Flender and Broto stared at each other for a moment before he could only nod helplessly and turn to leave with Yu Xiaogang. "Sorry to trouble you!"
Yu Xiaogang rose and followed Flender, frowning. "This was the last academy. If they're not here, could they have left Suotuo City to study in another major city?"
"Xiaogang, do you think they might have gone to a high-level Soul Master Academy in Bala City?" Flender mused, stroking his chin.
"It's possible. After all, with their Soul Power Levels, they're qualified to enter any high-level Soul Master Academy, except those with special admission requirements." Yu Xiaogang sighed.
"If it's meant to be, it's meant to be. If it isn't, it isn't! Forget it. I'm done looking!" Flender said, shaking his head.
At that, Yu Xiaogang looked deeply unwilling to give up.
If he'd known earlier that Tang Yin possessed more than just a Mutated Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul—that he also had a Clear Sky Hammer Martial Soul—he would have taken Tang Yin as his personal disciple four years ago.
Now, it was too late for regrets!
Broto watched Flender and Yu Xiaogang leave, his brow furrowing as he pondered.
"Tang Yin, Xiao Wu... That bastard Flender wouldn't have come here to poach my students, would he?"
"Good thing I reacted fast!"
At the same time, Tang Yin and Xiao Wu were eating in the academy dining hall, unaware that Flender and Yu Xiaogang had come looking for them.
They'd eaten only until they were half full before changing the scene and heading into town to shop.
Only when the night had grown quiet did the satisfied pair return to the academy side by side.
After returning to his dormitory, Tang Yin set about consolidating what he'd gained during the day.
After successfully trying it several more times, Tang Yin finally felt at ease and fell asleep.
That night, Tang Yin slept soundly.
If Xiao Wu hadn't come knocking, he would have been late for class yet again.
"Looks like you really wore yourself out yesterday. You overslept again," Xiao Wu teased.
Tang Yin yawned.
Just then, he suddenly realized that his Soul Power Level had risen from Level Twenty-Nine to Level Thirty overnight.
"What's wrong?" Xiao Wu asked, puzzled by Tang Yin's stunned expression.
"Xiao Wu, I broke through! I've reached Level Thirty!" Tang Yin said happily, his eyes shining.
"Really!" Xiao Wu exclaimed, then immediately beamed with joy, genuinely happy for him.
"Come on, let's ask the teacher about getting a Soul Ring." Tang Yin didn't head to class. Instead, he changed direction and made for the principal's office.
"Tang Yin, you're improving so quickly!" Xiao Wu exclaimed.
She thought she was already working pretty hard, but Tang Yin had still left her so far behind.
"If I don't improve quickly, how am I supposed to protect you?" Tang Yin said with a playful wiggle of his eyebrows.
"Who needs you to protect me? I'm not weaker than you!" Xiao Wu huffed. The corners of her mouth lifted despite herself, and her heart felt sweet.
Inside the principal's office.
Broto was drinking tea and teasing a bird when a knock suddenly sounded at the office door.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
Broto stopped teasing the bird and quickly went around to sit upright behind his desk.
"Come in!"
At that, Tang Yin pushed open the door and entered, with Xiao Wu close behind.
"Principal."
Broto remembered Tang Yin and Xiao Wu very well. After all, they were the youngest and most talented students in the entire Suotuo Intermediate Soul Master Academy.
"So, it's you two!"
"Shouldn't you be in class right now? What brings you here?"
Broto asked warmly.
Tang Yin and Xiao Wu exchanged glances, then he smiled. "Principal, I broke through to Level Thirty this morning, so I wanted to ask when you could send a teacher to help me obtain my third Soul Ring."
"When you first enrolled, you were only Level Twenty-Nine. How did you reach Level Thirty after just a few days?" Broto exclaimed, both surprised and delighted.
Tang Yin scratched his head and smiled without saying anything.
"Good! Excellent! Absolutely wonderful! You're the most outstanding student I've ever seen!" Broto praised him repeatedly. Then he stood, clasped his hands behind his back, and paced around the office.
After a while, Broto made up his mind and smiled. "I'll have the vice principal personally take you to the Star Dou Forest to find a suitable third Soul Ring!"
"Thank you, Principal!" Tang Yin said happily.
When Xiao Wu heard the words "Star Dou Forest," her expression changed slightly, but she quickly recovered.
"Xiao Wu, this time... maybe you should stay at the academy and wait for me to come back," Tang Yin said softly.
"No, I'm going." Xiao Wu thought it over for only a moment before making up her mind.
"Don't worry. We're only looking for a plant-type Soul Beast around the thousand-year level. The vice principal is a Level Fifty-Five Battle Soul King of the Power Attack System. His Martial Soul is the extremely powerful Thunder Light Beast, so he's more than capable of protecting you both." Broto smiled.
Tang Yin said no more.
He was only worried that if Xiao Wu came along, she might draw the Titan Giant Ape to them.
A long while later.
On the main road outside Suotuo City, a carriage drawn by two sturdy Horned Horses raced toward the Star Dou Forest.
Inside, Lei Wuya, the dean of Suotuo Intermediate Soul Master Academy, sat with his eyes closed, resting. He was about fifty, with a resolute face, and the faint fluctuations of Soul Power circulated around him.
Across from him sat Tang Yin and Xiao Wu, side by side.
Tang Yin gazed calmly out the window at the scenery rushing past, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing together.
Xiao Wu, meanwhile, seemed excited. She kept leaning out to look around, having completely forgotten that she'd said she hated riding in carriages.
"Tang Yin," Dean Lei Wuya suddenly said, without opening his eyes. "What kind of Soul Ring do you plan to give your Martial Soul?"
Tang Yin pondered before replying, "I don't mind about anything else. The most important thing is that it has plenty of vitality."
Lei Wuya opened his eyes slightly. "What path are you following? Support or control?"
Tang Yin smiled as he answered, "My plan is to combine control, support, and power attack."
Lei Wuya's mouth twitched. "You're greedy. But you can't chew more than you can swallow. It might even backfire."
Tang Yin explained, "Principal, both my first and second Soul Rings came from plant-type Soul Beasts with strong vitality."
Lei Wuya nodded. "I understand."
Lei Wuya gave a small nod. "It seems you already have a clear path for your Martial Soul's growth."
A hint of admiration flashed in his eyes.
Tang Yin was not only exceptionally gifted but also had a mind of his own, not easily swayed by others.
He had a clear plan for his Martial Soul and the path he wanted to follow.
In Lei Wuya's eyes, the mutated Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul was still Blue Silver Grass.
A ten-year-old quasi-Soul Elder at Level Thirty.
Lei Wuya couldn't help thinking, "Comparing yourself to others really is enough to drive you mad..."
Lei Wuya slowly opened his eyes and looked at Tang Yin and Xiao Wu, reminding them, "The Star Dou Forest is unlike the Soul Hunting Forests kept by the Empire and Spirit Hall. It's extremely dangerous. Be careful and stay alert on this trip."
"Yes!" Tang Yin and Xiao Wu answered together.