After Tang Ya absorbed her Soul Ring, Bei Bei took out a somewhat roughly made map and led the group slowly forward.
"Animal Soul Beasts can move around. Most of the Soul Beasts recorded on this map are plant-based. Hopefully, we'll be lucky enough to find a suitable spirit-type Soul Beast."
On the parchment map, various plant Soul Beasts were marked, and occasionally, records of animal Soul Beasts could also be seen.
Xiao Hongchen stared for a moment, exclaiming in surprise, "As expected of Shrek Academy, having been good neighbors with the Star Dou Great Forest for ten thousand years, you even have something like this."
Bei Bei smiled humbly. "It's only the outermost region, and the strongest Soul Beasts recorded are only thousand-year-old ones. If most plant-based ones couldn't move before reaching ten thousand years, we wouldn't have been able to record them, and it's not very precise either."
Xu Tianxi looked at it for a moment, then waved to Huo Yuhao, saying, "Little Brother Huo, this hunt is for you. Pick whatever you like."
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Bei Bei also gave Huo Yuhao a slight, encouraging smile. "That's right, go ahead and look."
Huo Yuhao was deeply moved by their generosity, but soon, a difficult expression appeared on his face, and he said somewhat awkwardly:
"Brother Kong, Brother Bei, I haven't learned much about Soul Beasts at home. I don't even know which Soul Beast is suitable for me."
Hearing this, Xu Tianxi and Bei Bei's mouths twitched simultaneously, realizing their earlier efforts were in vain.
"In that case... let me take a look."
Xu Tianxi furrowed his brow, then lowered his gaze to the map, scanning a large area before finding a suitable spot. He pointed to a corner of the map and asked:
"Brother Bei, are you sure about this area with the Demon Eye Magic Tree clusters?"
Bei Bei looked intently, then nodded seriously:
"I can confirm it. Half a year ago, an internal academy senior from Shrek came out to hunt Soul Beasts and passed through there, discovering dozens of Demon Eye Magic Trees in that location, ranging from hundred-year to thousand-year old. The poisonous mist released from their bodily fluids forms a considerable Poisonous Mist. Their survival rate among plant-type Soul Beasts is relatively high; even ordinary Ten Thousand Year Soul Beasts can't deal with such a tree cluster."
"That's good then."
Xu Tianxi turned to Huo Yuhao and began to explain:
"Little Brother Huo, the Demon Eye Magic Tree is a rare, high-level plant-type Soul Beast with spirit attributes. Its own destructive power isn't strong, but it's skilled at emitting paralyzing and controlling rays from its tree eyes, which aligns quite well with your Spirit Eye. What do you think?"
Bei Bei said, "Brother Kong is learned and knowledgeable; what he said is completely accurate. The Demon Eye Magic Tree clan is quite extraordinary among spirit-type Soul Beasts. As far as I know, there's a terrifying plant-type Soul Beast king in the Star Dou Great Forest whose true form is this very Demon Eye Magic Tree."
"Then many thanks to both of you, big brothers. I will definitely repay you in the future."
Huo Yuhao didn't have much of his own opinion, and with both of them recommending it so strongly, he naturally had no objections and hastily thanked these two big brothers he had just met.
The two simply smiled dismissively. Tang Ya, with a glint in her eye, playfully demanded that Huo Yuhao grill more fish for her.
The group hurried along, reaching the area where the Demon Eye Magic Trees were located.
Before they even got close, a pungent, unpleasant odor assailed their noses. The poisonous mist obscured their vision, making it impossible to see their own hands. Knowing it was the foul smell from the Demon Eye Magic Tree's bodily fluids, everyone activated their defensive measures.
Within the Poisonous Mist, giant trees, their surfaces covered in eerie eyes, twitched their branches, emitting demonic light that shot towards the group. The stench grew thicker and thicker, aiming to bury all intruders and turn them into nutrients.
"These things are absolutely disgusting! Watch me blast them all to smithereens!"
Xiao Hongchen, unable to bear the putrid smell, unleashed a third of his power. He armed himself with thirty Level 4 Soul Guided Cannons, initiating a carpet bombing. He rotated 360 degrees, blasting out a bright space within the poisonous mist.
"Brother Bei, let's go!"
Xu Tianxi, with a Paralysis Ray in his left hand and a Frost Ray in his right, moved like Rushing Thunder, weaving through the thicket. He transformed into a twin-gunned divine eagle, firing with both hands, targeting the exposed eyes of the Demon Eye Magic Trees. Soul Guided Rays poured out as if Soul Power was limitless.
"Alright! Thunderbolt!"
Bei Bei refused to be outdone. He lit up his Second Soul Ring, and his two Dragon Scale arms thrust and parried, a lightning net raging and swirling. His claws left marks on the Demon Eye Magic Tree's trunk, tearing off large sections of bark.
Xuan Ziwen brought out two Sixth Level defensive shields, blocking the corrosive venom and whipping branches from all directions for Xiao Hongchen and Xu Tianxi.
Though the trio's burst wasn't earth-shattering, its momentum was considerable, leaving the two-person audience, Tang Ya and Huo Yuhao, dumbfounded.
Huo Yuhao turned his head and quietly asked Tang Ya, with whom he had just become somewhat familiar:
"Sister Tang Ya, what powerful weapons are Brother Kong and the other big brother using? They're so strong even without releasing their Martial Souls, not even weaker than Brother Bei."
Upon hearing this, Tang Ya's face, which had been full of longing, suddenly darkened. She said through gritted teeth:
"Those are Soul Guided Devices, things that came over from the Sun Moon Empire. Their power varies, and they can largely replace a Soul Master's Soul Skills."
Huo Yuhao sensed Tang Ya's strong dislike for these Soul Guided Devices. Although he wanted to ask more questions, he had no choice but to keep quiet.
Why would Sister Tang Ya have such strong opinions about such powerful weapons? Could it be that she can't afford them?
The poisonous mist of the Demon Eye Magic Tree cluster was very potent; even ordinary Ten Thousand Year Soul Beasts couldn't break through it. However, the combined efforts of Xiao Hongchen, Bei Bei, and Xu Tianxi were even more terrifying. Especially Xiao Hongchen, who unleashed a barrage of firepower, his explosive power was even more formidable than many Soul Kings. Soon, the poisonous mist was completely cleared.
Without the poisonous mist barrier, the Demon Eye Magic Trees were powerless to resist Xu Tianxi and Bei Bei's offensive. They quickly lost their combat effectiveness in the face of the Paralysis Ray, Frost Ray, and Thunder Dragon Claw.
"Mission accomplished! Little Huo, come and see if there's anything you particularly like."
Xiao Hongchen, who had thoroughly enjoyed his bombing spree, retracted his cannon barrels. Wiping sweat from his brow, he gave Huo Yuhao a triumphant smile.
He knew from Thunderbolt Bei Bei's deeply wary expression that his own strength was absolutely unrivaled among his generation. It was only when he encountered Xu Tianxi, who was a master of stealth, that he couldn't deal damage effectively.
If Xu Tianxi were to face him head-on, as long as Xu Tianxi didn't use Fixed Soul Cannon Shells, Xiao Hongchen feared nothing.
Huo Yuhao approached, looking a bit clueless, and said, like a newbie to the Soul Master world, "But Brother, I don't know the age of these Demon Eye Magic Trees."
"Smack!"
Xiao Hongchen rubbed his forehead, sighing helplessly, "You're right, I'm not familiar with these things. Why don't you ask Brother Kong? He knows about them."
Huo Yuhao replied, "But Brother Kong seems to have found something. He hasn't come out of the magic tree grove yet."
"What?"
Xiao Hongchen turned to look, only to see Xu Tianxi, who had jumped into the depths of the grove earlier to fire his weapon, now wearing gloves, as if he was about to pick something.
Strange, did he find something good there? Xiao Hongchen wondered.
Bei Bei walked over, his expression a little odd.
"Little Brother Huo, I don't know what's going on with this patch of Demon Eye Magic Trees, but there isn't a four-hundred-year Soul Beast that's perfect for you. The closest is a three-hundred-year-old one. You might as well pick one and absorb it."
The recent battle had drained a lot of his stamina, and another fight would be unpredictable. A three-hundred-year Soul Beast was already quite close to the limit.
Just as Huo Yuhao was about to agree, a clear voice came from beside him.
"Brother Bei, did you miss something? Isn't there a four-hundred-year-old one right here?"
Xu Tianxi, having tidied up his things, emerged from the depths of the grove, patting a Demon Eye Magic Tree next to him that he had shot through with a Paralysis Ray. A pleasant smile was on his face.
Bei Bei looked over, and a wry smile immediately appeared on his face.
"Brother Kong, you must not have looked carefully enough. Although this Demon Eye Magic Tree is still four hundred years old, its fifth magic eye is almost formed. I'm afraid it's close to five hundred years. How could Little Brother Huo absorb that?"
"You have to remember, the limit for the First Soul Ring is four hundred and twenty-three years."
Xu Tianxi shook his head. "That's usually the case, but not always. Little Brother Huo's Martial Soul is a Body Martial Soul. Brother Bei, as a top student at Shrek Academy, you should know the special characteristics of Body Martial Souls better than I do."
Bei Bei hesitated. "This—"
He naturally knew about the various peculiarities of Body Martial Soul Masters, including their Soul Ring age limits being different from ordinary people. But he didn't know if Huo Yuhao was in that situation.
"Wait, you mean this tree is over its limit by a few decades?"
Xiao Hongchen, who had been listening for a while, suddenly grasped the key point, his eyes lighting up. "Why are you two so bothered by such a simple problem? It's easy to solve."
Tang Ya looked disbelieving, pursing her lips. Her tone was a bit cold as she said,
"The optimal Soul Ring age is part of the Ten Core Competitiveness of Martial Soul proposed by the great masters of our Shrek Academy. Even ten thousand years is fine, so how is it so easy for you?"
Perhaps it was because Xiao Hongchen had been the most enthusiastic user of Soul Guided Devices just now, subtly overshadowing Bei Bei, but Tang Ya was clearly annoyed with Xiao Hongchen.
"(¬_¬) Tch! What era are we in? Still clinging to old antiques from ten thousand years ago? Times have long changed."
Xiao Hongchen scoffed at Tang Ya's words. With a flick of his wrist, he took out a cyan Elixir from his Storage Ring.
He said, boastfully,
"Here, this Elixir can temporarily enhance a Soul Master's physical constitution. Forget a few decades; even a hundred or two hundred years is no problem."
"How is that possible?" Tang Ya's eyes widened, full of doubt.
The smile on Xiao Hongchen's face grew even more smug. "Why wouldn't it be possible? I guarantee there are no problems, and very few side effects. Just ten days to half a month of rest is all it takes."
Among the Elixirs Jing Hongchen had prepared for him, there were even some that could temporarily increase the age limit for absorbing a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring. This was the least effective Elixir Xiao Hongchen had, and he didn't mind showing it off and bragging a little.
Bei Bei, having more experience, knew of the existence of such Elixirs. He shot a surprised glance at Xu Tianxi. "Brother Kong, this—"
He had already noticed that among the three, Xuan Ziwen was taciturn, Xiao Hongchen was impulsive, but Xu Tianxi was the true leader.
Xu Tianxi smiled and nodded. "My friend here has been spoiled since childhood by his family, but his Elixirs are fine.
Coincidentally, I just found a good herb that can help Little Brother Huo recover faster."
Even he hadn't expected such an unexpected pleasant surprise on this trip—finding Immortal Spirit Grass, mentioned in Ancient Texts, and more than one at that. Giving one to Huo Yuhao was no harm; it could improve his talent, lest the Tang God King shake his head at a glance.
It must be said, Yuhao's luck was truly good; he could stumble upon good things just by walking around.
"That's wonderful then, Yuhao. Go ahead and take it," Bei Bei said, turning to Huo Yuhao with a smile.
Huo Yuhao hummed in acknowledgment, taking the Elixir Xiao Hongchen tossed to him. Feeling his body instantly surge with power, he thanked Xiao Hongchen, then eagerly went to chop down the nearly five-hundred-year-old Demon Eye Magic Tree.
With the bright yellow Soul Ring around him, Huo Yuhao's body suddenly tensed, as if transforming into a human furnace, radiating scorching energy.
Two hours later, Huo Yuhao, having successfully absorbed it, stood up without incident, proving Xiao Hongchen's words: times had truly changed.
"Fourteenth-level peak Soul Power? It seems Little Brother Huo cultivated for quite some time before absorbing the Soul Ring," Bei Bei said, scanning Huo Yuhao with a Soul Power Tester. A look of pleasant surprise appeared in his eyes.
His Soul Power was just a little short of Shrek Academy's admission requirements. With a bit more effort, he could get into Shrek without needing their Tang Sect's quota, even if he ended up at the bottom of the class.
"Cultivating for over a year and still being a bit short—his innate physical foundation is truly quite poor."