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Quan Yi was extremely satisfied with the punch he had just delivered.
Especially since the synergy between his second soul skill and his self-created soul skill was near perfection.
A 30% increase in strength and flame power—while impressive on their own—was not something that just anyone could utilize to this extent.
The core principle behind Propulsion Mode was simple in theory but complex in execution.
It involved converting an equal amount of soul power into flames through his Martial Soul, then compressing and controlling those flames to unleash their full potential.
The key was maximizing output while minimizing energy expenditure.
As a result, Propulsion Mode allowed Quan Yi to execute attacks that far surpassed his physical strength alone.
And as his mastery over both soul power and flame control continued to improve, so too would the effectiveness of Propulsion Mode.
Although this technique didn't rely heavily on raw physical strength, a weak foundation would make it impossible to control such an overwhelming force.
However, with the enhancements granted by his second spirit ring and second soul skill, Quan Yi's body had undergone a significant transformation.
This meant that he could now withstand even greater propulsion.
After his earlier test, he was confident that his body could fully endure the combined force of Dual Flame Jets—especially with Power of Dark Flames further amplifying his attack by 30%.
In other words, the Dark Flame Elephant's spirit ring was the perfect match for his second soul skill.
And more importantly, only he could unleash this soul skill to its fullest potential.
With this level of strength, Quan Yi felt ready to move on to the next phase—
Flight.
His original vision for Propulsion Mode had always included aerial maneuverability.
Previously, he had shelved the idea due to a lack of control and physical conditioning.
But now, with his body strengthened and his control refined, his dream of flight no longer seemed out of reach.
"Alright, it's getting late. Let's leave this place," Quan Yue called out, noticing the sun sinking beyond the horizon.
Another long, eventful day had passed.
Indeed, nightfall in the Soul Beast Forest was far more treacherous than the daytime.
Quan Yi and Su Ling'er nodded in agreement before shifting their gazes toward the Dark Flame Elephant's massive corpse.
Before leaving, they had to deal with its remains.
Raising her hand, Su Ling'er summoned a bright crimson flame, intending to incinerate the body.
However—
The moment her fire touched the Dark Flame Elephant's hide, the flames flickered and failed to spread.
Its fire resistance was incredibly strong.
Su Ling'er's eyes gleamed with interest at this discovery.
A thought crossed her mind.
Without hesitation, she walked over to the area where Quan Yi's punch had penetrated the beast's thick skin and extended her Lion Claw into the exposed flesh.
This time, without the outer layer of fire-resistant hide, her flames quickly consumed the massive corpse.
Standing beside her, Quan Yi silently observed his mother's fire.
As a fellow fire-attribute soul master, he knew that even with his Dark Flames activated, he wouldn't be able to incinerate such a large body as efficiently as she did.
This was the undeniable gap between them.
No matter how talented he was, no matter how much his combat power allowed him to challenge Spirit Grand Masters while still at the Spirit Master level—
Raw, absolute power was something that couldn't be bridged so easily.
The massive corpse slowly deflated, like a leaking balloon.
By the time the sun had completely set, all that remained of the Dark Flame Elephant was a single, unburnt piece of its hide.
"I plan to take this skin back," Su Ling'er said with a smile. "Such exceptional fire resistance is incredibly rare. We can use it to craft fire-resistant clothing for Xiao Yi."
"Good idea," Quan Yue agreed. "But bringing back a complete hide would be too conspicuous. We should cut it into smaller sections first."
For safety reasons, he suggested dividing the hide into pieces, making it easier to transport.
With her Lion Claws, Su Ling'er swiftly sliced the thick, durable leather into compact rectangular sections.
In just a moment, the original shape of the hide was completely unrecognizable.
"Alright, let's go."
By the time they returned to their residence, it was already past ten in the evening. Most of the town's residents were already fast asleep, leaving the streets eerily quiet.
Their return went mostly unnoticed.
Stepping into the safety of the Quan family estate, all three of them let out a breath of relief.
"You've all worked hard today, especially you, Xiao Yi," Quan Yue said, glancing at his son. "Absorbing a spirit ring takes an immense amount of effort. Rest well tonight."
Indeed, while his body remained in peak condition, Quan Yi's mind was exhausted.
After all, absorbing a spirit ring beyond one's limit required absolute concentration throughout the entire process—it was only natural for him to feel mentally drained.
"Alright, then I'll go rest. Goodnight."
After bidding his parents goodnight, Quan Yi returned to his dormitory.
The moment his eyes landed on the bed, an overwhelming sense of fatigue washed over him.
His body felt heavy.
Without even bothering to change his clothes, he collapsed onto the bed and instantly drifted into a deep sleep.
Unlike their slumbering son, Quan Yue and Su Ling'er remained wide awake.
Back in their room, their previously relaxed expressions turned serious.
Their thoughts were filled with concerns about Quan Yi.
The successful absorption of his second spirit ring marked a major milestone—but the real problem lay ahead.
While they were astonished by his rapid progress, it was too fast.
It had only been a year, yet Quan Yi's spirit power had already surpassed the standard level of an intermediate Soul Master Academy student.
Not only that—his combat ability, martial arts training, and soul power control were all far beyond what a boy his age should be capable of.
No… perhaps it wasn't just talent.
His perseverance might be even more terrifying than his talent.
Reaching this level required not only spirit power cultivation but also relentless physical training and combat practice.
It was hard to imagine just how much effort Quan Yi had put in over the past year.
"Ling'er, we've been too complacent," Quan Yue said, his tone firm. "Xiao Yi's growth rate is far beyond our expectations. From now on, we need to take extra precautions to protect him."
Su Ling'er nodded, already having come to the same conclusion.
"I'll go myself. Only if I'm personally watching over him can I feel at ease."
"Then it's decided."
"Mm."
The next morning, after a full night of rest, Quan Yi woke up feeling more refreshed than ever.
It was a rare kind of relaxation—both physical and mental.
For a moment, he was tempted to stay in bed, savoring the rare feeling of peace.
But his stomach had other plans.
After barely eating anything the previous day, hunger gnawed at him, urging him to get up.
As soon as he stepped out of his room, the rich aroma of roasted meat filled his senses.
"Mother's soul beast barbecue!"
Without hesitation, Quan Yi dashed toward the kitchen.
Sure enough, inside the kitchen, Su Ling'er—wearing an apron—was busy preparing food.
"Xiao Yi, you're up already?" she said with a gentle smile. "Just wait a little longer. The barbecue will be ready soon."
"Mm!"
As he watched his mother cooking, a warm feeling spread through Quan Yi's heart.
The long-lost comfort of a family meal—
A small, unconscious smile curled the corners of his lips.
At this moment, he truly felt at home.