Blazing Sun Domain

Courage is a peculiar thing.

Facing a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, Xiao Yan knew he was outmatched, yet he fought to the death.

Even if this was the foolishness known as hot-bloodedness, cowardice would tarnish a young man's Dao heart.

Xiao Yan's goal had always been clear: to stand alone for eternity.

Countless works, countless worlds throughout history, must surely exist in reality, and his cultivation was merely to become qualified enough to witness these worlds.

If he couldn't stand alone for eternity, how could he roam the sea of stars and witness the magnificent and boundless Great Thousand Worlds?

The fire lotus burned fiercely, slowly consuming the snake corpse before him.

As the snake corpse was gradually incinerated, Xiao Yan and the soul ring completed their fusion.

His first soul ring was a thousand-year one. While not as grand as Huo Yuhao's, it was still astonishing.

With a soul ring year count nearly three times that of ordinary people, the entrance exam would be tough for those kids with just this single thousand-year soul skill.

It had to be said, a thousand-year soul ring as a first soul ring was too authoritative. After absorbing it, Xiao Yan's soul power increased by almost five levels instantly, reaching level fifteen, just one level away from the Little Fire Dragon's evolution.

Xiao Yan had considered greedily cultivating further, but after some thought, he decided to stabilize his realm first.

Advancing too quickly could lead to a hollow foundation, and since he didn't have an ultimate martial soul, tempering his physique and mental power was the true path.

After all, this was how he had lived before the spirit egg hatched.

Cultivation, in essence, was about perseverance.

Xiao Yan slowly opened his eyes. The young man now had sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, but his aura was contained, as if the scorching, violent energy had completely vanished.

The Little Fire Dragon also appeared more spirited.

Martial Soul: Little Fire Dragon. Type: Beast Martial Soul (possesses independent intelligence). Level: Fifteen (shares soul power with host).

[Smokescreen]: Sprays smoke at the opponent. [Dragon Breath]: Spits Dragon Breath to attack the opponent, sometimes causing paralysis.

Xiao Yan's Little Fire Dragon now possessed two new skills. Coupled with the boost from its first soul skill, its combat power had practically doubled.

Even without merging with Xiao Yan, the Little Fire Dragon could contend with ordinary hundred-year soul beasts. In terms of equivalent power, the Little Fire Dragon alone was already beyond the level of soul masters of the same rank.

In fact, with more comprehensive skills, it could even challenge soul masters under level twenty, and perhaps even contend with soul elders.

"Hoo... Thank you, Sister Xiao Ya, Brother Bei, Little Yuhao."

Upon waking, Xiao Yan thanked those who had guarded him.

"Huh? Why do you call them brother and sister, but me Little Yuhao?"

Yuhao was taken aback, then questioned him.

Xiao Yan found it amusing. Though burdened by hatred, Yuhao at this time was still an innocent and adorable child. If properly guided, perhaps he wouldn't be trained like a dog by the Candy God King in the future?

"Ahem, Yuhao, your Brother Bei and Sister Xiao Ya are already a couple, so they're considered adults. You're still a child, so calling you 'Little' is fine."

He earnestly spun a tale.

"...Huh?"

"Ahem, let's not talk about that. Little brother Xiao Yan, what are your soul skills?"

Beibei interrupted the bickering pair, steering the conversation back to the main topic.

Hearing this, Xiao Yan's lips curled, and he summoned the Little Fire Dragon.

"Chirp!"

"Little Fire Dragon, first soul skill, Blazing Sun Domain!"

As Xiao Yan commanded, a purple soul ring appeared around the Little Fire Dragon, emitting light. Immediately, everyone felt a wave of heat.

It was emanating from the Little Fire Dragon.

"Heh, my first soul skill is similar to Yuhao's, both are domain-type skills. However, my Blazing Sun Domain only has a diameter of ten meters and cannot perform mental detection."

"Within the domain, the environment will be considered clear and sunny, increasing fire-attribute skill damage by 50%. Additionally, my and the Little Fire Dragon's fire-attribute skill damage will increase by another 50%, effectively doubling it. At the same time, my and my teammates' strength, speed, and soul power recovery speed will also increase by approximately 20%."

"Furthermore, when I actively inject soul power into the domain, it will evolve into the Scorching Land, inflicting continuous flame burn damage on all enemy units within the domain."

Hearing this, the three of them had their mouths agape.

"Little brother Xiao Yan, this one soul skill of yours is equivalent to two other soul skills, and it's extremely compatible with you. Congratulations."

Beibei spoke first. Then, Tang Ya nodded. Although she was a control-type soul master, she could see how powerful this skill's boost would be for an assault-type soul master.

Even Huo Yuhao had to compare Xiao Yan's soul skill with the one bestowed by Brother Tian Meng.

Putting aside the damage amplification that affected himself, the entire team gaining a 20% damage increase within the domain was already terrifying. Skills that scaled proportionally would never become obsolete.

Moreover, Xiao Yan's soul skill actually had area-of-effect damage. Although the amplification effect was somewhat limited, the added defensive capability of the burn damage compensated for this, making Xiao Yan and his future team a trinity of offense and defense amplification.

A single soul skill is already this impressive; I truly dare not imagine what kind of achievements he will attain in the future.

After resting for a few more moments, the group prepared to head back to Shrek City.

Since Xiao Yan and Tang Ya had both successfully hunted their soul rings, they ought to return to Shrek as soon as possible so that Huo Yuhao and Xiao Yan could enroll.

However, what the group never expected was that this trip would yield additional gains.

On the way back to Shrek City, Xiao Yan intended to train Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Detection Sharing soul skill, so as they walked, he casually said to him:

"Yuhao, your detection range is still too wide. It shouldn't be a fan shape; compress it into a straight line as much as possible, just like... this."

As Xiao Yan spoke, he had the Little Fire Dragon spit out a straight line of Ember. Huo Yuhao nodded as if he half-understood, then began to compress the range of his Spiritual Detection.

Time slipped away quietly amidst the process of sharing, compressing, and stretching his perception.

After a while, Huo Yuhao's face turned deathly pale; clearly, his soul power and spiritual power were nearly exhausted. Xiao Yan had no intention of squeezing him for further training and simply signaled for him to rest if he was tired.

Huo Yuhao canceled the suppression and allowed the detection sharing to open up fully. Just then, he suddenly let out an "Eh?"

"Eh? Someone is fighting a soul beast."

Hearing this, Xiao Yan, Tang Ya, and Beibei all hurriedly looked through the vision provided by the Spiritual Detection Sharing, only to see a person battling a pack of wolves in a clearing.

That person looked about the same age as Xiao Yan, his clothes were tattered, and he gripped a massive black ruler that was burning with raging flames.

How could Xiao Yan not recognize who this was? He was instantly overjoyed and ran quickly toward the vicinity of the clearing, shouting:

"Xiao Yulü, if you aren't dead yet, give me a shout!"

Hearing his call, Xiao Yulü turned his head, equally overjoyed:

"Xiao Yan!"