Setting Out to Find Spirit Rings

Setting Out to Find Spirit Rings

"Grandmaster, what brings you here?"

The dormitory, which had been bustling just moments ago, fell quietly silent.

Wang Sheng and the others stared at Grandmaster in astonishment.

In their impression, Grandmaster lived in his private loft and had never once come to the dormitory building, much less this shabby Dorm Seven on the top floor!

"We were discussing how the dean of discipline got beaten up, so everyone got up so early."

Qin Feng scratched the back of his head and answered with a grin.

"Oh? The dean of discipline was beaten up?"

Grandmaster looked somewhat surprised.

When he had arrived downstairs, he had indeed heard students discussing something similar, but he had not paid it any mind.

To him, he was merely a resident living off free food and lodging. The academy's affairs had nothing to do with him.

If not for Xiao San and Xiao Feng, he would never have come to the dormitory building.

"Yeah, yeah. We heard the dean of discipline got beaten up really badly. No idea who did it."

No sooner had Grandmaster shown his surprise than Wang Sheng and several other Work-Study Students began chattering away all at once.

However, Grandmaster clearly was not very interested in the matter. After a while, he changed the subject and took Qin Feng and Tang San outside.

A lone carriage waited beyond the academy gates. Grandmaster had arranged it in advance.

"I'll use this opportunity to teach you properly about soul beasts."

Seated in the carriage, Grandmaster faced Qin Feng and Tang San.

"Mm-hmm."

The two nodded heavily.

"This time, we're going to the Soul Hunting Forest. The Soul Hunting Forest is the primary place where Spirit Masters from Notting Academy and the surrounding cities hunt soul beasts when advancing. It contains soul beasts of all levels."

"These soul beasts can usually be distinguished by the color of the Soul Power they display when attacking. The color of their Soul Power is also the same as their Spirit Rings. Spirit Rings below one hundred years are white; those from one hundred to nine hundred and ninety-nine years are yellow; those above one thousand but below ten thousand years are purple; and those above ten thousand years are black. Our main targets this time are white and yellow Spirit Rings."

"Huff."

"Huff, huff."

"Bang!"

The carriage passed over a bump, and Qin Feng and Tang San, who had been sleeping soundly, nearly fell over.

The moment they opened their eyes, they saw a pair of black eyes staring directly at them.

"Why do you two look so exhausted? Didn't you sleep well last night?!"

Grandmaster asked them.

He had lectured away for more than half an hour, only to hear the sound of snoring. If it had been anyone else, Grandmaster would likely have flown into a rage.

That would have been obvious disrespect—treating him as a joke by falling asleep while he taught.

But clearly, these two children were not like that. A child's nature differed from that of adults. Perhaps they had really just been too tired.

"No, Teacher. Please continue."

Tang San shook his head.

Qin Feng had also woken up. Most of his body was practically pressed against Tang San.

"Forget it. Looking at you two, there's no point in talking now. It would just go in one ear and out the other. Get some proper rest instead. I'll explain it to you through practical experience later."

Grandmaster shook his head slightly and sighed.

Teaching them soul beast knowledge in the carriage had only been a spur-of-the-moment idea. Since the two children were tired, he might as well let them get a good sleep.

After all, forcing it would accomplish nothing.

Even if they remembered it now, after closing their eyes and opening them again, their minds would be blank.

"Uh, then we'll rest for a while first, Teacher."

Only a few minutes passed after Tang San spoke before he fell asleep again.

When he had been startled awake earlier, seeing his teacher lecturing so seriously, Tang San had forced his eyelids open. Yet they felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, relentlessly dragging downward.

Honestly, if his teacher had kept talking, he did not know how much longer he could have held out. He was simply too sleepy!

Now that his teacher had said those words, he could finally lie down without worry.

The carriage rumbled along the bumpy road. Qin Feng and Tang San slept leaning against each other, forming the character for "person."

Grandmaster quietly took out a book and read by himself.

No one knew how much time had passed before the jolting carriage finally came to a stop.

"Are we... there?!"

Grandmaster patted their shoulders. Qin Feng opened his bloodshot eyes and asked groggily.

"Mm-hmm. We've reached the market outside the Soul Hunting Forest."

Grandmaster told them.

Qin Feng and Tang San got out of the carriage.

"Carriages aren't allowed in this market, so we'll have to walk for a while."

Grandmaster spoke, then took the lead.

Qin Feng and Tang San followed closely behind him.

This place was no worse than Notting City. The streets were packed with people, and strange cries could be heard from time to time.

"Teacher, what are they doing? What does 'looking for a Food-Type Soul Master to form a team' mean?"

Tang San asked in confusion.

"They're probably temporarily forming groups of Spirit Masters to hunt soul beasts."

Qin Feng answered casually.

"Xiao Feng is right. They're all waiting for suitable people to hunt soul beasts with. There is usually a division of duties when hunting soul beasts. At the most basic level, there are five roles: Food-Type Soul Masters handle supplies, Recovery-Type Soul Masters maintain condition and restore Soul Power, Agility-Type Soul Masters handle scouting, Strength-Type Soul Masters hold the line, and Attack-Type Soul Masters eliminate the enemy."

As he spoke of these teams, a flash of disdain passed through Grandmaster's eyes.

"Then why don't we form a team to hunt soul beasts together, Teacher? Wouldn't that raise our chances of success?"

Hearing this, Tang San asked Grandmaster like a curious child.

It was obvious that the three of them would be less safe entering the Beast Hunting Forest without a team.

"That's a good question. Forming a team does increase the chances of success, but these hastily assembled teams are usually unreliable. Once they fall apart in the face of danger, the slower Spirit Masters become the soul beasts' drinking snacks. So if you truly want to form a team, you must choose people you can trust—people you can entrust your back to. That matters more than strength!"

Grandmaster spoke earnestly as they walked.

"Oh..."

Tang San nodded slightly.

Indeed, a team assembled on the spot had no trust whatsoever. When trouble came, they would scatter like sand.

"Come on. Let's buy some food to fill our stomachs. We may be inside for quite some time this trip."

Finding soul beasts was not something that could be done in a day. Even with good luck, it would take one or two days, so they had to prepare thoroughly.

"Alright!"

With that, the three of them began gathering supplies throughout the market.

More than half an hour passed in the blink of an eye. They soon arrived before a heavily guarded gate lined with armored Guards. This was the entrance to the Beast Hunting Forest.