The afternoon sun hung low over the academy courtyard, casting long shadows across the stone paths as Luo Feng walked steadily toward the administrative hall.
His expression was calm, but his pace was slightly faster than usual.
If running around wasn't forbidden in the academy he would have gone on a full sprint
Like that he reached the administration hall
"Name."
"Luo Feng."
"Reason for leave?"
"Personal training under a registered soul king," Luo Feng replied, handing over a simple token Yan Shou had given him.
(He was a expert liar now after getting advice from the old gee...teacher
Hehehe..hehe)
The teacher's eyes sharpened slightly.
"A Soul king?" He inspected the token again, then nodded. "Duration?"
"Uncertain."
"…You're confident."
Luo Feng didn't respond.
After a moment, the teacher waved his hand. "Fine. Approved."
"…Understood."
With that taken care of he returned to the apothecary
The familiar scent of herbs greeted him the moment he pushed open the creaking door.
Yan Shou didn't even look up.
"You took your time."
"There was paperwork."
"Hmph. Useless systems." He finally glanced over, eyes scanning Luo Feng once. "Pack your things. We leave before sunset."
"…teacher."
Yan Shou raised a brow. "What?"
"Do I need to bring anything specific?"
Yan Shou stared at him for a moment… then suddenly burst out laughing.
"Hah! Look at you, acting like this is a picnic!"
He stood up slowly, stretching his back with a faint crack.
"Listen carefully," he said, tossing a small pouch toward Luo Feng. "Inside—basic antidotes, a smoke pellet, and something you are not allowed to drink unless you're dying."
Luo Feng opened it, sniffed lightly—
His eyes narrowed.
"…Poison?"
Yan Shou grinned.
"See? Not stupid."
As they prepared to leave, Luo Feng noticed Yan Shou stuffing random herbs into his sleeves… then into a teapot… then into what looked suspiciously like a shoe.
"…teacher."
"What?"
"Why is there a herb in your shoe?"
Yan Shou froze.
"…Emergency herb."
"…You have five other pouches."
"This one has sentimental value."
"…It smells like fungus."
Yan Shou looked offended. "That's aged medicinal aroma."
"…It's mold."
They stared at each other.
"…You're walking," Yan Shou said flatly.
"I was already planning to."
"Good."
The road outside Songyang City stretched into the wild,
The air changed first there was something wild, untamed feeling about it.
As they went deeper into the forest they started to hear more and more calls of spirit beast.
Luo Feng's senses sharpened instinctively.
Yan Shou walked beside him, seemingly relaxed—but his eyes were constantly moving.
"Artificial hunting zone," he said casually. "Created for low-level spirit masters. Safer than the wild… but don't get comfortable."
"What kind of soul beast are we targeting?" Luo Feng asked.
Yan Shou smirked.
"Something fast."
They continueed their chatting as they went deeper into the forest
As the trees grew denser, Yan Shou finally stopped.
"Your first ring," he said, turning serious. "You're aiming above the standard limit."
Luo Feng nodded. "Around five hundred years."
"Which is stupid," Yan Shou said bluntly. "And dangerous."
"…But beneficial."
"Yes." Yan Shou's eyes gleamed. "Especially for you."
He tapped Luo Feng's chest lightly.
"Your body can handle it. Barely. Your will? We'll see."
"And the soul beast?"
"A Wind Shadow Lynx," Yan Shou said. "Speed-type. Elusive. Annoying."
"…Sounds difficult."
"It is."
Yan Shou smiled.
"That's why it's perfect."
They moved deeper into the zone, and after a while, Luo Feng noticed something strange.
"…teacher."
"What now?"
"You've been walking in circles."
Yan Shou stopped.
"…No, I haven't."
"You passed that tree three times."
"That's a different tree."
"It has your knife mark on it."
Yan Shou looked at the tree.
There was indeed a clear scratch mark.
"…Strategic positioning."
"…You're lost."
Yan Shou coughed.
"I was testing your awareness."
"…You failed."
"…I wasn't the one being tested!"
"…You still failed."
They stood in silence.
Then—
"Fine," Yan Shou muttered. "We go this way."
"…That's where we came from."
"Then the lynx better come find us!"
As night slowly began to fall, they finally settled on a high vantage point overlooking a clearing.
Yan Shou sat down with a grunt.
"Rest."
Luo Feng obeyed.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Yan Shou said quietly—
"You're not afraid."
It wasn't a question.
Luo Feng looked ahead.
"I am."
Yan Shou glanced at him.
"But I'll do it anyway."
"…Good."
A faint smile appeared on Yan Shou's face.
"Fear keeps you alive. Courage decides what you do with it."
Luo feng had decided to take a soul ring above the age limit because of two reasons first it's benefit by increasing the age limit for his later soul rings and second it's boost which he will get as increased physical and soul power advantage
His courage comes from the fact that he has the dark element which has a natural suppression effect
Like this the master and disciple moved a few more days
Then on the fifth day they encountered their target
In the morning just as they were moving
A sudden rustle.
Both of them froze.
The air shifted.
A faint, almost invisible blur moved across the clearing.
Fast.
Too fast for an ordinary eye.
Yan Shou's voice dropped to a whisper—
"…There it is."
Luo Feng's breathing slowed.
His focus sharpened to a single point.
His first hunt.
His first soul ring.
And not just any ring—
A boundary-crossing ring.
The Wind Shadow Lynx paused for just a fraction of a second.
And in that moment—
Yan shou moved