Soul Hunting Forest

Walking through the slightly bustling streets of Nuoding City and watching the lined shops on both sides with peddlers and laborers constantly shouting, Fu Shiyan initially maintained the detached poise of an otherworldly expert.

Yet as he walked, an extremely realistic and harsh problem struck him like ice water—

He seemingly had no money!

It was true that he had materialized formidable strength and profound knowledge, but this system clearly did not include delivery of this world's currency!

His previous down-and-out appearance meant he was flat broke.

This outfit he wore now came automatically when the system materialized his persona; it looked luxurious, yet his pockets were entirely empty.

He subconsciously glanced at Xiao San, the little bean who followed behind him with a gaze full of trust and anticipation.

Originally, he had thought that since he took an apprentice, he should at least fulfill a master's responsibility by taking this little fellow to buy some decent daily necessities and find a comfortable place to settle down...

Yet now...

"Ahem!"

Fu Shiyan gave two dry coughs, quickly adjusted his facial expression, and strove to maintain that breezy, expert demeanor. He stopped in his tracks, turned to Tang San, and said:

"You needn't follow me for now."

Tang San was stunned, a flash of incomprehension crossing his eyes.

Continuing in a detached tone, Fu Shiyan instructed:

"You shall return to the academy first and complete your admission procedures.

Afterwards, your master shall come looking for you."

He paused, seeming to feel the address should be more intimate, and spoke:

"I shall call you this then, Xiao San. You don't mind, do you?"

Hearing this, Tang San hastily bowed respectfully and replied:

"Yes! Xiao San obeys Master's command!"

Far from minding his master's use of his childhood nickname, he felt it showed an intimate master-apprentice relationship and was deeply pleased by it in his heart.

Yet immediately he asked with some hesitation:

"Then... I wonder where I should go if Xiao San needs to find Master?"

Taken aback by the question, Fu Shiyan pondered briefly and replied:

"You need not look for me for the time being.

Settle your admission matters first. Tomorrow at this hour, Master will naturally come to the academy to find you."

With that, imitating the elders in his memory, he somewhat awkwardly reached out and gently rubbed the head of Tang San with its strands of blue hair.

Well, the feel was soft and quite nice indeed.

Tang San's body stiffened slightly before relaxing, his eyes revealing clear yearning and joy.

He valued the moral code of master and apprentice immensely, and his master's such affectionate gesture made him feel immensely warm.

"Yes, Master! Then Xiao San shall wait for Master at the academy!"

Tang San bowed respectfully once more, and only then walked towards the direction of Nuoding Academy, looking back every few steps.

As Tang San's figure vanished at the academy gates, the detached smile on Fu Shiyan's face instantly collapsed, replaced by a trace of worry.

"Money, money... What is to be done about this?"

Just as he was fretting, his gaze swept casually across that most magnificent complex of buildings in the center of Nuoding City, and his eyes suddenly lit up!

"That's right! With my current strength... isn't making money easy?"

The corner of his mouth hooked into a meaningful smile as he slowly cast his gaze toward the City Lord's Mansion, the building symbolizing the highest authority in Nuoding City.

Meanwhile, the Nuoding City Spirit Hall Branch.

At this moment, the head of the Spirit Hall Branch received a mission to deliver a letter to Spirit City. Daring not to delay, he immediately ordered:

"Quick! Encrypt this message and report it to Spirit City at the fastest speed!"

The next day, the sun was high in the sky.

Fu Shiyan appeared refreshingly at the gates of Nuoding Academy.

Last night, he had a "cordial and in-depth" exchange with the City Lord of Nuoding. The process was very "friendly," and the result left him extremely satisfied.

City Lord Xiao was very "sensible" and generously provided enough "friendly sponsorship" that he would not need to worry about money for a short time.

The doorman today had already been replaced, and the newcomer clearly received strict orders. Upon seeing Fu Shiyan's signature silver hair and black robe, he immediately bowed and saluted with an attitude respectful to the utmost, not daring to ask a single extra question.

Content with the quiet, Fu Shiyan casually asked the doorman about the location of the work-study students' dormitory, only to learn an unexpected piece of news from the doorman's mouth—

Tang San had been specially arranged by the academy to move to the nobles' dormitory area with better conditions, and it was even a single room!

Furthermore, the principal of Nuoding Academy himself gave the instruction.

Fu Shiyan understood the reason after a brief contemplation.

Presumably, the strength he displayed yesterday and the fact that Tang San knelt as his master on the spot had reached the ears of the academy's upper echelon.

That shrewd principal would naturally not offend a powerhouse of at least Spirit Emperor rank for the sake of Yu Xiaogang. Elevating Tang San's treatment was both a goodwill gesture and a disguised distancing of himself.

"That saves trouble."

Fu Shiyan chuckled lightly, asked the location of the nobles' single room, and sought it out.

The nobles' dormitory area had a quiet environment and complete facilities.

Fu Shiyan quickly found the single room marked with Tang San's name.

Without knocking, he pushed the door open and entered directly.

"Xiao San, Master has come..."

Before he could finish his words, Fu Shiyan's voice abruptly cut off.

He looked at the scene inside the room with some bewilderment.

The room truly was a single room, arranged rather tastefully.

His little apprentice Tang San stood in the center of the room, seeming somewhat constrained as well.

Yet sitting on the bed by the window, which should have belonged to Tang San, was actually a little girl!

This little girl looked around Tang San's age, wore a pale pink dress, and looked exquisitely carved out of jade, extremely cute.

Most eye-catching was the long scorpion braid combed at the back of her head, with dark and glossy strands of hair hanging down to her waist.

At this moment, she blinked a pair of watery, large eyes with curiosity, sizing up Fu Shiyan who had suddenly barged in.

Fu Shiyan's gaze swept back and forth between the little girl and Tang San, his eyebrows lifting slightly and a playful expression appearing on his face.

This kid changed dorms and still didn't forget to bring his wife over?

Yet he currently had no mind to deal with this hundred-thousand-year rabbit; this little girl was boisterous and brought plenty of trouble, and many of Tang San's early crises were inseparable from her.

Directly ignoring Xiao Wu's curious and scrutinizing gaze, he looked at Tang San who hurried up to greet him.

"Master!"

Tang San hastily performed a respectful disciple's bow, anticipation in his eyes.

Seeing this, Xiao Wu also hopped down from the bed with curiosity, tilting her head to look at Fu Shiyan.

Fu Shiyan nodded slightly to acknowledge Tang San's courtesy, then went straight to the point:

"Let's go, pack up, Master is taking you to the Soul Hunting Forest today to acquire your first spirit ring."

Acquiring a spirit ring!

Tang San's eyes lit up, and excitement surged in his heart.

He was finally going to become a true spirit master!

"Yes, Master!"

Tang San answered immediately. He had nothing special to pack, as his important items were always carried with him.

He turned and walked quickly to Xiao Wu's side, giving a quick, low-voiced instruction:

"Xiao Wu, this is my master.

Master is taking me to acquire a spirit ring. Stay by yourself for now and don't run around; I'll be right back."

Xiao Wu blinked her large eyes, looked at Fu Shiyan, and then looked at Tang San. Although she felt some curiosity and reluctance to stay alone, she still nodded obediently:

"Oh, got it, then come back quickly."

Nodding, Tang San said no more, and hurriedly turned to chase after Fu Shiyan, who had already stepped out the door.

Watching the two figures leave, Xiao Wu pursed her lips and muttered softly, "So mysterious..."

Bringing Tang San along, Fu Shiyan left Nuoding Academy without hindrance.

As for the pass required to enter the Soul Hunting Forest, he had long "friendly acquired" it from that "sensible" City Lord Xiao, and the paperwork was complete.

The two walked all the way in silence. Fu Shiyan looked leisurely, but in his mind, he was rapidly browsing through that vast ocean of martial soul theoretical knowledge he had just materialized.

Although he possessed the knowledge, it was like someone suddenly shoved into a library; when he needed to use it, he still had to search for it on the spot.

Soon, a suitable spirit beast target surfaced in his mind—Wanjia Vine!