At that moment, an urgent voice rang out: "Young man, let's talk this out. Could you please lower your hand?"
A middle-aged man in a red robe descended from mid-air, six Soul Rings slowly pulsating beneath his feet.
His name was Huo Wuji, the vice-director of the Blazing Fire Academy and the guardian of the two siblings.
Gu Feng slowly retracted his Bone Dragon Spirit, glanced back at him, and said indifferently, "It was just a spar. I wouldn't have gone for the kill."
Huo Wushuang, standing nearby, breathed a sigh of relief and clasped his hands together: "Thank you. My sister is impulsive and doesn't know better. Please don't take it to heart."
"No need. Just give me the map."
Hearing this, Huo Wushuang quickly handed over the parchment scroll with both hands, respectfully offering it: "Here you go."
Taking the scroll, Gu Feng flipped through it briefly to confirm it matched what he had seen earlier, then stored it in his Soul Guidance Ring.
Due to the earlier commotion, the coachmen had all fled, and Gu Feng now prepared to drive the carriage himself.
Just as he approached the carriage, a voice filled with unwillingness called out from behind: "Gu Feng, what level is your Soul Power?"
Gu Feng turned to see Huo Wu walking up to him, her delicate fists clenched so tightly they turned white.
She couldn't understand why she had lost so completely.
She was a genius, after all.
Was it really just the difference in their Martial Souls?
Gu Feng replied softly, "Level 10. I haven't obtained a Soul Ring yet."
Hearing this, Huo Wu felt as if the sky had collapsed.
She had lost to someone who didn't even have a Soul Ring.
"Gu Feng, I know I'm not your match now, but I will definitely defeat you someday!"
Huo Wu bit her lower lip, her beautiful eyes filled with determination.
At the Blazing Fire Academy, she had always prided herself on her exceptional talent, having defeated every peer in the academy without a single loss.
Even her older brother, who was a year her senior, was no match for her.
Every time she unleashed her Martial Soul, the blazing Fire Shadow would strike fear into her opponents.
In the years since awakening her Martial Soul, Huo Wu had basked in the praise and admiration of others, and that pride had been deeply ingrained in her heart.
But just moments ago, facing Gu Feng, all her confidence had crumbled in an instant.
She had thought her strength and Fire Shadow Martial Soul would be enough, but against Gu Feng, her attacks had felt as feeble as a child's play.
With just a single move, Gu Feng had completely suppressed her, leaving her powerless to fight back.
"Do as you wish," Gu Feng said with a wave of his hand, then climbed into the carriage.
As someone familiar with the original story, he could understand Huo Wu's feelings.
It was like spending years honing your skills with a sword, only to be instantly defeated by a single move from your opponent.
"Rumble!"
As the wheels turned, the carriage gradually disappeared into the distance.
"Gu Feng, just you wait!" Huo Wu gritted her teeth, repeating the words in her heart: "I will personally avenge today's humiliation. I'll make you see with my own strength that I, Huo Wu, will never be trampled under your feet forever!"
"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river—don't underestimate a poor girl!"
As Huo Wu silently made her resolution, Gu Feng seemed to sense something. He tilted his head slightly, his gaze meeting hers.
In that instant, Huo Wu's heart raced. She quickly turned her head away, but Gu Feng simply looked at her calmly before turning back to continue driving the carriage.
That glance left Huo Wu with mixed emotions, feeling as if he was humiliating her.
Perhaps it was the admiration for strength typical of a young girl, or perhaps she simply couldn't accept her own defeat.
Amidst these conflicting emotions, Huo Wu stood rooted to the spot, staring in the direction Gu Feng had left, unable to move for a long time.
It wasn't until Gu Feng's figure completely disappeared on the horizon that Huo Wushuang couldn't help but sigh, "Is this the difference between a genius and mediocrities like us?"
Huo Wuji waved his hand, comforting him, "Wushuang, don't belittle yourself. You've done very well."
"That young man, despite his youth, carries himself with such composure and ease. He's definitely no ordinary person."
"From the Bone Dragon Spirit, it's clear that he's probably the grandson of Bone Douluo."
"If you're considered geniuses, then he's a monster!"
Huo Wu bit her lip, letting out a dissatisfied snort, "Hmph, what monster? I'll defeat him. So what if his Martial Soul is a bit better, his strength a bit greater, his talent a bit higher, his skills a bit sharper..."
But before she could finish, her voice grew softer, and her initially raised chin gradually lowered. In the end, she realized she seemed to fall short in every aspect compared to him.
Thinking of this, Huo Wu's head drooped in disappointment.
At this moment, Huo Wushuang patted her head, comforting her, "Little sister, as the saying goes, 'Shame leads to courage.' From today onwards, if we strive hard, we might still catch up. Look at Feng Xiaotian, isn't he also born with Innate Full Soul Power?"
"His Soul Power is almost caught up by the two of us."
Huo Wu forced a smile, "Alright."
But deep down, she knew—how could Feng Xiaotian compare to Gu Feng?
The two were like heaven and earth.
The only thing Feng Xiaotian could boast about was his Innate Full Soul Power.
And Gu Feng? The strength he had just displayed, defeating her without even using a Soul Ring.
But no matter what, she had to try.
She wasn't someone who would easily admit defeat.
Calming her emotions, Huo Wu raised her fighting spirit again and said, "Let's go, brother. We're heading back to the academy now."
"Aren't we going treasure hunting? I've already memorized that map."
"No, we're going back to train harder."
"Huh?"
...
The far north.
The sky was filled with heavy snowflakes. Gu Feng was bundled up tightly, his woolen boots crunching on the thick snow.
Looking ahead at the endless icy wilderness, Gu Feng glanced at the sheepskin scroll in his hand.
The destination was still a few miles away, and he couldn't help but quicken his pace.
Meanwhile, Snake Spear Douluo, who had been following Gu Feng from a distance, blinked and suddenly found that Gu Feng's figure had vanished right before his eyes.
"Damn it, where did he go!"
Half an hour later, on the horizon ahead, a cave resembling an altar faintly appeared. Hidden within the icy plains, the cave's entrance was pitch black.
Gu Feng's eyes instantly lit up, and he pointed toward the cave, "Old Yi, take a look. That should be the cave, right?"
Electrolux's voice echoed in Gu Feng's ear, "Little Fengzi, don't rush forward recklessly. Remember to observe carefully first."
Gu Feng's lips curled into a faint smile as he chuckled softly, "Of course, how could I forget what you taught me?"
Over the six years since his transmigration, he had met Old Yi when he was just three years old. Although they hadn't formally established a master-disciple relationship, their bond had long surpassed that of an ordinary teacher and student.
Due to his Martial Soul not yet awakening during these years, he hadn't learned any magic. However, his martial arts skills and practical combat theories had not been neglected in the slightest.
Hearing this, Electrolux was filled with satisfaction, a hint of amusement in his tone, "You rascal, it seems these years of teaching you haven't been in vain…"
Gu Feng moved quietly, tiptoeing closer and hiding behind a snowdrift, carefully observing every movement inside the cave.
Just as Gu Feng was fully focused on the cave, a low, rumbling "crack" echoed from within. Soon after, a massive, jade-green scorpion slowly emerged from the darkness.
The scorpion stood nearly twice the height of a person, its exoskeleton glinting with a cold, eerie light under the snow's reflection. Each step it took caused the ground to tremble slightly.
What caught Gu Feng's attention even more was the small, dark purple creature firmly clamped in its massive pincers.
"Hiss!"
It was actually an Ice Jade Scorpion!
Gu Feng inhaled sharply, his gaze shifting back to the dark purple creature.
The creature had two horns on its head and two small bone protrusions on its back, unmistakably resembling a sub-dragon Soul Beast.
When his eyes fell on the dark purple creature, Gu Feng suddenly felt a strange surge of emotion within him. This sensation was clear and intense, originating from the depths of his Martial Soul—an indescribable yearning.
Gu Feng quickly flipped open his Soul Beast catalog, searching frantically. Soon, he found the entry for this creature on the last page.
A top-tier sub-dragon Soul Beast, the Hell Icefang Dragon, possessing formidable ice attributes while also harboring a significant Undead Attribute.
Gu Feng took a deep breath. This was a perfect match for his Bone Dragon Spirit.
Not only did it align with the Undead Attribute, but it was also a rare sub-dragon Soul Beast!
(End of Chapter)