Journey to the Soul Hunting Forest

The next day.

Yun Tian rose early and headed toward the dean's office.

The dean of Notting Academy was named Yuan Hua. His Martial Soul was a fish spear, and he was a forty-second-rank assault-type Soul Ancestor.

"Dean!"

"Oh? Little Tian, you're here? Sit, sit!"

Seeing that it was Yun Tian, Yuan Hua became much more enthusiastic. This was a genius with Innate Full Soul Power and a Mutated Martial Soul. If he were not afraid that being too eager would cause resentment, he would have wanted to take him on as a disciple immediately.

After pouring Yun Tian a cup of water, Yuan Hua returned to his office chair and asked, "Little Tian, what brings you here?"

"Dean, I want to hunt for my first Soul Ring. I hope you can help me."

"Not a problem. You're the crown jewel of our academy. I have to handle this personally!"

Yuan Hua patted his chest. He knew Yun Tian was a dragon hidden in the depths, one who would certainly not remain confined to a small place like Notting City. But if Yun Tian truly became an expert at the level of a Title Douluo...

Then his Notting Academy would most likely rise along with him. When that time came, he would be able to proudly declare, "My Notting Academy produced a Title Douluo!"

Thinking of this, Yuan Hua asked directly, "Shall we go now? I have a permit for the Soul Hunting Forest, so there's no need to travel all the way to the Star Dou Forest, right?"

As the dean of Notting Academy, obtaining something like a permit was quite easy. Besides, Yun Tian had not planned to go to the Star Dou Forest in the first place.

If he needed a thousand-year Soul Ring, then a trip to the Star Dou Forest might have been worthwhile. But for a hundred-year one, there was truly no need.

"System, do Soul Rings and Soul Beasts have entries?"

[They do, but the host's rewriting ability can only affect Soul Beasts weaker than the host and Soul Rings already possessed!]

With that in mind, Yun Tian no longer hesitated. The Soul Hunting Forest it would be. Rewriting a Soul Beast was one thing, but rewriting his own Soul Ring would also be quite nice.

"Then let's go now."

After making a few preparations, Yuan Hua led Yun Tian out of the academy. Along the way, he continuously explained information about Soul Beasts to Yun Tian.

Just as the two arrived at the academy gates, two figures happened to approach them.

"Master? Weren't you injured? Where are you going?"

Yuan Hua's concerned tone did not soften Yu Xiaogang's expression. Instead, it became faintly indifferent as he said, "I'm taking my disciple to hunt for his first Soul Ring."

"What a coincidence. I'm taking Yun Tian to the Soul Hunting Forest as well. Why don't we go together?"

As soon as those words were spoken, both Yu Xiaogang and Tang San turned to look at Yun Tian beside them, their gazes filled with either complexity or resentment.

Yu Xiaogang's feelings were complicated. He did not understand why Yun Tian had such a strong opinion of him. Tang San had told him that Yun Tian had called him a fake master and even looked down on him.

But setting the facts aside, were the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and Spirit Hall not at fault too?

Damn Spirit Hall. I, Yu Xiaogang, was set up!

Tang San's thoughts, meanwhile, were much clearer. Yun Tian had charmed his Xiao Wu into such a state; he already deserved death. But before killing him, Tang San had decided to use his Martial Soul to humiliate him first.

Thus, the four boarded the same carriage.

"Little San, as a gift for becoming my disciple, I'll give this to you."

Inside the carriage, Yu Xiaogang first glanced at Yun Tian, then came up with an idea.

Since the two were from the same village, they surely had never seen much of the world. If he gave this storage belt to Tang San, would Yun Tian not be so envious that he drooled?

Tang San's reaction indeed perfectly matched Gangzi's expectations. The excitement and joy all over his face greatly satisfied his vanity.

"Thank you, Teacher! I'll call this belt Twenty-Four Bridges Bright Moon Night!"

"What do you think, Yun Tian? I told you that becoming Teacher's disciple with me would definitely be fine. Look, you've never seen something like this, have you?"

Tang San swung the belt in his hand, his face brimming with pride.

"I'm dying of envy. Dean, when will we arrive?"

Yun Tian gave a perfunctory reply, then asked Yuan Hua beside him how much longer the journey would take. Yuan Hua cooperated readily, saying with a smile, "Soon, soon. The Soul Hunting Forest isn't very far from here."

He found Gangzi rather unpleasant as well. He only refrained from driving him away out of courtesy. The purpose behind that belt-giving act could not have been more obvious.

"Uh..."

Yu Xiaogang's expression darkened somewhat. Just who was Yun Tian? He looked down on this and that alike. Did it have to be some heavenly treasure before he cared?

Tang San's expression also sank.

The carriage eventually stopped at the entrance to the Soul Hunting Forest.

Since Dean Yuan Hua had a permit, he brought Yu Xiaogang and Tang San in along with them.

"Little Tian, have you decided what kind of Soul Ring you want to absorb?"

Yun Tian was also pondering this. The Soul Rings of the Sky-Piercing Spear represented the path his spear techniques would take in the future, so he had to be cautious.

Meanwhile, Gangzi was giving Tang San a long-winded lecture: "There are no useless Martial Souls, only useless Soul Masters," and "There are countless types of Martial Souls and countless Soul Ring combinations."

This earth-shattering wisdom left Tang San utterly stunned. In his heart, he kept exclaiming that his teacher was the true master.

He noticed Yun Tian's situation.

Gangzi stepped forward, held his head high, and said, "You don't know what Soul Ring to absorb, do you? Would you like this master to recommend one?"

"Since your Martial Soul is a spear, it must emphasize thrusting. Spear techniques combine hardness with softness, so I suggest you absorb a plant-type vine Soul Beast to enhance the spear's flexibility!"

"Ahem, Master Yu, you should not speak recklessly about such matters. A Soul Ring can affect a child's future prospects."

Yu Xiaogang immediately frowned. What did Dean Yuan mean by that? Did he look down on his theories, or did he think they were wrong?

"Dean, that is rather inappropriate, isn't it? This master is kindly offering you advice."

"Dean, I've decided. I'll absorb an Iron-Spine Dragon Spear Beast Soul Ring." Yun Tian suddenly spoke, completely ignoring Yu Xiaogang.

The Iron-Spine Dragon Spear Beast was the most suitable first Soul Ring for the Sky-Piercing Spear. But Yun Tian had yet to find his own path in spear techniques. Whether he could gain insight on his own would depend entirely on this Soul Beast.

"Hehe, good. Since you have an idea, Little Tian, let's head in first. Master, we'll go our separate ways here!"

The two walked toward the depths of the forest, leaving behind Yu Xiaogang and Tang San, whose faces had turned unsightly. That brat Yun Tian had ignored him again and again, showing no respect for his elders. Someone like that did not deserve to be his student!

"Little San, let's go. Your teacher will definitely find you a Soul Ring even stronger than Yun Tian's!"

"I've never even heard of an Iron-Spine Dragon Spear Beast. It must be some obscure, trash Soul Beast. If his first Soul Ring is already like that, his future won't amount to much either!"

Tang San nodded heavily, his gaze toward the direction Yun Tian had left full of disdain. I have Twin Martial Souls. What can you use to fight me? Won't you still become my, Tang San's, backdrop?