Sunset Forest.
In midair, Feng Xiaotian held Huo Wu tightly in his arms, maintaining his third soul skill, Gale Twin Wings, as he rapidly flew toward Lin Rong's camp.
He knew that although this was only the outer edge of Sunset Forest, anyone daring to light a fire at night out here had to be at least a Soul Sage.
"Human hearts are unpredictable. In a soul beast forest, the greatest danger often comes from other soul masters. But given the urgency of the situation, I don't have time to worry about that!"
So thought Feng Xiaotian as he channeled even more soul power, pushing himself to fly faster.
Behind them, the Cave Demon Spider raced through the forest on its eight legs, continuously spitting webs into the sky.
Though a non-venomous spider, the Cave Demon Spider's webs were incredibly tough and adhesive. Coated in a viscous fluid that instantly hardened on contact with air, they became extremely durable in just a flash.
Towering ancient trees blocked the moonlight overhead. Feng Xiaotian, carrying Huo Wu, twisted and turned through the canopy, dodging most of the webs.
Still, a few strands scraped dangerously close, tearing his clothes and leaving shallow wounds on his body.
In just a few seconds, the chase had already covered dozens of meters.
At that moment — as Feng Xiaotian dodged another spray of webbing — Yu Yuan arrived just in time.
Before him hovered the Heavenly Star Disc, glowing with eight flickering stars. The first yellow soul ring beneath his feet lit up.
First Soul Skill: Falling Star.
In an instant, two beams of starlight descended from the sky, enveloping both the Cave Demon Spider and the two youths.
Before Feng Xiaotian or Huo Wu could react, a calm, elderly voice rang out:
"No need to panic. This is my first soul skill — Falling Star. It can restrain or heal, depending on intent."
"You've probably already sensed its effects."
Inside the beam of starlight...
Huo Wu felt as if she were floating in a warm sea, calm and comfortable. Since she hadn't sustained any injuries or exhausted her soul power during the escape, she couldn't directly feel the full benefits of the ability.
But for Feng Xiaotian, it was different. He had used up a significant amount of soul power and suffered multiple surface wounds.
Now, he felt his soul power rapidly recovering, and the scratches on his body were already scabbing over. That familiar itch meant the skin beneath was already healing.
As he reflected on the voice he had just heard, he turned his head...
Only to find that the Cave Demon Spider had disappeared. If not for the few scattered legs and pieces of skeleton on the ground, he wouldn't have believed there had been a soul beast there at all.
"So this is what a high-level soul master is like...?"
Feng Xiaotian was deeply shocked.
"That was just his first soul skill — and it had such power. Even if this elder isn't a Soul Douluo, he must be extremely close."
Just then, Yu Yuan stepped out of the darkness, the Heavenly Star Disc still floating before him, his eight vibrant soul rings glowing beneath his feet — the mark of a true Soul Douluo.
Seeing Feng Xiaotian about to speak in gratitude, Yu Yuan raised a hand and gently interrupted him:
"No need for thanks."
"I was merely following the orders of the Young Duke. It was on his command that I came to your aid."
"So if you wish to express gratitude, direct it to the Young Duke — not me."
With that, Yu Yuan turned to glance in the direction of their camp, then continued:
"The soul beast forest is dangerous at night. I cannot leave the Young Duke's side for too long. You two will come with me."
"Judging from your clothing, you're students from Godwind Academy and Blazing Fire Academy. I assume your teachers are also somewhere in Sunset Forest."
"Once we return to camp, you can safely fire a signal flare to alert your instructors."
"I'm confident enough in my strength — even if soul beasts are attracted by the flare, they won't pose any threat to your safety."
Boom! Boom!
Fireworks lit up the night sky, dazzling and bright.
"I've launched the signal flares. It won't be long before the teachers from our academies come to pick up me and Feng Xiaotian."
By the campfire, Huo Wu's face glowed red in the firelight, perfectly concealing her current embarrassment.
That brush with death had carved a deep impression of Feng Xiaotian into her heart.
Right now, her mind was still replaying the moment he had snatched her from the Spiderweb Cage and flown into the air. She couldn't bring herself to look him in the eyes.
Beside her, Feng Xiaotian remained oblivious to her flustered state. Instead, he glanced at Lin Rong and asked curiously:
"Benefactor, you've inherited the title of Duke at such a young age... What about your parents? Ah— I'm sorry!"
He realized midway what he had said.
A ducal title, inherited by a child... That could only mean one thing: his father had died. And if his mother had survived, she would likely hold the title of Duchess Dowager — yet Lin Rong was already the Duke.
She was probably gone too.
Hearing the question, Lin Rong was momentarily confused — but he quickly understood.
"This is the Douluo Dalu era, after all. Information was scarce and rarely circulated."
In the original story, even five years after Shrek Academy won the Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament, the head of the Yu Clan still didn't know who the winning team members were.
That was how closed off the world of Douluo I was.
Unless it was a continent-shaking event — like the founding of the Spirit Empire — most news stayed local.
So while the situation of the Lin Clan was well-known in Heaven Dou City, it was normal for it to be unheard of elsewhere.
With that, Lin Rong responded gently:
"It's fine. You didn't mean any harm."
He truly didn't take offense. After all, he'd never even met the parents of this life — they passed away before he could form any emotional connection.
But Feng Xiaotian — now that was different.
In the original novel, Feng Xiaotian was known as the disgrace of innate full soul power, forever branded in shame for failing to live up to his potential.
Lin Rong felt it was necessary to give him a wake-up call.
"Do you know what the most painful thing in the world is?"
Without waiting for a reply, Lin Rong continued:
"It's standing by helplessly as the person you most want to protect... dies right in front of your eyes."
Feng Xiaotian fell silent.
He lowered his head and stared at the fire, his expression complex. Reflections of flame danced in his eyes, mirroring everything that had happened tonight.
Seeing this, Lin Rong decided to add fuel to the fire and spoke again:
"Even though I haven't left Heaven Dou City much, I have heard that Godwind Academy produced a genius with innate full soul power, named Feng Xiaotian."
"If that's true, and you're him, then you're already sixteen."
"But your soul power is only level 33."
"You know that Cave Demon Spider we encountered earlier? It had a cultivation of only 3,221 years."
"With ten years of cultivation and your innate full soul power, you should be at least a high-level Soul Ancestor, if not a Soul King."
"A Twin-Headed Gale Wolf martial spirit, paired with a Soul Ancestor's power, should've been more than enough to take on a 3,000-year soul beast alone."
"But you didn't have that power. And without Steward Yu's intervention, there would be two more skeletons buried in Sunset Forest tonight."
"I don't know what caused you to neglect your training... but the reality is that you're sixteen, and you're still only level 33."
Lin Rong paused, giving Feng Xiaotian time to digest his words. Then he said:
"There's no medicine for regret. The past can't be changed."
"But the future? That's still unwritten."
"If you work hard now, it's not too late."
"That's all I have to say. Take it to heart."
With that, Lin Rong said no more. He turned and calmly walked into his tent.