Douluo Continent: The Real World

The most touching thing in the world is hearing the most important person in your heart give the most satisfactory, affirmative answer.

Yu Tianyan got out of bed and gently hugged Liu Erlong with his small body.

"Thank you, Sister Erlong."

At this moment, his mind was at peace. All his usual worries faded, and he simply wanted to embrace the woman who had brought him endless warmth—the woman who had chosen him.

Perhaps he would never need to use that trump card in his lifetime. Liu Erlong wrapped her arms around him, holding Yu Tianyan tightly. Tears glistened at the corners of her eyes as she now understood the weight of hatred this child had carried for the past six years. It was heartbreaking for a child of only six to live every day with such profound pain.

In this world, he only had her. She was his only source of support. How could this not make her heart ache?

The two of them stayed in each other's embrace until Yu Tianyan's stomach let out a rumbling sound.

"Let's go. Let's eat," Liu Erlong said, taking his small hand as they walked out. Their bond grew even stronger in that moment.

The deeply moved Yu Tianyan had no idea that, to Liu Erlong, he had already become her spiritual anchor. Liu Erlong never treated him like a child; unconsciously, she always wanted to guide him into becoming the person she envisioned in her heart.

This was also why she unconditionally helped Yu Tianyan find various books.

…

One year later

Star Forest

If someone were to fly overhead, they would be stunned speechless. The land below was barren, burned to ashes. No soul beast dared to approach the area.

Yu Tianyan, now at level 13, stretched his hand toward the three-headed fire dragon lying miserably on the ground. The milky white flames withdrew from the dragon's two burned heads, returning to Yu Tianyan's body. Those two heads had been reduced to ashes over the past year.

For a full year, Yu Tianyan hadn't trained at all, spending his time on other pursuits. Despite Liu Erlong's attempts to persuade or even force him, he remained firm in his dedication. For a year, he practiced controlling split flames, while Liu Erlong ventured across the continent.

During that time, Yu Tianyan repeatedly split his flame, while Liu Erlong searched for soul bones. His persistence yielded great rewards: he managed to acquire 18 powerful soul bones, the youngest being 30,000 years old and the oldest 60,000.

These 18 soul bones were a fitting reward for Yu Tianyan's efforts over the year.

"Sister Erlong, come here. This will be your eighth soul ring," he called.

After absorbing the Scarlet Flame Python Soul Bone, Liu Erlong had successfully broken through to the Soul Douluo level. Under Yu Tianyan's urging, she hadn't sought her eighth soul ring, even though she initially tried to obtain it to prevent him from continuing to split his fire. But each time she attempted to leave, Yu Tianyan held her back with determination and threats, using powerful emotional tactics to make her stay.

The three-headed fire dragon was an 80,000-year-old soul beast, a true overlord of the Star Dou Forest. With each of its three heads controlling fire, poison, and spirit, the dragon could launch three attacks at once. Among soul beasts of its age, it was one of the most formidable, and it had a unique ability—so long as one head survived, it couldn't be killed completely.

For Liu Erlong, at level 80, absorbing a soul ring of this level would be nearly impossible. Yu Tianyan knew this and had delayed for an entire year.

Throughout that year, Liu Erlong scoured the continent for soul bones, and under careful selection, absorbed two powerful ones: a 50,000-year-old right arm bone from the Earth King and a 60,000-year-old left leg bone from the Cang Yan Tiger King. The Tiger King soul bone was the oldest acquired in the past six years, and Liu Erlong had gone all the way to the Xing Luo Empire to secure it.

During her travels, Liu Erlong didn't temper her soul power. Instead, she focused on strengthening her body, as Yu Tianyan had suggested. With the constant tempering of heart fire and the addition of soul bones, her physical strength now rivaled that of a Titled Douluo.

Now, only the last head of the three-headed fire dragon remained, its breath weak and labored. The once-bright horn atop its head had lost its luster. Its massive, wounded body was scorched and burned by Liu Erlong's fire, with her flames still clinging to its injuries.

Through Yu Tianyan's precise control, the dragon's soul power was refined, concentrated into its last remaining head. His mental power had grown significantly from a year of continuous flame splitting, allowing him to direct the strange fire within the soul beast with great precision.

Liu Erlong exhaled.

"I've finally waited for this day."

With a slight bend of her left leg, she kicked forward.

Blue Flame Tiger King's Left Leg Soul Bone Skill: Fire Slash!

A giant, flame-engulfed tiger materialized, radiating the power of a king, forcing Yu Tianyan back over 20 meters by the sheer force of its aura. The roaring tiger transformed into a nearly ten-meter-long blade of fire that slashed down toward the fire dragon.

A violent explosion resounded, and the last head of the three-headed fire dragon was severed, its flesh and blood charred by flames. At long last, its eyes closed peacefully.

In the end, a shining black soul ring appeared over the dragon's lifeless body. Liu Erlong's eyes gleamed with excitement, marveling at the 80,000-year soul ring. Not even a Titled Douluo's ninth soul ring would necessarily reach such a level.

"Sister Erlong, check if there's a soul bone. If my guess is right, it should be the skull," Yu Tianyan suggested. Through his careful control, the dragon's spiritual energy had likely condensed into a skull soul bone.

Liu Erlong nodded, suppressing her excitement.

"Alright."

Reaching into the last head of the three-headed fire dragon with her flame-coated dragon claws, she retrieved a delicate skull about the size of an adult's fist. Though the smallest of all their soul bones, it radiated an extraordinary level of energy.

Both of them were thrilled.

"Xiaoyan, take this skull. I already have three soul bones, which is more than enough. If you absorb it, it might make up for the time lost this year."

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(End of this chapter)