The chaotic energies of the 100,000-year soul ring had subsided, leaving Lin Feng physically spent but spiritually transcendent. The immediate consequence of absorbing such massive power was the evolution of his pathetic Martial Soul, fulfilling the promise of the Infinite Fusion System (IFS).
Lin Feng watched in awe as the residual spiritual energy concentrated around the Scrawny Chicken. The small, dusty form was violently ripped apart and reassembled by the system's force. The scrawny feathers burst into brilliant violet-gold light, hardening into sleek, powerful scales that covered a newly robust, majestic body. A crest of unique, shimmering purple flame—a flame unlike any elemental fire known—crowned its head. Its small, fearful eyes were replaced by twin spheres of cold, intelligent amber.
The transformation was absolute, final, and terrifying. The Scrawny Chicken was gone, replaced by a being of primordial power. The system's notification confirmed the change: THE MYTHIC FUSION PHOENIX OF PRIMORDIAL CHAOS. This new Martial Soul was not just powerful; it was the embodiment of Lin Feng's system—the perfect conduit for Fusion Power.
The sheer scale of the absorbed energy propelled Lin Feng's Soul Power far beyond the initial requirement. He was now a Level 13 Spirit Master, a feat that was not only unprecedented for a six-year-old but impossible for any Soul Master without divine intervention.
With the stabilization of the Red Soul Ring, Lin Feng unlocked his first, devastating soul skill. This ability was not derived from the Violet Sun Grass he harvested, but from the fusion that created the ring—the harmonious collision of life energy, soul essence, and the concept of "unbreakable foundation."
First Soul Skill: Phoenix Fusion Flame.
Lin Feng tentatively activated the skill. A small, violet-gold flame materialized on his palm. It didn't burn with heat; it burned with potential. Lin Feng quickly tested it on a loose stone. Instead of melting the stone, the flame enveloped it and instantly fused its silicon molecules with ambient moisture, transforming the stone into a piece of hard, smoky quartz. He realized the incredible power: this flame could fuse any two substances it touched, turning creation and destruction into two sides of the same coin. He could fuse metal into flesh, air into solid mass, or even two weak skills into a single, powerful one.
This single skill alone made him an anomaly capable of fighting Level 30 Spirit Masters with ease, entirely relying on the environment and his cunning.
Lin Feng knew he could not return to Holy Spirit Village with a Mythic Fusion Phoenix and a Red Soul Ring. The revelation would bring the entire Spirit Hall down upon the village, and his ambitions would be crushed before they even began. He spent the last of his remaining energy on a crucial application of the IFS:
He fused a weak piece of spiritual wood with the 'Concept of Visual Deception' and applied the resulting energy to his person. This created a powerful, temporary disguise. When he deactivated his soul power, his Martial Soul appeared as the original, harmless Scrawny Chicken. When he activated his power, the Fusion Phoenix would appear, but the surrounding Red Soul Ring would be masked, appearing as a standard, decade-old White Soul Ring. He chose white, the weakest color, to lull observers into a false sense of security. The contradiction—a Level 13 Soul Master with a White Ring—would baffle any expert, including the Grandmaster, confirming his genius without revealing his true, dangerous power.
Lin Feng returned to Holy Spirit Village under the cover of a damp twilight. He was exhausted but radiating a controlled, quiet intensity. He approached the forge, where he knew Tang San was likely training his Blue Silver Grass and practicing his Mysterious Heaven Skill.
The encounter was brief. Tang San, now confirmed as a genius with his Level 10 Innate Soul Power, gave Lin Feng a familiar, patronizing nod. "Lin Feng, you shouldn't worry about being Level 0. Maybe you can be a good blacksmith."
Lin Feng met his gaze, no longer with shame, but with predatory intent. "I won't need a forge, Tang San. I will surpass everyone who pitied me. Starting with you."
Tang San frowned, sensing a profound change in the boy, a dangerous shift in aura. But the words were easily dismissed. Lin Feng smiled internally. The hero had been set up for the fall.
Lin Feng quickly used his supposed failure to his advantage. He convinced Old Jack that since he was Level 0, he must still go to Nuoding Academy to "learn some basic knowledge" before becoming a farmer. The truth was, he needed to get to the first nexus of the plot and establish dominance.
His path was clear:
Nuoding Academy: Steal the mentor (Grandmaster) and the main love interest (Xiao Wu) from Tang San.
Shrek Academy: Steal the core team members (Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong).
The World: Use the Fusion Phoenix and the IFS to acquire power, women, and influence until the original protagonist is utterly marginalized.
Lin Feng packed his small bag, ready to leave the village that had once confirmed his status as a loser. He was now a Level 13 Spirit Master with a 100,000-year Red Soul Ring hidden beneath a simple white lie, armed with the ultimate cheat. He walked toward the morning sun, his journey from the Scrawny Chicken to the Fusion Phoenix officially underway.