You can be just as outstanding as they are, you know.
Su Linfeng smiled.
"I know you can't stay in Spirit Academy for long. If you're ready, shall we set off?"
Dugu Yan nodded. "Mm."
After spending time with her, Su Linfeng realized she was, at heart, just a little girl.
She didn't act like the lofty heiress of the Dugu Clan at all. Instead, deep down, she yearned for recognition from the Golden Generation.
What Su Linfeng didn't know was that, like her grandfather, Dugu Yan was somewhat solitary. Perhaps because of the Jade Phosphor Serpent venom, she had often been shunned by her peers. Before entering school, her only companions had been the poisonous snakes her grandfather raised.
To her, Su Linfeng and the others were precious—because they weren't afraid of her poison.
Dugu Yan's nature was like a gem wrapped in thorns: an emerald exterior hiding a fragile core. Beneath her frightening venom burned a misunderstood warmth.
"Green-haired Sister."
Just then, Hu Liena popped out of nowhere, grabbing Dugu Yan's small hand. In a whisper, she warned,
"You'd better watch out for Li Kai and Sun Chuantao. Those two seem to… have an interest in you."
"An interest?"
Dugu Yan trembled, her pretty face tinged with red.
"W-what… what does that mean?"
"Ah, you're so clueless!"
Hu Liena giggled, then leaned in with a mischievous grin.
"It means they like you!"
Whoosh—
Dugu Yan's cheeks flushed crimson. Like me? Really?
Since childhood, no one besides her father and grandfather had ever liked her. And her father was no longer around…
"What are you talking about?"
At that moment, Xie Yue approached with the freshly punished Li Kai and the others.
"Linfeng, since everyone's here, shall we get moving?"
Su Linfeng nodded. "Let's go."
At the word "go," the Golden Generation grew instantly excited, fists clenched, eager for action.
They looked like they were about to hunt their own spirit rings.
The sight left Dugu Yan deeply moved.
But in truth, helping her was only part of it.
They'd already grown to love the trials of Death Canyon. It not only strengthened their teamwork and bonds but also accelerated their cultivation.
Half a year of these trials had not only aged them but also boosted their power:
Xie Yue (9 years old) – Spirit Power Level 17
Yan (8 years old) – Level 16
Hu Liena (7 years old) – Level 15
Zhang Ping, Li Kai, Sun Chuantao (all 7 years old) – Level 14
Xu Yu – Level 13 (the lowest)
Watching them surround Dugu Yan as they left the academy, Su Linfeng couldn't help but sigh.
Ah, to be children again…
With only friends to worry about, no grudges, no politics, no continental strife.
For them, this age was defined by one word: play.
Soon, the nine of them arrived at Sunset Forest.
Following Su Linfeng's guidance, they skipped the outer region and headed straight north into the hundred-year soul beast zone.
"Dugu-sis," Hu Liena asked as they walked, "your martial spirit is poison-based, so does that mean your first spirit beast should be poison-type too?"
"I'm not sure."
Dugu Yan gave a sheepish smile, then instinctively looked at Su Linfeng.
"Grandpa said I should just listen to him. He'll help me find the right spirit ring."
"Brother Su?"
Hu Liena blinked, puzzled. The rest of the Golden Generation turned toward him as well.
Uh…
Su Linfeng could only shrug. What can I say? I owe her grandfather. If nothing else, I should put in some effort here.
He nodded firmly, then explained:
"Although her martial spirit is venomous, that doesn't mean poison-type beasts are the best choice. After all, the Jade Phosphor Serpent is a dragon-bloodline spirit, a rare one at that.
According to the Martial Spirit Simulation Theory, the poison path might actually be the weakest option. Worse, it would squander such a rare martial spirit."
Everyone fell silent at that.
The Martial Spirit Simulation Theory was just that—a theory proposed at the academy. For years, no soul master had dared test it, since it concerned their very future.
Was Su Linfeng planning to experiment on Dugu Yan?
Hu Liena's brow furrowed.
"Brother Su, isn't it too risky to try this theory? No one's ever succeeded before."
"Yeah," Zhang Ping added.
"She's right. It's not fully developed yet."
"No—you're wrong. It's already mature."
Su Linfeng grinned, full of confidence.
"His Holiness the Pope was the first to succeed with this very theory. And in the future, others will too. I'd say I've at least a seventy percent chance of success.
Even if it fails, I guarantee her path will still be stronger than sticking with poison."
"I believe you."
Before anyone else could object, Dugu Yan spoke firmly.
"I trust Su Linfeng. Just tell me—what kind of spirit beast should I hunt?"
Uh…
One dared to propose, the other dared to accept.
Since Dugu Yan had already agreed, the Golden Generation had nothing more to say.
All eyes turned expectantly to Su Linfeng, waiting for his plan.
He didn't hold back.
He laid out four possible development paths for her martial spirit, ordered from simplest to most difficult:
Serpentine Rebirth – Shedding poison, focusing on resilience. Spirit beasts: ancient lifeforms like Evergreen Tree Spirits, Undying Vines, or regeneration-based beasts like Nine-Heart Begonia.
Spirit Serpent Soaring – Developing mental power. Spirit beasts: psychic serpents like the Thousand-Eyed Serpent, granting illusion and space control, similar to Bibi Dong's Soul-Eating Spider Emperor.
Earth Vein Sovereign – Control-type path. Spirit beasts: earth-aspected serpents like the Earth Vein Serpent Mother, enabling terrain manipulation, traps, and quicksand control.
Heaven-Devouring Dragon – The most difficult. To shatter the limits of the Jade Phosphor Serpent bloodline, she would need to continually devour beasts of stronger lineage. Through devouring and absorbing energy, she could force her bloodline to evolve, just like Tang San's Blue Silver Grass reverted to its ancestral form, the Blue Silver Emperor.
The Golden Generation stared, wide-eyed.
Each path sounded incredibly strong.
Without hesitation, Dugu Yan declared,
"I want the last one—the Heaven-Devouring Dragon!"
"Hm?"
Su Linfeng raised an eyebrow.
"Think carefully. That path is extremely dangerous—"
"I'm not afraid."
She cut him off, eyes resolute.
"I must become the pride of the Dugu Clan. I can't let Grandpa down."
Su Linfeng sighed, shaking his head with a wry smile.
"Truthfully, all he wants is for you to live safely."
"I know."
Her gaze remained unwavering.
"And that's exactly why I can't disappoint him."
Seeing her determination, Su Linfeng didn't argue further.
He drew a deep breath.
Very well. A hundred miles north lies Sandstorm Valley. There's a spirit beast there, perfect for you—the Mountain-Devouring Python.