Awooo—!
The Nether Wolf King let out a miserable cry. Its charging body halted abruptly before tumbling into a rolling heap. Under the crushing might of the hundred-thousand-year Golden Crow's aura, it collapsed on the ground, limp, trembling, and fouling itself in terror.
A mutant thousand-year Nether Wolf King… reduced to this by a single aura?
That was a thousand-year mutant soul beast!
Impossible. Fake!
Lordeira's mouth fell open in shock, his mind reeling, almost doubting his own eyes.
"This is… Titled… the aura of a Titled Douluo!" he muttered in disbelief.
No—
Strictly speaking, it wasn't the Titled Douluo aura at all. It was Su Linfeng's soul beast origin, the oppressive might of a hundred-thousand-year Golden Crow. For six years, this was the first time he had released it without restraint.
That pure, primal pressure—
Even Lordeira, the proud golden eagle, couldn't stop himself from trembling.
Not just trembling—his very soul yearned to submit.
This was the suppression of a hundred-thousand-year soul beast upon martial souls. For soul masters below the Titled Douluo realm, the sensation was indistinguishable from standing under a true Titled Douluo's might.
At the same time—
Teachers and students scattered through the valley hunting soul beasts all stiffened, breath caught in their chests. They turned wide-eyed toward the north.
There, a black Golden Crow phantom stretched a hundred meters across the sky. Even from dozens of li away, its form was visible.
The oppressive wave rolled outward like a tidal surge.
That was no mere ten-thousand-year beast.
No—
A hundred-thousand-year soul beast!
The same thought flashed in the minds of all nine academy teachers.
"Awwoooh!"
"Roooar!!"
"Cryyy!!"
In the next instant, the entire outer Valley of Death erupted into chaos. Beasts and birds scattered madly, stampeding deeper into the valley as though driven by terror.
Plant-type soul beasts that could not flee simply cowered in place, shivering.
Some submitted, some wilted outright.
The upheaval nearly panicked the nine supervising academy instructors. In the very first moment, they dove into the valley, gathering the scattered students by force.
The Golden Generation had not gone far. With their teachers' summons, they regrouped quickly.
Hu Liena's eyes widened at the sight. "What's happening? Why are the soul beasts running deeper into the valley? Don't they fear being eaten by stronger beasts?"
"Nana, you felt that aura just now, didn't you?"
Xie Yue's face was taut with tension. "I suspect something powerful appeared near the outer forest. That's why the weaker beasts panicked."
Though he knew his own strength was lacking, instinct drove him to stand in front of his sister protectively.
Perhaps it was a brother's instinct. And Hu Liena, too, leaned on him deeply. After all, martial soul fusion skills couldn't be done with just anyone.
"…We're finished. No way we can catch a beast now," Zhang Ping muttered gloomily.
"Still thinking about that at a time like this? If we can't catch any, what about Su Linfeng—"
Hu Liena's face paled suddenly as a thought struck her. "Wait! Wasn't Su Linfeng with Teacher Lordeira? They were in that direction just now—what if something happened to them?!"
At her words, Zhang Ping, Xie Yue, and Yan all exchanged uneasy looks, worry showing plainly.
"No, I'm going to find Su Linfeng!" Hu Liena blurted, starting forward.
"Stop right there!"
Before Xie Yue could hold her back, their supervising teacher's face darkened. "Lordeira is with him—you don't need to worry. Right now, the priority is retreating. Everyone, follow me. We're leaving the Valley of Death immediately."
There was no way he would allow Hu Liena to rush into danger.
These students were the future of Spirit Academy. If anything happened during this hunt, the responsibility would be unbearable. The safest option was immediate evacuation.
Northern Forest.
Lordeira stared blankly at Su Linfeng, who had just withdrawn the hundred-thousand-year aura, and at the Nether Wolf King, now so terrified it couldn't even stand.
He slapped himself across the face.
Not an illusion!
That scene had been real.
He was stunned. Completely dumbfounded. His mouth opened to speak, but no words came.
"Teacher Lordeira."
Su Linfeng turned lightly, his tone almost casual. "I've captured a thousand-year mutant Nether Wolf King. Looks like I scared it stupid. Could you hand it over to Spirit Hall's guards for registration?"
"Ah—ah?"
Lordeira swallowed hard, his eye twitching violently. At last, he managed to stammer: "That… that won't work. The Heaven Dou Empire's Soul Hunting Forests forbid thousand-year beasts. To maintain ecological balance, only ten- and hundred-year beasts are permitted."
Su Linfeng frowned. "Then what about my points—"
"Are you even human?"
Before he could finish, Lordeira cut him off. "That vision just now—was that your martial soul? How could you release an aura equal to a peak Douluo? That's not normal!"
Uh oh.
Had he been found out?
Su Linfeng forced an awkward but polite smile. He genuinely didn't know how to answer.
He really wasn't human before.
But now, technically, he was.
Wait… why did that sound like he was insulting himself?
Still, Lordeira's level shouldn't be enough to uncover his true nature. Even Qian Xunji, a peak rank 95 Douluo, had failed to sense his soul beast's origin. There was no way Lordeira could.
"That was his innate domain."
A familiar, melodious voice drifted through the forest.
Both Su Linfeng and Lordeira looked up simultaneously.
Sister?
The Saintess!
Their spirits jolted. Even Su Linfeng hadn't noticed when Bibi Dong arrived.
"Saintess."
Lordeira hastily dropped to one knee, bowing deeply.
"Rise."
Bibi Dong waved him up, casting Su Linfeng a reproachful glance before turning to Lordeira. "Your Golden Eagle spirit is outstanding. Serving as an external instructor at Spirit Academy is beneath you. Report to Spirit Hall tomorrow."
Lordeira's eyes went wide with joy.
To join Spirit Hall was his life's ambition. Never had he imagined it would be granted so casually.
"Many thanks, Your Highness Saintess!"
He prostrated himself again, voice trembling with excitement. "From this day forward, I, Lordeira, swear eternal loyalty to Spirit Hall—to you, Saintess!"
Bibi Dong gave a slight nod. Then her tone sharpened:
"But remember this. Everything you just witnessed—you will forget. No matter who asks, you know nothing. Especially the Worship Hall."
"If anyone presses, you will say it was the hundred-thousand-year Death Spider Emperor stirring deep within the valley."
Not one word wrong. Understand?
Her voice grew heavy with the last command.