"Master… there must be a divine herb here that can repair your soul…" Yang Fan said eagerly. "Right?!"
Yao Lao fell silent for a moment. "You little rascal… remember what I told you."
"Master, just tell me!" Yang Fan pleaded. "What herbs do we need to refine a soul-repairing pill? We'll search for them together!"
"You need to focus on strengthening yourself first—not waste all your energy on me," Yao Lao chided gently.
Though his words sounded like a reprimand, inside, he was already moved to tears.
His heart churned with emotion.
Years ago, betrayal had made him question his judgment.
But this time—Yao Chen had not chosen wrong.
"You always say traveling is cultivation too," Yang Fan countered. "When we find it, you'll tell me, right?"
It wasn't that Yao Lao refused to share—it was that many herbs from the Dou Qi Continent simply didn't exist in Douluo. Even if they did, their names might differ entirely.
Such cross-world speculation would only waste time.
Just then, Yao Lao's expression shifted abruptly. "Enough thinking! First, you need to obtain your second soul ring."
Hmm…
His powerful soul perception had already detected a promising soul beast nearby.
If he wasn't mistaken, it was a fierce, fire-attributed flying-type soul beast.
As if on cue—
A piercing cry echoed from the sky.
A crimson blur shot downward like lightning, diving straight at Yang Fan.
In the blink of an eye—
Yang Fan rolled sideways, barely dodging the attack. Now he could clearly see his assailant:
Crimson Flame Eagle!
A fire-attribute flying soul beast, covered in orange-red feathers, standing two meters tall—with wings three times its body size.
Yang Fan's impression of this creature was simple: a nightmare to fight.
When he was young, during the Breaking Clan's exodus through the soul beast forest, a ten-thousand-year Crimson Flame Eagle had harassed them for a full day and night, exploiting its flight advantage.
His grandfather had finally slain it.
"This beast was drawn by the pill's fragrance," Yao Lao observed. "Strong!"
"By Douluo standards, it's about 3,000 years old."
Yang Fan was furious!
He was getting pecked to death, and Yao Lao was just standing there, hands clasped, watching the show!
But the old man was right—the eagle was indeed around 3,000 years old.
That put it at roughly Soul Ancestor-level strength.
Screeee—!
The eagle shrieked midair and dove again, its talons gleaming like blades.
Yang Fan's first soul ring flared. His Soul Breaking Spear ignited—fire spouting from the tip as crimson soul power filled its arcane patterns.
In that moment, he noticed something strange: his flame had changed!
From crimson to orange-red, thinner yet longer—and twice as hot.
Could it be…?
He was certain—this was the effect of devouring the Infernal Delicate Apricot.
Pierce!
He thrust his spear, clashing squarely with the eagle's talons.
Clang!
The metallic ring made his scalp tingle.
The next second—he was sent flying!
At equal strength, soul beasts always surpassed soul masters in raw power. Only human intelligence gave them an edge.
Cough! Cough!
Blood rose in Yang Fan's throat—his organs felt dislocated.
Ah… this taste!
Just like that annoying eagle from his childhood—using flight to harass his clan.
Screeee—!
This cry carried pain.
The eagle wasn't unscathed—explosive flames burned fiercely.
But true to its nature, after two circling passes, it dove again.
Yang Fan switched weapons—from spear to ruler!
Though dual-cultivating Dou Qi and soul power, his single-ring status clearly left him outmatched.
Flame Splitting Tsunami!
Explosive fire Dou Qi, amplified by an Earth-Tier technique and unleashed through the Heavy Xuan Ruler—
The air warped instantly. Energy waves shattered tree trunks like twigs.
Soul beasts weren't clever—but they weren't stupid either!
Facing this terrifying technique, the eagle flapped desperately, soaring upward just as the energy wave passed beneath its talons.
Then—another dive…
Screeee—!
Its claws slammed onto the Heavy Xuan Ruler, dragging Yang Fan into a skidding slide.
The ruler's weight suppressed Yang Fan—but it hindered the eagle too.
So in the next second, it abandoned the tactic.
Hurling Yang Fan into a tree, it circled back to the skies.
This was the Crimson Flame Eagle's hunting style:
Grab prey, lift high, then smash it down.
Repeat until the victim stopped breathing.
Now, Yang Fan lay dazed, the ruler several meters away.
SCREEEE—!
The eagle's final cry brimmed with killing intent.
Mid-dive, its blade-like talons opened—to end Yang Fan's life.
Just as Yao Lao prepared to intervene—
Yang Fan's soul power surged. The Soul Breaking Spear materialized in his palm.
Pierce!
The sudden shift left the eagle no time to dodge.
SCREEEE—!
Even ruffling its feathers couldn't stop its momentum.
With the spirit of "though millions stand against me, I charge forward," it impaled itself on the spear.
The Soul Breaking Spear pierced its body—wounds instantly charred black.
Normally, a 3,000-year beast would thrash before dying.
But Yang Fan's evolved flame gave it no time to regret.
"Still wanna dance?" Yang Fan sneered.
Daring to outwit him? Ridiculous!
"Not bad, kid," Yao Lao chuckled.
Worry makes one blind!
If not for Yang Fan's sudden soul power surge, even Yao Lao would've been fooled.
"A mere Crimson Flame Eagle… child's play."
Yang Fan glanced at the eagle skewered on his spear.
Annoying.
This exact creature had tormented the Breaking Clan during their exile—his first encounter with a soul beast in Douluo Planet. The memory was seared into his mind.
He vividly recalled his grandfather, Yang Wudi, lying motionless on the ground—playing dead—before finally slaying the beast.
It was the only time he'd seen his grandfather abandon the Soul Breaking Spear's "charge forward" creed… to lure the enemy in.
Soon—
A 3,000-year soul ring floated from the eagle's corpse.
This energy ring, formed from the soul beast's residual power, was called a soul ring.
Yang Fan could clearly sense this purple ring was darker, deeper than his first.
"Master…"
This fire-attribute ring was perfect for him.
Ordinary soul masters absorbing a 3,000-year second ring would explode—but Yang Fan was different.
His body, forged through years of tempering, was no longer crude iron—it was refined steel.
He was confident he could swallow this ring!
Yao Lao understood instantly. "Relax—I'm here!"
Yang Fan sat cross-legged without hesitation.
Time was running out—the ring wouldn't last much longer.
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