Three Years No See, You've Grown Even More Beautiful

Aren't human soul masters supposed to be weak? Why was he, a beast, turned into a bloody mess by someone using him for target practice?!

This isn't fair!

The Armored Black Bear let out a desperate roar, and finally, filled with frustration and resentment, it died miserably under the boy's fists.

As the massive creature collapsed and died before him, a black soul ring rose from the corpse. At the same time, a right-arm soul bone, appearing as if carved from black crystal and shimmering with faint dark light, emerged.

The boy reached out to grab it, inspected it briefly, and then stowed it away in his soul storage device.

Looking at the massive carcass of the Armored Black Bear, he finally lowered his fists, let out a long breath, and calmed the blood surging through his body from the intense battle.

The boy took a few deep breaths to steady his internal energy, scanned his surroundings, and finally fixed his gaze on the Armored Black Bear's paws, a hint of anticipation in his eyes.

He then pressed his right fingers together, condensed his soul power into a blade, and sliced off the bear's paws. Using this as food would be the perfect way to nourish himself.

After finishing his work, he leaned against a relatively intact boulder, stretched his limbs, and began to prepare the bear paws.

Lacking branches for a barbecue, he used the sharp sword in his hand to chop down an iron tree. After a simple trimming, he skewered the paws and set them over a fire he had already started.

The flames rose, and grease dripped from the bear paws, sizzling as it hit the fire.

Leaning against the boulder, Lin Tian looked up at the sky, his thoughts drifting as he couldn't help but feel a sense of reflection.

In the blink of an eye, he had been away from the Pope Palace for three years. Although he missed his mother, the Pope, he could not leave until he had fulfilled the requirements of his mission.

Besides, he had already endured three years; a few more days wouldn't make a difference.

During this period, the Douluo Continent had been relatively calm, with no major events occurring.

The only exception was a small issue with Qian Daoliu, the Great Elder of the Worship Hall. He, who had always disliked administrative affairs, had unprecedentedly demanded that all Spirit Hall soul masters hunt down members of the Clear Sky Sect.

The Clear Sky Sect was despicable and shameless, indirectly causing the death of his beloved son. This blood feud could never be resolved with just a few words.

Previously, he had been wary of Tang Chen and dared not push the Clear Sky Sect too far.

But ever since he had been lectured by Lin Tian, Qian Daoliu had finally awakened.

To hell with Tang Chen!

To hell with the Clear Sky Hammer!

To hell with the Clear Sky Sect!

Everyone was a top-tier soul master on the Douluo Continent; what right did he have to throw his weight around in front of him?

"Any member of the Clear Sky Sect who refuses to cooperate—kill them!"

A fierce light flashed in Qian Daoliu's bright golden eyes. That brat Lin Tian was right; why the hell should the Clear Sky Hammer be allowed to act so arrogantly? He wasn't dead yet, and the Six-Winged Angel had to suppress them!

Those who did not submit would be killed!

If Tang Chen dared to come out and protect his kin, then he would fight him to the death.

He did not want to experience the regrets of Sea God Island a second time!

Over these years of training in the Star Dou Forest, Lin Tian's practical combat experience had improved significantly.

His soul power level had reached forty-nine, just one step away from breaking through to a Soul King, which he expected to achieve within a month.

He had also mastered the [Spirit Eye], allowing him to instantly spot the weaknesses of any soul beast with a single glance.

However, he hadn't encountered any soul masters to fight against in these years, so he had yet to discover what a soul master's martial soul weakness looked like under the [Spirit Eye].

Even so, Lin Tian was confident he could hold his own against a Soul King, or even a Soul Saint.

After all, he had grown far beyond what he used to be.

Watching the black bear paws sizzling with oil before him, Lin Tian couldn't help but swallow his saliva.

Delicacies he couldn't taste in his past life were his to enjoy freely here on the Douluo Continent.

Dragon liver, phoenix marrow, bear paws, deer antlers—there was nothing he couldn't catch if he set his mind to it.

Before long, the black bear paws were roasted to a golden brown, the fragrance so mouth-watering it was impossible not to salivate.

Lin Tian took out his portable seasoning, sprinkled it evenly, and roasted them once more. Once the flavors had soaked in, he picked them up with both hands and began to feast.

In a few days, once the three-year term was up and his soul power successfully reached level 50, he would return to the Spirit Hall.

Having stayed in the Star Dou Forest for so long, his body was brimming with vitality, all in preparation for his night raid on the Pope's Bedchamber.

Two days later.

Beneath a steep waterfall in the Star Dou Mountain Range, a 35,000-year-old Flame Black Tiger was pierced through the chest and abdomen by a sharp longsword, pinned directly to the cliff face at the bottom of the waterfall.

The sword was wreathed in a ferocious, domineering aura, its shadows flickering with extreme power.

The Flame Black Tiger pinned to the cliff had initially been engulfed in rising flames, but before long, the fire dissipated, leaving behind only a shriveled tiger carcass.

Soon, the longsword was pulled away, flying back from the cracked cliff face toward a black-haired boy. In the boy's hand, he was carrying several freshly slaughtered Soft Bone Rabbits.

Having lived in the Star Dou Forest for so long, he had become obsessed with the unique delicacy of the Soft Bone Rabbit.

Barbecued, deep-fried, salt and pepper... no matter how he cooked them, they were delicious.

Today, his Soul Power officially broke through to level 50, far exceeding the one-month timeframe he had previously estimated.

After tidying up briefly, Lin Tian took out a signal flare and fired it into the sky; this was something Mother Bibi Dong had stuffed into his magical device right before he set off.

Having stayed in the Star Dou Mountain Range for three years, he could finally return.

A cup of tea's time later, a piercing, incredibly loud cry rang out, its momentum so terrifying that it scattered all the nearby soul beasts.

Lin Tian looked up to see a crimson Spirit Kite with a wingspan of nearly ten meters, riding the wind while wreathed in scorching flames.

This Spirit Kite was enveloped in flowing silver light, its wings thick and powerful, and its hooked beak glinting with a cold light. The talons beneath its belly were over a meter long and sharp as blades; surely, they could easily tear apart any ten-thousand-year Scale Armor Beast.

The Spirit Kite's eyes were as large and vibrant as lanterns, and as its gaze swept across the area, it carried the distinct air of a monarch surveying the world.

A graceful figure flickered in and out of view atop the Spirit Kite's head; it was none other than Spirit Kite Douluo, who had discovered him in the beginning. She stood with her arms crossed over her chest, the Spirit Kite beneath her feet being another manifestation of her Martial Soul Avatar.

When the flaming Spirit Kite descended, the immense wind pressure crushed down like a surging tide, kicking up a massive cloud of dust and snapping dozens of meters of tall trees at the roots, while even boulders weighing a thousand catties were sent flying by the gale.

Yet, Lin Tian remained unmoved in the center of the clearing, standing as steady as a rock, his figure not swaying in the slightest.

He looked at Spirit Kite Douluo before him, leaped up, and landed directly at her side, bowing to her in greeting:

"Spirit Kite Douluo, thank you for coming to pick me up. I didn't expect that after three years, you would have become even more beautiful than before!"