"I wonder what business you have with me, my lord?" Tang Yin asked, lowering his eyes.
Tang Hao kept his identity hidden. As he looked at Tang Yin, whose features closely resembled Ah Yin's, his feelings grew complicated. Then he lowered his voice and altered its tone before speaking:
"A Blue Silver Grass with Innate Full Soul Power. I never expected to encounter such a special existence while passing through this place."
"Unfortunately, I have no desire to take on a disciple, and Blue Silver Grass has little potential to speak of. But it would be a shame to let you languish here."
"So I'll take you as an outer disciple."
"Are you willing?"
Hearing this, Tang Yin tried to guess the visitor's identity.
He hadn't seen much of the world, but judging from his knowledge of the original story and the situation at hand, the man before him was most likely Tang Hao!
Tang Yin asked, "I still don't know your name, senior."
Tang Hao replied coolly, "When you've earned my recognition and become a true disciple, you'll be worthy of knowing my name."
Tang Yin fell silent and bowed. "This disciple pays his respects to his teacher."
Tang Hao gave a slight nod. "Boy, your name is Tang Yin, right?"
Tang Yin nodded. "That's right."
"Do you have your First Soul Ring yet?" Tang Hao continued.
"Not yet," Tang Yin replied.
"Ask the academy for leave tomorrow. I'll personally take you to obtain your First Soul Ring," Tang Hao said coolly.
"I wonder what kind of Soul Ring you intend to give my Martial Soul?" Tang Yin asked curiously.
"Why do you have so many questions? From now on, talk less around me. Better yet, don't talk at all! Also, you're only an outer disciple right now. You're not qualified to call me teacher. Address me as senior!" Tang Hao said sternly.
Tang Yin fell silent, but thought that since this man might be Tang Hao—and was now his teacher, too—even if he was only an outer disciple, it shouldn't be unreasonable to ask for a little money, right?
"Senior, could you spare this disciple a little money? I come from a poor family, and I'm rather short on funds at the moment!" Tang Yin said, scratching his head.
Tang Hao's face darkened beneath his mask. He tossed him a bracelet. "This bracelet is a Storage Soul Tool. Pour Soul Power into it to store items. There are things inside that you'll need."
"Come back here tomorrow morning to find me."
With that, Tang Hao vanished in an instant.
Tang Yin put on the silver bracelet, which was set with a milky-white gemstone, and wore it on his left wrist. Then he poured Soul Power into it.
He discovered that the Storage Soul Tool contained not only a money pouch but also a book on meditation.
After trying to take them out, Tang Yin checked how many Gold Soul Coins were in the pouch. There were a full hundred. The meditation manual had also been revised, making it very different from the basic meditation method used by ordinary people.
On his way back, Tang Yin was overjoyed. This meant he no longer had to struggle so hard to worry about food and drink. He'd also found a way to resolve the problem of obtaining a Soul Ring.
When Tang Yin returned to Dorm Seven, he found that everyone had already fallen asleep. Xiao Wu, who had no bedding, was curled up beneath some old clothes, sleeping quite peacefully.
"Winter's almost here. She can't go without bedding." With that thought, Tang Yin sat cross-legged on his bed and tried out the new meditation method.
Early the next morning, Tang Yin opened his eyes. Despite having spent the entire night without sleep, he felt refreshed and full of energy.
Tang Yin glanced at the others, still asleep, then quietly left Dorm Seven to ask for leave.
Not long after.
After getting his leave approved, Tang Yin went to the garden on the athletic field.
Before he could say a word, a figure swept him away in an instant.
The speed was so great that no one noticed.
Inside the Soul Hunting Forest, several hundred miles from Nuoding City.
Tang Yin was dropped onto the ground. He panted heavily, his face flushed.
"Follow me."
Tang Hao kept his identity hidden and spoke coolly before walking ahead.
Seeing this, Tang Yin caught his breath, then hurried after him.
Tang Hao seemed to know exactly where he was going. He didn't wander around searching at all like a Soul Master normally would when Soul Hunting.
After about an hour, Tang Hao led Tang Yin to a stop in front of a brightly colored flower.
Tang Hao explained, "This flower is called the Dawn Flower. It has powerful vitality. Most Support Soul Masters who absorb this Soul Beast gain a healing-type Soul Skill. Kill it and absorb its Soul Ring."
With that, Tang Hao tossed Tang Yin a short knife. "This flower can't attack. Just cut through its stem."
"Senior, how old is this Dawn Flower as a Soul Beast?" Tang Yin asked.
Tang Hao glanced at Tang Yin. "You're not completely stupid. You know to ask how old the Soul Beast is."
Tang Yin's mouth twitched slightly as he cursed inwardly.
"This Dawn Flower is a plant Soul Beast that's over four hundred years old. Since it has no attack power to speak of, absorbing its Soul Ring is much easier than absorbing the Soul Ring of a ferocious beast. Don't worry. Go ahead and absorb it," Tang Hao said coolly.
Tang Yin nodded and swung his knife.
The short knife was extremely sharp. It sliced through the base of the Dawn Flower's stem with ease.
The Dawn Flower drooped. A moment later, a yellow ring of light quietly appeared.
"Use your Soul Power to draw the Soul Ring over, then meditate and absorb it," Tang Hao's voice rang out.
Tang Yin tried it and succeeded on his first attempt. Then he began absorbing it.
It was a long process.
The absorption lasted two hours before Tang Yin finally woke up.
The Dawn Flower's Soul Ring had settled onto his Blue Silver Emperor Martial Soul.
At the same time, he learned the effect of his First Soul Skill—Light of Recovery!
A healing Soul Skill!
It consumed Soul Power, but he could also absorb light energy to replenish his own Soul Power!
Powerful staying power!
"How is it? What Soul Skill did you get?" Tang Hao asked coolly.
"My Soul Skill is called Light of Recovery. It's a large-area healing Soul Skill," Tang Yin explained.
"Let's test your current Soul Power Level." Tang Hao produced a crystal ball from behind him. It looked very different from the one Su Yuntao had used earlier to test Soul Power.
Tang Yin placed his hand on it, looking forward to the result. The next second, the crystal ball lit up.
"Level thirteen?"
Tang Hao raised his eyebrows, quite surprised.
Tang Yin was also astonished.
"Let's go!"
Tang Hao wasted no time. He scooped Tang Yin up and left the Soul Hunting Forest at tremendous speed.
The round trip of several hundred kilometers, along with the Soul Ring absorption, had taken only a single day.
Tang Yin had merely missed the opening ceremony.
"I have urgent business to attend to. I can't stay here long." After taking Tang Yin back to the academy, Tang Hao didn't waste another word before leaving.
Tang Yin hadn't noticed Tang Hao's departure at all. On the way, his mind was in turmoil.
It was already evening.
Remembering that he still had no bedding, Tang Yin immediately left the academy. He bought two sets and only then returned to the entrance of Dorm Seven.
As for why he'd bought two sets, of course it was to get closer to Xiao Wu.
"I wonder if Tang San is dead or alive. If he's still alive, he's probably in the hands of Spirit Hall. They might even raise him themselves." At the thought, Tang Yin's mouth twitched.
That would be completely insane!