The elimination rounds were divided into morning and afternoon sessions—
Lasting three days, until the winners were decided.
But the first day's matches were dull; undefeated teams wouldn't meet in the first two rounds.
So by the start of the first afternoon class, Su Wen had won two rounds without a fight and slipped off to the library. Over the years, he'd nearly read all the Seagod Pavilion's books on soul beasts and beastmasters.
He'd gained a lot.
For example, various soul beasts' attributes, sightings of rare ones in Douluo, and even records of beast-tamer martial souls—fifty years to control one soul beast, but only if its strength was less than two-thirds of the tamer's. There were evil soul masters like the Ten Thousand Soul Banner, but that only imprisoned souls.
There were all kinds of beast-taming martial souls, but very few similar to his own.
He was also torn about his fourth soul beast.
He leaned toward either a flying or a healing type.
In his battle with Zhou Yi, his weaknesses were clear: no air control. If his opponent could fly, his advantage would shrink. Xiao Jin was strong but couldn't catch Zhou Yi.
If Zhou Yi hadn't let her guard down at the start and then lost control in rage, using her sixth soul skill and draining her energy, the Ice Emperor and Gale wouldn't have had a chance to take her down.
If Zhou Yi had just run from the start, he'd never have caught her.
Of course, in the Star Dou Forest, Gale could dominate the skies—endless tall trees were its battlefield—but near the open teaching buildings, it was awkward.
Now, the library wasn't crowded.
Few students dared skip class.
"Xiao Wen, you're here."
The librarian was a man in his thirties, dressed in a crisp teacher's uniform, wearing a monocle and holding a fountain pen, busily registering things. Seeing Su Wen, he looked up and smiled.
"Brother Zhang." Su Wen nodded politely.
Zhang Bailing, Outer Court teacher, Rank 73 Soul Sage; his martial soul was said to be his fountain pen. Five years ago when Su Wen entered Seagod Pavilion, Zhang was an Inner Court disciple, now teaching in the Outer Court.
Whoosh, whoosh~
As the pen moved, Su Wen's appearance and information were added to the records.
Su Wen was amazed.
A born librarian!
Elsewhere, having a thirty-something Soul Sage as a librarian would be a waste, but at Shrek... it seemed normal.
"All right, go on in," Zhang Bailing smiled.
He liked this polite junior. He'd watched Su Wen grow up, like Ma Xiaotao, though... she'd turned out a bit wild. She was cute as a kid.
"Sigh, little junior, did you register?" Zhang Bailing asked the door.
A thin, determined boy walked in.
"You need three gold soul coins for your first time, to get a library card. After that, you can come and go for free until graduation, when you cancel it."
Zhang Bailing registered things quickly, his tone gentle.
"Three gold soul coins?" Huo Yuhao hesitated.
He'd have to sell grilled fish for days to earn that much, and daily expenses were high.
"That's right." Zhang Bailing's smile didn't change.
"But why didn't Su Wen have to pay?" Huo Yuhao muttered.
"The strong always have privileges." Zhang Bailing smiled.
Does this kid have some grudge with Xiao Wen?
As he watched the thin figure pay quickly and hurry off, Zhang Bailing's smile faded, eyes narrowing slightly.
…
Soul Department meeting.
Yan Shaozhe, Du Weilun were both there.
After Zhou Yi's departure, there was much debate on who should take over. The class was a hot potato now—no benefits, just trouble. Several Outer Court teachers were asked, but all declined, citing heavy workload.
"How about... merging the classes?" Du Weilun scratched his head.
"There are only about thirty left. Keeping a whole class is a hassle, and it takes extra teachers."
The others nodded.
"So let's merge them."
Yan Shaozhe reluctantly agreed.
As the teachers left, only Mu Jin remained.
Yan Shaozhe smiled at the slightly nervous Mu Jin: "Teacher Mu Jin, you're from the new Class Two, and it's the strongest now. You can pick up to three students from Class One."
"Okay!" Mu Jin's eyes lit up as she eagerly picked through Class One's files.
Yan Shaozhe waited patiently.
After a while—
"I'll take these," Mu Jin handed over three files.
"Zhou Sicheng, Cao Jinxuan... and Huo Yuhao?" Yan Shaozhe was surprised.
"His Lingmou martial soul is important, but his first soul ring is only ten years. Even if he has potential, it's limited... Are you sure you want him?"
"I'm sure." Mu Jin hesitated, then nodded.
Zhou and Cao were already a good deal; as for Huo Yuhao, his martial soul was special, and anyone so favored by Zhou Yi couldn't be simple. She was willing to take a gamble, especially with the other two as a safety net.
"All right!"
Yan Shaozhe smiled.
…
[Emerald Swan]
Temperament: Gentle, non-aggressive
Very rare, as they are born with vitality, attracting many soul beasts. But after one of the Ten Great Beasts, Bi Ji, was born, things improved...
Reading the ancient book's description of the Emerald Swan, with its illustrations and notes, Su Wen rested his chin, deep in thought.
The fourth Pokéball had appeared... black.
Meaning he could capture any soul beast under a hundred thousand years.
He got up to return the book, glancing at the window, where a beautiful woman in pale blue sat reading. Light played on her skirt, dust motes floating, faintly showing her delicate features.
Long legs together, tilted under the desk, feet in flats, but her tall figure was unmistakable. The skirt covered her thighs, showing pale skin below...
"Senior Sister Luochen?"
Su Wen was surprised.
He remembered she was a cultivation maniac and always scoffed at theory—why was she in the library today? Was the sun rising in the west?
And... why was her face so red?!!
She was devouring the contents of the book, her fair face getting redder, blush spreading to her ears.
It made her stunning face even more dazzling.
Luckily, the library was big and quiet, with few people...
Su Wen quietly walked over and stood behind her.
Since it's the library, surely she wasn't reading something... private?
[Chapter One]
How ice-attribute soul beasts can acquire Ultimate Ice.
Ultimate Ice is the pinnacle for ice-attribute beasts, having a bloodline-like suppression. Currently, there are only five ways to get it:Crossbreeding between different species, e.g., ancient Frost Dragons and Titan Giants produced Titan Snow Demon Dragons, which have Ultimate Ice, but they're extinct now, only Titan Snow Demons remain.
Same species breeding, e.g., female Wind Baboon and male Blood Red Baboon produce offspring with both attributes; this was tested with Ice Jade Scorpions, and sometimes the attribute transfers through mating.
Immortal herbs...
Acquiring Ultimate Ice soul bones...
Su Wen's mouth twitched.
It didn't mention him, but it all was about him.
Damn, women are scary—better leave now.
But in the next moment, Ling Luochen suddenly turned around, flustered, raising her ice staff to attack, angered at being spied on!
But as the ice staff reached Su Wen's chin, she saw his face; he looked away, embarrassed: "Senior Sister Luochen, I didn't see what you were reading. You're studying Ultimate Ice, right? Well, I have something to do—bye?"
"You—where do you think you're going!"
She secretly sighed in relief but glared at him, pressing him into a seat, realizing he'd seen the book cover. Her face turned even redder, shoving the book onto the shelf, then sat beside him, blocking his escape.
"Don't tell anyone about today!" she threatened in a low voice.
"Mm!" Su Wen nodded furiously.
Ling Luochen's pale fists clenched, blue veins visible, face as red as steam, like a flustered girl caught watching something private.
"Th-then, what do you think?" she asked timidly, head drooping.
"What?" Su Wen was still reeling from her switch from cool beauty to puppy dog, when she glared at him, like she wanted to bite him.
"Uh, I've never tried, I don't know."
"That's not what I meant!" she huffed.
Su Wen: ???
Trapped in the corner, Ling Luochen pressed closer, half her body against him. Su Wen could only endure/enjoy, helpless.
Her scent filled his nose, his whole view blocked.
Ling Luochen knelt on Su Wen's lap.
Smack!
She left a red mark on his face, as pink as lipstick, then after some warnings, left the library satisfied.
At the door, she finally smiled.
Got him!
That's what it means to lure the enemy in.
"Yo, got your way?" Zhang Bailing smiled.
"..."
Ling Luochen's smile vanished, she glanced at him coldly, snorted, and left.
He clicked his tongue, "An ice beauty—but only opens her heart to one. Even Inner Court pursuers have no chance. Guess the flower's already taken."
…
"Get another book."
In the spiritual sea, Skydream directed Huo Yuhao.
"Left shelf, seventh row from the top, fifth book."
Huo Yuhao took it, opened it.
Skydream's spiritual power surged, the book floated and flipped quickly, then landed back in Huo Yuhao's hands. Skydream shook his head: "Didn't find what I wanted..."
"Brother Skydream, what are you looking for?" Huo Yuhao asked, puzzled.
"The Extreme North."
Skydream shook his head.
"I'm a million-year soul beast. After sacrificing myself to you, I can give you a second martial soul, which I planned to be the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion—one of the Ten Great Beasts, the Ice Empress. But because of a failed molt, my chances dropped, so I'm looking for ways to trap her, then persuade... cough, have her sacrifice too."
"What?!!" Huo Yuhao froze.
He knew what Skydream planned was dangerous, but never thought it would involve such a powerful beast.
"Of course, worst case, a hundred-thousand-year Ice Jade Scorpion or Snow Demon isn't bad, but still far inferior to the Ice Empress..." Skydream shook his head.
"I want the Ice Empress!" Huo Yuhao said resolutely.
If it was just a Snow Demon or ordinary Ice Jade Scorpion, he could never catch up to Su Wen.
So he had to risk it all and take the shortcut!
"Good! That's the spirit!" Skydream laughed.
"Then let's keep looking. If not, ask Fan Yu for help. The biggest difference between humans and soul beasts is their use of tools and the way they preserve knowledge in books, building a deep foundation... No wonder humanity rose to the top over time."
He sighed.
He hadn't felt it before, but after seeing Shrek's library today, with so much knowledge for future generations, he was stunned. That's humanity's true power.
"Okay!"
Huo Yuhao became motivated again.
Zhou Yi had encouraged him during his hardest times, just like his late mother. He had to repay her!
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