Apprenticeship? Are You Worthy?

Was it him?

Yu Xiaogang fell into deep thought.

"Master!"

Suddenly, Xiao Wu's clear voice shattered the eerie silence.

"This is Xiao Yin I told you about! His Martial Soul is a Mutated Beast Martial Soul! He's already a level 20 Soul Master too!"

"A... Mutated Beast Martial Soul?"

Xiao Wu's words forcibly pulled Yu Xiaogang's attention back. Suppressing the doubts in his heart, he scrutinized Xiao Yin again, this time with the eyes of a pure theoretical researcher.

Around ten years old, a level 20 Soul Master, and a Mutated Beast Martial Soul? This talent... was absolutely extraordinary!

In an instant, Yu Xiaogang's lingering suspicions were largely diluted by the huge discovery of a "genius Soul Master."

After all, how could a gifted young boy possibly be that attacker who had been like a wild dog?

Perhaps... he merely looked somewhat alike?

Or perhaps the fright from that day had caused him to imagine things?

"Ahem..."

Yu Xiaogang cleared his throat, trying to make his voice sound steady, though the injury at the corner of his mouth still made his speech somewhat awkward.

"Xiao Yin... is it? Welcome to Nuoding Academy.

What is your Martial Soul? What is your First Spirit Ring?"

He instinctively began questioning him, the instincts of a theoretical master overriding both the pain on his face and the doubts in his heart.

Xiao Yin sneered inwardly, though he put on a "bashful" expression as he said:

"Hello, Master. My Martial Soul... is a Mutated Beast Martial Soul inclined toward defense. I call it—Taotie.

My First Spirit Ring came from a three-hundred-year-old Iron-Armored Rhino, granting me a defensive soul skill."

"Taotie? Iron-Armored Rhino?" Yu Xiaogang frowned, swiftly searching through his theoretical knowledge.

There seemed to be no clear record of such a Martial Soul?

"Show me your Martial Soul. Let me have a look."

Xiao Yin did not refuse. His Soul Power circulated, and Taotie's phantom emerged directly behind him!

The head of a dragon, the body of a goat!

In an instant, the other three present all felt a heavy pressure emanating from that phantom!

"A top-tier Mutated Beast Martial Soul! It is absolutely a top-tier Mutated Beast Martial Soul!"

Xiao Wu and Tang San were relatively unaffected, but Yu Xiaogang in particular could even feel suppression from the bloodline itself!

In an instant, Yu Xiaogang's gaze behind his lenses burned with intense excitement!

"Xiao Yin, are you willing to take me as your master? My Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul theory can help you avoid detours. Your future achievements will be limitless!"

Take him as master?

Take this "theoretical expert" who had been slapped across the face by him just days ago as master?

And his Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul theory?

Was it even his?

Looking at the "clown" before him, Xiao Yin nearly failed to hold back his laughter.

He forcibly suppressed the absurdity he felt inside, revealing an expression of flattered surprise mixed with slight hesitation.

"Master, I am deeply grateful for your favor.

But I have grown accustomed to freedom and wandering, so for now... I have no plans to take a master.

Besides, with my meager abilities, I truly would not dare tarnish Master's reputation."

The rejection was tactful, but its meaning was unmistakable.

The eagerness on Yu Xiaogang's face instantly froze, followed by a flicker of barely perceptible anger.

"Hmph! He does not know what is good for him!" Tang San snorted coldly in his heart as well.

Xiao Wu did not think that much about it. She merely felt that it was good Xiao Yin had his own ideas, and hurriedly tried to smooth things over.

"Oh, Master, Xiao Yin has only just arrived. We can talk about it later!

When are we leaving for the Soul Hunting Forest?"

Interrupted by Xiao Wu, Yu Xiaogang could not easily lose his temper. He could only suppress his displeasure and say in a low voice:

"Right now. Have you prepared everything? Tang San, your Second Spirit Ring is of utmost importance. Do not be careless.

Xiao Yin... since you are traveling with us, you must be extra careful as well."

He gave Xiao Yin one final deep look, his gaze filled with scrutiny and a trace of lingering doubt.

"Yes, Teacher/Master." Tang San and Xiao Wu answered. Xiao Yin also gave a slight nod.

The outskirts of the Soul Hunting Forest.

Towering ancient trees blocked out most of the sunlight, and the air was thick with the damp scent of decaying leaves.

Tangled vines and dim light made Xiao Yin feel as though he had stepped into a primeval forest from his previous life.

Yu Xiaogang walked at the front with a solemn expression. At his side followed Luo Sanpao, whose body resembled that of a pig, warily observing the surroundings.

Tang San followed close behind, his Purple Demon Eye activated. A faint violet glow flowed through his eyes as he carefully scanned the surrounding environment.

Yet from the corner of his eye, he occasionally glanced toward the rear of the group.

Xiao Wu and Xiao Yin walked side by side at the very back.

Xiao Wu seemed extremely excited, skipping along as if she had returned home. From time to time, she pointed out strange plants or traces and quietly explained them to Xiao Yin.

Xiao Yin listened quietly, nodding occasionally in response. Though his gaze seemed casually to sweep across their surroundings, the instincts of the Taotie Martial Soul within him were quietly operating.

A hunger born from his bloodline, along with acute perception, spread outward.

It was as if he could "smell" the different traces of Soul Power lingering in the air, vaguely sensing richer life energy coming from a certain direction.

The feeling was vague, yet far more direct than his eyes or ears.

This was Taotie's talent—the instinctive tracking of "food"!

"Xiao Yin, look over there!"

Xiao Wu suddenly lowered her voice and pointed at a patch of crushed shrubbery to their left. Several hard scales remained there. "They look freshly left behind. Something big passed through here!"

Yu Xiaogang and Tang San immediately looked over as well.

Yu Xiaogang adjusted his glasses and carefully examined the scales. "Mm... judging by the patterns and hardness of these scales, it is likely an Iron-Bellied Snake over six hundred years old!

This kind of soul beast possesses tremendous strength and formidable defense. It is perfectly suited as a choice for a control-type Soul Master's Second Spirit Ring!

Tang San, Xiao Wu, stay alert. Let us follow and take a look!"

Tang San immediately nodded, his Purple Demon Eye locking onto the direction in which the trail extended.

Xiao Yin, however, frowned slightly.

His Taotie instincts indeed conveyed the presence of a fairly strong energy in that direction, but it seemed... too quiet?

Moreover, in a direction further to the side, he vaguely caught several more concealed Soul Power fluctuations quietly approaching them!

The target... appeared to be them!

"Wait." Xiao Yin suddenly spoke.

Yu Xiaogang and Tang San stopped at the same time, looking at him in confusion.

Xiao Wu blinked her large eyes as well.

"What is it, Xiao Yin?" Xiao Wu asked.

"Over there." Xiao Yin pointed toward the thicket of thorns, his voice carrying a trace of gravity. "There are things there. More than one. They are... surrounding us."

He could not clearly explain Taotie's perception and could only express it vaguely.

"Surrounding us?" Yu Xiaogang's brows knitted tightly, instinctively skeptical.

His theoretical analysis clearly indicated that the Iron-Bellied Snake's trail was the most immediate threat. Could a ten-year-old child truly be more perceptive than him?

Tang San's Purple Demon Eye immediately turned toward the direction Xiao Yin had indicated, activating at full force.

The faint violet light flickered, piercing through some of the obstructions. Seconds later, Tang San's expression abruptly changed!

"Teacher! Xiao Yin is right!"

Tang San's voice carried a hint of urgency. "They are Three-Headed Nether Wolves! They look to be at least three hundred years old!

They are hiding behind the thorns and have already formed an encirclement! They are very fast!"

As if to confirm Tang San's words, several low, threatening wolf howls suddenly rang out!

"Awooo—!"