Douluo Continent: The Real World

Yu Tianyan had never imagined that convincing Liu Erlong would be such an arduous task. She, always steadfast in her beliefs, was not someone who could easily be swayed, especially when it came to something as delicate as the path of a Spirit Master. When he first revealed to her his desire to become an Extreme Spirit Master, he thought she'd understand. After all, the potential was clear in his eyes—the power of the twin spirits, coupled with the tempering of his mysterious flame, should have made him a formidable candidate.

However, Liu Erlong, after hearing him out, frowned deeply. "The twin spirits are not a free pass for reckless soul-ring acquisitions," she had scolded him, her voice stern. "If you follow through with this, you risk wasting the first three spirit rings. Are you willing to take that chance?"

Tianyan had tried to explain further, describing the extent of his training, the mystical flame that had infused his very being, and his belief that he could overcome the limits of the system. But despite his earnest words, Liu Erlong remained unconvinced. The doubt in her eyes told him that this battle of ideals was far from over.

Her final words left him with a bittersweet feeling. "Perhaps your intellect has surpassed mine. But I still can't condone the path you're trying to take," she said with a sigh. "If you go forward with this, it may be too late to turn back."

Though her reluctance had weighed heavily on him, Tianyan knew there was no turning back. His mind was set. With the strength of his twin spirits and the fire that flowed through his veins, he was ready to push the boundaries of his power.

Into the Sunset Forest

The next morning, Tianyan, exhausted from hours of reading and research, was suddenly jolted from his thoughts by Liu Erlong's voice. "Get ready. We're heading to the Sunset Forest."

The mention of the Sunset Forest sent a chill down Tianyan's spine. He had heard many tales of this place—fabled as a perilous region where only the brave or the foolish dared to venture. It was teeming with soul beasts of unimaginable power, and the very air seemed charged with danger. Despite this, Liu Erlong seemed calm, even confident.

As soon as they left the safety of the village, Liu Erlong summoned the Red Dragon's true form. The dragon's massive wings beat through the air, causing a gust of wind that nearly knocked Tianyan off his feet. The speed at which they traveled was terrifying.

Tianyan held on tightly, trying to steady himself as they soared through the skies. The power behind the dragon was incredible—Liu Erlong's cultivation, now enhanced by the Heart Fire, was far superior to anything he'd encountered before. He marveled at the fact that she could summon such power without draining herself completely.

The Sunset Forest loomed ahead, its vast expanse dotted with towering trees, some reaching heights of over a hundred meters. Beneath the canopy, the world was a labyrinth of shadows and life, where even the air felt charged with the power of ancient creatures. A dangerous, yet vibrant ecosystem, the forest was known not just for its deadly soul beasts, but for the countless herbs and rare medicinal plants hidden within.

As they flew over the forest, Tianyan caught glimpses of human-made paths, likely created by adventurers or soul hunters. The ground below was littered with remnants of past expeditions—broken weapons, forgotten tools, and traces of those who had not survived the encounter with the forest's wild inhabitants.

They landed at the edge of a large clearing, where the heart of their mission awaited them. Liu Erlong pointed to the creatures grazing nearby. "Dragon-horned rhinos," she explained, her eyes narrowing. "Herbivorous, but highly dangerous when provoked. They are social creatures and will defend one another fiercely."

There were dozens of them—massive beasts, each with a sharp, electrified horn and purple scales lining their backs. The Dragon-horned Rhino King, a gargantuan creature more than ten meters long, stood atop a nearby hill, its eyes fixed on them with calculating intent.

Tianyan's eyes gleamed with determination. "Let's go for the one in the water," he suggested, pointing to a particularly large rhino submerged in a nearby stream.

Liu Erlong nodded, a silent agreement passing between them. She summoned her soul power, her seven soul rings flashing with an ominous light. "Prepare yourself."

The Battle of the Beasts

With a flick of her wrist, Liu Erlong unleashed her [Flame Dragon Claw] soul skill. The force of her attack was so immense that the air seemed to warp around her. The dragon-horned rhino, unable to withstand the overwhelming pressure, collapsed instantly under the strike, its body twitching as the fire from Liu Erlong's claws burned through its scales.

Tianyan could only watch in awe as she made it look effortless. His respect for her power grew in that moment. The Rhino King watched the scene with fury, its instincts screaming for it to defend its kin. But even with its intelligence, the Rhino King hesitated for a fraction of a second—long enough for its entire herd to break into a panicked retreat.

"Xiao Yan, finish it!" Liu Erlong called, her voice sharp and commanding.

Without hesitation, Tianyan rushed forward, his hands crackling with blue lightning. The massive creature lay on the ground, breathing heavily, its life force fading. But Tianyan had learned from his past mistakes—he would not waste any more time. He needed to do this swiftly.

As he approached, he recalled Liu Erlong's earlier advice: This beast has high resistance to lightning; don't waste your power. With a nod, Tianyan dispelled the electricity swirling around his hands and instead focused on the flames within him. He placed his palm against the dragon-horned rhino's head, the heat of his palm immediately clashing with the cold touch of the creature's body.

What followed was nothing short of astonishing. The moment his palm connected with the rhino's skin, the Fallen Heart Flame—an infernal fire ranked 14th among the world's most dangerous flames—began to spread. It was as if the very essence of the flame devoured the life force of the beast. Tianyan pulled back quickly, just as the rhino began to convulse violently. Its body twitched in agonizing spasms, lightning crackling across its form.

Seconds stretched into what felt like hours. Then, finally, the beast lay still, its body lifeless. Above it, a yellow soul ring appeared, shimmering with power. Tianyan stepped back, gasping as he tried to steady himself. His body was trembling, still feeling the aftereffects of the intense power exchange.

Liu Erlong's eyes widened as she observed the soul ring. "This... this soul beast was over 500 years old!" She could barely believe it. The power required to defeat a soul beast of such age should not have been within the reach of someone so young.

Tianyan, however, felt a strange mix of pride and apprehension. The Fallen Heart Flame had not only destroyed the creature but had inadvertently triggered its breakthrough, causing it to surpass its age limit. He had not expected this outcome, but it was a reminder of just how potent his strange fire truly was.

"I didn't expect your flame to have such an effect," Liu Erlong admitted, her tone softer now, filled with a rare admiration. "But we must find another one. We can't afford to waste time."

Tianyan chuckled softly, feeling the familiar warmth of determination fill him. "It's fine, sister. I'm not worried. With the strange fire, I can handle anything."

Though she still wanted to be cautious, Liu Erlong nodded. "You always have your own way of thinking, Xiao Yan. I trust you. But remember—if anything goes wrong, I will stop you immediately."

With that, Tianyan sat down, preparing to absorb the soul ring. The pressure from the ring descended upon him like a heavy weight, but his body, tempered by years of fiery trials, resisted the oppressive force. His strange fire flared, forming a protective barrier around his body as he began the process of absorption.

As the world around him seemed to spin, Tianyan couldn't help but feel that this was only the beginning. The path ahead was fraught with danger, but with the strength of his flame and the resolve in his heart, he knew he was ready for whatever challenge lay in wait.