One demon wolf after another pounced from every direction, bloodthirsty red light gleaming in their eyes, their fangs bared in a terrifying snarl.
"Hmph."
Fang Lin gave a cold snort. His Dragon Transformation body suddenly erupted with a terrifying power that made one's heart tremble.
Layer upon layer of dark golden scales rippled over him, gleaming with a cold metallic sheen, as if he had donned an indestructible suit of dragon armor.
He moved, transforming into a streak of dark golden light as he charged straight into the pack.
There were no superfluous movements, no flashy techniques.
Every strike was crisp and decisive. Fist, palm, elbow, knee—each blow landed precisely on a demon wolf's most vulnerable spot.
Wherever he went, demon wolves wailed and blood sprayed.
One after another, they were sent flying, crashing heavily to the ground with every bone and tendon shattered, never to rise again.
A demon wolf silently pounced from behind, its fangs aimed straight at the back of his neck.
Fang Lin didn't even turn around. He thrust a claw back and pierced its throat, his movement clean and decisive.
Seeing this, another demon wolf seized its chance and lunged, biting down hard on his shoulder.
But a fierce burst of force suddenly erupted from his dark golden scales, shattering every one of its fangs.
The demon wolf wailed and tried to retreat, but Fang Lin smashed its skull with an elbow.
In mere moments, the ground had been dyed a dark red with blood.
Demon wolf corpses lay scattered across the ground, and the air was thick with a nauseating stench of blood.
Fang Lin stood amid the mountain of corpses, his dragon pupils cold as frost. Killing intent gathered around him without dispersing, as if he were a cold god of slaughter who had emerged from the netherworld.
Spirit Pagoda room.
Before the enormous Soul Guidance screen, the Spirit Pagoda staff member stood frozen, staring at the young figure on the screen with his mouth agape.
"Elder Han, th-this really is a One-Ring Soul Master?"
The Spirit Pagoda staff member murmured, his voice trembling as cold sweat streamed down his forehead.
He had seen many geniuses, but never a monster like this.
Every one of those demon wolves was enough to plunge a One-Ring Soul Master into a fierce struggle.
Yet in Fang Lin's hands, they were like paper tigers, without even a chance to fight back.
"Mm."
Han Tianyi gave a slight nod. His gaze, deep as an abyss, rested on Fang Lin on the screen as he contemplated.
Na'er stared blankly at Fang Lin on the screen, her eyes somewhat unfocused.
She didn't know what had come to mind, but she had nearly blurted out, "Brother... you smell so good!"
The words reached her lips, but Na'er forcibly swallowed them back. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and her heart inexplicably beat a little faster.
She didn't know why. The screen was clearly filled with blood and slaughter.
Yet that dark golden figure held an indescribable allure in her eyes.
"Oh? Finally can't hold back?"
The corners of Fang Lin's mouth lifted slightly, and a flicker of battle intent emerged in his dragon pupils.
A berserk power surged through him, and the gleam on his dark golden scales grew ever deeper.
"Awoooo—!"
The thousand-year Demon Wolf King raised its head and howled, its cry shaking the wilderness.
Mourning talent, activated.
For every demon wolf that died, its own offense and defense increased by thirty percent.
The demon wolf corpses covering the ground transformed into streaks of dark purple light, pouring into its body like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea.
With every streak of light that entered it, the Demon Wolf King's body swelled, and its aura grew ever more ferocious and violent.
In just a few breaths, its aura had surged to a heart-stopping level.
Dark purple mist swirled around it, almost solidifying.
The Demon Wolf King's blood-red vertical pupils locked onto Fang Lin, filled with rage and killing intent.
It was the gaze of a predator watching its prey: cold, cruel, and brimming with an unquestionable pressure.
"Come on."
Fang Lin spoke calmly, his voice nevertheless holding an unquestionable confidence.
"Golden Dragon Domain!"
"Five Spirits Domain!"
In the next instant, the powers of two domains unfolded and overlapped, enveloping the Demon Wolf King.
Within the domains, golden light spread like an endless sea.
The power of the Five Elements flowed without pause. Metal, wood, water, fire, and earth intertwined, generating and overcoming one another as they formed a vast, crushing pressure that made the heart tremble.
The two domains resonated with each other. The Dragon Domain and the power of the Five Elements merged perfectly, forming an absolute domain belonging solely to Fang Lin.
The Demon Wolf King's body faltered slightly within the domain. That invisible pressure instinctively filled it with fear.
"Power of Metal Spirit—Metal Purge!"
Fang Lin raised his hand and clenched it in the air. The power of the metal element in the world frantically gathered.
The light grew brighter and brighter, more and more concentrated.
At last, it formed a dazzling golden blade of light, radiating a sharp, murderous force.
"Awoooo—!"
The Demon Wolf King sensed the breath of death and let out a long howl. Its eyes were blood-red, and its berserk aura erupted like a raging storm.
Dark purple light surged madly over its body as it tried to break free of the pressure from the dual domains.
"Hand of the Other Shore!"
The Demon Wolf King raised one enormous forepaw, and purple-black light frantically gathered at its claw tips.
The light grew denser and deeper until it finally took the shape of a gigantic dark purple claw, crashing down toward Fang Lin with the force to destroy everything.
This was the Demon Wolf King's full-powered strike after absorbing the strength of the pack. It was powerful enough to make an ordinary Soul Elder turn pale.
"Good!"
Fang Lin spoke boldly, battle intent blazing in his eyes as golden light shone brightly in his dragon pupils.
He swung the golden blade of light. The instant it left his hand, it burst with blinding golden radiance.
At that moment, heaven and earth fell silent.
Golden sharpness and dark purple deathly power collided, tore at each other, and annihilated one another.
The two forces were locked in a stalemate in midair for a moment. Then the golden blade of light suddenly swelled, swallowing the dark purple claw with overwhelming force.
"Boom!"
A terrifying wave of energy spread in every direction. Wherever it passed, the ground cracked and broken rocks flew.
The Demon Wolf King didn't even have time to scream before it vanished in the golden torrent that swept away everything, leaving not a single scrap behind.
The dust gradually settled.
Fang Lin's figure slowly appeared.
He stood amid the ruins, his dragon scales still gleaming with a cold light, not a single injury on his body.
Then, a great surge of pure spiritual power flowed into his First Soul Ring.
Purple light grew ever more brilliant, showing faint signs of transforming to a higher level.
Fang Lin dismissed Martial Soul Possession. His dark golden scales receded like a tide, revealing the handsome face of a young boy.
He pressed the red switch on his hand, and his figure instantly vanished from the Spirit Ascension Platform.
Spirit Pagoda room.
As the sound of turning gears rang out, the metal pod slowly slid out from deep within the wall.
The hatch made a muffled scraping sound as its sealed latches popped open one by one. White vapor hissed out through the gaps.
The light from the Soul Guidance Lamps surged in like a tide, driving away the endless darkness.
Fang Lin sat up inside the metal pod. The light stabbed into his eyes, making him squint slightly as he instinctively raised a hand to shield them.
"Little Lin, you did well."
Han Tianyi walked over and spoke in a calm voice, a trace of appreciation flashing deep in his eyes.
"Brother, you're amazing!"
Na'er's eyes were full of admiration and delight.
"Mm."
Fang Lin smiled slightly, swung himself out of the metal pod, and steadied himself on his feet.
He stretched his stiff body, and his bones gave a faint series of crackling sounds.
"Come on, let's head back."
Han Tianyi spoke and turned toward the door, walking with unhurried steps.
"Mm."
Fang Lin and Na'er nodded.
Before leaving the Spirit Pagoda room, Han Tianyi paused slightly.
Without turning his head, he instructed, "The records from this trip to the Spirit Ascension Platform were lost due to a system malfunction."
"Yes, I understand."
Hearing this, the Spirit Pagoda staff member instantly understood the deeper meaning behind Han Tianyi's words.
He hurriedly bowed and replied respectfully, "The Spirit Ascension Platform's Soul Tool system malfunctioned today. All recorded data was destroyed and cannot be recovered."
Han Tianyi gave a slight nod and said no more as he strode away.
Then he left with Fang Lin and Na'er.