Intense heat radiated from a small mountain, completely filling the cultivation room and creating a stifling atmosphere that seemed to press down on everything. The mountain, no taller than thirty feet, glowed with a fiery red hue as molten streams of lava trickled down its jagged sides.
The very air shimmered with the sheer intensity of the heat, warping the surrounding space and making it difficult to see clearly.
Upon a closer look however, the small mountain was a skeleton! The complete skeleton of a ninety-thousand nine hundred ninety-nine year old Vermillion Terror Dragon.
True Dragons are critically endangered for over a millennia, with just a handful of them left on the entire planet and most of them reside in the Great Star Dou Forest and are considered to be among the strongest powerhouses.
The Vermillion Terror Dragon is one of the many descendants of the Fire Dragon King and is known to have vermilion flames that was just inferior to the Ultimate Fire. As long as they could become a hundred thousand year old beast, they would shed any impurities of their bloodline and become a Royal Red Dragon: a contender for the Fire Dragon King title.
Unfortunately however, this Vermillion Terror Dragon had failed in its evolution and its remains were left in its cave, which was then unearthed a few thousand years ago by a Shrek Academy alumnus.
As a soul beast nearing the hundred thousand year mark, and one that possess a high level dragon bloodline, the Vermillion Terror Dragon's skeleton remained astonishingly intact, radiating an aura of immense power.
Even in death, its residual essence permeated the air, causing the fiery energy to surge endlessly around it. The bones of the dragon glowed faintly, veins of crimson light coursing through the skeletal structure like molten lava.
The mountain-like skeleton wasn't just a remnant of a once-mighty soul beast—it had become a treasure trove of fire-elemental energy, a natural furnace of cultivation for those who dared to withstand its overwhelming pressure. It was said that anyone who could harmonize with the Vermillion Terror Dragon's essence would gain unparalleled affinity with fire and gain a trace of its draconic might!
It was the perfect cultivation room for those who possess a dragon-type martial soul with the fire element.
Sitting cross-legged in front of the dragon's large skull, Wu Feng remained calm and silent. Her eyes closed and breathing steady, and despite the intense heat around, her body remained free of sweat and unharmed.
Though the same couldn't be said about her clothes...
A faint crimson aura surrounded her, flickering like flames as it resonated with the heat and energy radiating from the Vermillion Terror Dragon's skeleton.
A small smile played on Wu Feng's lips and she opened her amber eyes. Her eyes were clear and full of confidence.
"The path I chose....is correct!"
She stood up, her figure seemingly matured; growing taller, curvy and filled out on certain assets. At that moment, red triangular-shaped scales began to shimmer faintly on her skin, forming intricate patterns along her arms and shoulders, her hands turning into dangerous sharp claws. Her pupils gradually turned vertical slits, similar to a dragon. Three soul rings faintly shimmered into existence around her.
Almost all soul masters with dragon-type martial souls couldn't take on a drastic dragon transformation until they reach at least four soul rings. The best ones like the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon could transform one of their limbs, mostly their right arm, while the lesser ones could only have scales around their body.
In Wu Feng's case, before she entered her closed-door retreat, she could only grow mature and have a pseudo red dragon arm. Her red dragon arm wasn't at the level as Bei Bei's, even if they were at a similar cultivation.
However, it was different now!
Wu Feng has the Red Dragon martial soul, it was a direct descendant of the Fire Dragon King! It had the highest purity of dragon bloodline compared to many other dragon-type martial souls on the continent, save for the top-tier bloodlines like the Golden Dragon or the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon.
And now, with the infusion of the Vermillion Terror Dragon's essence, Wu Feng's martial soul had undergone an unparalleled transformation.
Her red dragon arm was no longer just a pseudo-transformation. Instead, her entire body exuded the presence of a true dragon. Her scales shimmered with a deep crimson hue, as though flames were dancing beneath the surface. Her claws radiated an intense heat, capable of melting steel with a single touch.
Wu Feng smiled as she clenched her claws. "With this, I have a head start on undergoing father's training. Yuhao, sister Tian'er, wait for me! I will stand in front of you and protect you both!"
She looked up at the towering skeleton of the Vermillion Terror Dragon, its immense frame radiating an aura of ancient majesty. The fiery glow reflected in her amber eyes, amplifying her determination.
Wu Feng's smile deepened, revealing a hint of her fiery personality. "Thank you for this gift, senior."
Roar....
A low roar reverberated through the cultivation room, shaking the very ground beneath Wu Feng's feet. The Vermillion Terror Dragon's skeleton, though lifeless, seemed to echo with a trace of its former majesty, as if acknowledging her gratitude and resolve.
Wu Feng's expression hardened, her fiery aura flaring brighter for a brief moment. "Yes, for as long as I draw breath, I will strive to evolve my martial soul into becoming the Fire Dragon King! Rest in peace, senior."
The roar faded, leaving behind a heavy silence. The molten streams running down the skeleton's surface glowed faintly.
Wu Feng respectfully cusped her palms together and bowed, before turning to leave.
...
"Ah."
Wang Dong'er, Xiao Xiao, Ning Tian, and Wu Feng just walked out of their respective cultivation room at the same time and looked up to see the others. Their expressions brightened and ran towards each other.
Of course, they had a change of clothes before exiting. Fortunately their storage-type soul tools weren't destroyed.
"Oh my gosh, how are you all?! And how long were we gone for?!"
"I know right? Hey, did you get thin?"
"I could ask the same thing as you."
"Well, we did spend an awfully lot of time in there."
"What the-! Feng, did your boobs grow bigger?!"
"I—eep! Stop! Don't touch my breasts, you pervert!"
As the girls laughed and playfully bantered with one another, a familiar voice interrupted their chatter.
"Ahem. Hohohoho, how energetic. Almost all the female students and elders who walked out of their cultivation room wouldn't be as energetic as you girls." Elder Mu softly chuckled as he wheeled into the corridor with the help of Xuan Zi.
"Pavilion Master." Wang Dong'er, Xiao Xiao, Ning Tian, and Wu Feng stood up straight at the sound of Elder Mu's voice, their expressions immediately shifting to one of respect and awe. They certainly didn't expect the bounty they'd get from a closed-door retreat!
"Elder Mu, how long were we in closed-door retreat?" Ning Tian politely asked.
Elder Mu rubbed his grey beard as his little ducky popped out under his hood. "Well, I'll answer all of your questions when you answer mine—have you decided on what path you shall take? All four of you?"
The girls opened their mouths simultaneously and shared a look, uncertain.
Who should be the one to go first?
Elder Xuan rolled his eyes when the girls discretely glanced at him for advice. "Oh for the love of—just decide it on rock paper scissor!"
"Ready? Rock! Paper! Scissor! Shoot—!"
"My path is the Fire Dragon King." Wu Feng said without any hesitation, holding up a "V" hand sign.
"Oh?" Both elders were a little stunned to hear her reply.
"Why did you choose the Fire Dragon King? Are you intending to evolve your Red Dragon into one of the Dragon Kings? That is...a great ambition, but also extremely difficult to achieve." Elder Mu said.
Evolution of Martial Souls are very, very and extremely difficult to achieve. Especially for Beast Soul Martial Souls.
Wu Feng smiled confidently. "My father managed to do it, and I don't think I'm any lesser than my father. Do you think I wouldn't be able to match, no, overcome my father?"
Elder Mu lightly laughed, "Hohoho. Well, let us see then. Ambition tempered with determination can forge miracles, Wu Feng. If you believe you can surpass your father, then prove it to the world—and to yourself."
"Yes!" Wu Feng nodded, her eyes sparkling. She then stepped aside as Ning Tian stepped forward.
"My path is the Great Pagoda Art!"
"Huh?"
Whilst Elder Mu nodded in understanding and relief, Xuan Zi was confused. This was the first time he ever heard about the Great Pagoda Art.
It was to be expected. Because Ning Chen wasn't a braggart and many people thought that his strange ability to self-buff himself with an unprecedented amount, they attributed it as his martial soul having been mutated.
"I see. So you did inherit his secret art." Elder Mu said, his eyes showed a flash of sadness, relief and joy.
'Old friend, you can finally rest easy that a worthy descendant has come and collect your heritage.'
He looked up at Ning Tian and asked, "Child, do you know about the title granted upon your great-grandfather?"
"Title?" Ning Tian was stunned, shaking her head.
Titles for soul masters are typically only given to Titled Douluos, thus the name. However, her great-grandfather had only reached rank 79 and never crossing the 80th barrier! How could he have ever receive a title?
"Ning Chen was an incredible fighter, the greatest that any soul master has ever seen in the last ten thousand yeads! With sheer determination only, he broke down the stereotype that all auxiliary-type tool soul masters are useless in battle."
"With his unyielding determination and great intellect, he developed a secret technique that you now possess that, when trained to the pinnacle with a rank 79 cultivation and certain set of soul skills, could enable one to even fight a Transcendent Douluo to a standstill!"
"That strong?!" Ning Tian, the rest of the girls, and Xuan Zi exclaimed in shock.
That was a whole 2 big realm difference in cultivation! Moreover, it was against a Transcendent Douluo—who are a hundred fold stronger than average Titled Douluo. Not just in physical strength, soul power, and spiritual power but everything else! It was a huge qualitative transformation!
You're telling us that a Soul Sage had managed to fight a Transcendent Douluo to a standstill? You must be dreaming!
Elder Mu chuckled, understanding their reaction.
Especially when he was the first one Ning Chen battled to test out his pinnacle level Great Pagoda Art. He was a Transcendent Douluo at the time and if he hadn't achieve a breakthrough in his spiritual power at the time...
He would've died.
"Of course, you still need to fulfill certain requirements in order to achieve the same result as him. Do not become complacent and arrogant just because you have this secret technique."
Elder Mu slightly smiled at her, "His title was the Invincible Pagoda Sage."
Ning Tian slightly smiled and nodded. "Thank you, Elder Mu."
As she turned around and stepped aside, she didn't notice the widening eyes of Elder Xuan.
He was only a couple decades younger than Elder Mu so he clearly knew about the story behind Ning Chen's title—of the Invincible Pagoda Sage.
'It was him?! The one who killed the rank 97 Transcendent Douluo, Battle Emperor Douluo!?'
In their generation, there was a rising organization that was at the level of even the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Clan; and it was called the West Heaven War Temple, led by a powerful powerhouse called the Battle Emperor Douluo.
He was just thirty years old and he became Transcendent Douluo, outpacing even Mu En who was just an average Titled Douluo at the time.
The Battle Emperor Douluo was extremely powerful and influential man who had managed to create a powerful organization from the ground-up. But it was said that the Battle Emperor Douluo was an extremely perverted man, taking in hundreds of beauties as his concubines through coercion or ruthless force, angering many people.
However, for someone like him at the time, no one could stand up against him.
That was until he touched one beauty that was already spoken for — a man that had a drive as if he was possessed by a demon!
The Invincible Pagoda Sage! By his lonesome, he stormed into the organization filled with many soul masters and while facing the Battle Emperor Douluo.
Astonishingly, in a few hours, the Invincible Pagoda Sage came out alive with a beauty in his arms. And the West Heaven War Temple in flames...
'To think it was that senior!'
At that moment, Xiao Xiao walked forward.
"My path is the Shinobi!"
Wang Dong'er's eyes brightened as she stepped forward and said, "My path is also the Shinobi!"
"Shinobi?" Elder Mu, Xuan Zi, Wu Feng, and Ning Tian blinked in confusion.
The elders didn't understand what the word meant, but the other girls did.
Wang Dong'er and Xiao Xiao had explained it to them beforehand: that a Shinobi was similar to being an assassin, that the Shinobi path emphasized agility, stealth, strategy, and versatility in battle. Only the official member, who finished the basic trainings, of the Akatsuki can be called a Shinobi.
However, unlike traditional assassins, Shinobi utilized more than just stealth kills — they have a set of secret techniques that can draw upon elemental powers! Even if their martial soul didn't have a elemental affinity or attack-related, if they were tested right, they can use elemental attacks with the Akatsuki's secret techniques!
They were called—Jutsu!
"Why did you choose this path?" Elder Mu asked.
The girls shared a glance. Xiao Xiao answered first, "Honestly, without Yuhao teaching me the ways of the Shinobi, I wouldn't be as strong as I am right now and find out my affinity with the wind element. With jutsus, especially Wind and Genjutsu, I can amplify my Nine Phoenix Dancing Flute by at least two-fold! I can impair others, defend myself and others with my Threelives Soul-Sealing Cauldron, and attack with my War Fan."
"I can overwhelm a person, and I can battle against an army! I am confident in becoming a top-ranked control-type battle soul master by following the path of a Shinobi."
"A control-type soul master? This..."
Xiao Xiao wryly smiled. "Elder Xuan, I'm afraid that we shouldn't count in Yuhao. He's beyond than just a control-type soul master."
With his Susanoo, he has the strongest defense known to history. He has powerful attack-type soul skills and secret techniques, add in movement technique, and the ability to heal others. Not to mention his overpowered Spiritual Detection skill.
Attack, defense, speed, control, auxiliary.
He was the Ultimate All-round Soul Master!
No one could ever hope to stand equal to him.
The elders nodded in understanding and turned towards Wang Dong'er.
Wang Dong'er slightly smiled and said, "It's about the same as Xiao Xiao's, although honestly, I just want to stay closer with Yuhao."
And without those earth jutsus she learned, she would've had a tougher time in her inheritance trial. She just learned the basics, what else could there be in being a Shinobi? She wanted to know more, and be close to her crush—it's a wind-win situation!
"My, how bold." Ning Tian muttered at the side. Wu Feng and Xiao Xiao both raised a thumbs up in awe of Wang Dong'er's boldness to admit her feelings for her crush in front of the elders.
Elder Xuan frowned, slightly scolding her. "Wang Dong'er, this is a serious matter!"
"And I am being serjous." Wang Dong'er calmly replied.
"Elder Xuan, this isn't just about my feelings for Yuhao. I chose the Shinobi path because I believe it complements my abilities and enhances my potential. Learning the ways of a Shinobi not only brings me closer to him but also makes me stronger, more capable of protecting myself and those I care about."
Elder Xuan's frown softened as he listened. He let out a resigned sigh, scratching the back of his head. "Hmph, well, as long as you're serious about improving yourself, I won't say more. Just don't let personal feelings cloud your judgment in battle."
"I won't," Wang Dong'er assured with a smile.
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AN: Sorry this took a while to post. I was having trouble writing the latest chapter on my patreon. I had to remake it several, several! Several freaking rewrites, like I was around 1k words, before having to redo it all over again.
Spoiler, it's was supposed to be at least 1.5k word lemon chapter. But it was such a bitch to write that I had to push it back for now.
3/3 chapters of the week.