Gold Devouring Beast and Blazing Fire Crow

This Spirit Beast gleamed all over with golden light, several sharp golden horns rising from its head. Its limbs were powerful, its forelimbs shaped like eagle talons with razor-sharp claws. Its tail was long and flexible, tipped with a spike, while a pair of wings covered in metallic scales spread from its back. At that moment, it was beating its Wings as it battled a noble-looking great bird that also shone with golden radiance.

The golden bird was strangely beautiful, its overall contours sleek and elegant, like the most perfect arc in the sky. Most eye-catching of all were its feathers, which shone with a golden sheen. Each one seemed condensed from the purest sunlight, radiating warm yet intense light. Especially beneath the sun, it was dazzling enough to steal one's soul, making people afraid to look directly at it.

Its wings were particularly spectacular. When spread wide, they resembled two enormous curtains of blazing flame, their edges adorned with dazzling patterns of intertwined fiery red and orange-yellow. Even the currents stirred up by its flight carried traces of scorching heat. Its tail feathers were long and magnificent like a phoenix's, covered in intricate and exquisite patterns that seemed to recreate ancient runes. Whenever they swayed, countless tiny sparks scattered outward, forming vivid moving paintings.

"Is that...? A Gold Devouring Beast and a Blazing Fire Crow!"

Delight appeared in Luan Yu's eyes. The Gold Devouring Beast was one thing. Though this rare metal-element Spirit Beast fed on metal, it was of no use to Liu Xing and the others, nor was it a Spirit Beast they needed. But the Blazing Fire Crow was different. It was a Spirit Beast with the Divine Beast Bloodline of the Three-legged Golden Crow, possessing both light and fire attributes.

With its Divine Beast Bloodline, the Blazing Fire Crow was unquestionably a top-tier Spirit Beast. Its dual light and fire attributes meant that Liu Xing and Firefly, as well as Xu Tianzhen and Ye Guyi, could all absorb its Soul Ring. No matter who absorbed it, the Soul Skill they gained would certainly not be poor.

This Blazing Fire Crow was not very large and was clearly still a fledgling. Judging by its tail feathers, it had only a little over four hundred years of cultivation. The Gold Devouring Beast fighting it was far larger, with at least eight hundred years of cultivation, yet it had failed to gain the upper hand against the Blazing Fire Crow.

The Gold Devouring Beast might not possess a Divine Beast Bloodline, but it was still a top-tier Spirit Beast. Since it fed on metal, once it matured, its defensive power alone would not be inferior to that of certain super Spirit Beasts.

Yet it was being suppressed by a Blazing Fire Crow with several hundred fewer years of cultivation. While this was naturally due in part to the elemental restraint of fire over metal, it was also because of the Blazing Fire Crow's Divine Beast Bloodline.

"So, which one of you wants this Blazing Fire Crow?"

From a selfish standpoint, she naturally hoped that Liu Xing or Firefly would absorb this Blazing Fire Crow with its Divine Beast Bloodline. But she would not do that. Xu Tianran and Shangguan Wei'er had entrusted the two children to her, so she had to treat everyone equally and could not play favorites.

Thus, she left the choice to the children themselves. As for the Gold Devouring Beast, no one needed it, so they could simply drive it away.

Liu Xing and Firefly were the first to shake their heads. Though the Blazing Fire Crow was rare and suited them well, its cultivation was too low. The two had long decided to attempt absorbing a thousand-year Spirit Beast for their First Soul Ring, a decision made after passing Fire Phoenix Douluo's examination.

As Titled Douluo, they were able to assess Firefly and Liu Xing's physical strength. It truly was no weaker than that of a Soul Elder, so absorbing a thousand-year Soul Ring would pose no problem.

Luan Yu was not surprised by their choice. Though she did not want them to take risks, she trusted her own judgment. Their physiques were indeed innately powerful. This Blazing Fire Crow had suitable attributes and a noble bloodline, but its cultivation was simply a little lacking.

Ye Guyi looked at the Blazing Fire Crow in the mirror and shook her head as well. This Blazing Fire Crow was clearly primarily fire-attributed, with light as a secondary attribute. Though it barely suited her, it was not her best choice.

Xu Tianzhen looked at Ye Guyi, Liu Xing, and Firefly, then said softly, "Thank you."

She knew this Blazing Fire Crow suited her well. It possessed the bloodline of the sun Divine Beast, the Three-legged Golden Crow, and had both light and fire attributes, perfectly matching her Sun Spirit Soul. Ye Guyi, Liu Xing, and the others might not have given it up solely to yield to her, but that thought had certainly played a part.

"Not good!"

At that moment, Luan Yu cried out. She grabbed the children and rushed toward where the two Spirit Beasts were fighting. At the same time, she raised her Soul Power and shouted, "Show mercy!"

Rewinding time, while the children had been discussing who would absorb the Blazing Fire Crow's Soul Ring, a figure appeared in the Mirror Spirit Tool in Luan Yu's hand and charged toward the battling Spirit Beasts. A golden beam shot from that figure and, in a flash, pierced the golden bird's wing in the sky. In an instant, the Blazing Fire Crow was heavily wounded and fell from the air with a mournful cry, while the Gold Devouring Beast was stomped into the ground by a thunderous kick.

At full speed, Luan Yu brought the children down into the clearing. She looked at the white-haired figure standing on the Gold Devouring Beast, then at the Blazing Fire Crow, whose wing had been broken but which was still flapping about on the ground. She let out a great sigh of relief. Thankfully, it was not dead yet!

Luan Yu patted her chest. She had thought the Blazing Fire Crow had been killed, which was why she had rushed over so anxiously with Liu Xing and the others.

"Grandpa!"

At that moment, a boy and a girl ran out from the nearby woods. They looked warily at Luan Yu and the others before cautiously hiding behind the white-haired man standing on the Gold Devouring Beast.

"You are...? Hongchen Hall Master?"

Only after coming closer did Luan Yu clearly see the white-haired man's appearance. He was a middle-aged man with a head of white hair, a monocle on his face, and a purple robe representing Mingde Hall draped over his body. She recognized him at once as one of the Sun Moon Empire's three publicly known Spirit Tool Masters, the Mingde Hall Master, the dean of the Sun Moon Royal Spirit Tool Master Academy, a Rank 94 Titled Douluo and Rank 9 Spirit Tool Master—Jing Hongchen.

"Hm? So it's you, Luan Yu! You've brought children here to hunt Soul Rings too?"

Jing Hongchen paused in surprise before recognizing Luan Yu as well. He then looked at the four children behind her, understanding dawning on his face.

Seeing that their grandfather knew these people, the White-Haired Boy and the red-haired girl lowered their guard. The White-Haired Boy even ran straight to the Gold Devouring Beast, his eyes filled with longing as he looked at it.

"Grandpa, the Gold Devouring Beast..."

Jing Hongchen took out a white handkerchief and wiped his hands, then jumped down from the Gold Devouring Beast's massive body. Smiling, he said, "Go on, Xiao. This Gold Devouring Beast is yours."

Though the Gold Devouring Beast was renowned for its defense, its cultivation was too low. Jing Hongchen, a Titled Douluo, had knocked it unconscious with that descending kick.

Having received his grandfather's permission, the White-Haired Boy eagerly took out a Spirit Tool Dagger and drove it into the Gold Devouring Beast's eye, completely ending the life of this top-tier Spirit Beast. The Gold Devouring Beast twitched instinctively a few times before quickly losing all signs of life. A yellow Soul Ring slowly emerged.