The Mysterious Elder's Identity

Huo Feng gave a soft shout, grabbed Huo Lei by the arm, and ducked behind a large tree.

"Dad, what level of destructive power was that?"

Huo Lei looked at his father in confusion.

"That's hard to say. But in my opinion, destructive power of that intensity would require at least an Eight-Ring Soul Douluo, perhaps someone even stronger. If it was a soul beast, then conservatively speaking, it would need over seventy or eighty thousand years of cultivation."

Huo Feng's tone carried a hint of gravity.

"Dad! If that's the case, shouldn't we leave right away? But it doesn't look like you intend to leave."

Huo Lei watched his father curiously.

Hehehe~

"So you noticed, kid. After a major battle, there are often benefits to be found. I'll go investigate in a bit. Maybe I'll come across something unexpected."

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The thunderous explosions rang out again, this time much closer. The ground shook even more violently than before.

"Xiao Lei, quickly hide up in this tree. I'll go take a look. Don't change locations before I return."

Huo Feng spoke as he prepared to leave.

Huo Lei grabbed his father's arm and said worriedly, "Dad, be careful!"

"Don't worry. I'm a level seventy-nine Soul Sage, after all. I'll only observe from afar; I won't treat my life as a joke. If the situation is truly dangerous, I'll return immediately and take you away."

Huo Feng reassured him with a serious expression.

Huo Lei understood his father's temperament quite well. Although Huo Feng usually seemed rough and bold, he was actually very meticulous when important matters arose.

He stopped hesitating, released his father's arm, and nodded slightly before leaping up into the dense canopy.

Through the gaps in the leaves, Huo Lei watched his father swiftly head toward the source of the explosions. He climbed to a higher branch, trying to see farther.

"It's been at least two minutes since the last explosion. Why has that direction become so quiet? Could the battle already be over? With Father's speed as a Soul Sage, he should have returned by now. Why isn't there any sign of him?"

Standing on the branch, Huo Lei stared through the gaps in the foliage without blinking, afraid he might miss the sight of his father returning.

"Fifty-eight, fifty-nine, sixty. Another minute has passed. I wonder how Father is doing now. This is killing me."

Huo Lei silently counted the time while watching the distance from his branch.

"Hmm? That is...?"

Huo Lei narrowed his eyes and strained to look at a red figure moving rapidly through the distant grass.

As the figure drew closer, the heart that had been hanging in his chest finally settled.

"It's Father! Great."

"But who is that person in yellow on Father's back?"

"Ah, who cares who it is? Nothing matters more than Father coming back safely."

He nimbly leaped between the branches, landed lightly on the ground, and hurried toward his father.

"Dad, I'll help you."

Only when Huo Lei got closer did he realize that the yellow-clothed person on his father's back was actually a gray-haired elder.

"No need for help!"

"Xiao Lei, hurry up. We're going back to the academy."

With a grave expression, Huo Feng did not dare stop moving. After urging him once, he quickly headed toward the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest.

Huo Lei did not dare delay and hurried after him. Before long, father and son disappeared into the forest.

Outside the treatment room of Blazing Fire Academy.

"Old man, weren't you accompanying Xiao Lei to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt for a Soul Ring? Why did you bring back an old man?"

An exceptionally beautiful woman stood there, her dark-red wavy hair cascading to her waist. Her fair face and exquisite features were complemented by lively red eyes, a high delicate nose, and fiery red lips. Her fitted gold-and-red academy uniform accentuated her curvaceous figure perfectly. She was Huo Wu, the daughter of Blazing Fire Academy's dean and Huo Lei's older sister.

"Little sister, you're not that young anymore. Stop talking to Father like that every day."

Huo Wushuang, who had short reddish-brown hair, tried to mediate from the side.

"It's fine. I love hearing whatever Huo Wu has to say."

Huo Feng was not angry at all, instead wearing a cheerful grin.

Huo Wu looked at Huo Wushuang and made a cute, smug face.

"Old man, where did you save this old man from?"

Huo Wu asked again in a calm tone.

"In the Star Dou Great Forest. Right after your brother had attached his Soul Ring, we heard those huge explosions. By the time I arrived, the battle was already over. The place was a complete mess, with broken trees and branches everywhere. I found this unconscious elder beneath a large tree."

Huo Feng vividly recounted what had happened.

"Then this old man is no ordinary person! By the way, Xiao Lei, how many years was your fourth Soul Ring? What Soul Skill did you gain?"

Huo Wu turned her curious gaze toward her younger brother.

Huo Wushuang looked over with equal curiosity.

"Sister Huo Wu, my fourth Soul Ring came from a five-thousand-year Magma Hound. I gained a fire-element defensive Soul Skill."

Huo Lei answered honestly.

Ding ding ding~

"The class bell has rung. You two should hurry to class. We don't need your help here."

Huo Feng looked at Huo Wushuang and Huo Wu.

"Hmph! Brother, let's go."

Huo Wu gave a soft huff, grabbed her brother, and turned to leave.

"Xiao Lei, what do you think of your sister?"

Huo Feng asked meaningfully.

"Huh?"

"Sister Huo Wu is very nice!"

Huo Lei did not know why his father was asking, but he did not think much of it and simply answered casually.

"As long as you think so."

Hahaha~

Unable to hide his delight, Huo Feng burst into laughter.

At that moment, a lovely middle-aged woman dressed in white emerged from the treatment room. "Dean, he has been treated. This elder's injuries are quite serious, but fortunately, his physical condition is excellent and his life is not in danger. He should wake up soon."

"Good! Sorry for the trouble, Teacher Miao Tian."

Huo Feng spoke politely.

"If there is nothing else, Dean, I'll return to my work."

"Alright!"

Miao Tian gave Huo Feng and Huo Lei a sweet smile before turning and leaving.

"Xiao Lei, let's go in and take a look at that elder."

The treatment room at Blazing Fire Academy was simply furnished. There were two single beds, each with a bedside table and a chair.

Huo Feng and Huo Lei entered the treatment room one after the other and headed straight for the elder's bed.

"His complexion looks much better. There's color in his face now, and his breathing has become even. It seems..."

Huo Feng was examining him and murmuring to himself when the elder suddenly bolted upright.

"Ah—"

A startled cry rang out at the same time.

Huo Feng and Huo Lei were startled by the elder's abrupt movement and instinctively stepped back.

"S-Senior, you're awake!"

Huo Feng knew nothing about the elder before him, but he believed that anyone capable of causing such massive explosions had to be powerful. Unsure of the man's temperament, Huo Feng remained slightly guarded. He stepped half a pace forward sideways, shielding Huo Lei behind him, and greeted the elder politely.

The elder's eyes shifted as he swiftly surveyed the room before settling his gaze on Huo Feng.

"Where is this? How did I come to be here?"

"Hiss—!"

Pain shot through the elder's body. He sucked in a breath and tightly clutched his chest with his right hand.

"Senior, your injuries are serious. Please do not get agitated."

Huo Feng cautiously tried to reassure him.

"I'm fine. You still haven't answered my question."

The elder's face was solemn, and his gaze was sharp as lightning as he looked at Huo Feng. Perhaps because of his injuries, his tone was much gentler than before.

"Senior, this is Blazing Fire Academy. The man beside me is Blazing Fire Academy's dean and also my father. He was the one who saved you in the Star Dou Great Forest."

Huo Lei poked his head out from behind Huo Feng and introduced them as he answered.

"I am Huo Feng. Greetings, Senior. May I ask your honored name?"

Following his son's words, he bowed respectfully and asked about the elder's identity.