Soul Hunting Forest

"They're gone!"

"The people over here are gone too!"

Several shouts echoed through Notting Academy. The group that had been desperately chasing the black shadows in front of them now looked like headless flies.

They had only turned a corner or burst into an empty utility room.

As long as the crowd shifted their gaze away from these figures for even a second, the little thieves would vanish into thin air. They were just a few thieves at the Spirit Master level, yet over a dozen teachers had been busy all night and hadn't even managed to catch a single living soul?

Listening to the constant stream of bad news, Principal Fuqi's face turned black, his teeth grinding in fury.

Just as the string of bad news continued, someone suddenly waved their arms, seemingly holding something high in the air, and squeezed through the crowd, running over in a hurry.

"Principal! The stolen Soul Hunting Permit! It's been found!"

"Huh?"

Taking advantage of the dim torchlight, everyone stared at the Soul Hunting Permit in the man's hand.

With its dark material and the bright red sword, hammer, and crown pattern, Principal Fuqi took it in a daze. The familiar texture told him clearly that this was indeed his academy's Soul Hunting Permit.

The stolen permit had been returned just like that, so why had these people made such a huge scene?

"What are these people playing at?"

Principal Fuqi muttered to himself, while the exhausted teachers around him scratched their heads, unable to make any sense of it.

Several days later.

Early in the morning, before the mist had fully dissipated, a bustling market built by humans stood before a massive primeval forest. Spirit Masters waiting to hunt spirits carried their packs, already lined up in a long queue.

Many sturdy Spirit Masters guarded glamorous nobles on their hunts, or were preparing to risk their lives for their second or third spirit rings.

Of course, there were also a large number of Spirit Masters risking their lives for their very first spirit ring.

Junior Spirit Master academies did have an obligation to hunt for spirit rings, but among these commoner Spirit Masters with innate spirit power of only level one or two, how many could actually reach level ten before graduating at twelve?

The Spirit Hall guard stationed at the entrance looked down at the dark permit in his hand, then looked at the few young men in front of him who were only seventeen or eighteen years old.

"You want to go in to hunt spirits?"

"Yes."

The leader nodded, then added a few sycophantic words.

"We're all level ten Spirit Masters, all graduated from the same junior academy. We thought we'd look out for each other. Besides, our target is just a ten-year Lone Bamboo or something similar; there's no need to waste money hiring outsiders."

Seeing there was no profit to be made from these few, and with the man in front of him rambling on and on, the Spirit Hall guard frowned and shooed them away.

"Fine! Get in there, then!"

"Many thanks, many thanks."

Taking back the permit, the group walked into the Soul Hunting Forest.

Once the market town behind them had disappeared and no other hunting squads were in sight, the group let out a collective sigh of relief.

Poof!

Smoke exploded. The three young men suddenly shrank significantly, revealing the identical faces beneath. Naruto, the leader, tossed the Soul Hunting Permit aside, and it exploded the moment it hit the ground.

Another Naruto appeared on the scene, hunched over and rubbing his back like an old man.

"That nearly suffocated me! Turning into a small object is truly lethal!"

"What are you complaining about? I'm the one carrying all this luggage!" Shadow Clone A panted heavily, pointing to the luggage on his back that was taller than a person, and complained as well.

One had to remember that Naruto was still a pauper; he didn't have high-end goods like a spirit storage tool.

The two clones exchanged a look and reached a consensus, turning their dangerous gazes toward the two who were empty-handed.

"Don't look at me! I'm the one who ran my legs off buying all this stuff, it's not like I didn't contribute!" Shadow Clone B quickly waved his hands to explain. After a brief moment of thought, the group nodded in agreement, and everyone's gaze focused on the last person.

"Why are you looking at me? I'm the original body!"

Naruto stood with his hands behind his back, looking imposing and righteous.

"Fine! Everyone, attack together! Kill this bird emperor and seize the throne! I shall name you all Crown Princes!"

"Father and son, heart to heart, we shall ensure he never returns!"

"Eldest! Second! You go! I shall hold the line for you!"

The three cursed in anger, yet remained rooted to the spot.

As expected of a conjugate father and son, the three of them ignored seniority and all wanted to be the father; they were truly a motley crew.

Cold light flickered in the eyes of Naruto, the original body. He didn't move until he had to, but once he did, it was like an antelope hanging its horns—his fists instantly unleashed several afterimages, breaking through all three of them in just a few moves!

In truth, he was just using his strength as the original body to bully them.

"..."

A moment later, A, B, and C clutched their bruised faces, pouting, feeling aggrieved but forced to submit to the original body's might, respectfully calling him "Foster Father."

Naruto paced back and forth in front of the three, scrutinizing his Shadow Clones from head to toe.

Without relying on the soul power of the Dong Trumpet, the three Shadow Clones had already drained most of Naruto's soul power, but they did not disappoint him.

Unlike the fragile clones formed by the basic Clone Technique, these three clones remained lively and moved normally after taking a few punches from him, showing no signs of collapsing.

Nodding to himself, Naruto stopped pacing and issued his orders.

"Search separately. If you find the target, dispel the Shadow Clone to notify me."

"What about you?"

"I'll watch the luggage."

The three Shadow Clones darkened their expressions. Seeing them remain still, Naruto threatened them with his eyes and urged them on.

"Get moving!"

Only then did the three grumble, turn around, and hurry away, disappearing into the forest.

"These... clones of yours..."

Bibi Dong's hesitant voice sounded in his ears, and Naruto paused slightly to wait.

"They possess clear judgment and the ability to act independently. They retain about sixty or seventy percent of your strength, and their physical durability is much higher than your previous clones. It's just that their personalities... are quite like yours..."

"Why does it sound like having a personality like mine is a flaw in your mouth?"

Naruto frowned.

Bibi Dong widened her eyes slightly and sat up straight. "Isn't it?"

Naruto half-lowered his eyelids, too lazy to bother with this increasingly informal Pope.

He picked up a note in his hand, looking slightly solemn. It contained the soul beasts carefully selected after discussions between him and Bibi Dong, and in this soul beast forest on the edge of the continent, there were only... three types suitable for his martial soul!

"ROAR!!"

A beast's roar echoed through the forest.

The Diamond Elephant, standing several people tall, raised its front limbs high before slamming them down, shaking the entire mountain forest.

The Soul Hunting squad in front was immediately thrown off balance, their formation breaking as they scrambled to flee in a panic. Seeing this, the eight-hundred-year-old Diamond Elephant refused to let up, tearing through trees as it gave relentless chase!

Watching the trees topple from afar, Naruto, who was hiding in the treetops looking a bit disheveled, was already unfazed.

This was the deepest part of the Soul Hunting Forest. The patrols claimed they cleared out any soul beasts over a thousand years old, but there was no guarantee there weren't stragglers. Even if he were lucky enough not to encounter a thousand-year soul beast, the strength of these seven- or eight-hundred-year-old beasts was far beyond Naruto's.

Just as he was thinking this, Naruto suddenly clutched his forehead, his brows locked in a tight frown.

Another Shadow Clone had died at the hands of a soul beast.

But finally, some good news.

Found it!

At a pond somewhere in the forest, four massive alligator turtles stretched their necks and pushed aside the reeds on the bank.

Right there in the grass was a wet, giant crater—a deep pit blasted out by the water jets fired simultaneously from the mouths of the four giant turtles.

Looking at the crater, a hint of human-like confusion flashed in the eyes of the giant turtles.

Where did the bipedal creature from just a moment ago go?

Far from the bank, already deep in the forest.

Naruto huddled in the dense grass, secretly feeling lucky. It was a good thing he had sent the Shadow Clones as scouts first; otherwise, he wouldn't even have known how he died when those four water cannons hit.

Peering through the dense foliage, Naruto observed the four giant turtles from a distance.

"Four Pure Water Turtles?"

Bibi Dong's voice sounded, showing slight surprise.

Having only read books for half a year and still being semi-illiterate, Naruto wore a look of pure, naive ignorance.

"You brat are quite lucky. There might only be these four Pure Water Turtles left in this entire soul beast forest."

Bibi Dong was amused by Naruto's matter-of-fact behavior. She pointed with a slender finger and explained, "Look at the patterns on their shells. The two smaller ones are about two hundred years old, the medium-sized one is three hundred and ninety years old, and the largest one is about five hundred and seventy years old."

"Three hundred and ninety years... that's only about thirty years shy of the limit for a first soul ring."

After speaking, Bibi Dong crossed her arms.

After waiting for a moment, the smile on Bibi Dong's lips gradually faded as she saw that Naruto outside still hadn't moved, remaining huddled in the grass.

"What's wrong?"

Bibi Dong asked with a frown.

But she saw Naruto turn his head, wearing a blank, confused expression. "Huh? You didn't tell me which Pure Water Turtle I should choose!"

"You brat!?"

Bibi Dong's face turned ash-gray in an instant, her icy words barely suppressing a surge of fury. "Did you not hear what This Seat just said? Or have you been reading too much of the Heavenly Book lately?"

"The limit for a first spirit ring is four hundred and twenty-three years!"

"Oh."

Naruto merely nodded.

This attitude only fueled Bibi Dong's rage further. Before she could rise in anger to coldly interrogate him, Naruto's calm voice sounded once more.

"I am not asking some good-for-nothing about spirit theory; I am asking the Pope of Spirit Hall. Tell me, what is the limit of my body right now? Which spirit beast should I choose?"