Chapter 8 First Encounter with Huo Yuhao.
A hazy mist hung over the Star Dou Great Forest at dawn, refreshing the air but making it difficult for anyone within to relax.
Since the beast tide swept through the Star Dou Great Forest years ago, and Shrek Academy, representing human soul masters, compromised, the forest had undergone many years of recuperation, resulting in an astonishingly large number and quality of soul beasts.
Lower-level soul beasts struggled to compete with the powerful ones for territory and food, forcing them to migrate outwards to survive.
This explained why soul beasts were occasionally spotted even outside the Star Dou Great Forest.
Heading towards the outer reaches of the Star Dou Great Forest, Wu Xuan encountered several soul beasts along the way. However, the highest-level soul beast among them was only an eight-hundred-year-old Netherworld Wolf.
While the Netherworld Wolf was considered a relatively powerful soul beast, it was utterly vulnerable to Wu Xuan, making it impossible for him to use his soul skills.
However, Wu Xuan didn't kill these soul beasts; he merely inflicted pain with a few punches and kicks, until they were frightened and obediently left.
In a clearing on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, the ground suddenly trembled without warning. A gray-blue figure shattered the previously smooth surface, creating cracks. "Damn it! I let you go, and you still dare to ambush me on the way? You've got a death wish!" Wu Xuan, his upper body draped in tattered clothes, revealed himself, cursing.
The gray-blue figure struggling to its feet was the soul beast that had ambushed Wu Xuan—a twin cyclops, approximately three hundred years old.
"Roar~!" The twin cyclops, clutching its broken arm, stared fearfully at Wu Xuan, roaring repeatedly.
"Oh ho! You can still stand up. This time, I'll break one of your legs." Wu Xuan stared coldly at the figure before him.
"This is infuriating! I hate two-faced, treacherous soul beasts like you the most! I wish I could rush out and stab you a couple of times to vent my anger!" Tian Meng, in his mind, was also furious, staring at the twin cyclops.
He had been recounting his glorious past to Wu Xuan, who listened intently. At the most tragic parts, Wu Xuan even offered words of comfort, deeply moving Tianmeng Ice Silkworm. Unexpectedly, this momentary lapse in attention nearly allowed the soul beast to succeed.
Wu Xuan flicked his wrist, a gust of wind condensing in his palm – "Rending Wind Fist!"
The rapidly spinning wind accompanied Wu Xuan's punch, snapping the twin-eyed giant's right leg.
The twin-eyed giant, who had barely managed to stand, collapsed to the ground again, its painful roar echoing for miles.
"Howl! I'll show you howl!" Wu Xuan sneered, raising his left leg and kicking out with a light blue whirlwind, carrying the twin-eyed giant's massive body towards a river in the forest.
"Splash!" A huge splash echoed, sending waves several meters high into the water.
Wu Xuan's anger subsided, and he rose to give chase.
"Little Wu Xuan, there are three human spiritual fluctuations on the opposite riverbank. Based on my experience, they should be two Soul Venerables and one Soul Master," Tianmeng Ice Silkworm's voice suddenly came.
Wu Xuan paused slightly upon hearing this, but still walked towards the riverbank. If he guessed correctly, the Soul Master should be Huo Yuhao.
On the riverbank, after Wu Xuan's figure appeared, three figures stared at him warily.
Beside the campfire extinguished by the river, the two leaders appeared to be around fifteen or sixteen years old. One of them, a handsome boy with short blue hair, glanced back and forth between the twin cyclops and Wu Xuan in the river before lowering his guard slightly.
Beside him, a charming young girl exuding youthful energy stared intently at Wu Xuan's exposed half-body.
"Ahem. Your eyes are going to pop out if you keep staring." The blue-haired boy nudged the girl's shoulder with a hint of jealousy, his refined demeanor faltering.
"Beibei, are you jealous? And! Aren't you tired of pretending to be so virtuous?" the girl giggled.
"That's called good manners!" Beibei's face darkened, and she shifted her gaze back to Wu Xuan.
Wu Xuan, meanwhile, had already taken out new clothes from his soul tool and was wearing them. His gaze passed over the two, landing on the slender, black-haired boy behind them.
At first glance, Wu Xuan recognized the black-haired boy's identity: Huo Yuhao!!
Wu Xuan's heart stirred slightly, then he met the gazes of Bei Bei and the other girl, apologetically saying, "I'm sorry, you three, I didn't mean to offend you. It's just that these twin cyclops ambushed me earlier, and I lost my temper in a fit of rage."
"It's alright, my name is Tang Ya, and the one next to me is Bei Bei. We are both students of Shrek Academy," Tang Ya said sweetly.
"So you're seniors from Shrek Academy. Hello, my name is Wu Xuan, from the Heavenly Soul Empire, and I'm a freshman at Shrek Academy this year."
"You're a freshman at Shrek Academy this year? And from the Heavenly Soul Empire?" Hearing this, Tang Ya's bright eyes immediately lit up.
"That's great! Bei Bei and I are also from the Heavenly Soul Empire, we're all compatriots."
She revealed her background in just a few words, leaving Bei Bei speechless.
"By the way! Junior Brother Wu Xuan, could you let us have the spirit ring of that twin cyclops that attacked you? We can compensate you." Tang Ya asked suddenly, as if she had just thought of something.
"Hmm! Since Senior Sister asked, just take it. There's no need for compensation." Wu Xuan waved his hand casually.
"Thank you very much, Junior Brother. Xiao Yuhao, hurry up and do it. This twin cyclops is a very rare spirit-attribute spirit beast. Its spirit ring will definitely be very suitable for you." Having obtained Wu Xuan's permission, she waved to Huo Yuhao behind her.
"Thank you."
Only then did Huo Yuhao react and thank Wu Xuan.
His mother had taught him to be a polite person since he was a child. However, when facing Wu Xuan, who was tall, handsome, and could easily cripple a hundred-year-old spirit beast on his own, he couldn't help but feel a little inferior.
They were both freshmen at Shrek Academy, but he still needed the help of his senior brother and Teacher Xiao Ya to obtain a spirit ring. While others could easily kill the hundred-year-old spirit beast that attacked him on their own.
With Bei Bei's help, the twin cyclops were pulled from the river.
Huo Yuhao's White Tiger Dagger pierced the twin cyclops' hearts, and their bodies twitched a few times before they died.
"Yuhao, from now on, absorbing the spirit rings is up to you. Stay conscious," Bei Bei kindly reminded him.
"Thank you, Senior Brother." Huo Yuhao nodded, slightly adjusted his state, and then used his spirit power to guide the spirit rings, taking his first step on the path to becoming a spirit master.
(End of Chapter)