With things having settled, Dugu Bo soon regained his usual calm expression.
"Hmph."
"A bunch of ignorant fools."
"If not for Feng'er pleading for your sake today, none of you would've walked out of here alive."
"You so-called teachers should keep a better eye on the students you raise in the future."
"Now get lost. I don't want to see any of you."
He spoke with undisguised disdain, then withdrew his soul power.
As the oppressive pressure vanished, everyone collapsed in all directions from the release of tension.
They supported one another to their feet, and just as Yu Tianheng opened his mouth to say something—
"Damn brat."
"I've put up with you long enough!"
A teacher, fuming with rage, suddenly smacked Yu Tianheng on the back and knocked him out cold.
"Senior Dugu, apologies for the disturbance."
"We'll be on our way."
Qin Ming turned and waved his hand, signaling everyone to carry the unconscious Yu Tianheng and leave in haste.
Boom!
With a muffled explosion, the soul power surrounding Dugu Yan dispersed.
"Lin Feng! Grandpa! I've successfully absorbed the ten-thousand-year soul ring!"
"And my soul power has reached Rank 41!"
Dugu Yan stood up excitedly and shared the good news with the two of them.
"Good!"
"As expected of my granddaughter."
Dugu Bo nodded with satisfaction and smiled as he stepped forward to pat her head.
"Lin Feng, my soul power is higher than yours now!"
"Before you hunt your next soul beast, you're still only Rank 40."
After hugging her grandfather, Dugu Yan twirled around and playfully pointed at Lin Feng as she spoke, her tone serious despite her smugness.
She knew this might be the only time in her life she could surpass him.
"All right, all right—you're stronger than me, happy?"
Lin Feng chuckled helplessly at her adorable antics.
"Hahaha!"
"You two really are something else."
Dugu Bo couldn't help but laugh heartily at the sight.
Meanwhile, in the distance, as Qin Ming's group left—
"Teacher Qin, was that young boy beside Senior Dugu just now—was that Lin Feng? Is he Rank 40 as well?"
In the air, Yan Que'er asked curiously.
"Most likely," Qin Ming replied, nodding with certainty. "Dugu Bo said Dugu Yan reached Rank 40 through immortal herbs, so there's no reason Lin Feng wouldn't have received some too."
"Hm? Huh… what was that about Rank 40?"
"What's going on?"
From behind, a dazed Yu Tianheng stirred awake on someone's back and unknowingly joined the conversation.
"Rank 40?"
"That Lin Feng kid—your classmate, he's Rank 40 too," Yan Que'er said flatly.
"Wha—?"
"He's… also…?"
Thud.
Yu Tianheng felt like he'd been struck by lightning. The fog in his mind vanished, and clarity returned with a vengeance.
He clutched his chest in frustration, his heart filled with sourness.
"Don't overthink it," Qin Ming sighed from the side, attempting to console him. "You and him… you're not even in the same league."
"Hmph!"
Yu Tianheng jumped off the teacher's back with a scowl and stomped forward, face full of displeasure.
"Ah…"
Qin Ming looked at the boy's back and sighed heavily.
He had originally wanted to ask if Lin Feng and the others needed help—to leave a good impression.
But before he could say a word, Yu Tianheng ruined everything and now things had turned into this mess.
At this point, there was no fixing it.
Besides, with Dugu Bo by their side, Lin Feng and Dugu Yan had no need for their assistance anyway.
Qin Ming quickened his pace to catch up, but inwardly, he felt deeply disheartened.
Back at Shrek Academy, he'd once believed himself to be a rare, peerless genius.
Only now had he realized that there were even more monstrous talents out in the world.
Not to mention Lin Feng and Dugu Yan's monstrous cultivation speed—even Yu Tianheng, a 13-year-old Soul Elder, possessed a gift not inferior to his own.
"Sigh…"
"Dean Flender, Teacher Zhao…"
"You always said I was the number one genius on the continent, but it seems Qin Ming has let you down."
He muttered to himself, heart heavy with guilt and disappointment.
The true number one genius… was someone else.
---
Back at the clearing
"Grandpa, let's go help Lin Feng find his fourth soul ring!"
Dugu Yan grinned as she watched Lin Feng's frustrated expression.
She jumped up and kissed him on the cheek.
Lin Feng smiled, pulled her into his arms, and kissed her lips in return.
Soft. Sweet.
Dugu Bo simply chuckled from the side.
After spending these past few days together, he no longer minded their affectionate behavior.
After all, he was very satisfied with Lin Feng as his future grandson-in-law.
"All right, all right. Enough flirting, you two."
"Let's head out."
Dugu Bo stroked his beard and announced.
—
Sunset Forest – Lava Zone
Following the guidance of the Dragon Seeking Compass, Lin Feng and the others arrived at their destination.
The Lava Zone was a scorched and desolate region dominated by searing heat and bubbling magma.
The sky above was shrouded in heavy volcanic ash, casting a gloomy and oppressive atmosphere over everything.
"Wow… I never knew Sunset Forest had a place like this."
Dugu Yan looked around in awe.
Lin Feng was equally stunned by the view before him.
"Do you know why this place is called Sunset Forest?" Dugu Bo asked.
"It's because of this very area. It resembles the place where the sun falls."
"That's why it's named Sunset Forest."
"More importantly, this place is home to an extremely rare species called the Flame Beast—perfect for Feng'er."
He explained with a smile.
"But aside from the lava everywhere, I don't see any soul beasts?"
Dugu Yan asked curiously.
"That's because the Flame Beast lives beneath the lava," Lin Feng said, watching the vibrations and direction indicated by the Dragon Seeking Compass.
"Correct."
"It's said the Flame Beast dwells under the magma."
"But no one has ever seen what it truly looks like."
Dugu Bo nodded and added.
"I've read about the Flame Beast in an ancient text."
"It was described as resembling a qilin, with a single horn and an eternal flame that never extinguishes."
"Even after death, it leaves behind a Fire Crystal that radiates heat for centuries."
"If that account is accurate, this Fire Crystal would be a priceless treasure."
Lin Feng followed up with further explanation.
Dugu Yan listened attentively, eyes gleaming with admiration as she looked at him.
"Feng'er, didn't your martial soul evolve into Ultimate Fire? Then you…"
Dugu Bo asked with concern.
"Emperor Flame Nine-Headed Dragon—Martial Soul Possession!"
"First Soul Skill: Fire Dragon Constriction!"
Before Dugu Bo could finish his sentence, Lin Feng had already summoned his martial soul and activated his first skill.
Surrounded by the flames of the Emperor Flame Nine-Headed Dragon, Lin Feng leapt straight into the molten lava.
-----
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