"Aiya! Lin Feng, stop turning me down already."
"This Flame Beast's soul bone clearly isn't suitable for me."
"You're the fire-attribute soul master—it makes more sense for you to absorb it."
"If we ever come across a better soul bone in the future, just save that one for me."
Dugu Yan stuffed the soul bone into Lin Feng's hands as he continued to try refusing it.
"…Alright then."
"I'll save any good immortal herbs or soul bones I find next for you and Grandpa."
Lin Feng accepted the soul bone, looking at Dugu Yan and Dugu Bo with a complex expression.
"Mhm, good."
"In that case, Feng'er, go ahead and absorb it."
Dugu Bo stroked his beard. Thinking it over, he realized Dugu Yan's point was valid.
That soul bone from a fire-type beast really wasn't suited for her. He'd overlooked that.
Lin Ye watched his son receive another soul bone and was overjoyed.
At this rate, his son might become the soul master with the most soul bones in the continent's history.
Lin Feng once again sat down cross-legged, closed his eyes, and poured soul power into the soul bone to establish resonance.
A fiery red glow shot into his right arm.
And at that moment, an image flashed through Lin Feng's mind.
His existing right arm soul bone—True Dragon's Claw—materialized into a black, illusory divine dragon, staring intensely at the ten-thousand-year Flame Beast soul bone.
Strangely, the Flame Beast appeared docile under the divine dragon's gaze, as if submitting willingly.
Within moments, the ten-thousand-year soul bone had fully fused into Lin Feng's right arm.
He now had two right arm soul bones—True Dragon's Claw and Flame Convergence.
Lin Feng opened his eyes, stood, and slowly raised his right arm.
"Soul Bone Skill—Flame Convergence."
A faint image of the Flame Beast manifested above his arm. The ultimate fire surrounding Lin Feng condensed into his arm.
In the next instant—
A lotus-shaped fireball formed of ultimate fire blasted forward from his palm, its diameter spanning dozens of meters.
Wherever it passed, the earth was scorched barren, leaving a long, blackened trail behind.
In the distance, the fiery lotus exploded into a crater several dozen meters wide.
Lin Ye's jaw dropped in awe at the soul bone's might.
Even he would have to use real effort to block that attack.
"This Flame Convergence soul bone skill lets me gather both my own ultimate fire and ambient fire elements."
"At close range, I can condense it into melee strikes; from afar, I can launch lotus fireblasts like that."
Lin Feng clenched his fist and explained earnestly.
"Not bad, not bad! Now that the soul bone is absorbed, let's head deeper into the forest and find Feng'er's fifth soul ring."
Dugu Bo smiled and nodded, planning the next step.
"Wow! Lin Feng, you're really going to become a Soul King!"
"I still can't believe it!"
Dugu Yan exclaimed joyfully, skipping along behind Dugu Bo and Lin Ye.
"Senior, do you think Feng'er's rapid advancement could harm his body?"
Lin Ye asked with some concern.
"Honestly, I'm not entirely sure."
"After all, no one in history has ever leapt over ten levels in just a few days."
"Once he obtains his fifth ring, let's have him stabilize his soul power properly."
"I'll also prepare some nourishing tonics for him—he's looking a bit thin lately."
"Feng'er, once we're back, Grandpa will brew the same medicinal decoction he gave Yan'er when she was little, alright?"
Dugu Bo's tone was full of affection—then he paused.
"…Feng'er?"
"Eh? Where is he?"
"He didn't follow?"
Dugu Bo turned around, confused.
"I thought he was behind us the whole time?"
Lin Ye looked around, equally baffled.
From behind—
"You all were chatting so happily you forgot about me, didn't you?!"
Lin Feng's face was gloomy as he caught up and locked eyes with the group.
"Aiya, you're still back there?"
Dugu Yan hurried back and gently grabbed his hand.
"Hahaha!"
"Oh, Feng'er…"
"You've really got to turn off that self-made soul skill of yours when we're not fighting. I keep forgetting you're even here."
"I'm getting old—can't be blamed for being forgetful."
Dugu Bo walked over, chuckling sheepishly.
"…Yeah, yeah. I'll turn it off soon."
Lin Feng sighed, drained.
In his heart, he groaned:
That trait was insanely useful for stealth—but for day-to-day life?
Kind of a pain.
Maybe next time he'd look for a better one to replace it.
—
Spirit Hall.
Inside the grand hall, Bibi Dong sat on her throne with an air of regal composure.
At the center of the hall lay the corpse of the Flame Beast King.
"Your Holiness, we failed to secure the Flame Beast King's Fire Crystal."
"Judging from the burn marks, Elder Yue Guan and I suspect the culprit was a hidden fire-type Titled Douluo somewhere on the continent."
Gui Mei bowed deeply with a respectful report.
"I understand. You may leave."
Bibi Dong spared only a single glance at the beast's burned remains.
With a wave of her hand, she dismissed them without much concern.
Outside the hall—
"Old Ghost, you think the Pope didn't punish us because there really is a hidden fire-attribute Titled Douluo out there?"
Yue Guan asked, still relieved they weren't reprimanded.
He was now convinced their assumption was correct.
"Hmph. So what if they are?"
"A coward hiding in the shadows, stealing like a rat. In front of Spirit Hall, they're no more than a slightly larger insect."
Gui Mei's face was cold and rigid, clearly still bitter over their failure.
"If I ever find them… I'll grind them to dust."
—
Spirit Hall training grounds.
"Why?! Why did this happen?!"
Yan was hysterical, punching a training post with all his strength.
"That opportunity was right in my grasp! How did it just disappear?!"
"If I'd gotten that Fire Crystal, I could've surpassed Na Na and become the Holy Son!"
"Na Na would be mine!! AHHH!"
Boom—
With a final strike, everything within the training ground lay shattered.
—
At the heart of Sunset Forest.
As dawn broke, Lin Feng awoke early from his tent after a full night's rest.
Today was his trait refresh day.
"System—refresh traits."
[Ding! All traits refreshed.]
Lin Feng skimmed through the list—none had evolved or upgraded.
Permanent traits remained.
The new ones weren't as good as before.
One even stood out: [Friend of All Women.]
"…What the hell is this supposed to mean?"
Was he that kind of guy?
-----
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