38 Chapter 38: Three Purple Soul Rings

"Ma Hongjun, come back here," Dai Mubai paused, trying to call Ma Hongjun back.

Ignoring Dai Mubai's plea, Ma Hongjun sprinted towards the academy. He wasn't a fool. If Dai Mubai was causing trouble and he got punished just by association, how would that be fair?

Dai Mubai was a different case altogether. For some reason, the teachers seemed to be more lenient towards him. Even his frequent visits to Suotuo City for indulgent activities were often overlooked. But the same grace wouldn't be extended to Ma Hongjun.

Flender, his own mentor, was indeed kind to him. But if he committed an error, severe consequences awaited him.

Most importantly, Ma Hongjun sensed that the newcomers were incredibly powerful. He had a premonition that they would pass the academy's set assessments. The saying "those involved can't see as clearly as the onlookers" held true; he saw the situation quite clearly.

When the young man competed with Dai Mubai in a handshake strength test, he appeared utterly composed, exuding an air of casual elegance. In contrast, Dai Mubai strained himself and still couldn't break free. Furthermore, the newcomer had deliberately humiliated Dai Mubai; he was hardly an unknown figure.

Given that they sought admission to Shrek Academy, they must be aware that the academy only admitted prodigies. As a student of Shrek Academy, Dai Mubai's talent and skills would naturally be above average. So, to challenge him like this—were they asking to be underestimated?

Their identity and skills might even surpass those of Dai Mubai.

Therefore, Ma Hongjun naturally chose not to stand by Dai Mubai's side. Provoking someone they shouldn't could make their future days in the academy rather unpleasant.

Ma Hongjun was Flender's disciple and, over the years, had absorbed much wisdom. Though he appeared somewhat simple-minded on the surface, he was sharper than most on the inside.

"Bastard," Dai Mubai couldn't help but curse. He had just introduced Ma Hongjun to the twin sisters, and now the guy was ditching him.

"Hmph, don't think you'll be saved just because the dean is on his way. I'll deal with you before he arrives," Dai Mubai said coolly, his gaze full of arrogance as he looked at Xu Ran. He couldn't believe that any prodigies would appear in this remote location.

He was a prince of the Star Luo Empire. Although he was now in hiding at Shrek Academy, he retained the pride inherent to royalty.

"And as for you, choosing the wrong ally as a woman can lead to a lifetime of regret," Dai Mubai added coldly, turning his eyes to Xiao Wu. The girl might be beautiful, but she was clueless about the situation.

She had just mocked him, causing some damage to his ego and making him feel deeply humiliated.

He had good looks, internal qualities, and undeniable talent. Wherever he went, he was surrounded by countless admiring women. Yet this girl before him was so incredibly obtuse. He was determined to show her the consequences of offending a prodigy.

Once he defeated her boyfriend, perhaps she'd regret ever crossing paths with someone like him. Maybe she would even beg him to take her under his wing.

He had seen such scenarios unfold many times before, and he expected this time would be no different.

"Are you going to fight, or just talk?" Xiao Wu pursed her lips, looking at Dai Mubai as if he were a joke. She had never seen someone so presumptuous, predicting the outcome before the battle had even begun. What did a Level 37 soul power amount to in front of Xu Ran?

Being an auspicious beast, despite having taken human form like her, his strength was exceptionally formidable. While the Soft-Boned Rabbit might not be among the stronger soul beasts, an auspicious beast had more than just the power of good fortune. An auspicious beast with ten thousand years of cultivation would be on par with a typical hundred-thousand-year soul beast. How could Xu Ran's strength be weak?

"Fine, then watch as I defeat him," Dai Mubai declared.

"Dai Mubai, Martial Soul: White Tiger, Level 37 Battle Soul Elder. Please advise," Dai Mubai formally announced his Martial Soul and level, signaling the initiation of an official challenge.

After announcing his level, Dai Mubai looked at Xu Ran with keen interest.

Seeing this, Xu Ran hesitated no longer. His grip on the God-Slaying Sword tightened, and a layer of icy killing intent clouded his eyes. Three purple soul rings began to rise around him. The moment he unleashed his Martial Soul, soul power surged into the God-Slaying Sword, making its aura increasingly formidable. Though Xu Ran could handle the God-Slaying Sword like an ordinary weapon on regular days, without activating his Martial Soul, he couldn't unlock its true power or utilize soul techniques.

Without its Martial Soul activated, the Slayer Sword was simply a blade of unparalleled sharpness. Nevertheless, Xu Ran carried it everywhere. He felt as if the sword had some level of sentience and that its affinity with him was continually increasing.

"Xu Ran, Martial Soul: God-Slaying Sword, Level 32 Soul Elder. Please advise," Xu Ran said. His cultivation had recently broken through to Level 32.

Upon seeing Xu Ran release his Martial Soul, Xiao Wu was utterly astonished. The last time she had seen him, his soul ring configuration consisted of the standard two yellow and one purple. Now, they had all transformed into thousand-year soul rings? Moreover, these soul rings had an impressive age; the density of their purple color was neither too deep nor too light.

Is Xu Ran some kind of monster? Is this the terrifying aspect of being an auspicious beast? Xiao Wu thought, shocked.

Xiao Wu had only heard of auspicious beasts in legends and didn't know about their other capabilities. However, she knew that being honored as the king of soul beasts meant that an auspicious beast's strength would be extraordinarily formidable, definitely not limited to merely having an destiny aura.

T/N: Destiny, Fate... I'm using these words interchangely. 

Dai Mubai, on the other hand, was too stunned to speak.

He had initially thought that Xu Ran was merely a person of innate full soul power. He never expected Xu Ran to be an aberration—a monster, even. Three purple soul rings were far beyond what anyone would expect; such a soul ring configuration was shocking.

Traditionally, a Soul Master with a standard soul ring configuration was considered a genius. Those who had stronger configurations than the standard were considered monstrous.

However, even a monster couldn't have achieved this—having a thousand-year soul ring as the first one was terrifying.

Could it be that Xu Ran could absorb a thousand-year soul beast ring when he was only Level 10?

How did he do that?

"How did you achieve this? Even the monsters from the Martial Soul Hall can't possibly have such a soul ring configuration," Dai Mubai couldn't help but say, looking at Xu Ran with an increasingly wary eye.

"Not only do I have innate full soul power, but my natural body strength is also very strong. What does a mere thousand-year soul ring count for?" Xu Ran responded.

Dai Mubai's face clouded for a moment at Xu Ran's words. He realized that Xu Ran was mocking him for his earlier comment about being a brute with innate full soul power, and he couldn't help but feel somewhat angry.

"So what if you're a monster? Your soul power is five levels lower than mine; I can still crush you," Dai Mubai coldly said. His eyes flickered with a malevolent light as his body, enveloped in surging soul power, charged toward Xu Ran.