"Sister, do you want to use my quilt?"
As the younger brother, Wang Sheng tried to show goodwill.
Xiao Wu, however, only shot him a glare. She wouldn't use such dirty bedding. These two younger brothers of hers were so disobedient—being the eldest sister was really exhausting.
"Hmph, I can sleep just fine without one."
She found a spot, sat on the bed, and glanced at Lin Bai's soft bedding nearby. A hint of desire flashed in her eyes, but Lin Bai wasn't one to share. After a moment of consideration, she rolled her eyes but ultimately decided not to fight for it.
After leaving the dormitory, Lin Bai made his way to the dean's office.
Knock, knock, knock!
"Come in," a gentle voice responded.
Lin Bai pushed the door open and stepped inside, finding himself face-to-face with the dean—a middle-aged man with a kind expression. He looked more like an academic than a soul master.
"Who are you?" the dean asked.
"Dean, my name is Lin Bai. I'm a new student this year, born with innate soul power. I'd like to request a leave of absence and apply for permission to enter the Soul Hunting Forest."
Hearing this, the dean pondered for a moment before looking up.
"You're aware of the requirements for obtaining a token, correct?"
Lin Bai nodded. The process was straightforward—one needed to meet the soul power level requirement and secure recommendations from three nobles to receive a Soul Hunting Token.
With his full innate soul power, getting noble recommendations wouldn't be a challenge.
The dean continued, "Have you found a team to accompany you?"
He added, "Although classes haven't started yet, the academy can assign two teachers to assist you in hunting your first soul ring."
Lin Bai was slightly moved but quickly shook his head with a polite smile. "I appreciate the offer, Dean, but I've already arranged for a soul-hunting team. There's no need to trouble the teachers."
The dean studied him for a moment before nodding. His tone turned serious. "Be careful with the mercenary teams outside. They prioritize profit and might betray you if the opportunity arises. The academy's teachers are much more trustworthy."
"I understand, Dean. I'll be cautious," Lin Bai assured him.
Seeing his determination, the dean sighed and waved him off. "Very well. Your leave is approved. Be safe."
Lin Bai thanked him and left.
Not long after, the door to the dean's office opened again, and Yu Xiaogang walked in.
"Xiao Gang, you're not spending your time in the dormitory studying today? What brings you here?" The dean greeted him with a smile, pouring a cup of tea.
Yu Xiaogang set the cup aside and got straight to the point. "I've taken on a student with innate soul power. I'll be taking him to the Soul Hunting Forest tomorrow, so I need you to inform the teachers."
The dean chuckled. "I see. Well, you're a little late. Lin Bai just came by to request leave for the same reason. So, he's your student?"
Yu Xiaogang blinked in surprise before shaking his head. "No, Lin Bai isn't my student. My student's name is Tang San—he also has full innate soul power. It's just a coincidence."
"Ah, I see." The dean nodded in realization. "Our little Notting Academy is fortunate—two students with innate soul power in one year."
Yu Xiaogang simply nodded. "I'll be going now."
The dean only smiled as he left, long accustomed to Yu Xiaogang's abrupt manner.
Meanwhile, Lin Bai arrived at the local branch of the Spirit Hall.
With Su Yuntao's assistance, he managed to find two other deacons to co-sign his recommendation and successfully acquired a Soul Hunting Token. The token was single-use and had to be returned after completing the hunt—failure to do so would lead to an investigation by the Spirit Hall.
Su Yuntao once again tried to recruit Lin Bai into the Spirit Hall, even offering to help him hunt for a soul ring. But Lin Bai politely declined. He appreciated the deacon's help but had his own plans. In the future, he would find another way to repay him.
Using the few silver coins he had left, Lin Bai rented a carriage to travel overnight to the Soul Hunting Forest. By then, he had already forgotten about Xiao Wu's frustration back at the dormitory.
Three days and three nights later, the carriage finally arrived.
"Sir, we've reached the Soul Hunting Forest," the coachman announced.
The driver had been running this route for over a decade and considered himself well-informed. Yet, this was the first time he had seen a six-year-old child heading into the forest alone. He kept his thoughts to himself but couldn't help sighing inwardly.
Lin Bai pulled back the curtain, stepped out, and handed the coachman the remaining fare. "You can go."
As the carriage rolled away, Lin Bai turned toward the Soul Hunting Forest.
The road leading to the entrance was lined with shops, and merchants called out to passing customers. The faint smell of blood and beast hides filled the air from the soul beast pelts displayed outside the stores.
His presence didn't go unnoticed. Many people glanced at him—some with greed, others with jealousy, and a few with wariness.
Lin Bai ignored them all, walking calmly to the end of the road. He retrieved his Soul Hunting Token and presented it to the Spirit Hall soldiers guarding the entrance.
After carefully verifying the token, the guard returned it without asking any questions.
The towering iron gate creaked open. Lin Bai took back the token, stepped forward, and entered the depths of the Soul Hunting Forest.
The forest was dense, filled with towering trees reaching dozens of meters high. Once inside, a lone traveler was like a drop of water merging into the sea—insignificant and easily forgotten. Death here would only add another set of bones to the wilderness.
As for the "soul-hunting team" he mentioned to the dean? That had been a lie. Lin Bai was completely alone.
With his many secrets, it was far safer to operate independently.
His confidence came from his unique abilities.
For instance, with Cupid's Arrow, an artifact in his possession, he could incapacitate any opponent with a single golden arrow—even a god wouldn't be able to harm him once struck. However, he decided to keep it as a last resort to protect his chastity.
Then there were the Yin-Yang Nine Dragon Art and the Thirteen Needles of the Ghost Gate. Though he hadn't mastered them, his Eye of Appraisal allowed him to identify weaknesses, making it possible to take down century-old soul beasts.
But the real reason he dared to venture into the forest alone lay in the ability he had acquired at the age of four.
That year, he received his first golden finger—a Superhero System.
By performing good deeds, he could earn points to purchase superpowers and high-tech equipment. However, at the time, he didn't know that the system would disappear after a year.
Three days before it vanished, a countdown began. In a rush, Lin Bai spent all his accumulated points to acquire the most suitable ability for himself—telekinesis.
This ability, also known as psychokinesis, was a branch of spiritual power with vast potential.
What made it even stronger was the fact that his Spirit Sea had been opened in advance, stabilized by Cupid's Arrow. This allowed his spiritual power to grow steadily over time.
Currently, Lin Bai could lift boulders weighing thousands of kilograms using only his mind. More importantly, telekinesis was invisible and weightless—an ability that was nearly impossible for others to detect.
With this power, he wasn't just confident in hunting for his first soul ring—he was prepared for anything that lay ahead.
Chapter 7: