Cao Longyan woke up on the day after his Martial Soul Awakening. The moment he opened his eyes, he saw a familiar, graceful figure curled up beside his bed.
The girl wore a pale green dress, her long hair simply tied back, a few loose strands falling beside her cheeks. She slept peacefully, but looked exhausted. It was Zhang Lexuan, the foremost talent of this generation at Shrek.
His transmigration had changed Zhang Lexuan and Bei Bei's fates. Now, the two of them had no romantic entanglements.
But she had gotten attached to him...
It was because he had once told his Profound Ancestor not to use feelings to bind Sister Lexuan to Shrek, forcing her to devote her life to the academy. Even if Mu En had once saved her life, whether she wanted to protect Shrek was her choice.
He'd meant to speak to Mu En alone. He had even said a whole lot of nice things, never expecting anyone else to find out. But somehow Zhang Lexuan had heard about it, and things had ended up like this...
He had his troubles, too... He'd only wanted Sister Lexuan to keep her distance from Brother Bei Bei, sparing her the pain of her unrequited love in the future.
Would you look at that? Now she got to see Bei Bei every single day...
Even if she was mainly here to see him, he still believed in Bei Bei's charm...
Sigh. It was enough to make him cry!
Still, complaints aside, Cao Longyan slowly lifted the covers on the side farthest from Zhang Lexuan, moving as if he were playing at a quarter of normal speed. Every so often, he glanced at her to check whether she had woken.
The moment his feet touched the floor, he felt utterly drained. Time seemed to drag on forever.
He lowered his heels first, then slowly set down his toes. Every muscle taut and holding his breath, he edged toward Zhang Lexuan, picked up the neatly folded blanket nearby, and carefully draped it over her shoulders.
Once he was done, he retreated to the door with the same care, placed his fingertips on the handle, and slowly turned it, closing the door without a sound.
What he didn't know was that Zhang Lexuan's lips had curled up slightly.
Cao Longyan had just stepped out when three figures who had been waiting for him blocked his way.
Mu En sat in his wheelchair, his gaze warm and full of concern.
Xuan Zi stood to one side in his shabby clothes.
And at the far end stood Yan Shaozhe, keeping his posture as humble as possible.
He didn't need to guess. Xuan Zi, that old geezer, would be the one taking him to hunt for his First Soul Ring.
Cao Longyan wasn't too worried about Xuan Zi's disastrous track record as a guide. He had Xu Chu and Dian Wei with him.
As for Yan Shaozhe... he was one hundred percent here for his beloved disciple, Ma Xiaotao.
Cao Longyan had a particular dislike for him. A snob and a scumbag who deceived women—those alone were enough to put him on Cao Longyan's blacklist.
Still, he did want to help Ma Xiaotao...
Evil Fire raged within her. If it wasn't channeled and suppressed in time, it would eventually devour her. His Ultimate Fire, as it happened, was the perfect remedy for keeping it in check.
"Xiao Yan, are you all right? Did that ball of light pose any threat to you?"
Mu En's voice was aged and gentle, his concern plain to hear.
"Sorry for the trouble, Profound Ancestor. I'm fine. That ball of light won't hurt me."
Cao Longyan bowed slightly.
"Good. Have Xuan Zi take you to the Star Dou Great Forest to obtain your First Soul Ring."
"Yes, Profound Ancestor."
Xuan Zi grinned and thumped his chest.
"Don't worry, Mu En. I've got this covered. Longyan, let's go. I'll take you to pick out a good Soul Beast!"
Yan Shaozhe remained standing with his head bowed the whole time, not saying a word or even daring to breathe too loudly.
On the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest
Xuan Zi landed steadily with Cao Longyan, then turned to him with an easy smile.
"Longyan, what do you have in mind for your First Soul Ring? Just say the word, and I'll take care of it."
Xuan Zi might have been willing to make do when dealing with anyone else, but he didn't dare take matters into his own hands with Cao Longyan.
A once-in-ten-thousand-years prodigy like him would be squandered by the slightest mistake in his Soul Ring arrangement.
And he was Mu En's great-grandson, to boot!
Cao Longyan rested a hand against his chin and lowered his eyes, gazing at his slightly raised right hand.
Beneath his palm, the aura of the Ten Halls of Yama stirred faintly. The Fire Dragon King's bloodline warmed within him.
He already knew what he wanted...
"Elder Xuan, I want a Fire Wing Lion for my First Soul Ring. It has both fire affinity and explosive power, so I think it suits me well."
Cao Longyan looked up at Xuan Zi, his gaze unwavering.
"The Fire Wing Lion does suit you. Good choice."
Xuan Zi looked at him with a hint of surprise, then broke into his signature grin.
"I'll take you to hunt a Fire Wing Lion at the theoretical limit. There are plenty around the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest."
"No, Elder Xuan. I want a thousand-year one."
Cao Longyan's tone was calm, but his resolve brooked no argument.
Xuan Zi's smile froze.
"Longyan, do you know what you're saying? For an ordinary Soul Master, a hundred-year Soul Ring is already the limit for the first one. Even a gifted prodigy can manage only a little over four hundred years at most. The power of a thousand-year Soul Ring is far more violent than you can imagine. You've only just awakened your Martial Soul. One little mistake, and your meridians could burst—or your body could explode!"
"Elder Xuan, I'm serious. I know my own body better than anyone. If you're worried the Profound Ancestor will hold you responsible, I can sign a liability waiver. I'll take responsibility for whatever happens."
Xuan Zi waved a hand.
"Enough. It's normal for a child to have his own ideas. Besides, I'm not so cowardly that I'd make a child shoulder the blame. Go ahead, Longyan. I'll back you up. The old man will take a chance with you!"
Seeing Xuan Zi looking so imposing, Cao Longyan knew his provocation had worked. His First Soul Ring was halfway secured as a thousand-year ring. He couldn't help but let out a snort of laughter.
Elder Xuan really was easy to rile up.
"You little rascal. So this is what you were doing—you actually provoked me on purpose!"
Xuan Zi caught on as well. He planted a hand on Cao Longyan's head and ruffled his hair a few times, but he kept his touch light and didn't hurt him at all.
"Elder Xuan, I was wrong. I won't do it again!"
Cao Longyan put on a pleading look.
Xuan Zi snorted and let go. He grabbed Cao Longyan by the back of his collar, then blurred toward the depths of the forest.
But Xuan Zi had already gained a new respect for the boy in front of him.
As expected of Mu En's great-grandson. He had real guts.
Soon, they found their target.
In a clearing between the trees, a huge, scarlet lion roared at the sky. A pair of flame-wreathed wings sprouted from its back, each stretching more than three zhang. The air shimmered and warped in the heat.
Xuan Zi swept his gaze over it and spoke.
"Longyan, that Fire Wing Lion looks to be around seventeen hundred years old. Will it do?"
Cao Longyan's eyes lit up with delight.
Thanks to six years of accumulation and the boost from his Martial God Body, his physical strength was enough to rival that of an ordinary Soul Elder. He was determined to claim this Soul Ring!
"Elder Xuan, set up a barrier so it can't escape. I want to test my strength against it."
Cao Longyan clenched his right hand in the air. The Ten Halls of Yama appeared in his grasp, and blazing fire burned in his eyes.
Seeing him like that, Xuan Zi swallowed the words of caution on the tip of his tongue. His lips curled slightly, admiration practically shining from his eyes.
"Fine. I'll indulge you."
At the same time, Xuan Zi secretly placed an absolute safeguard on him, ready to protect him before he could suffer a fatal injury.
"Thank you, Elder Xuan!"
Before the words had left his mouth, Cao Longyan charged straight at the Fire Wing Lion with the Ten Halls of Yama in hand.
His flame-wreathed staff struck the Fire Wing Lion, leaving a large, charred patch. It yowled in pain.
But Cao Longyan still had no Soul Ring. He couldn't inflict a fatal injury on the Fire Wing Lion. Instead, its full-force counterattack sent him flying.
Was this still too much for him...
"My lord, let me lend you a hand!"
A huge, fiery-red figure suddenly appeared, kicking up clouds of dust. One swing of its hammer later, a purple Soul Ring appeared over the now-dead Fire Wing Lion.
Just one blow!
Xuan Zi had watched the whole thing from the air. He was left in utter shock.
Longyan and his Guardian Spirits were both this powerful!
"Thanks, Xu Chu. You can return now."
"Yes, my lord. Protecting you is my duty!"
Xu Chu's figure gradually faded away. Leaning on the Ten Halls of Yama to support himself, Cao Longyan slowly walked over to the Fire Wing Lion and began absorbing the thousand-year Soul Ring.
Before you continue