Standing Tall and Upright!

Just back from raiding the second-floor cafeteria, everyone wore an expression called satisfaction on their faces.

Wang Sheng followed behind Su Yun, picking his teeth without a shred of dignity while patting his round belly, his bootlicking demeanor practically second nature.

"Burp—Godfather, I gotta say, following you is the way to go. That braised pork, man, I've never eaten anything so good in my life."

Wang Sheng's face was full of lingering aftertaste, then, as if remembering something, his tone carried a mix of envy and confusion.

"Speaking of which, Godfather, and Sister Xiao Wu, and Xiao San, you're all Innate Full Soul Power. School's been on for days now, and your Soul Power must be stuck at the level ten bottleneck, right?"

He said this while kicking a pebble off the roadside.

"I see those upperclassmen—soon as they hit level ten, they can't fly fast enough into the Soul Hunting Forest. But you guys? You're acting like nothing's up. Especially you, Godfather—how are you this patient?"

Su Yun leisurely adjusted the sunglasses on his nose, hands in his pockets, strolling at a relaxed pace.

"Wang Sheng, this is where your vision's too small."

"As an elegant Soul Master, we need to give the soul beasts some time—let them fatten themselves up, clean themselves off, and come knocking on our door. That's called a sense of ease."

"A Soul Master who doesn't get that sense of ease is doomed to be a wage slave forever."

Hearing the words "fatten up" and "come knocking," Xiao Wu, who had been hopping along the curb, froze mid-step and went still.

Xiao Wu shrank her neck, wrapped her arms around herself, and stared at Su Yun like he was a big bad wolf.

"Su Yun, soul beasts have dignity too, okay? There's no way they'd just come to you..."

She sniffled, muttering her protest under her breath, even the rabbit ear decoration on her head drooping listlessly.

"Soul beasts never submit..."

Tang San smiled helplessly but nodded, his expression turning serious.

"Brother Su's right—being unprepared is dangerous. I've taken on a batch of work at the blacksmith's lately, so I'll prep some defensive tools first. Sharpening the axe won't delay the woodcutting."

Just then, the tactical earpiece hanging on Su Yun's ear vibrated slightly.

Lei Zhan's voice came through, tinged with excitement:

"001, interesting find. The physics team just compared the Storage Ring you sent back with your Teleportation Gate Martial Soul. Turns out their energy wave frequencies partially overlap."

Su Yun's heart stirred. "What does that mean?"

"Based on our speculation, this specific frequency is likely the characteristic band of spatial attributes in the energy layer of your world. The Storage Ring folds space; your Martial Soul connects space. Their underlying logic is interconnected."

"If you go hunting soul beasts, we might be able to help you filter out ones that match this specific frequency."

"And the Soul Ring and Soul Skill you get could be more suited to you."

Su Yun's steps halted abruptly, and behind his sunglasses, his eyes lit up instantly.

The sense of ease he'd just been talking about was tossed out the window.

Su Yun waved his hand grandly.

"Better today than tomorrow! Xiao San, forget the blacksmithing—what's scrap metal compared to getting stronger? Let's head out now!"

Tang San blinked, caught off guard.

"Brother Su, didn't you just say... to give the soul beasts some time? That sense of ease thing?"

"Ease is for the sake of tension."

Su Yun didn't flinch, even adjusting his collar.

"Plans can't keep up with changes. As I always say—hesitation leads to defeat, decisiveness leads to a freebie... no, decisiveness is the real way!"

Watching Su Yun's face change on a dime, Tang San could only smile wryly and nod. "Alright, I'll go prepare."

Hearing they were heading out, Xiao Wu, who'd been lazily trailing behind, rolled her eyes and let out a big yawn.

"Ah... going to the Soul Hunting Forest? I'll pass. Training's been too tiring lately—I'm gonna catch up on sleep in the dorm. You guys go ahead, and remember to bring me back some carrot-flavored souvenirs~"

Tang San shot Xiao Wu a helpless look, then turned to Su Yun. "So, Brother Su, we leave now?"

"Hold up, Godfather!"

Wang Sheng quickly blocked him. "The Soul Hunting Forest is way far from here—no way we'll make it today. And it's a mixed bag out there; just the two of you going is too dangerous. I suggest you hit the Soul Hunting Market in the city, hire a reliable squad as bodyguards, and set out tomorrow morning. That's the safe bet."

Su Yun nodded thoughtfully. "Makes sense. In this game, both style and safety matter. Xiao San, you go pack rations and gear. I'll head to the market and round up some people."

Notting City's Soul Hunting Bazaar—a gathering spot for freelance Soul Masters and mercenaries.

To take a shortcut, Su Yun ducked into a quiet alley.

He hadn't gone far when the path ahead was blocked by four figures in a riot of colors.

Those four guys' looks would've been a spectacle even back on Earth.

The leader had spiky red hair, stiff with gel standing straight up.

He wore a tight red leather jacket that looked ready to burst, cuffs rolled up to his calves, and shiny black loafers on his feet.

Behind him stood a yellow-haired, a green-haired, and a blue-haired guy.

The four of them standing there made the alley feel like a Traffic Light had just materialized.

Though their hairstyles were extremely non-mainstream, the soul power fluctuations emanating from their bodies indicated they were at least Soul Grand Masters of level 25 or above.

Red Hair, the leader, tilted his head, jiggling one leg as he toyed with a flame in his hand. He glanced sideways at Su Yun, his voice carrying the weary tone of a streetwise veteran:

"Hey, pretty boy. You're dressed all fancy—how about lending us a few coins for some fun? A little help in a jam, get it?"

Su Yun said nothing, merely watching him quietly.

Grrrrrr—

Just as the tension reached its peak, a thunderous rumble erupted from Red Hair's stomach.

Right after, the stomachs of the three lackeys behind him chimed in, harmonizing in a chorus of growls.

Red Hair's face stiffened. He forced himself to save face, shouting:

"What are you looking at! That's... that's my soul power circulating!"

Su Yun took off his sunglasses, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

Slowly and deliberately, Su Yun pulled a heavy pouch of Gold Soul Coins from his chest and weighed it in his hand.

Clink—

Clink—

The crisp sound of coins clinking rang out, especially pleasant in the silent alley.

Su Yun looked at Red Hair, whose eyes were locked onto the money pouch, and spoke calmly.

"Come with me to the Soul Hunting Forest tomorrow. Be my bodyguards for a few days."

He held up one finger.

"I'll give you ten Gold Soul Coins."

Red Hair struggled to tear his gaze away from the pouch, sneered, hitched up his pants, turned his head aside, and pointed his nose to the sky.

"Don't waste your breath. I, Red Hair, am a big shot around these parts. I won't sell my freedom for your ten Gold Soul Coins and become someone's dog."

Su Yun's expression remained blank as he added another finger. "Twenty."

Red Hair lifted his chin, his face full of pride, as if deeply insulted:

"Save it! Me and these brothers behind me have sworn oaths over chicken blood! We've gone hungry together, waved our hands in dance together—we're as close as brothers!"

Su Yun: "Fifty."

Red Hair slapped his chest hard, his voice booming: "When you're out in the world! You gotta know what it means—brotherhood!"

Su Yun: "What about eighty?"

Red Hair demanded with heart-wrenching accusation, his eyes even reddening: "Would you sell your freedom for this little bit of money?"

Su Yun sighed, directly grabbed a huge handful of gleaming gold coins from the pouch, and held them up before Red Hair.

The sunlight reflecting off the coins nearly blinded the four men's titanium-alloy dog eyes.

"One hundred Gold Soul Coins."

Su Yun's voice was cold and merciless:

"No more. You four usually rob elementary school kids for a few copper coins. Say yes quickly, or I'll start deducting."

Red Hair stared at the dazzling golden light, his Adam's apple bobbing violently.

But he still gritted his teeth, striking a very suave pose.

"Don't be stupid! I, Red Hair—stand tall between heaven and earth!!"