Vidal's Purpose

With Vidal's orders issued, the City Lord's Mansion's forces sprang into action.

Mercenary groups large and small throughout Ironheart City learned that Young Master Vidal was looking for an Eyeless Snake. By the fifth day, someone claimed to have found the target.

The turbulence in his Soul Power gradually subsided. Vidal emerged from his cultivation state, a trace of joy appearing on his face.

Level thirty!

After leaving his room, he summoned a servant and asked, "Where is my father?"

The servant replied, "Mr. Anderson came by earlier. He asked me to tell you that the city lord is occupied with something important and cannot spare the time, so you will need to organize people yourself to hunt the Soul Beasts."

"What could be more important than me obtaining my Spirit Ring?" Vidal frowned.

The servant answered respectfully, "That is not something I would know, Young Master. Also, there are leads on the wind-element feline Soul Beast you need, as well as the Eyeless Snake. Some mercenaries have found their traces."

"Where are they?"

"They are waiting in the main hall."

Vidal came to the main hall and met the waiting mercenary.

He had some impression of the man. His name was Norbert, a lone wanderer with decent strength, a Soul Elder.

"You found the Soul Beasts I'm looking for?"

"Yes. A Wind-Walking Tiger of around fifteen hundred years, and an Eyeless Snake over five thousand years old," Norbert replied.

"Take me to them, and one thousand Gold Soul Coins are yours." Vidal got straight to the point without exchanging pleasantries.

He had little respect for someone whose potential had been exhausted and who was still only in his thirties.

After all, he himself was about to reach the thirties as well, and he still had plenty of room to grow in the future.

"That is only the reward for finding them," Norbert said firmly.

Vidal shrugged. "Yes, finding them is enough. If I need you to make a move, I'll pay extra."

"Fine. When are we leaving? They're in the same area. I'm worried that if we wait too long, the Wind-Walking Tiger might be eaten by the Eyeless Snake. The latter seems to be tracking the former," Norbert warned.

"Tomorrow."

Lava surged and thunder roared. In the broad clearing, lightning and magma intertwined, colliding from time to time.

Yan Jin was sparring with Lei Yin.

Both of them were parasitized by Amon's Worms of Time. This was voluntary.

Of course, they did not know this was "Parasitism." They merely thought it was an effect of Amon's Martial Soul, allowing it to merge into other people's bodies and provide assistance.

The Worm of Time clones could also use the abilities of the External Soul Bone.

This was because the Soul Bone had granted Amon a Soul Power trait. As long as it was his Soul Power, it possessed that trait.

The Time Clones parasitizing Yan Jin and Lei Yin covered their bodies with a film of Soul Power, allowing them to unleash their strength without worrying about hurting each other.

In addition, the Time Clones continuously supplied them with Soul Power, allowing their sparring to continue for a long time.

"Great Eruption!"

"Thunder Dragon!"

A gigantic fist formed from magma collided with a giant dragon made of lightning, and the tremendous shockwave swept outward in all directions.

Dust scattered everywhere, and the thunderous roar was deafening.

When Vidal came looking for Amon and witnessed this scene, a bead of cold sweat rolled down his temple. Then he became even more enthusiastic.

"Brother Amon, I'm here to collect your reward. Have you prepared the five hundred Gold Soul Coins?"

Amon smiled, knowing that Vidal was trying to show goodwill. "Then I'm truly looking forward to it."

"Can we leave tomorrow? I've also reached level thirty and need to obtain a Spirit Ring."

"Tomorrow? That's a little rushed. It seems I'll have to quickly hire some people." Amon spoke softly.

Vidal smiled and shook his head. "There's no need for that. You probably won't be able to hire anyone. Most of the free mercenary groups in the city have accepted my employment: the Ironheart Mercenary Group, two three-man teams from the Jackal Mercenary Group, and four lone Soul Elders."

Amon's mouth twitched slightly. "That must have cost quite a bit, right?"

"It was alright, just over thirty thousand Gold Soul Coins. Eight Soul Elders and fifteen Soul Grand Masters in total."

That was far more than all the support Ma Wen had provided them over the years combined!

If Vidal were only obtaining his own Spirit Ring, the Soul Beast he needed to kill would not be more than seventeen hundred years old. Such a lineup was excessive. Clearly, it had been prepared for Amon.

Amon fell silent for a moment before asking, "What do you want?"

Vidal's smile grew even brighter. "The three of you are planning to join Northland Advanced Soul Master Academy, right?"

Amon nodded.

"What a coincidence. I'm currently a student there, so perhaps you should call me senior."

"Huh? Blondie, you're a student there too?" Yan Jin leaned over with a harmless smile. "Do you know which upperclassmen at the academy are especially strong?"

Lei Yin sighed helplessly. One look at Yan Jin told him that she intended to repeat what she had done at Icewind Primary Soul Master Academy.

Amon glanced at her, and Yan Jin sheepishly stepped back.

"Does this have something to do with the academy?"

Vidal nodded slightly. "That's right. Do you know about the Elite Tournament of Advanced Soul Master Academies?"

"I've looked into it. To be honest, that is one of our goals as well."

"That's wonderful!" Surprise appeared on Vidal's face as he continued asking,

"Do you know much about the internal situation at Northland Advanced Soul Master Academy?"

Amon shook his head. "Not much."

"Let me explain." Vidal pondered for a moment and organized his thoughts.

"Northland Advanced Soul Master Academy mainly recruits nobles, but it does not reject talented commoners.

"Because the academy's upper ranks have countless ties to the various noble families, the academy is heavily influenced by all sides.

"You should know that the Soul Master Tournament is a team competition. It relies more on teamwork than individual valor.

"That makes it impossible to select competitors through one-on-one duels between students.

"If the upper ranks simply decided internally, it would easily provoke dissatisfaction from all sides and would not be conducive to stability. If that happened, the noble families would probably engage in fierce conflicts before every tournament just to send their own children onto that stage.

"Furthermore, it would deny commoner Soul Masters the chance to compete.

"Anyone able to enter an advanced Soul Master academy must be among the most talented commoners. Excluding them would not help the academy achieve good results in the Soul Master Tournament.

"In the end, after much discussion, they decided that the academy would not organize teams. The students would form their own teams, with seven main members and one substitute.

"The student-organized teams would compete, and the strongest team would represent the academy in the tournament.

"In addition, the academy would arrange an individual competition among the students. The top three would join the competing team as substitutes."

Amon adjusted his Monocle and smiled. "You want to invite the three of us to join your team?"

"Yes. Amon, come help me. This would also be helping yourself." Vidal extended a hand in invitation.

"If that is the case, then forgive me for refusing." Amon shook his head.