Heaven Dou City.
The courtyard residence where Blazing Fire Academy was staying.
Afternoon sunlight filtered through the dense parasol tree leaves, scattering dappled light and shadow across the flagstones.
A breeze carried lingering echoes of the bustling streets, yet only made the courtyard seem quieter.
After parting with Zhu Zhuqing outside the city, Chen Jin had returned here alone.
As for the Tang San and Dai Mubai whom Zhu Zhuqing had mentioned, he had not taken them to heart.
If those two were blind enough to come looking for trouble, he would not mind showing them what despair meant.
Chen Jin pushed open the heavy vermilion gate and stepped into the inner hall.
A faint sandalwood fragrance permeated the air inside.
Huo Wu was sitting alone on a spacious Soft Couch.
Today, she wore a fitted red minidress.
The dress had pitifully little fabric, clinging to her full figure and revealing breathtaking curves.
Against the red dress, her slender waist, too small for a single hand to grasp, looked especially supple.
The hem barely covered the tops of her thighs.
Her long, straight legs were crossed, fully exposed to the air.
Her skin was fair and delicate, gleaming like mutton-fat jade in the sunlight.
Huo Wu had already taken off the tall red boots she usually wore.
Her small, exquisite feet dangled over the edge of the couch.
They were soft and fair, her rounded toes like plump pearls tinged with pale pink.
Out of boredom, she occasionally curled her toes, her arches forming graceful lines.
Hearing movement at the entrance, Huo Wu quickly turned her head.
When she saw that it was Chen Jin, her beautiful eyes lit up.
"Chen Jin!"
Huo Wu cried out in surprise.
Without even bothering to put on shoes or stockings, she jumped off the Soft Couch.
Her fair feet landed on the wooden floor with a soft patter.
She hurried toward him.
With every step, her skirt swayed gently, the fair skin of her thighs appearing and disappearing beneath the red fabric.
"Where have you been these past few days?"
Huo Wu stood before Chen Jin, her hands planted on her slender waist.
She tilted her head up, staring at Chen Jin with wide eyes.
Breathless from hurrying, she panted, the fullness of her chest rising and falling with each breath, almost brushing Chen Jin's chest.
Chen Jin looked at the red-haired woman before him.
Her exquisite face was filled with anxiety and worry. Although her tone sounded accusatory, she could not hide the concern in her eyes.
"Do you know everyone's been looking for you?"
"You really do as you please, disappearing for days without even leaving a message."
As she spoke, Huo Wu extended a jade-white finger and lightly poked Chen Jin's chest.
Chen Jin caught the warm, sweet scent coming from her.
He stepped back half a pace and sat down on a nearby chair.
"I had some personal business to take care of."
Chen Jin answered calmly.
Huo Wu followed, refusing to let the matter go.
She sat beside Chen Jin, very close to him.
Her soft, fair thighs almost pressed against the side of Chen Jin's leg, their warmth passing through the thin fabric.
"Personal business?"
Huo Wu knitted her delicate brows.
"What personal business could keep you out of sight for days?"
"Do you know I thought those people from Shrek Academy had ambushed you?"
She reached out and squeezed Chen Jin's arms and shoulders, checking whether he was injured.
Her soft fingertips moved over Chen Jin's skin, leaving trails of ticklish sensations.
Chen Jin watched her flustered movements.
"Are you worried about me?"
Amusement flashed in Chen Jin's eyes.
Huo Wu froze.
A blush spread over her fair cheeks, reaching the roots of her ears.
She hastily withdrew her hands, pulled her beautiful legs back, and turned her head away in annoyance.
"Who's worried about you?!"
"I'm just worried that if something happens to you, Blazing Fire Academy will be down a key fighter in the upcoming matches."
"If we lose because of that, I won't let you off."
Despite her stubborn words, her exquisite feet shifted uneasily on the floor, her toes scrunching against it, making her look very awkward.
Seeing her adorable appearance, Chen Jin's smile deepened.
"Don't worry. I'm not that easy to put out of commission."
Just then, footsteps came from the side entrance.
Huo Wushuang entered with several members of Blazing Fire Academy's team.
"Chen Jin? You're back!"
Joy appeared on Huo Wushuang's face when he saw Chen Jin.
He strode forward and clapped Chen Jin hard on the shoulder.
"You really had us worried these past few days."
"If you hadn't come back soon, my sister would've led a search party to turn Heaven Dou City upside down."
Hearing her brother tease her, Huo Wu stamped her feet in anger.
Her bare feet thudded against the wooden floor.
"Brother! What nonsense are you talking about?!"
"I would not!"
Huo Wushuang laughed, ignoring his sister's protests as he studied Chen Jin closely.
"But you've really changed quite a bit over these past few days, Chen Jin."
"Why does your aura feel even more contained than before?"
As a Soul Ancestor above rank forty, Huo Wushuang possessed keen perception.
He could vaguely sense a terrifying beast lurking within Chen Jin, ready to unleash world-destroying power at any moment.
That oppressive sensation made even a Power Attack System Soul Ancestor like him tremble inwardly.
Chen Jin picked up the teacup on the table and took a casual sip.
"I went to the Star Dou Great Forest."
Both Huo Wushuang and Huo Wu froze at the name.
"The Star Dou Great Forest?"
Huo Wu leaned closer again, her beautiful eyes filled with confusion.
"What did you go there for?"
"It's not peaceful there right now. Ten-thousand-year soul beasts keep appearing."
Chen Jin set down his teacup, his expression calm.
"To hunt for my fourth soul ring."
At those words, a deathly silence fell over the inner hall.
Huo Wushuang's smile froze on his face.
The Blazing Fire Academy team members behind him also stood rooted in place, their eyes wide.
"Your fourth soul ring?"
Huo Wushuang stared at Chen Jin, his eyes full of astonishment.
"You broke through rank forty?"
"Yes."
Chen Jin nodded.
"I was fortunate enough to break through. My soul power is rank forty-two now."
At the words "rank forty-two," everyone's breath caught again.
He had reached rank forty-two just after breaking through?
How deep must his accumulated foundation have been, or how powerful a soul ring must he have obtained, to receive such a boost?
Huo Wu pressed her red lips together, a strange gleam flashing in her eyes.
She looked at Chen Jin.
"Then what soul beast did you kill?"
"What age was it?"
"Your third soul ring came from a six-thousand-year Blazing Fire Azure Sparrow, so your Fourth Soul Ring must be at least eight thousand years old, right?"
According to common knowledge in the Soul Master World, the limit for a fourth soul ring was usually around five thousand years.
But Chen Jin was a monster who could not be measured by ordinary standards.
Thus, Huo Wu guessed that Chen Jin's Fourth Soul Ring was very likely eight thousand years old, or even nine thousand.
Huo Wushuang nodded as well.
"Right. With your physical constitution, enduring an eight- or nine-thousand-year soul ring should be perfectly reasonable."
"Could it have been a nine-thousand-year soul beast nearing ten thousand years?"
The other Blazing Fire Academy team members who had entered with Huo Wushuang also looked envious.
"Nine thousand years. That's incredible."
"Our captain really is too strong."
As everyone discussed it, Chen Jin simply sat there calmly without speaking.
Seeing his inscrutable expression, Huo Wu stamped her feet in irritation.
She walked barefoot up to Chen Jin and stamped her soft, fair feet against the floor.
"Hurry up and tell us!"
"You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?"
Her charming appearance brought a smile to Chen Jin's face.
Chen Jin stood up.
"Since you want to see, take a look for yourselves."
He walked to the center of the inner hall.
Huo Wu, Huo Wushuang, and the team members immediately gathered around, staring at him without blinking.
Chen Jin closed his eyes, and the soul power within him began to circulate.
Boom!
A scorching, noble energy swept out of his body.
The temperature throughout the inner hall soared.
The tea on the table began to boil, then evaporated completely into white mist.
The air began to warp, and rolling waves of heat forced Huo Wushuang and the others to circulate their soul power to resist.
The golden silhouette of the Nine-Heaven Divine Phoenix flashed behind Chen Jin and vanished.
Immediately afterward, soul rings slowly rose one after another from beneath Chen Jin's feet.
The first, yellow.
The second, yellow.
The third, purple.
When these three soul rings lit up, everyone could still remain composed.
But when the fourth soul ring appeared, the light throughout the inner hall dimmed.
It was the deepest black.
Heavy, majestic, and filled with an endless sense of oppression.
A black ten thousand year soul ring!
It slowly pulsed around Chen Jin's body, radiating terrifying pressure.
Even though it had already been subdued, that aura belonging to a ten-thousand-year soul beast still made everyone present tremble in their souls.
Silence.
Deathly silence.
Huo Wushuang was dumbstruck.
He stared at the black soul ring, his entire body like a stone statue, utterly motionless.
A fourth soul ring... ten thousand years old?
It shattered his understanding of the Soul Master World.
Huo Wu sucked in a sharp breath.
She stared blankly at the black soul ring, her beautiful eyes filled with shock.
Under that immense pressure, her fair, beautiful legs could barely support her. Her delicate body trembled as she stumbled back two steps.
The other team members were so frightened that their faces turned pale, and even breathing became difficult.
"This... how is this possible...?"
Huo Wushuang finally managed to find his voice, but his tone was still filled with shock.
"A Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring... your Fourth Soul Ring is actually ten thousand years old?"
With a thought from Chen Jin, the Soul Rings turned into streaks of light and sank into his body. The scorching temperature around them fell as well.
He looked at the utterly stunned group, his expression calm.
"My Fourth Soul Ring came from a thirty-thousand-year-old Flame King Lion."
Chen Jin dropped this bombshell.
Thirty thousand years!
Hearing that number, Huo Wushuang felt his head buzz.
A thirty-thousand-year-old Soul Beast-that was a dream Soul Ring beyond the reach of even many Soul Emperors!
Yet Chen Jin had successfully absorbed it at level forty.
Huo Wushuang looked at Chen Jin with a bitter smile.
"Thirty thousand years... you really are a monster through and through."
"I thought I could still catch sight of your back."
"Now it seems the gap between us is already as vast as heaven and earth."
Early morning.
Sunlight pierced the thin mist and spilled over the stone-paved streets.
It reflected a faint golden glow.
Chen Jin sat cross-legged in the guest room where Blazing Fire Academy was staying.
His eyes were closed.
A wisp of red flame danced on his fingertip.
The flame shimmered with nine-colored light, like a Divine Phoenix spreading its wings to take flight.
The Nine-Heaven Divine Phoenix's Soul Power circulated through his meridians.
Warm.
Powerful.
Knock, knock, knock.
The knocking sounded particularly clear in the quiet morning.
Chen Jin withdrew his Soul Power and opened his eyes.
"Come in."
The door was pushed open.
A student from Blazing Fire Academy walked briskly inside.
He held an exquisite invitation in his hands.
The invitation was made from premium Immortal Jade Bamboo Paper, its edges inlaid with fine flecks of gold.
The Heaven Dou Imperial Family's flying eagle emblem was printed in the center.
It looked lifelike.
"Captain, Xue Qinghe, the crown prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, sent someone to deliver an invitation."
"He invites you to the Crown Prince’s Residence for a chat."
The student presented the invitation with both hands.
Chen Jin reached out and took it.
He opened the invitation. A line of elegant yet imposing handwriting lay within.
"Xue Qinghe."
Chen Jin looked at the name.
His expression remained calm, without the slightest ripple.
Naturally, he knew the true identity of this Heaven Dou Crown Prince.
The holy maiden of Spirit Hall.
Qian Renxue.
Seeking him out at a time like this was certainly more than the crown prince's routine courtesy.
"Understood. You may go."
Chen Jin put away the invitation.
He stood and straightened the fitted red outfit he wore.
He strode out of the room.
Heaven Dou City, the Crown Prince’s Residence.
In the rear garden.
Ancient trees towered overhead, and emerald bamboo formed a grove.
The lake was clear to the bottom, and several koi swam among the lotus leaves.
The surroundings were exceptionally tranquil.
Xue Qinghe sat on an exquisite stone chair.
He wore a luxurious sky-blue robe.
His golden hair was pinned up with a jade hairpin.
His features were refined.
Every movement carried an air of nobility.
Hearing footsteps, Xue Qinghe rose.
He looked at the approaching Chen Jin, a gentle smile appearing on his face.
"Brother Chen Jin, I've long heard of your great reputation."
Xue Qinghe extended a hand, gesturing for Chen Jin to sit.
Chen Jin did not decline and sat in the stone chair opposite him.
"Greetings, Your Highness."
"May I ask why Your Highness wished to see me today?"
Chen Jin cut straight to the point.
His tone was calm. Facing the empire's crown prince, he showed not the slightest unease.
Xue Qinghe picked up the teapot on the stone table.
He personally poured Chen Jin a cup of tea.
The tea's fragrance curled into the air.
It was the finest Snow Summit Silver Needle.
"I invited you here today, Brother Chen Jin, to express my gratitude."
Xue Qinghe set down the teapot and picked up his own cup.
"Gratitude?"
Chen Jin looked at him.
Xue Qinghe nodded and took a sip of tea.
"Shrek Academy has been enjoying tremendous prominence in Heaven Dou City lately."
"They've been rather ostentatious in their conduct."
"Especially that Tang San. Relying on his measure of talent, he acts with overbearing arrogance."
"He has stirred up quite a few incidents in the city, giving the imperial family considerable headaches as well."
Xue Qinghe looked at Chen Jin, making no attempt to hide the admiration in his eyes.
"Brother Chen Jin, by severely injuring Ma Hongjun,"
"you helped me take them down a peg."
"You also taught those self-proclaimed monsters just how high heaven is and how vast the earth."
Chen Jin lifted his teacup and gently blew on the floating tea leaves.
"You flatter me, Your Highness."
"They provoked me first. I merely taught them a lesson."
"When their skills fall short, they have no one else to blame."
Xue Qinghe laughed.
"Well said-when their skills fall short!"
"Brother Chen Jin, you truly are refreshingly forthright."
"Your strength certainly warrants that confidence."
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