Faced with Shui Yuehua's doubts, Lin Xiao said nothing. Instead, he drew his bow, nocked an arrow, and infused it with his corrupted flame before firing at a nearby tree.
The tree instantly ignited.
Moments later, it was reduced to charcoal.
Shui Yuehua's expression changed with surprise. "Such intense heat… and this fire has a strange stickiness to it. Is it a mutated spirit?"
Only mutated spirits manifested such strange and unpredictable traits.
Lin Xiao lowered his bow and spoke honestly:
"I don't have a teacher. No elders guiding me."
"That's how I killed the Fire Vulture just now."
Shui Yuehua observed his clothing—plain, without a single soul tool, and clearly made for commoners. It didn't seem like he was lying.
"With talent like yours, how could you not have a teacher?"
The Flame Phoenix was a top-tier beast-type spirit.
Just witnessing the power of Lin Xiao's corrupted fire made it obvious that his innate soul power couldn't be low. A genius like this would be sought after by any major clan or academy.
Why would someone like him be hunting soul beasts alone?
Lin Xiao sighed:
"I'm an orphan. And the reason I don't have a teacher is because my spirit is flawed. If I don't regularly purge the corrupted flame, it will consume me from within and I'll die."
"I refuse to surrender to that flame. I won't become a beast controlled by it. If death is the only outcome, then so be it. Naturally, no one wants to take on a disciple who's already as good as dead, right?"
What he said was true.
But he also kept some things to himself—like the methods he'd discovered to suppress the corrupted flame. He didn't mention those at all.
Hearing the phrase "purge the corrupted flame," Shui Yuehua's expression turned strange. When she heard that Lin Xiao refused such methods and would rather die, her gaze softened with a mix of pity and admiration.
"You… really are strong-willed."
She had initially thought he was just being foolish.
But the more she thought about it, the more she realized that a boy with such principles was rarer than any genius.
After all, a phoenix should be noble. If it were to live among chickens, eating scraps and drinking foul water—how could that be right?
"Granny Shui, what does purging the corrupted flame mean?" Shui Bing'er asked innocently.
Shui Yuehua stammered, clearly struggling to answer.
"Will Big Brother die?" Bing'er's eyes reddened with sadness.
She was only six years old, still full of kindness and compassion.
And her first impression of Lin Xiao had been so warm and familiar.
Tears welled in her eyes as she tugged on Shui Yuehua's sleeve.
"Granny Shui, I don't want Big Brother to die."
"Can we help him? Please?"
Shui Yuehua: "…"
Help? How? Who's supposed to help him, me or… you?
Shui Yuehua sighed and looked at Lin Xiao.
"Fine. I'll protect you while you absorb the soul ring."
"Don't let it go to waste."
"We'll talk about the rest once you've finished."
Lin Xiao bowed respectfully.
"Thank you, Granny."
Then he turned to Shui Bing'er. Seeing her red-rimmed eyes, he felt a twinge of guilt.
"My name is Lin Xiao. What's yours?"
Upon hearing Shui Yuehua's promise to help, Shui Bing'er's sadness quickly vanished. She smiled brightly at him.
"Big Brother Lin Xiao, my name is Shui Bing'er!"
Shui Bing'er…? Lin Xiao blinked.
So this was the future captain of the Tianshui Battle Team—the girl with the Ice Phoenix spirit?
Her spirit, the Ice Phoenix, combined with innate full soul power, had to be an embodiment of Extreme Ice. Of course, at this time, the concept of "extreme attributes" didn't yet exist on the continent.
Lin Xiao's expression grew a little strange.
In Soul Land 2, when Ma Xiaotao's corrupted flame went out of control, it was Huo Yuhao's Extreme Ice that suppressed it.
Could Shui Bing'er do the same for him?
Shui Bing'er giggled playfully.
"Big Brother Lin Xiao, there's something you definitely don't know~"
"My spirit is a Phoenix too!"
With that, she summoned her spirit.
At the same time, both Lin Xiao and Shui Bing'er felt a shiver in their hearts. Instinctively, they looked at each other.
The Ice Phoenix and the Flame Phoenix let out soft cries.
A deep, indescribable bond formed between them—subtle but undeniable.
They could sense each other's emotions.
This level of spirit compatibility… is insane!
Suddenly, Shui Bing'er retracted her Ice Phoenix. Her face flushed red, and she lowered her head, speechless.
Lin Xiao acted as if nothing had happened.
He simply turned and sat down before the Fire Vulture's soul ring, legs crossed, and began the absorption process.
Shui Yuehua hadn't noticed the moment of strangeness between them. She simply sighed.
"Bing'er, both of you share Phoenix spirits."
"Fate really brought you together."
Shui Bing'er's face went bright red. She glanced secretly at Lin Xiao.
He was sitting in silence, his eyes closed, his features calm and handsome, red maple-like hair making him look like a young warrior from a fairy tale.
She murmured:
"Granny Shui, Lin Xiao doesn't have anywhere to go. Why don't we let him stay with us?"
Shui Yuehua was caught off guard, clearly unsure.
Under normal circumstances, finding a genius like this would be a dream. She would've happily brought him into the Shui Clan without hesitation.
But…
Lin Xiao had said it himself—his spirit was flawed!
If he refused to purge the corrupted flame, he would eventually die from soul explosion.
Shui Bing'er spoke softly:
"Granny Shui, are you worried about his spirit's defect?"
"But… our spirits are both Phoenixes."
"When we summoned our spirits together, I could feel a connection form. There was something evil about his spirit, something wild."
"But I think… my spirit can suppress that evil energy."
Shui Yuehua's eyes lit up with joy.
"Bing'er, are you certain?"
Shui Bing'er nodded.
Shui Yuehua was overjoyed. A genius like Lin Xiao—if he lived—was guaranteed to become a powerful Soul Master.
That would be a great benefit to the Shui Clan.
"Then after he finishes absorbing the soul ring, we'll ask what he wants to do."
—
After some time, Lin Xiao opened his eyes.
Within them flickered a flame shaped like a maple leaf—brilliant and full of spirit.
Though he wore humble clothing, his aura was noble and refined.
After absorbing the soul ring, his soul power had risen to Rank 12.
"You're awake? You absorbed a five-hundred-year-old Fire Vulture soul ring without resistance. Your innate soul power and body strength must be exceptional."
"What's your first soul skill?"
An old voice reached his ears.
Lin Xiao stood and bowed gratefully.
"Thank you for guarding me, Granny."
Then he raised his hand toward an empty patch of ground.
"First Soul Skill: Phoenix Feather Formation."
A blazing phoenix soared into the sky.
Countless crimson feathers rained down like a meteor shower, covering the area in fire. The corrupted flame ignited, and nothing survived.
But it didn't end there.
The flames began to move, linking together to form chains of corrupted fire that sealed off the entire area.
A hundred-year mole-type soul beast suddenly burst from underground, trying to escape through a gap.
But the corrupted fire came alive, twisting around it and tearing it to shreds.
The flames roared.
Even the soil had turned black from the heat.
Though all vegetation was burned away, the flames still didn't die out—not until Lin Xiao snapped his fingers, making them fade.
He could feel it—his corrupted flame had grown stronger again.
Whether that was a blessing or a curse… he didn't know.