Principal of Notting Academy

Early morning, Notting Academy.

Back mountain.

Zhou Chen sat cross-legged atop the mountain, palms, soles, and crown facing the sky. With every breath, his entire body emitted a hazy golden glow.

"Phew..."

After a long while, he exhaled a long stream of white air. He remained seated for some time before opening his eyes again.

"My Soul Power really has become much more condensed."

Zhou Chen rose to his feet and drew a circle with both hands, concluding his cultivation.

All along, his Soul Power had been forcibly infused through external means. Though it had reached level 39, it was incredibly unstable and often beyond his control.

However, the Yellow Emperor's Internal Classic he cultivated was a top-tier immortal cultivation technique. After several days of practice, his Soul Power had become far more condensed, nearly as easy to control as his own limbs.

By then, the sun had gradually risen. Zhou Chen looked at the sky and headed toward Notting Academy's gates.

He had already arranged with Yu Xiaogang and Tang San to go to the Soul Hunting Forest with them today and help the two obtain their spirit rings.

Yu Xiaogang in particular had broken through level 30 after taking the pill. He needed a thousand-year purple spirit ring, which meant hunting a thousand-year spirit beast.

Zhou Chen had originally refused. After all, he had the System and had no need to hunt spirit beasts to acquire spirit rings.

But Tang San was now his little fanboy, while Yu Xiaogang was his subordinate. If, as their boss, he did not help when his underlings needed something, who would dare follow him in the future?

Once people's hearts scattered, the team would be hard to lead.

Thus, Zhou Chen had no choice but to take on the job.

He strolled along leisurely. By the time he arrived at the academy gates, Yu Xiaogang and Tang San had already been waiting for quite a while.

Besides the two of them, there was also a middle-aged man about the same age as Yu Xiaogang.

The middle-aged man wore a long robe and was somewhat more handsome than Yu Xiaogang. His chin protruded slightly, and his face bore a gentle smile.

The man smiled. "Xiao Gang, is this the reclusive family's..."

Yu Xiaogang nodded.

"Truly an outstanding young man."

The middle-aged man stepped forward and came before Zhou Chen, smiling warmly. "I'm Marx, the principal of Notting Academy. Welcome to our academy."

"Hello."

Zhou Chen smiled amiably and exchanged pleasantries. "You're here to help as well, right?"

"Yes... Wait, you are too?"

Marx was utterly dumbfounded.

He had thought Zhou Chen had reached a bottleneck and wanted to hunt for a spirit ring, but he had never expected this boy to be here to help!

But this kid was only six!

Even if Zhou Chen was as extraordinary as Yu Xiaogang had made him out to be, some member of a powerful reclusive family, at such a young age he could at most be a Soul Master around level 10. What help could he possibly offer?

It would already be fortunate if he did not get sat to death by a spirit beast.

Marx looked at Yu Xiaogang uncertainly. Yu Xiaogang gave a bitter smile but said nothing, merely nodding silently.

A few days ago, when helping Zhou Chen study his First Spirit Ability, Yu Xiaogang had been just as shocked as Marx was now.

"Alright, let's set off."

Although Marx was still utterly confused, he had great confidence in his strength as a level 42 Soul Ancestor. Even if Zhou Chen turned out to be dead weight, he was confident he could look after him.

As he spoke, he clapped his hands. A coachman drove a broad, sturdy four-wheeled carriage out from the academy.

"The Soul Hunting Forest outside Notting City is nearly four hundred li from the academy. It'll be faster to take a carriage," Marx explained.

"You've been very thoughtful."

Zhou Chen spoke with a trace of gratitude.

Thanking people more often would not cost him anything, and it could forge a good relationship. Why not?

Besides, Zhou Chen was quite interested in Marx himself.

He would likely remain at Notting Academy for the next few years. If he could win Marx over and have him join Purple Micro Palace, Zhou Chen could turn Notting Academy into his own private force!

Soon, everyone boarded the carriage and left the city, heading for the Soul Hunting Forest.

Along the way, Yu Xiaogang tirelessly explained to Tang San the knowledge of hunting spirit beasts and obtaining spirit rings. He even gave Tang San the priceless Space Soul Tool—Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges.

Even Zhou Chen, who had the System, did not yet possess a Space Soul Tool!

Four hundred li was neither especially far nor particularly close. It was not until noon the following day that they arrived at their destination, the Soul Hunting Forest.

The Soul Hunting Forest was an artificial forest established by the Heaven Dou Empire specifically to provide spirit rings for Soul Masters about to advance. A group of spirit beasts was kept within it for Soul Masters to hunt.

However, most of these spirit beasts were ten-year or hundred-year ones, and thousand-year spirit beasts were rarely seen. As for spirit beasts over ten thousand years old, there were basically none.

Pulling aside the curtain over the carriage window, Zhou Chen looked outside. Around the Soul Hunting Forest, the open ground was crowded with rows of shops and stalls selling food, medicine, weapons, and protective gear. Mercenaries posting bounties were everywhere, and cries of vendors rose and fell without pause.

"Have a permit! Forming a group to hunt a three-hundred-year spirit beast! Still need five people!"

"Insect-repelling powder! Conceals your scent and keeps away snakes, insects, rats, and ants! Three Silver Soul Coins per bottle!"

"..."

"Let's get out and buy some supplies," Zhou Chen suggested.

With a wealthy benefactor paying, no one objected. They got out and went on a shopping spree, yet spent less than ten Gold Soul Coins.

To Zhou Chen, that was practically nothing.

After everyone finished their purchases, they abandoned the carriage and, led by Grandmaster and Marx, headed deeper into the market.

That was where the true Soul Hunting Forest lay.

What Zhou Chen and the others did not notice was that not far behind them, a pair of clear, alluring eyes watched them.

"Chrysanthemum Elder, that should be him."

"Are you certain?" A feminine voice sounded.

"Of course I'm certain."

Upon hearing this, Hu Liena stepped down from a luxurious carriage bearing the emblem of Spirit Hall. Looking at Zhou Chen's distant back, she said with a smile:

"He's so handsome that it'd be hard not to recognize him!"