The others soon dispersed, but before leaving, they all greeted Su Wen warmly.
In the Inner Court, where monsters gathered, strength was everything.
Even if Su Wen's current power was lower, his talent and potential were enough to make even them wary.
"Su Wen!"
Ma Xiaotao grabbed his ear, glaring fiercely.
"Hm?"
Su Wen played dumb.
"Hmph! When we get back, you're using Extreme Ice to help me vent the fire! I want that little b*tch to know....she only gets a trial experience of your Extreme Ice, while I get it every day!"
Her eyes narrowed dangerously.
"No sleeping tonight."
"…All night?!"
Su Wen's eyes widened.
Looking at Ma Xiaotao's body...
honestly, it was devastatingly perfect, like a blooming rose ready to be plucked.
But he was only ten years old!
Did she know how painful it was to see but not touch?!
Especially when she insisted on hugging him to sleep every time.....
His throat bobbed.
Face drained of life.
Just kill me.
The Next Day
Su Wen's face was pale.
He stood shakily within the group.
One entire night.
Completely drained.
Not a single drop of soul power left.
Meanwhile, Ma Xiaotao looked radiant.....brimming with vitality....dragging Su Wen around everywhere.
"Xiao Tao!"
Yan Shaozhe shot her a sharp glare.
He quickly checked Su Wen's condition.
Seeing no major issues and sensing his soul power recovering rapidly, he finally relaxed.
"I'm fine, Dean Yan."
Su Wen's mouth twitched.
Beside him, Ma Xiaotao wore an unapologetic, smug expression.
Yeah, I did it. Try me.
"..."
Yan Shaozhe was speechless.
"Fine. But the two of you.....take it easy!"
He then went off to check the roster.
Su Wen yawned and scanned the group.
Few familiar faces.
Zhang Lexuan had just advanced to Soul Douluo and now stood at the pinnacle of the Inner Court—one step away from becoming an instructor.
Zhang Yi and the others were still scattered across the continent, grinding through graduation missions, hunting evil soul masters.
But why didn't they go to the Sun Moon Empire?
Su Wen thought maliciously.
That place was practically an evil soul master nest.
What—too scared?
Thinking of evil soul masters made him think of Ma Xiaotao.
The future Holy Maiden of the Holy Spirit Church.
Her martial soul walked the line between divinity and demonhood.
After the Continental Tournament two years later, she would inevitably be targeted.
Despite her flaws—overbearing, busty, short-tempered, not exactly sharp....
Still…
"Su Wen, are you thinking bad things about me?"
Ma Xiaotao narrowed her eyes dangerously.
"Cough—no, of course not."
Su Wen coughed awkwardly.
His gaze turned distant and calm.
No matter what, he would make sure she remained safe.
"Alright—move out!"
Roll call finished.
Yan Shaozhe waved his hand.
Unlike Xuanzi, who loved to hide behind excuses of "training" to disappear—sleeping or sneaking off to eat—Yan Shaozhe led from the front the entire time.
No false "tempering."
If there was danger, it stayed within his field of vision.
The team consisted of thirteen people.
There were also a few Outer Court students..
.mostly nameless, not mentioned in the original story.
Su Wen didn't pay them much attention.
His focus was already fixed on one thing.
His third soul beast.
Have you decided on your third soul beast yet?"
As the team advanced through the forest, Yan Shaozhe walked closer and asked in a low voice.
"I'm leaning toward a control-type—like a Ghost Vine....or an auxiliary type, such as a Jade Swan," Su Wen replied after some thought.
"But if I encounter something better, I won't refuse it either… for example, an Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear."
Logically speaking, Su Wen preferred a team-oriented auxiliary or control soul beast.
After all, the Ice Jade Scorpion could both attack and defend, and Ice Sovereign's defensive power was already impressive.
With flesh-based attribute amplification, it could rival most defensive soul beasts head-on.
But if he truly encountered a Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear...
That was an entirely different matter.
That creature's defense and combat power completely eclipsed even the Ice Empress.
Though Su Wen didn't know its exact numerical values, its combat feats in the original story were consistently overwhelming.
The Ice Empress was balanced between offense and defense....but balance depended on the comparison.
If a Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear joined the team, Ice Sovereign could safely retreat into a spellcaster role.
More importantly, the presence of such a soul beast would elevate the entire team's combat power....not marginally, but exponentially.
Pure combat strength.
Plus global support.
Su Wen wasn't fixated on one outcome.
He would leave it to fate.
"Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear? You've got good taste," Yan Shaozhe grinned.
"One of the Ten Fierce Beasts of the Star Dou Forest—Bear Lord—belongs to that lineage.
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