Ning Tian and Wu Feng

Inside the hall.

Lin Yan curiously sized up the two exquisitely delicate girls before him, each like a porcelain doll.

As Lin Yan observed Ning Tian and Wu Feng, the two of them were also watching him.

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

Wu Feng stepped forward, looking down at Lin Yan arrogantly.

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

Wu Feng snorted. "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 stunned 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 Great Soul Master frightening?

Absolutely.

In order to bring the two of them together and leave Ning Tian, who was meeting Lin Yan for the first time, with a deep impression of him, Ning Xingzong had put considerable thought into it. He had not told Ning Tian about Lin Yan's true cultivation, instead giving Lin Yan the chance to say it himself.

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

Since even Ning Tian did not know, Wu Feng, who had merely come along for the excitement, naturally did not know either. She had instinctively taken Lin Yan for a level-ten Soul Master who needed his first Spirit Ring.

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

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

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 revealed his martial soul, presenting the strongest possible proof.

A pitch-black, short-handled spiked mace appeared in Lin Yan's hand. Conical spikes neatly covered the mace's head, and faint purple arcs of electricity as thin as hairs could be seen dancing across them.

A bright yellow Spirit Ring encircled the spiked mace. As it pulsed, powerful soul power fluctuations could faintly be felt.

The two girls stared without blinking at the Century Spirit Ring on the spiked mace.

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

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

Hearing Lin Yan's voice, the two immediately came 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 an auxiliary-type Soul Master with level-ten soul power."

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

"Cough, cough—"

Lin Yan coughed lightly and said with forced composure, "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.

"Go on, say it. 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 instantly became displeased.

"How am I low? My Innate Soul Power is level eight too! My martial soul is the powerful Red Dragon, an extremely formidable assault-type beast martial soul."

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

She only had level-eight soul power.

Lin Yan was just two years older than her, yet his soul power exceeded hers by twelve levels!

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

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

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 an odd expression.

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

Did she already have such inclinations at such a young age?

Should I help correct her? Otherwise, this is just too strange...

Thinking oddly to himself, Lin Yan then 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 found herself speechless.

Lin Yan seriously lectured her, "At a time like this, you should cultivate diligently and focus on raising your cultivation. Strive to obtain your first Spirit Ring as soon as possible. If you ask me, you shouldn't go on 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 Little Sister Ning Tian either!"

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

"Fine, then!"

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

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

Upon seeing Lin Yuhuan, Ning Tian and Wu Feng hurriedly called out obediently, "Grandma Lin."

"Grandmother!"

Lin Yan also rose and called out.

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 now, right?"

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

"Mm." Lin Yuhuan smiled and nodded, turning her gaze toward 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 said obediently, "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.

At the side, Lin Yan watched this scene with an odd expression.

He did not know whether it was an illusion, but he vaguely felt that Lin Yuhuan's words carried some hidden meaning.

Once the group had assembled, they boarded carriages and left Nine Treasure City.

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

After leaving Nine Treasure City, their carriages headed directly toward the Star Dou Great Forest.

The Star Dou Great Forest was the continent's foremost Soul Beast habitat. Vast in area, it was as large as half an empire, like a giant dragon stretching across the center of the continent.

Not only were there countless Soul Beasts here, but they also came in many varieties, possessed formidable strength, and were of high quality. Deep in its core even dwelled 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, choosing the Star Dou Great Forest instead for its greater variety of Soul Beasts.

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

Lin Yuhuan rode alone in another carriage.

The old steward rode on horseback beside them.

Inside the luxurious, exquisite carriage.

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

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

"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 can safely obtain Spirit Rings this time." Ning Tian spoke with a hint of worry.

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'll be fine. My grandmother is a Titled Douluo. Obtaining a mere first Spirit Ring will be as easy as taking something from her hand!" Lin Yan reassured her with a smile, easing Ning Tian's anxiety.

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

Looking at Wu Feng, Lin Yan earnestly lectured her, "Little Sister Wu Feng, stop talking big. You should cultivate seriously. When you have your first Spirit Ring someday, then you can talk about protecting Little Sister Ning Tian!"