After receiving Bibi Dong's permission, Han Xing and Chrysanthemum Douluo set out soon afterward.
But Han Xing clearly wasn't fated like the protagonist, Tang San.
After the two arrived at the Star Dou Great Forest, nothing unexpected happened.
Just two days later, Han Xing successfully obtained his Third Soul Ring.
A two-thousand-year-old Sky-Glimmer Golden Feather Sparrow.
This age already exceeded the limit for most Soul Masters' Third Soul Rings.
At first, Chrysanthemum Douluo had also opposed Han Xing's choice, but after Han Xing talked him around,
and pointed out that his Second Soul Ring had already exceeded the age limit, Chrysanthemum Douluo finally agreed.
Of course, the main reason he agreed was Han Xing's strength.
Absorbing a Soul Ring was irreversible, but as a Titled Douluo, he had the ability to interrupt the process.
Although Han Xing might suffer some injuries, his life wouldn't be in danger, nor would his potential be affected.
A two-thousand-year Soul Ring was naturally no great challenge for Han Xing.
With two top-tier Martial Souls, both of them Beast Spirits, his physique was far stronger than Tang San's.
"Are you feeling unwell? What Soul Skill did you get?"
Seeing Han Xing open his eyes after absorbing the Soul Ring, Chrysanthemum Douluo immediately asked.
"My Third Soul Skill is: Gilded Sky Wings!" Han Xing said with a smile.
"It unfolds a pair of solid, powerful Gilded Divine Fire Wings, allowing me to fly freely at high altitudes."
"The edges of the wings are also wrapped in razor-sharp blades of light and fire. As I fly, my path leaves behind a Gold-Burning Fire Mark that lasts for several seconds."
"Touching the Gold-Burning Fire Mark causes flame-cutting damage, and it has an extremely powerful armor-piercing effect."
Without waiting for Chrysanthemum Douluo to respond, Han Xing immediately activated Martial Soul Possession.
As his Third Soul Ring lit up, his Gilded Divine Fire Wings spread wide. Golden flames and blade-like energy coiled around their tips, and he stepped into the air, riding the wind as he rose.
Wherever Han Xing passed, he left a long golden rainbow behind.
Chrysanthemum Douluo reached out and touched it. A look of surprise immediately appeared in his eyes.
He had thought that this so-called Gold-Burning Fire Mark was merely an additional effect of the Third Soul Skill, and not very powerful.
But after experiencing it firsthand, he found that its power far exceeded his expectations.
"Even a level-thirty-two defensive-type Soul Elder would probably be badly hurt if he touched this mark."
"It's only a Third Soul Skill, yet it already has such power. Is this the strength of a top-tier Martial Soul?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo was marveling inwardly when he suddenly flashed in front of Han Xing.
"Senior? What are you—"
Seeing Chrysanthemum Douluo suddenly appear in front of him, Han Xing, who hadn't yet gotten used to flying for the first time, couldn't stop in time and crashed straight into him.
Chrysanthemum Douluo had appeared in an exceptionally tricky position. Han Xing collided with him without actually hitting him.
But the tips of Han Xing's Gilded Sky Wings just happened to graze Chrysanthemum Douluo's body.
In an instant, his clothes were sliced open, and Sun True Fire began to burn along the fabric.
Chrysanthemum Douluo remained unruffled. He casually patted the flames twice, extinguishing the Sun True Fire.
"Not bad. The tips of your wings are sharp, and they also have the burning properties of Sun True Fire."
"Few Soul Masters at your level could withstand this move."
Chrysanthemum Douluo lifted Han Xing and steadied him before speaking slowly.
"But now that you can fly, you'll need to train in that area more from now on."
"A flying-type Soul Master can't afford to lose control while flying."
"That's because you suddenly appeared right in front of me, Senior." Han Xing rolled his eyes.
"It's my first time using this Soul Ring. If I could already control my flight perfectly, I wouldn't be a genius—I'd be a monster."
Chrysanthemum Douluo was at a loss for words. He turned his head and said mildly,
"You brat, I was just testing your reflexes."
"Don't you know that training has to start when they're young?"
Han Xing merely chuckled at Chrysanthemum Douluo's words and didn't argue.
"Now that you've got your Soul Ring, let's head back," Chrysanthemum Douluo said.
"Absorbing a two-thousand-year Soul Ring was risky, but the results are encouraging. Your Soul Power has broken through to level thirty-three."
Han Xing had no objections.
"But this time, I'm not going to carry you back," Chrysanthemum Douluo said.
"Now that you have a flying Soul Skill, we'll fly the whole way back. It'll be faster than taking a carriage."
"It'll also help you get used to your flying Soul Skill."
Han Xing nodded. He wanted to master the ability to fly as soon as possible, too.
The two of them took a week to leave the Star Dou Great Forest and return to Spirit City.
During that time, Chrysanthemum Douluo did exactly as he'd promised. He said he wouldn't carry Han Xing, and he really didn't help him at all.
When Han Xing ran out of Soul Power, the two of them stopped where they were and rested.
Whenever Han Xing got used to flying at a certain speed, Chrysanthemum Douluo would immediately speed up, leaving him far behind.
When Han Xing slowly caught up, Chrysanthemum Douluo wouldn't give him time to rest. They'd set off again at once.
Even when they stopped to eat, Han Xing wasn't allowed to walk there. He had to fly all the way to the restaurant entrance before he was allowed to land and walk.
Under this kind of training, Han Xing's control over flying improved impressively.
It didn't take long for his flying speed to surpass his running speed on the ground.
It was just a shame that Han Xing still couldn't combine the Golden Crow Rainbow Transformation Technique with Gilded Sky Wings.
Perhaps he needed more time to get used to flying, until the sky felt as level beneath his feet as the ground.
Or perhaps he needed to master the Golden Crow Rainbow Transformation Technique to a higher level.
As he reached the gates of Spirit City, Han Xing had never felt Spirit Hall was more welcoming than it was at that moment.
"I'm finally back in Spirit City. I've been flying for a whole week."
"I can't wait to find someone and loosen up my muscles."
"Brat, you can't even handle a little hardship?" Chrysanthemum Douluo teased.
"Senior, you don't understand. I really can't handle the hardships of life." Han Xing said this with utmost seriousness.
Chrysanthemum Douluo couldn't help laughing at that.
"You little rascal. But never mind—it's nothing serious."
"If you missed it, then go back to the academy. I'll report to Her Holiness the Pope."
"But after you return from the academy, remember to go speak with Her Holiness."
"Understood." Han Xing nodded.
With that, he walked toward the Spirit Academy without looking back.
Chrysanthemum Douluo watched Han Xing's retreating figure helplessly. "Sigh, that boy's always in such a hurry."
"But we did make a new discovery this time. I need to tell Her Holiness that a stronger physique allows someone to absorb older Soul Rings."
The Soul Master knowledge of Spirit Hall came from discoveries made by generations of Soul Masters.
It had taken countless Soul Masters absorbing Soul Rings to establish the theory that the optimal age for a First Soul Ring was between four hundred and four hundred thirty years.
Now, a theory that had existed only on paper—that strengthening one's physique could allow one to absorb Soul Rings older than the established limit—had been proven.
If later experiments confirmed that this wasn't a special case unique to Han Xing's Three-Legged Golden Crow Martial Soul,
then it would be a tremendous boon for Spirit Hall.