The seven-member hunting team from Shrek Academy chose to head straight into the mixed zone of the Star Dou Great Forest. The reason was simple—the five who needed spirit rings all required ten-thousand-year ones.
That's right—every single one of them needed a ten-thousand-year ring, including Huo Yuhao, who was only at the Soul Ancestor realm.
Though Yuhao was merely a small Soul Ancestor, the lowest ranked in the preparatory team, his hidden depth was astonishing. His soul ring configuration, in some ways, was no weaker than Zhu Ziyang's. After all, his third ring was already a ten-thousand-year ring—the Purple Spirit Wolf. At the time he absorbed it, he had nearly scared Xuanzi, who had been overseeing the hunt, to death.
Zhu Ziyang could only sigh in admiration. Worthy of being the Child of Destiny—truly extraordinary.
That night, the group of seven set up camp to rest.
"Everyone, tell us what kind of spirit beasts you're hoping for, so we have a clear reference," Zhang Yuexuan said.
"That's right," Zhu Ziyang added with a smile. "Say it clearly, and I can help you judge as well."
"Heehee, of course mine should be either something related to the moon or a beast with great speed!" Jiang Nan Nan laughed, sitting close beside Zhu Ziyang and leaning against him affectionately.
"Our Xu family has a complete soul ring system," Xu Jiujin said next. At nineteen years old, already a Soul Emperor, she was a standout even among the many geniuses of Shrek Academy. With a gentle smile, she continued, "My sixth ring should come from a plant-type beast called the Celestial Vine. If we can't find it in the Star Dou Forest, I'll have to return home to get one."
"Celestial Vine?" Bei Bei's brows lifted in surprise, though he let it pass. "As for me, first choice would be light-attribute, second would be thunder-attribute."
"I'm simple," Xu Sanshi said with a grin. "As long as it's got strong defense, it's good enough for me. I don't refuse anyone!"
"…I want a spiritual-type soul ring," said Huo Yuhao at last. Mu En's death had hit him hard. He had grown quieter, and even coming along on this hunt had only been because Zhu Ziyang forced him.
"Good. I understand," Zhang Yuexuan nodded. "Then tonight we rest, and tomorrow we begin searching for suitable beasts."
Everyone soon returned to their tents, while Zhu Ziyang and Zhang Yuexuan were assigned night watch duty. Ziyang took the first half, Yuexuan the second.
Time ticked by. As midnight approached, Zhang Yuexuan stepped out of her tent and came over.
"Ziyang, go rest. It's my shift now."
"Yuexuan-jie, you didn't sleep?" Zhu Ziyang frowned slightly at her weary face.
"Couldn't," she admitted with a wry smile.
"You're still mourning Mu Lao, aren't you?" Ziyang said gently. "You don't need to torment yourself so. If Teacher is watching from the heavens, he would never want us wasting our spirits in grief, disappointing his expectations."
"…That does sound exactly like something Mu Lao would say," Zhang Yuexuan murmured, a faint smile returning to her lips.
"Shhh—" Suddenly, a noise rustled in the distance, cutting short their words. Both turned sharply toward the sound, their eyes instantly alert.
"Ziyang, careful!" Zhang Yuexuan cried, releasing a beam of moonlight toward the disturbance.
With a rustle, a black shadow shot forward, lunging at them.
Zhu Ziyang's Scythe of Repose appeared in his grip as he charged headlong, the blade cleaving through the air.
The shadow twisted sharply, agile as lightning, evading the strike before leaping into an open patch of ground. There, its form became clear.
A small beast covered in jet-black fur, tiger-like in appearance yet far smaller. Its forelimbs were like a horse's, and its amber eyes glowed with sharp intelligence. Nimble and elusive, it was only thanks to tonight's moonlight that Ziyang and Yuexuan had spotted it at all.
"A Nightshadow Beast!" Zhu Ziyang recognized it instantly, a smile flickering across his face. "Judging by its aura, it just crossed the ten-thousand-year mark. Perfect for Yuhao's fourth ring."
"Excellent! Ziyang, stand guard—don't let it escape. Leave the rest to me!" Zhang Yuexuan's eyes lit up. A silver moon rose behind her, and eight rings floated forth. Her fourth ring flared, sending a gentle yet irresistible moonbeam drifting toward the Nightshadow Beast.
The creature, of the darkness attribute and gifted with keen spirit power, instinctively despised the moonlight and dodged.
Though the fourth skill had a degree of lock-on, it wasn't fast, and the nimble Nightshadow Beast evaded with ease. But Yuexuan hadn't expected otherwise. Her third ring lit next, and the silver moon blazed brilliantly.
Countless beams of moonlight rained down like a storm, sealing every path of escape. The Nightshadow Beast screamed in anguish, curling up to minimize the blows.
The battle ended swiftly. This was Yuexuan's third soul skill—Rain of the Moon, a ranged attack unleashing at least twenty-seven beams in an instant, each carrying a marking effect of moonlight.
"So beautiful…" Jiang Nan Nan, Xu Jiujin, Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, and Yuhao had all been roused by the commotion. As they emerged, they stared in awe at the dazzling rain of moonlight filling the night sky.
"Brother, what kind of beast is that?" Jiang Nan Nan asked eagerly.
"A ten-thousand-year Nightshadow Beast, perfect for Yuhao's fourth ring," Zhu Ziyang explained.
"Nightshadow Beast? What kind of creature is that?" Yuhao asked curiously, still dazed by the sight.
"A dark and spiritual-type beast," Bei Bei answered. "It can meld into the night and create a mental interference field around itself. Truly a great match for you, Yuhao."
"Really?" Excitement lit Yuhao's face. A domain-type ability—such a skill would be a treasure for a control-type Soul Master.
Dragging the battered beast over, Zhang Yuexuan dropped it to the ground. "Yuhao, finish it and absorb the ring. The rest of you, return to rest—we've still got time before dawn."
"Got it!" Yuhao knelt to deliver the final strike.
The others returned to their tents. Only Zhu Ziyang remained, curiosity gleaming in his eyes. He wanted to see what ability Yuhao would gain. If it really was just a simple mental interference domain, that would be far too ordinary. The Child of Destiny deserved something far more unique.
"Ziyang, aren't you going to rest?" Yuexuan asked softly.
"I'll stay with you for the watch. Besides, I want to see Yuhao's new ability," Ziyang replied.
"O-okay…" Yuexuan's cheeks reddened at his words, though he seemed oblivious.
The absorption went smoothly. In just half an hour, Huo Yuhao completed it.
His fourth soul skill: Soul Eternal Night.
A single-target control skill—any chosen enemy whose spiritual strength was weaker than Yuhao's would have their soul dragged into endless darkness, suffering silence and torment until the effect ended after three seconds.
Zhu Ziyang nodded slightly. It was as he expected.
For a control-type, Soul Eternal Night was undeniably a powerful and rare soul skill, one that ignored all defenses and resisted nothing but stronger spirit power.
To have such a skill as his fourth—indeed, the Child of Destiny truly was extraordinary.
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