Five-Thousand-Year Second Soul Ring, Molten Demon Bear

The next morning, dawn pierced through the layers of canopy in the Star Dou Great Forest, scattering mottled flecks of gold across the ground carpeted with fallen leaves.

The damp air carried the fresh scent of grass and wood, mixed with the faint, indistinct traces of beasts.

The branches of towering ancient trees stretched toward the sky like coiling dragons. Their dense leaves blotted out the sun, leaving only scattered spots of light dancing through the forest.

Chen Xin wore a moon-white robe, its hem brushing lightly over the mossy ground with every step. His stride was steady yet light, as though he walked not upon slippery forest soil, but the smooth white jade steps of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Beside him, Lin Yao wore a fitted green outfit. He stood straight as a pine, his gaze carrying both anticipation for the unknown Soul Beasts ahead and the composure that came after breaking through Level 20.

The two moved one behind the other through the dense forest. The faint rustle of cloth against leaves was the only sound made by humans in this silent woodland.

The previous night, when Lin Yao returned to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and announced in the council hall that he had broken through Level 20, the entire hall had fallen instantly silent.

The jade cup in Ning Fengzhi's hand froze in midair, its clear tea nearly spilling over.

Chen Xin's half-closed eyes snapped open, his sharp gaze settling on Lin Yao with incredulous scrutiny.

Gu Rong rose directly from his seat, his withered fingers trembling slightly.

It had only been two days since Lin Yao had gone to Heaven Dou Royal Academy. After subtracting the travel time, he had spent barely more than half a day actually cultivating.

Breaking through from Level 18 to Level 20 at such a speed had never been recorded even in the thousand-year history of Douluo Continent. Ning Fengzhi was the first to recover, his tone carrying some urgency:

"Lin Yao, circulate your Soul Power and let us examine it."

Lin Yao did as instructed. Pale golden Soul Power slowly spilled from his body and swirled around him. It was as pure as uncarved glazed crystal, rich and condensed, without the slightest trace of instability or viciousness from cultivation deviation or forbidden methods.

Ning Fengzhi condensed a thread of Soul Power at his fingertips and sent it forward. The instant it touched Lin Yao's Soul Power, all concern vanished from his eyes, replaced by deep amazement.

Chen Xin slowly nodded as well, the shock in his heart gradually settling.

Ever since Lin Yao had awakened the Star Sword martial soul, the talent he displayed had surpassed ordinary people by far. Such an inconceivable breakthrough speed was unexpected, yet somehow seemed only natural.

Gu Rong looked at Chen Xin, undisguised envy all over his face. His lips curled slightly as he spoke with a touch of sourness:

"Old Chen, your luck really makes others green with envy. A disciple with such peerless talent actually came knocking on your door. You could laugh yourself awake in your sleep."

At those words, a faint smile curved Chen Xin's lips, though he could not hide the recognition and expectations in his eyes when he looked at Lin Yao.

Thus, under Gu Rong's jealous gaze, Chen Xin decided to personally take Lin Yao to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt his second Soul Ring.

Yet on the way to the Star Dou Great Forest, Chen Xin's brows remained faintly furrowed. He was not worried about the threat of Soul Beasts, but rather troubled by his disciple's audacity. He turned to Lin Yao beside him, his tone serious:

"Yao, are you truly going to risk absorbing a five-thousand-year Soul Ring?

"With your current spiritual power, physical condition, and the boost from your Star Body, choosing a Soul Beast around four thousand years old would be the safest option. The success rate would be one hundred percent, and it would not waste your talent."

He paused, then continued, "But once you cross the threshold of five thousand years, the risk rises sharply, and the success rate will drop significantly. It is simply too dangerous."

Hearing this, Lin Yao stopped and looked up at Chen Xin, his gaze firm and clear:

"Master, although the odds are lower, they are still far safer than the seventy or eighty percent chance I had when I absorbed a Thousand-Year Soul Ring for my first Soul Ring.

"On the path of a Soul Master, if you do not advance, you fall behind. If I give up greater gains out of fear of risk, how will I ever reach the peak? Other Soul Masters could only dream of an opportunity like this."

Lin Yao also had an unspoken source of confidence.

The Golden Bell Shield and Iron Shirt, two external cultivation techniques he had obtained from Divine Eagle World. His physical body had long surpassed Soul Masters of the same level; ordinary attacks could not harm him in the slightest.

Under normal conditions, the strength of his body was enough to rival a Soul Ancestor. If he erupted with his full strength, even high-level Soul Ancestors might not compare.

With such a powerful body supporting him, the risks of absorbing a five-thousand-year Soul Ring had long been reduced to a minimum in his eyes.

Seeing the determination in Lin Yao's eyes, Chen Xin's worries gradually faded, replaced by gratification.

He raised a hand and patted Lin Yao's shoulder, his voice carrying approval:

"On the path of a Soul Master, if you do not advance, you fall behind. Well said! Since your mind is made up, your master will not try to stop you. I respect your choice."

Sunlight fell across his face through gaps in the leaves. His normally sharp eyes were now full of fatherly affection.

He had never had children and had long regarded Lin Yao as his sole successor, intending to pass on everything he had learned in his life.

"Rest assured, Master. This time, I plan to choose a Fire Attribute Soul Ring."

Lin Yao's tone was certain.

"Wood generates fire. My first Soul Ring is wood-attributed, so if my second Soul Ring is Fire Attribute, I can use Five Elements Mutual Generation to further increase the power of my Soul Power and Soul Skills. I just have not decided which Soul Beast to choose yet."

Chen Xin stopped at those words, lightly tapping the hilt of his sword with his fingers as he fell into thought. Information on all manner of Fire Attribute Soul Beasts flashed rapidly through his mind:

"There are many Fire Attribute Soul Beasts, but ones that suit your Star Sword martial soul while also matching the properties of Five Elements Mutual Generation are far more limited."

As a top-tier mutated martial soul appearing for the first time, the Star Sword had no records whatsoever regarding suitable Soul Ring combinations. They could only explore step by step.

And Lin Yao insisted on matching his Soul Rings through Five Elements Mutual Generation, making careful selection even more necessary. Every Soul Ring was crucial and could not be wasted.

A moment later, a glint flashed through Chen Xin's eyes, and the corners of his mouth rose slightly. "Right, there may be a Soul Beast that suits you perfectly."

Before his words had even faded, he grabbed Lin Yao's arm and flicked his wrist. The Seven Kill Sword instantly flew from its sheath, its blade emitting a faint silver glow.

"Hold on tight."

Chen Xin spoke softly. Then he pushed off the ground with his toes, bringing Lin Yao onto the blade as they rode the sword swiftly toward the depths of the forest.

The wind howled past their ears, and the trees on both sides flew backward. The once-fresh air gradually became scorching.

The vegetation on the ground grew sparse as well, replaced by exposed reddish-brown rocks. The air was filled with the scent of sulfur.

Lin Yao could not help asking:

"Master, what Soul Beast are we looking for?"

"Molten Demon Bear."

Chen Xin's voice carried through the wind, falling clearly into Lin Yao's ears.

Curiosity flashed through Lin Yao's eyes. "Molten Demon Bear? A fire-attributed bear-type Soul Beast? But with 'demon' paired with the violent nature of magma, does it possess some other special ability?"

Chen Xin nodded, controlling the flying sword's speed as he explained:

"The Molten Demon Bear possesses not only extremely powerful Fire Attribute strength, but astonishing explosive force as well.

"It is called a Demon Bear because it can enter a special state that greatly increases its strength while rendering it immune to most control-type Soul Skills.

"Even a thousand-year Molten Demon Bear can withstand control effects at the level of ten-thousand-year Soul Skills."

Lin Yao's heart stirred.

If he could absorb the Molten Demon Bear's Soul Ring, it would not only increase the Star Sword's explosive power. If he gained that immunity to control, he would possess an enormous advantage on early battlefields where control-type Soul Skills ran rampant.

He could even calmly go on an unstoppable rampage.

"But you must be careful."

Chen Xin abruptly changed the subject, his tone growing solemn.

"The Molten Demon Bear's instantaneous explosive power is incredibly terrifying. Once driven into a corner, it will fight an enemy to the death without regard for anything else.

"That is why ordinary Soul Masters would never provoke one lightly unless they were vastly stronger than it and desperately needed its Soul Ring."

Lin Yao's heart tightened, and he nodded seriously. "Master, I understand. To hunt it, we must be prepared for it to fight desperately."

Chen Xin nodded lightly.

"That's right. Once a Molten Demon Bear reaches the ten-thousand-year level, even a Soul Saint would find it troublesome when it erupts with full force. Fortunately, our target this time is only a Molten Demon Bear around five thousand years old, so the risk is relatively low."

As they spoke, Chen Xin slowly guided the flying sword down, and the two landed on solid ground.

They were now at the edge of the inner region of the Star Dou Great Forest. The rocks beneath their feet were scorching hot, the temperature in the air even higher, and every breath carried a burning sensation.

The trees around them had long since vanished, leaving only low drought-resistant shrubs. White smoke occasionally rose from cracks in the ground, and they could faintly hear the rumble of magma flowing underground.

The two walked over the reddish-brown rocky ground, their footsteps producing faint scraping sounds against the stone.

They occasionally saw traces of Soul Beasts along the way, mostly Fire Attribute Soul Beasts with ten or hundred years of cultivation. The strongest among them were barely over a thousand years old.

Logically, with Chen Xin's aura, these low-level Soul Beasts should have fled as far away as possible.

Yet at this moment, the surrounding Soul Beasts were unusually numerous. They encircled the area from afar, staring vigilantly at the two, but they did not attack. They merely circled in silence.

A trace of doubt gradually rose in Lin Yao's heart. He stopped and softly said to Chen Xin:

"Master, don't you think there are too many Soul Beasts around us? When we went to Soul Hunting Forest last time, the moment you released your sword aura, those low-level Soul Beasts did not even dare come close. Could the Soul Beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest really be this bold?"

A knowing smile appeared on Chen Xin's lips, his eyes showing approval for Lin Yao's sharp observation:

"You observed carefully. These Soul Beasts are not unafraid of me. They are surrounding us without attacking. It seems our target has already discovered us."

The moment his words fell, the surrounding Soul Beasts suddenly grew restless. They slowly pressed toward the two, vicious light flashing in their eyes as their previously scattered formation gradually converged into an encirclement.

Lin Yao's heart tightened, and he instinctively gripped the hilt at his waist, only for Chen Xin to raise a hand and stop him.

"Don't rush."

Chen Xin's voice remained calm as he swept his gaze over the surrounding Soul Beasts, disdain flashing in his eyes.

"Lin Yao, let Master teach you another lesson today. Before absolute strength, many things can be shattered with ease."

Before his words had even ended, Soul Power erupted from Chen Xin's body. The Seven Kill Sword instantly appeared in his hand, and nine Soul Rings slowly rose from its blade—two yellow, two purple, and five black—circling around him.

Terrifying killing intent spread as though it had substance. Even without activating the Seven Kill Domain, the pressure of a Super Douluo instantly enveloped the entire area.

The surrounding Soul Beasts froze in place. The vicious light in their eyes was replaced by fear, their bodies trembling uncontrollably. Some timid Soul Beasts even collapsed to the ground and lost control of their bowels.

Behind a massive boulder not far away, a pair of dark red eyes narrowed slightly. The aura it had concealed became faintly disturbed. It was precisely that five-thousand-year Molten Demon Bear.

It had originally thought they were merely two ordinary Soul Masters and had intended to use the surrounding Soul Beasts to form an encirclement before launching a surprise attack. It had never expected one of them to be such a terrifying existence.

The Molten Demon Bear began to consider retreating. Its body slowly shifted backward as it tried to slip away quietly.

But the instant it moved, Chen Xin keenly caught its trace.

"Heh, quite clever."

Chen Xin chuckled. His figure vanished from where he stood like a ghost, and in the next instant, he appeared behind the boulder.

The Molten Demon Bear was enormous, standing over three meters tall. Its entire body was covered in dark red fur, through which one could vaguely see a crimson glow like flowing magma.

Two dark brown eyes burned with dark red flames, radiating a violent and dangerous aura.

"If you had obediently stayed still, protected by so many Soul Beasts, it might have taken me some time to find you."

Chen Xin held the Seven Kill Sword, its tip aimed directly at the Molten Demon Bear. His tone was calm, yet carried unquestionable pressure.

"But now, you cannot escape. Judging by your size, you only passed five thousand years not long ago. You are just right for my disciple."

Before his words had even ended, Chen Xin flicked his wrist. Dazzling silver light burst from the Seven Kill Sword, and sharp sword aura instantly locked onto the Molten Demon Bear.

Seeing this, the Molten Demon Bear suddenly let out an earthshaking roar, its voice filled with unwillingness and fury.

This was not a signal to attack, but an order to summon the surrounding Soul Beasts.

But to Chen Xin's surprise, those Soul Beasts did not attack him. Instead, they all turned and charged at Lin Yao in the distance, attacking what their enemy had to save.

Lin Yao's heart tightened. He gripped the Star Sword and was about to unleash a Soul Skill when Chen Xin flicked his wrist, sending the Seven Kill Sword flying from his hand as a streak of silver light toward Lin Yao.

"Second Soul Skill, Sword of Protection!"

Chen Xin's voice rang out. The Seven Kill Sword hovered before Lin Yao, erupting with dense sword aura that formed a translucent silver barrier, firmly protecting him within.

The charging Soul Beasts slammed into the barrier and were instantly knocked away by the sword aura, crashing onto the ground with miserable cries.

Seeing its scheme fail, a fierce glint flashed through the Molten Demon Bear's eyes as Soul Power surged wildly through its body.

Dark red light erupted from within it. Its body seemed to grow several sizes larger, its muscles bulging as it radiated an even more terrifying aura.

It was its core Soul Skill, Demon Bear Body.

In this state, its strength, defense, and speed would all greatly increase, while it became immune to all control-type Soul Skills. It was among the best Soul Beasts of its level.

"Yao, watch carefully! This is the true essence of the Seven Kill Sword Art."

Chen Xin did not immediately attack. Instead, he turned and spoke to Lin Yao. Then, he lowered the Seven Kill Sword in his hand and casually swung his arm as though it were a sword.

Countless sharp streams of sword aura burst from his arm. Every one carried dense killing intent, spreading outward in all directions like a fine rain.

The Soul Beasts that had still been struggling were flung away the instant they touched the sword aura. Wounds of varying depth appeared across their bodies, but none suffered fatal injuries.

Under the shroud of killing intent, the Molten Demon Bear's body trembled without end, the viciousness in its eyes gradually replaced by fear.

It could clearly sense that the killing intent of the human before it was enough to tear it apart in an instant.

A moment later, Chen Xin stopped. The surrounding sword aura gradually dissipated as he looked at the Molten Demon Bear, his tone calm:

"Do you still have the will to resist now?"

The Molten Demon Bear slumped on the ground, panting heavily, its eyes full of despair. None of its earlier violence or ferocity remained.

"Yao, come here."

Chen Xin beckoned to Lin Yao.

"It has already lost its fighting spirit. Now is the best time to absorb the Soul Ring."

Hearing this, Lin Yao quickly stepped forward with the Star Sword in hand, his heart full of emotion.

He knew that Chen Xin had released his killing intent not to intimidate the Soul Beasts, but to crush the Molten Demon Bear's will and reduce the risk of absorbing its Soul Ring.

"Master, rest assured. I will definitely absorb this Soul Ring successfully."

Lin Yao spoke solemnly. He walked before the Molten Demon Bear and summoned the Star Sword, pale golden light shining from its blade.

At that moment, the Molten Demon Bear suddenly raised its head. Resolve flashed in its eyes as it lunged fiercely at Lin Yao, attempting one final struggle!

"First Soul Skill, Ink Star Sword Shadow!"

Lin Yao had been prepared. A cold glint flashed through his eyes as Soul Power instantly poured into the Star Sword.

Countless pale golden sword shadows erupted from the blade, sweeping toward the Molten Demon Bear like a sky full of stars.

With a wet thrust, the Star Sword precisely pierced the Molten Demon Bear's heart, dark red blood flowing down the blade.

The Molten Demon Bear's body froze in place. The light in its eyes gradually faded, and its massive form crashed to the ground, utterly lifeless.

Seeing their leader dead, the surrounding Soul Beasts immediately lost their backbone and scattered in all directions, vanishing without a trace in the blink of an eye.

Lin Yao took a deep breath, walked to the Molten Demon Bear's corpse, circulated the Soul Power in his body, and slowly reached his right hand above it.

A deep purple Soul Ring slowly rose from the Molten Demon Bear's corpse, radiating dense, pure fluctuations of Soul Power.

Lin Yao sat cross-legged, anticipation flashing through his eyes as he softly said, "My second Soul Ring... I really wonder what Soul Skill it will be."

As he spoke, Lin Yao infused Soul Power into the Soul Ring and guided it slowly toward his body, preparing to absorb his second Soul Ring.