Ring Hunt (Part 1)

"Now that is new." - Grandmaster got a bit interested in occasion.

"Grandmaster." - Aiden said to him. - "Oscar was meditating throughout the night. Perhaps he can't stop midway."

Everyone knew what it means and Grandmaster nodding started to wait. It was half-past hour before Oscar in unkempt clothes came running on top of his lungs. It was just as they predicted – Oscar made a breakthrough to 30 rank. Aiden remembered that an accident will happen and decided to tag along.

With the change of plans, they entered Star Dou Forest for the hunt.

Normally they will hunt for a purple ring of slightly higher than 1000 years old of age, but currently, the decision was shifted to 3000 years one taking into account strength of the marks.

Star Dou Forest was indeed a magical place of untouched natural grace and numerous creatures hidden within or roaming around in plain sight. Just as Aiden stepped inside, a little squirrel jumped at him and found solace on his shoulder. It had brown fur with a bushy tail and cute long pointy ears.

Most noticed it and had strange looks on the faces, but Dai Mubai reacted first, directing an attack at the beast. Although not wrong, Aiden still negated it easily while rubbing little animals' head.

"No need to do that. We came here for only one death, that is a necessity. Adding anything else is cruelty. Spirit beasts are not our enemies and we should preserve their lives and protect them." - Aiden placed little squirrel in front of him and looked into its eyes, seeing instinctive affection it has. It was born through his dragon martial spirit. - "Come on little guy, where are your parents?"

Xiao Wu had a slight smile seeing how kind Aiden was with spirit beast and couldn't help but improve her attitude to him and his position soared to the second place. Well, that is after Tang San of course, and no romantic feelings involved. Only now she found him not just scarily strong and mysterious, which couldn't emotionally move, instead of making her warier, but good at heart.

One must say that Xiao Wu was on a slow side considering personal interactions. She might be cheerful, but lacked awareness of human nature and feelings similar to Na'er. She cared for her friends, but it took one hell of prolonged time for her to really understand them and come to feel affection.

Most of the people who came today had slight smiles on their faces. If one said that humanity is brutal, he or she would be right without a doubt. But if one claimed that every single human is evil, that would be a lie.

Aiden saw several other squirrels pacing in the bushes and, before releasing that little thing, basked it in his platinum aura while implanting beast training method into the blood memory. He can see that his manipulations caused this beast to undergo thorough changes, but it was a curious experiment.

He left a spiritual mark on it, using formation to find it if needed and let it go.

"Something coming our way." - at that moment Tang San said, squinting at the depth of a forest.

"It is Phoenix Tail Crest Serpent, and it seemed wounded." - added Aiden. - "But the age of it is really lacking, only a thousand and three hundred years old. It's your call, Oscar. Note that it seems to be a target of another party."

"I don't need it." - he said resolutely.

"Fine, let's then just make the other people owe us a favor." - with that said, Aiden went in front, and dozen of huge petals floated in wall-like formation.

The serpent was running away with all his might and suddenly noticed obstruction at the front. It changed direction and flew higher to leap over it, but just as it was about to successfully execute the plan petals moved, slamming at it from all sides trapping the beast.

It accelerated to get away at least through one, however, suffered a tremendous impact, hurling it backward in a stunned state. The explosion of spirit forces caused the ground to shake and grass flew up in the sky. It swept through surroundings like a sonic shock wave and disappeared at a moment's notice.

Aiden used Storm Steps to appear on its head and stomped with one leg, implanting its skull into the ground and creating a sizable crater, and right after that, another array of petals pinned it down across the entire length.

It was made in several seconds and people around just shook their heads. As expected, their senior Aiden is a goddamn definition of a monster.

Right at this moment two people came running and saw the picture of youth standing on top of the serpent's head restricting it from moving. His visage wasn't pressuring to the eye, more like aloof and tranquil with a vibe of regal dominance.

He turned around and revealed face handsome beyond compare, making both old and young a bit flabbergasted. It was just too unexpected.

"If I'm not mistaken you are senior Serpent Grandmother from Unrivaled Dragon Serpent two people team?" - he bowed slightly to her.

"You are a correct youngster." - she nodded in response and wasn't arrogant or angry. Her behavior exuded an air of grace normally seen from kind elderly people. That was a bit different from the original story. - "What is your name?"

"Senior, my name is Aiden of the Shrek Academy, twelve years old spirit ancestor battle master. A pleasure to meet you." - he bowed again. But after his introduction, the duo went silent with shock. - "Were you chasing this beast?"

"Yes..." - Chao Tianxiang finally came to her senses and directed at him a very serious yet curious gaze. Aiden threw his gaze at their teacher. After all, this talking should be left to the elders of the group. He wasn't very interested in them.

"Zhao Wuji greets elder Serpent Grandmother." - he stepped forward. - "We came to the forest in search of spirit ring for one of my students, but this serpent here is not very suitable. Furthermore, it seems you were chasing it. It just attacked us. That is why my student made some... short work of it."

"Never thought I will meet Motionless Bright King in the wild. And to think you already reached Spirit Douluo level, truly a rare talent." - Serpent Grandmother was quite pleased with cutesy and encounter as a whole. No conflict raised here. - "And your student out there is very impressive as well, truly young will surpass the old. Very well, consider me owing that little fellow a favor. Ask if you need anything."

"It is fine, senior. We did it out of our own convenience and protected ourselves. This can't warrant a favor. Let's do it that way. If in the future any of the Shrek students met with trouble and you happen to be nearby and be able to help, lend a helping hand." - Aiden jumped down, gazing at the girl by her side.

She was Meng Yiran and again was a striking copy of herself from anime. With her petite figure and very beautiful face, this little miss will surely be a cause of no small broken hearts in the future.

Aiden just gave her a knife with a slight smile.

"A presume you know how to do it. You can keep the knife as a meeting gift."

"Thank you, brother." - she nodded meekly which caused her grandmother to stare at the girl with wide eyes. One must know how devilish this little imp is normally, but here she is acting like a little maiden in love. Serpent Grandmother then looked Aiden up close from top to bottom and gave a knowing smile.

"Okay, let us wait here for a while." - Zhao Wuji gave another favor for the duo. Additional protection is never bad in this place.

"While we are at it lets eat." - said Aiden and was met with many pairs of hungry eyes. They ate all his cooking a week ago and were so eager to try it again, that nearly drooled on the spot.

All went well for both parties and they separated on an amicable note.

= I found a spirit beast suitable for Oscar, but I want to ask you, don't you want to reveal our ability to create artificial spirit rings? That way no killing will be needed and what is more, I can tune the ability of his liking.

'Actually it is not that I don't want to, but I don't dare to. I trust original Shrek seven monsters and to some extent Shui sisters, but not the other newbies. I don't know anything about them, and the slight chance that they are affiliated with Spirit Hall is enough for me to be wary. If my abilities of significance came to light Shrek will be decimated in a matter of days. I can't afford it. For now, we are ants that can be crushed with a flick of a finger from any Titled Douluo.'