Eve of the Soul Hunt, Spore Fission

The moment the iron hammer fell onto the red-hot iron billet, the sub-spore within its handle pressed against the wood grain, recording every change in Tang San's wrist movements.

The burly man had originally stood by with his arms folded, watching for amusement. But after seeing Tang San bring down several consecutive blows, the contempt on his face gradually faded.

"Kid, who taught you that?"

Tang San did not stop hammering. "My father."

The burly man stepped closer. "What's your father called?"

Tang San turned the iron billet over, his tone unchanged. "Tang Hao."

The burly man thought for a moment but could not recall anyone named Tang Hao in Notting City, so he swallowed his question.

"Fine. Work for half a day first. If you can forge a qualified piece, I'll pay you."

Tang San nodded. "Thank you, boss."

Ji Yuan had no interest in any of this.

Using the swelling of Tang San's meridians whenever he exerted force, he compressed the soul beast's blood and vitality he had devoured last night near Tang San's heart meridian.

There were already two stable parasitic points there. One led to the origin of the Clear Sky Hammer in his left hand, while the other connected to the meridians at his waist.

Now, he needed to divide a new spore.

Tang San's hammer swings became increasingly steady. The Mysterious Heaven Skill circulated within him as well, internal energy flowing from his dantian, through his arm, and into his palm.

Taking advantage of this open path, Ji Yuan directly intercepted a large portion of the internal energy and poured it into the spore core.

Tang San's chest tightened. The hammer landed slightly off target, warping the edge of the iron billet.

The burly man immediately frowned. "What happened? I praised you twice and you already got carried away?"

Tang San stopped and wiped his sweat. "My breath didn't connect just now. I'll do it again."

The burly man snorted. "The greatest taboo in blacksmithing is a restless mind. Being strong is useless. Stability is what makes money."

Tang San nodded. "I know."

Ji Yuan ignored his discomfort.

The first sub-spore had already taken shape. Lighter than dust, it hid deep within the hammer handle. It neither absorbed nor moved, and looked no different from wood shavings.

Hammer techniques and strength—Tang San would deliver them to him every day.

This hammer would become his ears from now on.

By evening, Tang San had received his wages, bought some simple rations, and returned to the academy.

In the Seventh Dormitory, Xiao Wu sat on the edge of her bed swinging her legs. The moment she saw him return, she jumped down.

"Tang San, where did you go? Wang Sheng said you went into the city to make money. Is that true?"

Tang San placed several copper soul coins by his bed. "It's true."

Xiao Wu leaned closer. "You already know how to make money at your age?"

Wang Sheng poked his head out from the side. "Boss can forge iron too. I heard even the blacksmith shop owner was stunned."

Xiao Wu's eyes shifted. "Then does that mean you'll have money to buy delicious food later?"

Tang San said helplessly, "The money has to be saved for the soul hunt."

Xiao Wu's face fell. "Boring."

As she spoke, she picked up a wooden comb and sat back by her bed to comb her scorpion braid.

Ji Yuan hid beneath the bedboard and immediately fixed his attention on that wooden comb.

There was already a spore in Xiao Wu's braid, but it could not remain attached to her hair forever.

Hair could be washed, replaced, or torn off.

He needed a more stable transfer object.

The wooden comb touched Xiao Wu's hair every day and was close to the back of her neck. It was the most suitable place.

Tang San placed the rations into Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridge. Xiao Wu craned her head toward his belt. "What's that? It's so pretty."

Tang San explained, "It's a Soul Tool my teacher gave me. It can store things."

Xiao Wu's eyes lit up. "Can it hold carrots?"

Wang Sheng laughed beside her. "Sister Xiao Wu, why do you think about eating every day?"

Xiao Wu grabbed a pillow and threw it at him. "None of your business!"

Tang San watched them fool around, and his expression relaxed slightly.

But Ji Yuan only waited for an opportunity while the two drew close.

Xiao Wu chased Wang Sheng around Tang San's bed. Her scorpion braid swung through the air, and she casually set the wooden comb beside Tang San's bedding.

Tang San reached out to catch the comb before it fell. "Be careful. It's about to drop."

Xiao Wu looked back. "Hold it for me. I'll take it back after I finish beating up Wang Sheng."

The instant Tang San's fingertips touched the gaps between the comb's teeth, Ji Yuan flicked out the second sub-spore.

Using the sweat on Tang San's fingertip, the spore adhered to the base of the comb's teeth, then concealed every trace of its presence.

Tang San set the comb down properly. "Don't mess around for too long. I still have to get up early tomorrow."

Xiao Wu stopped chasing Wang Sheng and turned toward him. "What are you doing tomorrow?"

Tang San said, "Teacher said we're preparing to go to Soul Hunting Forest and find my first soul ring."

The Seventh Dormitory suddenly became much quieter.

Wang Sheng said enviously, "Boss, you're going to become a Soul Master?"

Tang San gave a quiet hum. "Not yet."

Hugging the wooden comb, Xiao Wu returned to her bed, her voice light. "Soul Hunting Forest... I want to go take a look too."

Tang San shook his head. "Teacher probably won't agree."

Xiao Wu curled her lips. "Then I won't go. I'll go by myself someday."

Ji Yuan sensed the spore inside the wooden comb come into contact with Xiao Wu's palm, and the aura of her hundred-thousand-year origin came through again.

He forcibly restrained his urge to devour it, leaving behind only the mark.

This rabbit could not be alarmed for now.

Once Tang San returned from the soul hunt, there would be plenty of opportunities.

That night, Tang San sat cross-legged and cultivated.

Ji Yuan hid beneath the bedboard and pressed all the energy he had gained over the past two days into his roots.

As the third sub-spore began to condense, a faint stabbing pain spread through Tang San's meridians.

Tang San ended his cultivation and frowned as he pressed a hand to his chest. "It's happening again."

Wang Sheng murmured sleepily, "Boss, are you okay?"

Tang San shook his head. "I'm fine."

Xiao Wu turned over. "Don't push yourself so hard when cultivating. You can practice again tomorrow."

Tang San said softly, "I want to become stronger sooner."

Ji Yuan answered coldly from the darkness.

Yes, keep going.

The first step to becoming stronger was supplying me with energy.

After the third sub-spore took shape, Ji Yuan did not use it immediately.

This one was for Yu Xiaogang.

Yu Xiaogang knew the soul hunt routes, possessed knowledge of soul beasts, and controlled Tang San's upcoming plans.

This useful pawn had to be monitored.

Early the next morning, Tang San arrived at Yu Xiaogang's office.

Yu Xiaogang had already packed his luggage. Insect-repelling powder, antidotes, rope, a short blade, and several packs of rations sat on the table.

"Perfect timing. Put these into the Soul Tool."

Tang San did as instructed. "Teacher, are we leaving today?"

Yu Xiaogang said, "First, we'll go to Spirit Hall to obtain a permit to enter Soul Hunting Forest, then buy some supplies. If all goes smoothly, we'll enter the forest tomorrow morning."

Tang San asked, "Is Soul Hunting Forest dangerous?"

Yu Xiaogang glanced at him. "For someone without a soul ring, even the outer region can kill."

Tang San nodded. "I'll be careful."

Yu Xiaogang picked up an outer robe and draped it over himself, its collar lifting slightly.

That was exactly the movement Ji Yuan had been waiting for.

Tang San stepped forward to help arrange the luggage, and the back of his hand brushed Yu Xiaogang's collar.

The third sub-spore slipped through the fabric into the collar stitching and quietly settled there.

Yu Xiaogang noticed nothing. He merely lowered his head to inspect the medicine bottles. "Tang San, remember this. Once we enter the forest, you listen to my commands in everything. Do not act recklessly."

Tang San replied, "Yes, Teacher."

Yu Xiaogang continued, "When we encounter a suitable soul beast, I'll judge its age. You'll be responsible for carrying out the attack. You cannot hesitate."

Tang San tucked the short blade into his belt. "Understood."

Ji Yuan sensed through all three sub-spores at once.

The blacksmith's hammer, the wooden comb, Yu Xiaogang's collar.

Combined with the main parasitic point within Tang San's body and his main body beneath the bedboard, he was finally no longer just grass waiting to be trampled.

A crude net had already been spread.

But it was not enough.

Tang San would be leaving Notting Academy for Soul Hunting Forest. The distance would grow too great, and his main body beneath the bedboard could not remain here.

This time, he had to follow Tang San.

At noon, Yu Xiaogang took Tang San to Spirit Hall to handle the paperwork.

Spirit Hall's main hall was brightly lit, with quite a few Soul Masters coming and going.

Ji Yuan concealed himself to the utmost, even stopping the absorption within Tang San's body.

The people here might not be powerful, but they possessed tools that could detect Soul Power.

He could not take the risk.

Once the paperwork was complete, Yu Xiaogang let out a breath. "We leave tomorrow morning. Rest well tonight."

Tang San asked, "Teacher, will it just be the two of us?"

Yu Xiaogang said, "There are Spirit Hall patrol teams in the outer region of Soul Hunting Forest. Before we go any deeper, I'll avoid the high-risk areas."

Tang San did not ask further.

On the way back to the academy, he stopped by the blacksmith shop to explain that he would be taking leave.

When the burly man saw him, he tossed him a copper soul coin. "Yesterday's piece was well forged. Not coming tomorrow?"

Tang San said, "I'm going to Soul Hunting Forest."

The burly man sized him up. "Hunting souls at such a young age? Don't go and lose your life."

Tang San accepted the money. "I won't."

Ji Yuan's hammer spore remained inside the wooden handle and did not follow them.

It would guard this connection for him.

That night, the lights in the Seventh Dormitory went out.

Tang San organized the things he would need for the soul hunt, placing his shoes beneath the bed and his belt beside his pillow.

Ji Yuan began to move.

His main body within the crack of the bedboard contracted. One root after another pulled free from the wood. The pain tightened his consciousness, but he did not stop.

The Blue Silver Grass leaves curled into dry, withered wooden-thorn shapes, while all dark-red patterns were pressed deep inside.

He slid down along the bedpost, clinging to the shadows as he crawled toward Tang San's shoes.

Xiao Wu slept nearby. Her scorpion braid hung over the edge of the bed, while the wooden comb rested beside her pillow.

When Ji Yuan passed her bedside, the sub-spore in the wooden comb sent out a dense aura of origin.

He paused, but still did not feed.

The soul hunt came first.

Once he completed his first true evolution, this rabbit would become an even better long-term blood bag.

Ji Yuan crawled into the inner layer of Tang San's shoe sole. His roots pierced into the old cloth and leather, disguising himself as a dry, hard wooden insole.

Tang San turned over in the middle of the night, his toes brushing the shoe upper, but he did not wake.

Ji Yuan clung deep inside the sole, feeling the flow of internal energy transmitted by the spores within Tang San's body. Satisfied, he tightened his roots.

Early the next morning, Tang San stomped lightly when he put on his shoes.

"Why do these shoes feel a little harder?"

Wang Sheng rubbed his eyes. "Boss, old shoes are all like that. Once you get your Soul Master allowance, just buy a new pair."

Tang San thought that made sense and did not pay it any more attention.

Xiao Wu sat up and yawned. "Tang San, come back early. Don't let a soul beast eat you."

Tang San smiled. "It won't."

Yu Xiaogang was already waiting outside the dormitory door.

"Let's go."

Tang San shouldered his pack and followed Yu Xiaogang.

Hidden in the inner layer of the shoe sole, Ji Yuan spread out the senses of all three sub-spores with every jolt of Tang San's steps.

The academy gates closed behind them, and the streets of Notting City gradually receded.

When they arrived outside Soul Hunting Forest, Yu Xiaogang presented the permit. The iron gates slowly opened, and the damp smell of earth and blood rushed out from within.

Ji Yuan's demonic roots silently unfurled deep within the shoe sole.

The place to feed had arrived.