"Human life between heaven and earth is like a white colt's shadow passing a crack—swift and fleeting." — Zhuangzi: Knowledge Wandered North
"Human life between heaven and earth is like a white colt's shadow passing a crack—swift and fleeting." — Zhuangzi: Knowledge Wandered North
Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, three months had gone by.
Wu Tong's days were a repetitive cycle of dormitory, classroom, library, and cafeteria, with occasional trips to collect his share of earnings from his stall. Amid this routine, time slipped away unnoticed.
During these three months, many things had happened.
Tang San and Xiao Wu had already obtained their soul rings within the first month, becoming one-ring soul masters.
Of course, Wu Tong had heard about the cafeteria conflict and the subsequent duel in the back hills, but he hadn't gotten involved. Given his strict schedule, he hardly had time for such trivial matters, nor did he have any interest in them.
Now, Xiao Wu had become the undisputed "big sister" of the entire academy, while Tang San was immersed in a demanding routine of studying, blacksmithing, and cultivation.
As for Wu Tong, there was still no trace of the Mind-Eye Golden Fox he sought.
However, he had already completed the forging of two firearms:
The M500 revolver.
Known as the most powerful handgun in the world, its reputation stems from its massive caliber—0.50 inches (12.7 mm)—firing .50 Magnum rounds. Due to the size of the bullets, while most revolvers hold six rounds, the M500 could only hold five.
Each bullet was meticulously crafted by Wu Tong himself, from mixing gunpowder to shaping the casings. Given the manual labor involved, production was slow. After three months, he had only managed to produce 5,000 rounds. Yet, each bullet was potent enough to kill a five-ring Soul King, injure a six-ring Soul Emperor, and even severely wound an eight-ring Title Douluo if used in a surprise attack.
The kinetic energy of the M500's bullets was twice that of the famed .50 caliber "Desert Eagle," rivaling even high-powered rifle rounds. Its destructive power was nothing short of terrifying, earning it the nickname "hand cannon."
However, the gun was useless against nine-ring Title Douluos. At that level, every Title Douluo was practically a superhuman. Lower-level soul masters couldn't even track their movements, let alone land a hit.
"Sigh, it's been three months. It should be about time. The Spirit Hunting Forest isn't that big—a thorough search should have turned something up by now."
In a small, ravaged grove outside Nuoding City, Wu Tong stood amidst shattered trees and scattered debris, the aftermath of his target practice. He holstered the two smoking pistols at his thighs, his eyes distant as he muttered to himself.
Over the past three months, Wu Tong had dedicated time daily to marksmanship training. With the terrifying computational power of his brain martial soul, he could now shoot the wings off a fly perched on a branch 100 meters away without harming the insect itself. The devastation around him was just a minor exercise to maintain his precision—though the wasted bullets still stung his frugal heart.
After purchasing supplies, he was down to just a few thousand gold soul coins, which he needed to hire a professional spirit-hunting team. At this point, Wu Tong was practically broke.
After packing up, he returned to Nuoding Academy. Just as he was about to head to his usual spot to inquire about spirit beast news, a black-clad man approached him at the gate.
"You're Wu Tong, right? We've found traces of the spirit beast you commissioned us to locate. The Mind-Eye Golden Fox was last seen in the eastern part of the Spirit Hunting Forest. Here's a rough map. If you're planning to hunt it, you'd better move quickly—it might not stay there for long."
The man handed Wu Tong the map and left without another word.
Wu Tong glanced at the map, barely containing his excitement. He thanked the man and tucked the map away before changing course—this time, heading straight for the principal's office.
Knock, knock, knock...
The sound of knocking echoed, startling Principal Charles. Who would visit him during the break?
"Come in."
Wu Tong entered and cut straight to the point.
"Principal Charles, I'm Wu Tong, a first-year student. I'd like to request leave to hunt a spirit beast."
Principal Charles adjusted his glasses, studying Wu Tong. The boy had grown noticeably stronger since enrollment. Though Wu Tong possessed a so-called "waste martial soul," he was one of only three innate full soul power prodigies in the academy.
Charles had kept an eye on Wu Tong, frustrated that the boy had spent three months focusing on physical training and reading instead of hunting a soul ring. In a world where strength ruled, wasting such talent was unthinkable.
Now, seeing Wu Tong finally take the initiative, Charles felt a surge of relief. Even if Wu Tong's martial soul was deemed useless, a teacher's most basic wish was to see their students grow and succeed. He was determined to help however he could.
"Wu Tong, I'll approve your leave immediately. Would you like a school teacher to accompany you?"
Wu Tong shook his head.
"No, thank you. I've saved up enough to hire a professional spirit-hunting team. They're more familiar with the forest, and I don't want to take any chances with my first soul ring."
He had considered asking a teacher for help but ultimately decided against it. The school's teachers, mostly Great Soul Masters or Soul Elders, lacked the expertise and strength to venture deep into the forest where the Mind-Eye Golden Fox resided. Moreover, Wu Tong preferred to keep his secrets hidden from those who knew him.
A professional team, on the other hand, offered experience, higher combat power, and discretion. For a few thousand gold soul coins, he could hire a team led by a Soul King to ensure success.
"Very well. You've always been a prudent child, and I trust your judgment. Professional teams are indeed more reliable. I won't say more—best of luck in obtaining your soul ring."
After a moment of thought, Charles relented.
Wu Tong bowed slightly. "Thank you, Principal Charles. I'll succeed."
With the approved leave in hand, he left the office.
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