Chapter 145: Master Xuan Joins the Hunt
The moment Master Xuan declared that he would personally assist Ning Tian and the others in obtaining their spirit rings, the three accompanying teachers were visibly stunned.
"Are you serious, Master Xuan? You're really going to be the main force in this soul hunting operation?"
The three teachers, who were well aware of Master Xuan's true identity, found it hard to believe. As a Titled Douluo at level 98, Master Xuan rarely involved himself in low-level hunts. Typically, he only stepped in to assist soul masters seeking their eighth or ninth spirit rings. This was the first time they had heard of him helping anyone acquire a mere third or fourth ring.
After all, spirit rings of that level usually capped out at around 5,000 years in age. Unless it involved someone of Ning Tian's status—the young mistress of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect—a Soul Saint wouldn't even consider tagging along. Even then, a Soul Saint at the seventy-seventh rank had only come because of an old friendship with the sect. For most such hunts, a couple of high-level Soul Emperors were more than enough.
"What makes you think I'd lie to the likes of you?" Xuan Lao scoffed with obvious disdain.
Originally, he had no intention of participating. For a group of juniors seeking their third or fourth spirit rings, there was no need for someone of his stature. Not even a Soul Douluo was necessary.
But this time was different.
Xuan Lao still carried guilt over Shrek Academy's defeat in the last competition—a failure that stemmed, in part, from his own oversight. That guilt had weighed heavily on him, and guilt has a way of demanding redemption.
So when Shrek needed someone to accompany Huo Yuhao on a mission to the Sun Moon Empire—to steal a critical soul tool blueprint—Xuan Lao had volunteered without hesitation. Huo Yuhao only needed a thousand-year ring, even his second spirit ring, yet Xuan Lao insisted on going personally. He wanted to make amends.
Although some of Shrek's geniuses perished during the operation, that was due to an unforeseen encounter with a 700,000-year-old soul beast. No one could blame him for that. Besides, his primary mission had been to protect Huo Yuhao, and that mission was a success.
In his mind, that success had cleared his name. The skies had brightened, the rains had passed—he was ready to lead another team.
Of course, he wouldn't just lend his help to anyone. But once he learned that Ning Tian was among those needing spirit rings, he stepped forward.
Ning Tian was a core member of the next generation of competitors in the upcoming All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament. Nothing could be allowed to happen to her.
To ensure her safety, Xuan Lao chose to act personally.
"Yes, yes, of course, Xuan Lao," one of the teachers quickly backpedaled. "How could someone of your status deceive us juniors? My apologies."
The Soul Saint and two Soul Emperors immediately bowed their heads, their confidence in the expedition now fully restored.
The past incident where Xuan Lao led Zhang Lexuan and the others to hunt spirit rings had long been buried in silence—an unspoken rule meant to protect him from reopening old wounds.
The hunt against the evil soul masters, led by Wang Yan, had nothing to do with him. And though many still remembered the trip to the Star Dou Forest ten months ago—where they had encountered that 700,000-year-old beast—most agreed that if not for Xuan Lao's intervention, Huo Yuhao would never have made it back alive.
In the eyes of most Shrek students and faculty, Xuan Lao remained their greatest pillar of support when hunting for spirit rings—someone whose help was as sought-after as it was rare.
So when he declared that he would be leading this hunt, the group, students and teachers alike, were thrilled.
Everyone, that is—except Ning Tian.
She alone harbored reservations.
After all, the last time she'd nearly died was during the previous expedition, the very one Xuan Lao had led.
She alone had seen how unreliable Master Xuan could be.
Back then, she had only uttered a few words too many—and ended up being captured by a five-ring Soul King, one without even a ten-thousand-year soul ring. And this happened right in front of Xuan Lao.
How could she believe in his strength after that?
Even a Soul Douluo shouldn't have allowed such a thing, let alone a level 98 Titled Douluo.
Still, she was thankful for her eventual rescue—though she privately suspected that if she hadn't dropped to her knees in surrender fast enough, those corpse puppets would have blown her to pieces.
"Alright, let's move out," Master Xuan said gruffly. "Quit dawdling. Don't worry about what the academy said before we left. Make a fire—I don't like eating cold food. As for soul beasts, even if a hundred-thousand-year-old beast shows up, I'll handle it."
"Thank you, Master Xuan! We feel so reassured with you here!"
With Master Xuan leading the way, the group swiftly entered the Star Dou Forest. On their first evening, they made camp and lit a fire as usual. Despite the precautions, a powerful soul beast soon approached their location.
Just as the beast lunged toward the students, Master Xuan, who had seemingly vanished earlier, reappeared. He slapped the creature—a soul beast with strength equivalent to 50,000 years—sending it flying.
"Scram! If you harass my students again, I'll roast you alive!"
With a chicken leg in one hand and the soul beast's neck pinched in the other, Master Xuan's overwhelming might left the students speechless with awe.
"As expected of Master Xuan! His cultivation is on a whole other level!"
"With him here, our hunt will go off without a hitch!"
Confidence in Xuan Lao surged. Even Ning Tian had to grudgingly admit that maybe—just maybe—he was reliable after all.
"You can rest now. Leave everything to me," Master Xuan said calmly before his aura vanished once again, disappearing like a true master who came and went without a trace.
Over the following days, with Master Xuan guarding them, the group ventured deeper into the mixed zones of the forest. They no longer worried about the dangers that came with this depth.
After all, Master Xuan had proven his strength.
He had subdued high-level soul beasts without even releasing his soul rings—a feat that alone demonstrated the depths of his power. Though his presence remained elusive, every student now knew: should real danger arise, he would appear in an instant to shield them.
What was supposed to be a routine soul ring expedition seemed well on its way to a smooth conclusion…
Until it wasn't.
"…Hmm? This aura… an angel? And above the seventh ring?"
Xuan Lao, who had been silently monitoring their surroundings, suddenly froze. His eyes turned cold.
But then he glanced back at Ning Tian.
His duty was to protect her.
He hesitated—but only for a moment.
"…Forget it. The distance isn't far. Even if I go, I can be back in under twenty seconds."
A cold gleam flashed in his eye as he disappeared into the forest.
"I am still a teacher of Shrek. I won't sit back and ignore this… not even for a dozen seconds."