"So this is the summoning path? Kinda overtuned…"
Dai Yaoheng stared at Su Wen like he'd discovered a new continent, rubbing his chin.
Aside from a very few in the Inner Court (Zhang Lexuan, Ma Xiaotao), most only knew Su Wen's talent was heaven-defying, but how far it went was vague. Today's battle made them see clearly just how monstrous he was.
"How is this Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear so real?" Chen Zifeng walked over and, intrigued, stroked the fur of the bear that had forced him to surrender. The texture was real—not like something condensed from soul power or a flashy soul skill.
"…"
Three meters tall, Little Gold stood there like a sturdy city wall, looking down at Chen Zifeng from on high, its expression growing more and more displeased.
Chen Zifeng hadn't sensed the danger yet, and still grinned.
"Little Gold!"
Su Wen called out.
"ROAR~!!!"
At Su Wen's warning, a hint of helplessness flashed in Little Gold's eyes. It only lowered its head and bellowed at Chen Zifeng.
Chen Zifeng froze.
Wiping the slobber off his face, his expression shifted toward fear. "What the hell? This Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear is real?!!"
"No kidding. You waddled up like an idiot. If Xiao Wen hadn't called it off, half your head would've been swiped off. We've all experienced this thing's ferocity," Gongyang Mo said with a sneer.
Chen Zifeng looked around. Everyone else had already scurried far away. Only he, a fragile glass cannon, had dared walk up to touch the bear's paw.
He was dumbfounded, waves surging in his chest.
That contemptuous look from the Dreadclaw Bear didn't escape him.
He swallowed.
Gongyang Mo wasn't joking. Unless you're a defense-type tank, few people dare get that close to a soul beast. At the same rank, their bodies are far tougher than humans'. His martial soul was a sword—just a flying sword. His body was flimsy as paper.
One swipe, and with his just-advanced Soul King strength, he'd be done.
"Yeah, the summoning path has its own way of fighting." Su Wen smiled.
"But these soul beasts aren't something I 'summon.' They're independent beings. They can enter this little ball and be carried by me."
When he started school, he wouldn't be able to hide the truth of his martial soul anyway. And for inner-court seniors—his own people—there was no need to conceal anything…
"Ridiculous. One ring, one soul beast, and you share levels. Once you're a Titled Douluo, what, nine hundred-thousand-year soul beasts?" Dai Yaoheng came over, sizing up the Dreadclaw Bear guarding Su Wen, his expression shaken.
"It's eight. And I could still beat you easily." Ma Xiaotao sauntered over in high heels, half her jade-white arm draped over Su Wen's shoulder, her delicate face held high.
"This potential is downright terrifying…"
Chen Zifeng clicked his tongue.
If Su Wen rose to his level, a single Dreadclaw Bear (ten-thousand-year) would be enough to pound him into mince—never mind that he also had four soul beasts, the Ice Jade Scorpion Emperor, and…
Chen Zifeng paused. "Hey, a week ago, wasn't that just an Ice Jade Scorpion?"
"Oh, as I get stronger, these soul beasts evolve along with me…" Su Wen said with a smile.
Everyone: "…"
"F—forget it, I quit!" Yao Haoxuan's mouth twitched. He turned to leave. "Let him go enter the tournament. One man's an army. Who can beat that? Freak!"
"Don't go."
Ling Luochen said calmly.
"Su Wen's on our side next round."
Ma Xiaotao's pretty face stiffened. She glared at Ling Luochen, whose icy, light-blue eyes met hers without yielding an inch.
"Xiao Wen, come here."
Ling Luochen took the initiative to take Su Wen's hand, a gentle strength drawing him over.
Su Wen raised a brow. He looked back at Ma Xiaotao; she stomped her foot in anger, scarlet eyes full of ire.
He was grinning when he seemed to bump into a soft wall up ahead. Silky long hair fluttered, and at such close range her faint fragrance filled his nose.
"Careful."
Ling Luochen glanced back, a trace of shyness in her beautiful eyes.
But the slender jade hand holding Su Wen's stayed tightly clasped, not letting go.
…
In the days that followed—
Lights of every color blanketed the entire dueling ground. The fighting lasted the whole afternoon. The two teams would battle once, then switch members. Ma Xiaotao, Su Wen, and Ling Luochen even ended up on the same side once.
But whichever team Su Wen was on won more than it lost.
His personal damage wasn't overwhelming, but his impact was big. The Ice Empeor's Eternal Frost Domain truly deserved to be called a god-tier area control skill—huge buffs to allies, heavy debuffs to enemies.
…
The Beast-Battling Zone.
It sat south of the Battle-Spirit Zone, separated by a tall gray wall like a fortress. Word had it the wall was made of special materials—hard to break even for a ten-thousand-year soul beast.
Most years, the second-semester freshman assessment was held here, requiring students to face the pressure of soul beasts head-on. That was exactly what most Shrek freshmen lacked. Soul beasts, who fought by the most primal rules, were without a doubt excellent whetstones.
Only, the beasts here were mostly ordinary stock.
There were ten-thousand-year ones, but even then, within their kind they would only rank mid to slightly below-average in quality.
Auspicious beasts and truly rare species were unheard of.
After all, the purpose of keeping these beasts was simply to give Shrek students better instruction (to hone combat skills and courage), not to truly take root in the soul-beast industry.
Otherwise, a single ordinary ten-thousand-year beast—never mind the time cost—the funds it would take to raise it to ten thousand years (labor, feed, facility maintenance, etc.) would make even Shrek balk. Money pit wouldn't be an exaggeration.
That was also why, when Su Wen went to capture soul beasts, he headed for the Extreme North or Star Dou Forest. He hadn't even spared this place a glance.
"Elder Gong."
Su Wen nodded.
"Yo, what brings you here, kid? Didn't you look down on my precious beasts?"
A white-haired elder lay sunning himself on a lounge chair. Seeing Su Wen arrive, he opened one eye and spoke with a smug air.
"The quality of the beasts here really isn't great."
Su Wen smiled.
"You—" Elder Gong's eyes went wide as he glared at Su Wen.
"If you don't believe me, let my Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear do a test?" Su Wen grinned and waved. A dark-brown giant bear appeared at his side, its ursine eyes fixed warily on Elder Gong.
It could sense the danger emanating from the old man.
"Hm???"
Elder Gong shot to his feet, pupils contracting sharply.
"What a picture-perfect Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear!"
His gaze grew heated, as if he were appraising a great beauty.
Arms folded, Su Wen smiled faintly.
He knew the old fellow would take the bait.
Sure enough, with the inner-court training matches over, Su Wen had fallen into a stretch with nothing much to do.
…
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