Return Journey and Hidden Grudges

After absorbing the 400-year Mandala Snake Spirit Ring, Tang San's strength underwent a qualitative leap. With Level 13 Spirit Power and the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, which possessed intense toxicity and extreme toughness, he truly gained the combat power of a Spirit Master. On the way back, his steps were much lighter, and his face held unconcealed excitement and confidence.

The Grandmaster was even more radiant, his gaze towards Tang San filled with pride and relief. The successful validation of the Extreme Spirit Ring theory was immensely significant to him, even more thrilling than an increase in his own Spirit Power. His guidance for Tang San also became more meticulous, constantly helping him familiarize himself with and test his newly acquired first Spirit Skill—Entangle.

Lin Kun followed silently behind, his mood complex. On one hand, he was excited about successfully obtaining 200 points and that unknown Spirit Skill scroll; on the other hand, Tang San's rapid progress felt like a huge rock pressing down on his heart. The gap between them hadn't shrunk; instead, it was widening. Moreover, he vaguely felt that Tang San's gaze towards him seemed to have undergone a subtle change.

It was no longer the simple camaraderie of fellow villagers or the recognition of a valuable teammate, but something more... investigative and imperceptibly scrutinizing.

Was it due to his "coincidental" performance during the Mandala Snake attack? Or was it his vague hint about "compatibility" that prompted Tang San to risk absorbing the Spirit Ring? Tang San was meticulous and not easily fooled. He might not suspect Lin Kun of having malicious intent, but he would definitely be curious about how many more secrets his "Book Spirit" was hiding.

"Lin Kun." As expected, during a rest break, Tang San casually sat down beside him. "During this spirit hunt, thanks to your sensing abilities, we were able to avoid so much danger."

"I was just lucky, and my Martial Soul happened to be useful," Lin Kun maintained a low profile, attributing the credit to his Martial Soul and luck.

Tang San smiled gently, but his eyes were sharp as knives. "It's not just sensing. When dealing with the Mandala Snake at the end, I felt it hesitated for a moment... a very strange hesitation. Do you think there might be something else in this forest that it feared?"

Here it comes! He's starting to probe!

Lin Kun's heart tightened, but he feigned confusion and fear. "Huh? Was there? I was terrified at the time and didn't notice anything... I just saw it charge over, and then your flying dagger hit it... Tang San, you're amazing!" He put on an act again, diverting the topic back to Tang San and offering seemingly sincere flattery.

Tang San gave him a deep look. Finding no flaws, he didn't press further, merely saying lightly, "Perhaps I sensed it incorrectly. Your Martial Soul is very special; cultivate it well, and you'll achieve great things in the future."

While these words sounded encouraging, Lin Kun heard a different meaning—I've noted your secret.

An invisible barrier and wariness quietly grew between the two.

The Grandmaster seemed oblivious to the undercurrents between the two youths, still immersed in the joy of his theory's success. He occasionally tested Tang San's control over his Spirit Skills and once again praised Lin Kun's auxiliary sensing abilities.

They returned to Nuoding Academy without further incident.

When Tang San released the Blue Silver Grass, which shimmered with a yellow Spirit Ring, the entire Seventh Dormitory erupted!

"A hundred-year Spirit Ring! It's really a hundred-year Spirit Ring!" "Tang San, you're incredible!" "Your first Spirit Ring is a hundred-year one! As expected of Innate Full Spirit Power!"

The work-study students surrounded him, their faces full of envy and admiration. Xiao Wu jumped up excitedly, clapping her hands, "I knew Xiao San was the best! Let me see your new Spirit Skill!"

Tang San smiled slightly. With a thought, the deep blue Blue Silver Grass quietly spread out, instantly coiling around the leg of an empty bed nearby. With a faint purple glow, the solid wood emitted a slight "sizzling" sound, corroding into faint traces!

"Amazing!" everyone exclaimed.

Xiao Wu's eyes sparkled. She grabbed Tang San's arm and chattered incessantly, completely forgetting Lin Kun standing beside them.

Lin Kun stood at the edge of the crowd, watching Tang San being surrounded and Xiao Wu's intimate interaction with him. The sense of urgency and pressure in his heart intensified. The protagonist's halo remained dazzling, even brighter due to his "push."

He silently returned to his corner, sat down cross-legged, and sank his consciousness into the system space. He desperately needed to improve himself now!

The 200 points had arrived, along with the remaining 130 points and scattered points from various tasks, giving him a total of 345 Plot Breakdown Points!

Even more anticipated was the [Random Spirit Skill Comprehension Scroll (Beginner)].

"Use scroll," he silently commanded in his mind.

[Ding! Usage successful! Randomly drawing a Beginner Spirit Skill compatible with the host's Martial Soul...] [Drawing...] [Congratulations to the host, you have comprehended the Beginner Active Spirit Skill: Mental Thread!]

A stream of information flowed into Lin Kun's mind, clearly presenting the usage and effects of [Mental Thread].

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[Mental Thread: Beginner Active Spirit Skill. Consumes a moderate amount of mental energy to condense an invisible, formless thread of mental energy, extendable up to ten meters. Can be used for extremely fine detection, transmitting weak information, or performing extremely precise manipulation (weak force). Can be linked with other mental abilities. Cooldown: Short.]

It wasn't a powerful offensive or defensive Spirit Skill, but an auxiliary, control-oriented ability!

Lin Kun was stunned at first, then ecstatic! This Spirit Skill was tailor-made for him!

The core of his Book Spirit was recording and analyzing, requiring a vast amount of information. The extremely fine detection ability of [Mental Thread] could perfectly compensate for the distance and precision limitations of [Insight Skill]! It could even probe visual blind spots like gaps and crevices!

And the precise manipulation ability, although weak in force, might yield miraculous effects when combined with other abilities he might acquire in the future! More importantly, it could be linked with [Spirit Shock]? How could it be linked?

Lin Kun couldn't wait to try. But he suppressed the impulse; there were too many people around, and it wasn't a good place to experiment.

He turned his gaze back to the system store. With 345 points, what could he buy?

[Low-Grade Spirit Power Enhancement Potion]: 50 points. He could buy a few more to quickly increase his level. [Basic Movement Technique Outline]: 100 points. Improves evasion and movement capabilities, crucial for survival. [Low-Grade Spirit Beast Core (10-Year)]: 80 points. Contains weak energy, can aid cultivation or serve as material for certain items. [One-time Defense Talisman (Can withstand one blow from a Level 20 Spirit Master)]: 200 points. A trump card for survival.

Lin Kun pondered for a moment and first spent 100 points to purchase the [Basic Movement Technique Outline]. Spirit Power levels could be cultivated slowly, but survival abilities had to be prioritized. His experience in the Spirit Hunting Forest had taught him the importance of speed.

He then spent another 50 points to buy a [Low-Grade Spirit Power Enhancement Potion], planning to use it tonight to strive for Level 4 as soon as possible.

The remaining 195 points, he decided to save for now, in case of unforeseen needs.

After the exchange was complete, knowledge about basic footwork, power-exertion techniques, and evasion awareness flooded his mind, as if tempered through countless trials. His body also felt a touch lighter.

Strength was accumulating, bit by bit.

Just as he was absorbing the new knowledge, a cheerful figure jumped in front of him.

"Hey, Lin Kun!" Xiao Wu put her hands behind her back, bent down, and brought her pretty face close to his, her big eyes blinking. "How was it going on the spirit hunt with Xiao San this time? Did you get so scared you cried?"

She seemed to have completely moved past the unpleasantness at the library and had returned to her teasing and curious attitude towards Lin Kun.

Lin Kun looked up at the charming face so close to him, clearly smelling the faint fragrance emanating from the girl. He smiled, "It was alright. It was indeed very dangerous; thankfully, we had the Grandmaster and Tang San."

"Of course! Xiao San is the most amazing!" Xiao Wu proudly lifted her chin, then asked curiously, "I heard your Martial Soul can sense Spirit Beasts? Hurry and release it for me to see, how exactly does it sense them?"

Her voice wasn't quiet, and it immediately drew the attention of many people around, including Tang San, who had just finished his demonstration.

Tang San also looked at Lin Kun, his gaze deep, clearly very interested in this question.

Lin Kun inwardly cursed the trouble but could only play along on the surface. With a thought, his ancient Book Spirit materialized in his palm, devoid of any radiance.

"It's like this... when I'm close, I can vaguely sense the strength and general type of a Spirit Beast's aura. I can't quite explain it clearly myself..." he offered vaguely.

Xiao Wu curiously extended a slender finger, attempting to touch the book. To her surprise, her finger passed right through it. "Huh? I can't touch it? What a strange book." She fiddled with it a few times, finding no reaction, and quickly lost interest.

"Alright, alright, seems like there's nothing fun about it," she pouted and ran back to Tang San's side.

Tang San's gaze lingered on Lin Kun's Book Spirit for a few seconds, as if trying to discern something. Ultimately, he merely shifted his gaze away thoughtfully.

Lin Kun retracted his Spirit, secretly breathing a sigh of relief. Dealing with these curious protagonists was truly exhausting.

But he knew this was just the beginning. As he grew stronger and triggered more quests, his interactions and clashes with Tang San and the others would only become more frequent and intense.

His days at Nuoding Academy were destined to be anything but peaceful.