After successfully absorbing the four-hundred-year Mandala Snake Spirit Ring, Tang San's strength underwent a qualitative leap. His thirteenth-level Soul Power and Blue Silver Grass Spirit, now endowed with potent toxicity and exceptional toughness, gave him the combat power of a true Spirit Master. On the way back, his steps were noticeably lighter, and his face carried unconcealed excitement and confidence.
Grandmaster looked radiant as well, his eyes filled with pride and satisfaction whenever he looked at Tang San. The successful validation of his limit Spirit Ring theory was immensely significant to him, even more thrilling than an increase in his own Soul Power. His guidance for Tang San became even more meticulous as he constantly helped him familiarize himself with and test his newly acquired first Spirit Skill—Binding.
Lin Kun followed silently behind them, his feelings complicated. On one hand, he was thrilled to have successfully gained 200 points and an unknown Spirit Skill scroll. On the other, Tang San's rapid progress weighed on his heart like a massive boulder. Rather than narrowing, the gap between them was only growing wider. Moreover, he vaguely sensed that the way Tang San looked at him had changed in some subtle way.
It was no longer merely the affection between fellow villagers or recognition of a valuable teammate. There was now a hint of... investigation and barely perceptible scrutiny.
Was it because of his "coincidental" performance during the Mandala Snake's attack? Or because his vague hint about "compatibility" had prompted Tang San to take the risk of absorbing the Spirit Ring? Tang San was meticulous by nature and not someone easily fooled. He might not suspect Lin Kun of intending him harm, but he would certainly be curious about just how many secrets Lin Kun's "Book Spirit" still concealed.
"Lin Kun." Sure enough, during a rest break, Tang San casually sat down beside him. "During this Spirit Hunt, we were able to avoid so many dangers thanks to your sensing ability."
"I was just lucky. My Spirit happened to be somewhat useful." Lin Kun kept a low profile, attributing the credit to his Spirit and good fortune.
Tang San smiled. His smile was gentle, but his gaze was sharp as a blade. "It wasn't just sensing. When we dealt with the Mandala Snake at the end, I felt like it hesitated for an instant... a very strange hesitation. Do you think there might have been something else in the forest that it was afraid of?"
Here it came! He was testing me!
Lin Kun's heart tightened, but he put on a confused, lingeringly frightened expression. "Huh? Was there? I was terrified at the time and didn't notice anything... I just saw it charge at us, and then your flying knife hit it... Tang San, you're amazing!" He once again put his acting skills to use, steering the topic back to Tang San while offering sincere-looking praise.
Tang San gave him a long look. Finding no flaw, he did not press further and merely said flatly, "Perhaps I sensed it wrong. Your Spirit is very special. Cultivate well, and you will certainly have a promising future."
It sounded like encouragement, but Lin Kun heard another meaning beneath it—I'll remember your secret.
An invisible barrier and wariness quietly began to grow between them.
Grandmaster seemed not to notice the undercurrents between the two youths. He was still immersed in the joy of his theory's success, occasionally testing Tang San's control over his Spirit Skill and once again praising Lin Kun's auxiliary sensing ability.
The three traveled in silence and returned safely to Nuoding Academy.
When Tang San released his Blue Silver Grass, its yellow Spirit Ring flickering around it, the entire Seventh Dormitory erupted!
"A hundred-year Spirit Ring! It really is a hundred-year Spirit Ring!" "Tang San, you're incredible!" "A hundred-year Spirit Ring for his first ring! As expected of someone with Innate Full Spirit Power!"
The work-study students crowded around him, their faces full of envy and admiration. Xiao Wu was so excited that she jumped up and clapped her hands. "I knew Little San was the best! Hurry up and let me see your new Spirit Skill!"
Tang San smiled faintly. With a thought, deep-blue Blue Silver Grass quietly spread out and instantly wrapped around the leg of an empty bed nearby. Purple light flashed, and a faint sizzling sound came from the solid wood as pale marks of corrosion appeared on it!
"That's amazing!" everyone cried.
Xiao Wu's eyes sparkled as she grabbed Tang San's arm and chattered away with endless questions, completely forgetting Lin Kun beside them.
Lin Kun stood at the edge of the crowd, watching Tang San being surrounded and Xiao Wu's intimacy with him. The sense of urgency and pressure in his heart grew even heavier. The protagonist's halo remained dazzling, made even brighter by his own "push."
He silently returned to his corner, sat cross-legged, and sank his consciousness into the system space. Right now, he desperately needed to improve himself!
The 200 points had arrived. Added to the 130 points he had left over previously, along with the scattered points earned from miscellaneous tasks, he now had a full 345 Plot Breakdown Points!
What he looked forward to even more was that Random Spirit Skill Comprehension Scroll (Low-Grade).
"Use the scroll," he silently said in his heart.
Ding! Use successful! Randomly drawing a low-grade Spirit Skill compatible with the host's Spirit... Drawing... Congratulations, host, you have comprehended the Beginner Active Spirit Skill: Mental Thread!
A stream of information flooded 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 Power to condense an invisible, intangible thread of Mental Power that can extend up to ten meters. It can be used for extremely fine detection, transmitting weak information, or exceptionally precise pulling and manipulation (with weak force). It can interact with other mental-type abilities. Cooldown: Short.
It was neither a powerful offensive Spirit Skill nor a defensive one. It was an auxiliary, control-oriented ability!
Lin Kun was stunned for a moment before being overwhelmed with joy! This Spirit Skill had practically been tailor-made for him!
The core of his Book Spirit was recording and analysis, which required vast amounts of information. Mental Thread's extremely fine detection ability could perfectly compensate for the shortcomings in Insight Skill's range and precision! It could even inspect visual blind spots such as cracks and gaps!
As for its precise pulling and manipulation ability, although its force was weak, when paired with other abilities he might acquire in the future, it could perhaps produce extraordinary effects! More importantly, it could interact with Spirit Shock? How exactly would they interact?
Lin Kun could not wait to try it. But he suppressed the urge. There were too many people here, and it was not a good place to experiment.
He then turned his attention to the system shop. With 345 points, what could he buy?
Low-Grade Spirit Power Enhancement Potion: 50 points. He could buy several more to quickly raise his level. Basic Movement Technique Outline: 100 points. Improves evasion and mobility, crucial for survival. Low-Grade Spirit Beast Core (ten-year): 80 points. Contains weak energy and can assist cultivation or serve as material for certain items. Single-Use Defensive Talisman (can withstand one strike from a level 20 Spirit Master): 200 points. A life-saving trump card.
After thinking for a moment, Lin Kun first spent 100 points to purchase the Basic Movement Technique Outline. Soul Power levels could be cultivated gradually, but survival abilities had to be improved first. His experience in the Spirit Hunting Forest had made him deeply aware of the importance of speed.
He then spent another 50 points to purchase a Low-Grade Spirit Power Enhancement Potion, intending to use it tonight and strive to break through to level 4 as soon as possible.
He temporarily kept the remaining 195 points in reserve for emergencies.
After the exchange was completed, knowledge concerning basic footwork, force application techniques, and evasive awareness flooded into his mind, as though it had been tempered through countless trials. His body also seemed to become a little lighter.
His strength was accumulating bit by bit.
Just as he was absorbing his newly acquired knowledge, a cheerful figure hopped in front of him.
"Hey, Lin Kun!" Xiao Wu clasped her hands behind her back, bent at the waist, and brought her pretty face close to his. Her large eyes blinked brightly. "How did it feel going on a Spirit Hunt with Little San this time? Did it scare you so badly that you cried?"
She seemed to have completely moved on from the unpleasantness at the library and had returned to treating Lin Kun with that mixture of teasing and curiosity.
Lin Kun raised his head. Looking at her lovely face so close by, he could clearly smell the faint fragrance on the young girl. He smiled. "It was alright. It really was dangerous, though. We were fortunate to have Grandmaster and Tang San."
"Of course! Little San is the best!" Xiao Wu proudly raised her chin before asking curiously, "I heard your Spirit can sense Spirit Beasts? Hurry up and release it so I can see how it senses them!"
Her voice was not quiet, immediately drawing the attention of quite a few people nearby, including Tang San, who had just finished demonstrating his ability.
Tang San also looked at Lin Kun, his gaze profound. Clearly, he was very interested in this question as well.
Lin Kun silently cursed the trouble, but outwardly, he could only cooperate. With a thought, that ancient Book Spirit appeared in his palm, completely devoid of any radiance.
"It's like this... when they're close, I seem to be able to vaguely sense the strength of a Spirit Beast's aura and its general type. I can't really explain it clearly..." he said vaguely.
Xiao Wu curiously reached out with a slender finger, wanting to touch the book, only to find that her finger passed straight through it. "Eh? I can't touch it? What a strange book." She fiddled with it a few times, but seeing no response at all, quickly lost interest.
"Alright, alright. Looks like there's nothing fun about it." She pouted and ran back to Tang San's side.
Tang San's gaze rested on Lin Kun's Book Spirit for several seconds, as though he wanted to discern something from it. In the end, he merely looked away thoughtfully.
Lin Kun put away his Spirit and secretly let out a breath. Dealing with these overly curious protagonists was truly exhausting.
But he knew this was only the beginning. As he continued to grow stronger and trigger more tasks, his interactions and clashes with Tang San and the others would only become more frequent and more intense.
Life at Nuoding Academy was destined not to remain peaceful.
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