Return to Sunset Forest! Crimson Flame Luan Bird!

The next morning, at dawn.

Before the sky had fully brightened, Zhao Tian had already gotten up, washed, and changed into a neat set of fitted clothes.

Today was the day he would head to Sunset Forest to hunt his second soul ring.

Standing in the middle of the courtyard, he took a deep breath and felt the surging waves of his twentieth-rank Soul Power. Anticipation rose within him.

His second soul ring—an eight-hundred-year Crimson Flame Luan Bird.

Once he obtained this soul ring, he would become a true two-ring Soul Grandmaster.

"Zhao Tian! Are you ready?"

Ning Rongrong's voice came from outside the courtyard gate.

Zhao Tian opened the door and saw Ning Rongrong wearing a light green dress, her hair tied into two adorable buns. She was also carrying a small bundle in her hand.

"What is this...?"

Zhao Tian stared at her outfit, momentarily stunned.

"Rongrong brought snacks! We can eat them on the way!"

Ning Rongrong patted the bundle in her hand and said with a grin.

Zhao Tian did not know whether to laugh or cry.

Was this girl treating a soul ring hunt like a spring outing?

Still, she was only accompanying him this time and did not need to obtain a soul ring herself. Bringing some food along was harmless enough.

"Let's go. Teacher is waiting for us."

Zhao Tian held out his hand. Ning Rongrong naturally took it, and the two headed together toward the sect's main hall.

Outside the sect's main hall, Chen Xin and Gu Rong had been waiting for quite some time.

Chen Xin wore white robes and carried the Seven Kill Sword on his back, his expression calm.

Gu Rong, meanwhile, wore black robes, his arms folded as he leaned against a pillar, looking rather lazy.

"Grandpa Sword! Grandpa Bone!"

Ning Rongrong ran over and called out sweetly.

"Rongrong looks very pretty today."

Gu Rong rarely offered praise.

"Hehe, thank you, Grandpa Bone!"

Ning Rongrong happily spun in a circle.

Chen Xin glanced at Zhao Tian and asked, "Tian'er, are you ready?"

"I'm ready."

Zhao Tian nodded.

"Then let's depart."

After saying that, Chen Xin summoned the Seven Kill Sword. The long sword hovered in midair, radiating sharp sword intent.

"Rongrong, come up."

With a wave of Chen Xin's hand, Ning Rongrong was lifted by a gentle current of sword energy and landed steadily atop the blade.

Zhao Tian followed closely behind and leaped onto the Seven Kill Sword.

A streak of light tore across the sky, speeding toward Sunset Forest.

Sunset Forest remained as lush and verdant as it had been three months ago, with ancient trees towering overhead.

Chen Xin controlled the Seven Kill Sword as it circled above the forest. His spiritual power spread outward as he searched for traces of the Crimson Flame Luan Bird.

"Crimson Flame Luan Birds live in volcanic regions. Their aura is distinctive, so they should not be difficult to find."

As Chen Xin spoke, he changed direction and flew toward a mountain range deep within Sunset Forest.

The farther inward they traveled, the hotter it became.

The dense forest below gradually gave way to sparse shrubs. Farther ahead, vast stretches of black volcanic rock appeared across the ground, and the air was filled with the scent of sulfur.

"It's so hot..."

Ning Rongrong wiped the sweat from her forehead, her little face flushed red from the heat.

Zhao Tian took a handkerchief from his clothes and handed it to her.

"Wipe your sweat."

"Thanks!"

Ning Rongrong accepted the handkerchief, wiped her face, then folded it neatly and secretly tucked it into her sleeve.

Zhao Tian did not notice the small gesture. His gaze was fixed on the volcanic region below.

One steaming crater after another came into view. Lava churned within them, giving off a blinding red glow.

"Found it."

Chen Xin's voice rang out, and the Seven Kill Sword began to descend.

Following Chen Xin's gaze, Zhao Tian saw a massive bird-type soul beast perched on the edge of an enormous crater.

The bird was covered in crimson feathers, their edges gleaming with golden light. From afar, it looked like a ball of burning flame.

It was a full size larger than the Holy Light Phoenix. With its wings spread wide, it spanned four or five meters.

Its most eye-catching feature was its tail, composed of three long golden feathers that shone brilliantly beneath the sunlight.

"So this is a Crimson Flame Luan Bird?"

Zhao Tian looked at the soul beast and secretly marveled.

As expected of a soul beast with Phoenix Bloodline. Even its appearance radiated nobility and majesty.

"That's right, a Crimson Flame Luan Bird around eight hundred years old."

Chen Xin nodded, satisfaction flashing through his eyes.

"Its soul ring is highly suitable for you. It possesses the Radiant Attribute and Phoenix Bloodline, and it leans toward flame attacks. It can make up for the weakness of you currently having only light-attribute attacks."

Zhao Tian nodded, deeply agreeing.

Although his first soul skill, Phoenix Holy Light Blast, possessed considerable power, it was ultimately only a light-attribute attack. Against certain enemies with specific attributes, its effectiveness would be greatly reduced.

With the Crimson Flame Luan Bird's flame attribute enhancing him, his offensive methods would become much more diverse.

"Teacher, is there anything I need to do?"

Zhao Tian asked from midair.

"No need. It's only an eight-hundred-year soul beast. I alone am enough."

Chen Xin waved a hand.

"Tian'er, watch carefully."

"This sword strike will be very fast."

Before his words had even faded, Chen Xin's figure had vanished from the sword.

The next second, he appeared above the Crimson Flame Luan Bird and lightly pointed with a finger.

A sharp burst of sword energy shot forth, accurately striking the Crimson Flame Luan Bird's wing.

Splat!

Blood sprayed through the air.

The Crimson Flame Luan Bird let out a miserable shriek. Its huge body rolled off the crater's edge and crashed heavily onto the volcanic rock.

It struggled to rise, but the wound in its wing caused it to lose its balance. No matter what it did, it could not stand.

Chen Xin landed gracefully, standing with his hands behind his back, his expression calm.

The entire process had taken no more than a single breath.

The terrifying strength of a ninety-sixth-rank Super Douluo was plain to see.

"Tian'er, go."

Chen Xin turned back toward Zhao Tian.

Zhao Tian took a deep breath, leaped down from the Seven Kill Sword, and landed before the Crimson Flame Luan Bird.

He drew a dagger from his waist and looked at the dying Crimson Flame Luan Bird before him without the slightest hesitation.

Splat!

One strike killed it.

The Crimson Flame Luan Bird's body twitched twice before it fell completely still.

The next moment, a yellow soul ring slowly rose from its corpse.

An eight-hundred-year Crimson Flame Luan Bird—a yellow soul ring.

Zhao Tian put away his dagger, sat cross-legged, and used his will to guide the soul ring into his body.

The yellow soul ring slowly floated toward him, settled around his body, and began to merge into him.

Much like when he had absorbed the Holy Light Phoenix for the first time, the Crimson Flame Luan Bird's energy also carried the Radiant Attribute, producing a powerful resonance with Zhao Tian's Radiant Phoenix Spirit.

This time, however, it carried several more traces of scorching heat and violent fury.

That was the power of flames.

As expected of a soul beast that lived in volcanic regions, the Crimson Flame Luan Bird possessed exceptionally dense fire-element energy. Interwoven with the Radiant Attribute, it formed a unique flow of energy.

This energy surged into every limb and bone in Zhao Tian's body, tempering his meridians, bones, and flesh.

Zhao Tian clenched his teeth and endured the impact of the energy.

Though it was not as easy as the first time, it was far from painful.

The superior suppression of the Radiant Phoenix once again took effect. Before the Radiant Phoenix, the Crimson Flame Luan Bird's energy remained obedient and compliant.