Breaking Through Level Thirty and Heading to the Star Dou Great Forest

At that moment, by comparison, they felt like utter failures. All those years they had lived might as well have gone to the dogs.

And they dared call themselves geniuses?

What kind of genius was as useless as they were?

The moment they saw that flash of red on Qin Ming's shoulder, their pride shattered completely.

"What was that move you just used? A Self-Created Soul Skill?"

Qin Ming waited for Huo Linfei to catch his breath before asking.

At that, everyone else turned curious eyes toward Huo Linfei.

"Yeah."

Huo Linfei nodded lightly.

This time, no one looked shocked. Instead, their faces said they had expected as much.

Yet bitterness filled their hearts.

Comparing yourself to others really could make you die of frustration.

"Stop staring and get back to training. If you don't hurry, you won't even be able to see the new student's tail."

Qin Ming looked at them and spoke teasingly.

"Teacher Qin, please stop. I'm afraid I'll never catch up with him in this lifetime..."

"Same here..."

Osler spoke up at Qin Ming's words, and the brothers Shi Mo and Shi Mo chimed in.

Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan said nothing. After giving Huo Linfei a long look, they turned and went to train.

Ye Lingling watched a little longer before starting her training too.

Osler and the Shi Mo brothers were the last to go, sighing as they walked aside to train.

"In that case, you don't need to train today. You used so much Soul Power just now. Go back and rest."

Qin Ming looked at Huo Linfei and spoke slowly.

In truth, he thought Huo Linfei might not even need to attend training in the future. Qin Ming felt he had little left to teach him.

Apart from theoretical knowledge and sparring to test his strength, Huo Linfei had already mastered everything else.

"Mm, all right."

Huo Linfei did not refuse. He really did feel that he needed some rest.

"Go to the cafeteria and eat something before you head back," Qin Ming suggested.

Huo Linfei nodded. He was feeling rather hungry.

"Ye Lingling, sorry for the trouble, but could you take Huo Linfei to the cafeteria?"

As though something had occurred to him, Qin Ming called out to Ye Lingling.

Ye Lingling did not answer right away. Only after she walked over did she reply softly.

Watching this, Huo Linfei scratched his head awkwardly.

He could tell Qin Ming was afraid he would get lost again.

"Let's go," Ye Lingling said to Huo Linfei, her voice soft and airy.

"All right. Thanks, Senior Ye."

Huo Linfei smiled at Ye Lingling, then followed behind her.

On the way, Ye Lingling had plenty she wanted to ask him. After thinking it over, though, she kept her questions to herself and made scattered small talk instead.

With Ye Lingling leading the way, they reached the academy cafeteria without trouble.

As expected, the cafeteria looked lavish inside and out.

"All right, I should get back to training. You remember the way to your dorm, don't you?" Ye Lingling asked.

"I do, I do. See you, Senior Ye."

Huo Linfei gave an embarrassed smile.

After Ye Lingling left, Huo Linfei bought some Soul Beast meat. Once he had eaten, he packed up another portion to take back to his dorm.

It was a little expensive, but there was no denying how good it tasted. One bite filled his mouth with rich juices, and it had ten times the protein of beef.

With that serving of Soul Beast meat in his stomach, Huo Linfei felt considerably better.

A warm current rose in his belly. Pure energy gradually flowed through his limbs and bones, leaving him comfortable beyond words.

Back at his dorm, Huo Linfei took a short nap, then sat down to meditate and cultivate again.

That afternoon, training ended.

Yu Tianheng, Dugu Yan, Osler, and the others had wanted to invite Huo Linfei to dinner and chat with him.

But no one answered when they reached his dorm, so they could only leave in disappointment.

It was not that Huo Linfei was ignoring them. He was at a critical point in his cultivation and could not spare any attention.

After circulating his Soul Power seven times seven—forty-nine cycles—Huo Linfei's eyes snapped open. A sharp gleam flashed through them as a shackle within him broke, as naturally as water flowing into a channel.

Level thirty. He had done it!

All he needed was a suitable Soul Ring, and he would become a Soul Elder.

In that instant, his aura surged by nearly twenty percent, and the Soul Power within him had grown considerably as well.

Huo Linfei felt that with his current reserves of Soul Power, he could use the Fire Cloud Art again. If he reduced its power a little, he could throw two punches without exhausting himself and passing out.

He could also use his first and second Soul Skills more frequently.

The next day.

Huo Linfei asked Qin Ming for leave, then went to find Xue Qinghe.

After thinking it over, he felt he knew Xue Qinghe better.

As for the academy's three board members, he did not feel they were quite on the same wavelength.

When Huo Linfei failed to show up, Dugu Yan could not help asking Qin Ming about him. She regretted asking the moment she heard the answer.

A nine-year-old Soul Elder. At such a young age, he was the only one in the world.

A monster—an absolute monster. She felt that "genius" no longer described Huo Linfei. "Monster" suited him far better.

At the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.

After Huo Linfei gave his name, a guard immediately led him into the palace.

Naturally, Xue Qinghe had arranged this well in advance.

Otherwise, Huo Linfei would certainly have been kept waiting.

They passed through layer after layer of walls and corridors that made Huo Linfei's head spin before finally arriving outside a courtyard.

The guard knocked and announced their arrival. The door slowly opened, and Xue Qinghe appeared.

"Hahaha, Linfei, so you finally decided to come see me. I thought you'd forgotten all about me."

Xue Qinghe walked up to Huo Linfei and spoke teasingly.

"Of course not. How could I forget you, Brother Xue?"

Huo Linfei answered Xue Qinghe's teasing with an awkward smile.

"Let me guess. You've come to see me because you've reached level thirty, haven't you?"

Xue Qinghe looked Huo Linfei up and down, then spoke again.

"As expected, I can't hide anything from you, Brother Xue."

Huo Linfei was not particularly surprised. Xue Qinghe knew what level he had been at.

"No problem. Leave it to me. I'll find someone to help you. Until he arrives, keep me company and chat for a while."

"All right."

The two of them began talking.

Before long, a rather burly man entered the courtyard.

"Your Highness!"

At that, Xue Qinghe waved a hand lightly.

"Let me introduce you. This is Cangwu. His Martial Soul is the Stone Armor Bear, and he's a level seventy-two Soul Saint."

"And this is Huo Linfei, my sworn younger brother. He's nine years old, and he's the one you'll be helping obtain a Soul Ring."

Huo Linfei's face twitched slightly at Xue Qinghe's words. Since when had he become his sworn younger brother?

But considering Xue Qinghe had found a Soul Saint to help him obtain a Soul Ring, Huo Linfei let it slide.

Cangwu, meanwhile, was a little bewildered. Wasn't sending a mighty Soul Saint like him to obtain a First Soul Ring for a nine-year-old child overkill?

Since breaking through to level thirty, Huo Linfei's aura had become even more restrained. Under ordinary circumstances, others would find it difficult to gauge his strength.

One look at Cangwu's puzzled expression told Xue Qinghe what he was thinking. He smiled and said, "It isn't a First Soul Ring. It isn't a Second Soul Ring either. He's here for his third Soul Ring."

"What?!"

"He's only nine years old!"

Cangwu's heart shook. He stared at Huo Linfei in disbelief.

No wonder a peerless genius like this needed a Soul Saint to accompany him.

After a few more instructions, Huo Linfei and Cangwu left the palace and headed toward the Star Dou Great Forest...