As a gathering place for soul beasts, the Jingyang Mountain Range, while not as vast as the Star Dou Great Forest, still covered a significant area and was rich in mineral veins. Occasionally, very unique soul beasts could be found here.
After landing, Lin Jiayi, as he had previously stated, did not stay by Lin Xiao and the others' side. Although he was there to ensure their safety, having him nearby would naturally affect their actions, as they would feel reliant on his presence.
Lin Xiao surveyed the surroundings. Although the area was covered in vegetation, the plants were far less dense than those in the Star Dou Great Forest. Standing on the hill, the view was quite open.
"How do you all feel? There aren't many soul beasts around here. If there's anything you need to prepare, you can take care of it now."
Since Lin Jiayi had tasked him with looking after the others, Lin Xiao didn't hold back and took the lead in speaking.
Ma Rulong and Mi Jia, standing nearby, seemed quite experienced, already equipping themselves with soul tools. In the wild, unexpected situations could arise, and equipping soul tools on the spot might not always be feasible.
Ju Zi, with her relatively low cultivation and recent enrollment in the academy, didn't seem to have much equipment, likely because Xuan Ziwen wasn't the type of teacher to overly concern himself with his students. She kept observing the expressions of the other three.
Having fled through war-torn areas for a long time, reading people had become second nature to her. Despite the others being her nominal classmates, she still felt a trace of unease.
Lin Xiao, with just a glance, could roughly guess Ju Zi's state of mind. Growing up in the Holy Spirit Sect surrounded by evil soul masters, hadn't he experienced the same?
"Stay behind me later. Ma Rulong, since your cultivation is higher, take the rear and keep watch. Also, pay attention to the detection soul tools. If you notice anything, speak up immediately. I might miss something."
"Got it, Senior," Ma Rulong replied.
As the captain of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Tool Academy's reserve team for the Douluo Tournament, Ma Rulong was already accustomed to looking out for his teammates.
Seeing that the others were mostly ready, Lin Xiao glanced into the distance. It seemed as if something darted out from him, but upon closer inspection, there was nothing there.
"Let's go."
The group started moving deeper into the mountains, the atmosphere around them gradually shifting. The areas where soul beasts gathered always felt different from places inhabited by humans.
"Senior, what type of soul mentor are you?"
Lin Xiao had just pushed aside some obstructing branches when he heard Mi Jia's voice from behind.
"If I had to say, probably the practical control type. My skill in crafting soul tools is pretty poor."
"Then what kind of soul tools are you good at using? When I saw you fight Senior Ji Juechen, it didn't seem like you used any soul tools."
Lin Xiao turned to look at him. "You were at that fight?"
"Yeah," Mi Jia nodded. "I'm actually better at using soul tools myself, but I've always been unsure about which type I should focus on. It feels like I'm comfortable with all kinds of soul tools and can use them pretty well."
"Then try using them all. Being able to handle every type of soul tool is a talent many would envy."
Mi Jia seemed about to ask something else when Lin Xiao's expression suddenly changed. He raised his right hand, and with a flash of blue light, a massive mechanical arm appeared on his right arm.
Unlike the one seen some time ago, its front end wasn't a mechanical hand but a pitch-black cannon barrel.
Ma Rulong instinctively glanced at his detection soul tool, but it showed nothing. The next moment, however, the ground began to tremble slightly, and a rumbling sound came from ahead.
Lin Xiao glanced at the other three, hesitated, then let out a quiet sigh.
Some things couldn't be hidden forever. This trip was for testing soul tools, and now there was a ready target.
With a step forward, five black soul rings rose one by one: black, black, black, black, black.
What?
The three behind Lin Xiao widened their eyes, momentarily forgetting they were still in the Jingyang Mountain Range. Ju Zi, in particular, couldn't control the expression on her face and instinctively took several steps back.
Boom—
A loud explosion rang out as a dazzling beam shot from the front of the mechanical arm. A path instantly appeared through the trees ahead, and a wild boar charging toward them stopped in its tracks, collapsing to the ground with a thud. Soon, a deep purple soul ring slowly rose from its body.
The others, however, had no time to pay attention to the thousand-year soul beast or even the massive mechanical arm. Their eyes were fixed on the soul rings around Lin Xiao.
"What's going on here?"
Lin Jiayi's figure appeared beside Lin Xiao.
Lin Xiao sighed inwardly and turned around. "Teacher, this is why I took leave some time ago."
"Are you saying you left the academy to replace your soul rings?" Lin Jiayi stared intently.
As a soul mentor, though not as knowledgeable about martial souls as soul masters, Lin Jiayi knew that soul rings couldn't be replaced.
"Not replace," Lin Xiao shook his head, saying no more.
"Regardless of what it is, can your method be applied to others?"
"No, and this method is very risky."
In truth, with the Holy Spirit Sect's ways, they'd want every soul master on the continent to undergo his spirit ascension ceremony, but Lin Xiao couldn't say that.
Seeing Lin Jiayi fall silent, Lin Xiao subtly gestured, and an almost imperceptible figure hid among the nearby trees.
Greed was human nature. Having seen the five ten-thousand-year soul rings on him, Lin Xiao wasn't sure how Lin Jiayi would react or whether he'd press for answers.
If things escalated beyond control, he'd have to find a way to escape.
"Does the Hall Master know?"
Lin Xiao was on high alert, but he hadn't expected Lin Jiayi to ask only this.
"The Hall Master… he probably knows." Jing Hongchen was aware of his origins and could likely guess where his soul rings came from.
"Is that why the Hall Master didn't let you participate in the Douluo Tournament?" Lin Jiayi rubbed his chin, seemingly muttering to himself.
A moment later, his expression turned serious, and he looked sharply at the others. "Once we leave the Jingyang Mountain Range, no one is to mention what happened today, understood?"
"Yes, Director Lin."
Lin Jiayi patted Lin Xiao's shoulder. "Alright, carry on."
Watching Lin Jiayi's figure gradually disappear, Lin Xiao was momentarily stunned.
He had considered many outcomes—perhaps being interrogated about the origin of his ten-thousand-year soul rings or someone digging into his secrets. Yet, he hadn't expected Lin Jiayi to brush it off so lightly.
After a long silence, Lin Xiao finally snapped out of it.
Unknowingly, the Holy Spirit Sect had influenced him deeply. In this world, not everyone was as selfish and unscrupulous as those evil soul masters.