Dean Han Song's request
"Let's not dwell on these unpleasant things. Come! Have some tea, you two seniors." Huo Lei picked up the teacups on the table and greeted Han Song and Ye Zhiqiu.
Ye Zhiqiu put down his teacup, looked at Huo Lei, and smiled, "Huo Lei, forgive my impertinence, but may I ask what your current Soul Power Level is?"
Upon hearing Ye Zhiqiu's words, Han Song couldn't help but look at Huo Lei, his eyes filled with anticipation.
Huo Lei smiled slightly and said modestly, "This junior is not very talented; I am only level seventy-eight at the moment."
"Level 7... 18! Did I hear that right? Are you sure it's not level 68?" Ye Zhiqiu stood up from his seat in shock, his voice trembling slightly.
Han Song's right hand, holding the teacup, trembled slightly before regaining its balance. He looked at Huo Lei in surprise.
Huo Lei smiled at Ye Zhiqiu and affirmed, "Director Ye, you heard correctly, it is indeed level seventy-eight. I have no reason to lie to these two seniors."
"This... Brother Huo Lei, you can't call me senior anymore. Just call me Director Ye from now on!" Ye Zhiqiu quickly waved his hand, his attitude becoming even more humble than before.
Han Song forced himself to remain calm, put down his teacup, and exclaimed, "Truly, heroes emerge from among the young. Huo Lei's cultivation speed is astonishing. Later, the academy will host a meal for you, young friend, and you absolutely mustn't refuse. Also, the academy has another matter we'd like to ask for your help with, young friend Huo Lei, but I don't know if you have any free time?"
Huo Lei said, "Dean Han, please speak frankly. If it's within my power, I will certainly help."
A bright smile spread across Han Song's rosy face, his eyes shining even brighter with excitement. He exclaimed, "Alright! Since Huo Lei is so generous, then I'll be frank. I'd like to ask for your help in hunting for Soul Ring with us. Director Ye's Soul Ring is easy to obtain; its maximum cultivation age is only Twenty-Thousand-Year, which meets the requirement. But mine is my Eighth Soul Ring. Originally, I only planned to hunt for a Soul Ring of 30,000 to 40,000 years, but now that I've had the opportunity to meet you, young friend, I'd like to increase the age of my Soul Ring. Naturally, I need a powerful helper."
"Oh! I see. This is easy to handle. Dean Han wants to add a high-age Soul Ring to his Eighth Soul Ring, which is only natural, and I understand and support him fully. However, to hunt for a high-age Soul Ring, we will definitely have to go to the Far North. We've already passed the halfway mark today, how about we head there tomorrow? I can also let my friend know."
"Sure! Sure! Let's meet tomorrow morning at the Iceforest City, shall we?" Han Song nodded repeatedly and immediately agreed. At the same time, he picked up the teapot and filled the empty teacup in front of Huo Lei with tea.
"Dean Han, you're too kind. It's fine for a junior like me." Huo Lei said modestly as Han Song poured tea for him, and gestured for the teapot as if to ask for it back.
Seeing this opportunity to show off, Han Song wasn't about to let Huo Lei succeed, and quickly interjected, "Huo Lei, there's no need to be so polite. Since you've offered your help, it's only right that I pour you some tea."
Huo Lei inquired, "We still don't know what your Martial Soul are, or what your strengths and characteristics are."
As a transmigrator, Huo Lei naturally knew about Ye Zhiqiu's Martial Soul, but he still pretended not to know. As for Han Song's Martial Soul, he was indeed completely unaware of it, since there was no information about him in the original book.
Han Song put down the teapot and said, "My Martial Soul is ' Snow-Crying Flute,' which excels in Mental Control and support. Its weaknesses are also obvious: its defense is average, and its strength, speed, and physical attack are all shortcomings. Therefore, hunting high-age Soul Beast requires the cooperation of a powerful opponent. Director Ye, could you also introduce your Martial Soul to Huo Lei?"
After Han Song finished explaining his situation, he glanced at Ye Zhiqiu beside him and gave him a reminder.
"My Martial Soul is the ' Black Tortoise.' The Black Tortoise Martial Soul is originally good at defense, but my Soul Ring Configuration is very poor. At the same time, I cultivate a balanced path, so my attack, defense, and control are all okay. The weakness is that I'm slow. In terms of mental strength, apart from not being able to compare with mental-type Soul Master, I'm about the same as other Soul Master at the same level." Ye Zhiqiu explained the advantages and disadvantages of his Martial Soul in detail and sincerely.
"Dean Han's additional Soul Ring undoubtedly still follows the path of Mental Control. Director Ye, what type of Soul Ring do you plan to add to your Sixth Soul Ring? Will it be more offensive, defensive, or control-oriented?" Huo Lei looked at Ye Zhiqiu and asked the question that had been on his mind.
Ye Zhiqiu scratched his head awkwardly, hesitatingly saying, "Well... I can't decide either. Any of these three is fine; we'll see how the Soul Beast fare!"
"Alright!" Huo Lei smiled helplessly and replied.
Han Song looked at Ye Zhiqiu beside him and instructed, "It's almost noon. Director Ye, go order the food. Pick the expensive and good stuff. I want to properly thank my Huo Lei for agreeing to help."
"Don't worry, Dean, I'll definitely handle it well." Ye Zhiqiu replied and walked out of the private room.
Huo Lei looked at Han Song and smiled, "Dean Han, you're too kind."
"Of course, of course." Han Song smiled broadly, as happy as a child.
After lunch, Huo Lei said goodbye to Han Song and Ye Zhiqiu at the restaurant entrance, and the group agreed to meet again the next morning.
After returning to the Northern Conquest Marquis Estate, Huo Lei distributed the Gold Soul Coin he had exchanged to everyone and told them about his encounter with Han Song, the dean of the Canghui Academy, and Director Ye Zhiqiu.
The next morning, after having breakfast, Huo Lei headed to the Iceforest City to meet up with Han Song and Ye Zhiqiu. When Huo Lei arrived at the north gate, the two of them were already waiting for him.
Huo Lei talked with the others as he walked deeper into the Frozen Forest.
During the conversation, Huo Lei learned about Han Song and Ye Zhiqiu's Soul Ring Configuration.
Han Song's seven Soul Ring Configuration as follows: two yellow, three purple, and two black.
Ye Zhiqiu's five Soul Ring Configuration as follows: one white, two yellow, and two purple.
Han Song's Soul Ring Configuration is decent; while not Soul Ring Configuration, it's not bad either. As for Ye Zhiqiu's Soul Ring Configuration, Huo Lei felt a pang of regret. In the original novel, Dai Mubai explicitly stated that the Black Tortoise Martial Soul is a rather good Beast Martial Soul. Unfortunately, without a strong background, even with a good Martial Soul, a poor Soul Ring Configuration will hinder a Soul Master master's future development. Clearly, Ye Zhiqiu's background isn't strong; otherwise, his First Soul Ring wouldn't be a ten-year white one.
Huo Lei helped Ye Zhiqiu hunt down an Ice Armor Turtle with Twenty-Thousand-Year of cultivation. His Martial Soul was a turtle, and his Soul Beast was also a turtle, so they were a perfect match. Ye Zhiqiu was as excited as a child after obtaining the Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring, and he thanked Huo Lei profusely, becoming even more respectful in his attitude.
After Ye Zhiqiu attached the Soul Ring, the three of them headed north, heading directly towards the Far North.
Huo Lei, Han Song, and Ye Zhiqiu traveled at a fast pace. Along the way, in order to reduce conflicts with the Soul Beast, Han Song also used his Martial Soul skill to control and drive away the Soul Beast that blocked the way.
In the Far North, spiritual Soul Beast are not actually hard to find; what's difficult is finding Soul Beast with high cultivation levels.
Hard work pays off.
After searching diligently, Huo Lei and his companions finally encountered a group of ancient Soul Beast. It was a herd of Snow-Crying Deer, with the leading deer king possessing a cultivation level of 70,000 years.