Chapter 6 – You Will Become the Captain
Participating in the Soul Master Tournament allows academies not only to showcase their strength but also attract many sponsors and even receive royal subsidies from the empire. This is greatly beneficial for the development of the academy.
Therefore, soul master academies place a lot of importance on the tournament.
Although Tianshui Academy is an all-girls school, it's an old and reputable academy with considerable strength overall.
However, they have never made it into the top three.
This is one of the goals they have always been striving to achieve.
Xiao Han knew that according to the original timeline, even in the tournament ten years from now, Tianshui Academy still wouldn't make it into the top three.
But now, things were different.
As a transmigrator who knows the storyline well, he has every opportunity to change what hasn't happened yet.
Ten years would be enough.
Two days later, Lin Zhiruo took Xiao Han and Shui Bing'er to the Icebound Forest in the extreme north.
The three of them took a carriage and headed north. It took over half a month to reach their destination.
After getting off the carriage, the trio entered the forest on foot.
This icy world seemed like a forgotten ancient realm of nature, eternally sealed by endless snow and ice.
As they stepped into this land, a sharp, refreshing chill surged toward them, piercing to the bone, making them shudder involuntarily.
All around were endless snow-capped mountains, towering majestically, their peaks covered in perpetual white snow. Occasionally, sunlight pierced through the clouds and reflected off the mountains, glinting with a dazzling and mysterious light.
At the foot of the mountains was a bizarre forest made up of massive crystalline ice trees.
These trees had branches as clear as crystal, as if sculpted from the purest ice. Their leaves were tiny shards of ice, which tinkled pleasantly when blown by the wind.
The ground was covered in thick snow that felt soft underfoot, leaving deep footprints with each step.
It was Xiao Han and Shui Bing'er's first time coming to a forest to hunt soul beasts, and both were very excited.
The three chatted as they walked.
"This place is beautiful," Shui Bing'er exclaimed.
Lin Zhiruo smiled and shook her head.
"Bing'er, I had the same feeling when I first came here. As cold-attributed soul masters, we're fine with the extreme cold here. But for those without cold attributes, this place is a land of death. They constantly have to burn through soul power to resist the cold. The deeper into the forest, the colder it gets, and the more unbearable it becomes. Many soul masters die here every year because of it."
"Dean Lin, I don't understand. Why would those non-cold-attributed soul masters risk coming here to hunt soul beasts?"
"Because there are soul beasts here that don't exist in the Star Dou Great Forest, like the Mirror Phantom Beast, Ice Demon Serpent, and others. Also, soul beasts that survive in such extreme environments tend to be much stronger."
Shui Bing'er nodded, half-understanding.
She had read about some cold-attributed soul beasts in books from the academy library. Some of them indeed had special abilities.
Lin Zhiruo continued:
"I could've taken you to the Star Dou Great Forest to look for suitable water-attributed soul beasts, but soul beasts with innate cold attributes in the Icebound Forest are definitely more compatible for you."
"Mom, I know that. If the attributes are perfectly compatible, the power boost from absorbing soul rings or soul bones is much greater."
"Right. Since this is your first soul ring, you must be extra cautious."
Xiao Han grinned and said:
"Then, Mom, help Ice and me find soul beasts around four hundred years old. Maybe absorbing those soul rings will let us level up by two!"
"You're only six. Your first soul ring is four hundred years old? Are you kidding? With Bing'er's constitution and spiritual power, she might barely manage a four-hundred-year soul ring, but you can't."
"I'm not kidding, Mom. I'm serious."
Xiao Han knew that according to the theory Yu Xiaogang stole from Spirit Hall, in general, the limit for a soul master's first soul ring was 423 years.
However, factors such as martial spirit quality, physical condition, and spiritual power vary from person to person, so that's just a theoretical limit.
Lin Zhiruo suddenly thought of something and scolded:
"Xiao Han, don't be so rude. Bing'er is your senior sister."
"Dean Lin, it's okay. I'm only one year older than Xiao Han anyway."
Just then, Lin Zhiruo suddenly stopped walking.
"There are soul beasts nearby."
"Where?"
Lin Zhiruo pointed to the ground.
"There are many ice silkworms here that are a few decades old, but they aren't aggressive. If we go further ahead, we might encounter hundred-year-old soul beasts. Let's go check it out."
The three of them continued walking deeper into the forest.
The closer they got to the forest's core, the fiercer the soul beasts became.
However, since their goal was to hunt hundred-year soul beasts, they could find them in the outer areas and didn't need to go to the center.
Lin Zhiruo had obtained all seven of her soul rings in the Icebound Forest and knew the terrain well.
Still, she remained vigilant at all times. Even outside the core, dangerous soul beasts could appear.
"You two must be tired after walking for so long. It's getting dark. Let's find a cave to rest."
"Okay."
Lin Zhiruo led the two to the foot of a large mountain, where they found a small cave.
The cave was small, about ten square meters.
Xiao Han examined it and noticed traces left behind by human soul masters.
"Mom, is this a regular resting spot for you?"
"Yes. In the Icebound Forest, finding a proper cave is rare. Staying inside helps avoid the wind and snow, but it's still risky—there could be soul beasts lurking around, waiting for prey."
"With you here, who's the prey is still up for debate. Let's use ourselves as bait. Maybe that'll lure a suitable soul beast."
Lin Zhiruo smiled, seemingly agreeing with the idea.
"It's getting late. You and Bing'er should rest. I'll take the night watch."
"Okay. Thanks, Mom."
After setting up the tent, Xiao Han and Shui Bing'er slept side by side, but in separate sleeping bags.
Looking into Shui Bing'er's bright eyes, Xiao Han asked:
"Bing'er, are you scared?"
"With Dean Lin here, of course not."
"I have a feeling… Five years from now, you'll join the Tianshui Academy team—and you'll be the new captain."
Shui Bing'er smiled gently.
"The academy team, including substitutes, only has eleven people, selected from hundreds. Me, the captain? I don't believe it."
"You need to have faith in yourself. My hunches are usually right."
"What about you?"
"With my talent? I'll definitely make the team too. I'll be your strongest support."
Night fell.
Xiao Han and Shui Bing'er fell asleep.
Lin Zhiruo sat guard at the cave entrance.
Suddenly, a low, piercing roar broke the quiet of the night.
(End of Chapter)
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