Scarlet Dream Heart Fox

The group moved forward at a leisurely pace.

Ling Xiao walked in the middle of the group, spreading out his spiritual power as he carefully sensed the movements within the sea of flowers.

His spiritual power far surpassed that of ordinary people, and his range of perception was extensive.

Suddenly, Ling Xiao came to a halt.

He abruptly looked toward a huge boulder deep within the sea of flowers.

A crimson shadow flashed past.

"Master, there's something over there."

Ling Xiao spoke at once, raising his hand to point toward the boulder.

As soon as he finished speaking, Bibi Dong's spiritual power had already locked onto the boulder.

A cold glint flashed in her eyes as a wave of pressure spread out.

A fox darted out from the flowers.

Its fur was crimson, and three fluffy tails trailed behind it.

Soul Power rippled around it, making people's hearts waver and drawing them closer.

"What a beautiful fox!"

Hu Liena exclaimed softly, her eyes lighting up.

"A Scarlet Dream Heart Fox! A naturally gifted spirit-type Soul Beast. It's exactly what you need!"

Bibi Dong's gaze fell on the Scarlet Dream Heart Fox, and she immediately estimated its age.

Her brows furrowed slightly. "Five hundred years."

It had reached the absorption limit for a Soul Master's First Soul Ring.

"What a pity."

The joy faded from Hu Liena's face, and she couldn't help sighing.

"It's a little over the limit. Absorbing it would be risky."

Ling Xiao, however, stepped forward.

His gaze fixed firmly on the Scarlet Dream Heart Fox as he spoke with conviction:

"Master, I want this one."

"Junior Brother, have you lost your mind?!"

Hu Liena grabbed his arm and cried out in alarm.

"It's a five-hundred-year Soul Ring! It's beyond the limit for a First Soul Ring! This is no joke!"

Bibi Dong turned around to look at Ling Xiao, her tone growing more serious.

"Ling Xiao, do you know what you're saying?"

Ling Xiao bowed to Bibi Dong, his gaze still resolute.

"Master, I know the risks, and I'm fully aware of what I'm doing."

"I've never missed a day of body training and breathing exercises. I'm confident my physique is stronger than most people's, and I believe I can absorb it successfully."

"So far, this Scarlet Dream Heart Fox is the Soul Beast best suited to me."

"Its ability to Charm, control the mind, and create illusions all fit the kind of Soul Skill I want."

"If I miss this chance, I might not find anything more suitable."

"As for the risks, I'm confident I can handle them."

"Besides, with you here to protect me, Master, you can intervene in time if anything goes wrong during the absorption."

Bibi Dong could sense that Ling Xiao's physique and spiritual power were indeed far beyond those of ordinary people.

After a moment's silence, Bibi Dong finally nodded slowly.

"Very well. Since you've thought it through, I'll take this gamble with you."

"Thank you, Master!"

Ling Xiao's eyes lit up.

"Don't thank me just yet."

Bibi Dong raised a hand, her tone turning serious once more.

"I'll make this clear from the start: if I see that you can't hold on during the absorption, I'll intervene immediately and stop you."

"Understood, Master! I'll follow your instructions!"

While the two were talking, the Scarlet Dream Heart Fox seemed to sense danger.

It let out a piercing screech, and a dense force of illusion surged toward the group.

"You don't know when to quit!"

Bibi Dong gave a cold snort, releasing the pressure around her.

A terrifying aura swept out like a tsunami, crushing the illusions filling the sky in an instant.

The distorted scene immediately returned to normal.

Under this terrifying pressure, the Scarlet Dream Heart Fox couldn't even move.

Its legs gave way, and it collapsed straight onto the ground.

Its pink eyes were filled with terror. It whimpered pitifully, utterly powerless to resist.

This was the might of a Titled Douluo!

"Ling Xiao, do it."

Bibi Dong spoke calmly.

"Make it quick and give it a clean death."

"Yes, Master."

Ling Xiao replied and slowly walked up to the Scarlet Dream Heart Fox.

He looked at the trembling Soul Beast sprawled on the ground, his expressionless.

Soul Masters and Soul Beasts lived by the laws of survival in this world. If he wanted to follow this path, he had to take this step.

Taking a long spear, he drove it cleanly through the Scarlet Dream Heart Fox's heart.

The Scarlet Dream Heart Fox let out a brief whimper, then fell silent.

A dazzling yellow Soul Ring rose from its corpse, and dense Soul Power rippled outward.

"Sit cross-legged and begin absorbing it at once."

Bibi Dong's voice sounded by his ear.

"Remember, guard your mind. Guide the Soul Ring's energy with your own Soul Power and merge it with your Martial Soul."

"Yes, Master."

Ling Xiao immediately sat cross-legged and closed his eyes.

The Soul Ring was drawn toward him and settled around his body.

Brilliant yellow light enveloped him completely.

The terrifying energy of the Soul Ring poured into his body, rampaging through his meridians.

The energy in a five-hundred-year Soul Ring far exceeded that of an ordinary Hundred-Year Soul Ring.

"Mm..."

Ling Xiao grunted, cold sweat beading on his brow as his body trembled slightly.

"Junior Brother!"

Hu Liena anxiously took a step forward, but Bibi Dong raised a hand to stop her.

"Don't touch him."

She could sense that the Soul Ring's energy inside Ling Xiao was slowly merging with him.

Time passed second by second.

Night fell over the entire Scarlet Dream Flower Sea.

The guards lit torches, their flames illuminating the camp.

Ling Xiao remained seated cross-legged where he was, the yellow Soul Ring around him flickering on and off.

Deep in his consciousness, he was locked in a final struggle against the Scarlet Dream Heart Fox's illusion.

Ling Xiao's mind was as steady as a boulder, unmoving.

In his Sea of Consciousness, the Demon Fruit Tree trembled faintly.

Its gnarled branches gave off a dark purple glow, beginning to devour the incoming power of illusion and turn it into nourishment.

Bit by bit, it subdued the power, guiding it along the meridians of the Heaven Origin Soul Art until it flowed into his dantian and qi sea.

A night passed, and the horizon paled like a fish's belly.

As the first rays of morning light fell on Ling Xiao,

the Soul Ring completely fused with his body.

His Soul Power Level climbed rapidly.

Eleven, twelve, thirteen!

At last, it stopped at the thirteenth-level Soul Master stage!

Ling Xiao slowly opened his eyes.

A faint crimson glow flashed through his dark pupils, then quickly vanished.

His entire presence had undergone a world-shaking transformation.

He had already been handsome and refined. Now, with the Scarlet Dream Heart Fox's Soul Ring absorbed and the Soul Skill's passive effect enhancing him, he had gained even more bewitching charm.

His eyes were like stars. Even when he merely looked over quietly, they made people's hearts waver and drew them closer.

Though he was still only a six-year-old boy, his allure to the opposite sex was already impossible to conceal.

"Junior Brother! You're awake!"

Hu Liena was the first to rush over. When she saw him, she suddenly froze.

She felt that, overnight, her junior brother had somehow become even more handsome.

It was still the same face, yet she couldn't help wanting to move closer and grow more intimate with him.

"Senior Sister, I'm fine."

Ling Xiao looked at her dazed expression, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly as he spoke softly.

His voice was clear and pleasant, now carrying the Soul Skill's passive Charm. Hu Liena's cheeks flushed as she listened.

"Y-you're fine, that's all that matters... You scared me half to death. I thought you were going to fail... Wait, Junior Brother, why did you suddenly get so handsome?!"