At the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's gates, Ning Fengzhi said to Qian Lingche, "Xiao Che, hunting a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast is dangerous, after all. Stay at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect for a few days. Uncle Sword and Guang Ling Douluo can handle it."
Before Qian Lingche could reply, Guang Ling and Lin Yuan came over as well.
Guang Ling rubbed his head. "He's right. A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast can strike back with everything it has when it's dying. We might not be able to protect you. I'll feel better if you stay at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
Lin Yuan nodded in agreement. "That's right, Young Master. With the Fifth Consecrator and Sword Douluo there, this trip will be over soon."
Qian Lingche thought it over. By all accounts, every Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast had at least the strength of a Titled Douluo.
And the Cinder Fire Phoenix they had chosen was probably above level 95.
If it really struck back as it died, a Soul Elder like him would indeed be in grave danger there. "All right. I'll wait here for your good news. Be careful."
Bone Douluo stepped forward with a laugh and thumped his chest. "Don't worry! With me here at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, no one will lay a finger on him."
Guang Ling glanced at Bone Douluo and gave a slight nod. "Hearing you say that puts my mind at ease."
With everything arranged, the three wasted no more time. They turned and headed for Sunset Forest.
Their figures soon vanished into the woods beyond the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's gates, leaving only a faint rustle of wind behind.
Ning Fengzhi watched them leave, then turned to Qian Lingche with a smile. "Come along, Xiao Che. Uncle Ning will show you to your room."
Qian Lingche nodded. "Sorry for the trouble, Uncle Ning."
Ning Fengzhi waved a hand with a smile. "No need to be polite. Just make yourself at home."
The scene shifted. Ning Fengzhi returned to his residence.
Candlelight glowed softly in the room. His wife sat beside the table, holding a cup of tea.
When Ning Fengzhi entered, she asked curiously, "Fengzhi, was that boy today the young master from Spirit Hall?"
Ning Fengzhi sat down beside her. "Yes, he was Spirit Hall's young master, Qian Lingche."
Su Ruoxi looked puzzled. "Then what did they come here for? Spirit Hall has never had much to do with us, has it?"
Ning Fengzhi told her what had happened that day, then took the tea from her hand and sipped it. "Though he's young, the boy is shrewd and decisive. He's no ordinary person."
Su Ruoxi murmured in agreement. "The young master of Spirit Hall came in person. That certainly shows us a great deal of respect."
"But, Fengzhi, do you think his only purpose in coming here was to hunt for a Soul Ring?"
Ning Fengzhi pondered for a moment before replying slowly, "Hunting for a Soul Ring is certainly one reason, but I suspect he also means to use this opportunity to build a good relationship with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
Understanding what Ning Fengzhi meant, Su Ruoxi furrowed her brow and ventured, "So you want to win him over? But he is, after all, from Spirit Hall."
"The young master is in an awkward position within Spirit Hall. Building a good relationship with him might be beneficial to our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
But what Ning Fengzhi was really thinking was that rumors said the young master of Spirit Hall had been neglected because of a Martial Soul Mutation.
Yet after meeting him today, Ning Fengzhi had changed his mind. He still didn't know what the boy's Martial Soul was, but his Soul Power was already at level 35.
Wasn't he still under nine years old? That talent was truly terrifying. If nothing unexpected happened, he would surely break Tang Hao's record and become the youngest Titled Douluo in history.
Su Ruoxi sighed softly. "But everyone knows Spirit Hall's ambitions. If we get too close to them, could it bring us unnecessary trouble?"
Two days passed in the blink of an eye.
Guang Ling stood in midair, the Light Feather Divine Bow in his hands glinting coldly as Soul Power churned around him. "The Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast is somewhere nearby. Its presence is growing stronger."
Suddenly, a piercing phoenix cry rang out from the sky. A gigantic Fire Phoenix plunged down through the clouds, its body wreathed in blazing flames as though it meant to set the whole sky alight.
Its wings spread wide, blotting out the sun. Wherever it passed, flowers, grass, and trees ignited instantly, becoming a sea of fire.
The Fire Phoenix circled overhead, glaring down at Guang Ling Douluo and the others, fury burning in its eyes.
"Wretched humans! Leave my territory! Otherwise, you'll never leave here alive!"
As the Fire Phoenix spoke, a terrifying surge of Soul Power erupted from its body.
It beat its wings, sending blazing flames crashing down like a tidal wave and dyeing the surrounding sky a deep crimson.
The ground shook violently under the impact of its Soul Power. The hard earth split apart, molten lava gushed from the cracks, and towering flames lit the whole forest like a living hell.
Lin Yuan's expression grew grave at the sight. "As expected of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast..."
Just then, a black Soul Ring flared around Guang Ling. "Hey, I say you'd better just wait patiently to become a Soul Ring."
He raised the Guang Ling Bow slightly. Soul Power gathered along the bowstring, forming an invisible arrow that radiated a heart-stopping chill.
"Fifth Soul Skill—Arriving Without Interval!" The bow in Guang Ling's hands jolted, and the invisible arrow shot through the air straight toward the Fire Phoenix.
At the same time, a black Soul Ring lit up around Chen Xin.
"Sixth Soul Skill—Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin!" Chen Xin barked. Space behind him warped, and countless sword images appeared out of thin air.
With a point of his finger, a sky-filling wave of sword images roared toward the Fire Phoenix.
The Fire Phoenix's fury reached its peak. Guang Ling and Chen Xin had ignored its warning and attacked outright—and even dared to insult it.
Violent flames burned in its eyes as it let out a phoenix cry that shook the heavens.
"Outrageous humans! You're asking for death!" The Fire Phoenix's voice rang across the entire forest.
It suddenly folded its wings around itself. Blazing fire burst from its body, forming a massive fireball that completely engulfed it.
The instant Guang Ling and Chen Xin's attacks touched the fireball, the terrifying heat melted them away.
Guang Ling helplessly rubbed his head. "Honestly, this bird's no weakling. No wonder it's so cocky."
Though he said that, his hands never stopped moving.
He raised the Guang Ling Bow again. Soul Power rapidly gathered along the bowstring, and a gleaming arrow formed in an instant. "Fourth Soul Skill—Ice-Sealing Arrow!"
A sky-filling barrage of arrows, wrapped in bone-chilling cold, shot straight toward the Fire Phoenix.
When the arrows struck the flames surrounding the Fire Phoenix, an intense chill burst forth.
But the flames were simply too hot. The moment the arrows touched the fireball, they melted rapidly into wisps of white smoke and vanished into the air.
Even so, Guang Ling's attack did not let up. The arrows poured down like a torrential rain, hammering the fireball without pause. Cold and flame tangled together with a sizzling hiss.
Meanwhile, Chen Xin retreated to one side, his Seven Kill Sword lowered slightly as terrifying waves of Soul Power began to gather in its blade.
But just then, a vicious glint flashed in the Fire Phoenix's eyes. The fireball around it suddenly contracted, then burst open. A sea of flames surged toward Guang Ling and Chen Xin.
"Eighth Soul Skill—Time Dial." A cool voice suddenly rang out.
As the voice fell, a gigantic magic disc appeared out of thin air in front of the three of them.
The instant the sea of flames struck the disc, it was forcibly stopped, unable to advance even an inch.