Journey to the Soul Hunting Forest

It was already ten in the morning by the time Zu Zong and Blanklin had finished purchasing supplies.

The Split Soul Forest was a full four hundred li from Nuoding City.

Because the journey was long, Blanklin paid out of pocket to hire a large carriage for the two of them.

The roads within Nuoding City were fairly smooth, but once they left the city, they became much harder to travel. After a full day of jolting about, Zu Zong, who had been accustomed to cars in his previous life, found his poor backside quite uncomfortable.

Long waits were the most boring, so on the second day, Zu Zong started a conversation.

"Dean of Students, could you tell me about your Martial Soul?"

Dean of Students Blanklin chuckled, as though he had seen through Zu Zong's little scheme.

"Heh, kid, I thought you could hold it in a little longer! Fine, I'll introduce my Martial Soul to you."

"Martial Soul Possession—Green Bull. Moo!"

A powerful blue-violet light suddenly erupted from his body. Blanklin stretched both arms out to his sides and thrust out his chest. His bones crackled, his muscles abruptly swelled, and his clothes were stretched taut. Every muscle stood out distinctly beneath the fabric, and even the air around him seemed to grow frenzied.

The carriage shook several times. Had Blanklin not deliberately restrained himself, the entire carriage would likely have been overturned on the spot.

His black hair instantly turned a mix of blue and gray, with blue taking up most of it, while a few gray strands stood out sharply. Two faint rings of patterns emerged on his forehead, and a pair of bull horns grew from them.

Blanklin slowly bent forward. His brown pupils expanded and eventually turned a deep, dark blue, making him seem like a locomotive about to charge straight at someone.

Three gleaming rings rose one after another beneath his feet, drifting quietly upward—one white and two yellow. As the Soul Rings revolved, surging Soul Power formed a wave-like pressure that rushed forward, blowing the carriage curtains straight out horizontally.

Zu Zong was unaffected. Familiar with the original story, he had long since gathered Soul Power beneath his feet and remained completely still.

The coachman driving the carriage was not so fortunate. He was nearly blown away by the gust of Blanklin's Soul Power, and even the horses were almost frightened.

The coachman could not help but smile bitterly. "Respected Lord Soul Master, please keep it down a little. Otherwise, I can't drive the carriage properly."

Blanklin had originally wanted to show off his strength before Zu Zong. Seeing Zu Zong remain calm while the coachman had been affected instead, he could not help but blush in embarrassment. He hurriedly withdrew his Martial Soul, and the carriage returned to calm.

"Ahem, well, let me introduce myself properly. Blanklin, level 32 assault-type battle Soul Elder. Martial Soul: Green Bull."

"First Soul Skill—Rapid Charge. It lets me burst forth at twice my normal speed in an instant and ram into an enemy."

"Second Soul Skill—Iron Bull Hoof. It makes my limbs harder than cast iron, granting both offense and defense."

"Third Soul Skill—Super Horn Cannon. I was rather lucky. With the Dean's help, I hunted a rare Thunder Bird Soul Beast that was on the verge of advancing to a thousand years. After Martial Soul Possession, I can fire a lightning ball from my massive horns. Its destructive power is immense; if it hits, even a Soul Ancestor will be injured. The only problem is that it consumes a great deal of Soul Power. With my current reserves, I can only use it three times."

After saying that, Blanklin cast Zu Zong a proud glance, then closed his eyes. So? You should be completely won over by my formidable strength by now, right?

Come on! Hurry up and ask to become my disciple! I, Blanklin, will take you in.

After a long while, he still did not hear Zu Zong ask to become his disciple. Blanklin opened his eyes and saw Zu Zong leaning his head out of the carriage, looking through the window.

"Eh? Zu Zong, what are you looking at?"

Pulling back his gaze, Zu Zong answered, "Dean of Students, I think we're almost there. There are so many stalls outside."

In Zu Zong's impression, forests should have been filled with the breath of nature—deep, secluded, tranquil, with fresh air and few people.

But the Soul Hunting Forest before him looked exactly like a secondhand market, brimming with mercenary vibes.

Outside the forest stood large stretches of buildings, or rather, shops. Calls and shouts rose one after another, while simple man-made paths crisscrossed between them.

"Have a permit! Forming a group to hunt control-type Soul Beasts! Need three more!"

"Hunting agility-type Soul Beasts! Seven people waiting on a permit! Ten Gold Soul Coins!"

Similar cries rose and fell continuously. Most of the shops sold weapons, armor, and various food supplies.

The prices displayed above the shops made Zu Zong frown repeatedly. Had he not visited the market yesterday, he might not have thought much of it, but after comparing them today...

Damn, this is even more expensive than the moving laborers from my past life. They sold a bottle of mineral water for five at most, but here they could charge ten.

Zu Zong could not help sighing. "Soul Masters really do make easy money."

Hearing Zu Zong's remark, Blanklin threw back his head and laughed loudly. Gone was his usual refined manner; he appeared exceptionally forthright.

"Haha, of course! Soul Masters are the noblest profession on the Douluo Continent. Powerful Soul Masters are welcomed wherever they go."

"Ahem, take me, a Soul Elder, for example. Not only has Nuoding Academy hired me as its Dean of Students with a generous salary, but I can also collect a monthly subsidy of one hundred Gold Soul Coins from Spirit Hall."

How about that? Impressive, isn't it? Then hurry up and become my disciple!

Zu Zong rolled his eyes at Blanklin. Ever since they had left the academy, Blanklin seemed to have thrown off his shackles and completely let himself go. He no longer resembled the cultured and refined man he had been before.

Along the way, Blanklin had kept boasting about his strength and even hinted repeatedly that Zu Zong should become his disciple.

Pah! I thought you were a decent man, but you're just another one lusting after this young master's body.

Zu Zong stopped and pointed ahead with his right hand. "Dean of Students, we're almost there!"

Seeing that they had reached the entrance to the Soul Hunting Forest, Blanklin's expression tightened. His gaze deepened, and he regained his usual seriousness.

He took Zu Zong's hand and said solemnly, "Zu Zong, today I'll teach you your first lesson as a Soul Master. From now on, I am no longer your academy teacher, but a teammate with whom you entrust your life and death. You may trust me, but you must still remain wary, because the most terrifying thing in a Soul Beast forest is not the Soul Beasts, but the human heart. Wealth moves people's hearts. If we encounter any treasure, the person who stabs you in the back may very well be the teammate you trust most."

"I understand, Teacher."

Zu Zong nodded in agreement.

When the two reached the forest's outer perimeter, they saw a massive steel fence. Its side facing the forest was covered in countless spikes. The fence stood over ten meters tall and looked extremely sturdy.

That was not all. Outside the fence, a squad of one hundred soldiers patrolled the area. Every one of them wore full suits of refined iron armor and carried a long spear. Their formation was orderly and disciplined, and the hundred steel-clad warriors standing together gave off a chilling aura of death.

Blanklin took out a permit from his chest. Zu Zong glanced at it and saw only a single emblem on it. It appeared to be a one-time permit.

After the leading soldier inspected the permit, he handed it back to Blanklin. He gave Zu Zong a brief look, understood the situation, and said nothing more. In a habitually stern, cold voice, he declared, "First-class permit. Let them pass."

Clang! The enormous iron gate opened.

Zu Zong and Blanklin, one large and one small figure, walked inside.

Feeling the fresh breath of nature and the Soul Power drifting through the air, several times denser than outside...

Zu Zong clenched his fist against his chest and shouted in his mind, The path to becoming strong officially begins here!