"Sit cross-legged and focus your mind on your Martial Soul!" Director Su said softly.
Ling Yu sat down calmly. With a thought, the yellow Soul Ring drifted onto him, and a tremendous torrent of heat surged into his body from within it.
As daylight gradually brightened the sky, the raging torrent of heat grew gentle, and Ling Yu sensed that the shackles within his body had vanished as well.
He had grown considerably taller, and his skin had become increasingly lustrous. His already handsome features now looked even more striking.
"How was it?" Seeing Ling Yu open his eyes, Director Su and the headmaster were curious about what his first Soul Skill would be. After all, they had practically never heard of a soul-type Martial Soul.
"Thank you for your support, Headmaster, Director!" Ling Yu immediately bowed in thanks.
"It's a very good Soul Skill, Spiritual Detection. It lets me sense the surroundings within thirty meters."
"This..." Both men's pupils trembled. They knew full well how important this Soul Skill was. It could be called the most essential scouting Soul Skill for a Soul Hunting team.
Joining a Soul Hunting team was one of the paths available to commoner Soul Masters, as well as a way to earn money quickly. There were more than a dozen such teams around this forest alone.
This range can also change as my spiritual power grows, and I can focus on a particular thing. Perhaps I can examine and study the structure of Soul Tools and the pathways Soul Power follows through the human body, Ling Yu thought.
Suddenly, his brow lifted as something occurred to him. Tang San's hidden weapons don't have much ability to block spiritual power, either. Why didn't any Titled Douluo think to probe and sense them? Was their spiritual power not fine enough to examine them?
While thoughts stormed through his mind, Director Su spoke with a smile. "That saves me the trouble of scouting."
"Then let your student lead the way today!" Ling Yu came back to his senses and immediately took on the task.
The three returned to camp and met Wang Sheng, who had returned early. The two boys exchanged nods and smiles, then they broke camp and began Soul Hunting.
With Ling Yu's Soul Skill assisting them, their efficiency improved considerably. In particular, he had read a great deal of information in the library about the Soul Beasts in the nearby Soul Hunting Forest, and he was quite practiced at identifying their ages.
Once the students had all obtained their Soul Rings, the group left the Soul Hunting Forest and headed for Nuoding City.
The next day, the students who had become Soul Masters took a carriage straight to Spirit Hall to register.
"Ling Yu, do you want to take the intermediate academy entrance exam with us? With your talent, you're bound to be very welcome," Wang Sheng said.
"That's right. The junior academy's group Soul Hunts only help you obtain your rank-ten Soul Ring. Even if you stay here, no one will help you get any more Soul Rings."
"Besides, intermediate academies have better facilities. They even provide some Mimicry Training Grounds and combat platforms," Liu Long also urged. He knew that after entering an intermediate Soul Master Academy, it would be safer to stick together with people from back home.
Ling Yu hesitated, then nodded, delighting everyone.
When the group appeared at Spirit Hall, the staff were not surprised. After all, the Soul Master Academy held its group Soul Hunt at this time every year. They led everyone straight to the advancement assessment room.
"Hmm? You're only seven?" Ma Xiunuo was astonished when he saw the age on the Spirit Hall certificate.
"Ling Yu, would you like to join Spirit Hall as one of our exclusive Soul Masters? There are many benefits, and with your talent, an elder-level figure is bound to take you as a disciple." Ma Xiunuo looked somewhat hopeful.
"Thank you for the invitation, Grandpa Ma Xiunuo. I've promised my classmates that I'd take the intermediate Soul Master Academy entrance exam with them. If I decide to join a faction in the future, I'll consider Spirit Hall first."
Hearing the polite refusal in his words, Ma Xiunuo sighed and did not insist any further. He issued everyone their certificates and badges, then signaled that they could leave.
The waters of Spirit Hall run too deep, especially with a top-tier yandere at the helm right now. The Soul Devouring Spider Emperor seems to counter me quite well, too, Ling Yu thought.
When they returned to the dormitory, Xiao Wu came running out excitedly, only to pause at the sight of Ling Yu:
How did he get even more handsome? Xiao Wu marveled inwardly, but soon shook off her stray thoughts. "You both have Soul Rings now. Come fight me."
"Sister Xiao Wu... we just got back. We're exhausted," Wang Sheng said helplessly.
"Sure." Ling Yu did not refuse. He had been wanting to test his first Soul Skill and his own combat abilities anyway.
"Come on, let's go to the back hill!" Xiao Wu grabbed him and ran, and Wang Sheng helplessly followed.
They soon reached the place where the students usually sparred.
"One minute to activate your Martial Souls," Wang Sheng called.
Ling Yu and Xiao Wu activated Martial Soul Possession at the same time. A pair of rabbit ears appeared on Xiao Wu's head, while a mysterious presence rippled from Ling Yu, making her eyes sparkle.
"Five, four, three, two, one, begin."
Xiao Wu stamped hard and charged. With a thought, Ling Yu activated his First Soul Ring-Spiritual Detection, focusing all his attention on her. His Soul Power consumption increased, but he could now clearly see the pathways along which her Soul Power flowed.
As Xiao Wu approached, she concentrated her Soul Power in her right leg. Ling Yu immediately leaned back, evading her high-speed strike and leaving her astonished.
Then Ling Yu noticed Soul Power beginning to gather in Xiao Wu's right fist. He gathered Soul Power beneath his feet and stamped hard, putting distance between them and evading this strike as well.
Taking advantage of the momentary stiffness after her heavy punch, Ling Yu gathered Soul Power in his legs and whipped out a sweeping kick. Knocked off her feet, Xiao Wu planted one hand on the ground the instant she landed and sprang backward repeatedly, distancing herself from him.
"How did you get so strong? What's your first Soul Skill?" Xiao Wu stopped and asked curiously.
"It's Spiritual Detection. I use spiritual power to sense movement around me. If I concentrate on observing one person, I can see a little of the pathways their Soul Power follows."
"So I could detect all those attacks of yours and dodge in advance." Xiao Wu had told Ling Yu about her own Soul Skill long ago, so he had no reservations and explained it outright.
"That's such a cheat! Doesn't that mean you can dodge any attack I make?"
"Not quite. It consumes a lot of Soul Power and spiritual power. As long as you hold out until that time is up, you'll be able to beat me." Ling Yu smiled.
"I see." Xiao Wu's eyes rolled. "Then let's call it a draw."
"All right!"
"Wang Sheng, your turn." Xiao Wu did not spare him, still intent on fighting. Ling Yu pretended not to see Wang Sheng's pitiful gaze and served as referee anyway.
With her rank-fifteen combat strength, Xiao Wu soon beat Wang Sheng to the ground, immediately dispelling the slight discouragement she had felt earlier.
At dinnertime, on the second floor of the Soul Master Academy cafeteria-
Director Su and the headmaster were eating together when Yu Xiaogang approached with his meal.
"How did the Soul Hunt go this time?" Yu Xiaogang asked, feigning a casual tone.
Director Su saw through his intentions at a glance. He had never shown any concern for the group Soul Hunts in previous years. "You're here to ask about Ling Yu's Soul Skill, aren't you?"
Even after being exposed, Yu Xiaogang was not annoyed, his expression remaining calm. "It's a very good Soul Skill. He can project his spiritual power to sense movement within thirty meters." The headmaster was on good terms with him, so he did not keep him in suspense and explained directly.
"This..." Yu Xiaogang also recognized the value of this Soul Skill.
"That ability alone is enough to make him the core of a team," the headmaster remarked.
"Then is he planning to take the intermediate academy entrance exam?" Yu Xiaogang frowned. Over the past year, he had sounded Ling Yu out as well, but the boy had always been very distant toward him.
"That we don't know. We'll see later." Director Su seemed unconcerned. From his observations over this period, he knew Ling Yu was not someone who would forget kindness and betray those who helped him. In any case, he had already made his investment.