Soul Land: Surviving As A Spirit Beast In Douluo Dalu

Feng Jin froze, his eyes wide with shock. His breath hitched. "The Angel God?" he muttered under his breath, his mind racing.

He had heard of this history before, back when he was still a part of the Golden Tortoise Clan. Stories of how countless Spirit Beasts with light attributes were annihilated by an apostle of the Angel God who later ascended to become the Angel God herself. But to think that Chenxin, was tied to such a tragedy…

"Grandfather," Feng Jin finally said, his voice trembling slightly. "Since when… since when did you know who Chenxin really was?"

The Golden Tortoise Emperor let out a sigh, his glowing eyes narrowing slightly. "I had my suspicions from the moment I met the four of you. When I first saw Little Chenxin, her spiritual energy felt hauntingly familiar. I once crossed paths with the Phoenix Empress many millennia ago. The resemblance was unmistakable, though her aura was subdued then."

Feng Jin opened his mouth to speak, but the Emperor raised his hand, cutting him off. "I know what you're about to ask, Little Jin, so let me explain. Only the Phoenix Divine Beast possesses the ability to be reborn once in their lifetime. It is a unique trait tied to their bloodline—a trait no other Spirit Beast shares. However, the Phoenix Empress was no ordinary Divine Beast. Her bloodline was the purest among all Phoenixes, and only she possessed the strength to survive the calamity and be reborn."

The Emperor's gaze darkened as he continued. "Her clansmen were not as fortunate. Every single one of them was annihilated, leaving her as the sole survivor. And now that her memories have returned, she carries the weight of that sorrow once again."

Feng Jin clenched his fists tightly, his heart heavy. He couldn't begin to imagine the pain Chenxin must have endured—not just the loss of her entire clan but the burden of reliving that pain after regaining her memories.

"How… how much has she suffered?" Feng Jin whispered, his voice barely audible. The thought of Chenxin silently bearing all that anguish made his chest ache.

Feng Jin took a deep breath, his mind struggling to process everything he had just learned about Feng Chenxin. He clenched his fists, his voice steady but heavy with concern. 

"Grandfather, what do you think Chenxin will do now?" 

The Golden Tortoise Emperor's expression darkened slightly, his eyes distant as if recalling something from the past. His deep voice rumbled through the vast space of Feng Jin's Spiritual Sea. 

"Spirit Beasts are straightforward by nature. If we desire something, we act upon it—we do not scheme or deceive like humans do. But humans... they have always schemed, not only against each other but also against us, to take what they want." 

His golden gaze shifted toward Feng Jin, piercing and profound. "Now, what do you think would happen to a Spirit Beast who has suffered at the hands of such schemes? And what if the cost of that scheme was the annihilation of their entire clan?" 

Feng Jin's breath caught in his throat. He already knew the answer, but hearing it spoken aloud made it feel far more real. 

"They would want revenge," he murmured. 

"Exactly," the Golden Tortoise Emperor nodded. "A Spirit Beast that has lost everything to human treachery would naturally be consumed by fury. And if it was the Phoenix Empress herself—whose bloodline carries the pride and wrath of the Phoenix Divine Beast—her rage would be unimaginable. However, in Little Chenxin's case… the human responsible for her clan's destruction is long gone from this world." 

Feng Jin remained silent, listening intently. 

"There are only two paths she can take now," the Emperor continued. "One, she directs her vengeance toward humanity as a whole. Or two… she sets her sights on the source of her clan's tragedy—the Angel God—and ascends to the God Realm to seek retribution." 

Feng Jin's eyes widened at the second possibility. "Ascend to Godhood?" 

The Golden Tortoise Emperor let out a low sigh, his expression unreadable. "Both options require time. Chenxin is not reckless. She knows that, in her current state, taking on humanity alone is a foolish endeavor. As for the second path… that is even more difficult or may not be possible." 

He paused for a moment before continuing. "In all my million years of existence, I have never seen a Spirit Beast ascend to the divine. Even I, with all my cultivation and experience, could not do so. Since the era of the Dragon God, no Spirit Beast has been able to break the threshold of divinity. That path has long been sealed." 

Feng Jin was momentarily stunned, his mind reeling at the weight of his grandfather's words. If even a being as powerful as the Golden Tortoise Emperor could not reach Godhood, then what chance did Chenxin have? 

But then, as memories of his time with Chenxin flooded his mind, his hesitation faded. His expression became firm, his eyes burning with determination. 

"I don't know what choice Chenxin will make, but I do know one thing," Feng Jin said, his voice unwavering. "I will not stand by and watch her suffer alone. I won't let her bear this burden by herself." 

A dark energy, deep and powerful, swirled around his body. His conviction was absolute. He lifted his gaze to his grandfather. "I need to be stronger. Strong enough that I won't become a burden to Brother Qian and Sister Linlin. Strong enough to protect Chenxin from any danger that comes her way." 

As Feng Jin's emotions surged, the dark and mysterious energy began to swirl around his body, dark and ominous yet strangely controlled. His golden Spiritual Sea dimmed slightly, the energy reflecting the depths of his resolve.

The Golden Tortoise Emperor's solemn expression gradually shifted into a pleased smile. He nodded in approval. "Good, good. You not only seek strength for yourself, but for your brother and sisters as well." 

Feng Jin's lips curled into a small, determined smile. "They are the most important people in my life. I know that Brother Qian and Sister Linlin will do the same. I don't want to slack off behind." 

The Emperor let out a hearty laugh, his massive body radiating satisfaction. "Good, good! Even after all this time apart, my disciples still share an unbreakable bond." His voice turned thoughtful, his gaze distant. "Perhaps… just perhaps… you all have the potential to achieve the impossible." 

Feng Jin was deeply touched by his grandfather's words. He bowed slightly. "Thank you, Grandfather." 

The Golden Tortoise Emperor's expression grew serious once more. His golden aura flared slightly as he regarded Feng Jin with pride. "Very well, Little Jin. If you seek strength, I will ensure that your potential will rival—no, surpass—Little Qian's." 

Feng Jin's eyes widened slightly, but his determination did not waver. He clenched his fists, nodding firmly. 

"I'm ready." 

The Golden Tortoise Emperor smiled. "Then let us begin."

However, deep within his thought, there was actually another path that Feng Chenxin could take that he did not say, but he decided to hide it from Feng Jin for his own good. He only hope that outcome would not happened.

...

Great Star Dou Forest, The Molten Peaks

Deep in the heart of the Great Star Dou Forest, where the sky burned red and the land trembled beneath the force of nature, a series of volcanic mountains stood in defiance of time. Rivers of molten rock flowed endlessly, casting an eerie glow upon the land. 

At the peak of one such volcano, two figures stood at the edge, peering into the churning abyss below. 

Jin Guihua, the Golden Osmanthus, wiped his brow nervously. The suffocating heat did not bother him—it was the situation that made him uneasy. He turned to the figure beside him, a regal golden lioness with three radiant eyes that shimmered like celestial stars. 

"Miss Shizi, are you sure this is the right place?" he asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "I don't see anyone… just lava." 

Baiyan Shizi, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, did not answer immediately. A knowing smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "Can't you read my thoughts?" 

Jin Guihua stiffened, his golden leaves rustling as if caught in an unseen wind. His expression turned grim. "Then… it's true?" 

Baiyan Shizi's smile widened, full of reckless confidence. "Naturally." 

Then, before he could react, she turned toward the pit of seething lava and declared, "Let's jump." 

Jin Guihua's face paled. "W-Wait, Miss Shiz—!" 

Too late. She had already leaped into the abyss. 

With a deep, resigned sigh, he followed. 

As they descended, the searing heat should have incinerated them instantly—but instead, they passed through the lava as if it were nothing more than an illusion. 

And then, the world changed. 

The scene before them was not the depths of a volcano, but an entirely different realm. A vast forest stretched endlessly, yet every tree was wreathed in unquenchable flames. The sky was a canvas of swirling embers, flickering like dying stars. 

In the heart of this infernal land lay a grand ancient array pulsing with power, its intricate patterns glowing with fiery runes. The air thrummed with an energy both sacred and sorrowful. 

Baiyan Shizi's expression darkened. "Tsk. We're late." 

With a sharp *thud*, they landed on scorched ground. No time to waste. Baiyan Shizi's golden eyes flashed as she turned to Jin Guihua. "We move. Now." 

He nodded, and the two of them sprinted toward the array. 

As they neared, they saw *her*. 

A magnificent phoenix, her body cloaked in ethereal white flames, danced through the air. Her movements were deliberate, weaving through the array's symbols in a perfect rhythm. It was a ritual—a summoning, a desperate plea to the heavens. 

The two of them stopped, momentarily entranced by the sight. The phoenix's presence was overwhelming. 

Then, she spoke. 

Her voice was clear yet distant, carrying the weight of sorrow. "To what do I owe the pleasure, young Emperor Beast?" 

Despite her words, she did not halt her ritual. The flames continued to swirl, the runes burning brighter. 

Baiyan Shizi let out a small breath of relief. "At least we're not too late," she muttered under her breath. 

Then, she straightened and spoke confidently. "We've come to stop you from doing something you'll regret." 

At this, the phoenix hesitated for just a fraction of a second—but it was enough. 

She let out a soft, almost amused sigh. "As expected of the Auspicious Emperor Beast… You, who can influence fate itself, have come to meddle in mine." Her voice carried a trace of exhaustion, of quiet acceptance. "But there is no need for concern. Rest assured, I will bring no harm to the forest or anyone." 

Her words were strong, yet they carried an unmistakable undercurrent of desperation. 

Jin Guihua, ever attuned to emotions, felt his heart twist at the raw grief emanating from her. 

But Baiyan Shizi was unmoved. She had no intention of changing her approach. Her voice was firm, cutting through the haze of sorrow. 

"Your ritual won't work." 

The flames wavered. The phoenix's graceful form tensed ever so slightly. 

"…What?" 

Baiyan Shizi's gaze was unyielding. "No matter how much power you pour into it, you *cannot* bring back the dead." 

For the first time, the ritual came to a halt. The white flames trembled, flickering uncertainly. 

The phoenix—her presence so noble, so unshakable before—now radiated an unmistakable fragility. "You lie." 

But Baiyan Shizi did not waver. 

"Feng Chenxin," she said. 

The phoenix froze. 

Silence. 

Then, softly, as if trying to convince herself of something, the phoenix whispered— 

"I am the Phoenix Empress." 

It wasn't a statement. It was a denial. 

Baiyan Shizi's eyes narrowed. 'So that's how it is…'

Baiyan Shizi then took a slow step forward. "Stop with your selfish acting!"