Soul Land:The Dragon King's God of Nature

That afternoon, the Zero Class team led by Jing Shaoyu boarded the soul-powered train back to East Sea Academy, accompanied by their class teacher, Wu Zhangkong, and Director Long Hengxu from the Intermediate Division.

The trip from Tianhai City to East Sea City should have only taken an hour, but from the moment they boarded, Jing Shaoyu felt uneasy. He had a strong feeling that this would not be a peaceful journey. His gaze kept drifting toward Tang Wulin, who was sitting across the aisle.

"Let's hope Tang Wulin's 'Train Slayer' curse hasn't awakened yet," Jing Shaoyu thought to himself, silently praying.

Meanwhile, Tang Wulin was chatting excitedly with Xie Xie, discussing how they planned to spend their upcoming seven-day break.

"Xie Xie, any plans for the break?" Tang Wulin asked.

"Of course, I'm heading home!" Xie Xie answered without hesitation, rolling his eyes at Tang Wulin. "You guys, one after another, have all managed to get thousand-year spirit rings. I feel like if I don't do something, I'll be completely left out."

"So, are you planning to ask your family to help you increase your spirit ring's age?" Tang Wulin asked, "Do you plan to upgrade your spirit soul to a thousand-year one all at once?"

"A thousand years?" Xie Xie looked a bit helpless, responding, "You're really overestimating me. With my current physique, the most I could handle is an eight-hundred-year ring. How could I jump straight to a thousand? Unless, of course, I could find some kind of treasure to boost my body's strength."

"Got it." Tang Wulin nodded, somewhat disappointed. "It seems like thousand-year rings aren't that big a deal after all. You just need enough mental strength."

"Listen to yourself! Is that even something a normal person would say?" Xie Xie felt exasperated and frustrated, his face twisting in disbelief.

On the opposite side of the aisle, Xu Xiaoyan couldn't help but giggle at their conversation. Sitting beside her, Gu Yue and across from her, Jing Shaoyu, also shared amused smiles.

Xu Xiaoyan kicked her legs playfully, then called out to Jing Shaoyu, "Brother Shaoyu, this time, you must come to my house. My father and grandfather have been talking about it nonstop!"

Jing Shaoyu looked a bit awkward, smiling wryly, "Alright, alright, as soon as we're back in East Sea City, I'll head over tomorrow. How does that sound?"

"Perfect!" Xu Xiaoyan beamed, her face lighting up with a sweet smile. "Brother Shaoyu, you can come whenever you want. I promise, my dad and grandpa will be waiting eagerly for you at home!"

Xu Xiaoyan's enthusiasm left Jing Shaoyu speechless. This girl was really persistent.

Noticing Jing Shaoyu and Xu Xiaoyan's conversation, a hint of impatience crossed Gu Yue's face. She turned to look out the window, her gaze fixed on the scenery flashing by as if distancing herself would help her ignore it.

The train sped smoothly along the tracks. In the driver's cabin, the conductor was carrying out his routine checks, looking bored as he operated the controls. He had been on this Tianhai City to East Sea City route for twenty years and knew every part of it by heart. It had long since lost any sense of novelty, leaving him looking entirely uninterested.

After finishing his usual report and setting down the communicator, his eyes habitually glanced to the left window. He froze, and a wave of soul-chilling terror washed over him, draining the color from his face. His throat seemed gripped by an invisible hand, leaving him only able to make faint, strangled noises.

What did he see?

A person. A middle-aged man pressed against the cabin door, entirely naked, with a deathly pale complexion, devoid of any hint of blood flow, like a corpse. His eyes were a sinister shade of crimson, his mouth revealing a pair of sharp, gleaming fangs. The man grinned at the conductor, a horrifying smile spreading across his face, with two enormous, black-and-red bat-like wings stretching out from behind him.

"Boom—!"

A thunderous explosion suddenly echoed as the high-speed train derailed from its track, and eight carriages rolled over, scattering across the land dozens of meters from the tracks. The carriages slid across the ground, each one suffering various degrees of deformation. A thick, metallic scent of blood and heavy black smoke painted a scene of devastation.

The Zero Class team, along with Wu Zhangkong and Long Hengxu, managed to escape from their carriage. Their expressions were grim, and their demeanor tense. As soon as the crash occurred, they activated their spirits, circulating their soul power to shield themselves. Aside from being slightly shaken, they emerged unscathed.

"Stay on alert!" Wu Zhangkong's intuition told him that this was no mere accident but something far more sinister. With his Skyfrost Sword in hand and seven spirit rings floating behind him, his aura flared as he scanned their surroundings with icy eyes. Long Hengxu glanced at Wu Zhangkong's rings and swallowed hard, surprised to see seven rings. When did Wu Zhangkong break through to Spirit Saint? And without any word of it! Now, Long Hengxu thought, he'd have an even harder time keeping Wu Zhangkong in check.

With a sigh, Long Hengxu activated his own spirit and spirit rings.

The Zero Class students were also shocked to see Wu Zhangkong's seven rings. While they were pleased, it mostly made them shudder, realizing that his training regimen would now be even more intense.

"Everyone, back-to-back, stick close to Mr. Wu and Director Long!" Jing Shaoyu quickly shook off his surprise and issued a command in a low, steady voice.

Despite the absurdity of the situation, this was not the time to lose focus. Thanks to his Primal Spirit's unique abilities, he sensed an eerie chill in the air—a darkness colder than mere temperature, infused with a sinister, malevolent energy.

"Yes!" The others responded instantly, moving to form a tight group behind Wu Zhangkong and Long Hengxu.

Meanwhile, passengers from the other carriages were also climbing out. Many were soul masters, the majority of them Soul Masters and Grandmasters, with some Soul Elders and Soul Ancestors, and even a few Soul Kings and Soul Emperors. But among them, only Wu Zhangkong held the Spirit Saint level.

These survivors promptly activated their own spirits and spirit rings. In an instant, white, yellow, purple, and black rings filled the area, driving away the pervasive gloom of the crash site.

Of the original four hundred passengers, fewer than two hundred had survived. Most of the survivors were soul masters, while the remaining few ordinary passengers bore various injuries. Those rescued by soul masters or who managed to escape alone wore expressions of shock, grief, and despair.

Just as confusion and helplessness spread among the majority, a thick, iron-tinged scent of blood drifted from the train's front car, accompanied by an unsettling, high-pitched laugh.

"Kekeke~"

Wu Zhangkong immediately turned his gaze to the front car, his eyes flashing with murderous intent as deep-rooted hatred surged within him. His voice was as cold as ice. "An evil soul master!"

"Kekeke~ Quite the haul this time! A Spirit Saint, three Soul Emperors, four Soul Kings, dozens of Soul Ancestors and Soul Elders, and nearly a hundred Soul Masters and Grandmasters. Kekeke~ I can hardly wait to devour them all!"

A raspy, maniacal voice echoed from the front car, and an eerie red figure darted out with inhuman speed, pouncing on a nearby three-ringed Soul Elder.

"Ah—!"

A sharp, abrupt scream pierced the air, then was suddenly cut off, followed by the sickening sound of flesh tearing. After that, there was only silence.

The crimson figure's sudden appearance sent terror through the crowd, and those nearest the front car instinctively backed away, fearing they'd be next.

No one dared make a move. Even Wu Zhangkong, though filled with hatred for evil soul masters, remained cautious. With a somber expression, he quietly summoned his battle armor, entering his fully armed Skyfrost form. Yet there was no hint of relief in his gaze.

"Remember, when facing unknown enemies, staying calm and composed is paramount. Never act rashly," Wu Zhangkong said to his students as he kept his eyes locked on the threat ahead.

But just as Wu Zhangkong was imparting this lesson, shadowy figures in dark robes began to emerge around them, spreading out at strategic points and subtly forming a circle to surround the survivors.

The survivors quickly noticed the ominous figures, and their faces went pale. If it had been just one evil soul master, there might have been hope, but a whole group of them? That left only one fate.

"Everyone, I am a teacher from East Sea Academy! Gather toward us!" Wu Zhangkong shouted resolutely, raising his Skyfrost Sword high, with seven spirit rings shining brightly behind him and his two-word battle armor gleaming. His display of power gave the scattered, frightened survivors a glimmer of hope and a direction.

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