Bright Phoenix Fire

"How could I just tell someone a secret technique?"

"Can't you tell me? I've been your roommate for almost half a semester. I promise I'll keep it to myself."

"No. You're not a fire-attribute Soul Master, so knowing it won't do you any good, and it won't help me either."

"What if I trade you a secret for it?" Wang Dong blinked and leaned closer, lowering her voice. "If you can help me break through to Soul Elder before the freshman assessment, I can also ask my eldest uncle to promise you a generous reward. And don't be scared, but my eldest uncle is a Limit Douluo."

"Your eldest uncle? A Limit Douluo?" Lin Feng furrowed his brow and quickly reviewed the few known peak experts of the era. "There are only a handful of Limit Douluo still alive. I've never heard of one... surnamed Wang."

"If I'm lying, I'm a puppy." Wang Dong raised three fingers, her expression earnest.

Lin Feng fell silent for a moment, seemingly weighing his options. "...I can trade secrets. My secret technique is that my Fire Lotus Martial Soul can increase my Soul Power by devouring flames. The stronger the flame, the better the effect."

"I see. No wonder you said you needed a fire-attribute Martial Soul." Wang Dong nodded in realization, then said seriously, "Then I'll keep my promise too. I'm from the Clear Sky Sect. That's right, the Clear Sky Sect, famed as the owner of the greatest weapon Martial Soul in the world, the Clear Sky Hammer, but missing for many years. My eldest uncle is the current sect master."

"The Clear Sky Sect?! Your eldest uncle is... the sect master."

A genuine shock flickered in Lin Feng's eyes.

Tang San might be no good, but the Clear Sky Sect's strength and foundations were something he had to take seriously.

"Helping you isn't out of the question." Lin Feng considered it briefly, then looked up at Wang Dong. "Your Light Goddess Butterfly has a light attribute. I can borrow some Bright Phoenix Fire from Teacher Yan, extract the source light power from it, and pass it to you to absorb."

"Dean Yan is a Super Douluo!" Wang Dong exclaimed, then grew worried. "Even a single wisp of his fire would be impossible for the two of us to withstand, given our cultivation!"

"If this were before, I wouldn't dare," Lin Feng said calmly, with a confidence that left no room for doubt. "But now, I'm seventy percent sure."

Lin Feng was confident that the Darkness Power within the Blue Silver Nether Fire would be enough to neutralize and offset most of the impact from Yan Shaozhe's light power, giving him a chance to devour the Bright Phoenix Fire.

"Are you sure?"

Wang Dong was still somewhat doubtful, but she couldn't hide the eager light in her eyes.

After all, this was the source light power of a Super Douluo. For any light-attribute Soul Master, it was an opportunity beyond imagination.

"It depends on how brave you are. I can suppress the backlash from the phoenix fire as much as possible, but you'll have to absorb and refine that wisp of source light power yourself."

"I'm ready. If this really works, my eldest uncle and second uncle will reward you handsomely. Just name anything they can offer."

"You have a second uncle too? Your family's relationships are pretty unusual."

"None of your business! Go find Dean Yan. I'll wait in the dorm for your good news."

"Fine, fine."

Seeing her like this, a knowing smile flickered in Lin Feng's eyes. He asked no more, turning and heading for the door.

Lin Feng wasted no time. He went straight to Bright Phoenix Courtyard, where Yan Shaozhe lived.

He briefly explained why he had come, and Yan Shaozhe agreed readily.

"I thought it would take you a while to reach this point. I didn't expect you to make it so quickly." Yan Shaozhe gave a slight nod, his tone steady. "I'll do my best to control my Soul Power and minimize the pressure it puts on your rank."

"Thank you, Teacher." Lin Feng smiled.

As the words left his mouth, Yan Shaozhe's aura suddenly changed.

Brilliant golden light surged from within him, and with a clear cry of a phoenix, the enormous, sacred phantom of a Bright Phoenix spread its wings behind him.

This was the first time Lin Feng had seen the dean truly release his Martial Soul.

Two yellow, two purple, and five black Soul Rings appeared in succession—the signature configuration of a peak powerhouse.

Then the Seventh Soul Ring blazed brightly. Amid the dazzling radiance, Yan Shaozhe's body merged with his Martial Soul, transforming into a resplendent phoenix wreathed in golden flames.

"Teacher, I'm ready." Lin Feng steadied his breathing and spoke in a low voice.

The Bright Phoenix rose gracefully above Lin Feng and gave a light beat of its wings. The Phoenix Flame swirling around it turned like molten gold into countless brilliant streams of light, raining down upon Lin Feng like a dazzling meteor shower.

Lin Feng didn't dare slack off either. He immediately circulated the Burning Technique and released the Blue Silver Nether Fire to cover his whole body.

The rank suppression from a Super Douluo was terrifying. If the Blue Silver Nether Fire hadn't recovered quickly enough, the Bright Phoenix Fire would have burned him to ash by now.

Time trickled by amid the fierce clash between darkness and light.

Lin Feng slowly devoured the Bright Phoenix Fire with his Profound-Rank Burning Technique.

The process was far from easy. The Profound-Rank Burning Technique was ultimately limited in its control and refinement of high-grade flames.

If it could evolve to Earth Rank, dealing with such a powerful flame would be much easier. To advance the Burning Technique to Earth Rank, however, he would need to devour at least four Exotic Fire Origins.

Lin Feng currently had only three Exotic Fire Origins within him: Nirvana Evil Fire, Mystic Ice Spirit Flame, and Blue Silver Nether Fire.

As his Soul Power continued to drain, the Bright Phoenix Fire began to burn Lin Feng's meridians and skin.

If he hadn't taken Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Glue, which had transformed and strengthened his body, the Ice Silkworm's life force and his Body Martial Soul alone wouldn't have been enough to endure it.

By then, patches of burns had appeared across Lin Feng's body. His skin stung fiercely, yet his gaze remained calm as he continued to withstand the endless golden flames.

One hour, two hours...

At last, a deep black Soul Ring condensed on Lin Feng's Body Martial Soul.

It was an Exotic Flame Soul Ring formed entirely from Bright Phoenix Fire, with a lifespan of a full seventy thousand years...

At Lin Feng's signal, Yan Shaozhe slowly dispelled his Martial Soul Avatar, and the phantom of the Bright Phoenix folded back behind him.

When his gaze fell on the two deep black Soul Rings on Lin Feng, a trace of surprise flashed in his eyes.

"When did you give your Body Martial Soul its First Soul Ring, you little rascal? I didn't notice at all."

"It was just a fortunate coincidence." Lin Feng lowered his head slightly, replying with humble vagueness.

Yan Shaozhe's gaze moved to the second Soul Ring, and his brow twitched. "This second ring... could it also have been formed from Phoenix Flame, like Xiaotao's?"

"That's right." Lin Feng nodded, his tone casual. "Senior Sister Xiaotao taught me a few things, so I experimented on my own. I was lucky enough to condense your Bright Phoenix Fire into a Soul Ring."

"Good, good!" Yan Shaozhe's face filled with undisguised approval, even tinged with emotion. "You two truly are a match made in heaven. Even your fortunes are so alike."

"Teacher, you flatter me. If there's nothing else, I'll head back and rest." Lin Feng cupped his hands in salute.

"Very well. If anything feels wrong, come to me at once."

"Thank you for your concern, Teacher."

After leaving Yan Shaozhe's Bright Phoenix Courtyard, Lin Feng didn't stop for a moment. He moved swiftly toward the dormitory.

Wang Dong was still there, anxiously waiting for his good news.