Yan's suggestion to split up left Xie Yue and Hu Liena momentarily stunned. Splitting up meant greater risk and unpredictability. Although Hu Liena was still angry, she had to admit Yan's idea held some merit. They didn't have much time, Bibi Dong had only given them three months. Sticking together, without confronting challenges individually, wouldn't yield the desired results from this trial.
"Fine, let's split up! Don't think we care about your fire affinity. Just wait, I'll get my fourth soul ring before you do!" Hu Liena shot back, her anger still simmering.
Of the three, Yan was the one least at risk alone. As a fire-element soul master, his flames naturally deterred most soul beasts. Even a ten-thousand-year-old beast would hesitate to engage unless it was exceptionally strong or of the same fire attribute.
With a resentful look, Hu Liena threw a final glance at Yan and stormed off. Xie Yue, watching his sister's retreating figure, turned to Yan with a flash of concern in his eyes. "Yan, stay safe. Finish your mission quickly, then come back and regroup with us."
"Mm, you too," Yan nodded, aware that Xie Yue, a doting brother, would keep an eye on Hu Liena from the shadows. He would never let anything happen to her, his only family in this world.
Watching his friends depart, Yan set off on his journey. By noon, he arrived at a clear river to replenish his water supply. Leaning over, he caught a glimpse of his reflection in the calm water. With fiery red hair flowing in the breeze, a powerful frame adorned with flame-like patterns, and eyes of deep crimson exuding confidence, Yan was quite pleased with his new appearance.
After a quick break, he pressed onward to the heart of the valley, where stronger and more aggressive soul beasts gathered. Along the way, he encountered numerous beasts, most of which sensed his formidable aura and steered clear. Yan had no intention of provoking them, so the path remained uneventful.
As night fell, Yan found a quiet spot to set up camp. Once his tent was pitched and a fire kindled, he sat cross-legged instead of lying down, closing his eyes to try a Tai Chi breathing technique he'd practiced in his past life.
"Tai Chi energy flow, a harmonious blend of yin and yang, uniting spirit and energy," he murmured. As his focus deepened, he sensed a mysterious force circulating within him, a strange yet exhilarating sensation.
"So it works here, too. Practicing this could enhance my strength," he realized, pleased with his discovery.
Suddenly, a peculiar energy fluctuation filled the air. Yan tensed, gathering his mental energy to pinpoint its source through the ground beneath him. As a fire-and-earth attribute soul master, he could sense up to two hundred meters of movement through the earth.
Soon, he detected a large demon wolf creeping closer, its presence radiating a sharp, intimidating aura. This three-thousand-year-old beast charged, confident in its stealth.
Yan wasn't intimidated. Instantly, he summoned his Flame Lord martial spirit, cloaking himself in fierce flames. The demon wolf snarled, lunging at Yan. Anticipating this, Yan unleashed his first soul skill, Hell Magma Surge, summoning a molten lava jet that surged upward like a blazing dragon, striking the wolf directly.
"Aaah-oooh!" The wolf howled as the molten assault knocked it down.
Not wasting the opportunity, Yan unleashed his second soul skill, Granite Barrage. Massive stones rained down on the beast, trapping it under a pile of rock. Finally, he cast his third soul skill, Hellfire Inferno, enveloping the trapped wolf in blazing flames.
Its agonized cries soon faded into silence, swallowed by the night. As the battle ended, Yan saw a vivid purple soul ring rise from the wolf's remains, a tempting prize, yet not useful at the moment.
Reflecting on the recent fight, a mix of excitement and pride filled Yan. Defeating a powerful opponent felt rewarding, reinforcing his determination to thrive in this harsh, soul master world. In this land of survival of the fittest, only the strongest have true freedom. Yan vowed to become one of the elite.
A month later, Yan had grown more mature and confident, and he finally broke through to the fortieth level. Now, he was ready to hunt for his fourth soul ring. With his fire-and-earth dual attributes, either fire-element or strength-based beasts would suffice, though a fire-element beast would be ideal.
Cautiously advancing deeper into the valley, Yan noticed a fierce energy clash up ahead. Creeping closer, he discovered a fierce battle between a scarlet Skyfire Fox and a Two-Headed Demon Serpent. Both creatures emanated immense power, each boasting around six thousand years of cultivation.
The Skyfire Fox, a fire-type beast with fox-like features and a striking set of wings.