Early the next morning.
The academy bell rang again. Lin Feng finished cultivating and arrived at the clearing.
Dai Mubai and the others were already there. Only Oscar was missing.
Flender glanced at the sky and was just about to send someone to fetch him when a figure came hurrying over from the dormitories.
"Dean!"
Oscar ran up to him, unable to suppress the smile on his face.
"I broke through!"
The words on the tip of Flender's tongue stopped short. He immediately strode forward and grabbed Oscar's wrist.
He sent his Soul Power inside, and a moment later, delight appeared on his face as well.
"Rank thirty! Good, good!"
"You really broke through?" Dai Mubai was somewhat surprised too, raising a hand to pat Oscar on the shoulder.
Oscar nodded repeatedly.
"I felt something change while cultivating last night. I didn't dare stop, and only just now did I finally push all the way through."
Ning Rongrong stood to one side, her expression somewhat complicated.
They were both support-type Soul Masters, yet Oscar's cultivation speed made her feel pressured.
Looking at the excited Oscar, Lin Feng's lips curled up slightly too.
At last, this day had come!
Over the past few days, every time he saw Oscar, he had wanted to ask how far he was from breaking through.
But he also knew that many things had changed since his arrival. The timing in the original story could only serve as a reference; not everything could possibly stay the same.
Fortunately, what he needed to wait for had finally arrived.
Flender withdrew his hand and turned toward everyone.
"Today, I'll teach you about the role of food-type Soul Masters in a team. Tomorrow morning, Zhao Wuji will lead you to the Star Dou Great Forest to find Oscar's third Soul Ring."
Oscar's eyes lit up, and he immediately agreed.
"Dean, I need my fourth Soul Ring too," Lin Feng spoke up at the right moment.
"You won't be left out."
Flender glanced at him and said, "We'll look for both your Soul Rings together. The rest of you will come along for experience and learn how to work together in the forest."
Lin Feng nodded without saying anything more.
This gave him a perfectly natural reason to head out.
"Little Ao, begin."
At Flender's signal, Oscar raised both hands and recited his soul incantation. Two different kinds of food soon appeared in his palms.
Ning Rongrong stepped forward first, took them, and ate them in a few bites.
Lin Feng took his share as well. After tasting it, he carefully sensed the changes within his body.
Much of the fatigue from cultivating all night faded, and his Soul Power circulated more smoothly.
"The recovery is pretty quick."
He looked at Oscar and asked how long the food could be stored and how much Soul Power producing it continuously would consume, then confirmed the detoxifying effects of his second Soul Skill.
Seeing how earnestly he asked, Oscar answered each question in turn.
When he heard that the detoxifying effect had limitations, Lin Feng nodded and made a mental note, unsurprised.
Two hundred-year Soul Rings naturally could not neutralize every poison under heaven.
But for a team heading out Soul Hunting, being able to replenish stamina promptly, heal injuries, and lessen the effects of poison was already useful enough.
Flender had been waiting for Lin Feng to find fault. Seeing him instead launch into a serious discussion with Oscar left him somewhat unaccustomed to it.
"No objections today?"
Lin Feng swallowed the last bite and looked up. "What objections could I have to such a useful Soul Skill?"
Oscar beamed at his words.
"Whenever you need it, just come to me."
"Then let's agree on this first: once we enter the forest, don't use up all your Soul Power. Keep some in reserve for emergencies."
Flender glanced at Lin Feng without objecting.
This student, who was always talking back to him, really did know more than most students when it came to serious matters.
After the lesson ended, Zhao Wuji asked Lin Feng and Oscar to stay behind.
"Have you two decided what kind of Soul Beast you need?"
Oscar explained his thoughts. When Lin Feng's turn came, he considered briefly before saying, "Ideally, something that complements the Soul Devouring Spider Emperor's control or devouring abilities. The specifics will depend on what we encounter."
"What about its age?"
"I want to look at Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts."
At those words, Zhao Wuji immediately frowned.
"This is your fourth Soul Ring!"
"My third Soul Ring was already close to eight thousand years old, and my body has grown considerably stronger lately."
Lin Feng did not mention the right leg bone, only adding, "We'll find a suitable target first, then judge whether I can absorb it. I won't recklessly gamble with my life."
Zhao Wuji watched him for a moment before saying gravely, "We'll discuss it once we reach the forest. A ten thousand year Soul Ring isn't as simple as just a little more Soul Power. Before we hunt it, you have to let me check your condition first."
"All right."
Lin Feng agreed readily.
Of course he knew there was also the issue of the spiritual shock. His stronger body merely gave him a little more confidence. Before actually making a move, he would still need Bibi Dong to examine him carefully.
After leaving the training grounds, Lin Feng found someone in the village who delivered letters and wrote to Dugu Bo.
He explained that he still needed to go out Soul Hunting and could not return for now, then reminded Dugu Bo to continue his treatment using the previously specified dosages.
Dugu Yan's treatment would have to wait until he returned and examined her himself. She could not simply copy Dugu Bo's medication ahead of time.
Once the letter was finished, he paid the delivery fee to Heaven Dou City before returning to his lodgings.
The Blue Silver Grass by the window remained quiet.
Lin Feng checked the soil and moved the wooden box to a spot indoors with gentle light. Then he asked a nearby villager responsible for looking after the houses to come by every two days and add a little water.
He left the wooden shielding around the box in place, leaving only a space for watering.
Thinking it was a plant he was growing, the villager accepted the payment and agreed.
By the time he finished these tasks, the sky was gradually darkening.
Lin Feng shut the doors and windows. Green light flickered in his palm, and the green spider appeared.
"You seem especially happy today."
Bibi Dong's voice sounded in his heart.
He had only just told her about the day's events, yet she already felt that what this child was looking forward to probably was not just his fourth Soul Ring.
"There's something else I can take care of at the same time."
"Does it involve Tang San?"
"Yes."
Lin Feng placed the spider on the table and said evenly, "During this Soul Hunting trip, he'll encounter a Man Faced Demon Spider."
Bibi Dong raised her forelegs.
"The Eight Spider Lances?"
Of course she would not forget that name.
"Yes. I'm going to make sure he never gets the chance to obtain that External Soul Bone."
Bibi Dong paused for a moment before reminding him, "Then you'll have to act before he absorbs the Soul Ring. Once the External Soul Bone has fully fused with his body, dealing with it won't be so easy."
Lin Feng naturally understood. Once the Eight Spider Lances became part of Tang San's body, even breaking them might not destroy them completely.
What he needed to do was deny Tang San even the chance to fuse with them.
"Do you know where that Soul Beast is?"
Lin Feng shook his head.
The forest was so vast that he had no way of finding a roaming Man Faced Demon Spider directly from memory.
But he remembered that the Dragon Duke and Snake Granny, along with Meng Yiran, were also pursuing that Soul Beast.
As long as he paid attention to their movements and kept an eye on Tang San, there might yet be an opportunity.
"I'll follow them in first and act when we encounter it."
Lin Feng withdrew his Martial Soul and checked his belongings once more before sitting down cross-legged.
Early the next morning.
Zhao Wuji led everyone out of the academy toward the Star Dou Great Forest.
Xiao Wu walked beside Tang San, saying something.
Lin Feng glanced at the two of them and looked away, but his steps quickened a little.
The immortal herbs and the Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone were already in my hands.
This time, it was the Eight Spider Lances' turn!