This time, the need for soul beasts was enormous. Dugu Yan, Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, Xiao Wu, and Tang San—excluding Xiao Wu who was a soul beast and didn't need to hunt soul beasts—meant there were still four people who needed soul rings.
Moreover, Dugu Yan's fifth soul ring alone needed to be at least thirty thousand years old. For these little monsters, this would be the best form of training.
After all, soul beasts are different from humans. Once they face a life-threatening situation, they will retaliate without regard for anything else.
Plus, with the Star Dou Forest being the largest wild soul beast forest on the continent, it contained a wide variety of soul beasts. While searching for soul rings, they might also be targeted by other powerful soul beasts.
Because for some soul beasts, powerful Soul Masters are the best supplements.
After entering the Star Dou Forest, the group formed a professional hunting team under Oscar's command, heading toward their predetermined target.
Before coming, they had roughly planned the types of soul beasts they needed, which would help them save a lot of time.
After entering the forest, the assault-type Soul Masters Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun took the lead in the front, while the agility-type Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu patrolled the sides of the team, constantly watching for any soul beast attacks.
Tang San was responsible for protecting Ning Rongrong, with the two of them in the middle of the team. Oscar and Dugu Yan were responsible for covering the rear.
Zhao Wuji and Flender didn't intend to fight, but silently followed in the middle of the team, not needing to do anything.
Originally, as a control-type Soul Master, Tang San should have been the one formulating tactics, but Oscar's prestige at Shrek Academy was far beyond what Tang San could match.
Moreover, Tang San himself greatly admired and obeyed Oscar, so Oscar's words were absolute commands that no one would contradict.
Finding soul rings requires some luck. If you're lucky, the soul ring you need might appear right in front of you as soon as you enter the soul beast forest.
But if luck is not on your side, you might not find anything for months.
Oscar's group had pretty good luck. Three days after entering the Star Dou Forest, Zhu Zhuqing's third soul ring was secured.
What's worth mentioning is that Zhu Zhuqing's third soul ring reached two thousand seven hundred years old, directly surpassing the limit by about a thousand years.
Tang San, as a former disciple of Yu Xiaogang, was the most shocked by this.
He could barely understand Dugu Yan absorbing a soul ring beyond her level, after all, her grandfather was a Title Douluo who had unimaginable heavenly treasures to provide.
But now, it seemed everyone at Shrek Academy could absorb soul rings beyond their levels? Could all the theories he had learned before be fake?
To this, Oscar said calmly, "Tang San, do you now understand why I have such a prejudice against Yu Xiaogang?"
"His theories are just things he summarized from predecessors' experiences, and many are just his own guesses without practical testing. I can't imagine what your future would be like if you continued cultivating according to his suggestions."
Hearing this, Tang San, who was already quite dissatisfied with Yu Xiaogang, became even more disdainful of him.
How many innocent Soul Masters could be harmed by incorrect theories? How many Soul Masters' talents would be buried?
Oscar continued, "The limit for Soul Masters to absorb soul rings isn't absolute. The theory Yu Xiaogang summarized only applies to most Soul Masters."
"But for true geniuses or those with extremely poor talent, it varies from person to person."
Tang San and the others listened attentively. Oscar said slowly, "When absorbing soul rings under ten thousand years, the most important factors are the Soul Master's physical constitution and willpower. If the physical constitution is strong enough, absorbing a soul ring beyond their level isn't a problem."
"Like Zhu Qing and the others, they've been in the academy for over two years. During this time, their improvement has far exceeded normal cultivation, which is why they can absorb soul rings beyond their levels."
Saying this, Oscar's eyes flashed with light: "Actually, the academy has methods that can help you improve the age limit of absorbed soul rings, but obtaining this method requires much more than you can imagine."
Hearing this, Tang San, Ning Rongrong, and Xiao Wu's pupils suddenly contracted: "A method to improve the age limit of absorbed soul rings?"
Flender then said, "That's right, but this belongs to academy secrets. Although you are now in the academy, you haven't met my requirements yet. But as long as you meet my requirements, the academy can give you this method for free."
Hearing this, Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up. If she could get this method and bring it back to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, wouldn't that elevate the sect to a higher level?
But Flender seemed to have guessed her thoughts and said lightly, "But you must remember, I don't care where you come from. Even if you eventually obtain the academy's secrets, you must keep them to yourselves."
"The academy can help you little monsters for free, but you cannot do anything that harms the academy."
Hearing this, Ning Rongrong's just-risen idea was immediately extinguished because she understood what Flender meant.
If she took the method of improving soul ring absorption age back to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and made it public, then this secret would no longer be a secret for Shrek Academy.
Flender continued, "I know some of you come from great families, but once you enter Shrek Academy, you are members of Shrek Academy. If you feel you can't do this, you can leave the academy now."
Saying this, Flender gave a wicked smile: "Actually, I don't mind telling you that although Shrek Academy is just a small academy in a remote village, its background is enormous."
"If someone doesn't follow the rules, I, Flender, won't recognize you as my student anymore."
Hearing this, Ning Rongrong, Tang San, and the others nodded. They knew how to handle such matters. Since Flender had already given them a warning, they wouldn't do anything beyond the rules. After all, they weren't fools.
After Zhu Zhuqing absorbed her third soul ring, her third soul skill, just like in the original work, was a single-target attack skill that significantly enhanced her stabbing and cutting abilities.
After finding a suitable soul ring for Zhu Zhuqing, the group once again began searching for soul rings for the others.
But whether it was because Tang San had come to Shrek Academy or because their timing for hunting soul rings coincided with the original timeline, while searching for soul rings, they encountered the Snake Lady from the Gai Yue Dragon Snake duo and her granddaughter Meng Yiran.
Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu were scouting on both sides when suddenly a thousand-year soul beast quickly approached them.
After receiving reminders from Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu, Ma Hongjun spread the flames on his back and flew directly toward the thousand-year soul beast.
Upon getting closer, Ma Hongjun discovered it was a Phoenix-Tailed Chicken Crest Snake about fifteen hundred years old.
However, this Phoenix-Tailed Chicken Crest Snake seemed to be escaping, running from something.
Ma Hongjun didn't care what danger the Phoenix-Tailed Chicken Crest Snake was in. As long as it might pose a danger to his team, he would definitely take action.
But now, Ma Hongjun's phoenix bloodline had been purified by the Phoenix Nirvana Pill. When the Phoenix-Tailed Chicken Crest Snake noticed Ma Hongjun in front and felt the terrifying aura he emitted, it immediately wanted to escape.
But Ma Hongjun wouldn't give it this chance. As flames surged on his body, Ma Hongjun condensed his soul power into a huge phoenix flame claw print, directly suppressing the Phoenix-Tailed Chicken Crest Snake to the ground.
Burned by Ma Hongjun's terrifying phoenix flames, the Phoenix-Tailed Chicken Crest Snake writhed violently on the ground. However, with Ma Hongjun now at level forty-six, this little Phoenix-Tailed Chicken Crest Snake had no room to resist at all.
After capturing this Phoenix-Tailed Chicken Crest Snake, Ma Hongjun shouted toward Oscar at the back of the team: "Boss, this is a fifteen-hundred-year Phoenix-Tailed Chicken Crest Snake, how should we handle it?"
Hearing this, Oscar raised an eyebrow. He was now level forty-eight himself, so naturally, unlike in the original work, he didn't need this Phoenix-Tailed Chicken Crest Snake as his third soul ring.
So Oscar replied: "We don't need it. Let it go."
Hearing this, Ma Hongjun nodded and was about to release the Phoenix-Tailed Chicken Crest Snake, but before he could move, an aged voice came from afar.
"Spare it." The voice fell, and two figures darted out from the direction the Phoenix-Tailed Chicken Crest Snake had come from, appearing before everyone.
These two were one old and one young, both women. The old one looked to be in her sixties or seventies, with neatly combed white hair. Although she was old, her spirit was extremely vigorous.
In the old woman's eyes, a sharp light flashed. She held a snake-headed cane that was two meters long, and six soul rings—one white, two yellow, two purple, and one black—circled around her body.
The old woman's body hadn't changed, but the soul rings showed she had already used her martial soul. Without asking, the snake-shaped cane in her hand should be her martial soul.
Beside the old woman was a beautiful girl with short bobbed hair, looking about sixteen or seventeen years old. A neat, tight outfit clung to her well-developed figure, and her large, deep brown eyes were fixed on the Phoenix-Tailed Chicken Crest Snake controlled by Ma Hongjun.
She also held a snake-headed cane, though shorter than the old woman's, and only had two hundred-year yellow soul rings on her body.
The moment this old-young pair appeared, Oscar had somehow moved to the front of the team. After examining them, he already had a judgment in his mind.
Oscar spoke slowly: "Senior, is there a problem?"
At this time, Flender and Zhao Wuji in the middle of the team had already guessed upon seeing the old woman's martial soul, but they didn't speak because they believed Oscar could handle this problem well.
Moreover, even if something unexpected happened, with these two Soul Douluos here, protecting these little monsters wouldn't be a problem.
The old woman coughed to soften her expression: "Hello, I think you don't need to release this Phoenix-Tailed Chicken Crest Snake. Because it's the prey we've been hunting. My granddaughter has just broken through to level thirty and needs a suitable third soul ring."
Hearing this, Oscar walked calmly to the Phoenix-Tailed Chicken Crest Snake and indeed saw several wounds from sharp weapons.
Then Oscar said to the old woman: "We're all Soul Masters. Since this Phoenix-Tailed Chicken Crest Snake is useful to the senior, we might as well do you a favor."
Hearing this, the old woman's smile grew even brighter: "In that case, thank you very much."
Oscar said to Ma Hongjun: "Hongjun, hand over this Phoenix-Tailed Chicken Crest Snake to this senior. Let's continue on our way."
Hearing this, Ma Hongjun nodded, withdrew his soul power, and the huge phoenix flame claw disappeared. Just as the Phoenix-Tailed Chicken Crest Snake was about to escape, the old woman had already extended her snake-shaped cane, controlling the Phoenix-Tailed Chicken Crest Snake.
Oscar then said: "Then we won't disturb the senior anymore."
As Oscar finished speaking, he was about to lead everyone away. After all, this Phoenix-Tailed Chicken Crest Snake was useless to them, so it was better to do someone a favor.
But just as Oscar and the others were about to leave, the old woman spoke again: "Child, I can't accept your kindness for nothing. I have some reputation in the Soul Master world. If you encounter any troubles in the future, you can mention the name of Dragon Lord Snake Lady."
Hearing this, Oscar paused, then said in surprise: "Senior, you are the famous Snake Lady from the Gai Yue Dragon Snake duo in the Soul Master world?"
The old woman waved her hand: "Just an empty reputation."
Oscar said delightedly: "I've long heard of your senior's reputation. I never thought I would meet you today. It's truly an honor for this junior."
"But we came to the Star Dou Forest this time to get soul rings for our students, so we're pressed for time. If there's an opportunity in the future, this junior will definitely pay a personal visit to you, senior."
Hearing this, Snake Lady smiled: "In that case, I won't delay everyone's time any longer."
Then Oscar and the others left, but the girl beside Snake Lady's gaze drifted as she watched the departing Oscar group.
Snake Lady noticed her granddaughter's expression and couldn't help but tease: "Yiran, they've already gone far. Go absorb your third soul ring."
Hearing this, Meng Yiran glanced at her grandmother embarrassedly, then dealt with the Phoenix-Tailed Chicken Crest Snake and sat cross-legged to start absorbing the soul ring.
How could Snake Lady not see that these young people were all exceptionally talented? Take that boy with a fire attribute martial soul for example. Being able to easily subdue a thousand-year-level Phoenix-Tailed Chicken Crest Snake definitely meant he was no ordinary person.
But Snake Lady also noticed that the two middle-aged people in Oscar's team—people even she couldn't see through—had strength at least above hers.
So even when encountering these exceptionally talented children, she didn't want to be a nuisance and just decided to form a good connection.
But Oscar at this time didn't care about the Dragon Lord Snake Lady. However, because he had encountered Snake Lady and Meng Yiran, Oscar thought of an important matter.
In the original work, wasn't it around this time that Tang San obtained the external soul bone Eight Spider Lances?
Now Tang San had been cultivating according to the training plan Oscar had given him, so his third soul ring naturally had no connection with the Man-Faced Demon Spider. But if they could encounter that external soul bone that produced the Eight Spider Lances, wouldn't that be an unexpected gain?
Besides Tang San, Dugu Yan was also very suitable for the Eight Spider Lances. The toxin, devouring, and terrain-ignoring abilities would all be a perfect fit for Dugu Yan's strength.
If Dugu Yan could get the Eight Spider Lances, it would absolutely be a huge boost to her strength.
So, Oscar was thinking, how could he have a chance to obtain those Eight Spider Lances?
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