Genius?
No—!
She should say monster!
At this moment, Dugu Yan no longer felt mere disbelief. What she felt was unreality.
If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, who would believe it was possible?
No wonder her grandfather had told her to obey Su Linfeng in everything—even in something as critical as obtaining her first spirit ring. After all, her grandfather was a Title Douluo. Could he not know what kind of spirit ring she was suited for?
But now, seeing Su Linfeng's soul ring configuration, Dugu Yan finally understood.
Her grandfather had been right.
Very soon, under the Golden Generation's combined assault, the python entangling Li Kai was on its last breath.
Meanwhile, all eyes—including Dugu Yan's—were fixed on the terrifying nine chains Su Linfeng had unleashed.
With a violent upheaval inside the cliff cave, a colossal Mountain-Devouring Python, more than seven meters long and as thick as a water tank, was dragged out by the Nine-Sun God-Binding Chains.
BOOM!!!
It smashed into the canyon floor, sending sand, bones, and dust flying.
No matter how it hissed or struggled, it could not escape Su Linfeng's chains.
"Uh…"
Xie Yue smirked, shaking his head.
"Looks like we all became bait. Linfeng's goal from the start must have been that big one inside. But… isn't this Python way over the limit? Dugu Yan can't use it!"
"Phew~"
Li Kai clambered back up, spitting toward the nearly-dead python.
"Damn thing almost strangled me! It doesn't have any special attributes, but its size—among snakes—it's a freak!"
Then, awkwardly, he glanced toward Dugu Yan.
With a guilty grin, he stammered,
"S-so… Sister Yan Yan, did Hu Liena or Zhang Ping say anything to you? You know… about me?"
"What?"
Dugu Yan blinked back to reality, dazed.
"No… I don't think they said anything?"
Whew!
Li Kai sighed in relief. At least they hadn't sold him out.
He followed her gaze to Su Linfeng, dragging the giant python closer, then chuckled.
"You'll get used to it, Sister Yan Yan. We've all been through this. Just don't think of Brother Linfeng as human—then everything makes sense."
Dugu Yan: "…"
"All right, Sister Yan Yan," Li Kai said ingratiatingly, still feeling guilty.
"I already tested it for you. This Mountain-Devouring Python has nearly four hundred years of cultivation. Perfect for your first spirit ring. Go on—finish it."
"Wait!"
Before Dugu Yan could approach, Su Linfeng's voice cut in sharply.
"That python isn't even three hundred years old! It's not suitable for her first spirit ring."
As he walked forward, he explained.
Pythons were not the same as ordinary snakes. Their cultivation years couldn't be judged by size alone. Unlike snakes, they lacked poison. Their only advantage was their size. This meant that although the beast looked massive, its actual cultivation was much less.
Moreover, in under three hundred years, a Mountain-Devouring Python's scales were black. At over three hundred, they turned earthy brown, and the older they grew, the paler the scales became—until, at ten thousand years, they became golden.
So body size alone was no measure.
When it came to identifying a soul beast's cultivation, none of the Golden Generation dared doubt Su Linfeng. If he said it wasn't over three hundred years, then it wasn't. He didn't even need to explain so much.
"Brother Su," Hu Liena asked, her eyes falling on the massive python Su Linfeng had dragged out,
"Then what about that one?"
"Five hundred and eleven years," Su Linfeng answered.
Hu Liena's jaw dropped.
"Only five hundred years, and it's already this big?! No wonder it's called the Mountain-Devouring Python. If it were at the thousand-year or ten-thousand-year level, I can't even imagine—"
She froze mid-sentence.
Had she just said only five hundred? That was still a five-hundred-year soul beast!
"Wait, Brother Linfeng!"
Zhang Ping also realized.
"Five hundred and eleven years—that's too much for Sister Yan Yan's first ring! According to the soul master system, the limit for a first ring is only four hundred and twenty-three years."
Now, not just Dugu Yan, but everyone turned to Su Linfeng in shock.
What was he thinking? Was he really planning for her to absorb this python's ring?!
"That's just theory," Su Linfeng said calmly.
His eyes grew serious as he looked at Dugu Yan.
"Since you chose the path of Dragon-Devouring Evolution, you must be prepared to pay the price. The process will be painful. You can still back out."
Dugu Yan's heart shook violently.
Her first spirit ring—absorbing a soul beast nearly a hundred years beyond the limit?!
It sounded impossible.
He couldn't be serious… could he?
She had no confidence at all, but when her gaze fell on the two black soul rings shining on Su Linfeng's body, she remembered her grandfather's words: no matter how unreasonable his demands, you must trust him.
Besides, how would she know it was impossible unless she tried?
She had sworn to become the pride of the Dugu Clan.
"I won't give up."
Her eyes shone with resolve as she strode toward the python.
"If others can do it, then I, Dugu Yan, refuse to believe I can't."
The Golden Generation's faces all changed.
Were they insane?!
Absorbing beyond the limit left no room for error. If she failed, the spirit ring's backlash would destroy her body.
But here they were—one dared to propose, the other dared to accept.
Courting death!
Yet seeing Dugu Yan's determination, Su Linfeng finally nodded in satisfaction. At least she had the heart to change herself.
With willpower, he could help her succeed.
And he would help.
Otherwise, left to herself, she'd surely die like the others feared.
Besides, he owed her grandfather.
And one more thought flashed through Su Linfeng's mind: someday, Dugu Yan would cross paths with Tang San. If she could truly absorb the Mountain-Devouring Python's spirit ring, wouldn't their clash be even more thrilling than a mother's embrace?
"The Mountain-Devouring Python's skill is Constricting Hunt. Using its immense muscle power, it wraps prey tightly until they suffocate."
Su Linfeng warned,
"When you absorb its spirit ring, you'll face not only physical crushing, but also a spiritual trial."
As he spoke, he released his Golden Flame Domain, gradually enveloping Dugu Yan.
Her whole body trembled. She stared at him in disbelief.
"Don't lose focus," Su Linfeng said firmly.
"Normally, no outside soul power can interfere during ring absorption. But my Golden Flame Domain is unique. It will enhance all your attributes and reinforce your spiritual power. After that, it's up to you to absorb the ring with everything you have."
Only then did the Golden Generation understand.
No wonder he dared let her attempt it. He had prepared long ago.
Since awakening his bloodline at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Su Linfeng's Golden Flame Domain had evolved.
A 25% increase in soul power, a 15% boost to all attributes, and a terrifying regeneration ability.
Against those odds, even a five-hundred-year beast wasn't too much.