Chapter Twenty-Five: The Formation of the Team

“Ding, congratulations to the host for successfully recruiting Lou Gao, the master craftsman, severing a crucial opportunity for Tang San. Red-level mission accomplished. Reward: one red-level character summoning card, five hundred diamonds.”

“Ding, detection shows the host has recruited most members of the Blacksmith Association, exceeding the system’s task requirements. Reward: one black-level character summoning card.”

“Use all the red-level and black-level summoning cards.”

Xiao Yu immediately used the freshly acquired summoning cards. At present, the sect had only Mu, the Title Douluo, guarding it. That was enough to intimidate the local powers, but it was still a far cry from being able to contend with the continent’s top forces.

“Ding, black-level character draw complete. Congratulations to the host for obtaining one of the SS era’s Bronze Five Warriors, Ikki of the Phoenix constellation. Martial spirit: Undying Fire Phoenix. Innate soul power at level 10, current soul power at level 32.”

“Ding, red-level character draw complete. Congratulations to the host for obtaining an SS era Golden Saint, Milo of the Scorpio constellation. Martial spirit: Golden Scorpion. Innate soul power at level 9.5, current soul power at level 95.”

“Ding, detection shows the host and subordinates now number seven with similar soul power, meeting the requirements to form a team. The following missions are now issued:

1. Purple-level mission: Register for the Grand Soul Arena team tournament; all members obtain the Silver Soul Fighter badge.
2. Black-level mission: In the Grand Soul Arena team tournament, all members obtain the Gold Soul Fighter badge.
3. Red-level mission: In the Grand Soul Arena team tournament, all members obtain the Purple-Gold Soul Fighter badge.
4. Gold-level mission: In the Grand Soul Arena team tournament, all members obtain the Sapphire Soul Fighter badge or higher.
5. Winning streak rewards: Three consecutive wins in the Grand Soul Arena team tournament earn a white-level reward, five wins a yellow-level reward, ten wins a purple-level reward, twenty wins a black-level reward, fifty wins a red-level reward, and one hundred wins a gold-level reward.”

The Grand Soul Arena, was it? Xiao Yu slowly raised his head. Truth be told, even without the system issuing missions, he would have gone. Soul master cultivation was not about shutting oneself away from the world; real combat and sparring were essential. The All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament was more formal and had better rules, and all participants were elite peers, but it only took place once every five years. The Grand Soul Arena, however, could be visited every day if conditions allowed.

Now, regarding the current team, Xiao Yu pondered its composition:

1. Xiao Yu, martial spirit: Netherworld Apostle, level 35 assault-type battle soul master.
2. Ikki, martial spirit: Fire Phoenix, level 32 assault-type battle soul master.
3. Eden, martial spirit: Lord of Thunder, level 33 control-type battle soul master.
4. Zi Long, martial spirit: Azure Dragon, level 32 assault-type battle soul master.
5. Evil Wu, martial spirit: Unicorn, level 30 agility-type battle soul master.
6. Mi Yi Mei, martial spirit: Harp, level 30 auxiliary-type battle soul master.
7. Io, martial spirit: Sea Phantom Beast, level 26 assault-type battle soul master.

The team’s makeup was not inadequate, but it still fell somewhat short of Xiao Yu’s expectations. There was still time before the Soul Master Tournament, and just as Shrek had Tailong, Jingling, Huang Yuan, and Jiang Zhu as substitutes, the team would need backup members eventually. He could reorganize when the time came.

A few days later, Lou Gao, having finished handling the association’s affairs, brought Si Long, Si Yu, and several dozen blacksmiths, hiring over ten carriages to follow Xiao Yu and his people out of Gengxin City. Lou Gao’s other two disciples, Si Kai and Si Di, remained behind to oversee the Blacksmith Association.

The Blacksmith Association was a vast organization and could not possibly relocate entirely to the Nine Star Hall; such a move was unrealistic. After discussion, Xiao Yu and Lou Gao decided to make the Blacksmith Association the Nine Star Hall’s branch in Gengxin City, with personnel rotating periodically. Si Long, Si Yu, and others would first go with Lou Gao to learn about soul tool knowledge and manufacturing, then return in three months to swap with Si Kai, Si Di, and other senior blacksmiths.

Upon returning to the sect and settling the Blacksmith Association’s affairs, Xiao Yu began arranging for Evil Wu and Mi Yi Mei, who had reached bottlenecks, to obtain soul rings. This time, besides the guardians Milo and Ikki, Xiao Yu also brought Eden, Zi Long, and others with similar soul power, preparing to form a team.

Ikki and Eden, both newcomers and lone wolves, initially wanted to refuse, but Xiao Yu did not agree this time. He patiently persuaded them that only teamwork could lead to success, and with the myriad soul beasts in the Star Dou Forest, it would greatly hone their practical combat abilities. The two finally consented.

Xiao Yu was no stranger to the Star Dou Forest; he had thoroughly familiarized himself with its outskirts. Under his guidance, the group quickly entered the heart of the forest.

“Everyone, stay vigilant. The soul beasts of the Star Dou Forest generally have little regard for humans and are mostly aggressive. Maintain your formation and absolutely do not wander off.”

Xiao Yu’s voice was grave. “This will be our team’s first real battle. Unless absolutely necessary, Milo and Ikki will not lend their assistance.”

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded. Ikki, with his top-tier beast martial spirit, Fire Phoenix, possessed an innate bloodline suppression over soul beasts, so he strode confidently at the head of the group.

Xiao Yu and Zi Long, both assault-types, took up positions on the flanks. The weaker Evil Wu, Mi Yi Mei, and Io were placed in the center, with Eden covering the rear. Milo and Ikki followed several meters behind, keeping a safe distance and observing from afar.

On the continent, Di Tian and other truly formidable soul beasts were absorbed in Life Lake, busy with that portable energy source. Unless the two, Sky Blue Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape, went mad and charged to the outskirts, there was little that could threaten Milo and Ikki.

Evil Wu’s martial spirit was Unicorn. The ideal soul ring for him would come from soul beasts of the same species, such as Holy Unicorns or Radiant Unicorns. Alternatively, horse-type soul beasts would suffice; while challenging, it was not overly difficult.

As for Mi Yi Mei, though his role was auxiliary, he was actually half-support, half-control. His harp not only enhanced the team’s abilities but also carried mental attribute attacks. Soul masters with weaker spiritual power could be stunned outright, while even those with stronger minds would suffer reduced attack and defense.

This reminded Xiao Yu of the child of destiny a millennium later, Huo Yuhao. His first martial spirit, Spirit Eye, was just such a mental-type control spirit. Its first soul skill, Spiritual Detection and Spiritual Sharing, could be considered auxiliary in a sense. Xiao Yu thought he might use Huo Yuhao’s soul ring choices for reference.

Among these, the Ice Worm dwelled in the Extreme North, and the only one in Star Dou Forest was being used as nourishment by those beasts with hundreds of thousands of years of cultivation—no one dared to snatch food from their jaws.

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion was even more impossible. If the Sky Dream Ice Worm was mere fodder and perhaps negotiable, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion was their reverse scale; touching her meant only a fight to the death.

The Evil-Eyed Tyrant was far off on the Sun-Moon Continent. Xiao Yu was unsure if such soul beasts even existed here. But the other soul beasts—Violet Spirit Fox, Silver Moon Wolf, and Silver Hawk—though rare, were much easier to find than the others and could be sought out.