With things having settled, Dugu Bo soon regained his usual calm expression.
"Hmph."
"A bunch of ignorant fools."
"If not for Feng'er pleading for your sake today, none of you would've walked out of here alive."
"You so-called teachers should keep a better eye on the students you raise in the future."
"Now get lost. I don't want to see any of you."
He spoke with undisguised disdain, then withdrew his soul power.
As the oppressive pressure vanished, everyone collapsed in all directions from the release of tension.
They supported one another to their feet, and just as Yu Tianheng opened his mouth to say something—
"Damn brat."
"I've put up with you long enough!"
A teacher, fuming with rage, suddenly smacked Yu Tianheng on the back and knocked him out cold.
"Senior Dugu, apologies for the disturbance."
"We'll be on our way."
Qin Ming turned and waved his hand, signaling everyone to carry the unconscious Yu Tianheng and leave in haste.
Boom!
With a muffled explosion, the soul power surrounding Dugu Yan dispersed.
"Lin Feng! Grandpa! I've successfully absorbed the ten-thousand-year soul ring!"
"And my soul power has reached Rank 41!"
Dugu Yan stood up excitedly and shared the good news with the two of them.
"Good!"
"As expected of my granddaughter."
Dugu Bo nodded with satisfaction and smiled as he stepped forward to pat her head.
"Lin Feng, my soul power is higher than yours now!"
"Before you hunt your next soul beast, you're still only Rank 40."
After hugging her grandfather, Dugu Yan twirled around and playfully pointed at Lin Feng as she spoke, her tone serious despite her smugness.
She knew this might be the only time in her life she could surpass him.
"All right, all right—you're stronger than me, happy?"
Lin Feng chuckled helplessly at her adorable antics.
"Hahaha!"
"You two really are something else."
Dugu Bo couldn't help but laugh heartily at the sight.
Meanwhile, in the distance, as Qin Ming's group left—
"Teacher Qin, was that young boy beside Senior Dugu just now—was that Lin Feng? Is he Rank 40 as well?"
In the air, Yan Que'er asked curiously.
"Most likely," Qin Ming replied, nodding with certainty. "Dugu Bo said Dugu Yan reached Rank 40 through immortal herbs, so there's no reason Lin Feng wouldn't have received some too."
"Hm? Huh… what was that about Rank 40?"
"What's going on?"
From behind, a dazed Yu Tianheng stirred awake on someone's back and unknowingly joined the conversation.
"Rank 40?"
"That Lin Feng kid—your classmate, he's Rank 40 too," Yan Que'er said flatly.
"Wha—?"
"He's… also…?"
Thud.
Yu Tianheng felt like he'd been struck by lightning. The fog in his mind vanished, and clarity returned with a vengeance.
He clutched his chest in frustration, his heart filled with sourness.
"Don't overthink it," Qin Ming sighed from the side, attempting to console him. "You and him… you're not even in the same league."
"Hmph!"
Yu Tianheng jumped off the teacher's back with a scowl and stomped forward, face full of displeasure.
"Ah…"
Qin Ming looked at the boy's back and sighed heavily.
He had originally wanted to ask if Lin Feng and the others needed help—to leave a good impression.
But before he could say a word, Yu Tianheng ruined everything and now things had turned into this mess.
At this point, there was no fixing it.
Besides, with Dugu Bo by their side, Lin Feng and Dugu Yan had no need for their assistance anyway.
Qin Ming quickened his pace to catch up, but inwardly, he felt deeply disheartened.
Back at Shrek Academy, he'd once believed himself to be a rare, peerless genius.
Only now had he realized that there were even more monstrous talents out in the world.
Not to mention Lin Feng and Dugu Yan's monstrous cultivation speed—even Yu Tianheng, a 13-year-old Soul Elder, possessed a gift not inferior to his own.
"Sigh…"
"Dean Flender, Teacher Zhao…"
"You always said I was the number one genius on the continent, but it seems Qin Ming has let you down."
He muttered to himself, heart heavy with guilt and disappointment.
The true number one genius… was someone else.
---
Back at the clearing
"Grandpa, let's go help Lin Feng find his fourth soul ring!"
Dugu Yan grinned as she watched Lin Feng's frustrated expression.
She jumped up and kissed him on the cheek.
Lin Feng smiled, pulled her into his arms, and kissed her lips in return.
Soft. Sweet.
Dugu Bo simply chuckled from the side.
After spending these past few days together, he no longer minded their affectionate behavior.
After all, he was very satisfied with Lin Feng as his future grandson-in-law.
"All right, all right. Enough flirting, you two."
"Let's head out."
Dugu Bo stroked his beard and announced.
—
Sunset Forest – Lava Zone
Following the guidance of the Dragon Seeking Compass, Lin Feng and the others arrived at their destination.
The Lava Zone was a scorched and desolate region dominated by searing heat and bubbling magma.
The sky above was shrouded in heavy volcanic ash, casting a gloomy and oppressive atmosphere over everything.
"Wow… I never knew Sunset Forest had a place like this."
Dugu Yan looked around in awe.
Lin Feng was equally stunned by the view before him.
"Do you know why this place is called Sunset Forest?" Dugu Bo asked.
"It's because of this very area. It resembles the place where the sun falls."
"That's why it's named Sunset Forest."
"More importantly, this place is home to an extremely rare species called the Flame Beast—perfect for Feng'er."
He explained with a smile.
"But aside from the lava everywhere, I don't see any soul beasts?"
Dugu Yan asked curiously.
"That's because the Flame Beast lives beneath the lava," Lin Feng said, watching the vibrations and direction indicated by the Dragon Seeking Compass.
"Correct."
"It's said the Flame Beast dwells under the magma."
"But no one has ever seen what it truly looks like."
Dugu Bo nodded and added.
"I've read about the Flame Beast in an ancient text."
"It was described as resembling a qilin, with a single horn and an eternal flame that never extinguishes."
"Even after death, it leaves behind a Fire Crystal that radiates heat for centuries."
"If that account is accurate, this Fire Crystal would be a priceless treasure."
Lin Feng followed up with further explanation.
Dugu Yan listened attentively, eyes gleaming with admiration as she looked at him.
"Feng'er, didn't your martial soul evolve into Ultimate Fire? Then you…"
Dugu Bo asked with concern.
"Emperor Flame Nine-Headed Dragon—Martial Soul Possession!"
"First Soul Skill: Fire Dragon Constriction!"
Before Dugu Bo could finish his sentence, Lin Feng had already summoned his martial soul and activated his first skill.
Surrounded by the flames of the Emperor Flame Nine-Headed Dragon, Lin Feng leapt straight into the molten lava."Lin Feng! Lin Feng!"
On the shore, Dugu Yan cried out anxiously, her face full of worry.
"This kid is too reckless," Dugu Bo muttered, frowning. "Didn't even wait for me to finish talking before diving in."
"But don't worry, Yan'er," he added, softening his tone. "With his Ultimate Flame, this level of magma can't hurt him. The only thing that matters now is how he handles the Flame Beast."
Beneath the magma, Lin Feng had already descended dozens of meters.
He paused, observing the flow of lava around him. He noticed that the fire veins converged at seven or eight different points.
"Dragon Seeking Compass, follow the clustered mountains..."
Murmuring the incantation, he activated the Dragon Seeking Compass and followed the nearest fire vein.
About fifteen minutes later, deep within a magma cavern, Lin Feng finally spotted a Flame Beast resting.
The creature spanned dozens of meters in length. Its entire body was covered in massive black scales, interlaced with golden patterns and edged like blades. It had the form of a primeval Qilin, with four limbs, a single golden horn on its forehead, and massive black wings folded behind its back.
"System, Trait Insight!"
[Soul Beast: Flame Beast]
[Age: 11,000 years]
[Traits: Ironhide (White), Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Bone (Green)]
"It has a soul bone?" Lin Feng was surprised. It had been six years since he last encountered a soul beast carrying one.
But the moment the Flame Beast sensed an intruder, it let out an ear-splitting screech.
"Roooaar!"
It rose and instantly launched at Lin Feng, using its golden horn like a spear.
Too late to dodge, Lin Feng crossed his arms.
"Second Soul Skill: True Dragon Scales!"
Golden dragon scales quickly enveloped his body, forming an unbreakable armor fused with his Ultimate Flame.
He raised a dragon-scale shield to meet the incoming blow.
The golden horn rammed straight into the shield—
"Bang!"
Within seconds, the shield shattered. Lin Feng was flung back several meters, a trickle of blood at his lips.
"Such incredible strength…?" he gasped.
"With Grandpa Dugu stuck up on the surface, I'm on my own here."
"This is the toughest opponent I've ever faced. Might as well go all out—see how strong I've really become!"
Steeling his will, Lin Feng summoned all his soul power.
"Third Soul Skill—Inferno Burst!"
From the surrounding lava, fire energy surged toward him, swirling like a vortex. A blazing projection of the Emperor Flame Nine-Headed Dragon began to manifest.
"ROAAAR!"
The Flame Beast sensed the shift and let out another earth-shaking roar. It opened its massive jaws, conjuring a giant fireball that grew rapidly as it poured in soul power.
---
On the surface—
The magma, which had been calm, now churned violently. Jets of flame roared upward, giant bubbles erupted with thunderous blasts.
"Grandpa, Lin Feng—he's not in danger, is he?" Dugu Yan asked, her voice cracking with fear.
Dugu Bo held her tightly. "He'll be fine. We have to trust him."
In truth, even Dugu Bo couldn't be sure. He could only guess that Lin Feng was locked in a fierce battle below.
---
Under the lava—
"Inferno Burst, go!"
"Haaah!!" Lin Feng roared with all his might.
Just then, the Flame Beast fired its massive fireball.
The two forces collided head-on, creating shockwaves that shook the very core of the magma cavern. Molten rock fell from the ceiling as if a subterranean quake had erupted.
Veins bulging, Lin Feng poured soul power into sustaining his Nine-Headed Dragon projection. But despite his top-tier martial soul, the power difference was undeniable.
Without enough soul power, the inferno was rapidly being overrun.
The Flame Beast, seizing the moment, flapped its wings with incredible force. The magma currents themselves bent to its will, surging toward Lin Feng like a tidal wave of fire.
Suddenly—his right arm began to glow with multicolored light.
The Crimson Scale Serpent Hand Bone on his right arm activated. Two glowing dragon horns sprouted above the bone, and its serpentine form shifted into a divine dragon shape.
"Rrrrrrrr—!"
With a thunderous rumble, a crimson-gold dragon emerged from Lin Feng's right arm, coiling around him in a protective spiral.
The Flame Beast released its ultimate attack.
BOOM!
The Nine-Headed Dragon projection shattered.
The fireball engulfed Lin Feng's body in a blazing explosion.
The Flame Beast bellowed triumphantly—convinced it had incinerated its enemy.
But as the flames died down—
The crimson-gold dragon uncoiled, revealing Lin Feng standing there, unharmed.
"Too bad... I had a soul bone."
He darted forward like lightning, seizing the moment.
The Flame Beast was stunned—just enough for Lin Feng to strike first.
"Right Arm Soul Bone Skill: True Dragon's Claw!"
A pitch-black divine dragon, devoid of any glow, emerged and spiraled through the magma toward the Flame Beast.
Just as the beast tried to summon another fireball, the dragon punched clean through its skull.
"Boom!"
Bursting from the lava, Lin Feng hurled the Flame Beast's massive corpse onto the shore before collapsing, exhausted.
"Lin Feng!!" Dugu Yan screamed, tears streaming down her face as she rushed to his side.
"Grandpa, what's wrong with him?" she sobbed.
Dugu Bo bent down and examined him. "It's alright. Looks like he passed out from exhaustion."
Other than a few fractured ribs, his body was intact. Even his clothes were barely scuffed.
"This brat... a newly advanced Soul Ancestor, and he soloed a ten-thousand-year soul beast?"
"He doesn't even know how to retreat?"
"Yan'er, I'll heal him."
Dugu Bo sat cross-legged and began transferring soul power into Lin Feng, stabilizing his internal condition and mending his bones.
About half a day passed before Lin Feng finally regained consciousness."Yan'er... Grandpa Dugu..."
Lin Feng slowly opened his eyes and spoke in a weak voice.
"Lin Feng! You scared me to death!"
"How could you just dive down without saying a word?!"
Tears welled up in Dugu Yan's eyes as she threw herself forward, tightly hugging Lin Feng.
"Aiya, Yan'er, look—I'm fine now, aren't I?"
Lin Feng was at a loss, hurriedly stroking her back to soothe her.
"Hmph! You're fine this time."
"What about next time?"
"Feng'er, when you encounter something beyond your ability, the first thing you should do is retreat. Do I really need to teach you that?"
"If something had really happened to you today, what would Yan'er do? How would I ever face your parents?"
Dugu Bo glared at him, clearly displeased.
"Alright, alright, Grandpa, I get it."
"If something like this happens again, I'll run first without hesitation."
Lin Feng bowed his head apologetically, his voice still weak.
Though his injuries had already been healed, his physical condition remained poor.
"That's more like it. Remember this in the future."
Dugu Yan wiped her tears and forced a smile, her voice still choked.
Lin Feng turned to glance at the Flame Beast's corpse and the pitch-black soul ring floating above it. He didn't rush to absorb it.
Instead, he first took out some herbs and elixirs from his soul tool, consumed them, and began calming his breath to restore his physical strength.
Roughly fifteen minutes later, Lin Feng reopened his eyes, fully recovered.
His gaze once again fell upon the soul ring.
He knew clearly that like Dugu Yan, he too would be absorbing a ring beyond his current level.
A ten-thousand-year soul ring always carried a violent spiritual backlash upon absorption.
The intensity depended on the beast's temperament.
For example, the soul ring Dugu Yan had absorbed came from a relatively gentle soul beast. The spiritual backlash was minor.
Add to that her Calamity Poison Body and the constitution-boosting immortal herb she'd consumed—it was no wonder her absorption had gone smoothly.
But the Flame Beast was a different matter entirely.
Its innate savagery meant that its soul ring would bring a far more violent and destructive backlash.
On the other hand, that also meant it offered a significantly greater increase in strength.
The risks were high—but so were the rewards.
Lin Feng didn't have the luxury of fear.
Although the immortal herb he consumed hadn't been specialized for physique, it had still boosted his endurance and spiritual resilience considerably.
And in the past six years, he'd swapped in various traits that enhanced his body and mind.
Besides, he was the Child of Destiny.
This Flame Beast had been located using the Dragon Seeking Compass.
He believed in fate—and this beast was destined to be his fourth soul ring.
Sitting cross-legged beside the corpse, Lin Feng calmed his mind.
The pitch-black ring above the Flame Beast glowed intensely—it was the perfect time to absorb it.
Lin Feng's nerves tightened. He raised his hands, igniting his Ultimate Fire to shroud himself before drawing the ring toward his martial soul.
As if it had been waiting, the dark light instantly surged forward, flooding toward him.
The moment it touched Lin Feng's martial soul, it enveloped his body like a tidal wave.
Seeing this, Dugu Bo was taken aback by the power in that soul energy.
This was no ordinary soul beast—it was elite-tier.
Even among ten-thousand-year soul rings, this one was incredibly difficult to absorb.
Within the ring's shroud, Lin Feng felt it even more clearly.
A violent heat surged through his body, and before he could react, it erupted like molten lava, scorching him from the inside.
The energy carried no consciousness, but the beast's innate brutality couldn't be erased.
The spiritual backlash was brutal.
It felt as though his body were being torn apart, and he clenched his brows in pain.
Dugu Yan grew more anxious by the second.
She'd also absorbed a ten-thousand-year ring, but it hadn't been like this.
Could Lin Feng really withstand it?
"The Flame Beast's soul ring is clashing with the soul power already inside Lin Feng."
"Right now, it all depends on his willpower."
"Yan'er, we have to trust him."
Dugu Bo spoke gravely.
He knew that the harder a ring was to absorb, the greater its final benefits.
The grandfather and granddaughter watched in tense silence as Lin Feng's body began to change.
His golden flame slowly turned crimson.
Dugu Bo knew—success was close.
Suddenly, Lin Feng's body trembled violently again. Sweat poured from his brow as the energy burned within him, vaporizing into the air.
Then—BOOM.
The black soul energy around him exploded outward before condensing beneath him into a solid black ring.
His tightly furrowed brow gradually relaxed.
He moistened his cracked lips slightly.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host has advanced to the Soul Ancestor realm and unlocked a new trait: [Divine Charm].]
[Ding! Trait refresh function has been reset!]
[Divine Charm (Purple)]: You gain minor favorability from all deities. Automatically grants +10% affinity toward any divine trial.]
"Phew! I thought it was something like 'Succubus.' Turns out it's Divine Charm!"
Lin Feng exhaled in relief after checking his status panel.
So the trait only worked on gods?
Did that mean 'Succubus' would've only worked on demons?
Still, getting a purple trait right away—luck was on his side.
Just as he was about to refresh his traits—
"Lin Feng! Lin Feng!"
"Water—here!"
Dugu Yan rushed forward the moment she saw him open his eyes. She quickly brought him a flask, her voice full of worry.
"Ah, Yan'er…"
Gulp, gulp.
After downing a full liter, the color finally returned to Lin Feng's lips.
Looks like refreshing will have to wait.
With that, Lin Feng shot to his feet.
He had officially entered the ranks of Soul Ancestor.
"Grandpa, Yan'er—I've successfully absorbed the ten-thousand-year soul ring!"
"And my soul power has reached Rank 48!"
Lin Feng smiled at the two of them.
He wasn't surprised by the jump. After all, this was a Flame Beast recorded in ancient texts.
"Well done, very well done."
"Both you and Yan'er gained quite a bit from combining the immortal herbs with soul rings."
Dugu Bo let go of his earlier worry and nodded with a satisfied smile.
"Congratulations, Lin Feng…"
Dugu Yan lowered her head, her face showing mixed emotions—both joy and frustration.
She felt the gap between them was growing.
When they were both Soul Elders, the difference had been just a few ranks.
Now as Soul Ancestors, they were already seven ranks apart.
And that kind of gap was equivalent to a full ten-rank difference in their previous realm."Yan'er, don't be discouraged. We'll keep getting stronger together."
Lin Feng seemed to sense Dugu Yan's feelings and immediately stepped forward to comfort her.
"Mm, okay."
"Thank you, Lin Feng!"
Dugu Yan nodded, a smile blooming on her face.
"That's more like it."
Lin Feng reached out and gently patted her on the head.
Suddenly, as if remembering something, he channeled his soul power and walked over to the Flame Beast's corpse. First, he retrieved the Fire Crystal from the creature's forehead and tucked it into his belt.
Then, he sliced open its skull.
During the previous ring absorption, he had already absorbed the soul bone gifted by the system.
Now was the time to retrieve the Flame Beast's true soul bone.
A flash of red light appeared.
Lin Feng used his soul power to levitate the soul bone in his hand.
Ten-thousand-year Soul Bone — Flame Beast Skull.
"A soul bone?!"
Dugu Bo was the first to react, utterly shocked.
"Lin Feng, how are you so lucky?!"
"I've only gotten one soul bone in my entire life, and now you already have two."
"That's incredible."
Dugu Yan couldn't help stepping up to congratulate him.
"Hmph!"
"It's only a ten-thousand-year soul bone."
"My soul bone is fifty-thousand years."
Dugu Bo clearly felt a little sour over Lin Feng's back-to-back soul bone gains, acting unusually tsundere.
He even looked like he was about to demonstrate his own soul bone ability.
Dugu Yan quickly stopped him.
"Grandpa, come on! You're too old to be competing with us kids."
She pouted, visibly annoyed.
"Nonsense! I'm not!"
Dugu Bo folded his hands behind his back and looked up at the sky to hide his awkwardness.
But inside, he was extremely bitter.
Why does this brat have it so good?
Even Yan'er doesn't dote on me anymore. If outsiders saw this, they'd think he was the grandfather and I was the outsider.
"Lin Feng, go on and absorb that soul bone."
Dugu Yan ignored her sulking grandfather and urged Lin Feng forward.
"Alright."
Lin Feng nodded in agreement.
A ten-thousand-year soul bone wasn't bad.
With the system, he'd have plenty of opportunities in the future to upgrade it.
Fifteen minutes later, Lin Feng had successfully absorbed the Flame Beast Skull.
"Lin Feng! Show me your soul bone ability!"
Dugu Yan skipped forward, eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"But my soul skill needs a target."
"No problem—use Grandpa!"
"Huh? Yan'er, you—"
Before Dugu Bo could object, Dugu Yan was already egging Lin Feng on.
Helpless, Lin Feng could only give in to her enthusiasm.
"Alright. Careful, old man."
"Soul Bone Skill—Flame of the Mind!"
Immediately, Lin Feng activated the Flame Beast Skull. His spiritual power transformed into an invisible flame, igniting in Dugu Bo's mind.
"Gahh—what the hell is this move?!"
Dugu Bo clutched his head in pain. It was as if his spiritual consciousness had actually been set on fire.
But how could that be possible?
Spiritual power is formless—how could it burn like real flames?
"Hahaha, you okay, old man?"
"My soul bone skill converts spiritual power into flames. It can directly burn an opponent's mind."
Lin Feng chuckled as he withdrew the flame.
"Hmph, you've still got a long way to go!"
Dugu Bo rubbed his head and shot him a glare.
In truth, the damage wasn't serious.
With a fifty-thousand-year skull bone, Dugu Bo's spiritual power was among the best even among Titled Douluo. That mental fire may have caused some pain, but it was far from any real injury.
But Dugu Yan didn't know that. She only saw her boyfriend "defeat" her grandpa in one shot.
"Wow, that's amazing, Lin Feng!"
She clapped her hands with excitement.
Just as Dugu Bo was about to get jealous again—
Suddenly, the ground beneath them began to quake, and cracks split across the surface.
The once-calm magma began to churn violently.
"What's going on?!"
Dugu Yan asked in panic.
Lin Feng looked around in alarm and tightened his grip on her hand.
"This… this looks like the birth of a new Flame Beast King."
"Flame Beasts devour one another to give rise to a king."
"The Fire Crystal on their foreheads is a priceless treasure for fire-type soul masters."
"And when a Flame Beast King is born, it will shatter its own Fire Crystal to boost its strength."
"Legend has it, a Titled Douluo once camped here for 20 years trying to get a single Fire Crystal—and still came up empty."
"Lin Feng, I didn't think you'd be the one to stumble upon this opportunity."
Dugu Bo shielded the two of them as rocks tumbled down around them, explaining quickly.
"Hahahaha!"
"Old man, I'm the Child of Destiny. This is just standard procedure for me."
Lin Feng's brows arched as he spoke with calm confidence.
By now, he had fully recovered. His voice was strong and steady.
Seeing his condition, Dugu Bo finally relaxed.
"Alright, enough boasting. I'll get us out of here first."
"The Flame Beast King still needs time to stabilize its power after emerging."
"But news of this lava disturbance will soon spread across the entire continent—we'll need to plan carefully."
With that, Dugu Bo soared into the air, carrying the two of them toward the center of the lava zone—where the Flame Beast King was likely to emerge.
At the same time, several figures deep in the forest had also detected the tremors and began rushing in this direction.
---
Spirit Hall
Yan sat cross-legged in his room, cultivating quietly.
Boom!
A subtle sound rang out as he opened his eyes—his soul power had just broken through to the Soul Ancestor level.
"Yan, since your breakthrough is complete, you should head to Sunset Forest in the next few days to obtain your soul ring."
A teacher from Spirit Hall approached and spoke.
"Teacher, Na Na's birthday is coming up. Let me wait until after her celebration."
Yan stood up, politely declining.
"Very well. Come find me when you're ready."
The teacher nodded and left.
"I hope Na Na will like it…"
Yan looked at the gift he had prepared for Hu Liena, his face glowing with anticipation.
In his mind, he imagined her leaping with joy as she accepted it.
---
Next day, Blazing Academy
"Dean! A report just came in!"
"There's been a disturbance in the magma region of Sunset Forest."
"It could signal the birth of the Flame Beast King."
A subordinate knelt before Huo Long and delivered the message.
"What?! Hahahaha!"
"With all the powers moving again, the continent is no longer calm."
"Now that the Flame Beast King has appeared, all major factions will flock to it."
"Blazing Academy can't sit back and watch."
"Summon our elders and elite squad."
"We leave for Sunset Forest—immediately!"
Huo Long slapped the table and rose to his feet with authority.
---
Heaven Dou City
Upon hearing the news of the Flame Beast King's emergence, Lin Family Patriarch Lin Ye wasted no time dispatching his forces to Sunset Forest at full speed.At this moment—
Liu Erlong stepped out from the academy's forbidden grounds, seven soul rings glowing around her.
Once a graceful young lady, she had now transformed into a striking, seductive woman of commanding presence.
This time, she had emerged from seclusion for one purpose: to fight for the Fire Crystal.
If she could break through to Titled Douluo, then the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan would no longer matter. She could finally stand proudly beside Xiaogang.
"Xiaogang, wait for me."
Liu Erlong's eyes were filled with determination. The Fire Crystal of the Flame Beast King—she was determined to claim it.
---
Sunset Forest.
Qin Ming's group had also sensed the abnormal activity in the magma zone.
After obtaining his soul ring, Yu Tianheng had successfully broken through to Soul Ancestor.
"Hmph! Lin Feng, one day I'll surpass you."
Yu Tianheng sneered with disdain in his eyes.
The skies are clear, the rain has stopped—Tianheng feels like he's back on top.
"Teacher Yan, why don't some of you escort Tianheng back to the academy first?"
"I'll head to the magma zone alone to investigate."
Qin Ming, worried for Yu Tianheng's safety, suggested cautiously.
"That won't do."
"Teacher Qin, the Flame Beast King has been stirring for a while now. Word is bound to have spread."
"If you go alone and run into other factions, what then?"
"I'll take Tianheng back myself. The other teachers should stay and assist you."
"I'll report to the principal and bring elders back as reinforcements."
Yan Que'er, clearly worried, spoke firmly.
"I disagree!"
"What—just let these losers escort me back?"
"What if something happens to me? Can you take responsibility?"
Yu Tianheng was clearly unhappy with Yan Que'er's plan.
Yan Que'er glared fiercely, and if not for Qin Ming's presence, she'd have taught him a lesson right then and there.
"Tianheng, mind your words!"
"Show some respect to your teachers."
"You wouldn't have gotten your soul ring if it weren't for them."
Qin Ming, visibly angry, began scolding Yu Tianheng.
"Yes."
"Sorry, teacher."
Yu Tianheng muttered an insincere apology, full of disdain.
"They're just Soul Kings who broke through late in life—trash. Why can't I say that?"
He muttered under his breath.
But of course, Qin Ming heard him loud and clear—and grew even more disappointed.
"Sigh, I'll go alone then."
"I'll trouble the rest of you to escort Tianheng back."
Qin Ming sighed and gave the other teachers an apologetic nod.
"Alright."
"Be careful, Teacher Qin."
"We'll return with backup as soon as we can."
Yan Que'er clenched her fists, suppressed her anger, and nodded. She didn't forget to express concern.
Then—with a clean punch, she knocked Yu Tianheng out cold and rushed back toward the academy with the other teachers following close behind.
---
At the heart of the lava zone.
"Lin Feng, the Flame Beast King is buried deep beneath the magma."
"At that depth, you're not ready to go down yet."
"In a few days, the king will emerge on its own. There's no need to search for it."
"But by then, every major faction will have arrived."
Dugu Bo sighed as he addressed Lin Feng.
Though Lin Feng had already obtained a Fire Crystal, the Flame Beast King, having devoured so many other beasts, would carry even more or possibly much older Fire Crystals.
Each additional thousand years in age doubled their value.
Lin Feng nodded, a subtle grin tugging at the corner of his lips.
That just means… he'll have lots of traits to scan once everyone arrives.
Who knows? Maybe there'll be a few worth copying.
There was no way he'd just stand around waiting for others to fight over the leftovers.
Arriving early was his advantage.
No one would believe this wasn't destiny.
The Flame Beast King hadn't appeared in decades—yet right after Lin Feng arrived in Sunset Forest, it did.
Come on, readers, judge for yourselves. If this isn't destiny, what is?
How could he let others take what was clearly meant for him?
Just in time, he still had a trait refresh available.
"System, refresh all traits," Lin Feng thought silently.
Please give me something useful right now…
[Ding! All traits refreshed.]
Lin Feng quickly scanned the list—and two traits immediately stood out:
[Fire Immunity (Purple)]: You are immune to fire-based attacks and can survive freely within flames.]
[Wallflower (Purple)]: You will be difficult for others to notice or perceive.
Fire Immunity was exactly what he needed right now.
Surviving in flames meant he could dive deeper than before.
But the Flame Beast King wasn't just about fire—its physical strength was terrifying.
To avoid drawing aggro, [Wallflower] was perfect. It could mute his presence and make him unnoticeable.
Perfect for sneaking around or scavenging unnoticed.
Damn, aren't these traits tailor-made for me right now?
He hadn't triggered an upgrade in a while, but with the golden trait [Child of Destiny] supporting him, his luck was clearly improving.
Lin Feng selected both traits without hesitation.
"System, display my status panel."
[Host: Lin Feng]
[Age: 12]
[Innate Soul Power: Rank 20]
[Martial Soul: Emperor Flame Nine-Headed Dragon (Top-tier)]
[Soul Power: Rank 48]
[Traits]:
[Emperor Flame Nine-Headed Dragon (Purple)]
[Fire Immunity (Purple)]
[Wallflower (Purple)]
[Soul Ring Grants Bone (Purple)]
[Dragon-Seeking Compass (Purple)]
[Permanent Hidden Traits]:
[Innate Rank 20 (Gold)]
[Trait Copy (Gold)]
[Child of Destiny (Gold)]
Lin Feng nodded in satisfaction. This was a solid panel.
With Fire Immunity and Wallflower, his odds in the upcoming Fire Crystal hunt had improved dramatically.
It was a bit of a shame that his newly acquired purple trait [Divine Charm] had already been replaced. It had the shortest lifespan of all his traits.
---
"Lin Feng? Lin Feng?"
"Grandpa, have you seen Lin Feng?"
Dugu Yan looked around nervously, unable to find him.
"I'm here, Yan'er."
Lin Feng's voice came from right behind her.
Whoa—this Wallflower trait really works!
He was only a few steps behind her, and yet she hadn't noticed at all.
"When did you sneak over there?"
"Grandpa went to find some fruit. Let's eat together."
Dugu Yan cheerfully took his hand.
Dugu Bo, standing nearby, frowned in thought.
Why did Lin Feng's presence suddenly vanish just now… and then reappear?
But he didn't dwell on it too long. Maybe I'm just getting old.
"Feng'er, Yan'er, come eat something."
"You two must be starving by now."
Dugu Bo's eyes were filled with fondness as he looked at them.
A while later, after the fruit was gone, Lin Feng took Dugu Yan's hand and began pacing around the area.
He studied the lava zone's terrain, already planning his next move.