Soul Hunting Forest

What if he had failed to dodge in time? The consequences were unthinkable.

If it had been him, Wang Sheng knew he could never have dodged. A blow through the head might have left him gravely injured or paralyzed even if it did not kill him. After all, the brain was one of the most vulnerable parts of the human body.

At the thought, Wang Sheng shuddered, every hair on his body standing on end.

Tang San's heart sank. He was stunned that someone had dodged his Hidden Weapon at such close range.

In his previous life, even a Titled Douluo might not have dodged it if caught off guard. How could a six-year-old brat react so quickly?

How was that possible?

Tang San retreated swiftly, putting distance between himself and Huo Linfei. His gaze was full of complicated emotions and disbelief.

Huo Linfei wiped the blood from his face. His expression darkened slightly, and a chill entered his eyes as he looked at Tang San.

A six-year-old brat had tried to kill him.

Such ruthlessness, such cunning, such methods—none of it seemed like a child.

Yet with that delicate, doll-like face, he looked every bit a little brat.

Huo Linfei stopped dwelling on it. He decided Tang San was just a vicious-minded local kid, most likely influenced by his parents.

Someone needed to give the boy a proper lesson on his parents' behalf, lest he go astray when he entered the wider world and get beaten senseless.

Huo Linfei was kindhearted. Someone else would not be so considerate.

Thinking that much had nearly made smoke come out of his skull.

His thoughts settled, Huo Linfei moved. In a flash, he appeared before Tang San despite the distance Tang San had put between them.

"So fast!"

Tang San's pupils contracted sharply.

Smack!

Before he could react, a slap landed across his face!

Tang San instinctively tried to strike back, but he could not manage it.

Huo Linfei either dodged his attacks with ease or blocked them effortlessly, then struck back at once.

Worse, Tang San realized that the more he struggled and resisted, the fiercer Huo Linfei's attacks became—and the worse the beating he took.

Once he realized that, Tang San simply gave up. He crouched on the floor with his hands over his head and endured the blows.

He had never felt so powerless. This was a first.

The humiliation made Tang San clench his back teeth so hard they nearly cracked. It was maddening, but there was nothing he could do.

Seeing Tang San like that, Huo Linfei lost interest.

Where had all that arrogance gone?

Giving up already?

I liked you better when you were acting all defiant.

Just then, a pink figure burst through the doorway and shot straight at Huo Linfei with a whistle of displaced air!

"What is that? It's so fast!"

"Boss, watch out!"

Wang Sheng was startled by the sudden attack and hurriedly shouted a warning.

What he did not know was that his warning was unnecessary.

By the time Wang Sheng called out, Huo Linfei had already caught the pink figure by the calf.

Huo Linfei stared at the girl in pink before him, who looked like a porcelain doll. He was utterly baffled.

What was going on?

Who was this girl? He was certain he did not know her, so why had she suddenly attacked him?

Unlike the bewildered Huo Linfei, Tang San felt excitement and delight the moment he saw her.

The newcomer was Xiao Wu.

Since Xiao Wu had attacked Huo Linfei as soon as she arrived, Tang San guessed that she, too, had been reborn. Otherwise, her behavior made no sense.

"You creep! Let go of me!"

Xiao Wu tugged hard at her leg, but it would not budge. Forced to stand on one foot, she shouted at Huo Linfei.

What?

Was something wrong with this girl?

She was the one who launched a sneak attack. Huo Linfei was speechless. How had he run into two such oddballs in a single day?

"Don't call me that. You attacked me first. I was only defending myself. Besides, I'm not interested in you."

Huo Linfei spoke with irritation.

"You!"

Xiao Wu was angry, but she could do nothing. She could hardly say, After the way you bullied my Brother San, was I supposed to stand by and watch?

She could not say that, and there was no need to.

With that, Huo Linfei let go. Xiao Wu stumbled and nearly fell.

After that brief exchange, Xiao Wu did not attack Huo Linfei again.

She had more or less realized she was no match for him. If Brother San, who was stronger than her, could not beat him, then she certainly could not either.

Seeing that she knew when to stop, Huo Linfei paid them no further attention. He returned to his spot and made his bed.

To Wang Sheng, the way Huo Linfei had so easily defeated Tang San and stopped Xiao Wu's sneak attack was incredible. Just like that, he became Huo Linfei's devoted admirer.

With Wang Sheng around, Huo Linfei learned quite a bit about the academy.

That night, Tang San and Xiao Wu did not trouble Huo Linfei again, and he left them alone. If they did not start anything, all the better. If they did, he was not afraid.

Tang San could not swallow the humiliation of failing to settle the score and getting beaten instead. But there was nothing he could do. He could only swallow his broken teeth along with it.

He planned to settle accounts with Huo Linfei after going with his teacher to obtain his First Soul Ring the next day.

He, Tang San, would remember what had happened today!

The night passed without incident.

Early the next morning, Tang San and Xiao Wu left Dorm Seven, with Huo Linfei following soon after.

They were not headed to the same place, though. Tang San and Xiao Wu went to find Yu Xiaogang, while Huo Linfei went to find Director Su.

"Linfei, what brings you here so early?"

Director Su looked at Huo Linfei and waited for an answer.

"There is something I need your help arranging, Director Su. I'm at level ten now, so I need a Soul Ring before I can continue cultivating."

Huo Linfei went straight to the point.

At those words, Director Su slapped his forehead. Of course—Huo Linfei had Innate Full Soul Power. How had he forgotten?

"Give me a moment. I'll see which of the academy's teachers is free."

"All right, Director Su."

Huo Linfei sat down in a chair to wait.

Director Su began contacting the academy's teachers with his Communication Soul Tool.

A few minutes later, Director Su lowered the Communication Soul Tool and frowned slightly.

"What's wrong, Director Su?"

Huo Linfei could not help asking.

"Hmm... It's nothing. None of the teachers are free. The few capable of helping a student obtain a Soul Ring have all gone out."

Director Su did not hide it from him.

Just as Huo Linfei was about to speak, Director Su continued, "Well, I suppose this old man will accompany you himself."

Huo Linfei had already resigned himself to not obtaining a Soul Ring that day. He had not expected Director Su to offer to take him personally, and he spoke with heartfelt gratitude:

"Thank you, Director Su. If I accomplish anything in the future, I'll repay the kindness you've shown me today!"

"Come now, no need to be so formal. It's hardly a big deal. But since you've said it, I'll look forward to seeing you succeed. Just don't forget to put in a good word for the academy afterward."

Director Su said it jokingly, but Huo Linfei nodded in earnest.

The Soul Hunting Forest was some distance from Nuoding City. Between the round trip and the time needed to find a suitable Soul Beast, the journey would take half a day or even longer.

As they traveled, Director Su explained quite a bit about Soul Beasts and Soul Rings to Huo Linfei. He also asked what sort of Soul Ring Huo Linfei wanted.

After listening, Huo Linfei said he wanted one with powerful offensive ability, preferably of the fire attribute.

Director Su was a little surprised but said nothing more. Given Huo Linfei's Martial Soul, he could not offer much useful advice anyway.

It was the first time he had encountered a case as unusual as Huo Linfei's.

An utterly ordinary Martial Soul had awakened with Innate Full Soul Power.

Still, hearing Huo Linfei's requirements for a Soul Ring, Director Su was glad he had come himself. Another teacher might not have been able to meet them.

The other teachers ranged from level twenty-seven to level thirty-one.

Time passed, and before long, the two arrived in the Soul Hunting Forest.