Earth Bear

Ten days later, Li Tianlan's Soul Power had not continued to improve rapidly during this period. Instead, he felt that steady progress and consolidating his Soul Power foundation would be better for his future.

"Teacher, when will I be able to successfully create the Buddha's Fury Lotus Flame? This thing really isn't ordinarily difficult."

Xiao Yan, within the Sea of Consciousness, said smugly, "Did you think everything was easy? When I first cultivated the Buddha's Fury Lotus Flame, do you know how long it took me?"

"Being able to possess two Heavenly Flames at your age already means you are exceptionally blessed. Don't ask for too much. Learn to be content."

After hearing Xiao Yan's explanation, Li Tianlan rested one hand beneath his chin and pondered briefly. "Teacher, did you have Heavenly Flames when you were six?"

At those words, Xiao Yan in the Sea of Consciousness instantly flew into a rage. He even wanted to jump out and give Li Tianlan a vicious beating. "Brat, what are you showing off for? I'm far stronger than you, all right? I was a Dou Di of the Dou Qi Continent, the Flame Emperor revered by all! Yet you dare speak so disrespectfully to me."

"So what if you're the Flame Emperor? Didn't you still become my martial soul?" Li Tianlan said proudly.

"Oh, you little brat! Damn it, when I recover my body someday, I'll definitely teach you a proper lesson. I'll put this on your tab for now. Sooner or later, I'll collect what I'm owed."

Li Tianlan had angered Xiao Yan so badly that his mouth twisted crooked.

But it was indeed strange. Why had a mighty Dou Di of the Dou Qi Continent appeared in this world and become Li Tianlan's martial soul? Neither Li Tianlan nor Xiao Yan could understand it.

Over the past few days of exploration in Sunset Forest—

Li Tianlan had returned to a nearby town, exchanged the flesh and blood of the soul beasts he had hunted for money, bought clothes in a nearby city, and written a letter that he entrusted someone to send to Xiao Wu.

During this period of training in Sunset Forest, Li Tianlan's progress had been astonishingly swift, something Xiao Yan found utterly shocking.

Everything stemmed from Li Tianlan's maturity and wit, both far beyond his age. He was like an old man seasoned by life, perfect in talent and equally perfect in temperament.

To Xiao Yan, he was the disciple he had always dreamed of, the ideal inheritor of all his abilities.

It was just like when he himself had been weak and had encountered his own teacher.

His teacher had influenced his entire life. Even now, whenever Xiao Yan recalled that white-clad figure who had been somewhat improper yet reliable, his heart filled with longing.

"Tianlan, that flame aura we sensed in the Ten Thousand Year Soul Beast region earlier seems to have moved again. Although you can't defeat it, I think we should still go take a look. You must absorb it eventually, so it's best to observe the situation beforehand."

Li Tianlan also felt that Xiao Yan made sense.

"Alright, I understand, Teacher."

Li Tianlan exerted slight force through his legs, circulated his Soul Power, and poured it into them before leaping onto a nearby tree.

He was no longer the child he had once been. Both his physical abilities and his use of Soul Power had completely surpassed those of his peers.

Li Tianlan's figure swiftly darted through the vast forest, while the soul beasts he encountered on the ground became increasingly numerous.

On the way to where they had previously sensed the flame aura, a small incident occurred. When Li Tianlan jumped onto a tree, he discovered that the tree itself was a soul beast—a thousand-year Tree Demon.

Although killing it was no longer difficult for Li Tianlan, he was not someone addicted to slaughter. He circulated his Soul Power and gave it a slight warning before swiftly leaving.

As Li Tianlan ventured deeper, more and more terrifying auras appeared around him. Naturally, he understood that he had reached the area inhabited by Ten Thousand Year Soul Beasts.

At that moment, Xiao Yan reminded him from within the Sea of Consciousness, "Tianlan, conceal your aura. Don't release it too openly, or you may provoke a Ten Thousand Year Soul Beast and invite unnecessary trouble. It's better to be careful."

Afterward, Li Tianlan restrained his aura and remained vigilant at all times.

He was actually quite willing to listen to Xiao Yan. Although they often bickered, he still had great faith in Xiao Yan's words.

Li Tianlan soon reached the place where he had previously sensed the flame aura, but the Ten Thousand Year Soul Beast he had seen before was gone. There was nothing there.

"Teacher, where did that Ten Thousand Year Soul Beast's aura go?"

"It really left. Let me sense it."

As Xiao Yan released his spiritual power and searched for that flame aura, he soon discovered something and pointed Li Tianlan in a direction.

Li Tianlan immediately set off, rushing toward the flame.

To Li Tianlan, this was an enormous opportunity. Flames were simply too important to him, and strength was crucial. Whether it was for Xiao Wu, himself, or Xiao Yan, they all needed strength. It was too important.

Li Tianlan quickly found that Ten Thousand Year Soul Beast. It was an Earth Bear that was over twenty thousand years old and nearly thirty thousand years old.

Its originally brown fur had turned somewhat golden. At the center of the Earth Bear's forehead burned a golden flame, seemingly radiating the aura of a king.

Xiao Yan, in the Sea of Consciousness, was slightly excited. "Tianlan, you must obtain this flame. A flame that radiates the aura of a king is absolutely among the finest of the finest. It will certainly provide you with an enormous improvement."

Li Tianlan was extremely excited upon hearing this, but when he saw the Earth Bear that was nearly thirty thousand years old, more than half of that excitement immediately faded.

Earth Bears were already far more powerful than other soul beasts to begin with. They could be considered kings among soul beasts.

With the enhancement this flame gave the soul beast, there was no question that Li Tianlan could not defeat it.

Xiao Yan said from within the Sea of Consciousness, "You may not be able to defeat it now, but you definitely will in the future. I'll first place a spiritual mark on it, so it will be easier for me to find later. We must obtain this flame."

Xiao Yan, within the Sea of Consciousness, swiftly formed a strange hand seal.

Then, an intangible aura slowly drifted toward the Earth Bear and landed on its ankle. The mark was so well concealed that even the Earth Bear did not notice it at all.

Li Tianlan found it incredibly fascinating. "Teacher, what kind of technique is this? It's so amazing. This is practically a divine tracking skill! Teacher, hurry and teach me."

"Teach you what? Hurry and leave this place. Do you want to run into some powerful soul beast?"

"Oh, right, right, right."

Li Tianlan hurriedly and silently left the area.