The hunting forest had finally settled.
After Xiao Wu's absorption, the teachers moved quickly, eager to end the trip before anything else went wrong. Whispers followed Lin Chen everywhere, but none dared approach him directly.
Soon, it was Tang San's turn.
Yu Xiaogang personally led him deeper into the forest, selecting targets with meticulous care. Lin Chen followed at a distance, hands behind his back, eyes relaxed—as if this were nothing more than a walk.
They stopped before a four-hundred-year Man-Faced Demon Spider, its eight eyes glowing red, sharp limbs digging into the earth.
Yu Xiaogang's voice was steady but tense. "This one is suitable. Its attributes match your Blue Silver Grass perfectly."
Tang San nodded, calm and focused.
The battle was clean.
Blue Silver Grass restrained.Hidden weapons struck vital points.Poison took effect.
Within minutes, the spider collapsed.
A yellow soul ring rose slowly into the air.
Tang San sat down immediately, beginning absorption.
As the ring descended, soul power surged outward in waves—dense, vigorous, and stable. The grass around him rustled, faint blue light weaving through the vines.
Yu Xiaogang watched with barely concealed excitement.
"Textbook-perfect," he murmured. "No rejection, no backlash… this is what an optimal first ring looks like."
Lin Chen observed quietly.
Flawless execution, he admitted internally.If I weren't here… he'd already be the brightest star.
Minutes passed.
Tang San's expression tightened as the soul ring's will pressed down, testing his resolve. His body trembled slightly—but never faltered.
Finally, the yellow ring settled beneath his feet.
Success.
Tang San opened his eyes and exhaled slowly.
"Teacher."
Yu Xiaogang gripped his shoulders, eyes shining. "Excellent. Truly excellent."
Only then did Tang San turn to Lin Chen.
"You didn't help," he said quietly.
Lin Chen smiled. "You didn't need it."
Tang San studied him carefully.
"You could've killed it instantly."
"Yes."
"…Why didn't you?"
Lin Chen looked at the yellow ring spinning beneath Tang San's feet.
"Because this," he said, "is your road."
Tang San was silent.
He clenched his fist, soul power circulating smoothly through his body.
"My first soul skill," Tang San said after a moment. "Teacher says it's strong."
"It is," Lin Chen agreed.
Then he added, gently, "For this world."
Yu Xiaogang's breath hitched.
Tang San's pupils shrank—not in anger, but realization.
"You're not walking the same system," Tang San said slowly.
"No," Lin Chen replied. "I'm walking around it."
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Tang San gave a small, wry smile.
"…Figures."
There was no jealousy.
No resentment.
Only pressure.
The kind that forges steel.
That night, as the group made camp—
Tang San practiced his new soul skill relentlessly, Blue Silver Grass lashing and binding with precision.
From the shadows, Lin Chen watched, expression unreadable.
The system interface shimmered faintly.
[Observation Complete][Comparison Result: Tang San — Peak Genius of Standard Path][Host — Irregular Path | Ceiling: Undefined]
Lin Chen closed the interface.
Grow faster, he thought.This world will need you strong.
Above them, clouds drifted slowly across the moon.
Two boys.
Same generation.
One walking fate's chosen road.
One standing beyond fate entirely.
And the distance between them—
Had only just begun to show.