"Beast Fire" Trait!

"My father is Zhang Erhe!"

"He is the Desert City Lord, a Three-Star Dou Ling! You dare hit me? You're finished! You're dead!"

Dressed in the robes of a Second-Grade Alchemist, Zhang Xiaofan clutched his bruised and swollen left cheek, pointing at Yan Lin as he tried to threaten him with a fierce exterior masking his fear.

His eyes were filled with panic and timidity as he repeatedly glanced at his subordinates and the city gate guards lying battered on the ground around him, wailing in pain.

At this moment, they did not even have the strength to stand. The bystanders nearby did not dare, nor would they dare, to step forward and help.

For the first time, Zhang Xiaofan experienced what it meant to be helpless and alone, and he was afraid.

Having been arrogant and domineering since childhood, he had always been the one bullying others. When had anyone ever bullied him?

Yet today, that precedent had been broken.

Even after he gave his father's name, Yan Lin showed not the slightest hint of fear.

Zhang Xiaofan knew he had seemingly kicked an iron plate, but unfortunately, there was no medicine for regret.

"Even if your father were a Dou Wang, he still couldn't save you today!"

With a raised hand, Yan Lin condensed a Flame Claw over three meters wide.

Under Zhang Xiaofan's terrified gaze, the Flame Claw swiftly engulfed him.

As a shrill scream echoed through the city gate, Zhang Xiaofan was crushed into a mangled pile of flesh and blood by the Flame Claw before everyone's eyes.

The surroundings fell deathly silent. Everyone feared they would share Zhang Xiaofan's fate.

However, their worries were unnecessary. Yan Lin was not a bloodthirsty person.

His nature was simple: if others did not offend him, he would not offend them. But if anyone offended him, he would surely kill them.

Speaking of which, this whole matter was truly unlucky.

Yan Lin had planned to head to Desert City, yet merely leaving the city had brought him into conflict with this second-generation official, Zhang Xiaofan.

This fellow had decent talent. In his twenties, he was already a Second-Grade Alchemist and his city lord father's most beloved son.

His father even often bragged to others, "My son has the makings of an alchemy master!"

Relying on his status as the Desert City Lord's most favored biological son, as well as being a Second-Grade Alchemist, Zhang Xiaofan had always been incredibly arrogant, forever looking down his nose at others.

Within Desert City, he was even more tyrannical and domineering, acting as though heaven was first and he was second, running rampant without restraint.

Yan Lin had merely bumped into him by accident on the road, yet Zhang Xiaofan began hurling insults at him, and his words only grew filthier.

His tone clearly carried envy over Yan Lin's good looks.

More importantly, Yan Lin had kept a cold expression from beginning to end, looking at him as though he were an ant, as though he were a monkey. He was completely unlike the ordinary people who feared Zhang Xiaofan like a tiger.

This made Zhang Xiaofan, who was used to bullying others, dislike him even more. He was determined to teach Yan Lin a lesson. Not only did he refuse to let the matter go, but he intensified his insults.

The lackeys beside him were skilled at currying favor and flattering others. They declared that they would beat Yan Lin up to vent their master's anger.

Enough was enough!

Yan Lin struck out in anger, teaching Zhang Xiaofan how to behave and thoughtfully gifting him a crushed-to-death package.

Forgiving him was God's business. Yan Lin was only responsible for sending him to meet God.

"Old Hai, take me to Desert City."

After killing Zhang Xiaofan, Yan Lin skillfully drew the Ring from his body with Dou Qi, then sent a voice transmission through Dou Qi, telling Hai Bodong to take him away from Desert City.

Although Yan Lin was not afraid of Zhang Xiaofan's Dou Ling father, trouble was best avoided whenever possible.

He was not human, and his identity was sensitive. He still wanted to visit Monster Town afterward and did not wish to draw the attention of too many human experts because of this.

"Whoosh—"

Hai Bodong nodded. As Dou Qi surged forth, Ice Wings spread directly from his back.

The powerful aura of a Dou Wang instantly intimidated everyone present. Amid their reverent and astonished stares, he took Yan Lin and flew away from Desert City.

Only after the two had become streaks of light and vanished from sight did those people dare to breathe deeply and begin speaking again.

Some discussed how Zhang Xiaofan had truly kicked an iron plate. Those who had long disliked him felt that he deserved his death. Others believed that Desert City was about to face a major upheaval, since the Desert City Lord would certainly not let the death of his son go unanswered.

Others said that the Desert City Lord was only a Dou Ling and would not dare offend a Dou Wang, so he definitely would not dare cause trouble. Still others speculated about Yan Lin and Hai Bodong's identities.

For a time, discussions erupted everywhere, with countless differing opinions.

The matter quickly spread throughout Desert City, at a speed second only to yesterday's battle between Dou Lings within the city.

Two major incidents had occurred in the same city in such a short period of time, throwing Desert City into turmoil and making the news known to everyone.

[Trait Holder: Zhang Xiaofan]

[Cultivation Talent: High—Can Be Copied (Copying and merging has no effect if the talent is lower than the host's.)]

[Alchemy Talent: Mortal Grade Four—Can Be Copied]

[Bloodline: None]

[Special Physique: None]

[Technique: ***]

[Dou Skill: ***]

[Beast Fire: Fourth-Order "Dry Blue Ice Flame"—Can Be Copied]

On the way to Desert City, Yan Lin examined Zhang Xiaofan's trait attributes. Although he did not expect the other party to bring him any huge surprises, there was always a chance, and there was no harm in taking a look.

It was precisely this mindset of rather killing by mistake than letting one slip through that had repeatedly allowed Yan Lin to discover the most valuable parts of these traits.

"I didn't expect Zhang Xiaofan to actually have the potential to become a Fourth-Grade Alchemist."

Upon seeing Zhang Xiaofan's Alchemy Talent, Yan Lin, who had gained an unexpected reward, showed a trace of surprise and interest between his brows. "The Alchemist Talent I copied before was only Mortal Grade Two. If I copy Zhang Xiaofan's talent, I'll be able to improve my alchemy grade more quickly."

The improvement of an alchemist's grade largely depended on two factors.

The first was Alchemy Talent, while the second was Soul Power.

Yan Lin himself had no Alchemy Talent. The talent he copied from trait holders became the limit of his own talent.

With the trait Golden Finger, this limit could be continuously refreshed without end.

As long as he copied the Alchemy Talent of a trait holder stronger than the previous one, he could gain even greater Alchemy Talent, allowing his alchemy to improve more quickly.

Yan Lin was immediately tempted, but as usual, he did not rush to copy it. Instead, he chose to keep looking.

A good meal was never too late, and there was no loss in looking further.

"Fourth-order Beast Fire... Dry Blue Ice Flame?"

After reading through Zhang Xiaofan's trait attribute panel, Yan Lin's gaze finally settled on his unique "Beast Fire" trait. A flash of insight suddenly crossed his mind. Wait, if Beast Fire can be copied, then can Heavenly Flames be copied too?

All at once, Yan Lin had an immature idea and a bold plan.

If Heavenly Flames can be copied, then what about Xiao Yan's fused Heavenly Flames?

If they can all be copied, wouldn't that mean I could possess the abilities of the Flame Mantra without cultivating it...?

Once these thoughts arose, Yan Lin's mind became like a flood that could no longer be contained.

Would copied "Heavenly Flames" require him to endure the pain of fusing Heavenly Flames? Would they bring any changes? Could they increase his cultivation?

Questions like these changed Yan Lin's original intention of copying the Alchemy Talent.

"I'll copy the Beast Fire and test it. If it truly is as I suspect, then I'll have to change my plans for refining the Green Lotus Core Flame."

Yan Lin made his decision.

Originally, he had intended to use the Green Lotus Core Flame, along with medicinal pills and other fire-attributed energy, to break through the barrier to Dou Wang in one stroke.

But now, Yan Lin felt that his plan might need some changes.

"Now isn't the right time to copy the Beast Fire. I need to find somewhere safe first."

Glancing at Hai Bodong, Yan Lin worried that copying the Beast Fire now might cause some special situation, so he forcibly suppressed the urgent impulse in his heart...

PS: This chapter mainly patches up a loophole. Qi Yunxiao was originally supposed to have Beast Fire too, but I wasn't in a good state at the time and didn't think of it. The appearance of Beast Fire mainly explains my later attitude toward Heavenly Flames. I could only patch it here. It has all been revised in this chapter now. Please forgive me if you dislike it.