First Meeting with Tang San and Yu Xiaogang

After answering the first question, Huo Linfei did not rush to answer the second.

He had learned from the village chief that Spirit Hall was powerful, but he had only just arrived. One man's account could hardly give him the whole picture.

Su Yuntao watched Huo Linfei think it over. Far from growing impatient, he found himself admiring the boy even more.

Before answering, Huo Linfei could not help asking Su Yuntao what Innate Full Soul Power actually meant.

He had only just arrived and knew little about this world. Even the memories he had inherited from this body offered little useful information.

After a moment's thought, Huo Linfei chose to decline.

"Master Su, I'd rather not join for now."

He intended to learn about this world for himself before making a choice.

"Very well. I won't force you. If you make up your mind later, come find me at the Spirit Hall Branch in Nuoding City."

With that, Su Yuntao opened the wooden hut's door and walked out.

Huo Linfei followed close behind.

"Master Su, how did it go? Can little Linfei become a Soul Master?"

The moment they emerged, Old Jero hurried over and looked at Su Yuntao, his face full of hope.

"He can. His Martial Soul is a Guard Dog. It's ordinary, but he has Innate Full Soul Power."

Su Yuntao answered calmly.

"Innate Full Soul Power!"

Old Jero's eyes lit up at Su Yuntao's words, and excitement spread across his face.

"Thank you, Master Su!"

"If you don't mind, Master Su, please stay for dinner. I've prepared a little wine to show my gratitude."

Su Yuntao waved a hand and declined Village Chief Old Jero's invitation.

"Safe travels, Master."

Old Jero said no more and respectfully bade Su Yuntao farewell.

Once Su Yuntao had gone, Old Jero turned to Huo Linfei with a kindly smile across his wrinkled face.

"Little Linfei, Master Su said you have the potential to become a Soul Master, and you even have the rare Innate Full Soul Power. No other child in our village has Soul Power this year, so the sole work-study place at Nuoding Academy is yours."

"Thank you, Grandpa Jero."

As things stood, the place could only go to him, but Huo Linfei thanked Old Jero all the same.

"Little Linfei, there's no need to be so formal."

Old Jero smiled warmly. The more he looked at Huo Linfei, the more pleased he was. Taking the child in had turned out to be a fine decision.

At first, he had only hoped to raise the boy and have someone to care for him in old age and see him off when he died. He had never expected the child to show such promise.

Though his next destination was settled, nearly a month remained before Nuoding Academy opened.

While he waited, Huo Linfei did not sit idle. Every day, he worked his body relentlessly, just as he had in Super Beast World, and practiced the martial arts he had learned there.

He discovered that after awakening his Martial Soul, this body, once rather frail, had grown lean and sturdy. It was still nowhere near as strong as his old body, but it was far better than before.

Faced with the unknown, all he could do was build his strength as much as possible. Only then could he protect himself and the people he wanted to protect.

It was a lesson he had learned through countless experiences in Super Beast World.

Compared with when he had first crossed into Super Beast World, he was calmer and more reserved now, without his former restlessness.

Soon, a month slipped quietly by.

After that month of conditioning and practice, Huo Linfei could feel that his body had grown tougher. It was already nearing a third of his old body's strength.

Early one morning, Old Jero brought around a donkey cart and took Huo Linfei to Nuoding City.

Before long, they arrived outside the gates of Nuoding Academy.

An old man and a young boy were standing there.

Spotting them, Old Jero led Huo Linfei over and called out as they walked.

"Well, Old Jack! What a coincidence."

"Old Jero! It is. Did your village produce a promising young Soul Master this year too?"

Hearing the voice, Old Jack turned. He looked at Old Jero, then let his gaze drift to Huo Linfei.

"Yes. It's been years since we've had one."

Old Jero sighed. Old Jack smiled, knowing the feeling.

Holy Soul Village had not gone quite so many years without one, but it had been a year or two.

The villages were close to one another, and their chiefs all knew each other.

"Little Linfei, this is Grandpa Jack, the chief of Holy Soul Village."

Old Jero introduced him to Huo Linfei.

"Hello, Grandpa Jack."

At Old Jero's introduction, Huo Linfei greeted Old Jack.

"Little San, this is Grandpa Jero, the chief of Soul King Village."

Old Jack turned to Tang San beside him and patted his head.

"Hello, Grandpa Jero."

"Ha ha! Hello to you too."

"You two youngsters should get acquainted. You're neighbors, so you can look out for each other here."

Old Jero and Old Jack spoke in turn.

"Hello, I'm Tang San. My Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass."

"Hello, I'm Huo Linfei. My Martial Soul is the Phantom Qilin Beast."

Huo Linfei and Tang San turned to each other and introduced themselves.

Su Yuntao might have identified his Martial Soul as a Guard Dog, but Huo Linfei refused to accept that.

At each other's introductions, both boys frowned, puzzled.

Wasn't Blue Silver Grass a Trash Martial Soul? How could he become a Soul Master?

What kind of Martial Soul was the Phantom Qilin Beast? A qilin? I've never heard of it.

Neither took the exchange any further. Both saw little point in making friends with a child.

Once the introductions were over, Old Jack and Old Jero took the boys to the gatehouse of Nuoding Academy.

They handed over their work-study certificates together, only to be insulted. The gatekeeper even threw the certificates to the ground.

"What is this rubbish? Do you think just anyone can stroll into Nuoding Academy?"

The instant the gatekeeper raised his hand, Huo Linfei and Tang San flared with anger.

Huo Linfei was about to charge forward when he sensed a murderous aura from someone nearby.

It was well concealed, but Huo Linfei still caught it. He was no ordinary child; after countless battles in Super Beast World, he was keenly attuned to such things.

He frowned despite himself and gave Tang San a searching look.

Just then, a sharp voice rang out from nearby:

"Stop!"

Everyone froze at the sound.

A middle-aged man of about fifty approached, hands clasped behind his back. He wore a black robe and had closely cropped hair. With a stern expression and an air of affected profundity, he walked over at an unhurried pace.

"Grandmaster, what brings you here?"

At the sight of him, the gatekeeper changed his tune at once. His swaggering arrogance vanished, replaced by bowed head and eager flattery.

Everyone saw it.

Huo Linfei and Tang San looked over together.

Huo Linfei studied the newcomer and guessed that he was no ordinary person.

Tang San, meanwhile, could barely contain his excitement. He had recognized the man the instant he heard his voice.

That was Yu Xiaogang—the mentor who had guided him onto the path of a Soul Master and been like a second father to him!

How could he ever forget him?

He did not know why his rebirth had brought him back to this point in time. But within days of returning, he had already decided on his path: he would walk the same road again...