Chapter 33: Four Deaths and Three Serious Injuries? Are You Serious?_1

Actually, Qin Xiao had already begun absorbing the Soul Ring without needing any reminders from others.

For him, the absorption of a thousand-year Soul Ring didn't pose any pressure at all.

Within just a few minutes, he had completed the absorption.

"Uncle-master, what soul skill is your Soul Ring?"

Meng Hongchen asked curiously.

Qin Xiao felt it for a moment and couldn't help muttering to himself, is it really the same as in the original story?

"My soul skill is called Spiritual Confusion. If the spiritual power of the person I hit is less than a third of mine, they will immediately fall into a state of confusion. They will attack people around them indiscriminately, unable to distinguish friend from foe.

If the spiritual power of the person hit is more than a third of my spiritual power, they will be stunned. The specific duration of the stun will be determined by the strength of their spiritual power."

Qin Xiao did not conceal this and informed everyone about his fourth Soul Ring's ability.

As for his third soul skill, it also coincided with what was in the original story, obtained from the Purple Demon Eyes.

The skill is called Collective Weakening.

It can also be used to single out an individual.

"Goodness, it's confusion for those who are stronger and a stun effect for the weaker ones.

Is this the power of a Spiritual Martial Soul?

That's too strong."

Xiao Hongchen couldn't help but express his admiration, and his eyes were filled with envy as he looked at Qin Xiao.

It had to be said, he really coveted Qin Xiao's Spiritual Martial Soul.

"Compared to Qin Xiao's Martial Soul, I'm more curious about how he improved his cultivation level?"

"At such a young age, reaching the Soul Ancestor realm, even in our Soul Masters of the Sun-Moon Empire, that's quite explosive."

Ma Rulong, the captain of the main team, asked curiously.

"Haha, I just followed a path that everyone else is taking. Consuming medicines," Qin Xiao laughed.

"Can it be that potent?"

"Maybe my physique is a bit special," Qin Xiao blinked.

In reality, as his cultivation level increased, he had absorbed some power from the Seed of Destruction to a certain extent.

This allowed him to find another way to enhance his cultivation level, besides consuming medicines.

Thus, he exceeded expectations and reached level 40, breaking through to become a Soul Ancestor.

"Alright."

At this moment, Elder Ma clapped his hands, "Now that Qin Xiao has obtained his Soul Ring, let's continue our journey to Xingluo City.

Of course, everyone can't just idle on the way, practice cooperation and strive for better rankings."

After hearing Elder Ma's words, Xiao Hongchen's eyes lit up, "Excuse me for asking, Elder Ma, but what are the academy's expectations for our ranks?"

This piqued the curiosity of everyone present.

"Asking that is indeed quite presumptuous," Elder Ma huffed with displeasure, "I advise you not to pry into the academy's affairs. Knowing too much won't do you any good."

If it had been anyone else who heard what Elder Ma said, they would have given up.

But Xiao Hongchen was not just anyone; he had very thick skin.

"Don't worry, no matter what the academy thinks, it won't affect us. Having a goal will only motivate us more," he replied.

"Oh, forget it." Elder Ma sighed in resignation after hearing Xiao Hongchen's words, "Actually, telling you doesn't really matter. The academy just doesn't want to put pressure on you, so they hope you can make it into the top four."

"What?"

Xiao Hongchen showed a mix of shock and surprise on his face.

"Don't tell me you can't even make it into the top four?" Elder Ma huffed in displeasure.

"Of course not!"

Xiao Hongchen shook his head, "I just think you're being too conservative."

"I'm being too conservative?" Elder Ma laughed with a touch of annoyance, "Then tell me, what do you think you can achieve?"

"I think we should at least be the runners-up," Hongchen answered earnestly, "Of course, I'm being somewhat reserved. If I dare to be bolder, we should secure the second place and contend for the first."

Hmm?

Having made such a firm decision, do you really think you can only secure a runner-up position?

Qin Xiao couldn't help but laugh at Xiao Hongchen's conservative strategy of "securing second place and contending for first."

Of course.

One couldn't blame Xiao Hongchen for being conservative, after all, Shrek Academy was the hot favorite for the championship. Moreover, nobody knew what kind of losses Shrek Academy would suffer when faced with the Reaper's Envoy.

Everyone unconsciously assumed that Shrek Academy could bring out their peak fighting power.

"After all, they have two Soul Emperors, and the rest are pure Soul Kings, right?"

In such a lineup, and on the stage where soul masters who needed distance to unleash their full fighting power competed, predicting the outcome was indeed difficult.

No wonder Xiao Hongchen lacked confidence.

"Qin Xiao, what are you laughing at? Then tell me, to what extent do you think our team can reach, how far can we go?"

Xiao Hongchen, noticing Qin Xiao sneering at him secretly, suddenly felt displeased.

"I think you're too conservative. Be bolder, let's just take the championship."

Qin Xiao blinked and said half-jokingly, half-seriously.

"The championship?"

"You really dare to dream."

Xiao Hongchen curled his lips.

Qin Xiao didn't bother to explain his reasoning, merely stating indifferently, "If we don't win the championship, just pretend I never said this."

Xiao Hongchen: "..."

You sure have absolved yourself of any responsibility.

So, it's all joy if we win, but you won't bear the blame if we lose, right?

...

Two days later.

Xuan Zi, worn from the journey, returned to Shrek Academy with the heavily injured Dai Yueheng and Ling Luochen.

When Dean Yan Shaozhe saw the three of them in front of the academy, his face instantly turned pale, devoid of any color.

Yan Shaozhe asked softly, "What happened, Elder Xuan, what exactly occurred?"

"Was it the work of the Sun-Moon Empire? Or did the Holy Spirit Cult dispatch a super powerful being to attack you?"

All sorts of possibilities were swirling in Yan Shaozhe's mind.

Regrettably, even if he racked his brains, he could never imagine that the culprit behind such a tragedy was not a powerful being from Soul Land, but a mere level 40 Soul King that they had never taken seriously.

Furthermore, Xuan Zi traveled back to Shrek Academy very fast. Apart from the occasional rest to recover his Soul Power, he traveled almost non-stop.

Such speed far exceeded the raven that Wang Yan used for sending messages.

Therefore, Shrek Academy was unaware of what had transpired in the Ming Dou Mountain Range.

"Shaozhe, don't guess anymore."

"The fault lies with me. It was my negligence that harmed these children. How could a mere level 40 Soul King heavily injure three main team members and kill four?"

"It's my incompetence that led to such a tragedy."

"The souls of those children will not rest in peace."

Elder Xuan said with his head lowered, his voice filled with pain.

Every time he recalled what happened in the cave, Elder Xuan felt heartbroken.

But he also knew that he couldn't try to evade responsibility for this incident; he had to give an account to Shrek.

"What!"

"What did you say?"

Yan Shaozhe was thunderstruck upon hearing Xuan Zi's words.

He could hardly believe that Xuan Zi's words were true.

A level 40 Soul King caused two Soul Emperors and five Soul Kings, four deaths and three serious injuries?

Who could believe this was real and not a joke?

He thought that Dai Yueheng and Ling Luochen being severely injured was the worst it could get.

But you're telling me there's more misfortune?

Impossible.

Absolutely impossible.