After deciding to hunt spirits with Liu Yue and her cousin, Lin Kun immediately began making intense preparations. With only three days, he had to maximize his ability to survive and handle danger.
First, he needed to handle the procedures for leaving the academy. He went to Dean of Sound Message again and applied for an extended leave, citing "a feeling that his spirit had been stirred and that he needed to seek a breakthrough opportunity in a specific environment." With the precedent of Wind Song Valley and the Grandmaster's tacit approval, Dean of Sound Message felt that this kid was nothing but trouble, but still approved the leave slip and warned him once more to stay safe.
Next came the most important matter—improving his strength! He looked at his system panel. After crazily grinding daily tasks, helping others, and the crowd drawn by Little White's Soul Wail last time—which counted as a minor plot fluctuation—he had actually accumulated 588 points! A considerable fortune!
"System! Open the shop! Filter out items I can afford that will directly help with spirit hunting!" Lin Kun commanded.
The light screen flickered, and the list refreshed:
Low-Grade Spirit Power Enhancement Potion x2: 100 points. (Ensure reaching Level 6 before spirit hunting) Low-Grade Spirit Skill Scroll - Gale Step: 300 points. (Temporarily increases movement speed; a godly skill for running away) One-time Soul Tool - Smoke Bomb x3: 150 points. (Obstructs vision and creates chaos) Low-Grade Healing Ointment x2: 100 points. (Emergency treatment for external injuries) Concealment Dust (small portion): 200 points. (Temporarily reduces presence and aura; effective against spirit beasts) Precise Map (Spirit Hunting Forest outskirts): 50 points.
Lin Kun calculated quickly. His points were limited, so he had to spend them carefully. Gale Step was important; combined with his movement technique, it could greatly increase his survival rate, but 300 points was too expensive. Concealment Dust could save his life at a critical moment, but it was expensive too. Smoke bombs and healing ointment were necessities. He also needed the Spirit Power potions—having a higher level was never a bad thing. The map was cheap and practical.
After hesitating for a long time, he made his choice. "Purchase Low-Grade Spirit Power Enhancement Potion x2! One-time Soul Tool - Smoke Bomb x3! Low-Grade Healing Ointment x2! Precise Map!"
Exchange successful! 400 points consumed. 188 points remaining.
A warm current flashed through him. The items were stored in the system space, and his Soul Power smoothly rose to Level 6. With 188 points remaining, he gritted his teeth and bought another portion of Concealment Dust. This left him with a pitiful -12 points—the system allowed minor overdrafts.
"I'm broke..." Lin Kun's heart ached, but seeing those life-saving tools in his system space made him feel much more secure.
He also used the money from selling information earlier, along with Xiao Chenyu's "compensation," to buy large amounts of jerky, water, rope, insect repellent powder, and other wilderness survival necessities from shops outside the academy, stuffing his backpack full.
Finally, he had to communicate with Little White. Through their mental resonance, he repeatedly emphasized, "It's dangerous outside. Stay obediently in my arms. Don't come out whenever you want, and definitely don't use that screaming skill unless it's absolutely necessary. Understand?"
Little White rubbed against his palm as if it half understood, chirped once, and took that as agreeing.
The three days passed in a flash. On the night before departure, Lin Kun was conducting his final checks when Tang San suddenly came to find him.
"I heard you're going out to obtain a Spirit Ring?" Tang San looked at Lin Kun's packed luggage, his tone calm. "Yeah, I feel like I'm nearing a bottleneck, so I want to try my luck outside." Lin Kun remained wary inwardly while keeping a normal expression. "Alone?" "With... friends." Lin Kun answered vaguely. Tang San was silent for a moment, then took out a small porcelain bottle from his clothes and handed it to Lin Kun. "This is detoxification powder I prepared myself. It works against most ordinary snake and insect venoms. Take it, just in case."
Lin Kun froze for a moment. He had not expected Tang San to give him this. He accepted the porcelain bottle, his emotions complicated. "Thank you..." "Spirit Hunting Forest is nothing like Wind Song Valley. It's full of danger. Know your limits." After saying that, Tang San turned and left.
Watching Tang San's departing back, Lin Kun tightened his grip on the porcelain bottle. This fellow villager was truly hard to read. Was it simply concern for someone from the same hometown? Or did he have other motives?
Early the next morning, before the sky had even brightened, Lin Kun quietly left Seventh Dormitory and arrived at the academy's side gate where they had agreed to meet.
Liu Yue and a tall, stern-faced young man carrying a long azure spear were already waiting there. The young man looked around eighteen or nineteen. His gaze was sharp, his aura steady. He was Liu Yue's cousin, Ling Feng, a Level 27 Agility Type Battle Spirit Master.
"Lin Kun, you're here! This is my cousin, Ling Feng," Liu Yue introduced quietly when she saw him. Ling Feng's gaze fell upon Lin Kun and swept over him like that of a hawk, lingering especially on the backpack at his waist and the bulging spot in his arms where Little White was hidden. He frowned slightly, seeming somewhat dismissive of Lin Kun's "weakness" and his decision to bring a "pet." But for his cousin's sake, he merely nodded indifferently. "Let's go. We're short on time."
His attitude was cold, but at least he showed no hostility. Lin Kun secretly used Insight Skill to observe him.
Ling Feng Level: 27 Spirit: Gale Spear Spirit Rings: Yellow, Yellow Traits: Extremely fast, sharp attacker, cautious and aloof personality.
He seemed like reliable fighting power. Lin Kun relaxed slightly.
The three of them said nothing more. They left Nuoding City and headed toward Spirit Hunting Forest.
Along the way, Ling Feng spoke little, only occasionally reminding them to watch their direction and stay alert to their surroundings. Liu Yue was somewhat nervous yet excited, speaking to Lin Kun from time to time to ease the atmosphere. Lin Kun remained silent for most of the journey, quietly observing their surroundings while using his Book Spirit to record the route and environment.
During a rest break, Ling Feng took out rations to share. Seeing Lin Kun also pull jerky from his backpack, he could not help saying, "Spirit hunting isn't a picnic. Conserve your strength. Unnecessary weight will only slow you down." Clearly, he still had an issue with Lin Kun carrying a "pet."
Lin Kun could only explain, "It's very well behaved. It won't cause trouble." Little White cooperatively wriggled in his arms without showing its head.
Ling Feng said nothing more, but the disapproval in his eyes remained obvious.
After a day of travel, the three finally arrived at the outskirts of Spirit Hunting Forest around dusk. Compared to the Spirit Hunting Forest near Nuoding City, this place was larger and carried a far more primitive, dangerous aura.
After paying the entry fee, the three entered the forest. The light immediately dimmed. The air was thick with the smell of moisture and decaying leaves, while faint beast roars occasionally echoed from afar.
Ling Feng's expression immediately turned serious. The Gale Spear Spirit silently possessed him, and one white and one yellow Spirit Ring slowly rotated beneath his feet. "Stay close to me, keep quiet, and watch the surroundings. Liu Yue, your target is an agile-type spirit beast at least five hundred years old. Focus on sensing. Lin Kun, you..." He glanced at Lin Kun. "Be careful yourself. If you encounter danger, shout for help."
"Understood." Lin Kun nodded and raised his vigilance to the utmost. Insight Skill expanded to its maximum range, his Book Spirit trembled faintly as it sensed everything around them. Mental Thread spread like invisible feelers within a five-meter radius, guarding against the slightest movement.
Ling Feng was clearly very familiar with Spirit Hunting Forest. The route he chose was relatively safe, avoiding several areas where powerful spirit beasts might dwell. Liu Yue also released her Spirit. Her Spirit was the rather rare Moonlight Orchid, which emitted a faint glow. It possessed a special affinity with plants and certain spirit beasts, helping with perception.
Along the way, they encountered several ten-year and several-decade spirit beasts, all of which Ling Feng easily drove away or avoided. Lin Kun silently recorded the information on those spirit beasts.
Night fell, and the three set up camp beneath a sheltered cliff face. Ling Feng skillfully arranged some simple warning traps, then assigned the night watch. "I'll take the first half of the night. Liu Yue will take the middle shift. Lin Kun, you'll take the last shift. Any objections?"
"No problem," Lin Kun and Liu Yue both answered.
The campfire crackled, driving away the night's chill and a trace of unease. The forest at night was far from quiet, with all manner of strange cries rising and falling.
Holding Little White, Lin Kun leaned against the cliff wall and pretended to sleep. In truth, he did not dare fall fully asleep, keeping Mental Thread on minimum alert at all times.
In the latter half of the night, it was Lin Kun's turn to keep watch. He sat by the campfire, adding firewood, his ears perked as he carefully listened to the sounds around him.
Suddenly, Little White shifted uneasily in his arms and let out an extremely faint chirp. Almost at the same moment, Insight Skill and the Book Spirit issued a warning! Warning! An abnormal Soul Power fluctuation detected one hundred meters ahead to the right! Number: three! Targets: unknown! Approaching slowly! Intent: unknown!
Someone was coming! Or rather, Spirit Masters were approaching! And they were moving stealthily, clearly with ill intent!
Lin Kun instantly sobered, cold sweat breaking out. He immediately nudged Ling Feng awake beside him and lowered his voice. "Brother Ling Feng, something's wrong! Three people are approaching from about a hundred meters ahead to the right!"
Ling Feng's eyes snapped open, sharp as blades, without the slightest confusion of someone newly awakened. He listened carefully for a moment, and his expression changed slightly. Clearly, he too had sensed the extremely faint disturbance.
"Wake Liu Yue. Prepare for anything." Ling Feng lowered his voice, tightening his grip on the Gale Spear as his gaze became incomparably grave.
The newcomers meant trouble! In the depths of Spirit Hunting Forest, silently approaching another group of Spirit Masters' camp in the dead of night was absolutely not a friendly act!
Lin Kun's heart rose to his throat. His first real battle and crisis seemed to be right before him!
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