In the Star Dou Forest, a young girl with fair skin and a small, round face was following several elders as they searched for a Soul Ring.
She had long, dark green hair and bright emerald-green eyes.
“Xiao Xiao, once we find a Soul Ring suitable for your Second Martial Soul, getting into Shrek should be a breeze for you, right?”
Xiao Xiao could truly be called the hope of the entire Xiao Family.
Her family was not one of the region’s great clans, but they did have businesses of their own.
Now that money was no longer an issue, the family’s next goal was to produce a powerful Soul Master from within their ranks.
Only then could they secure their position and continue developing steadily.
Unfortunately, the Martial Souls and Innate Soul Power awakened by family members in recent years had been nothing remarkable.
That all changed when Xiao Xiao underwent her Martial Soul Awakening.
Twin Martial Souls and Innate Full Soul Power!
Her two Martial Souls were the Three Lives Soul Sealing Cauldron and the Nine Phoenix Dancing Flute, both top-tier Tool-type Martial Souls!
The head of the Xiao Family had thrown his head back and laughed on the spot.
“My daughter Xiao Xiao has the potential to become a Titled Douluo!”
Her top-tier talent certainly lived up to its reputation.
Despite her young age, Xiao Xiao had already reached Level 20, easily meeting Shrek Academy’s admission requirements.
Unfortunately, no one in her family had ever studied How a God’s Disciple Is Forged, written by that Grandmaster from ten thousand years ago.
They had no idea that with Twin Martial Souls, it was best to wait until later before adding Soul Rings to the Second Martial Soul.
Simply to ensure that Xiao Xiao could have an easier time at Shrek Academy and establish herself there, the Xiao Family had decided to give her Second Martial Soul a Soul Ring in advance.
…
“There’s a century-old Lone Bamboo here.
It’s extremely tough.
What a shame.
If you had a Plant-type Martial Soul, absorbing it would be a good choice.”
The speaker was Xiao Shan, a Level 40 Spirit Ancestor.
“Wait.
Something’s moving.”
The air around them suddenly stirred, while the branches and leaves overhead began trembling violently.
Xiao Shan’s expression instantly grew serious.
Four Soul Rings lit up around him as he stepped in front of Xiao Xiao and readied himself.
A piercing shriek suddenly tore through the forest, and three Wind Demon Sparrows swept toward them on a violent gust of wind.
“Three hundred-year-old Wind Demon Sparrows?
Xiao Xiao, get back!”
Xiao Shan shouted as earth-yellow Soul Power covered both his arms, allowing him to forcibly block two of the attacks.
“Cauldron’s Quake!
Cauldron Sweep!”
Xiao Xiao refused to stand by.
Facing the last one, she immediately unleashed her Soul Skills and forced it down.
The others seized the opportunity to attack, knocking the Wind Demon Sparrow back as well.
The three Wind Demon Sparrows circled overhead once more.
Working together, they beat their wings and whipped up a powerful gale, sending dust and sand flying as they launched a second assault.
Taking advantage of the moment when Xiao Xiao and the others could barely keep their eyes open, the three Wind Demon Sparrows lowered their bodies and swooped in again.
Xiao Shan was a Level 40 Spirit Ancestor, after all.
Finding the right moment, he struck one of the sparrows from the side, sending it flying into another with the force of the blow.
Amid the chaos, one of the Wind Demon Sparrows’ eyes suddenly turned blood-red.
Its wings beat violently as it ignored its injuries and charged straight toward Xiao Xiao with reckless abandon.
“Xiao Xiao, watch out!”
Xiao Xiao had not reacted yet.
By the time she came to her senses and tried to activate a Soul Skill, the Wind Demon Sparrow’s sharp beak and talons were already right in front of her.
At that moment, Xiao Xiao suddenly felt herself being lifted into someone’s arms.
In the next instant, she was carried straight up onto a tree branch, while the Wind Demon Sparrow crashed into the ground below, rolled several times, and collapsed without moving.
“Huh?”
Xiao Xiao glanced to the side.
The person holding her was a handsome boy with ice-blue eyes and blue-and-white hair.
Her ears suddenly grew hot, and a faint blush spread across her fair cheeks.
Wow, he’s so handsome!
Xiao Xiao was secretly thrilled.
She had always been a sucker for good looks, and now that Huo Yuhao was holding her like this, she could not resist sneaking a few more glances at him.
“Um…
could you put me down?”
“Ah, sorry, sorry.”
With that, the two jumped down from the tree.
The moment her feet touched the ground, Xiao Xiao was still somewhat dazed.
The warmth of the boy’s arm seemed to linger against her back.
The sense of security she had felt when he swept her high into the tree was like a feather brushing softly across her heart, leaving it strangely ticklish.
…
During that brief interval, Xiao Shan saw that Xiao Xiao was unharmed and immediately unleashed his Fourth Soul Skill, leaving the remaining two Wind Demon Sparrows barely alive.
Their attribute happened to suit Xiao Xiao’s Martial Soul perfectly.
In a way, the danger had brought them an unexpected opportunity.
“Xiao Xiao, hurry!
Finish them off and absorb the Soul Ring!”
“Okay!”
“Wait a moment, Miss Xiao Xiao.
Are you planning to absorb it with your Second Martial Soul?”
Huo Yuhao had happened to arrive just as Xiao Xiao used the Three Lives Soul Sealing Cauldron.
Her Soul Power was only a little over Level 20, yet the cauldron had already displayed two Soul Skills.
Judging from that, Xiao Xiao must have a Second Martial Soul.
But adding a Soul Ring to it this early…
Xiao Xiao’s eyes widened when Huo Yuhao pointed it out, and curiosity immediately appeared on her face.
“How did you know?”
“I guessed.
But don’t you know that it’s better to wait before adding Soul Rings to a Second Martial Soul, so you can directly obtain Soul Rings around the Ten-thousand-year level later?”
“Huh?
Really?”
Xiao Xiao lightly touched her chin with one finger and tilted her head, looking thoughtful.
She appeared to be seriously considering his words, but in reality, her mind was completely blank.
She had not understood what Huo Yuhao meant at all.
“Young man, are you saying she can wait until later and obtain better Soul Rings for her Second Martial Soul?”
“…”
Xiao Shan seemed quite knowledgeable about Soul Beasts, but most of what he knew came from experience.
When it came to actual theory, he knew very little.
It was simply that, as the strongest person in the family, no one had ever questioned what he said.
So Huo Yuhao proceeded to explain everything he had previously read in books.
“The greatest advantage of Twin Martial Souls is that the quality of the Soul Rings added later isn’t restricted by the early stages of cultivation.
An ordinary Soul Master’s First Soul Ring can only be around the century-old level at most, and it’s difficult to break free of those limitations later.
But with Twin Martial Souls, the Soul Rings can be distributed perfectly between the two…”
…
Xiao Shan closed his eyes and nodded as though he had suddenly achieved enlightenment.
“So that’s how it is.
Because of one careless decision, I nearly made a terrible mistake for the family.
From now on, I’m going to read more books!”
In only a few moments, Xiao Shan had completely abandoned his previous plan.
He also felt genuine admiration for the young boy standing before him.
“We really have you to thank, young man.
By the way, judging from your clothes…
you don’t seem to be from around here.”
“I’m just a Soul Master traveling around to gain experience.
Once Shrek Academy opens for enrollment, I plan to head there and take the entrance exam.”
“Shrek?!”
Xiao Xiao suddenly looked up, her emerald eyes instantly lighting up with delight.
“What a coincidence!
I’m going to Shrek Academy too!
That means we’ll be classmates!”
Hearing this, Xiao Shan’s impression of Huo Yuhao improved even further.
As expected of someone planning to enter Shrek Academy, the boy carried himself like someone destined to stand above the crowd.
Huo Yuhao looked at the delighted Xiao Xiao and smiled.
“Yeah, what a coincidence.
I’ll be counting on you when the time comes.”
When Xiao Xiao noticed Huo Yuhao looking at her, she hurriedly lowered her head and pretended to be demure, while the tips of her ears turned so red they looked ready to bleed.
She had gotten way too excited just now.
What was she supposed to do?
Had she left a bad impression on him?