Journey to the Soul Hunting Forest

"The work-study students are challenging us and Xiao Bing's group to a duel. I'm going over to back them up."

At the Soul Master Academy, there were three groups: nobles, commoners, and work-study students.

The children of nobles looked down on commoners and work-study students. Their upbringing had instilled in them a strong sense of superiority, making them believe that lowly commoners were unworthy of attending the same academy as them.

The relationship between commoners and work-study students was more delicate. Work-study students were exempt from tuition and could earn money by working around the academy. Naturally, commoner students from similar backgrounds felt resentful. Their jealousy bred contempt, and they believed work-study students were inferior to them.

At least I pay to study here. You study for free, so I'm a rank above you.

Because of the relationship between the three sides, conflicts were common.

Although most commoner students and work-study students kept themselves in check, wanting to learn as much as they could at the academy,

sometimes, when trouble came looking for you, it was hard to avoid.

Tie Li had been mocked by noble students many times. Even though he had tried to stay out of their way, deliberately causing trouble for someone was not something that could be solved by avoiding them.

This forced Tie Li to join a conflict between commoner students and noble students. Using the techniques he used to forge farm tools, he wielded his Forging Hammer Martial Soul and taught a noble student a harsh lesson. After that, there was much less trouble.

After that experience, Tie Li realized that the forging techniques his father had taught him could be used in battle.

"Do you want to come too?" Jin Bao asked.

"I have something to take care of, so I won't be going," Tie Li refused.

They were heading to the Soul Hunting Forest tomorrow. His family could not afford for him to buy supplies in the nearby town, so he had better go home and prepare properly.

"All right!" Jin Bao did not say more and hurried toward the back mountain.

Tie Li returned home and prepared four days' worth of rations, a change of clothes, and some ordinary medicine.

Although he was only obtaining a ten-year Soul Ring, finding a Soul Beast suited to his Martial Soul could take more time.

Bringing four days' worth of food was safest. Fires could not be lit in the Soul Beast Forest, since the firelight might draw the attention of powerful Soul Beasts at night.

This was basic common sense!

During dinner that evening, Tie Li told his family that he would be going to the Soul Hunting Forest tomorrow to obtain a Soul Ring.

"Big Brother, are you going to become a Soul Master?"

"Big Brother will be a Soul Master. Does that mean we'll get to eat meat from now on?"

When Tie Wen and Tie Wu heard the news, they were both thrilled. In their eyes, Soul Masters were noble and wealthy.

Tie Wu would turn six in a few months, and then he would be able to go to Spirit Hall for the Martial Soul Awakening Ceremony.

Tie Niu immediately stood up and brought over an iron inner armor.

"Even though academy teachers will be protecting you, the Soul Beast Forest is dangerous everywhere. Wear this. It'll be safer."

"Your father specially forged this for you. It won't cut your skin," his mother said from the side.

After hammering iron in the blacksmith shop for so many years, Tie Li knew the quality of the inner armor the moment he touched it. His father had forged it at least a hundred times. He could even feel a trace of softness in the iron.

"All right."

Naturally, Tie Li would not refuse his father's kindness. Besides, he really did need to prepare more ways to keep himself safe.

To get used to the inner armor, Tie Li put it on that very night, wearing it outside his undershirt.

When it was time to leave, Tie Li put on his outer clothes, and there was no sign of the inner armor beneath them.

"Remember, you must be careful," his parents repeatedly reminded him.

"Mm. I'll be careful."

With his bundle on his back, Tie Li set off.

They gathered at the academy gates. When Tie Li arrived, he saw the other two students who also needed Soul Rings.

One was a commoner student, and the other was a work-study student. Both were sixth-year seniors. Only after breaking through to become Soul Masters would they qualify to attend the Intermediate Soul Master Academy.

"Tie Li, has your Soul Power Level reached ten?" The speaker was the commoner student, Lu Baichuan. The two got along fairly well, since they were considered part of the same faction at the academy.

The other work-study student was He Dadan. The way he looked at Tie Li and Lu Baichuan was far from friendly.

"I happened to break through yesterday. When I reported it to the academic office, they happened to place me with you two," Tie Li said.

"That's even better. Once the two of us become one-ring Soul Masters, we'll definitely teach them a lesson."

The "them" Lu Baichuan referred to were the noble students and work-study students.

"Tch." He Dadan let out a quiet, disdainful sound.

Not long after, the teacher responsible for leading the group arrived.

Tie Li recognized him at a glance. Among the academy teachers, he had the highest Soul Power Level: a thirty-seventh-level, three-ring Soul Elder.

"My name is Bai Qing. I will be the teacher leading this Soul Hunting trip," Bai Qing introduced himself first.

Tie Li and the other two each stated their names and Martial Souls.

"All right, let's go!"

A luxurious-looking carriage was waiting before the four of them. Bai Qing had the three students board first, then got in last.

The carriage interior was well furnished, and the cushions beneath them were soft. In such a comfortable environment, combined with the carriage's rocking motion, the three quickly fell asleep.

When they woke up, they had already arrived at the town beside the Soul Hunting Forest.

Bai Qing led the three students outside the Soul Hunting Forest. Guards were stationed there, and the security was very strict.

Bai Qing was familiar with the process and quickly led the students into the Soul Hunting Forest.

"Once we enter the Soul Hunting Forest, stay alert. Be extremely careful. I cannot guarantee that I will be able to look after every one of you," Bai Qing warned.

The three nodded one after another. The aura coming from the Soul Hunting Forest left them all tense.

Tie Li instinctively hugged his bundle tighter. Only when he felt the iron inner armor beneath his clothes did he gain a little sense of security.

Whether their luck was good or bad, they did not encounter a single Soul Beast for half a day.

"Let's rest for a while. If we still don't run into any Soul Beasts later, we'll have to go deeper in," Bai Qing said.

Tie Li and the other two took out rations from their bundles and began to eat. Bai Qing, meanwhile, touched the ring on his hand, and a plate of exquisite pastries appeared in his palm.

So this is a Soul Tool?

Just as the three relaxed, a pitch-black serpent suddenly shot out from the shadows. Its sharp venomous fangs were about to sink into He Dadan's neck when—

Bai Qing acted. Without releasing his Martial Soul or Soul Rings, he merely struck down hard with his right hand, knocking the black snake unconscious.

"It has three white stripes on its tail. It's a thirty-year Black-Striped Snake, suitable for your Martial Soul." Bai Qing looked at Lu Baichuan.

Lu Baichuan understood. He took out the dagger he had prepared from his bundle and approached the Black-Striped Snake with trembling steps. It was obvious that he was nervous.

Hiss.

Bai Qing pointed to the Black-Striped Snake's vital spot. Though afraid, Lu Baichuan still used his dagger to finish it off.

A white Soul Ring rose from the Black-Striped Snake's corpse.

Following the method taught at the academy, Lu Baichuan sat cross-legged on the ground and attempted to absorb the Soul Ring.

He Dadan, still shaken, had gone pale and unconsciously edged closer to Tie Li.

Tie Li had also been startled by the Black-Striped Snake's sudden attack. With that speed, so fast it was nearly impossible to see, his current self would not have had any chance to react.

But his attention was quickly drawn to the changes occurring on Lu Baichuan's body.