First Meeting Yu Tianxin, Entering the Soul Hunting Forest (Second Update)

Thunder Academy, reception room.

"No, no. Soul Scholars were naturally not included," the Dean said with a smile.

"In other words, this rule only applied to Soul Masters advancing from one ring to two?" Shen Lin's expression had already turned cold.

"It is not targeted at anyone. Hunting souls is itself an opportunity and trial for young Soul Masters. What kind of soul beast one finds depends entirely on one's own skill, discernment, and luck."

"In other Soul Hunting Forests, the soul beasts encountered are random, whereas the ones we raise are all single-attribute. Naturally, there is a world of difference in quality."

"As long as the attributes match, even a two- or three-hundred-year Soul Ring could be considered top-tier. But if one is not particularly suited to lightning-type Soul Rings, then there is room for further consideration."

"Those with sufficient talent may venture deep into the forest to seek high-aged hundred-year lightning soul beasts, while those lacking strength can still secure a suitable Soul Ring at the minimum. Letting everything take its natural course is the fairest arrangement," the Dean said with a smile.

His words were flawless.

On the surface, it was a rule for the trial, meant to temper the younger generation. In truth, it was intended to guard against Shen Lin.

He was a five-ring Soul King.

If he were allowed to enter the forest alongside them, then with his cultivation and experience, he would surely head straight for the depths and select top-tier lightning soul beasts of seven or eight hundred years.

That would be a tremendous loss for Thunder Academy.

When forced to give something up, people instinctively chose the lesser loss.

They practically wished they could catch a lightning-type soul beast of only two or three hundred years and use it to send these two beggars on their way.

This rule was fundamentally meant to shut Shen Lin out and prevent any high-level resources from flowing elsewhere.

Yet none of these calculations were spoken aloud; they remained hidden behind careful schemes.

How could Shen Lin fail to hear the implication?

The other party had invoked the lofty principles of "precious resources" and "fair trials," putting the rules out in the open. He had no grounds to refute them.

Seeing the two fall silent, the supervising instructor spoke again, adding the final point to support the claim of fairness.

"To ensure absolute fairness, our academy has likewise selected a group of elite students who are preparing to break through to the second ring to enter the forest for this soul-hunting trial."

"They will be treated equally. None of our students will be accompanied, and no instructors will escort them. Just like this young friend, they will compete for their opportunities entirely through their own abilities," the Dean said.

His words sounded exceptionally polished.

It was merely an arrangement made in advance.

Before entering the forest, those academy students would receive confidential maps detailing the soul beast distribution throughout the Soul Hunting Forest.

The maps would mark the habitats of every hundred-year lightning soul beast in the entire forest, their ages and strengths, their activity ranges, safe zones, and dangerous restricted areas.

At the same time, the students entering the forest could muddy the waters and interfere with the other side's targets, minimizing the academy's losses.

"These are the rules. I hope the two of you understand," the Dean said with a smile.

If they accepted the conditions, then there was room for discussion.

If not, then there was no need for them to come.

Shen Lin looked at Lin Mo, asking for his opinion.

Lin Mo nodded.

"Since everyone is being treated equally, I have no problem with it."

"Teacher, rest assured. If they can do it, so can I," Lin Mo said.

"Besides," Lin Mo said, turning to look at the chubby Dean.

"If I run into trouble in the Soul Hunting Forest, I trust your academy's students will lend me a hand, right, Senior?"

"Ahahaha, of course, of course," the Dean said with a forced smile.

Hearing that, Lin Mo turned to Shen Lin and smiled faintly.

"Don't worry. The Dean has already said so."

Shen Lin was still somewhat uneasy.

Though he knew what Lin Mo was capable of, that was the Soul Hunting Forest, where soul beasts could appear at any time and there were too many unknown variables.

"If there are no objections, then it is settled," the Dean hurriedly cut in.

"The maximum time permitted in the Soul Hunting Forest is three days. If you do not find a suitable one, you must leave."

"You will need to prepare sufficient food and water for the days you spend in the Soul Hunting Forest."

Lin Mo had no objections.

In the end, Shen Lin nodded as well.

"Good. In that case, the two of you may rest at our academy for the night. We will set out tomorrow morning. What do you think?" The Dean smiled broadly, rubbing his hands together like a fly.

"Fine." Lin Mo nodded in agreement.

The night passed in the blink of an eye.

The next morning.

The dawn light pierced through layer upon layer of clouds, bathing the entire Thunder Academy.

In the academy's mountainous region, at the entrance to the Soul Hunting Forest.

At that moment, four tall youths stood in formation.

They were all elite students carefully selected by Thunder Academy, each a Soul Master at the peak of level twenty, standing at the crucial threshold of breaking through to the second ring.

The four students wore solemn expressions and brimmed with vigor, clearly having prepared thoroughly.

Each had a bulging pack hanging from his waist, stuffed with enough dried food, fresh water, and emergency medicine for three full days.

Besides that, each carried a regional map of the Soul Hunting Forest, which contained detailed records of the soul beasts' activity and distribution.

The Thunder Academy students looked utterly confident.

Their main task this time was to interfere and prevent Lin Mo from finding a high-quality soul beast. Whether they hunted soul beasts themselves was secondary.

Once they drove this outsider away, they would have plenty of time to choose at their leisure.

Before long, Shen Lin and Lin Mo approached slowly, accompanied by the Dean and several academy instructors.

Compared to the four fully equipped students, Lin Mo appeared especially casual. Dressed in a moon-white robe and traveling light, he looked as relaxed as though he were taking a stroll with an elder.

The Thunder Academy instructors' gazes instinctively fell on the silver ring around Lin Mo's finger, and their eyes flickered.

A storage Soul Tool?

This fellow really was valued by Plant Academy.

Then again, that made sense.

If he did not carry enough weight, Plant Academy would not have shamelessly come to Thunder Academy seeking cooperation.

Ordinary Soul Master students had no chance of even coming into contact with Soul Tools, much less rare storage-type ones.

The Dean remained impassive, maintaining his polite smile.

At that moment, a cold and upright figure slowly approached, instantly overshadowing the sharpness of every youth present.

Sensing the newcomer's presence, Lin Mo looked up.

Yu Tianxin wore a neat Thunder Academy uniform. His posture was straight, his brows and eyes cold and sharp, while faint lightning pressure flickered within his azure eyes.

He had not joined the line of four students, merely standing alone in silence before the entrance.

He had come specially today mainly to see that madman with his own eyes.

"Tianxin? Why are you here?" Seeing him, the Dean immediately approached with a beaming smile.

This was the young master of the main family.

One of the twins praised by the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

"Just taking a look." Yu Tianxin gave a slight nod.

This was Lin Mo and Yu Tianxin's first formal meeting.

Separated by several yards, their gazes met through the air.

Yu Tianxin's eyes held a hint of appraisal, while Lin Mo's expression remained calm and unruffled.

So he was Yu Tianxin.

He had been fairly impressive in the original story, a leading figure among the younger generation.

Unfortunately, Tang San and the other protagonists in the original story had protagonist halos that shone too brightly, making Yu Tianxin, who barely appeared, seem like some random nobody by the roadside.

Innate Soul Power level nine.

On Douluo Continent, he was absolutely a genuine genius!

From beginning to end, neither of them spoke.

Sensing that the atmosphere was off, the Dean immediately stepped forward, breaking the silence and speaking loudly.

"It is about time. You should enter the Soul Hunting Forest."

"I will repeat this once more: after entering the Soul Hunting Forest, you must be cautious. After three days, whether or not you have found a suitable soul beast, you must leave on time!" the Dean reiterated.

Lin Mo turned slightly and gave Shen Lin, beside him, a gentle nod. His expression was calm and composed.

Shen Lin nodded back, his eyes full of encouragement.

"Good luck!"

Lin Mo looked up at the enclosed Soul Hunting Forest and stepped inside.

He had his trump cards, so naturally he feared nothing.

Since he was here, he would choose the best one. Otherwise, he would have endured all this nonsense for nothing.