In the morning, Furina specifically took a leave of absence.
She was going to do something big today: absorb both a god-bestowed spirit ring and a Spirit Bone at the same time to see if she could make a stunning debut.
If she could really rush straight to Level 70 and become a Spirit Saint, she would be the number one person in both the Shrek Inner and Outer Courts. She would be unprecedented and unmatched, even Ma Xiaotao wouldn't be able to compare.
One could only say that the rewards for the Water God's God Trial were too intense, but it was deserved. Since nine God Trials were condensed into three, the first two were equivalent to everyone else's combined, and the third led directly to inheriting the God Position.
She first took out the first god-bestowed spirit ring and looked at it as she held it in her hand.
A god-bestowed spirit ring is different from a normal spirit ring; its age can be continuously increased until the body can no longer withstand it. In other words, not just a hundred thousand years, but even a million years is possible.
Furina, of course, wouldn't be satisfied with a mere ten thousand years. She planned to push for at least a hundred thousand years, while also testing how much her body and Martial Soul could endure. She would save the second god-bestowed spirit ring for later use.
If she could reach Level 70 after absorbing the Spirit Bone and this spirit ring, she would buy another hundred-thousand-year spirit ring from the System shop as a backup. Once she reached Level 80, she would use the second god-bestowed spirit ring to see if she could break through to a million years.
After that, she would look for those hundred-thousand-year Martial Soul Beasts and have them become her spirit souls. The upper limit for a spirit soul is much higher than a normal spirit ring, but the technology hasn't been developed yet, so she couldn't rely on it for now.
To be safe, she specifically gave instructions to Xiao Xiao in the morning.
"If someone looks for me, just say I'm not here and have gone out. Whatever you do, don't let anyone come to the dormitory to find me."
Xiao Xiao nodded without asking much.
Furina was still worried, so she summoned the three from the Salon Solitaire to keep watch outside.
She was mainly worried about Ma Xiaotao. If that girl returned from the Extreme North Land and Yan Shaozhe told her that she could help, with her impatient temper, she might just barge right in.
If she was in the middle of absorbing a spirit ring and got interrupted, it would be trouble; the spirit ring's age might get stuck at ten thousand years, or she might suffer a backlash.
With everything ready, Furina sat cross-legged and began to absorb the spirit ring.
As her Cultivation Technique began to circulate, the divine body shaped by the Power Of Faith also started to take effect. The age of the god-bestowed spirit ring surged upward, quickly breaking through ten thousand years and continuing to rise.
One hundred thousand years.
It reached it.
Furina breathed a sigh of relief and began the formal absorption.
She was a bit curious about what Spirit Ability she would get this time. A hundred-thousand-year spirit ring grants two Martial Soul Abilities.
It's rare for a Food Element Soul Master to get a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring so early. The main reason is that the food system didn't have much screen time in the original work, especially after Soul Land 4, where the main cast didn't need it at all. But she was different; her Third Soul Skill, Fourth Soul Skill, and Fifth Soul Skill were already Heaven-Defying enough, so the sixth and seventh would surely be even more outrageous.
She took a deep breath, calmed her mind, and began the absorption.
...
Meanwhile, in the Dean's office.
Ma Xiaotao stood before Yan Shaozhe, still covered in the dust of travel from the Extreme North Land. She had just returned to the academy with Xian Liner when she was called over by Yan Shaozhe.
"Teacher, why did you call me back so urgently? Is there something wrong?" Ma Xiaotao asked. "Has the Shrek Seven Devils reserve team been selected, or is the competition being moved up?"
Yan Shaozhe didn't answer her question but instead asked, "How was your Cultivate in the Extreme North Land? Did it have any effect on your Evil Fire?"
Hearing this, a smile appeared on Ma Xiaotao's face.
"Yes, it's much better. Cultivating there is much easier; I rarely lose control, and the Evil Fire is easier to release. My Soul Power has also increased quite a bit."
But her brow soon furrowed again. "However, after leaving the Extreme North Land, the Evil Fire is still faintly present. I feel like it's not a long-term solution, Teacher."
Yan Shaozhe nodded.
He knew, of course, that it wasn't a long-term solution. Unless Ma Xiaotao's Martial Soul could completely rid itself of the Evil Fire and evolve into a true Phoenix or Ultimate Fire. But that required time and Opportunity; it was too difficult.
"That's why I found another way for you," he said. "To be precise, I found someone who should be able to help you."
Ma Xiaotao's eyes lit up, and she leaned forward. "Who? What way?"
Yan Shaozhe looked at her and said somewhat helplessly, "Do you remember when you lost control and attacked the New Students?"
Ma Xiaotao thought for a moment and nodded. "I remember. But I don't recall the details of what happened then; I wouldn't even know if you hadn't mentioned it. Teacher, are you saying... the person who can help me is the New Student I attacked back then?"
"More or less."
"How is that possible?" Ma Xiaotao said with a face full of disbelief.
Yan Shaozhe sighed. "It is possible. I've always suspected that one of those New Students has the Ultimate Water attribute."
Ma Xiaotao immediately said, "Who? I'll go find him right now."
Yan Shaozhe raised his hand, signaling her not to be in such a hurry.
"See, you're being impatient again. Being so impulsive won't do."
Ma Xiaotao was stunned for a moment, then lowered her head, her voice softening. "Sorry, Teacher, I was too hasty. This matter is too important to me."
Yan Shaozhe looked at her with mixed emotions. He knew why Ma Xiaotao was so anxious; she wanted to become stronger so badly. But it was this very temperament—too hasty, too restless—that indeed made it easy for things to go wrong. Furina was right; this child only cared about Cultivate and nothing else.
"Calm down first, then I'll tell you more," he said.
Ma Xiaotao took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, trying her best to calm herself.
"Alright, Teacher, please go on."
Yan Shaozhe then spoke, "The Axis Cult, you know of it, right?"
Ma Xiaotao nodded.
"Their Supreme Pontiff, the one named Furina, is currently studying at our academy. She was among the New Students you attacked back then."
Ma Xiaotao was stunned.
"On the surface, she is a Food-type Support Soul Master, but I'd bet she definitely has a Second Martial Soul, at least of the Ultimate Water attribute. At that time, she was only at the Spirit Ancestor cultivation level, and now she's already a Spirit King."
"What?" Ma Xiaotao's eyes widened. "A New Student? A Spirit King? That's already at the Inner Court level!"
She was an Inner Court student and one of the Shrek Seven Devils, so she knew better than anyone. At most, the senior students in the Outer Court had four rings; only those who could enter the Inner Court were considered Spirit Kings. Her teammates were also at the Spirit King level. She herself was currently a Spirit Emperor, already among the top.
"A New Student, a Spirit King?"
"By the time she enters the Inner Court, wouldn't she be pushing for Spirit Emperor?"
Yan Shaozhe nodded. "You heard right. She's already a Spirit King and is close to becoming a Spirit Emperor. Perhaps by the end of this semester, she'll achieve a Breakthrough. A monster among monsters, with even higher Talents than yours."
He continued, "But that's not important. What matters is that a few days ago, she came to me asking for a cultivation method for an Ultimate Martial Soul. I gave it to her, since Shrek is now collaborating with the Axis Cult. I didn't ask why she wanted it, but I'm certain that she or someone close to her definitely possesses an Ultimate Martial Soul."
Ma Xiaotao immediately said, "Then I'll go find her right now."
Yan Shaozhe reached out and pulled her back.
"Don't be in such a hurry. I've already asked her to help you, and she agreed. During the treatment later, you must listen to her, understand? Don't act on impulse."
Ma Xiaotao nodded. "Understood, Teacher."
After saying that, she even released her Martial Soul, preparing to dash out.
Yan Shaozhe didn't let go and pulled her back again.
"I said, don't be in a hurry. I'll take you there to prevent anything from going wrong."
He was truly afraid that this girl would cause another mess that would be hard to clean up.
Ma Xiaotao withdrew her Martial Soul and nodded obediently. "Thank you, Teacher."
Yan Shaozhe sighed and led her out.
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