Chapter 3: Journey to the Soul‑Hunting Forest

The part‑time students want to issue a challenge to us, and Xiao Bing and his group as well; I'll go over to hold the fort.

In the Soul Master Academy, there are three groups: nobles, commoners, and part‑time students.

Noble youths look down on commoners and part‑time students; the nobles' own education fills them with a strong sense of superiority, believing that the lowly commoners do not belong in the same school as they do.

The relationship between commoners and part‑time students is more subtle: part‑time students are tuition‑free and can earn wages by working in the academy, so commoner youths of the same background naturally feel an imbalance, a contempt born of jealousy, thinking that part‑time students are inferior to themselves.

At least I pay to study, while you study for free; I'm a tier above you.

Because of the three sides, frictions occur frequently in daily life.

Although most commoners and part‑time students keep restraint, hoping to learn more in the academy.

But sometimes trouble comes knocking; you can't even hide.

Tie Li has been mocked by noble students many times; even though he gave way, deliberate trouble‑making can't be solved just by stepping aside.

This forced Tie Li to take part in a clash between commoner and noble students, using the Forging Technique of agricultural tools to wield the Forge Hammer Martial Soul, giving a noble student a harsh lesson, after which the trouble lessened considerably.

After this episode, Tie Li realized that his father's taught Forging Technique could be used in combat.

"Do you want to go together?" Jin Bao asked.

"I have other matters to handle, so I won't go," Tie Li declined.

Tomorrow we have to go to the Soul‑Hunting Forest, but my family's situation can't support buying supplies in the towns near the forest, so I'll honestly return home to prepare.

"Alright!" Jin Bao said nothing more and hurried toward the back mountain.

Tie Li returned home and prepared four days' worth of dry rations, a set of changeable clothes, and ordinary medicines.

Although it's a ten‑year Soul Ring, selecting a Soul Beast that matches the appropriate martial soul will take extra time.

Bringing four days' dry rations is the safest; in the Soul Beast Forest, you cannot make fire, as flames at night attract the gaze of powerful Soul Beasts.

That's basic common sense!

During dinner, Tie Li told his family that he would go to the Soul‑Hunting Forest tomorrow to obtain information about Soul Rings.

"Brother, are you becoming a Soul Master?"

"Brother is already a Soul Master; from now on, will we all be able to eat meat?"

His younger brothers Tie Wen and Tie Wu were both delighted upon hearing the news; in their eyes, Soul Masters are noble and wealthy.

In a few months, Tie Wu will be six years old and can go to the Spirit Hall for the martial soul awakening ceremony.

Their father, Tie Niu, immediately stood up and took an Iron Inner Armor.

"Although the academy teachers protect you, the Soul Beast Forest is dangerous everywhere; wearing this makes it a bit safer."

"This was specially forged by your father; it won't cut your skin," Mother said from beside.

Having hammered iron in the forge for so many years, Tie Li immediately sensed the inner armor's quality was excellent; his father must have forged it at least a hundred times, as one can feel a hint of softness in the metal.

"Alright."

Tie Li naturally wouldn't refuse his father's kindness, and indeed he needed to prepare additional safeguards.

To get used to the inner armor, that night Tie Li put it on, on the inner side of the lining.

When departing, Tie Li wore his outer clothes, showing no trace of the inner armor.

"Remember, be extra careful," his parents repeatedly reminded.

"Hmm, I will be careful."

Shouldering his pack, Tie Li set off.

Gathering at the academy gate, when Tie Li arrived there he saw two other students who needed Soul Rings.

One was a commoner student, the other a part‑time student; both were senior sixth‑grade students, and only after breaking through to become Soul Masters would they qualify for the Intermediate Soul Master Academy.

"Da Li, has your soul power level reached Level 10?" said the commoner student Lu Baichuan; their relationship was fairly good, after all they were in the same camp within the academy.

The other part‑time student was He Da Dan, whose gaze toward Tie Li and the others was unfriendly.

"I happened to breakthrough yesterday and reported it to the Academic Affairs Office, which placed me together with you," Tie Li said.

"That's best; then we'll have two One Ring Soul Masters, and we'll definitely give them a lesson."

The "they" Lu Baichuan referred to meant the noble students and the part‑time students.

"Tch," He Da Dan emitted a faint scoffing sound.

Before long, the teacher in charge of the group arrived.

Tie Li instantly recognized him; he was the academy teacher with the highest soul power level, a Level 37 Three Ring Soul Honorable.

"I am Bai Qing, the teacher responsible for this Soul‑Hunting expedition," Bai Qing introduced first.

Tie Li and the two others each reported their names and martial souls.

"Alright, let's go!"

A lavish large carriage stopped before the four; Bai Qing let the three students board first, and he entered last.

The carriage interior was nicely decorated, the seat cushions soft; with such comfort and the carriage's sway, the three soon fell asleep.

When they woke, they had already arrived at the town where the Soul‑Hunting Forest lies.

Bai Qing led the three students to the outside of the Soul‑Hunting Forest, where guards stood watch, very strictly.

Bai Qing was well‑versed with this, and quickly led the students into the Soul‑Hunting Forest.

"Enter the Soul‑Hunting Forest, stay alert, be extremely careful; I can't guarantee to look after each of you," Bai Qing reminded.

The three nodded, the aura from the Soul‑Hunting Forest making them all nervous.

Tie Li instinctively clutched his pack, feeling the Iron Inner Armor beneath his outer clothes, which gave him a slight sense of security.

Whether by good or bad luck, half a day passed without encountering a single Soul Beast.

"Rest for a while first; if we still haven't met any Soul Beast later, we'll have to venture deeper," Bai Qing said.

Tie Li and the two others, all carrying packs, took out dry rations to eat; Bai Qing brushed his ring, and a plate of delicate snacks appeared in his hand.

Is this the Soul Guide Device?

Just as the three were relaxing, a jet‑black long snake suddenly slithered out from the shadows, its sharp poisonous fangs about to bite He Da Dan's neck.

Bai Qing acted; he did not release his martial soul or Soul Ring, but merely gave a heavy strike with his right hand, and the black snake was knocked out.

"Its tail has three white markings; it's a thirty‑year‑old black‑striped snake, suitable for your martial soul." Bai Qing looked at Lu Baichuan.

Lu Baichuan understood, took the prepared dagger from his bundle, and, trembling, stepped before the black‑striped snake; it was clear he was nervous.

Sss

Bai Qing pointed to the seven‑inch point of the black‑striped snake; although Lu Baichuan was frightened, he still used his dagger to finish off the black‑striped snake.

A circle of white Soul Rings emerged from the black‑striped snake's corpse.

Following the academy's teachings, Lu Baichuan sat cross‑legged on the ground and attempted to absorb the Soul Rings.

He Da Dan, frightened, turned a ghastly pale, and subconsciously leaned toward Tie Li.

Tie Li had just been startled by the suddenly emerging black‑striped snake; its speed was so fast it was almost invisible, leaving him no chance to react.

But he quickly had his attention drawn to the changes on Lu Baichuan.

(End of Chapter)