"Versailles!"
The crowd from Canghui Academy rolled their eyes en masse.
At this age, at this rank, you couldn't find a second one across the entire Continent, yet there's always someone stronger!
It's likely that our senior brother himself is the person beyond people, the heaven beyond heavens!
"Xiaofeng! This is great news! It looks like I, Ye Zhiqu, have yet another arduous task—and that is to help you find a Soul Ring!"
Ye Zhiqu was completely excited.
This was the first time he saw a student level up so fast.
This kid will surely achieve great things in the future.
He might even become the seventh figure on the Martial Soul Hall Elder Command!
"Then I'll have to trouble Director Ye."
Ye Feng smiled.
You don't kick a man when he's down.
The last time Ye Zhiqu challenged him to a spar, he ended up breaking his glasses and lying in bed for half a month.
Considering how tough it was to take care of the nine students brought from Canghui Academy against powerful soul beasts, relying on others to find a Soul Ring was practically impossible.
He would have to handle it himself.
After a hearty breakfast, the group prepared to set off for Aquipeia Forest.
Along the way, Ye Zhiqu explained to everyone.
Basically, Aquipeia Forest was the largest forest on the entire Continent.
Even the topmost Soul Masters among humans could only venture into the middle zones today.
The core areas were unreachable by anyone.
So, the place they were targeting for their Soul Ring hunt was in the very outer region of Aquipeia Forest.
In this area, there were generally hundred-year, thousand-year, and a small number of ten-thousand-year soul beasts.
Everyone was basically advancing to Soul Elder, so under normal circumstances, targeting a thousand-year soul beast would suffice.
Noon.
Accompanied by a hint of cooling breeze, the group entered the outer region of Aquipeia Forest.
However, just half an hour in, they began to hear eerie sounds coiling through the forest.
Ssssss!
The noise inexplicably sent chills down everyone's spine.
"Could it be a snake? Everyone, be careful!"
Ye Zhiqu halted his steps, signaling everyone to exercise caution!
Suddenly, a slick black body rose up in the distance.
Its black eyes were as chillingly cold as the scythe of the God of Death.
"That's a Datura snake! Everyone, back off!"
Ye Feng shouted to everyone at that moment!
He was all too familiar with this creature!
Five years ago, he'd encountered one and nearly died at its hands.
If it broke into their ranks, the trouble would be immense!
"A Black Man-eater Snake? Not over a thousand years!!"
Ye Zhiqu's body trembled!
If it was a Black Man-eater Snake over a thousand years old, then they were in big trouble today.
If it was ten thousand years, then none of them would make it out alive today!
"Purple, ten meters, just over a thousand years, Director Ye, you stay back and protect everyone!"
Ye Feng still knew the tricks to identifying soul beasts.
From the aura it exuded and its length, he had judged the rough age of the beast.
"Alright, just be careful!"
Facing a Datura snake was a weighty task.
And protecting the students from harm was equally important; at this moment, Ye Zhiqu quickly released his Soul Rings and engaged in Black Tortoise Possession.
He vigilantly monitored every movement around them.
On the other hand, Ye Feng swiftly charged forward.
"Hiss—, has Brother Ye Feng gone mad?!"
Behind him, students from Canghui Academy were utterly shocked.
Because they saw the senior brother wielding a sharp sickle, charging towards the Black Man-eater Snake without even using his Martial Soul.
It was terrifying to the extreme!
You know, Datura snakes are soul beasts filled with extreme toxicity, even actively preying on humans!
"Xiaofeng???"
On the other side, Ye Zhiqu was stunned.
What was happening?
Was Ye Feng too confident?
He was hand-to-hand fighting a thousand-year soul beast, and it was a Datura snake?!
However, they didn't know that Ye Feng had a deep-seated grudge with the Black Man-eater Snake from five or six years ago!
Back then, he was chased by the Datura snake, coiled, bitten by its sharp poisonous fangs, and ended up suffering in pain as if he was drowning!
This ordeal had left a profound shadow in his mind.
Now facing it again, it was like confronting an old enemy!
He had to kill it!!
Of course, the most critical reason Ye Feng dared to rush over alone with a blade in hand like he did now was poison immunity!
After being poisoned by the Datura snake last time, the System transformed him, giving him complete immunity to the Datura snake's poison.
If he hadn't had this external aid and had charged recklessly, it would have been utter foolishness.
"What the—!!"
In the distance, everyone from Canghui Academy was dumbstruck.
They saw Ye Feng employing an extremely strange footwork, skillfully dodging the attacks of the Datura snake.
One slash!
Two slashes!
...
Nine slashes!
Ten slashes!!
He stabbed the snake's body over and over!!
The eyes, the belly, each was marked by a slash.
"Liuli, this Datura snake matches your Martial Soul. Take care of it and absorb its Soul Ring," Sickle said.
Within two minutes, Ye Feng dragged the dying Datura snake next to Su Liuli.
"Mm-hmm, thank you, Senior Ye."
Instructors and assistant teachers helping attack powerful soul beasts, then leaving them with but a last breath for those in need to finish off and absorb the Soul Ring was a common occurrence throughout the Continent, so Su Liuli didn't hesitate and nodded directly.
With so many people around, she dared not waste everyone's time because of herself.
In turn, after killing the Datura snake, she sat down with crossed legs to absorb the Soul Ring.
"What on earth happened to this Datura snake?"
Normally, Soul Masters absorb Soul Rings, while soul beasts unwilling to let their years of cultivation serve as a dowry for others would resist.
But the absorption she had just experienced was overly smooth.
She even sensed a hint of joy from the depths of the Datura snake's heart.
That's right!
Joy!!
What on earth did that Datura snake go through!
To think it would consider death a release.
An hour passed, and Su Liuli had absorbed the Soul Ring, becoming the first in the team to advance to the rank of Soul Elder.
At this moment, the contingent from Canghui Academy resumed their journey.
Watching the warm sun gradually set, followed by a sky full of brilliant twinkling stars.
"It's ten o'clock, it's not early anymore. Let's all rest for now and continue searching for the remaining few Soul Rings tomorrow. Perhaps we can complete the mission ahead of time," said Teacher Ye.
The tents were already set up.
The eleven people from Canghui Academy had five tents.
Teacher Ye Zhiqu had one for himself, the assistant teacher Ye Feng had another, the three male students shared one, and the six female students occupied two tents.
At this moment, Ye Zhiqu spoke.
Today, the search for Soul Rings had been extraordinarily smooth.
In just one afternoon, five Soul Rings were found, and including Su Liuli, five students had all advanced to Soul Elders.
In normal times, it might be uncertain even to find one suitable Soul Ring in a whole day.
"Mm-hmm, Senior Ye Feng, get some rest early. Good night~", "And to you too, Teacher Ye."
Each of the nine people bid good night to Ye Feng.
Of course, they also wished Teacher Ye Zhiqu a good night, but it came across as an obligatory gesture.
Which caused his mouth to twitch involuntarily.
But what could he do? With Ye Feng being somewhat of a freak, and friends with Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, he dared not say much.
"Xiaofeng, you should also go to sleep early," said Ye Zhiqu, looking at Ye Feng.
"Mm-hmm, I'll head in once the fire is out," Ye Feng replied.
A fire had been lit in the middle of the camp.
Its main purpose was to keep soul beasts at bay.
"Young man, take care of your health and rest early. I'm off to sleep," Ye Zhiqu said, then entered his tent.
Around the tents was scattered a special powder from Canghui Academy. If any soul beast stepped in, everyone would be alerted immediately.
So there was no need for a night watch.
"Yawn~"
After a while,
Ye Feng, who had been researching the System, let out a yawn.
He was indeed tired.
He got up, ready to enter the tent to sleep.
"Ye Feng."
Suddenly, a voice echoed in Ye Feng's mind.
"Who?!"
Upon hearing the voice, Ye Feng immediately became alert and tense!
"Come with me."
The voice continued to sound in his ears.
Yet everything in the camp remained as usual.
It meant that nobody else had heard the voice!
Telepathic message?
Who exactly was it, sending him a message telepathically?!!
And as for coming with them, where to?!
"Whoosh—"
As he pondered, a figure wearing gray clothes and a somewhat scruffy cloak darted past him!
...
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PS: Dear readers, the author is about to participate in a new book competition from Saturday to Monday. As a newbie writing for the first time, I really hope this book won't be eliminated by the site and thus be unable to continue. So, with sincerity, starting from tomorrow, there will be at least two updates a day, and with any donations, certainly three! For the sake of the data, I'm all in!!
If you like this book, please give it a heart and cast your vote; if possible, donations are welcome too. In the new book phase, data is very, very important, so I beg everyone here. I've also started a group, uh... there's only one person in so far, but everyone is welcome to join and have fun~ Group number: 362886412.
Lastly, thanks to the book friend "Buffering 99%" for their donation.
Hoping to witness a miracle in the competition~~