Morning sunlight streamed into Dormitory Seven, slowly waking the students from their sleep. The room, which had been quiet through the night, gradually filled with noise—yawning, stretching, and low chatter.
Lin Ye opened his eyes calmly. He had barely slept. For him, rest was unnecessary. His body and mind were already far beyond normal limits.
Across the room, Xiao Wu was still half-asleep, her hair slightly messy as she rubbed her eyes. When she noticed Lin Ye already awake, she pouted.
"You don't sleep or what?"
Lin Ye glanced at her. "I do. Just less."
"Hmph… weird."
Soon, Wang Sheng and the others gathered everyone. As the "boss" of the dorm, Lin Ye naturally became the center of attention, though he showed no interest in it.
"Today is the first day of classes," Wang Sheng said carefully, still wary of Lin Ye. "We need to report to the teachers."
Lin Ye stood up. "Let's go."
Xiao Wu quickly followed behind him, sticking unusually close.
—
The academy grounds were already active when they arrived. Students lined up in groups, waiting to be assigned teachers.
Soon, a middle-aged man approached them. He had a refined aura, but his strength wasn't particularly high.
"New students?" he asked.
Lin Ye nodded slightly.
"I am your teacher, Yu Xiaogang," the man introduced himself calmly. "You may call me Grandmaster."
At those words, Lin Ye's eyes flickered slightly.
Grandmaster.
The so-called "theory expert."
And… Tang San's teacher.
Lin Ye looked at him with faint interest.
Yu Xiaogang's gaze soon landed on Lin Ye. For a brief moment, his expression stiffened.
This child…
Why does he feel so strange?
He couldn't sense Lin Ye's strength at all. That alone made him uneasy.
"Extend your hand," Yu Xiaogang said. "I will examine your spirit."
Lin Ye didn't refuse.
The moment Yu Xiaogang touched his wrist—
His expression changed instantly.
"What… is this?"
He could feel something vast. Endless. Like staring into an abyss.
Lin Ye calmly withdrew his hand. "Is there a problem?"
Yu Xiaogang took a slow breath, suppressing his shock.
"…No."
But inside, his thoughts were in turmoil.
This child… his spirit is unlike anything I've ever studied.
Before he could say more, another presence approached.
Tang San.
He stood quietly nearby, observing everything.
Yu Xiaogang turned to him. "You as well."
Tang San nodded and extended his hand.
After examining him, Yu Xiaogang's expression shifted again—this time to excitement.
"Twin spirits…" he muttered.
Lin Ye watched silently.
Everything was proceeding as expected.
But he had no interest in interfering—for now.
—
After basic introductions, the students were dismissed to familiarize themselves with the academy.
Xiao Wu immediately grabbed Lin Ye's sleeve.
"Let's go explore!"
Lin Ye looked at her. "…You're energetic."
"Of course!" she said proudly.
But after walking a while, Lin Ye suddenly stopped.
Xiao Wu blinked. "What's wrong?"
Lin Ye looked toward the distant forest outside the academy.
"We're going out."
"Out? Where?"
"To hunt."
Xiao Wu's eyes widened slightly.
"Already?"
Lin Ye nodded. "I need another soul ring."
And more importantly—
Testing.
Xiao Wu hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
"…Okay. I'll come."
—
Soon, the two slipped out of the academy and headed toward the forest once again.
This time, Lin Ye didn't hold back his aura as much.
As they entered deeper areas, the atmosphere quickly changed.
Spirit beasts began to retreat instinctively.
Even thousand-year beasts avoided his presence.
Lin Ye frowned slightly.
"This is inconvenient."
Xiao Wu glanced at him. "You're too scary."
Lin Ye didn't deny it.
After walking for some time, he finally stopped.
Ahead—
A massive serpent coiled around a tree.
Its body was thick and covered in dark scales, its eyes glowing with a cold light.
"A three-thousand-year Dark Vine Serpent," Xiao Wu whispered.
Even she felt pressure from it.
Lin Ye, however, smiled slightly.
"Good."
The serpent noticed them instantly and hissed loudly before lunging forward.
Its speed was terrifying.
But—
Lin Ye didn't move.
"Suppress."
BOOOOM!!!
An invisible force crushed down.
The serpent's body slammed into the ground mid-attack, the earth cracking beneath it.
It struggled violently, but couldn't move at all.
Xiao Wu stared in shock.
"Again… just like that…"
Lin Ye walked forward calmly.
"This one will do."
He raised his hand—
CRACK!!!
The serpent's head exploded instantly.
A deep purple soul ring slowly rose from its body.
Lin Ye sat down without hesitation.
"Guard me."
Xiao Wu nodded subconsciously.
"…Okay."
Lin Ye reached out and absorbed the soul ring.
At that moment—
[Ding!]
[Three-Thousand-Year Soul Ring detected.]
[Applying 1,000,000,000x enhancement…]
BOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
A terrifying shockwave erupted outward.
The purple ring twisted violently—
Turning black.
Then red.
Then even deeper—beyond ordinary limits.
The sky dimmed slightly.
The surrounding forest trembled.
Xiao Wu staggered back, her face pale.
"This aura… it's even stronger than before…"
Lin Ye's body radiated overwhelming power as the ring fully merged with him.
Moments later, everything settled.
He slowly opened his eyes.
A faint crimson glow flickered within them.
"Not bad."
He stood up, stretching slightly as if nothing had happened.
Xiao Wu looked at him like he was something beyond understanding.
"You… what are you exactly?"
Lin Ye smiled faintly.
"Just a Spirit Master."
"Liar."
Lin Ye chuckled but didn't argue.
Instead, he turned slightly, looking deeper into the forest.
His gaze sharpened.
"There's something else."
Xiao Wu froze.
"…What?"
Lin Ye's lips curved slightly.
"A stronger one."
In the distance—
A deep roar echoed.
Something ancient.
Something powerful.
Lin Ye stepped forward without hesitation.
"Let's go."
Xiao Wu hesitated for only a second before following him.
Because by now—
She knew one thing clearly.
Wherever Lin Ye went—
Nothing in this forest could stop him.