An Invitation from Fabia Academy

Before setting out for the Star Dou Forest, Xiao Chen first found a secluded spot to test his first Spirit Skill.

The test filled Xiao Chen with elation.

When both Martial Souls were released simultaneously, the arrow he shot could actually pierce through a three-meter-thick boulder, its power surpassing even that of a typical hundred-year Spirit Ring skill.

The attack power was undeniable, but correspondingly, the Spirit Power consumption was also very high.

Xiao Chen attempted to share the Spirit Skill from the Wooden Bow onto the Wooden Arrow, only to find it extremely difficult—one misstep in control and he would suffer backlash from the skill.

After many attempts, Xiao Chen barely succeeded once, but he couldn't control the arrow's trajectory, making it completely unusable in actual combat.

Still, Xiao Chen was very pleased; this at least proved the system wasn't lying to him. Though he couldn't control it well now, he could gradually adapt, and as his Spirit Power continuously improved, Xiao Chen believed he would surely master this ability.

Before departing, Xiao Chen bought fifty arrows from a weapon shop in Suotuo City and strapped them to his back.

Suotuo City was over five hundred kilometers from the Star Dou Forest. Xiao Chen didn't rush along the way, taking three days to reach the nearest town outside the Star Dou Forest.

During these three days, Xiao Chen wasn't simply traveling. While moving, he constantly summoned his Wooden Bow Martial Soul, drawing it fully taut and repeating the motion.

Then came the training programs set by the system: fixed-point target shooting, moving target shooting, environmental adaptation, rapid consecutive shots, and so on.

The system's training methods were highly effective. In just three days, Xiao Chen's archery had improved significantly. Though his Spirit Power hadn't yet reached Level 20, it was very close.

Moreover, his proficiency with Spirit Skill Sharing had also increased. While he still couldn't hit with precision, he could at least control the arrow's general direction.

Xiao Chen wasn't in a hurry to enter the Star Dou Forest. He planned to first raise his Spirit Power to Level 20 in the town, so he could attach all three Spirit Rings at once.

When Xiao Chen entered the town, the sky had already darkened, but the town was still lively.

The town was large in scale; lacking only city walls, it could rival some small cities.

On the town's streets, people came and went, most of them Soul Masters heading to the Star Dou Forest for expeditions.

Soul Beasts were valuable from head to toe. Even without needing Spirit Rings, many Soul Masters regularly went to the Star Dou Forest to hunt them.

Shops lined both sides of the streets, offering all kinds of goods. The shop owners all exuded faint Spirit Power fluctuations—without real skill, no one would dare open a shop here.

Xiao Chen casually found a cheap inn and checked in.

He wasn't short on money right now.

Because every time he completed a training task issued by the system, Gold Soul Coins would automatically be credited to his account. Though not a large amount, it was more than enough for daily expenses.

However, Xiao Chen understood the principle of not flaunting one's wealth. Before he had enough strength to protect himself, he naturally had to act cautiously and keep a low profile.

As soon as he stepped into the room, Xiao Chen threw himself onto the bed. The three days of travel and training had truly exhausted him.

"System, do you think I should join a faction?" Xiao Chen asked. He felt that even with the system, acting alone without a backing was too dangerous.

When he entered the town earlier, Xiao Chen had seen many peers his age.

Others heading to the Star Dou Forest either had academy teachers accompanying them for protection or family elders watching over them.

Even at the very least, they had companions. Young Soul Masters like Xiao Chen, who came here alone, were extremely rare.

Facing Xiao Chen's question, the system replied, "Of course you can. Joining a faction will help the host grow. This system suggests the host join the Martial Soul Hall. With talent like yours, the Martial Soul Hall will surely treasure you and nurture you like a gem!"

Xiao Chen nodded. The Martial Soul Hall was indeed the best choice, since he would eventually be going against Tang San.

But joining the Martial Soul Hall also meant that some of his secrets would be exposed.

However, Xiao Chen reconsidered. The Martial Soul Hall wasn't some evil organization. Even if he revealed some secrets, it probably wouldn't be a big deal.

Moreover, the Martial Soul Hall was the number one power on the Douluo Continent. If he could gain their assistance in the future, completing the ultimate mission would certainly be much easier.

So Xiao Chen made up his mind: once he returned from the Star Dou Forest this time, he would head straight to Martial Soul City.

Xiao Chen wasn't worried at all that the Martial Soul Hall wouldn't want him. With his Twin Martial Souls now, joining them would be a breeze.

"I wonder what expression Bibi Dong will have when she sees that the first two Spirit Rings of both my Martial Souls are white?" Xiao Chen mused to himself.

Afterward, Xiao Chen bathed, changed clothes, meditated quietly in his room for an hour, regulated his breathing, and then went to bed to rest.

The next morning, before Xiao Chen had even gotten up, he was awakened by the noisy sounds of a scuffle outside.

Xiao Chen went out to look and saw two groups of young Soul Masters in conflict.

"Judging by their uniforms, they seem to be from two different academies!" Xiao Chen muttered to himself, his gaze landing on the group on the left.

More precisely, he was drawn to the academy emblem on their left shoulders.

"Blue Sunshine Academy. The students from this academy sure love to fight!" Xiao Chen thought quietly.

He remembered that the Shrek Seven Devils had clashed with Blue Sunshine Academy before, and their leading teacher had been beaten badly by Zhao Wuji.

The academy clashing with Blue Sunshine Academy was also one from within the Balak Kingdom—Fabia Academy.

Their Spirit Powers were mostly around Level 20. Clearly, the two groups Xiao Chen encountered weren't the first-tier teams of their respective academies.

The overall strength of the Blue Sunshine Academy students was slightly superior to that of the Fabia Academy students, and they also had one more member.

In one-on-one fights, it was hard to determine a winner, but as both sides' students joined in together, Fabia Academy fell into a disadvantage.

Just as it seemed the Fabia Academy students were about to suffer, their leading teacher moved and stepped in to stop the fight.

The leading teacher from Blue Sunshine Academy also came forward. Clearly, the two teachers knew each other. They exchanged a few words and then told their respective students to disperse.

Seeing that there was no more excitement to watch, Xiao Chen prepared to go back and get something to eat. But just as he turned and reached the inn's entrance, he felt a palm wind rushing at him from behind, along with two words: "Get lost."

Xiao Chen sidestepped slightly, dodging it.

The Blue Sunshine Academy student who had tried to push Xiao Chen aside cast a faint glance at him. Seeing that Xiao Chen made no move, he walked past him into the hotel.

"Damn it, if you're weak, you get bullied everywhere you go!" Xiao Chen cursed inwardly, his face betraying nothing. Since the guy had a teacher with him, he wasn't about to ask for trouble.

However, the Lead Female Teacher from Fabia Academy, after watching the Blue Sunshine Academy people go inside, walked over to Xiao Chen and asked, "Young man, are you heading to the Star Dou Forest to hunt for a Spirit Ring too?"

"Yeah," Xiao Chen said.

"Alone?" she followed up.

Xiao Chen wasn't sure what her aim was, but the system could scan that the person before him bore no hostility, so he nodded.

Seeing Xiao Chen nod, the female teacher's face lit up with joy, and she immediately said, "What a coincidence—we're also heading to the Star Dou Forest to hunt for Spirit Rings. Young man, would you like to join us?" She directly extended an invitation to Xiao Chen.