On the Douluo Continent, three years flashed by in the blink of an eye. Lin Tian and Lin Yan had both broken through level thirty. Their cultivation speed was astonishing; in this era, they were the cream of the crop, racing far ahead of everyone else.
Even Tang San, the Son of Destiny, couldn't compare.
Lin Yan had nearly absorbed a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring for his third ring, but in the end, he'd settled for one that was nine thousand years old. It wasn't that he'd been afraid to absorb one. The problem was that hunting a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast would likely cost them their lives. They might still be able to hunt a Millennium Soul Beast by borrowing strength and using their cheat-like abilities, but a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast was another matter.
Watching Lin Yan slowly wake after absorbing the nine-thousand-year Soul Ring, Lin Tian couldn't help but remark, "You really are willing to push yourself to the limit."
He could manage at most a seven-thousand-year Soul Ring. Lin Yan, on the other hand, had gone straight for nine thousand years. The guy just couldn't stand losing.
"We confirmed at the last meeting that the main body is almost nine years old. We need to hurry," Lin Yan said slowly.
"All right." Lin Tian nodded. They had one year to carry out their plan.
The first step was to return to Suotuo City and test their strength.
Lin Tian turned his head, his gaze settling on Lin Yan. His tone was calm, but carried a hint of admonishment. "Then I'll head back early and make the arrangements. Don't be long." As he spoke, a faint white glow rose behind him. The air around him stirred gently, and flecks of light seemed to dance over his shoulders.
"Okay." Lin Yan responded softly, looking up at Lin Tian with a glimmer of understanding in his eyes.
The white light around Lin Tian suddenly flared. A pair of snow-white wings unfurled out of thin air, their edges gleaming softly as they stirred a gentle breeze.
With a light beat of his wings, Lin Tian rose slowly into the air, leaving behind only a faint white afterimage.
This was Lin Tian's second Soul Skill, granted by his five-thousand-year Soul Ring. Wisdom Wings were also part of his own body. You could say Lin Tian was the one among them who least resembled a Body Martial Soul.
Lin Yan looked away, rubbed his brow, then straightened his back and fixed his gaze on Suotuo City. He planned to walk back alone, treating the journey as a test of his endurance and physique.
That night, Lin Yan stopped at a makeshift inn. He went inside, found an empty spot to rest, ate something, and prepared to continue on his way. As for sleep, with his mental strength, he had no need for it.
But his plan to eat in peace and then leave was completely upended by a noisy group of people.
Several young figures came in together, a group of boys and girls around seventeen or eighteen. Their voices were loud and sharp, their eyes filled with insolent pride. They carried themselves with a swagger that said, "Who could possibly be better than us?" Their racket seemed to fill the entire room.
Lin Yan's gaze swept over them, then he casually looked away.
He recognized them. They were students from Shrek Academy, and the most notable among them was Tang San, the protagonist of this era.
You could say that if the protagonist on the main body's side, Tang Wuling, was a good protagonist, then Tang San was a rather abnormal one. And this academy would become the biggest obstacle in his and Lin Tian's path forward.
But it wasn't time to tear off the mask just yet.
Lin Yan pushed his thoughts aside and chose to ignore the arrogant young men and women completely. He continued holding his chopsticks steadily, his gaze returning to the food in front of him.
Fate always seemed to enjoy playing tricks. Another group from an academy walked in.
They were from Canghui Academy, the very people who were about to clash with Shrek Academy.
The clash broke out all the same. Lin Yan had only wanted to finish his meal in peace and leave, but one of the Canghui students came flying into his table and flipped it over.
The Shrek students roared with laughter as they watched the Canghui student fly away. The loudest was the fat one. "Boss Dai, you're incredible! Those guys are nothing but clay chickens and earthen dogs!"
"Clay chickens and earthen dogs?" Lin Yan stood up. He hadn't wanted to pick a fight with these people, but they'd ruined his food. He wasn't going to put up with it anymore.
He turned and glared at them. "You people knocked over my food. Don't you think you should compensate me?"
The Shrek students had still been laughing, but now they looked at the red-haired man standing before them, who was taller and more handsome than Dai Mubai. Ma Hongjun, that damn fatso, immediately took offense and shot back, "What? Got a problem? Then come hit me!"
Bang!
A dull impact, like a clap of thunder, exploded through the inn's main hall. Ma Hongjun shot away like a boulder hurled by tremendous force, his body little more than a blurred streak. Before he could even finish screaming, he smashed through the inn's doors, scattering splinters, and crashed into the woods outside. Branches snapped with a series of sharp cracks, and dust billowed up in his wake.
He'd moved so fast that everyone present froze in place. Even Zhao Wuji, who was hovering halfway above the inn's eaves and was usually unflappable, saw his pupils contract. He hadn't managed to react in time.
"Ma Hongjun!"
Dai Mubai's roar burst out almost simultaneously with Ma Hongjun's landing. It brimmed with fury; veins bulged at his temples, and bloodthirsty rage surged in his eyes.
He glared at Lin Yan, who had struck the blow. "You bastard! Go to hell!"
Before the words had even left his mouth, a mighty surge of Soul Power erupted from his chest. His shout rang through the inn. "White Tiger Possession!"
Hum!
Three Soul Rings rose from beneath his feet: yellow, yellow, purple. His Soul Elder strength was Dai Mubai's greatest advantage!
Before he could react, Lin Yan appeared before him like a ghost. Looking down at him, he reached out and seized him by the throat, then slammed him down. With a muffled thud, Dai Mubai's forehead struck the floor, and pain lanced through him.
At the same time, the fire element within Lin Yan erupted like a volcano awakening. Scalding Heat Wave, carrying a crushing pressure, engulfed Dai Mubai in an instant. The heat nearly scorched his clothes, and the air around them warped in the oven-like blaze.
"Ahhh..." Dai Mubai screamed in agony as he felt the burning pain and the wounds it left behind.
He was a Soul Elder, yet he hadn't even had a chance to fight back. It was a humiliating disgrace!
"Boss Dai!" Tang San reacted faster than the others. He immediately used his first Soul Skill, sending Blue Silver Grass Entanglement toward Lin Yan to seize him and fling him off Dai Mubai.
The moment the Blue Silver Grass touched Lin Yan, a horrifying sight unfolded before Tang San's eyes: the grass caught fire.
"H-How is that possible?" Tang San stared at the scene in disbelief, completely dumbfounded.
Since when had his Blue Silver Grass been so fragile?
Lin Yan watched Dai Mubai, who had been burned unconscious, then slowly lifted his hand from him. Faint sparks still lingered between his fingers, drifting away with the movement.
He turned slightly and looked back. His eyes, already tinged with red, now seemed to hold two leaping flames. His sharp gaze, like a blade tempered in fire, locked onto Tang San and the others behind him. His voice was low and cold, carrying an unmistakable menace.
"Who's next?"
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