The instant he landed, Tian Chen had already completed his Martial Soul Possession.
The soul mark on his back shone with golden light, accompanied by a furious roar.
A layer of fine scales covered his entire body, his hands transformed into sharp claws, and his body swelled in an instant.
Even his originally short golden hair seemed to have been coated in a thick layer of keratin, and an enormous long tail densely covered in bone spikes and golden scales trailed behind him.
A bright yellow ring pulsed around his body.
Tian Chen's originally clear blue pupils contracted, becoming strange vertical slits.
The twenty-odd ten-year Gale Demon Wolves did not attack rashly.
After launching several tentative feints at Tian Chen, they ultimately could no longer resist the temptation of food.
Tensing their hind legs and opening their hideous, enormous jaws, they pounced at Tian Chen.
"I was waiting for you."
Rather than becoming angry at the sight, Tian Chen was delighted. Although his Martial Soul possessed astonishing attack power, defense, and strength, speed was not its forte.
Having to chase these nimble Gale Demon Wolves would have been troublesome.
Without hesitation, he unleashed the first Soul Skill he had just acquired.
Yellow light flashed, the giant crocodile phantom behind him roared, and dazzling light radiated from Tian Chen.
His body swelled another size as he leaned slightly forward, and a light slap of the enormous tail behind him smashed a huge, deep crater into the ground.
Facing the ten-year Gale Demon Wolves pouncing at him, Tian Chen held both claws in front of himself and bent slightly at the waist, fully exposing his back, covered in golden scales, to their attacks.
The Gale Demon Wolves that closed in slammed their sharp claws into Tian Chen before biting at him, while those farther away unleashed their innate Soul Skill-Wind Blade-to provide support from a distance.
The ideal was beautiful, but reality was cruel.
Their attacks had no effect whatsoever, not even leaving the slightest mark on Tian Chen's golden scales.
With a soft snort, Tian Chen blazed with golden light, and his claws tore straight through the two Gale Demon Wolves nearest him.
Blood splattered everywhere, but Tian Chen deliberately avoided it, leaving none on his body.
Then the crocodile tail behind Tian Chen swept viciously outward, sending several Gale Demon Wolves behind him flying straight into nearby tree trunks. With a howl, they breathed their last.
What followed was a one-sided slaughter.
Under the enhancement of his first Soul Skill, Golden Crocodile Body Protection, his attack power, defense, and strength all increased by one hundred percent.
This Soul Skill was almost comparable to an ordinary Soul Elder's third Soul Skill.
However, Tian Chen could not yet bring out its true power.
Only after acquiring an offensive Soul Skill would he truly experience how terrifying this Soul Skill was.
Of course, a powerful skill also came with a heavy cost.
With Tian Chen's current reserves of Soul Power, he could maintain it for no more than three minutes.
After casually stomping a Gale Demon Wolf to death, Tian Chen did not pursue the others.
He had achieved his goal, and there was no point in continuing the slaughter.
He smiled smugly at Tian E in midair.
Although his opponents in his first battle had only been a pack of ten-year Gale Demon Wolves.
This had been his first actual battle, and he was quite satisfied with it.
At that moment, Tian E appeared out of thin air beside Tian Chen and rapped him on the head with a laughing scold.
"Don't get smug. Once we get back and send you to Spirit Hall Academy, you'll find out just how much you're worth."
Though Tian E said this, he could not conceal the pride in his eyes.
This time, Tian E did not fly Tian Chen straight back to town. Instead, grandfather and grandson walked out of the Star Dou Great Forest with great interest.
In less than two hours, grandfather and grandson returned to the town fifty kilometers outside the Star Dou Great Forest.
Under everyone's awed gazes, the two climbed into their previous carriage without a change in expression.
The coachman fawned over the pair as usual, but Tian E gave no response.
Tian Chen, meanwhile, nodded, took a handful of Gold Soul Coins from his Soul Tool, and tossed them to him.
To him, these Gold Soul Coins were nothing at all.
He had money and did not care.
From the time he was born until now, he had never worried about money.
But to the coachman, who was merely a Soul Grandmaster, this was undoubtedly a huge sum.
Thanking Tian Chen repeatedly, he cheerfully urged on the Lie Yan Steed ahead.
Inside the carriage, Tian Chen closed his eyes and began cultivating as steadfastly as ever.
Tian E likewise closed his eyes to rest, saying nothing.
The last rays of the setting sun spilled through the carriage window onto Tian Chen's delicate face.
His clear blue eyes looked even more translucent in the sunset.
Having stopped cultivating, Tian Chen leaned against the window, watching as the carriage gradually approached the magnificent Spirit City.
Ten minutes later, grandfather and grandson had returned to the manor.
The two sat opposite each other, enjoying the sumptuous food before them.
Tian E gave Tian Chen a gratified look, set down his utensils, and asked.
"Chen'er, go study at Spirit Hall Academy tomorrow. Getting to know some companions will also benefit your future."
He was also asking Tian Chen's opinion. If Tian Chen did not want to attend Spirit Hall Academy, he would not force him.
After all, his own instruction would be sufficient.
He also had his own plans in wanting Tian Chen to study at Spirit Hall Academy.
Thinking of his grandson's talent, along with the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone he had prepared, his ambitions were rapidly swelling.
"All right."
Tian Chen nodded. Staying cooped up at home cultivating all the time was rather dull. Besides, he also wanted to meet the Spirit Hall Golden Generation from the original story.
The great battle between Tang Hao and Qian Xunji had taken place last year. In other words, he was five years older than Tang San.
He was the same age as Hu Liena and the others, and Hu Liena would also become Spirit Hall's Holy Maiden and the successor to the Supreme Pontiff. There might well be an opportunity for him to make use of her.
With his ambitions growing, he would not remain content beneath Qian Daoliu's family forever.