Target: Star Dou Great Forest!

After testing him personally, Flender gave his own assessment.

That was that Yu Xiaogang's judgment was not only not exaggerated, but even understated.

Lin Mo's physical fitness had long since reached the same level as most three-ring assault-system beast Martial Soul battle Soul Masters.

And within the same rank of a two-ring Soul Grand Master, he was basically invincible.

What surprised Flender even more, filling him with amazement, was Lin Mo's on-the-spot reaction.

The speed at which he had just launched his probing attack was extremely fast; if it had been any ordinary two-ring Soul Grand Master, they would not have had time to react at all.

They would have been hit squarely in the chest by his palm, without a doubt.

Yet, Lin Mo's reaction speed was remarkably fast.

Almost the instant Flender moved, Lin Mo had instinctively completed a blocking punch.

Such talent was truly a raw gem rarely seen in ten thousand years.

Flender was filled with emotion. Suppressing the excitement in his heart, he looked at Lin Mo and spoke again:

"Release your first Soul Skill and let me see it."

He had long been curious about this 'special Martial Soul Possession state' of Lin Mo's, and today he finally had the chance to see it up close.

He was already eager to figure out the specific effects of Lin Mo's first Soul Skill.

"Alright."

Lin Mo nodded without the slightest hesitation.

With a thought, a glowing yellow hundred-year soul ring emerged from beneath his feet, then slowly rose to hover around his body.

The moment the soul ring lit up, a layer of transparent, intangible Body-Protecting Qi quietly condensed, covering the surface of Lin Mo's entire body.

This shield, constructed from Body-Protecting Qi, was extremely thin and transparent—it was no exaggeration to say it was invisible to the naked eye; without careful perception, one wouldn't even notice its existence.

Seeing this, Flender's eyes narrowed, and he said nothing more, but his figure suddenly flickered.

In Lin Mo's line of sight, Flender's figure became blurred and elusive, moving so fast that only afterimages remained.

At the same time, a faint cyan glow of Soul Power appeared on the tips of Flender's fingers.

The next instant, Flender's fingers tapped out in quick succession, fast as lightning, striking the Body-Protecting Qi around Lin Mo several times in a row.

Chi! Chi! Chi!

That layer of Body-Protecting Qi, which had never been broken by a Soul Master of the same rank, was as brittle as paper before Flender, instantly punctured with several tiny holes.

The Qi shield on Lin Mo's body shattered instantly, the gaps clearly visible.

A trace of helplessness flashed in the depths of Lin Mo's eyes.

This was a genuine gap in cultivation, one that could not be easily bridged by talent alone.

He was currently only a level-twenty quasi-Soul Grand Master, having not yet truly broken through to the Soul Grand Master realm.

Flender, however, was a level-seventy Soul Saint who had been settled in this realm for a long time.

The gap in their realms spanned five major levels—it was a difference as vast as heaven and earth.

His defense, in the face of absolute power, ultimately appeared insignificant.

It was only natural that his defense would be easily broken by the other party.

Lin Mo did not feel the slightest bit discouraged.

He was only eight years old; his future growth potential was limitless, and the gap before him was merely temporary.

It wouldn't be long before the gap between him and Flender would be closed step by step, and then surpassed.

Flender withdrew his fingers, his gaze landing on the Body-Protecting Qi around Lin Mo, which had already recovered as if nothing had happened.

A moment later, he spoke slowly: "An extremely comprehensive first Soul Skill, and a very rare one at that."

"If my perception is correct, this soul skill of yours not only condenses Body-Protecting Qi to construct an all-encompassing shield, but also amplifies your own physical defense."

"Most importantly, the shield also carries some damage-reflection effects."

Lin Mo admitted it frankly: "The Dean is absolutely correct."

Flender's investigation had been extremely meticulous, seeing through almost all the characteristics of his first Soul Skill.

But there was still one point that Flender had overlooked.

Or rather, because the gap in their realms was so vast, Flender had no way of perceiving it.

His Body-Protecting Qi, in addition to the shield, increased defense, and damage-reflection properties, also carried a highly precious Dominant Body effect.

It was just that Flender's realm was simply too high, and his attack was an absolute suppression.

The Dominant Body effect attached to the shield had no chance to trigger in the face of such an absolute gap in strength, so naturally, it didn't exist as something Flender could discover.

After figuring out Lin Mo's specific situation, Flender completely let go of the doubts in his heart and looked at Yu Xiaogang on the side:

"Xiaogang, I've confirmed it. He is absolutely a top-tier genius, the likes of which are not seen in ten thousand years; there is not the slightest exaggeration."

"This child will come with me from now on, and I will treat him with all my heart!"

Flender's gaze returned to Lin Mo as he spoke.

"I am already incredibly eager to see just how formidable the second soul skill you obtain will be once you break through to the level of a 20th-level Soul Grand Master!"

"Once you acquire your second soul ring, even those three-ringed Soul Elders who have long since broken through may not necessarily be your match."

At this point, Flender could not help but laugh heartily, his tone filled with a sense of anticipation.

"Aside from you, Shrek Academy has already recruited a few students, and Dai Mubai, who possesses the White Tiger Martial Soul, is the one with the highest cultivation among them."

"He is a few years your senior, and his cultivation broke through to the Soul Grand Master realm long ago."

"He has always been arrogant and looks down on everyone."

"With you joining now, it will be the perfect opportunity to take him down a peg!"

Hearing this, Lin Mo looked up at Flender and asked:

"Dean, are we still heading to the Soul Hunting Forest to obtain my second soul ring?"

Flender shook his head immediately upon hearing this: "The Soul Hunting Forest? A small place like that is not worthy of your talent."

"Ordinary Soul Grand Masters choose to go to the artificially enclosed Soul Hunting Forest to select docile, low-level soul beasts because they prioritize safety above all else."

"But you are different; you are a genius seen once in a century. How could those tame soul beasts in the Soul Hunting Forest possibly be worthy of you!"

"This time, I am taking you directly to the Star Dou Great Forest!"

"When it comes to thousand-year soul beasts, those artificially raised in the Soul Hunting Forest have long since lost their wild nature; their bloodlines are weak, and their potential has been exhausted."

"Such thousand-year soul beasts aren't even fit to carry the shoes of those in the Star Dou Great Forest!"

"Only the thousand-year soul beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest, with their powerful bloodlines, are worthy of your talent and can provide you with the best possible second soul ring!"

The moment he heard the words "Star Dou Great Forest," Lin Mo's heart stirred.

The Star Dou Great Forest.

It was recognized as the number one gathering place for soul beasts on the Douluo Continent. The variety of soul beasts within was vast and powerful, covering almost every need a soul master could have.

If conditions allowed, almost any soul master would be willing to go to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt soul beasts and obtain their soul rings.

The reason was simple: the quality of soul rings produced by the Star Dou Great Forest was far superior to those from other soul beast forests.

Lin Mo was no exception; he, too, had been looking forward to the Star Dou Great Forest for a long time.