Forest Team Battle (Part 1)

"Alright, let's worry more about our own people and mind other people's business less!"

Xiao Yu clapped his hands, cutting off Eden's complaints about Yu Xiaogang, then asked Xie Wu, "Xie Wu, what is your Third Spirit Skill?"

Xie Wu chuckled. "My Third Spirit Skill is called Wings of Radiance. Besides granting me the ability to fly, it also increases my speed by ten percent."

"Not a bad skill!"

Xiao Yu nodded in praise. "Paired with your Second Spirit Skill, your Third Spirit Skill can increase your destructive power by at least half!"

After a pause, Xiao Yu waved to the group. "The Star Dou Great Forest is full of dangers. The scent of blood can easily attract powerful spirit beasts. Let's leave this place first, then find a suitable spirit ring for Miyi Mei."

"Stop right there!"

The group found Xiao Yu's words reasonable. They nodded and prepared to leave, but an exasperated voice suddenly came from behind them.

Following the sound, they saw five figures dart out from the dense woods, leaping through the air before landing in front of them.

At the sight of the newcomers, the corner of Xiao Yu's mouth twitched. The reason was simple: he actually knew the leader of the group. It was none other than Yao Liang, the man who had coveted his cultivation technique when he applied to the Junior Spirit Master Academy and was ultimately expelled from the academy.

Yao Liang had suffered quite miserably these past few years. When his sect learned that he had offended Xiao Yu, who had a Spirit Saint as a guard, they immediately cast him out without another word.

The Soul Master world was not very large, and word of his affairs soon spread everywhere. Out of contempt for him and fear of Xiao Yu's backing, none of the several sects and Soul Master Academies he sought refuge with were willing to take him in.

Having suddenly lost both protection and income, Yao Liang found himself in trouble. He had long grown used to a life of extravagance, and as a Soul Ancestor, he no longer received Soul Master subsidies from Spirit Hall. Too embarrassed to ask his descendants for money, he began making a living by helping others hunt spirit rings.

Seeing the Sky Dragon Horse lying thoroughly dead nearby, Yao Liang strode forward two steps in fury and glared at Xiao Yu's group. "You've got some nerve, stealing my spirit beast!"

Although Yao Liang had met Xiao Yu before, Xiao Yu had only been six years old at the time. Several years had passed, and he had changed beyond recognition. Yao Liang could no longer recognize him.

"Your spirit beast?"

Xiao Yu gave a disdainful sneer. He had never held the slightest goodwill toward Yao Liang, who had once coveted his cultivation technique, and now he was even less polite. "In the Star Dou Great Forest, every spirit beast is ownerless. Since when did it become yours?"

"We discovered it first and tracked it all the way here!"

Yao Liang roared, "I never expected you to swoop in and take advantage of our efforts. Boy, how are you going to compensate us?"

His extortionist nature had not changed one bit.

Xiao Yu shook his head, feeling even greater contempt for Yao Liang. They had killed the Sky Dragon Horse, and Xie Wu had already absorbed its spirit ring by the time these people arrived. Without them, the spirit beast would have long since escaped without a trace. How could Yao Liang possibly have caught up to it? The man clearly saw their fine clothes and wanted to extort a sum from them. Xiao Yu immediately retorted:

"Even if you discovered it first, we were the ones who killed it in the end. In the Soul Master world, resources belong to those capable of claiming them. There has never been a rule of first come, first served."

"Fine, fine, fine!!!"

Yao Liang laughed in extreme anger. His expression abruptly turned savage as he said viciously, "So it's the capable who get to claim things? Then if I kill you now, all the treasures on your bodies will become mine!"

The moment he finished speaking, Yao Liang summoned his Martial Soul—a yellow tiger with a sharp horn atop its head. At the same time, four spirit rings rose from beneath his feet: three yellow and one purple.

Seeing this, the four companions behind him immediately summoned their Martial Souls as well: an eagle, a hyena, a dagger, and a xiao.

Their spirit ring configurations consisted of two with one white and two yellow rings, one with one white, one yellow, and one purple ring, and one with two yellow rings.

One Soul Ancestor, three Soul Elders, and one quasi-Soul Elder.

The quasi-Soul Elder was the support-type Soul Master whose Martial Soul was the xiao. Their purpose in coming here was likely to hunt a spirit ring for him.

"You're quite practiced at this. Looks like this isn't your first time murdering people and taking their goods in the forest!"

Xiao Yu sneered as he stared coldly at Yao Liang.

"So what?"

Killing intent filled Yao Liang's face. "Didn't you say that the capable get to claim things? Those people couldn't protect the treasures in their hands, so naturally they became mine!"

"Well said. Very well said indeed!"

The cold smile remained on Xiao Yu's lips. "To borrow the words of someone I don't particularly like, you have invited death upon yourselves! Killing you won't leave me with even the slightest guilt!"

"Brothers, summon your Martial Souls and take down these scum of the Soul Master world!"

With a loud shout, the seven who had already secretly arranged themselves into formation simultaneously activated Martial Soul Possession. Their optimal spirit ring configurations gave Yao Liang and the other five quite a shock.

But what stunned them most was Xiao Yu at the front of the group. Within the Star Dou Great Forest, Xiao Yu no longer bothered to conceal himself. One yellow and two purple spirit rings—a configuration surpassing the optimal spirit ring setup—appeared before their eyes.

"Y-you're Xiao Yu!"

Yao Liang blurted out. He had failed to recognize Xiao Yu because of his age, but while Xiao Yu's appearance had changed, his Martial Soul had not. How could Yao Liang forget the Martial Soul that had cost him his status?

At that moment, Yao Liang began to consider retreating. Xiao Yu had a Spirit Saint-level guard at his side. He refused to believe that such a guard would not accompany him into a place as dangerous as the Star Dou Great Forest. Perhaps that Spirit Saint was nearby even now.

But Xiao Yu had no such concerns. The instant he activated Martial Soul Possession, he charged forward at the head of the group. Yi Hui and Zilong, the two assault-type Soul Masters, did not hesitate in the slightest and rushed straight ahead behind Xiao Yu.

Behind them, Miyi Mei had already activated both his First and Second Spirit Skills. While supporting his teammates, he did everything he could to disrupt the enemy.

The enemy support Soul Master also activated his support skills. With both sides possessing thirty levels of Soul Power, Miyi Mei's superior Martial Soul quality instantly suppressed the opposing support.

"Take care of those Soul Elders first. Eden, focus everything on restraining that Soul Ancestor!"

Xiao Yu shouted in a low voice. Yao Liang had possessed more than forty-five levels of Soul Power several years ago. Who knew how much real combat experience he had accumulated in the Star Dou Great Forest over the past few years? In a one-on-one fight, none of the seven of them was likely to be his match.

Therefore, the best plan was to deal with his teammates first. The three Battle Soul Elders on the other side were far inferior to their own side in both spirit ring configurations and Martial Soul quality. With Miyi Mei's support, dealing with them would not be difficult. Then, they could gather the strength of all seven and fight Yao Liang together.

"Third Spirit Skill, Lightning Shackles!"

Eden immediately understood. At once, he unleashed his strongest Third Spirit Skill. Lightning coiled around Yao Liang, electric flashes flickering as they bound him in place like chains.