he was shrewder than anyone.

"Bastard."

Dai Mubai could not help cursing. He had only just taken Ma Hongjun to see the twin sisters, yet the fellow had pulled up his pants and stopped acknowledging him.

"Hmph. Don't think the dean's arrival will save you. I'll finish you off before he gets here." Dai Mubai looked at Xu Ran and spoke coolly, his gaze arrogant. He did not believe any geniuses would appear in such a remote place.

He was a prince of the Star Luo Empire. Although he was now hiding here and there and had fled to Shrek Academy for refuge, a prince was still a prince. He had his pride as a member of the imperial family.

"And you. As a woman, if you choose the wrong man, you'll regret it for the rest of your life." Dai Mubai looked at Xiao Wu and spoke coldly. This girl was beautiful, but she did not know how to read the situation.

She had even laughed at him just now, wounding his pride somewhat. More than that, he had felt deeply humiliated.

He had the looks, the substance, and the talent. Wherever he went, countless women flocked around him. Yet this girl before him actually showed so little sense. He would make sure she learned what happened when she offended a genius.

Once he defeated her boyfriend, perhaps she would regret it. Why had she offended a genius? Perhaps then she would even beg him to take her in.

He had seen scenes like that far too many times. Clearly, this time would be no different.

"Are you going to fight or not? You sure spout a lot of crap." Xiao Wu pursed her lips, looking at Dai Mubai as though he were a joke. She had never seen anyone like him. They had not even fought yet, and he had already predicted the outcome? What did rank thirty-seven Soul Power amount to before Xu Ran?

As an Auspicious Beast, although he had undergone human transformation just as she had, his strength was absolutely terrifying. Soft Bone Rabbits were not considered powerful among Soul Beast races, but Auspicious Beasts possessed more than just fortune power. A ten-thousand-year Auspicious Beast could rival an ordinary hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast. How could Xu Ran be weak?

"Fine, then I'll defeat him and show you."

"Dai Mubai. Martial Soul: White Tiger. Rank thirty-seven Battle Soul Elder. Please instruct me." Dai Mubai directly announced his Martial Soul and rank, signifying a formal challenge.

After announcing his rank, he watched Xu Ran with interest.

Seeing this, Xu Ran hesitated no longer. He tightened his grip on the God-Slaying Sword, a layer of icy killing intent veiling his eyes as three purple Soul Rings slowly rose beneath him.

The instant he released his Martial Soul, Soul Power poured continuously into the God-Slaying Sword, and its presence grew formidable. Although Xu Ran could ordinarily hold the God-Slaying Sword like an everyday object, without releasing his Martial Soul, he could neither truly unleash its might nor use Soul Skills.

Without releasing his Martial Soul, the God-Slaying Sword was merely an incomparably sharp sword. Nevertheless, Xu Ran still carried it with him, because he could sense that it seemed to possess intelligence. As it stayed by his side, its affinity with him kept increasing.

"Xu Ran. Martial Soul: God-Slaying Sword. Rank thirty-two Soul Elder. Please instruct me," Xu Ran said. Over these past days, his cultivation had advanced by one rank, reaching rank thirty-two.

When Xu Ran released his Martial Soul, Xiao Wu, who had seen it before, froze for a moment. Last time, his Soul Ring configuration had still been the standard two yellow and one purple. Now they had all become thousand-year Soul Rings? Moreover, none of these Soul Rings were low in age. Their purple color was not especially deep, but it was certainly not pale either.

Was Xu Ran a monster? Was this what made Auspicious Beasts so terrifying? Xiao Wu thought in shock.

She had only heard of Auspicious Beasts in legends and did not know what other abilities they possessed. But she knew that, to be revered as Soul Beast Emperors, Auspicious Beasts must possess extraordinarily terrifying strength. It was certainly not as simple as merely carrying auspicious blessings.

Dai Mubai was even more shocked, unable to utter a word.

He had thought Xu Ran merely possessed innate superhuman strength. How could he have imagined that Xu Ran was actually a monster? Three purple Soul Rings-such a Soul Ring configuration was far too appalling to hear of.

Since ancient times, Soul Masters who could obtain the standard Soul Ring configuration were already considered geniuses. Those whose configurations surpassed the standard were monsters.

But even a monster should not be able to accomplish this. His first Soul Ring was already a thousand-year one. That was simply too frightening.

Could Xu Ran have absorbed a Soul Ring produced by a thousand-year Soul Beast when he was only rank ten?

How... how had he done it?

"How did you do that? Even those monsters in Spirit Hall couldn't possibly have a Soul Ring configuration like yours," Dai Mubai could not help asking, his gaze becoming incredibly wary as he looked at Xu Ran.

"Not only was I born with superhuman strength, but my body was naturally very tough too. What does a mere thousand-year Soul Ring amount to?" Xu Ran said.

At those words, a shadow crossed Dai Mubai's face. He knew Xu Ran was mocking him for having called him a brute with innate superhuman strength, and he immediately could not help feeling annoyed.

"So what if you're a monster? Your Soul Power is five ranks below mine. I can still crush you." Dai Mubai spoke coldly, a sinister light flickering in his eyes. His entire body enveloped in surging Soul Power, he charged toward Xu Ran.