Lin Mo accepted the olive branch the dean extended without hesitation.
With gratitude on his face, he said to the dean, "Thank you, Dean! Once I get back, I'll work even harder. I won't let you down!"
Dean Wang nodded in satisfaction, said no more, and closed his eyes to rest.
The following afternoon, the carriage reached their destination without incident-a Soul Hunting Forest roughly four hundred li northeast of Nuoding City.
The carriage stopped before a checkpoint on the outskirts of the forest.
Lin Mo followed Dean Wang out of the carriage and was immediately drawn to the sight before him.
The tall wooden fence stretched beyond sight, as though it enclosed the entire forest.
In front of the fence lay an open clearing containing a few simple barracks and watchtowers.
Quite a few soldiers in regulation armor patrolled around the camp with spears in hand, their expressions vigilant.
The atmosphere here was clearly much more tense and solemn than in Nuoding City.
Dean Wang was very familiar with the place and led Lin Mo straight toward the checkpoint entrance.
The soldier on guard was just about to step forward to question them when Dean Wang took a specially designed token from inside his robe and handed it over.
The token appeared to be made of metal, with three designs engraved on it-a sword, a hammer, and a dragon-and gleamed faintly in the sunlight.
It was a Soul Hunting Warrant issued by Spirit Hall, the required credential for entering a Soul Hunting Forest where the state kept and managed Soul Beasts.
The soldier inspected the warrant. Once he confirmed everything was in order, his expression immediately turned respectful, and he stepped aside to let them pass.
Just then, a middle-aged man who looked like an officer strode out of a nearby barracks.
When he saw Wang Zongchang, surprise immediately appeared on his face.
"Dean Wang? What a rare guest! What brings you to the Soul Hunting Forest at this time?" the officer greeted him familiarly, his tone carrying unmistakable surprise.
"If I remember correctly, wouldn't a busy man like you normally be staying at Nuoding Academy, focused on cultivating?
It's only when your Nuoding Academy organizes its annual group Soul Hunting trip that you, the dean, show up in person to lead the party here, isn't it?"
Dean Wang Zongchang was clearly an old acquaintance of this officer. He approached with a smile, exchanged a few pleasantries with him, then reached back and gently nudged Lin Mo forward from behind him.
With undisguised pride on his face, he pointed to Lin Mo and told the officer, "Come now, Old Li. I'm here for a promising new student our academy recruited!
See this child? He's Lin Mo, a genius our Nuoding Academy discovered this year!"
He paused, deliberately keeping him in suspense, and only continued once the other man gave him the curious look he wanted:
"It hasn't even been a year since this boy's Martial Soul Awakening, and he's already cultivated all the way from innate rank-six Soul Power to the rank-ten bottleneck!
Even I, as dean, couldn't help cherishing such talent. I didn't want to hold him back, so I made an exception and brought him here myself. I'm going to take him through the Soul Hunting Forest personally and try to help him obtain the most suitable first Soul Ring!"
"Oh? He cultivated from rank six to rank ten in less than a year after awakening?" Upon hearing this, the officer called Old Li also looked astonished and couldn't help looking Lin Mo carefully up and down several times.
He himself was a Soul Master at the level of a Four-Ring Soul Ancestor, so naturally, he had a discerning eye.
Although he couldn't tell exactly what Lin Mo's Martial Soul was, he could sense that the child's presence was steady and his foundation solid. He was indeed different from ordinary students.
More importantly, Dean Wang Zongchang was leading him personally and spoke of him with such regard. That alone said a great deal.
A smile immediately appeared on the middle-aged man's face. Old Li cupped his hands toward Wang Zongchang and said sincerely:
"Haha, then congratulations are certainly in order, Dean Wang! It looks like your Nuoding Academy really has found a treasure this year!
With such an outstanding student, your Nuoding Academy is sure to rise above the surrounding junior Soul Master Academies and shine brilliantly!"
"May your auspicious words come true, Old Li," Dean Wang replied with a smile.
The two stood chatting a little longer about recent events before Dean Wang finally led Lin Mo through the checkpoint and into the Soul Hunting Forest.
The moment he stepped into the forest, Lin Mo felt the air around him become much fresher and more humid. The temperature seemed a little lower than outside, too.
Towering trees blotted out the sky and sun, with only scattered patches of light filtering through the dense foliage.
The sounds of various unknown insects and birds filled their surroundings, making the forest seem brimming with life while carrying a hint of danger.
Lin Mo curiously surveyed everything around him. This was his first time truly entering a forest of Soul Beasts, and every sight before him was new.
At the same time, he hadn't forgotten his own safety.
With a slight stir of his thoughts, a red light flashed, and Charmander appeared beside him.
Charmander seemed to like this forest filled with the breath of nature as well. He swished his tail, his blue eyes scanning their surroundings warily as low "woo-aow" sounds rose from his throat.
He took on the duty of a guard of his own accord, staying close at Lin Mo's feet.
In the eyes of others, Lin Mo was merely a Soul Scholar with an external beast Martial Soul, and almost all his fighting strength rested with Charmander.
His own body was extremely fragile and needed close protection, so Lin Mo was naturally happy to maintain that appearance.
Seeing Lin Mo's thoroughly vigilant response, another trace of approval flashed in Dean Wang's eyes.
He nodded and said, "Stay close to me. We'll head straight for the area where hundred-year Soul Beasts roam.
These ten-year Soul Beasts on the outskirts are no longer of much use to you."
"Yes, Dean," Lin Mo promptly replied, following closely behind Dean Wang.
Wang Zongchang kept his promise, and the two barely lingered in the outer area at all.
He led Lin Mo around unnecessary trouble and headed straight deeper into the Soul Hunting Forest, toward the habitat of hundred-year Soul Beasts.
As they went deeper, their surroundings grew quieter, and the trees became taller and thicker. A faint, elusive sense of pressure began to spread through the air.
As Lin Mo carefully observed his surroundings, he felt the Soul Power within him beginning to seethe slightly from his excessive excitement, and a look of intense anticipation couldn't help flashing in his eyes.
Next would come the first time in his life that he absorbed a Soul Ring! For any Soul Master, this was a critically important step on the path of cultivation, one they had to experience!
He was also intensely curious: after he successfully absorbed his first Soul Ring, just what form of Soul Skill would his Charmander obtain?