Xie Yue and Hu Liena were both taken aback by Yan's suggestion.
To act separately meant taking on far greater risks — and far more uncertainty.
Though Hu Liena was still angry, she had to admit that Yan's words made some sense.
This time, Pope Bibi Dong had only given them three months for their training.
If they stayed together the whole time, never facing danger alone, then this so-called "trial" would fail to achieve its intended purpose.
"Fine, let's split up! Don't think we care about your stupid fire attribute anyway. Just wait — I'll get my fourth spirit ring before you do!"
Hu Liena's tone was still laced with irritation as she snapped back at him.
Among the three of them, the one with the least to fear while acting alone was undoubtedly Yan.
As a fire-attribute Spirit Master, his flames naturally restrained most soul beasts. Even ten-thousand-year beasts would usually avoid provoking him — unless they were particularly strong or also possessed fire attributes themselves.
Hu Liena shot him one last angry glance, then turned away without another word and stormed off into the distance.
Xie Yue watched his sister's figure disappear, then turned to Yan with a trace of worry in his eyes.
"Yan, be careful out there. Finish your training quickly and meet up with us afterward."
"Mm. You be careful too."
Yan understood that Xie Yue was an overprotective older brother. Even though they'd agreed to act separately, he would never stray too far from Hu Liena.
After all, she was his only family in this world. No matter what, he would never allow harm to come to her.
Once both siblings had left, Yan too set out on his own path.
By noon, Yan arrived at a clear, flowing river to replenish his water supply.
Leaning over, he saw his reflection in the calm surface — crimson hair fluttering with the wind, a well-built body marked with faint flame-like patterns, and dark-red eyes that gleamed with confidence and strength.
Though his appearance might seem intimidating, it carried an undeniable masculine charm.
Yan nodded in satisfaction at his new self.
After rehydrating and eating a bit, he continued toward the heart of Death Canyon — where the most dangerous and powerful soul beasts dwelled.
Along the way, he encountered quite a few soul beasts, though most were below the thousand-year level.
Sensing the overwhelming aura radiating from him, they chose not to attack.
Yan also had no desire to waste time fighting weaker creatures, so both sides left each other alone.
As night fell, Yan found a quiet clearing.
He pitched his tent and lit a campfire to ward off the cold and the biting insects of the night.
After everything was in order, he didn't lie down immediately. Instead, he sat cross-legged, eyes half-closed, and began to circulate a cultivation method from his previous life — the Taiji Circulation Technique.
In his former world, he had practiced it merely to calm his body and mind amid the chaos of daily life.
But now, in this new world, he wanted to test whether the technique still worked.
"Taiji moves with the balance of Yin and Yang, harmonizing spirit and energy…"
As Yan focused his mind, he felt a mysterious current stirring within his body — a strange yet harmonious sensation.
"As I thought… my spirit power can flow perfectly alongside the Taiji technique. If I continue practicing this way, it will definitely strengthen my foundation."
Just as he was marveling at this discovery, a strange pulse of energy rippled through the air nearby.
Instantly alert, Yan sharpened his senses and extended his spiritual perception through the ground beneath him.
As a dual-attribute Fire and Earth Spirit Master, his spiritual sense could now detect movements within a two-hundred-meter radius through the earth itself.
That pulse grew stronger — and clearer. He could now feel it distinctly: a massive demon wolf was stealthily approaching him.
Its aura suggested a cultivation age of roughly three thousand years, exuding a sharp, murderous pressure.
Thankfully, it was a lone wolf — not part of a pack.
When it closed to within a hundred meters, the demon wolf suddenly lunged forward at astonishing speed.
Yan showed no fear. With a burst of energy, his Flame Lord spirit erupted forth — his entire body blazing with fire, transforming him into a man of living flame.
The wolf let out a guttural growl and leapt straight at him, jaws wide, intending to crush him under its weight.
But Yan was already prepared.
"First Spirit Skill — Infernal Magma Surge!"
A blazing column of molten fire erupted from the ground, roaring upward like a fiery dragon and slamming directly into the charging wolf.
"Awooo—!"
A scream of pain split the air as the demon wolf was struck head-on, sent crashing to the ground under the force of the eruption.
Without hesitation, Yan unleashed his second spirit skill — Granite Crush.
Massive slabs of rock rained down from above, smashing into the fallen wolf one after another, trapping it under a growing heap of stone.
Before it could recover, Yan activated his third spirit skill — Infernal Flame.
A surge of crimson fire burst into existence, engulfing the rock pile — and the beast within — in a sea of blazing light.
The flames seared flesh and bone alike, and the wolf's agonized cries echoed through the night before fading into silence, consumed by the fire.
When the battle was over, Yan withdrew his spirit.
Moments later, a faint purple mist rose from the wolf's remains, slowly condensing into a luminous purple spirit ring.
Unfortunately, it wasn't one he could use right now.
Even so, Yan's pulse still raced from the thrill of combat.
He had felt, firsthand, both the cruelty and the exhilaration of this world — a realm where danger and growth coexisted in perfect balance.
That satisfaction didn't come merely from victory, but from the validation of his strength — and the surge of confidence that followed.
The world of Douluo was a place where only the strong survived.
Those who failed to ascend to godhood would forever remain ants beneath the feet of others.
"Only by becoming the strongest can I truly control my fate," Yan thought.
And in that moment, he swore silently to himself —
He would become one of the strongest beings in this world.
A month later.
Through countless battles and near-death encounters, Yan had grown steadier, more composed — and stronger.
At last, he had broken through to Level 40.
Now, he could begin his next task: hunting a powerful soul beast to obtain his fourth spirit ring.
Given his dual attributes of fire and earth, both fire-type and strength-type soul beasts would serve as ideal targets.
But naturally, fire-type beasts were his first choice.
Cautiously, Yan pressed deeper into the canyon, where the danger — and opportunity — grew with every step.
Suddenly, he felt a powerful wave of energy ahead.
Moving quietly, he crept closer — until he saw, not far away, a fierce battle unfolding.
A red Skyfire Fox was locked in combat with a massive Two-Headed Demon Serpent.
Judging by the intensity of their auras, both creatures had cultivation ages of around six thousand years.
The Skyfire Fox was a fire-attribute beast, its fur a brilliant crimson, its body shaped like a fox — yet from its back stretched a pair of blazing wings.