Chapter 71: Return to the Star Dou Great Forest

"Qin Jian, how do you plan to train the team's coordination next?"

After the day's team training ended and the girls had dispersed, Yan Zhining pulled Qin Jian along to the cafeteria to eat.

Nowadays, the female students in the academy had gradually grown accustomed to Qin Jian's presence; although they would still cast glances when they saw him, at least they no longer crowded around to watch.

"Instructor Zhineng, there is no better training for team coordination than actual combat..."

Qin Jian sat by the table and said, "Now that Xue Wu and Yu Hairou are both at Level 30 soul power, they are in urgent need of obtaining their Third Soul Ring, so I plan to take them on a trip to the Star Dou Great Forest and live there for a period of time."

"The Star Dou Great Forest?"

Yan Zhining frowned: "Generally speaking, when you team members need to obtain soul rings, you would be accompanied by us instructors to hunt them. It is very difficult for you to rely on yourselves; after all, the requirement for a Third Soul Ring is at least a thousand-year Soul Beast."

"Instructor Zhineng, there are eight of us. If our coordination is good enough, hunting a thousand-year Soul Beast will be no problem..."

Qin Jian said, "This is the key to our integration. If our team can't even do this, how can we participate in the Elite Tournament of the Advanced Spirit Master Academies of the entire Dalu?"

Yan Zhining nodded: "What you say is not wrong, but the areas inside the Star Dou Great Forest are extremely dangerous, and Ten Thousand Year Spirit Beasts may appear, so you can only operate in the outer perimeter, and I will follow secretly to protect you."

"But if you go inside, I might not be able to protect you," Yan Zhining said.

Qin Jian nodded to show he understood.

A hint of a smile flashed in his lowered eyes, which was not discovered by Yan Zhining.

"The Star Dou Great Forest... that is my home turf... how could there be any danger there..."

Just like that, a week passed.

When everyone was fully prepared, Qin Jian led the seven girls and walked out of the academy with a swagger, passing through the gazes of countless people in Tianshui City in a very flashy manner, heading toward the Star Dou Great Forest.

These girls had been cultivating in the academy for several years and hadn't left for a long time. Now, they were like a group of frolicking rabbits, wanting to see and play in every place, which severely reduced their speed of advance.

Yan Zhining, who was in the shadows, shook her head incessantly: "These little ones really need to be tempered properly. With this kind of discipline, they still want to participate in the Spirit Master Elite Tournament?"

Along the way, Qin Jian didn't bother them, letting them play as they pleased, while he was responsible for chatting and flirting with Shui Bing'er, enjoying himself.

Even after entering the Star Dou Great Forest, they still couldn't get nervous. Fortunately, the ones encountered in the outermost perimeter were all Soul Beasts of a few decades or at most a hundred years, posing no threat to them.

Until they encountered the first thousand-year Soul Beast, a Blood-Sucking Demon Fox...

"Bing'er! Quickly seal it!"

Amidst Qiu Ruoshui's panicked voice, Shui Bing'er didn't even think before locking her spirit onto the Blood-Sucking Demon Fox and releasing her First Soul Skill: "Ice Seal!"

Crack! Crack!

The unavoidable First Soul Skill was indeed effective. Several Assault System Soul Masters, Yu Hairou, Shen Liuyu, and Qiu Ruoshui, immediately surrounded and attacked, while the Agility Attack System's Gu Qingbo and Shui Yue'er also flew up quickly to help.

Unfortunately, they underestimated the strength of a thousand-year Soul Beast; it broke free from Shui Bing'er's Ice Seal with just a sharp fox howl.

"Woof!"

The blood-colored fox's body expanded several times over and spun at high speed, becoming like a rapidly expanding blood ball, instantly knocking all five people who were surrounding it away.

"Swish!"

Its cunning blood-red eyes glanced at everyone in the woods, and then its figure flashed, actually charging toward Xue Wu who was standing in the back.

At this moment, the other five were temporarily exhausted, and Shui Bing'er was at a loss; the ferocious fox claws were about to grab right in front of Xue Wu.

"Xue Wu! ——"

Several people exclaimed.

At this time, Qin Jian, who had been watching the show, finally moved: "Bing'er, Second Soul Skill!"

"Ah... yes!"

The second soul ring at Shui Bing'er's feet lit up subconsciously: "Second Soul Skill, Ice Soul Armor!"

Crack, crack, crack...

A group defensive armor instantly appeared on Xue Wu and Qin Jian.

"Bang!"

Under the attack of the thousand-year Soul Beast, the ice-blue armor shattered upon contact.

But that momentary pause was enough. Qin Jian had already rushed near Xue Wu, holding his martial soul Sword: "Sword Qi!"

A streak of Sword Light slashed out, landing right on the side of the Magic Fox, knocking it back a few steps.

"Xue Wu! Second Soul Skill, give it to me!"

At his command, Xue Wu hurriedly cast her Second Soul Skill, adding 30% defense and attack to him.

"Second Soul Skill, Sword of Original Heart!"

Taking advantage of the moment the Magic Fox's blood-sucking eyes stared over, Qin Jian's eyes instantly filled with Sword Qi.

His own attributes were all increased!

The opponent's attributes were all decreased!

"First Soul Skill, Charm Sword!"

He didn't relax at all, and the next moment he used his First Soul Skill as well.

The Magic Fox, which had already been biting down, suddenly stiffened and paused for two seconds.

"Swish, swish, swish!"

At such an opportunity, Qin Jian slashed ten consecutive Sword Qi, blasting the Magic Fox until its skin was torn and flesh was mangled.

And the others finally recovered, each rushing forward.

"Woof!"

Unfortunately, the Blood-Sucking Demon Fox was very cunning. Seeing that the situation was not right, it turned and ran, not giving them any chance to kill it...

"Hoo, hoo..."

Seeing the Soul Beast finally retreat, almost everyone sat on the ground in an instant, panting desperately; only Qin Jian performed slightly better.

After waiting for the seven girls' emotions to calm down, he walked to the center of the group and said, "Come on, next is summary time. Just like when we practice dancing, let's properly summarize the problems just now."

However, several people were a bit silent, especially Shui Bing'er, who couldn't even lift her head.

"Before we entered the Star Dou Great Forest, what was the arrangement I gave you?"

Qin Jian was not particularly stern, but the seven girls couldn't help but straighten their bodies, listening to him speak earnestly.

"My arrangement was: Bing'er is responsible for command and crowd control, Xue Wu is responsible for support and observation, the others are to follow orders, and I will guard the formation."

He pointed at Xue Wu and said, "Come, starting with Xue Wu, one by one, tell me if you managed to do that just now."

Xue Wu couldn't help but lower her head, saying in a low voice, "I didn't do anything just now; before they faced the Soul Beast, I should have already applied the group support soul skill..."

"And I didn't pay attention to my positioning; as the only Support-type Soul Master in the team, I should have stood in the safest position... according to the previous arrangement, I should have stayed right behind you, Captain..."

Qin Jian nodded and said, "Not bad. If you had been standing behind me just now, the Magic Fox wouldn't have been able to attack you, and it wouldn't have caused such a perilous situation."

"Next, Ruoshui, you speak; did you meet my requirements just now?"

He pointed at Qiu Ruoshui again.

This girl, who was usually always cheerful, couldn't lift her head now either.

"I... my problem is quite big... even bigger than the mistake Xue Wu made..."

(End of chapter)