The gray-clad figure vanished completely into the vast sea of trees, and that crushing pressure receded like the tide. The thick stench of blood and burnt flesh flooded Ling Feng's nostrils again, reminding him how real and brutal everything he had just experienced had been.
Leaning against a charred, broken tree, he gasped for breath, every inhalation tugging at the searing pain in his chest and abdomen. His right arm was still numb and swollen with pain, unable to muster the slightest strength. Sweat mingled with blood and grime, clinging stickily to his skin. He was a wretched sight.
But the relief of surviving disaster in his eyes was soon replaced by gravity.
Tang Hao!
Clear Sky Douluo Tang Hao!
Although he had ultimately chosen to spare him for now, that warning to "watch yourself" hung over his head like the sword of Damocles! He was convinced there was something suspicious about his Clear Sky Hammer Martial Soul! This was practically a dead knot!
"Strength... I'm still not strong enough!" Ling Feng gritted his teeth, his fingernails digging deep into his palms. Before a Titled Douluo, all his trump cards were child's play; he did not even have the right to struggle. That "fallen family fortunes" story might fool him for a while, but never for a lifetime. Once Tang Hao decided he was a threat, or his son Tang San's interests became involved, the sight of that Thunderhorn Zheng being crushed to death with a single finger would become his own fate!
He had to grow stronger! Stronger, whatever the cost!
Only by becoming strong enough could he control his own destiny and gain a voice in a world where strength reigned supreme!
An intense will to survive and a thirst for strength burned like a raging fire in his chest.
He struggled to his feet and looked around. He could not linger here. The smell of blood and the lingering traces of powerful Soul Power fluctuations could easily attract other Soul Beasts. The partial remains of that Titan Giant Ape, in particular, exuded an ancient and dangerous presence.
Enduring the agonizing pain and the emptiness of his Soul Power, Ling Feng walked over to the Thunderhorn Zheng's enormous corpse. He activated Purple Demon Eye, sweeping his gaze over the single horn on its head that contained the power of lightning. This was good stuff! "A Soul Bone? A Soul Ring? Unfortunately, they'd draw too much attention..." Ling Feng shook his head. How rare was a Thousand-Year Soul Beast's Soul Bone? Once exposed, it would be a road to death! As for the Soul Ring, he already had the first Soul Ring rewarded by the system and did not need it.
Drawing the short knife he carried, he fought back his nausea and carefully cut off the purple horn, which gleamed with a metallic luster and measured about two feet long. He also selected several large pieces of the toughest, thickest muscle from its chest and abdomen (rich in lightning-attribute energy and suitable for forging or refining medicine). After quickly processing them, he stuffed all the spoils into his storage ring.
Finally, his gaze fell on the enormous skeleton half-sunken into the earth. The Titan Giant Ape... even its lingering presence was this terrifying. He hesitated, but ultimately abandoned the idea of approaching it. The thing was too large to take away and far too conspicuous; becoming entangled in its karma would be too much.
Ling Feng lingered no longer. After getting his bearings, he dragged his battered body away from this place of trouble as quickly as he could.
Two days later, at the outer exit of the Soul Hunting Forest.
The Soul Grandmaster teacher leading Nuoding Academy's group paced back and forth anxiously. Most of the group under his care had already emerged, but the one he worried about most was still missing-Ling Feng! This was a genius with innate full Soul Power whom Master Su Yuntao had personally taken an interest in! If he perished in the Soul Hunting Forest, the consequences would be unthinkable!
Just as he was almost unable to resist requesting permission to search deep inside the forest, a ragged figure with unsteady steps staggered out of the shadows of the dense woods.
"Ling Feng!" Both startled and delighted, the teacher rushed forward to support him.
Ling Feng looked truly miserable. His clothes were torn and scorched in several places, and the exposed skin was covered in scrapes and bruises. Though his right arm had been crudely bandaged and immobilized, it was still swollen and purple, and his face was as pale as paper.
"Teacher... I'm back..." Ling Feng's voice was hoarse as he forced an ugly smile.
"Did you... encounter a Thousand-Year Soul Beast?!" The teacher sucked in a cold breath. At a glance, he spotted the dried, dark-red blood on Ling Feng's clothes, the lingering traces on his body of a Soul Power clash far beyond the Soul Grandmaster level, and a faint burnt and rank smell.
The other students who had emerged also gathered around, drawing sharp breaths at Ling Feng's miserable state. Tang San and Xiao Wu were among the crowd, and a flicker of astonishment crossed both their eyes when they saw him.
"It's all right now, teacher. I was lucky to escape." Ling Feng did not wish to say more or reveal too much.
"As long as you're back! As long as you're back! Your Soul Ring..." the teacher asked urgently.
Ling Feng nodded. With a thought, a bright yellow Soul Ring slowly rose from beneath his feet. Yellow! Yellow! A Hundred-Year Soul Ring! Although it was not the deepest bright yellow, but a somewhat paler shade, it was unquestionably the mark of a Hundred-Year Soul Ring!
Hum! The surroundings instantly fell silent. Everyone's eyes were fixed firmly on that yellow ring flowing with gentle light, filled with disbelief!
A Hundred-Year Soul Ring! He had actually succeeded!
After all, among this group of Nuoding Academy's "geniuses," most had obtained white Ten-Year Soul Rings as their first Soul Rings. For the very few fortunate ones, obtaining a white Soul Ring close to a hundred years old was already the limit! A Hundred-Year Soul Ring? They did not even dare dream of it! Even the teacher's own first Soul Ring was only white!
"A... a Hundred-Year Soul Ring?!" Wang Sheng stared, even beginning to stammer. "My heavens... it really is a Hundred-Year Soul Ring..." "H-how on earth did he do it?" "I heard he caused a huge stir during the awakening ceremony... innate full Soul Power, the Clear Sky Hammer..."
After that brief silence came an even louder uproar of discussion! There was shock, envy, jealousy, and an even deeper fear!
The teacher was also trembling all over with excitement. "Good! Good! Wonderful! Ling Feng, you're the first extraordinary genius since Nuoding Academy's founding to have a hundred-year first Soul Ring! The academy will surely reward you handsomely!"
Tang San and Xiao Wu exchanged a glance, each seeing gravity in the other's eyes. Tang San took it better; he had a steady disposition and had long suspected Ling Feng was no ordinary person. Xiao Wu's eyes, however, were filled with curiosity and even a hint of scrutiny. A Hundred-Year Soul Beast was no easy opponent. From Ling Feng's appearance, he had clearly endured a savage battle, and even she felt a trace of danger from the lightning-attribute energy fluctuations lingering on him.
Ling Feng calmly withdrew his Soul Ring. His face was still pale, but his back unconsciously straightened a little. That yellow glow represented more than just a Soul Skill; it also meant he had truly crossed the threshold of power in this world. He bore everyone's astonished, envious gazes, yet felt little stirring in his heart. Only he knew what he had experienced and paid for this Soul Ring, and... what he still faced in the future.
He only wanted to return as soon as possible to heal and study his newly acquired Purple Demon Eye and that Thousand-Year Soul Beast's horn.
Upon their return to the academy, the news that Ling Feng had obtained a hundred-year first Soul Ring flew through the entire Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy as though it had sprouted wings!
"Have you heard? That first-year work-study student, Ling Feng! The one who awakened a hammer! His first Soul Ring is a hundred-year one!" "Heavens! A Hundred-Year Soul Ring? How is that possible? How old is he?" "They say he hunted it alone! He was covered in blood when he returned-even the teacher was terrified!" "That's freaking awesome! That was a Hundred-Year Soul Beast!" "The Clear Sky Hammer... the Clear Sky Hammer is way too powerful!" "Our academy's strength is going to soar now! Let's see who still dares look down on us!"
The dining hall, the dormitories, the training grounds... discussions raged everywhere. Overnight, Ling Feng went from a "somewhat talented work-study student" to a "Hundred-Year Soul Ring genius," becoming a prominent figure throughout the academy and the focus of countless eyes. Even the academy's higher-ups were stirred and stated that he would receive a special reward.
Ling Feng, however, kept a very low profile. After simply treating his injuries (with the physical enhancement rewarded by the system, he recovered far faster than ordinary people), he shut himself away, concentrating on cultivating Purple Demon Eye and studying the Thunderhorn Zheng's horn.
Yet this quiet, low-profile peace did not last long.
Two evenings later, the setting sun dyed the horizon red.
A gentle knock sounded at the dormitory door.
Standing outside was none other than Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang. He still wore those plain clothes washed pale with age, but the look he directed at Ling Feng brimmed with unprecedented fervor, scrutiny, and... an indescribable excitement.
He looked at Ling Feng with burning eyes, as though examining a peerless treasure.
"Student Ling Feng," Grandmaster began, his tone more solemn and eager than ever before, "could we talk? About... your Martial Soul, your first Soul Ring, and... certain things you may have encountered... in the Soul Hunting Forest?" He deliberately stressed "certain things." Clearly, the account of an "attack by a Thousand-Year Soul Beast" brought back by the academy teacher could not deceive the meticulous Grandmaster.
Meanwhile, in a dark corner somewhere in the academy, a pair of venomous eyes stared fixedly at Ling Feng's tightly shut dormitory door. Their owner clenched his fists, his nails sinking deep into his flesh, his facial muscles twisted like those of a wounded beast.
It was Xiao Chenyu's elder brother-Xiao Yan! The Soul Grandmaster teacher who had led a group in the Soul Hunting Forest and secretly harbored resentment toward Ling Feng!
Watching Grandmaster's eager expression, then thinking of his own younger brother, who was mocked by everyone at the academy, and Ling Feng's boundless glory now, a bone-gnawing surge of jealousy and resentment rushed into his heart.
"A Hundred-Year Soul Ring? Boundless glory? Heh..." A suppressed grunt escaped Xiao Yan's throat, his eyes glinting with cold malice.
"Little bastard... you think this is over?"
"Just wait... I'll show you... what happens in Nuoding City..."
"When you offend the Xiao Clan!"