Traveling with the Merchant Caravan, Xie Yue and Hu Liena

Plant Academy was located in Elemental City of the Heaven Dou Empire.

Heaven Dou Elemental City lay in the western outskirts of Heaven Dou City. Five major elemental Soul Master Academies were gathered there: Thunder Academy, Blazing Fire Academy, Divine Wind Academy, Plant Academy, and Elephant Armor Academy.

As for Skywater Academy, one of the "Four Element Academies," it was not among them.

That Soul Master Academy, which specialized in water and ice martial souls, was far away in Skywater City along the Northern Territory coast of the Heaven Dou Empire. It stood thousands of miles from Elemental City and had little contact with it. However, its foundations were too profound, placing it among the first tier of advanced Soul Master Academies.

After settling on his destination, the first problem Lin Mo faced was the journey itself.

The miserable experience of crossing the Soul Beast Forest while traveling day and night was still fresh in his mind.

Soul beasts haunted the wilderness, while bandits lurked along the roads.

Although he had become a Soul Master and possessed some fighting ability, he had no desire to run into trouble or reveal his trump cards before reaching the academy.

More realistically, he was short on money—he only had the one Gold Soul Coin Spirit Hall had just given him. If he lived frugally, it would barely suffice, but he definitely could not afford long-distance escort fees.

It was better to seek help from someone familiar than from a stranger.

The first person to appear in Lin Mo's mind was Deacon Su Ming of Spirit Hall.

That was simply how the world worked. Those who had helped you once were often more willing to lend a hand again than strangers with whom you had never crossed paths.

Without much hesitation, he turned and headed back to the Spirit Hall branch, intending to borrow some protection along the way.

Nuoding City, Martial Soul Branch Hall.

"You chose Plant Academy?"

Su Ming nodded slowly, his tone calm.

"Avoiding the spotlight, concealing your strength, and building a steady foundation—this is indeed the choice that suits you best. You have good judgment."

"As for your journey, let me see... whether there are any merchant caravans heading that way that might take you along." Su Ming had someone retrieve a recent summary of merchant caravan routes.

"Hmm... there are none going directly to Elemental City, but one will pass through Heaven Dou City. The two places are not too far apart."

"Let me see. Three days from now, there happens to be a Spirit Hall supply convoy under official escort that needs to pass through Heaven Dou City. It will cross two stretches of wilderness and stop at a relay town along the way. Ordinary travelers would need five days, but with an escort team accompanying it, safety will not be an issue. I'll speak with the person in charge and put you on the reserve escort list. You will not be riding for free, and you can gain some experience on the road. You'll just need to wait two more days for the convoy to assemble."

A weight lifted from Lin Mo's heart. He bowed solemnly. "Thank you for your thorough consideration, Deacon. I will remember this kindness."

"No need to be so polite." Su Ming smiled faintly.

"If you do not have a place to stay, there are vacant guest rooms in the side courtyard of the branch hall. They are quiet and safe. If you are willing, you can stay there for a few days and save yourself quite a bit of expense."

Lin Mo was deeply moved upon hearing this.

This Deacon Su was far too considerate.

Lin Mo rested peacefully at Spirit Hall for two days.

On the third day, at dawn.

The merchant caravan assembled as scheduled. Lin Mo was smoothly added to the group, and they set off!

The convoy consisted of more than twenty heavy carts carrying supplies allocated by Spirit Hall. Four Soul Master guards in Spirit Hall uniforms stood at both the front and rear, making for a neat formation.

Lin Mo blended in among the reserve guards. He wore plain fitted clothes and deliberately restrained his aura. A One-Ring Soul Master might not stand out in the caravan, but he was still a respected Soul Master.

What he had not expected was that two youths around his own age would also be traveling with them.

The boy was tall and straight, with cold features and dark hair. A curved blade hung at his waist. His aura was restrained, yet it concealed a sharp edge, and every movement carried the composure of someone long trained.

The girl was light and graceful, with dazzling looks. Her eyes naturally held a touch of alluring charm, yet there was nothing frivolous about her. Instead, she possessed a calm self-restraint beyond her years.

Standing side by side, the two seemed to share a natural tacit understanding. It was obvious they had grown up together and were close family who entrusted themselves to one another.

Before the convoy departed, Su Ming had specifically spoken to Lin Mo in a low voice.

"These two are Soul Masters from Spirit Hall Headquarters. Do not offend them. You will travel west with the caravan, so just behave yourself and avoid causing trouble. There is no need to deliberately curry favor with them, but you must not neglect them either."

Lin Mo nodded to show that he understood.

Douluo siblings, from Spirit Hall Headquarters.

That boy appeared to be several years older than him.

The age gap between him and Tang San was roughly four or five years.

Could they be the siblings Xie Yue and Hu Liena?!

Lin Mo's eyes shifted slightly as information about the Xie Yue siblings immediately surfaced in his mind.

Their parents had both died when they were young. Spirit Hall had taken them in, and they had been personally nurtured by the Pope. They would become core members of the future Golden Generation.

They had not yet made a name for themselves across the continent, but they already possessed a steadiness and sharpness far beyond their peers.

He had actually run into something so unlikely.

The merchant caravan traveled west, and Lin Mo faithfully attended to his duties.

During the day, he helped watch over the carts, kept guard over the road ahead, and handled trivial matters along the way.

He was not much of a talker, but he was efficient and capable.

He remained calm when trouble arose, though he never had a chance to act.

Nor did he inquire into the siblings' backgrounds or deliberately approach them to ingratiate himself.

Lin Mo maintained the highest level of vigilance. His martial soul remained half-activated at all times, and faint purple-gold arcs of electricity occasionally flickered across his fingertips. Whenever there was the slightest disturbance, he was always the first to sense something unusual.

Soul beasts appeared throughout the wilderness, while bandits roamed about and occasionally showed themselves.

With Spirit Hall's name backing the caravan, Spirit Hall guards protecting it, and Xie Yue and Hu Liena secretly holding down the fort, the journey was largely uneventful despite a few scares.

Only when they passed through a wild Soul Beast Forest did the wandering soul beasts dare attack.

Lin Mo displayed his martial soul and soul ring, using the Thunder Hell Vine to intercept the stragglers. The lightning-wreathed vines immediately drew everyone's attention.

Xie Yue held a Blood Moon Blade in his hand. Two Hundred-Year Soul Rings shone around him, and after finishing the soul beasts on his side, his gaze fell upon Lin Mo.

Hu Liena remained on the carriage, protected by her brother. She was the one being protected on this trip. She had only activated Martial Soul Possession, but she too was a Two-Ring Soul Grandmaster with the optimal soul ring configuration.

Yet she did not make a move. Her eyes remained fixed on Lin Mo's back.

Vines infused with lightning.

Judging by how he had instantly killed those low-level soul beasts, his martial soul was clearly of high quality.

At his age, he was already a One-Ring Soul Master. His potential was quite impressive as well.

After nightfall, the group made camp in a sheltered spot. Bonfires were lit, driving away the wilderness's cold and darkness.

The guards took turns keeping watch, while everyone else sat around the fires, sharing dry rations, drinking water, and resting.

Lin Mo sat alone at the edge of a bonfire, his back against a tree trunk. With his eyes closed, he meditated and silently circulated his Soul Power. He did not chat with anyone or join the bustle.

Until Hu Liena approached him slowly, carrying two small wheat cakes and a flask of water.

"You've worked hard along the way. Have something to eat."

Lin Mo opened his eyes, glanced at the black-haired girl before him, and accepted them.

"Thank you."

"It was nothing. It was simply my duty, not worth mentioning," Lin Mo said politely before taking a bite from the wheat cake.

Xie Yue also walked over and sat beside them, the chill in his features easing somewhat.

"I heard you are a Soul Master recommended by Spirit Hall, and you are heading to Heaven Dou City?"

"Mm. Elemental City is nearby." Lin Mo nodded.

"Elemental City? Are you planning to attend one of the Soul Master Academies there?" Hu Liena asked curiously.

"Mm. Plant Academy." Lin Mo answered directly.

The three sat around the bonfire. Flames danced, casting alternating light and shadow across their faces.

They were peers of similar age, all Soul Masters, so they naturally had more to talk about.

After some simple conversation, they exchanged their names.

Xie Yue and Hu Liena.

So it really was this pair of siblings.

In Xie Yue and Hu Liena's eyes, Lin Mo also seemed to have some sort of background.

Otherwise, Deacon Su of Nuoding City would not have specifically instructed others to look after him.

"Your martial soul seems unusual. A plant martial soul with lightning attributes is truly rare." Sitting by the bonfire, Hu Liena unconsciously raised a hand to tuck back her hair as she spoke.

"Thunder-Clap Grass. Though it seems my martial soul underwent a beneficial mutation." Lin Mo raised his hand and released his martial soul. Purple vines extended from his palm, their surfaces threaded with fine purple-gold electric arcs.

Xie Yue stared at the vines in Lin Mo's palm, his gaze shifting slightly.

The quality of this martial soul was definitely not low!

"Thirteenth level in two years. Your Innate Soul Power must have been quite high, right?" Xie Yue asked.

With a high-quality martial soul, eighth level in age, and thirteenth-level cultivation...

His Innate Soul Power had to be at least level six, perhaps even level seven.

Though he could not compare with the siblings, he would still be considered a genius outside.

At the mention of "Innate Soul Power," Lin Mo shook his head and did not respond.

Seeing this, Hu Liena realized that his Innate Soul Power was not high.

The reason he had reached his current Soul Power Level was most likely due to training far harder than others his age.

Hu Liena immediately changed the subject.

Hu Liena's eyes shifted as she said softly, "Plant Academy is peaceful and best suited for quietly tempering one's foundation. Compared to fighting Thunder Academy for temporary glory, it is a much wiser choice."

"Mm. Cultivation cannot be rushed. Steadiness is what matters most," Lin Mo said.

A trace of approval flashed through Xie Yue's eyes.

The siblings had grown up in Spirit Hall and had seen countless gifted Soul Masters who were impatient for success and overly ambitious.

Someone like Lin Mo, who understood how to hide his edge and knew when to advance or retreat at such a young age, was truly rare.

The three were close in age and shared similar mindsets.

After their simple exchange, the atmosphere eased, no longer as unfamiliar as before.

Most importantly, Lin Mo carried a recommendation letter from Spirit Hall, so he could be considered half one of their own.

The letter had not recommended him to Martial Soul Academy. Clearly, his talent was not sufficient.

Several days of travel passed in the blink of an eye.

The Spirit Hall merchant caravan safely arrived within Heaven Dou City's territory, where Lin Mo's route diverged from theirs.

Before leaving, the caravan leader handed Lin Mo more than twenty Silver Soul Coins as agreed and patted his shoulder with a smile. "Little brother, thank you for helping keep watch and handle the odds and ends along the way. This is the reward you deserve, so take it. Cultivate well in the future."

Lin Mo looked at the portly merchant captain and nodded seriously.

"Thank you, sir. Take care."

More than twenty Silver Soul Coins was clearly an intentional gesture of kindness.

It seemed Deacon Su's instructions had led the other man to believe Lin Mo had considerable connections, resulting in even greater goodwill toward him.

After putting away the Silver Soul Coins, Lin Mo walked over to Xie Yue and Hu Liena and cupped his hands in farewell.

"Thank you both for looking after me during our journey."

Hu Liena smiled, her eyes curving.

"I hope everything goes smoothly for you at Plant Academy and that your cultivation advances by leaps and bounds. When we meet again somewhere on the continent, I hope to hear your name."

Hu Liena waved with a smile. "I hope we meet again."

"Cultivate well. Take care." Xie Yue nodded slightly.

The boy and girl turned and left with the merchant caravan. Their upright figures gradually merged into the crowd ahead.

Lin Mo stood at the crossroads, watching their backs disappear before finally withdrawing his gaze.

This was Heaven Dou City. His destination had not yet been reached.

Still, since he had already come to the imperial capital, it would seem like a loss not to look around.

Lin Mo looked up at the prosperous, enormous city, a glimmer of light flashing through his eyes.