Chapter 22: Chapter 22: Encountering the Hundred-Year Soul Ring Again
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"Release martial soul, Blue Silver, grow!"
In mid-air, Wang Li summoned his martial soul and immediately activated his first soul skill without hesitation.
White light radiated around him, instantly producing a mass of Blue Silver Grass. Thanks to the soul ring he absorbed from the Green Vine, the Blue Silver Grass now boasted vine-like tendrils.
Then, under Wang Li's control, six tendrils shot out, coiling tightly around the soul beast just as it was about to land, binding its four claws while leaving only its head exposed.
After landing, Wang Li propelled himself forward again, swiftly approaching the soul beast.
*Instant Step!*
He didn't give the soul beast a chance to recover or resist. Grabbing it by the scruff of its neck, he clenched his right fist and struck down toward its head.
*Bang! Bang! Bang!*
One punch after another, he landed three rapid blows, and the beast's wails grew weaker until it finally seemed to lose consciousness.
With a flurry of attacks that demonstrated speed, control, and power, Wang Li single-handedly defeated a sudden and unknown soul beast.
This showed that Wang Li had developed formidable combat strength.
Only then did Yuan Fu, positioned at the front of the camp, complete his martial soul possession and rush over, shouting:
"What happened? Wang Li, Wang Sheng!"
Inside the tent, Zhang Wei, Su Mo, and the others were startled awake by the commotion. Sleep was the last thing on their minds as they hurriedly got up and rushed out.
Wang Li looked at the unconscious soul beast, then turned to the dazed and unsure Wang Sheng, urging him:
"Hurry up and kill it!"
Wang Sheng was still processing the shock of Wang Li's displayed speed and combat ability. Upon hearing Wang Li, he simply thought of helping out. He drew the short sword he had bought from the blacksmith and, while the soul beast was restrained by Wang Li, plunged the blade into its throat.
Yuan Fu, having arrived just in time, witnessed this scene. Seeing that Wang Li and Wang Sheng were safe and had managed to counter-attack a soul beast, he felt a wave of relief wash over him, grateful that there were no casualties. But he was also astonished that a first-ring soul master and a soul warrior without a soul ring could team up to slay a soul beast.
The fatal blow to the throat left the soul beast lifeless. After its demise, yellow energy surged around it, eventually coalescing into a yellow soul ring.
This was a hundred-year soul beast. Perhaps its age wasn't particularly high, which allowed Wang Li to defeat it, but it was still a hundred-year soul beast, far stronger than an ordinary ten-year soul beast.
Zhang Wei was the first to arrive, followed closely by Su Mo, then Gou An, Bao Tong, Fergus, Eureka, and Fiona. They were all equally stunned.
Zhang Wei turned to Yuan Fu, his brow furrowed as he spoke solemnly:
"What just happened?"
Yuan Fu faced the director's inquiry and quickly acknowledged his mistake, realizing that such an incident occurred while he was supposed to be on watch. "Director, I failed to notice this soul beast in time. I was patrolling the front of the camp and assigned Wang Li and Wang Sheng to patrol the back, which is why the situation escalated so suddenly. I only arrived afterward."
Zhang Wei did not blame Yuan Fu. As a teacher of the academy at the soul master level, he understood the distinction between the importance of the students and the responsibilities of his staff. Besides, Wang Li and Wang Sheng were unharmed.
He simply warned him:
"Be more careful next time. If a hundred-year soul beast were to invade the camp, it could lead to significant casualties among the students."
Yuan Fu lowered his head and responded, "Understood!"
Zhang Wei then approached Wang Li and Wang Sheng, examining the soul beast they had killed with wide eyes, astonished.
"A Tiger Leopard Cat! You managed to evade its hunt and even turn the tables on it!"
The Tiger Leopard Cat is neither a tiger nor a leopard; it is a feline soul beast that lacks the raw power of either. However, it possesses exceptional hunting skills and is known as a predator of the night.
The Tiger Leopard Cat is often a nightmare for low-level soul beasts and soul masters. It strikes silently before launching a clean and efficient attack, and once it has done so, it can enjoy its meal.
Wang Li kept his head down, attributing everything to his hundred-year soul ring:
"This soul beast appeared suddenly, and we had to respond hastily. Fortunately, this hundred-year soul ring provided us with a powerful soul skill, which allowed us to control its movements and ultimately work together to kill it."
Zhang Wei was somewhat skeptical. The lack of significant battle marks at the scene suggested that the Tiger Leopard Cat had been entangled and controlled almost immediately, unable to break free until its death. The binding ability of this hundred-year soul skill seemed exceptionally powerful.
Just how old was this Green Vine?
Previously, the Green Vine had been severely damaged under the onslaught of the Mountain Boar King, making it difficult for Zhang Wei to accurately assess its age. However, it seemed likely that the Green Vine was indeed quite old.
Nevertheless, for a first-ring soul master and a soul warrior without a soul ring to successfully hunt a hundred-year soul beast was already quite an achievement.
In the end, Zhang Wei stopped probing further and looked at the hundred-year soul ring, saying:
"Who exactly defeated this Tiger Leopard Cat? Wang Sheng, give it a try and absorb it. A hundred-year soul ring shouldn't go to waste."
Upon hearing this, Wang Sheng's face lit up with joy. He realized he had the opportunity to obtain a hundred-year soul ring. No wonder Wang Li had encouraged him to come and help kill the soul beast; he looked at Wang Li with gratitude.
Quickly, he sat cross-legged, activated his martial soul, and summoned the soul ring. The yellow soul ring indeed flew toward him, encircling his body and merging into him.
With this matter settled, Wang Li took the time to assess his own gains. During his battle with the Tiger Leopard Cat, he had gained 18 experience points, leaving him puzzled.
Previously, when fighting Wang Sheng, he had gained 26 experience points. Why, then, did he receive only 18 points for battling a stronger opponent like the Tiger Leopard Cat?
Was it because Wang Sheng was human, while the Tiger Leopard Cat was a soul beast? Or was it related to their respective soul power levels—Wang Sheng's ninth-level soul power versus his own third-level soul power, and now, facing the hundred-year soul beast with his thirteenth-level soul power?
After considering the possibilities, Wang Li concluded that the most likely reason was that greater battles yielded more experience.
If that were the case, to gain more experience, he would need to seek out stronger opponents rather than endlessly grinding for experience in the novice area.
At that moment, a thought crossed Wang Li's mind:
"It seems I must apply for graduation. Staying at Nuoding Academy is more harmful than beneficial for me…"
Remaining at Nuoding Academy would mean being among the strongest; in front of him were Tang San and Xiao Wu, and behind him were a group of soul warriors.
If he wanted to grow quickly, he needed to engage in battles against powerful opponents. However, with his current low level, he couldn't compete against great soul masters, soul elders, or soul sect members. He needed to find a place with more soul masters.
Perhaps a mid-level soul master academy would be the answer…
(End of Chapter)