Soul Spirit

On his way back to school, Lin Shuo traveled alone through the outer perimeter of the Star Dou Great Forest.

Morning light spilled through the branches of ancient trees, casting mottled shadows upon the ground. The air was filled with the fresh scent of earth and dew, and the occasional low growl of a soul beast in the distance was quickly swallowed by the silence of the woods.

Lin Shuo was in no hurry. He walked at a measured pace, his footsteps making a faint rustling sound against the soil of the Star Dou Great Forest.

He had only just left Gu Yuena, and the lingering warmth on his shoulder had yet to fade. Suppressing a faint sense of reluctance in his heart, he prepared to channel his soul power to pick up the pace when a subtle fluctuation suddenly rippled through the depths of his consciousness.

"Young friend."

An aged, calm voice resonated within his sea of spirit—it was Electrolux.

Lin Shuo paused for a brief moment before continuing forward, responding with his thoughts: "Elder Electrolux? Is something the matter?"

Gray currents surged slightly at the edge of his sea of spirit, appearing more solid than they had been a few months ago. The silhouette of the old man grew clearer, revealing the faint outline of a white-haired elder wreathed in a dim, gray halo.

"I have been contemplating the matter you mentioned last time."

Electrolux's voice was unhurried, carrying the steady composure of a sage. "I have gained some insight into the path where a soul beast sacrifices itself to become a sentient Soul Spirit, coexisting with a soul master."

Lin Shuo stopped beneath an ancient tree and sank his consciousness into his sea of spirit. In the void where seven-colored light swirled, the gray figure of Electrolux hovered before him, a faint smile gracing his aged features.

"Please, enlighten me, Elder." Lin Shuo's voice was more earnest than usual.

The method of the Soul Spirit could, to a certain extent, alleviate the millennia-old conflict between soul masters and soul beasts.

Once artificial Soul Spirits appeared in the future, they would be able to resolve the soul masters' need for soul beasts at the root.

However, all of this came with a prerequisite: the gap in strength between the soul beast and the human could not be too vast.

Otherwise, soul bones and forced Soul Spirit contracts would only bring a more tragic fate to the soul beasts.

"I have studied that Sky Dream Iceworm," Electrolux said slowly. "Perhaps we can use Necromancy to extract the soul of a soul beast from its body and bind it to a soul master through a contract. I believe this would achieve an effect similar to that of the Iceworm."

"This would not only generate soul rings for the soul master but perhaps even assist them in battle. However, as there has been no practical trial, you will need to experiment with this yourself, young friend."

"Your desire to use this method to ease the relationship between the two sides has its merits. But once human strength far exceeds that of the soul beasts, they could easily force contracts and enslave the Soul Spirits. You must consider the balance of this yourself."

After Electrolux finished speaking, he transmitted the technique to Lin Shuo.

"You may call upon me when you wish to attempt it."

"Thank you for your trouble, Elder." After saying this, Lin Shuo withdrew his consciousness from his sea of spirit.

For now, he had best return to the academy and wait for an opportunity to experiment later.

With that thought, Lin Shuo channeled his soul power and hurried toward Shrek Academy.

Shrek Academy.

As it was the most important enrollment period of the year, the area outside Shrek Academy was crowded with people, even in the afternoon. Beyond the returning students, there were parents bringing their children to register for Shrek Academy.

Lin Shuo passed through the gates of Shrek City and arrived at the Shrek Academy plaza. The moment he appeared, a stir rippled through the crowd.

The commotion was like a stone cast into a lake, spreading outward in circles from a single point.

"Senior? What's happening?" a freshman asked a fourth-year student.

"You don't even recognize Lin Shuo? Are you a freshman?" The fourth-year student glanced at the newcomer's youthful face and spoke casually.

Seeing the freshman nod, the senior continued: "That person is Lin Shuo. At only thirteen, he is already a four-ring Soul Ancestor. And all four of his rings are ten-thousand-year soul rings! When he first enrolled, no one in the outer courtyard could withstand a single move from him. Only the seniors in the inner courtyard could likely trade blows with him."

Hearing this, the freshmen turned their heads in unison to look at Lin Shuo, their mouths slightly agape.

Lin Shuo acted as if he didn't hear the surrounding noise and walked straight toward the dormitories.

Lying on a recliner at the entrance of the dormitory building, Mu En remained in his usual frail, elderly state, his eyes half-closed.

Lin Shuo didn't stop, merely nodding as he passed by as a sign of greeting. Mu En did not open his eyes, but the corners of his aged mouth twitched ever so slightly.

Lin Shuo pushed open the door to Dorm 108, the room filled with the cold, stagnant air of long-term vacancy. He pushed the window open a crack to dispel the stuffiness. After cleaning the room, Lin Shuo changed into a clean robe and stepped back out.

Just as he reached the entrance of the dormitory building, a powder-blue figure came jogging over.

"Lin Shuo!"

Wang Dong'er's powder-blue hair was tied into two playful buns at the back of her head, with a few stray strands framing her ears, making her already exquisite face appear even more lively. She stopped in front of Lin Shuo, her powder-blue eyes scanning him up and down before she nodded in satisfaction.

"Hehe, long time no see." Wang Dong'er's voice was crisp, carrying the excitement of a long-awaited reunion.

Lin Shuo looked at her and nodded slightly: "Long time no see."

In just a single vacation, Wang Dong'er seemed to have grown a little taller. Her powder-blue hair shimmered with a soft luster in the afternoon sun, making her look as if she had stepped out of a painting.

"Hmph, this young lady is already at level thirty-one." Wang Dong'er looked at Lin Shuo, her charming face full of an expression that practically begged for praise.

"Not bad." Lin Shuo nodded slightly, a hint of approval flashing in his pitch-black eyes. "It seems you haven't been lazy this vacation."

Upon hearing this, Wang Dong'er's powder-blue eyes brightened, and the corners of her mouth curled even higher. She clasped her hands behind her back and leaned forward slightly, her buns swaying gently with her movement, radiating an aura that practically shouted, "Keep praising me!"

"That goes without saying! This young lady practiced diligently the entire vacation; I didn't slack off for a single day!" She said, then suddenly remembering something, added, "By the way, where is Yu'er?"

Lin Shuo shook his head. "I just arrived myself; I only just finished tidying up my dorm when I ran into you."

"Then I'll head back to 402 first. Wait for me in your dorm for a moment."

Wang Dong'er tugged on Lin Shuo's sleeve and headed toward the dormitory building. Lin Shuo was dragged along for a few steps, but he didn't pull away, simply following behind at an unhurried pace.

"Didn't Yu'er go to the academy to get help with her second soul ring? I wonder what soul skill she obtained. Let's go eat grilled fish later!" Wang Dong'er said with some excitement.

After entering the dormitory building, Lin Shuo went straight to his room to wait, while Wang Dong'er ran directly upstairs.

A few minutes later, the sound of hurried footsteps came from the staircase.

"Lin Shuo, Lin Shuo, Yu'er still isn't back!"

Before she had even finished speaking, Wang Dong'er had already rushed into Lin Shuo's room.