Hearing Flender's words, Zhao Wuji immediately became unsure of himself.
'Could it be that I really made a mistake?'
After all, he hadn't actually seen the other party's Soul Rings. Furthermore, the man was clearly only in his early twenties; how could he possibly have cultivated to the level of a Titled Douluo? Just thinking about being brutally beaten by a mere Soul Emperor (Level 61–70) was humiliating, but it seemed more "logical" than the alternative.
At this moment, Flender suddenly remembered the important business at hand. "By the way, Old Zhao, you haven't mentioned what Soul Ring you helped Little Ao obtain in the end? What is the Soul Skill?"
Zhao Wuji's face stiffened again. He coughed awkwardly twice and gave Oscar a look, signaling him to demonstrate.
Oscar stepped forward a few paces and chanted his spirit incantation: "I have a Mutated Mushroom Sausage!"
A flash of Soul Power appeared, and a dark purple, twisted, mushroom-shaped sausage materialized in his palm.
Ning Rongrong subconsciously covered her mouth, Zhu Zhuqing frowned slightly, and Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun both looked disgusted.
Oscar, forcing a weak smile, explained, "Ahem, the effect of my third Soul Skill is to temporarily increase all of the user's attributes by 30%."
Hearing this, Flender and Yu Xiaogang's eyes lit up; a 30% all-attribute boost was a god-tier buff! But just as they were getting excited, Oscar's next words poured cold water on their enthusiasm.
"However... there is a significant side effect. The user enters a state of 'Frenzy,' becoming unable to distinguish friend from foe. The effect lasts for half an hour and ends automatically."
The excitement in Yu Xiaogang's eyes vanished instantly. He shook his head regretfully, adopting his typical "Grandmaster" lecturing tone.
"Without the side effect, this Soul Skill would be absolutely top-tier. But with such a drawback, it is destined to be unusable in regular team combat. One wrong move and the user will harm their own teammates before the enemy."
Hearing this, Oscar lowered his head in disappointment. He muttered under his breath, "I really shouldn't have trusted Teacher Zhao's judgment. I shouldn't have insisted on that strange, multicolored mushroom..."
Zhao Wuji turned red, wanting to retort but finding no words. The side effect of this Soul Skill was indeed disastrous for a support team.
Seeing the awkward atmosphere, Flender quickly coughed and patted Oscar's shoulder. "Little Oscar, don't be discouraged. Although the Soul Skill has limitations, it might play a role in turning the tide in a desperate situation. Imagine giving it to someone when we have no other choice; perhaps it could trigger a miracle."
Oscar managed to perk up a little at the consolation.
Yu Xiaogang didn't care much about Oscar's Soul Ring; in his mind, food-type Soul Masters were secondary. The only student he truly cared about was Ma Hongjun, whose Martial Soul was "flawed."
As long as he could cultivate Ma Hongjun into a true Fire Phoenix Soul Master, he could wash away his past shame and prove that he, Yu Xiaogang, was a genius of theory.
Thinking of this, Yu Xiaogang turned to Ma Hongjun, once again adopting his arrogant master persona.
"Hongjun, you must cultivate diligently and reach Level 30 as soon as possible. When the time comes to acquire your third Soul Ring, I will personally select the most suitable Soul Beast for you. I will ensure your Evil Fire Phoenix undergoes a crucial transformation!"
Ma Hongjun became instantly excited. His chubby face beamed as he nodded hastily. "Yes, Teacher! I will definitely cultivate hard and never let you down!"
In the boy's eyes, his teacher was a world-renowned theoretical master. A ring selected by Yu Xiaogang had to be much more reliable than one found by Teacher Zhao. As long as he solved the "Evil Fire" problem, he could become a true Fire Phoenix, perhaps even stronger than Boss Dai!
Looking at Ma Hongjun's trusting eyes, Yu Xiaogang stood with his hands behind his back, tilting his head back slightly with a piercing gaze, as if he could already see his vindication.
Meanwhile, after several days of travel, Lin Mu and his companions finally arrived at Heaven Dou City.
The towering city walls resembled a continuous mountain range, and the city gates were bustling with heavy traffic and pedestrians, showcasing the immense prosperity of the Imperial Capital. Upon entering, the luxury and scale of the metropolis overwhelmed Tang San and Xiao Wu, leaving them dazzled.
Lin Mu remained composed. During his years of traveling the continent, he had visited the capital once before. After asking for directions, the three arrived at the most bustling area of the inner city, stopping in front of a refined five-story building.
The overall architectural style was ancient and elegant. Only two characters were carved on the plaque: Yuexuan (Moon Pavilion).
The people entering and leaving were all dressed in expensive silks and possessed extraordinary bearing. Lin Mu led Tang San and Xiao Wu straight toward the entrance. But before they could step onto the stairs, two young men in blue robes blocked their path.
"Please wait, gentlemen. Yuexuan is a place of refinement. Entry is not permitted without prior permission or an invitation. Do you have one?" the guard on the left asked calmly.
Tang San frowned slightly, and Xiao Wu instinctively tightened her grip on Tang San's arm.
Lin Mu's gaze calmly swept over the two guards. Suddenly, an invisible yet weighty aura pressed down upon them. This was not a Soul Skill, it was simply the raw pressure of a Level 75 Soul Saint.
The two youths' faces turned pale instantly. It felt as if an invisible giant hand had gripped their throats. Their breath hitched, and their eyes filled with horror. They could sense that the man before them, despite appearing young, possessed terrifying strength.
Lin Mu didn't make things difficult for them. He withdrew his aura as quickly as he had released it. "Summon your manager," he said calmly.
The guards felt as if they had been granted a divine pardon. Their backs were soaked with cold sweat. One of them immediately bowed with utmost respect. "Please wait a moment, Your Excellency! I will inform them immediately!"
He scrambled into the building. Not long after, a middle-aged man in a purple robe strode out. His gaze fell on Lin Mu. He saw that while the man's clothes were simple, his posture was upright and his demeanor was imposing, clearly no ordinary traveler.
As the head steward of Yuexuan, his judgment was sharp. He cupped his hands and smiled politely. "My name is Aode, the steward of Yuexuan. May I ask how I should address you?"
Lin Mu did not give his name. Instead, he replied, "Please tell Madam Yue that the son of an old friend has come to visit."
Steward Aode hesitated for a second, then nodded. "Please follow me. I will lead you to a side hall for tea while I consult Madam Yue."
A short while later, the door to the side hall was gently pushed open. A beautiful woman in a silver palace dress walked in slowly. She looked to be in her late twenties, with an exquisitely beautiful, dignified face. Her eyes held an innate elegance and tranquility, as if time had no power over her.
She was the Master of Yuexuan, Tang Yuehua".