The Crimson Shadow was so fast that Xiao Yan hadn't even reacted before it lunged at him.
All he could do was roll sideways, barely dodging. Fortunately, when Beibei and Huo Yuhao had discussed his First Soul Skill earlier, Beibei had suggested testing how long it lasted. That was why Xiao Yan had still been benefiting from Spiritual Detection Sharing—and why he had narrowly evaded the Crimson Shadow's attack.
"Something's coming!"
He immediately shouted to Beibei. Seeing what had happened, Beibei wasted no time. He activated Martial Soul Possession, and thunder roared.
Seeing its attack fail, the crimson figure halted, searching for another chance to strike.
"Little Brother Xiao Yan, that's a fire-attribute Soul Beast, a Crimson Fire Boa. Judging by its size, it's at least a thousand years old."
"A thousand years? That's a bit much."
Xiao Yan clicked his tongue. In theory, the maximum age of a Soul Ring a Soul Master could absorb as their first was around three hundred years. But this creature was more than three times that old—and it was one of the fiercer Dragon Kind of Soul Beasts, with a trace of dragon blood flowing through its veins.
Even a Soul Elder would have some trouble absorbing a Soul Ring like that. Xiao Yan didn't even have his First Soul Ring yet. If he dared to absorb it, he'd probably explode on the spot.
"Whether I want its Soul Ring or not, we can't let it interrupt Xiao Ya while she absorbs hers!"
Xiao Yan spoke after weighing the pros and cons. Beibei nodded. He could tell Xiao Yan wanted to try absorbing a thousand-year Soul Ring, but he was only curious to try—not consumed by the idea that he absolutely had to make his first Soul Ring a thousand-year one.
That showed Xiao Yan wasn't an idiot. No wonder he'd earned an interview opportunity at Shrek Academy.
"Good. We'll focus on defense. If a chance comes up, we can think about taking it down!"
Thunder surged around Beibei's hands as his Second Soul Ring lit up. Thunderous Might!
At the same time, Xiao Yan completed Martial Soul Possession with Little Fire Dragon and kindled a ring of flames one meter around them. Thunder and fire intertwined, erupting in constant crackling explosions that left the Crimson Fire Boa no opening to exploit.
It had to be said: after merging with Little Fire Dragon, Xiao Yan had gained such effortless control over fire that he could command it at will. If it didn't consume so much Soul Power and spiritual power, he could have mindlessly breathed fire and Burned Heaven and Boiled Sea.
Seeing the wall of fire rise, the Crimson Fire Boa didn't try to provoke them again. It wasn't particularly afraid of the flames alone; after all, it had some resistance to fire. But the thunder behind the wall—and the explosive bursts where thunder and fire met—were what made it wary.
After failing to break through for a while, the Crimson Fire Boa gradually retreated into the forest. But thanks to Yu Hao's Spiritual Detection Sharing, Xiao Yan knew it hadn't gone far. It was merely hiding among the trees, waiting for another chance.
"Phew. We can save some Soul Power now. Otherwise, we might not last until Teacher Xiao Ya wakes up."
Beibei's face was a little pale. Continuously releasing his Second Soul Skill was no small burden for him. Xiao Yan was in much the same state. He hadn't fully recovered earlier, and after two fights in a row, he was struggling to keep up.
Fortunately, Xiao Yan had come well prepared for the trip to Shrek Academy. He reached into his robe, took out a porcelain bottle, tipped three pills into his hand, then tossed one each to Beibei and Huo Yuhao.
"I made these pills myself. They can quickly restore Soul Power and spiritual power."
He briefly explained that he'd exchanged the remaining contribution points in his clan for medicinal herbs, then made the pills himself. Beibei's eyes widened.
"You know how to make medicine?"
Xiao Yan blinked, puzzled.
"What do you mean?"
"Phew. I never thought I'd run into a self-taught alchemist. Little Brother Xiao Yan, tell me—have you ever thought of joining the Tang Sect?"
Xiao Yan was completely dumbfounded. What did Beibei mean by a self-taught alchemist? Were there alchemists on Douluo Continent after all, organized into an alchemist association where he was supposed to get certified and earn an alchemist's license?
Seeing his confusion, Beibei explained.
"Heh, very few people on Douluo Continent are skilled in the art of medicine. Most just take medicinal herbs as they are to absorb their effects. But that isn't always the case."
"Some families specifically train Soul Masters to concentrate and refine the medicinal properties of herbs, then store them for long periods."
"Still, Soul Masters like that are rare. They're usually found only in major families or great sects. Even Shrek Academy doesn't have anyone like that."
Xiao Yan nodded in understanding. So that was why his family had no stock of pills at all. The Xiao Clan was a small family without much of a foundation, so it hadn't trained anyone in alchemy.
As for him, he'd taught himself to make pills using recipes from webnovels he'd read in his previous life. It seemed he'd stumbled into it by sheer luck.
"Thanks for the offer, but I'll pass on joining the Tang Sect. I already belong to an organization."
"Oh? You have a faith? Which deity do you believe in?"
Beibei asked curiously.
Ten thousand years ago, the Spirit Hall had been much like a church. Though it had fallen by now, devout believers who worshipped the gods still existed.
"Ah, about that, Beibei—could I have a little of your time? I'd like to introduce you to our beacon and savior, Mr. Fool."
"I am the Fool, who belonged to the past, the present, and the future..."
"Okay, okay, enough..."
Beibei's head was spinning from listening. Even Huo Yuhao felt dizzy, his face pale.
Xiao Yan could only give up. The three of them took the pills, and a cool sensation immediately spread through them. Their Soul Power seemed to cheer, as though water had replenished a well on the verge of drying up.
While they chatted and recovered, Tang Ya gradually finished absorbing her Soul Ring and woke up. She sprang excitedly to her feet, and three Soul Rings—two yellow and one purple—lit up around her. From that moment on, Tang Ya had become a thirty-level Soul Elder.
"I did it!"
She excitedly wanted to share the good news with Beibei, but then she saw that they were surrounded by flames. In Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Detection field, a huge red python was lying in ambush nearby.
"Ah!? What's that...?"
"It's a Crimson Fire Boa, Sister Xiao Ya. Good timing—you're awake. Test your new Soul Skill on that thing."
"Ah... oh, okay!"
"Third Soul Skill, Shara Serpent Net!"
Tang Ya brightened. Blue vines appeared in her hand, and with a wave of her slender fingers, a net woven from growing Blue Silver Grass flew toward the Crimson Fire Boa.
"Hiss, hiss~"
The Crimson Fire Boa flicked its tongue, then opened its mouth and spat a stream of flames at the Shara Serpent Net.
"Now's our chance! Xiao Ya, mother—Blue Silver Grass, Entanglement! Beibei, Thunderous Might!"
With Xiao Yan directing them, Tang Ya attacked again. A Blue Silver vine grew wildly, wrapping around the giant red serpent. Right after, a bolt of thunder came crashing down, and the Blue Lightning Dragon Claw stood ready to strike!
"I'll add some more! Buddha Fury Fire Lotus!"
After taking hit after hit, the Crimson Fire Boa was badly wounded. It tried to flee, but the Blue Silver Grass had bound it, and countless tiny lightning serpents had numbed its body, making it hard to move. Just then, Xiao Yan unleashed his strongest killing move.
The crimson lotus took shape once more, then slammed into the Crimson Fire Boa.
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