Time Flies

The Blood Fiend Demonic Phoenix's aura suddenly surged, and it let out a violent, furious cry.

In an instant, feathers filled the sky, like razor-sharp blades, viciously piercing through the terrifying incoming beam of energy.

Ling Xuan was not surprised when he saw this. If Lin Li could be controlled so easily, then she would not be Lin Li.

A dense green light flashed through Ling Xuan's eyes. In an instant, all the eyes on his Demon Soul Spirit Tree converged into one.

Second Spirit Ability, Embrace of Myriad Spirits!

Upon seeing the enormous pupil, Lin Li immediately gathered her Spiritual Power to resist it. Unfortunately, the giant pupil suddenly opened and dragged her into an illusion.

Within the vast, hazy darkness, Lin Li narrowed her eyes at the figure before her, one identical to herself.

Yet she was still startled by the strangeness of Ling Xuan's Second Spirit Ability. She murmured softly, "Second Spirit Ability, Phoenix Feather Repentance of the Sacred."

That phantom used Phoenix Feather Repentance of the Sacred as well, but Lin Li curled her lips in a disdainful smile.

Under Ling Xuan's First Spirit Ability, he could replicate another person's spirit abilities and pull them into an illusion. Unfortunately, both copying spirit abilities and trapping someone in an illusion required enormous Spiritual Power.

Even if the other party was currently at the same level as her, as she watched the identical figure rush toward her—

A trace of shock flashed through Lin Li's eyes. No! This was completely wrong!

Ling Xuan, you bastard! You actually fused with a spirit bone!

Looking at the countless scattered feathers above the dark space, if she still failed to notice the difference, she would be an utter fool! She had not expected him to fuse with a spirit bone at such a young age. It should have been a head bone.

But did he think that would be enough to control her? Ridiculous!

The Profound Nether Phoenix Wings abruptly spread open, and her aura instantly doubled as an intense, explosive presence spread out from her body.

She coldly raised an arm, her eyes filled with detached pride. "Second Spirit Ability, Phoenix Feather Repentance of the Sacred."

In an instant, an enormous phoenix feather descended like a cleaver toward the phantom.

Outside, Ling Xuan, who was controlling the illusion, saw this and roared inwardly.

Wisdom-Concentrating Nether Forest Spirit Bone spirit ability, Forest of Ten Thousand Netherworlds!

Brilliant forest-green light erupted within the illusion. Giant trees suddenly rose throughout the illusory space.

They trapped Lin Li within them, and irritation flashed through her eyes.

She had already wasted sixty percent of her Soul Power. If she still could not break out this time, she would undoubtedly lose this match.

A look of utter determination flashed through her eyes. The Profound Nether Phoenix Wings suddenly opened, and the energy stored within her body slowly flowed into this External Soul Bone.

In just an instant, the spirit bone wings became incomparably deep and dark, while her aura surged wildly.

Lin Li's eyes brimmed with determination as she shouted, "First Spirit Ability, Blood Phoenix Returns to Nest! Second Spirit Ability, Phoenix Feather Repentance of the Sacred!"

Lin Li's aura surged again. A mass of pitch-black flames seemed to rise into the air throughout the illusion, madly incinerating everything around it.

The black phoenix feathers made Lin Li's school uniform seem to transform into a black-feathered evening gown. With a boom, the illusion shattered.

As the illusion broke, Ling Xuan tumbled off the arena. Ye Lian stepped forward and caught him.

Everyone stared at Lin Li hovering above the arena and could not help holding their breath. At that moment, she was simply too captivating.

Proud, commanding.

The Phoenix Wings beat fiercely, and her figure appeared beneath the arena. Zhou Yurou grabbed her arm, her eyes sparkling with admiration. "Xiao Li, you're really amazing!"

She had seen Ling Xuan's attack just now. If it had been her, she would not have lasted three exchanges before being instantly defeated. She could never have shattered the illusion by force like Lin Li had.

Ling Xuan noticed the complicated look in Lin Li's eyes and gave her a harmless smile.

Lin Li smiled back, then took out a chair from her Storage Spirit Tool and sat down to rest, recovering as much Soul Power as possible.

The following matches were no longer as thrilling as Lin Li and Ling Xuan's battle, so even Zhou Yurou watched with little interest.

However, in Lin Li's eyes, their progress had already been extremely rapid. They were far stronger than they had once been.

After one match after another, evening had arrived. Ye Lian clapped her hands and said lazily with a faint smile, "You've all done very well. You've improved far more than before, but don't slack off. You still have a long way to go on the path of a soul master. All right, this practical lesson is over. Go back."

Everyone cheered and hurriedly raced toward their dormitories.

Lin Li was dragged away by Zhou Yurou toward the cafeteria, while Ling Xuan remained behind.

Ye Lian brushed back her hair, her tone carrying an unusual chill and reproach. "Exposing the spirit bone on your body—are you tired of living?"

The moment Ling Xuan used his spirit bone, Ye Lian had used her Spiritual Power to conceal it for him. Still, she truly admired Ling Che's nerve.

He had dared to let him absorb a spirit bone at such a young age, and an extremely important Head Spirit Bone at that.

Ling Xuan immediately lowered his head. "I was wrong, Aunt."

Ye Lian gave a soft hum. "Was it the ancestral spirit bone from the family?"

Ling Xuan did not nod, but Ye Lian understood the origin of that spirit bone. She said nothing for a moment before coldly saying, "I covered for you this time, but remember this when you use that spirit bone again: you must either be strong enough, or kill whoever knows you have a spirit bone."

She spoke those words with utter coldness. Waving a hand, she said, "Go. I did not know you had a spirit bone before, but with it, your cultivation speed will increase greatly. It would be best if you reach level thirty before graduation. Then your father's plans for you will not have been in vain."

Ling Xuan nodded and left.

Ye Lian watched his departing back with dark eyes, a curve lifting at the corner of her lips.

She lazily stretched and said indifferently, "It seems that old bastard has placed quite a large bet. But that depends on whether they can find that place."

Time passed in a flash, and five years went by.

Soul Village remained much the same. Relying on the money she had earned from hunting Soul Beasts over the past few years, Lin Li had spent a great deal renovating the old house.

Before the grave, a young girl in a black dress with her hair hanging loose let out a soft sigh. "Dad, Mom, I've broken through to level forty. I originally thought I would have become a Spirit King by now."

When she had been a Soul Elder, Ye Lian had gone out hunting with her for that spirit ring. Its original owner had been a Death Calamity Butterfly King that was six thousand seven hundred years old.

With her current physical strength and Spiritual Power, however, perhaps the only thing she needed was a Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring.

The Dark God Demonic Tiger would be suitable, but she was not capable of dealing with it yet. Besides, that spirit ring was meant for her fifth or sixth spirit ring.

As for her Seventh Spirit Ring, she wanted nothing less than a Hundred-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring. Not only because a Hundred-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring always came with two spirit abilities, but also because its enhancement to her martial soul was far faster than merely increasing the age of her spirit rings.

But now that she had reached the rank of Soul Ancestor, a dark glint flashed through Lin Li's alluring phoenix eyes. It was time to avenge her hatred. And that illusory god—she needed to leave before she could search for it.