"Bring it on!"
Seeing Ling Yun charge straight at him, Huo Wushuang immediately let out an angry shout. Soul Power gathered in his hands, and the Third Soul Ring beneath his feet suddenly lit up.
"Third Soul Skill: Tyrant Dragon Rage!"
Tyrant Dragon Rage was a powerful self-enhancement skill, and Huo Wushuang's strongest Soul Skill at the moment.
After he used the skill, Huo Wushuang's strength, speed, defense, and the power of his flames all increased by fifty percent in an instant, dramatically boosting his combat prowess.
As Huo Wushuang unleashed his Soul Skill, his muscles swelled and his body grew a full size larger. Blazing flames engulfed him from head to toe.
Seeing the Flame Crane that Ling Yun had transformed into swoop toward him, Huo Wushuang immediately threw a punch. All the flames around him converged on his right arm, and he unleashed a fierce, domineering fire punch!
In an instant, flames shot into the sky!
In the blink of an eye, Huo Wushuang's fire punch slammed into Ling Yun's chest, while the flames around Ling Yun swallowed Huo Wushuang whole.
Boom!
The two powerful, searing flames collided violently, unleashing a thunderclap that shook heaven and earth.
Then Huo Wu, standing off to the side, saw a dazzling pillar of fire suddenly shoot upward. Like a surging fire dragon, it soared into the sky, dyeing the heavens above Blazing Academy red.
When the flames died down, Ling Yun was forced to undo his transformation, while Huo Wushuang flew backward like a kite with its string cut, crashing heavily to the ground.
For the moment, the two of them had fought to a draw.
But Ling Yun was several years younger than Huo Wushuang, his Soul Power was seven levels lower, and he still hadn't obtained his Third Soul Ring.
Taking all of that into account, Ling Yun had undoubtedly come out ahead.
Clap, clap, clap!
Suddenly, a burst of enthusiastic applause rang out. Ling Yun then saw Huo Li approach with a beaming smile.
"Not bad, Ling Yun. You actually managed to draw with my Wushuang despite only being at Level 30. Looks like you've mastered Ring Fusion."
"Hehe, I have to thank Sister Huo Wu for helping and guiding me."
Ling Yun smiled. Over the past two years, he had pestered Huo Wu countless times to practice Ring Fusion with him.
Without Huo Wu's guidance, he still could have learned Ring Fusion, but he definitely wouldn't have been able to apply it in real combat so quickly.
"It's a good thing that you've learned Ring Fusion!"
Huo Li nodded, then shifted gears. "But don't forget: Soul Power is the foundation of every Soul Master.
"As long as a Soul Master has a deep reserve of Soul Power, they can still be a top expert even if they don't know Ring Fusion.
"As your senior, I have to remind you: don't let practicing Ring Fusion distract you from cultivating your Soul Power. That would be putting the cart before the horse.
"Your Soul Power has just reached Level 30, so it's time for me to take you to obtain your Third Soul Ring."
At those words, Ling Yun froze for a moment, then exclaimed, "Dean, you're going to take me to obtain my Third Soul Ring yourself?"
"Hehe, of course!"
Huo Li stroked his beard and smiled. "You're Blazing Academy's most precious talent. I can't afford to let anything happen to you, and I wouldn't feel at ease letting anyone else take you."
"Thank you, Dean!" Ling Yun said sincerely.
Huo Li was a Level 84 Soul Douluo with a Power Attack System Martial Soul. With him there, Ling Yun was sure to obtain a good Soul Ring.
"No need to thank me. I also want to use this opportunity to test the three of you youngsters in real combat.
"All right, get ready. We'll set out shortly!"
"Yes!"
With that, Ling Yun and the Huo siblings got to work preparing provisions, water flasks, tents, snake-repellent powder, and other supplies. They might have to spend the night in the forest, after all, so they needed to be well prepared.
Once they had everything ready, they rented a carriage and headed straight for Sunset Forest. It had a richer supply of Soul Beasts, making it easier to find one suited to Ling Yun.
"By the way, little brother Ling Yun, have you decided what kind of Soul Beast you want to hunt for your Third Soul Ring?"
On the carriage, Huo Wu had been admiring the scenery along the way when she suddenly asked him that.
"Mm, I've already thought it over." Ling Yun nodded. "I've decided to hunt a Soul Beast with an earth attribute for my Third Soul Ring. Naturally, the older the better."
At that, Huo Li and the other two furrowed their brows and murmured, "An earth attribute?"
"That's right. You all know that my Five Spirit Lock can absorb Soul Rings with any of the five elemental attributes. My First Soul Ring is wood, and my Second Soul Ring is fire. For my Third Soul Ring, I want one with an earth attribute!"
With an earth-attribute Soul Ring, he would be able to transform into an earth-attribute beast warrior: the Stone Armor Bear.
The Stone Armor Bear had thick skin and a sturdy build. Of the five beast warriors, it had the strongest defense, as well as astonishing strength and formidable attacking power.
It was also the master of the earth element. It could control the land, split mountains, and even summon meteorites. If he could transform into a Stone Armor Bear, his strength would surely rise to a whole new level.
More importantly, in the cycle of the five elements, fire produced earth. Absorbing an earth-attribute Soul Ring would also make it easier for him to practice Ring Fusion.
"An earth-attribute Soul Ring... That would work."
Huo Li gave a slight nod. Since Ling Yun had already made his choice, he didn't say anything more.
The carriage raced along, and after just half a day, they arrived at the outskirts of Sunset Forest.
Then Huo Li suddenly said, "Once we enter the forest, stay close behind me. Don't go wandering off.
"Also, I'm not going to step in unless you're in danger. I want to test your combat abilities. Understood?"
"Got it, Dad. You've been saying that the whole way here. My ears are practically growing calluses," Huo Wu said with a dismissive wave.
Right then, a roar that shook heaven and earth suddenly rang out.
"Roooar!"
They looked toward the sound and saw a brown bear standing three meters tall, its body covered in tawny fur. It looked so fluffy that it made them want to reach out and touch it.
But its sharp fangs and claws, capable of tearing stone to pieces, were enough to make anyone hesitate. No one would want to get close to the giant beast if they could help it.
The bear was holding a Soft Bone Rabbit in each paw. It opened its gaping maw, stuffed both rabbits inside, and swallowed them in just a few bites. Then it patted its belly.
Clearly, it still wasn't full.
Huo Li smiled. "Hehe, we're in luck. We've just arrived at Sunset Forest, and already we've found a suitable Soul Beast. Ling Yun, your Third Soul Ring is settled. This Vajra Bear is perfect for you!"
"Vajra Bear!"
The moment he heard the name, Ling Yun couldn't help thinking of Zhao Wuji from Shrek Academy. His Martial Soul was a Vajra Bear, too.
"Exactly. The Vajra Bear is a top-tier earth-attribute Soul Beast. Judging by its size, this one should be around three thousand years old.
"Generally speaking, a Soul Master's Third Soul Ring wouldn't exceed one thousand seven hundred years. But you can hardly be judged by ordinary standards.
"You managed to absorb a Thousand-Year Soul Ring beyond the usual limit when you were at Level 20. I don't think absorbing a three-thousand-year Soul Ring now should be a problem."
Before you continue