Seeing the employer's clear doubts about Chen Feng's strength, Bi Yuntao immediately pulled him aside and began whispering explanations.
As the two spoke in hushed tones, the employer's expression gradually shifted—his gaze turning increasingly curious and strange. Finally, unable to resist, he gave Chen Feng a long, appraising look.
"A Grand Soul Master at peak Rank 29... at your age?"
"Let me see your martial spirit. If you're legit, I'll personally guarantee your third soul ring."
The employer had dropped his initial skepticism, his tone now serious.
To reach such a level at such a young age, the martial spirit involved couldn't possibly be ordinary.
Nearby, Bi Yuntao and his companions watched intently.
Chen Feng, though young, had already earned a bit of a name in Soul Hunting Village. Though he hadn't taken many jobs, he was known for his caution and perfect track record—he had never failed a single hunt.
But what exactly was his martial spirit?
All they knew was—it was a sword.
But was it just an ordinary sword?
Unlikely.
Every soul master knew that cultivation speed was directly tied to one's innate soul power at awakening, and normal martial spirits simply couldn't awaken with such high levels of innate power.
In other words, Chen Feng's sword must be a top-tier tool spirit!
Bi Yuntao suddenly recalled what Chen Feng had said earlier:
"Maybe it's because of the quality of my martial spirit…"
—
Now, all eyes were on Chen Feng.
Dressed in black, the twelve-year-old already stood at about 1.73 meters tall—nearly adult height.
Only his face still carried a trace of youthful softness.
Chen Feng smiled.
"Sure. Since the boss personally asked, how could I refuse?"
As he spoke, a flash of blue light erupted from his palm, and a crystal-clear, azure longsword appeared in his hand.
The sword was approximately 4 feet 3 inches long and 3 inches wide, as if carved from glowing sapphire crystal—elegant, sharp, and otherworldly.
At the same time, two radiant soul rings rose slowly from beneath his feet.
Yellow. Purple.
The first ring was still within expectations.
But the second ring, that deep violet glow, left everyone stunned.
"A thousand-year soul ring!"
Everyone froze in place, staring wide-eyed at that purple ring.
"Impossible…"
The crowd was reeling. Their hearts surged with waves of disbelief. This… this was unheard of.
If not the first ever, then certainly rare beyond imagining.
No one had ever successfully absorbed a thousand-year soul ring as their second ring.
It wasn't that people hadn't tried, but the result was always the same:
Exploding and dying on the spot.
So, how had Chen Feng done it?
Under the glow of the yellow and purple rings, Chen Feng's very aura changed—as if he'd transcended the mortal world, like an immortal visiting the mundane.
Of course, this was simply how others perceived him in that moment.
"How… how did you do it?" the employer asked, visibly twitching at the corners of his eyes.
At this point, Chen Feng's age didn't even matter anymore. The thousand-year ring was everything.
How did he do it?
Chen Feng's mind briefly drifted.
He thought of his past life—those long, bitter years of cultivation.
And then his current life, six full years of relentless physical training following the awakening of his martial spirit.
Jade must be polished to become a gem; a sword must be sharpened to cut.
Sure, the increase in soul ring age was due to the Shura God's reward.
But would the Shura God ever casually choose an ordinary person?
In the end, Chen Feng simply smiled and replied:
"All I do is give my best. The rest… is up to fate."
"A prodigy blessed by the heavens!"
Everyone was genuinely awestruck.
Bi Yuntao and his teammates were nearly dumbfounded.
Who could've imagined that such a terrifying talent was hidden right beside them?
The employer narrowed his eyes.
Even he, a seasoned soul master, felt a faint sense of unease the moment Chen Feng activated his martial spirit.
"That sword… could it be…?"
A name flashed through his mind—Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!
It was just… too similar.
He rubbed his eyes and stepped forward, trying to get a closer look.
Was this that legendary martial spirit?
But Chen Feng didn't give him the chance.
After the brief reveal of his soul rings, he immediately dismissed them.
Chen Feng wasn't someone who enjoyed showing off.
He revealed his soul rings only to reassure the employer—a necessary gesture in this kind of work.
"Boss," Chen Feng asked calmly, "can you rest easy now?"
"Rest easy? Absolutely! No doubt at all!" The employer nodded like a pecking chicken.
Chen Feng gave a satisfied smile and looked around.
"So, when do we set out?"
He understood his role well.
The specifics of the soul hunt would be determined by the employer, Bi Yuntao, the client, and the team leader.
Chen Feng had no intention of stepping out of line.
His reminder snapped Bi Yuntao out of his daze.
"Ah, right! I'll now announce our plan!"
"Everyone, rest up and conserve your energy today. We set off tomorrow morning for the Star Dou Great Forest.
Our target is a 3,000–5,000-year-old soul beast.
We'll be going deeper than usual, so the risk is higher.
Everyone, stay sharp. Got it?"
"Got it!" the group responded in unison.
Bi Yuntao turned to the employer, his tone firm.
"Boss, even though you're the client, once the operation begins, you must follow my commands.
That includes you.
Do not separate from the team without permission.
If you do, we can't guarantee your safety."
"Understood," the employer nodded, then glanced at Chen Feng again.
Later that night.
Everyone returned to their rooms to rest.
Chen Feng took a hot shower and lay down early.
The days ahead would be exhausting. He needed to recover fully for what was coming.
After all, this mission wasn't just about helping the client obtain his fourth soul ring—he had his own goal too:
Obtaining his third ring.
But more than that… Chen Feng's thoughts turned to something else.
If his calculations were correct, then around this time, Zhao Wuji of Shrek Academy would also be leading Tang San and his companions into the Star Dou Great Forest.
Would they run into each other?
Quite possibly.
Chen Feng hadn't forgotten the Shura God's final mission.
But defeating Tang San in his twin godhood prime would be impossible.
No—if he wanted to succeed, he needed to weaken Tang San early, before he could rise to power.
Chen Feng had studied Tang San's life in detail.
And if he was right, this trip was when Tang San would obtain one of his greatest advantages—the external soul bone, Eight Spider Lances.
Unlike standard soul bones, external soul bones were incredibly rare.
They not only provided soul skills, but also grew stronger alongside the user.
It was one of the core reasons Tang San's power skyrocketed.
Chen Feng would not let him gain that advantage again.
Helping Tang San now would be aiding the enemy!
As his thoughts raced, a sudden sound interrupted him.
Click. Click.
Footsteps outside—light and crisp.
Then came a knock at the door.
"This late? Who could it be?"
Chen Feng furrowed his brow and opened the door cautiously.
And then…
He almost had a nosebleed on the spot.
Standing in the doorway was the only female soul master on the team, wearing a sheer, translucent black robe, her figure delicately outlined beneath it.
Her curves were stunning, and her proud, full chest left little to the imagination.
But the most shocking part?
She was Bi Yuntao's wife!