Ning Tian and Wu Feng

Inside the hall.

Lin Yan curiously sized up the two exquisite girls before him, who looked like porcelain dolls.

As Lin Yan observed Ning Tian and Wu Feng, they were observing him as well.

"Are you the guy who's going with us to obtain Spirit Rings?"

Wu Feng stepped forward, looking arrogantly at Lin Yan.

"That's right. What can I do for you?" Lin Yan asked with a smile, unconcerned by her attitude.

Wu Feng gave a light snort. "You look one or two years older than us, yet you're only getting your first Spirit Ring now. Your talent is really terrible!"

Lin Yan was slightly taken aback by her words.

Was there something wrong with Wu Feng's head?

Who had told her that he was here to obtain his first Spirit Ring?

Was an eight-year-old Soul Grandmaster terrifying?

Absolutely terrifying!

In order to bring the two together and leave a deep impression on Ning Tian when she first met Lin Yan, Ning Xingzong had gone to great lengths. He had not told Ning Tian about Lin Yan's true cultivation, instead giving Lin Yan the chance to speak for himself.

That way, when Lin Yan revealed it himself, Ning Tian would surely be shocked by his cultivation and remember him deeply.

Even Ning Tian did not know, so naturally Wu Feng, who had come along for the excitement, did not know either. She had instinctively assumed Lin Yan was a level-ten Soul Master who needed to obtain his first Spirit Ring.

Lin Yan said seriously, "I think I should properly introduce myself."

"Hello, my name is Lin Yan. I'm eight years old, a level-twenty assault-type Soul Grandmaster!"

The air in the hall suddenly fell silent after Lin Yan's words.

Ning Tian and Wu Feng were both stunned.

Eight years old?

Level twenty?

"You have level-twenty Soul Power?" Wu Feng's starry eyes widened as she stared at Lin Yan in disbelief.

Lin Yan did not answer. Instead, he directly summoned his Martial Soul, presenting the most convincing proof.

A pitch-black short-handled spiked club appeared in Lin Yan's hand. Conical spikes neatly covered the front end of the club, and faint purple arcs of lightning as thin as hairs flickered across them.

A bright yellow Spirit Ring encircled the spiked club. As it pulsed, one could faintly sense a powerful fluctuation of Soul Power.

The two girls stared unblinkingly at the Century Spirit Ring on the spiked club.

So Lin Yan really was here to obtain his second Spirit Ring?

As the two stood there somewhat dazed, Lin Yan said, "I've finished introducing myself. As a matter of etiquette between Soul Masters, shouldn't you introduce yourselves as well?"

Hearing Lin Yan's voice, the two immediately snapped back to their senses.

Ning Tian glanced at Lin Yan and said in a soft, sweet voice, "Hello, Brother Lin Yan. My name is Ning Tian. I'm six years old. My Martial Soul is the Seven-Treasure Glazed Pagoda. I'm a Support-Type Soul Master, and my Soul Power is level ten."

Ning Tian was as delicate as a porcelain doll, and that soft "Brother" nearly made the twenty-year-old soul inside Lin Yan's body go weak at the knees.

"Cough, cough—"

Lin Yan coughed lightly and forced himself to remain calm. "Level ten at six years old is very good. What about you?"

After learning Lin Yan's true cultivation, Wu Feng immediately lost her earlier arrogance and suddenly became hesitant.

"Say it boldly. Even if your cultivation is low, I won't laugh at you!"

Lin Yan wore a gentle smile, but when those words reached Wu Feng's ears, she immediately became displeased.

"How am I low? My Innate Soul Power is level eight too, and my Martial Soul is the mighty Red Dragon, an extremely powerful assault-type Beast Martial Soul."

Wu Feng's voice grew quieter and quieter as she thought of Lin Yan's cultivation, losing all confidence in her words.

She only had level-eight Soul Power.

Lin Yan was only two years older than her, yet his Soul Power was already twelve levels higher!

Even if she were given two years, she was not confident she could catch up.

Lin Yan, however, looked at Wu Feng strangely. "Little Sister Wu Feng, we're going to obtain Spirit Rings this time. You haven't even reached level ten, so why are you coming along?"

Wu Feng raised her fair little fist and said seriously, "As an assault-type Soul Master, I have to protect Ning Tian."

Lin Yan wore a strange expression.

Wu Feng was a girl, yet she liked Ning Tian, who was also a girl.

Did she already have those tendencies at such a young age?

Should I help correct her? Otherwise, it would be too strange...

Thinking this strangely to himself, Lin Yan smiled. "You don't even have a Spirit Ring. How are you going to protect Ning Tian?"

"I—"

Wu Feng blinked, her little face flushing red as she was left speechless.

Lin Yan seriously lectured her, "At a time like this, you should cultivate diligently and focus on improving your cultivation. Strive to obtain your first Spirit Ring as soon as possible. In my opinion, you shouldn't come along for this Spirit Ring hunt."

"No, I'm going."

"You don't need a Spirit Ring, so why are you going? You don't have the strength to protect Ning Tian either!"

"Even if I can't protect Ning Tian, can't I at least go in and take a look?" Wu Feng said resolutely. "As an assault-type Soul Master, I need to have a strong heart. Therefore, I want to see terrifying Soul Beasts with my own eyes!"

"Fine, then!"

Lin Yan nodded helplessly. Wu Feng had clearly made up her mind to go, and no one could change it.

While the three were talking, a figure entered the hall. It was Lin Yuhuan.

When Ning Tian and Wu Feng saw Lin Yuhuan, they hurriedly called out obediently, "Grandma Lin."

"Grandmother!"

Lin Yan stood and called out as well.

Lin Yuhuan's gaze slowly swept over the three of them as she asked with a smile, "How did your conversation go? You should all know each other by now, right?"

"Grandmother, we've already talked," Lin Yan quickly replied.

"Mhm." Lin Yuhuan nodded with a smile, then looked at Ning Tian and Wu Feng. "Tian'er, this brat Lin Yan didn't bully you two, did he?"

Ning Tian hurriedly shook her head and obediently said, "No, Grandma Lin. Brother Lin Yan is very nice. He didn't bully anyone!"

Lin Yuhuan said, "If this brat dares to bully you, tell Grandma, and Grandma will teach him a lesson. Understand?"

Ning Tian glanced at Lin Yan, her cheeks slightly red as she nodded.

Beside them, Lin Yan watched this scene with a strange expression.

He did not know whether it was merely an illusion, but he vaguely felt that Lin Yuhuan seemed to be implying something.

Once everyone had gathered, they boarded carriages and left Nine Treasure City.

This time, those traveling included Lin Yan, Ning Tian, Wu Feng, and Lin Yuhuan. The old steward had come along as well.

After leaving Nine Treasure City, their group drove straight toward the Star Dou Great Forest.

The Star Dou Great Forest was the continent's foremost Soul Beast habitat. It was vast, as large as half an empire, stretching across the heart of the continent like a giant dragon.

Not only were there countless Soul Beasts here, but there was also an immense variety of them. They were powerful and of high quality, and deep within its core even lived Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts capable of rivaling Titled Douluo.

Considering Ning Tian's Spirit Ring requirements, they did not go to Thunder Grand Canyon this time. Instead, they chose the Star Dou Great Forest, which had a richer variety of Soul Beasts.

Lin Yan, Ning Tian, and Wu Feng rode in one carriage.

Lin Yuhuan rode alone in another carriage.

Meanwhile, the old steward rode beside them on horseback.

Inside the luxurious and exquisite carriage.

The three faced one another, and the atmosphere was somewhat stifling.

Ning Tian spoke first. Blinking her bright eyes, she asked, "Brother Lin Yan, have you ever been to the Star Dou Great Forest?"

"No. My first Spirit Ring came from Thunder Grand Canyon," Lin Yan said, shaking his head.

"I heard the Star Dou Great Forest is very dangerous. I wonder whether we'll be able to obtain our Spirit Rings safely this time," Ning Tian said with some concern.

Looking at Ning Tian, Lin Yan thought of himself when he had first gone to Thunder Grand Canyon.

No matter who it was, the first time they went to a Soul Beast habitat to obtain a Spirit Ring, they would inevitably feel nervous.

"It's fine. My grandmother is a Titled Douluo. Obtaining a mere first Spirit Ring will be easy!" Lin Yan said with a smile, comforting Ning Tian and easing her anxiety.

Wu Feng quickly raised her fist as well. "Ning Tian, if there's danger, I'll protect you!"

Lin Yan looked at Wu Feng and earnestly lectured her, "Little Sister Wu Feng, stop talking big. You should cultivate seriously. Wait until you have your first Spirit Ring before saying things like you'll protect Ning Tian!"