Blazing Flames Obscure the Sky, Cold Light Pierces the Void

At the gates of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi said to Qian Lingche, "Xiao Che, hunting a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast is dangerous after all. Stay here at the sect for a few days; Uncle Sword and Guang Ling Douluo can handle it."

Before Qian Lingche could reply, Guang Ling and Lin Yuan walked over.

Guang Ling ruffled his hair and said, "He's right. A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast has the ability to launch a desperate counterattack before it dies. We might not be able to protect you, so I'll be at ease if you stay at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

Lin Yuan nodded in agreement, "Indeed, Young Master. With the Fifth Consecrator and Sword Douluo there, this trip will be over in no time."

Qian Lingche pondered this. Logically speaking, every Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast possessed the strength of at least a Title Douluo.

The Cinder Fire Phoenix they had chosen was likely level 95 or higher.

If it truly launched a final, desperate strike, he would be in grave danger as a mere Soul Elder. "Very well. I shall wait here for your good news. Please, be careful."

Bone Douluo, standing to the side, stepped forward with a smile and patted his chest. "Rest easy! With me here at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, no one can lay a finger on him."

Guang Ling glanced at Bone Douluo and gave a slight nod. "With your word, I am at ease."

With everything arranged, the three of them delayed no longer, turning to head toward the Sunset Forest.

Their figures soon vanished into the dense forest outside the sect gates, leaving behind only a faint whisper of wind.

Ning Fengzhi watched them leave, then turned to Qian Lingche with a smile. "Let's go, Xiao Che. Uncle Ning will take you to your quarters."

Qian Lingche nodded. "Then I shall trouble you, Uncle Ning."

Ning Fengzhi waved his hand with a laugh. "No need for such formalities. Just treat this place as your own home."

The scene shifted to Ning Fengzhi's private quarters.

The room was bathed in soft candlelight, and his wife sat by the table, cradling a cup of clear tea.

Seeing Ning Fengzhi enter, she asked curiously, "Fengzhi, was that young man today the Young Master from Spirit Hall?"

Ning Fengzhi walked over and sat beside her. "Yes, that was Qian Lingche, the Young Master of Spirit Hall."

Su Ruoxi asked with a puzzled expression, "Then why did they come? Spirit Hall shouldn't have any dealings with us, should it?"

Ning Fengzhi recounted the day's events, then took the tea from her hand and sipped it gently. "Though the child is young, he is meticulous and decisive. He is by no means an ordinary person."

Su Ruoxi murmured an acknowledgment. "For the Young Master of Spirit Hall to come in person, he has certainly given us quite a bit of face."

"However, Fengzhi, do you think his purpose for this trip is merely to hunt a soul ring?"

Ning Fengzhi pondered for a moment before speaking slowly. "Hunting the soul ring is certainly one reason, but I fear he also intends to use this opportunity to build ties with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

Understanding Ning Fengzhi's implication, Su Ruoxi frowned slightly and asked tentatively, "Are you intending to win him over? But he is, after all, a man of Spirit Hall."

"The situation of this Young Master within Spirit Hall is quite awkward. Establishing a good relationship with him may well be a good thing for our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

In truth, he was thinking of the rumors that this Young Master had been sidelined due to a mutated martial soul.

Yet, seeing him today—though he did not know the nature of his martial soul—the 35th-level Soul Power he displayed had changed his perspective.

He wasn't even nine years old yet, was he? Such talent was truly terrifying. If nothing went wrong, he would undoubtedly break Tang Hao's record and become the youngest Title Douluo in history.

Su Ruoxi sighed softly. "But the ambition of Spirit Hall is known to all. If we get too close to them, will it not invite unnecessary trouble?"

Two days passed in the blink of an eye.

Guang Ling stood in mid-air, the Light Feather Divine Bow in his hand gleaming with a cold light, his soul power surging around him. "The trail of that Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast is right nearby. The aura is growing stronger."

Suddenly, a sharp phoenix cry pierced the sky. A massive fire phoenix dove from the clouds, its body wreathed in scorching flames as if it intended to set the entire sky ablaze.

It spread wings that blotted out the sun, and wherever it passed, the grass and trees were instantly ignited, turning into a sea of fire.

The fire phoenix circled in the air, looking down at Guang Ling and the others with eyes full of rage.

"Wretched humans, leave my territory! Or stay here forever!"

As the fire phoenix's words fell, a terrifying wave of soul power erupted from its body.

It beat its wings violently, and the scorching flames swept down like a tidal wave, instantly dyeing the surrounding space a deep crimson.

The ground shook violently under the impact of the phoenix's soul power; the hard earth was torn asunder, and molten lava surged from the fissures, the towering flames illuminating the entire forest like a purgatory.

Seeing this, Lin Yuan's expression turned grave. "As expected of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast..."

At that moment, a black soul ring suddenly lit up on Guang Ling. "Hey, if you ask me, you should just obediently wait to become a soul ring."

He raised his bow slightly, and his soul power condensed into an invisible arrow on the string, radiating a bone-chilling cold.

"Fifth Soul Skill—Arriving Without Interval!" The bow in Guang Ling's hand vibrated violently, and the invisible arrow instantly tore through the air, heading straight for the fire phoenix.

At the same time, the black soul ring on Chen Xin also flared to life.

"Sixth Soul Skill—Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin!" Chen Xin shouted coldly. The space behind him distorted, and countless sword shadows manifested out of thin air.

With a flick of Chen Xin's finger, the overwhelming barrage of sword shadows whistled toward the fire phoenix.

Seeing that Guang Ling and Chen Xin not only ignored its warning but dared to attack—and insult it—the fire phoenix's rage reached its peak.

Its eyes burned with violent flames as it let out a heaven-shaking cry.

"Presumptuous! Humans! You seek death!" The fire phoenix's voice resounded throughout the entire forest.

It suddenly wrapped its wings around itself, and scorching flames erupted from its body, forming a massive fireball that completely encased it.

The attacks from Guang Ling and Chen Xin were instantly melted by the terrifying high temperature the moment they made contact with the fireball.

Guang Ling rubbed his head in frustration. "Seriously, this bird isn't weak. No wonder it dares to be so arrogant."

Despite his words, his movements did not falter in the slightest.

He raised the Guang Ling Bow once more, Soul Power rapidly condensing on the bowstring as an arrow shimmering with cold light took form. "Fourth Soul Skill—Ice-Sealing Arrow!"

A sky-covering barrage of arrows, carrying a bone-chilling cold, surged directly toward the Fire Phoenix.

When the arrows struck the flames surrounding the Fire Phoenix, they instantly unleashed an intense chill.

However, the temperature of the flames was simply too high; the moment the arrows touched the fireball, they were rapidly melted, dissipating into wisps of white smoke in the air.

Even so, Guang Ling did not cease his assault. The arrows poured down like a rainstorm, continuously battering the fireball as cold air and flames intertwined, emitting a hissing sound.

Meanwhile, Chen Xin retreated to the side, the Seven Kill Sword in his hand hanging slightly low as terrifying fluctuations of Soul Power began to condense along the blade.

But at that moment, a flicker of ferocity flashed in the Fire Phoenix's eyes. The fireball surrounding it suddenly contracted, then exploded outward, sending waves of fire rolling toward Guang Ling and Chen Xin.

"Eighth Soul Skill—Time Dial." A cold, clear voice suddenly rang out.

As the voice fell, a massive magic dial appeared out of thin air before the three of them.

The moment the sky-filling waves of fire touched the dial, they were forcibly blocked, unable to advance even a fraction further.