Soul Land: Surviving As A Spirit Beast In Douluo Dalu

Boom!~~

An earsplitting explosion tore through the open space of the Heavenly Blessed Mountain as shards of shattered ice scattered into the air. It was the icy wall Feng Qian had hastily constructed to halt Feng Linlin's advance. However, it was no match for Feng Linlin blazing light beam. The radiant hue of her attack illuminated the mountain in a brilliant flash before the rest of the wall gave way with a deafening crack. 

Feng Qian staggered back, his eyes widening as the remnants of her attack illuminated the area with an intense, blazing hue. The sheer power of her light beam left the air humming with residual energy, a heatwave brushing against his fur.

"What… was that?" he muttered, stunned by the sheer force of Linlin's attack.

Before he could collect his thoughts, a deep, ancient voice reverberated within his Spiritual Sea, echoing through his mind like a distant thunderclap.

"Hmm… Divine Beast Bloodline," the voice of the Dragon God rumbled. "What a nostalgic feeling."

Feng Qian froze, his heart skipping a beat. "Divine Beast Bloodline?" he asked aloud, his voice laced with confusion. "Ancestor, what do you mean? Are you saying Linlin—"

But the voice fell silent as abruptly as it had spoken. No matter how many times Feng Qian called out, there was no response from the Dragon God.

He clenched his teeth in frustration but quickly shook his head, forcing himself to refocus. The Dragon God's cryptic words lingered in his mind, but right now, Linlin needed his attention.

Feng Qian turned his gaze back to Linlin. "She's changed," Feng Qian thought, his heart heavy with concern. "That attack… it's not just her reaching the Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Beast level. It's something more. Could it really be connected to this Divine Beast Bloodline Ancestor mentioned?"

Feng Qian skidded backward, his hooves digging into the ground as he braced himself. Frost clung to his body, radiating faint plumes of icy mist. He could feel the vibration of Feng Linlin's attack reverberate through the air, its intensity undeniable. 

Across from him, Feng Linlin emerged from the explosion, her white fur shimmering with both light and darkness, her piercing gaze locked onto Feng Qian. She was breathing heavily, but her movements were slowing. The hidden poison laced in Feng Qian's ice wall was taking effect, gradually immobilizing her. 

"Linlin, stop!" Feng Qian's voice carried both desperation and authority. 

Feng Qian was 

"Move, Brother!" she roared, her voice trembling with a mix of fury and anguish. "Linlin going to find Sister Chenxin!!" 

Her body trembled slightly, and her glowing fur flickered as the poison started to sap her strength. Feng Qian stepped forward cautiously, his golden eyes filled with concern. 

"You're not thinking straight," he said firmly, his voice steady but laced with worry. "Charging out into the forest blindly like this won't bring her back." 

Feng Linlin snarled, baring her teeth. "How can you, Brother? Do you not understand how it feels to lose someone again and again? First Little Chen, then Master, and now Sister Chenxin! Do you know how much it hurts?!" 

Her words hit Feng Qian like a thunderbolt. He froze, guilt gnawing at his heart. He did understand—more than he ever let on. But this wasn't about him. He couldn't let Linlin throw her life away in a reckless attempt to fix things. 

"I know it hurts," he said quietly, lowering his head. "And I know I've failed you and everyone else. But running off won't make it better, Linlin. It'll only make things worse." 

"You don't understand!" Linlin shouted, her voice cracking. Tears welled up in her luminous eyes, but she blinked them away furiously. "I hate this feeling! I hate waiting, hoping, and losing everything in the end. I can't—" 

"You won't lose her," Feng Qian interrupted sharply, stepping closer. His voice was firm, almost commanding. "I promise you, Linlin. I'll bring her back. But I need your help." 

Linlin hesitated, her growl softening. She was conflicted, torn between her anger and the trust she had in her brother. 

"You're just saying that to stop me," she muttered, her voice shaky. 

"No, I'm saying it because it's the truth," Feng Qian said, meeting her gaze. "But we need to be strong enough to find her. Right now, we're not. If we leave the mountain like this, we'll never make it. And what about Feng Jin? Are we going to leave him behind too?" 

Linlin's ears flattened at the mention of Feng Jin. She glanced away, her claws digging into the ground as her body trembled. 

"I don't want to leave brother Jin," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. 

"Then stay," Feng Qian urged, his tone softening. "Let's prepare together. Six years, Linlin. That's all I ask. Six years to grow stronger, to stand a chance against whatever's out there. Then we'll leave—together. All of us." 

The tension in Linlin's body slowly ebbed. Her fur stopped glowing so intensely, and the tears she had held back began to fall. 

"You promise?" she asked, her voice cracking. 

"I promise," Feng Qian said solemnly, stepping closer and lowering his head to hers in a comforting gesture. 

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The wind carried the faint rustle of leaves, filling the silence. Finally, Linlin nodded, her fierce demeanor giving way to a fragile resolve. 

"Alright," she said quietly. "But you'd better keep your word, Brother. Or Linlin will never forgive you." 

Feng Qian smiled faintly, relief washing over him. "I wouldn't dare break my promise to you." 

The two beasts stood side by side, the tension dissipating as they silently resolved.

...

Meanwhile, in Feng Jin's abode, Feng Jin mind was in a deep slumber, dreaming about his past.

The scene shifted to Feng Jin's home, where the Golden Tortoise Clan lived. He had just reached his one-thousand-year Spirit Beast cultivation milestone. However, his excitement was short-lived when he awakened the Black Tortoise Bloodline—a trait viewed as an ominous symbol of misfortune. 

"Outcast!" a voice roared. The elders of his clan stood before him, their faces twisted with disdain and fear. 

"You've brought shame upon us!" 

"Your presence alone invites calamity!" 

"Leave! You are no longer welcome in our clan!" 

Feng Jin tried to plead, but his words were drowned out by the jeers of his kin. His heart shattered as he was forcibly driven away, banished from the only home he had ever known. 

Alone and aimless, Feng Jin wandered through the vast forest. Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. Without a purpose, he simply existed, dragging himself from one place to another. 

"What's the point of living?" he often asked himself, his shell feeling heavier with each passing day. 

One fateful day, however, a weak cry broke through his despair. Following the sound, Feng Jin found a beautiful phoenix lying injured beneath a canopy of trees. Its golden-red feathers were dulled, and it trembled in pain. 

The sight stirred something within him. For the first time since his exile, he saw a reflection of himself in another—a creature abandoned, hurt, and alone. 

"You're just like me," he whispered, lowering his head. 

Determined, Feng Jin used his powers to create a cool pool of water to soothe the phoenix's burns. He stood vigil by its side, gathering herbs and guarding it from other Spirit Beast. 

Days turned into weeks, and the phoenix regained its strength. Together, they began to travel through the forest, forming an inseparable duo. 

With the phoenix by his side, Feng Jin found purpose again. 

"I'll protect you," he vowed. "As long as I'm alive, I won't let you suffer alone." 

But their happiness was short-lived. Over time, the phoenix began to fall ill. Its vibrant flames turned wild and destructive, and it grew more aggressive. Feng Jin's heart sank as he blamed himself. 

"Is this because of me?" he muttered, tears streaming down his face. "Am I cursed to bring misfortune to everyone I care about?" 

Still, he refused to give up. He searched relentlessly for a way to save the phoenix, his resolve unwavering. 

Then one day, he met a strange deer with the Qilin bloodline along with a White Tiger that was being chased by many Spirit Beasts. They were Feng Qian and Feng Linlin. He decided to help them and together, they also helped stabilize the phoenix. From that day on, the three of them, along with the phoenix, became close. 

"Would you like to join our family?" Feng Qian had said, his voice kind yet firm.

For the first time in his life, Feng Jin felt he had a place where he belonged. 

But the dream darkened, shifting into a nightmare. Shadows loomed over him, and he saw his family falling into perilous situations, ones he could not prevent. 

"Why am I so cursed?" he cried out, his voice echoing in the void. "Why can't I protect them?" 

Suddenly, a warm, golden light pierced through the darkness. A single phoenix feather descended before him, its glow dispelling the nightmare. As the feather touched him, he thought he heard faint, soothing words, but they were too soft to comprehend. 

The scene faded, and Feng Jin awoke in a vast, calm sea of water. He realized it was his Spiritual Sea. 

The tranquil waters rippled as a deep, commanding voice echoed through the space. 

"Little Jin." 

Feng Jin's eyes widened as a massive, radiant figure emerged from the depths. It was the Golden Tortoise Emperor, its form both majestic and ancient. 

"Master?" Feng Jin whispered, his voice trembling. 

The Golden Tortoise Emperor regarded him with a warm, yet stern gaze. "You've endured much, Little Jin. But now, it is time for you to rise."