The Fourth Soul Ring

In an instant, she leaped into the air. A pair of blue-green wings glowing with an eerie light appeared behind her, and she delivered a flying kick to the Wind Shadow Falcon's abdomen.

The Wind Shadow Falcon recoiled in pain and staggered back several steps. It quickly flapped its wings to steady itself, then spun nimbly and cried out toward the sky. A massive Wind Blade howled toward Lin Qianyi, while countless smaller Wind Blades swept at her from all around.

Unable to dodge in time, Lin Qianyi was struck by several Wind Blades. Clear bloody cuts immediately appeared on her arms and legs, but she merely glanced at them before dismissing them.

"Third Soul Skill: Azure Luan Sky-Rending Slash!" Lin Qianyi cried. The Azure Luan Wings behind her spun rapidly, instantly creating rings of blue-green Wind Blades that swept toward the Wind Shadow Falcon.

The instant that force suppressed the Wind Shadow Falcon, Lin Qianyi closed in and knocked it unconscious in a single blow. As the Wind Shadow Falcon crashed heavily to the ground, she drew the dagger at her waist and was about to stab its vital point when a black soul ring slowly appeared before her.

Lin Qianyi sat cross-legged on the ground and began absorbing the soul ring's power. The air around her seemed to freeze at that moment, while the aura emanating from her body steadily grew stronger.

About two hours later, Lin Qianyi gradually awoke from her absorption state. She could clearly feel that her Soul Power had quietly risen to level 42, and her Fourth Soul Skill—Azure Luan Storm—had also emerged.

This soul skill could gather the surrounding wind elements and turn them into a raging storm. It could exert powerful pulling and cutting force on enemies, throwing them off balance and inflicting severe wounds. Its only flaw was that it required several seconds of charging before it could be unleashed.

However, considering that she had spent three days searching for a suitable soul beast just to obtain this rare soul skill, the advantages this ability brought made all that effort unquestionably worthwhile.

Just as Lin Qianyi was preparing to leave the Star Dou Great Forest, a faint presence quietly drew near. That presence carried intense killing intent, making her heart tighten. She had initially intended to avoid it, but then she reconsidered. In the Star Dou Great Forest, it was normal for some killing intent to arise while hunting soul beasts. If she hid instead, it would only make her seem guilty.

So she remained calmly seated where she was, taking the chance to silently recover her Soul Power. At that moment, three shadowy figures slowly approached, all dressed in black. "Is that a child?" one of the men in black asked doubtfully.

"This little girl is wearing a veil. She must be quite pretty beneath it," another said, his words filled with ill intent. The other two licked their lips, greed flashing in their eyes.

Lin Qianyi heard every word clearly. Just then, a hand reached toward her, attempting to touch her.

Lin Qianyi abruptly opened her eyes and swiftly seized the wrist of that hand. With a light twist, the man let out a scream. She then kicked him away. "Who are you? Why are you approaching me?"

"Little girl, we mean no harm!" the man in black said, but Lin Qianyi could clearly sense the heavy stench of blood and killing intent on them. She already had her answer—Evil Soul Masters.

She immediately summoned her Martial Soul and sent the three men reeling back. "Hmph, refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit!" The three surrounded her again, but Lin Qianyi was not afraid in the slightest. She had already been secretly gathering power. With a light backflip, she dodged their attacks. A blue formation appeared beneath her feet, and the surrounding wind elements gradually gathered into a violent storm.

"Perfect. You can have a taste of my new soul skill—Fourth Soul Skill: Azure Luan Storm!" The storm carried razor-sharp cutting force. The three men instantly lost their balance and were shredded by the storm until they were covered in wounds, their screams ringing out one after another.

Lin Qianyi knew full well that if she let them live, they would become a scourge that harmed even more people. "First Soul Skill: Azure Luan Feather Thorn!" Blue-green feathers appeared behind her and instantly transformed into sharp feather blades that flew toward the three men.

She withdrew her Fourth Soul Skill, and the feather blades shot toward them like a torrential downpour. Before they could even react, their auras had already vanished.

Lin Qianyi gave them a faint glance and noticed that one of them had something resembling a token hanging from his waist. Frowning slightly, she stepped closer to inspect it. Thinking it would surely be useful, she removed it. Then, she concealed her Soul Power aura and turned to leave this place of trouble.

Four days before the start of school, Lin Qianyi returned to the academy. The moment she entered her dormitory and set down her luggage, a student informed her, "Qianyi, Teacher Zhou and Teacher Wang are looking for you." She replied, "All right, I understand. Thank you," then quickly began tidying her things. After a brief cleanup, she headed toward the office.

Arriving at the office door, she knocked lightly. When a voice from inside said, "Come in," she slowly pushed the door open and entered. Bowing slightly, she called softly, "Teacher Zhou, Teacher Wang?"

Zhou Yi and Wang Yan nodded. Wang Yan said warmly, "Qianyi, I heard you've obtained your fourth soul ring?" Lin Qianyi answered firmly, "Yes, I have."

Her soul rings lit up one after another beneath her feet. The purple, purple, black, and black rings cast their glow over her body, instantly making Zhou Yi and Wang Yan turn serious. Zhou Yi's gaze grew solemn. "Another ten-thousand-year soul ring. The limit for a fourth soul ring is usually seven thousand years, yet you absorbed a thirty-thousand-year soul ring beyond your level. Your Soul Power must have improved as well, right?" Lin Qianyi nodded. "It has indeed improved."

Wang Yan pressed on, "By how much?" Lin Qianyi replied, "I rose two levels immediately after absorbing it. After cultivating these past few days, I gained another two levels. I'm level 44 now." Upon hearing this, Zhou Yi and Wang Yan both revealed shocked expressions.

After all, across the entire academy, students like Lin Qianyi who became Soul Ancestors at around the age of twelve were exceedingly rare.

Wang Yan and Zhou Yi recovered from their shock. Wang Yan slowly said, "Qianyi, Teacher Zhou and I have also learned the details of the Promotion Assessment over the past few days." Zhou Yi immediately added, "Qianyi, Dean Yan knows about your talent. For you, the assessment to advance to the second year is practically no challenge at all. He wants you to be promoted directly."

However, Lin Qianyi firmly shook her head. "Teacher Zhou, although I can handle the assessment, I am part of the academy just like every other student.

At heart, I am no different from them. We all have to pass the Promotion Assessment. I cannot be an exception, nor can I receive special treatment just because of my strength. That would be unfair to the other students."

After hearing this, Zhou Yi and Wang Yan could not help but smile faintly, their smiles full of appreciation for her resolve. Zhou Yi stood and walked over to Lin Qianyi, gently patting her shoulder.

She said gently, "In that case, we'll do as you wish." She then told Lin Qianyi about the Promotion Assessment. They were to go to the Beast Hunting Ground and defeat a soul beast within the allotted time in order to pass. Those participating in the assessment included Lin Qianyi, Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, and others.

Zhou Yi said earnestly, "Qianyi, you may be intelligent and exceptionally gifted, but you need to learn the meaning of the word 'retreat.'" Lin Qianyi looked at Zhou Yi in confusion. "Retreat?"

Zhou Yi continued, "Take a step back and the world opens wide before you. I know you refuse to admit defeat. In your heart, as long as something has not ended, there is still a chance. But sometimes, you must learn to give up. That does not mean you have lost—it is simply a wiser choice." Lin Qianyi nodded thoughtfully. "Teacher Zhou, I understand."

A few days later, Wang Dong returned, but Huo Yuhao was nowhere to be seen. Her heart tightened, and she hurriedly told Zhou Yi. Upon hearing this, Zhou Yi quickly went to ask Fan Yu.

Only then did she realize that Huo Yuhao had deceived her—he had previously told her that a teacher from the Soul Tool Department would accompany him to hunt a soul beast, yet he had told Fan Yu that a teacher from the Martial Soul Department would accompany him. He had clearly misled both sides.

Zhou Yi was frantic with worry, and Wang Dong was equally anxious. She thought of the Tang Sect and immediately went to find Tang Ya and Beibei.

The two were first stunned, their eyes filled with surprise, before helplessly shaking their heads. Clearly, they did not know Huo Yuhao's whereabouts either.

At once, everyone fell into a state of anxiety. At that moment, Lin Qianyi softly reassured her, "Wang Dong, don't be too worried."

Upon hearing that, Wang Dong said anxiously, "Qianyi, Yuhao doesn't even have any offensive ability yet. If he encounters some danger..." Before she could finish, her voice had already become choked with emotion.