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Liu Erlong's body erupted in crimson flames. Her seventh soul ring blazed to life, and her skin instantly hardened into shimmering dragon scales. A terrifying dragon's roar echoed through the sky.
In True Martial Soul Body, Liu Erlong had fully transformed.
The beautiful woman was gone—replaced by a colossal dragon wreathed in roaring fire.
In the next instant—
The massive fire dragon spread its wings and lunged at Yang Fan, razor-sharp claws glinting in the inferno.
BOOM—!
Yang Fan's palm surged with energy—a wisp of pale-white flame bloomed above it.
The flame wasn't large—barely over a foot tall in his hand—but its bone-chilling aura instantly froze the scorching air around them.
Facing the onrushing dragon, Yang Fan simply thrust his palm forward—and sent the white flame flying.
BOOM—!
Liu Erlong's fiery might was overwhelming…until it met the Bone Chilling Cold Flame.
Her flames sputtered and died on contact.
The freezing chill pierced her like an icy dagger—she felt as if she'd been thrown into a frozen abyss.
Even her expression twisted under the cold's assault.
Just then—a wine-red-haired boy burst from the side!
He looked twelve or thirteen, under 1.7 meters tall, but his muscles were sharply defined.
His target wasn't Yang Fan—it was the nearly dead Raging Demon Bear nearby.
Tai Long?!
This older boy was none other than Tai Tan's grandson from the Strength Clan.
Though the Hao Tian Sect had abandoned the Four Great Sects, they hadn't severed ties—they still supported each other in secret, holding reunions every two years.
Yang Fan had last seen him at that very gathering two years ago, when Tai Long—already awakened with the Vigorous Orangutan martial soul—had proudly flaunted his power.
An old acquaintance? Then kick first!
Yang Fan lashed out with his leg, sending Tai Long tumbling head over heels, rolling several meters through the dirt.
"You little brat—don't linger!" Yao Lao urged from within.
"That bear's about to die. Grab it and run!"
Yang Fan glanced between the bear and Liu Erlong…
Then—without hesitation—he hoisted the beast and bolted in a pre-planned direction.
Though only six years old in stature, with Yao Lao's power coursing through him, the two-meter-tall demon bear felt like a stuffed toy in his arms.
"Don't run!"
Seeing Liu Erlong unfurl her wings and give chase—furious at being robbed—Yang Fan pushed his speed even further.
As he ran, something shifted inside him. His Dou Qi began circulating differently—subtly, yet unmistakably.
A voice deep within whispered with absolute certainty: I can fly.
It was an indescribable sensation—like the exact moment someone suddenly learns to swim or ride a bike.
Yang Fan focused his Dou Qi toward his back…
WHOOSH—!
A pair of pure-white wings, woven entirely from Dou Qi, burst forth behind him. With a single flap, he shot straight up fifty meters into the sky.
Dou Qi Wings!
In the Dou Qi system, this ability only manifested after reaching Dou Wang (King)—and marked the true divide between ordinary and elite cultivators.
Even Yao Lao, who hadn't fought directly, now needed to reassess his actual strength in Douluo Continent.
"WOOHOO~~!"
Yang Fan soared through the sky, wings beating joyfully.
When he saw Liu Erlong wasn't pursuing him, his mood soared even higher.
Flying was truly miraculous—and it cemented his resolve to learn Dou techniques from Yao Lao.
Damn right—I love this feeling of soaring freely between heaven and earth!
"Next time you cross me, I'll make you regret it," Liu Erlong muttered below.
She could have chased him—but chose not to.
If she left, what would happen to her students if they encountered another soul beast?
And that midgel soul master's icy flame… even in her Martial Soul True Form, she'd felt as if the cold would consume her whole.
Chasing him might not even guarantee victory.
"Headmistress, are you alright?" the Lanba Academy teachers rushed over with their students.
"I'm fine. Let's go."
Back at the academy, she'd definitely investigate this mysterious "dwarf soul master."
How had such a powerful figure slipped under her radar?
"Headmistress… what was that white flame?" one teacher asked.
Liu Erlong didn't know—but she was certain: it wasn't a martial soul.
Though losing the soul beast stung, the group pressed onward.
Only Tai Long remained scowling.
That Raging Demon Bear was supposed to be his second soul ring!
He'd joined this trip just to blend in—his grandfather had warned him repeatedly: Unless you find a perfect match, don't absorb any soul ring. Wait for the clan to hunt one for you.
And then—miraculously—he found a pure-strength-type beast perfectly suited to his level…
Only to have it snatched away before he could even touch it.
…
Several kilometers away, in a secluded ravine—
Yang Fan successfully logged out of Yao Lao's "premium account."
"Master, I think the Raging Demon Bear is already dead."
Yao Lao drifted out of Yang Fan's body and examined the corpse. "No matter. A freshly dead bear's gallbladder still retains most of its antidotal potency."
"But tell me—was battling a true expert exhilarating?"
More than the gallbladder, Yao Lao cared about Yang Fan's understanding of Dou Qi.
"It was… okay," Yang Fan said modestly.
If Yao Lao had taken control himself, Liu Erlong probably would've been flattened in one move.
"Don't be discouraged," Yao Lao said gently. "With no cultivation technique or Dou skill whatsoever, you still suppressed a Soul Saint in True Martial Soul form. That's exceptional."
He hadn't expected Yang Fan to manifest Dou Qi Wings during his escape—that was a breakthrough in itself.
Yang Fan walked over to the Heavy Xuan Ruler planted in the ground.
He took a deep breath, summoned his faint Dou Qi, and pulled the ruler free.
The moment he shouldered it again, memories flooded back—ten days ago, when every step had been a struggle.
Now, he stood firm.
"Good lad!" Yao Lao beamed with pride.
The battle hadn't shaken Yang Fan's confidence—in fact, it had ignited an even fiercer hunger for Dou techniques.
Exactly what I hoped for!
"Master…" Yang Fan asked as they walked, "are there any herbs or soul beasts in Douluo Continent that can… repair a damaged soul?"
"I haven't found any yet," Yao Lao admitted.
Truthfully, this was his first time leaving Yunluo City since arriving in this strange world—and just ten days ago, he'd seen his first living soul beast.
"If you find any, tell me immediately. I'll get it for you—no matter what."
"You've got heart, kid."
From that day on, Yang Fan fully committed to tempering his Dou Qi.
Reaching Holy Spirit Village no longer felt urgent.
As long as he stayed on the right path, he'd arrive before the holiday ended.
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