Soul Hunting Town
Soul Hunting Town lay at the edge of the Star Dou Forest, a place that existed solely for one purpose— to serve Soul Masters who ventured into the forest in search of soul rings.
In the past, this town had been nothing more than a temporary settlement. But after the devastating Soul Beast Tide, everything had changed.
Towering stone walls encircled the town. Watchtowers rose at regular intervals, their silhouettes sharp and alert. Thick metal gates bore deep scars—silent testimonies of past battles where countless soul beasts had smashed themselves against human defenses.
Now, however, those days felt distant.
Years had passed since the last tide.
The fortress-like town had gradually regained its liveliness. Streets bustled with activity as Soul Masters of all ranks came and went—some confident, some weary, some carrying bloodstained weapons, others laughing loudly over their recent gains.
The tension never disappeared completely, but it had softened into routine.
Zhao Wuji led the six students—Tang San, Xiao Wu, Dai Mubai, Oscar, Ma Hongjun, and Ning Rongrong—through the main gate.
This trip had a clear objective.
Oscar's third soul ring.
After finding a suitable tavern near the center of town, Zhao Wuji waved them off casually.
"Go order food," he said lazily."I'm going upstairs to rest. Don't cause much trouble."
The group exchanged looks.
They sat around a large wooden table, the tavern filled with loud chatter, the smell of alcohol, roasted meat, and sweat mixing together. For young Soul Masters, this place felt strangely liberating—far from academy rules, close to real danger.
Ma Hongjun stuffed his face with food, grease staining his fingers.
Then his small eyes flicked sideways.
He nudged Dai Mubai with his elbow and motioned subtly toward another table.
There, several youths sat together, their posture upright, their expressions proud. Their uniforms were neat, embroidered with a crescent moon emblem, the Cang Yue Academy.
Dai Mubai followed his gaze and smirked faintly.
"Fatty," he said lazily, "explain it to them."
Ma Hongjun grinned, wiped his mouth, and leaned back.
"Do you guys know," he said deliberately, "what the motto of Shrek Academy is?"
Xiao Wu blinked and leaned forward, curiosity lighting her eyes.
"What is it?"
Tang San smiled faintly.
He already knew the answer—from memories of his other lifetime.
Ma Hongjun puffed out his chest proudly and declared:
"A Soul Master who doesn't cause trouble…is mediocre."
For a brief moment, silence hung over the table.
Then Xiao Wu slammed her fists down excitedly.
"Then let's go for it!" she said, eyes sparkling.
Ning Rongrong hesitated for only a heartbeat before smiling brightly as well.
"Yes," she said, clearly unwilling to be left out.
Tang San lowered his gaze slightly, fingers tapping lightly against the table.
Then Ma Hongjun began first.
With a lewd grin plastered on his face, he deliberately raised his voice, tossing out obscene and suggestive remarks toward the table of female students from Cang Yue Academy. His words were crude, filled with innuendo, clearly meant to provoke.
Dai Mubai followed without hesitation.
Without Zhu Zhuqing present, there was no need for him to restrain himself or maintain the façade. His gaze lingered openly, arrogance dripping from every word as he laughed along with Ma Hongjun, adding sharp, cutting comments of his own.
The atmosphere at the tavern shifted instantly.
The laughter at the Cang Yue table stiffened. Faces flushed—some with embarrassment, others with anger.
Finally, one of the male students could no longer endure it.
He slammed his palm against the table and stood up, chair scraping loudly against the wooden floor. His steps were firm as he approached the Shrek table, eyes burning with restrained fury.
"Stop with your obscene comments."
His voice echoed clearly through the tavern.
Dai Mubai slowly rose to his feet, towering over the student. His lips curved into a mocking smile, eyes cold and contemptuous.
"So?" he replied lazily."What can you do about it?"
Before the Cang Yue student could answer, Ma Hongjun stood up as well, rolling up his thick sleeves, flesh jiggling as he cracked his knuckles.
"Who's afraid of who?" he scoffed.
The tension snapped.
Xiao Wu leapt up from her seat, eyes shining with excitement rather than fear.
"Let's fight!"
That single sentence was enough.
Chairs toppled. Tables scraped violently across the floor as the remaining students from Cang Yue Academy rushed forward to support their companion.
But the difference in strength was immediate—and overwhelming.
The Shrek Six Monsters moved with brutal efficiency. Soul skills erupted in flashes of light and heat. In a matter of moments, the Cang Yue students were knocked back one after another, weapons shattered, bodies slammed into walls and floors.
Cries of pain filled the tavern.
It was a crushing defeat.
Before the situation could deteriorate further, a deep, furious voice rang out.
"Enough!"
A middle-aged man stepped forward from the back of the tavern, his expression dark with rage. He positioned himself protectively in front of the fallen students.
"You—" he pointed sharply at the Shrek group, voice trembling with anger."Don't you have any manners at all?"
His gaze swept across them coldly.
"First, you disrespect my students," he continued harshly,"then you beat them when they merely ask for an apology."
As he spoke, a powerful aura surged from his body.
With a deep, resonant roar echoed through the tavern as he possessed his martial soul.
A massive Black Tortoise phantom appeared behind him, its shell ancient and heavy, exuding overwhelming pressure. Six soul rings rose one by one—two yellow, two purple, two black—spinning slowly around his body.
The teacher was a Soul King.
The atmosphere instantly grew heavy.