Having left her once familiar city behind, Fu Huan sought not only to see the world but also to find answers to the questions born from her own, unusual spirit. The spatial power dormant within her body beckoned toward unexplored borders of reality, toward understanding how the very fabric of existence bent and obeyed her will. She craved practical experience in combat with other soul masters to learn how to control and direct this unpredictable energy. She sought rare materials and ancient knowledge that could help her develop her own unique formulas and techniques. Unlike her parents, she was not in a hurry to share her discoveries. Her power was still too weak to ensure her safety, and relying on anyone else's protection did not suit her independent nature. Her main task remained the acquisition of the third soul ring, which would unlock new facets of her spatial gift.
However, her biggest challenge lay in finding a suitable spiritual beast whose nature resonated with her spatial spirit. After extensive research, she settled on a rare type of snake—the "Rock Spatial Snake."
The beast she was tracking was a peculiar subspecies of snakes, whose connection with space was nearly physical. The "Rock Spatial Snake" was considered extremely rare, and its primary habitat consisted of harsh, unexplored mountain ranges far to the west. However, according to ancient legends and rare mentions from spirit beast hunters, some very ancient individuals occasionally left their original territories in search of unique sources of energy or due to unexplained migratory instincts. It was one such soul beast that attracted the attention of both Fu Huan and the greedy collectors of rare spirit beasts. Its scales, colored dark granite with streaks of shimmering, mirror-like fragments, glowed with a strange radiance, as if invisible light refracted through them. In the air around it, there was a slight tingling sensation, as though the very fabric of space was strained by its presence. Its movements among the sharp rocks appeared deceptively slow, but Fu Huan could sense the hidden lightning speed and the potential for unpredictable spatial shifts.
As she journeyed across the continent, the young Fu quenched her thirst for knowledge by immersing herself in countless books and tomes she collected in every city. Her cart could barely withstand the weight of her acquisitions. One day, a kind old man suggested that she buy a spatial belt to ease the transportation of her library. Following his advice, Fu Huan bought a belt with a capacity of four cubic meters, and then, unable to resist her shopping instincts, she purchased two additional bracelets with similar functions, bringing her total storage capacity to ten cubic meters, which quickly filled with new knowledge and artifacts.
Now, Fu Huan had transformed into a noble lady, but not in constricting clothes; rather, she wore something quite roomy for travel:
Fu Huan appeared as if crafted into an exquisitely detailed miniature, with every aspect of her appearance exuding refinement. Soft waves of pink hair seemed to glow gently, framing her face like the petals of a rare flower. In the depths of her rose-gold eyes shimmered sparks of intellect and inner strength, their unusual hue drawing the gaze like a magnet.
Her hairstyle, adorned with four delicate golden jia hairpins, spoke of attention to detail. Two of them, with gentle pink tassels and tiny crescent-shaped pendants, swayed playfully, attached to small tails, adding a touch of playfulness to her otherwise serious appearance.
Her attire was a harmony of contrasts. A dark brown and white dress with an enticing cut on the back, intricately embroidered with golden patterns reminiscent of the stars twinkling in the night sky, accentuated her fragile figure. White stockings, decorated with light cloud-like patterns, created a sense of weightlessness, while purple silk cords, elegantly woven across her open back, added an air of mystery and sensuality without revealing too much.
A choker around her delicate neck served as a refined accessory, transitioning into a purple-gold pendant with a cascade of delicate tassels that drew attention to her graceful collarbones. Her outfit was completed with black shoes on a small heel, decorated with variations of the Chinese knot and long purple tassels that swayed in rhythm with her steps, as if alive.
Her entire appearance, from the soft blush on her cheeks to the golden gleam in her eyes, radiated quiet confidence and mature grace, despite her youth. There was nothing loud about her appearance, but the harmony of lines, the elegance of details, and the unusual combination of colors inevitably captured attention. Men, even unaware of the reason, felt an inexplicable attraction to this petite yet captivating girl whose beauty spoke not of external availability but of inner strength and mysterious charm.
A week later, she found herself in a remote, rocky area where only weak spirit beasts could be found—no interest to either her studies or her third soul ring. Carefully studying the surroundings and marking them on her map, she had almost given up on finding the Rock Spatial Snake. But then, luck smiled upon her unexpectedly. She did not find the beast, but she did encounter a man, wrapped in dark, tattered rags and a cloak. The man appeared to be no younger than fifty.
"Are you lost?" he asked in a hoarse voice, his face hidden deep in the shadow of his torn hood, but the glance that slid over Fu Huan was piercing and probing.
"I'm looking for... a certain spirit beast," Fu Huan replied cautiously, feeling the overwhelming power emanating from him. Her self-preservation instinct screamed danger, but something in the silent observer prevented her from simply running away. "A snake-type... with spatial abilities."
"Spatial..." the stranger echoed, as though thinking aloud. "Do not play with what you do not understand, child. Sometimes, it is better to remain ignorant than to open a door to the unknown. Here, in these mountains, shadows of the past... and future, wander. Search carefully, but do not awaken the sleepers."
Thanking him for the strange warning, Fu Huan nodded and continued on her way, feeling the heavy gaze of the stranger on her back. Something in his words and manner made her think, but for now, she could not unravel the mystery of this man. The man in the black rags watched her for a long while, and an inexplicable connection seemed to bind him to this unusual girl.
Soon, guided by the stranger's (though vague) directions, Fu Huan finally discovered it—the Rock Spatial Snake. Judging by its aura and size, it was indeed over four thousand years old, but that did not stop the determined Fu. However, the beast appeared wounded, its movements stiff, as though it had recently endured a fierce battle. Quietly waiting for the right moment, Fu Huan unleashed her most powerful technique.
Golden Coffin!
But now, the cube was significantly larger—five cubic meters in size, and the number of sharp blades within had increased dramatically. Their strength had also become immeasurably greater. Had she used this power against Tang San, the battle would have been over in a matter of seconds. This time, Fu did not limit the duration of the technique. The cube lasted for over a minute. In the first few seconds, the snake fiercely attempted to break free, but its wounds and weakened state prevented it from doing so.
After eighty seconds, the cube dissipated. The once majestic snake, its body over four meters long, was torn by numerous wounds but still alive. Its recent injuries now appeared even worse, with new deep cuts added. Thanks to its natural agility, the snake managed to avoid some of the blades, sparing it from an instant death within the cube. But as soon as it considered escaping, it felt its reactions slow, and in the next moment, it was struck by a blinding attack.
Pale Lightning!
Focusing her energy on her index finger, Fu Huan released a powerful bolt of pure energy that struck the snake's one eye with surgical precision, destroying it. Before the blinded beast could react, a second bolt pierced its other eye. Feeling death approaching, the snake panicked but was powerless. And once again, the familiar dread emerged.
Golden Coffin!
Weakened and blind, the snake could not avoid the trap. Almost all the blades inside the cube struck its barely living body. After fifteen agonizing seconds, the Rock Spatial Snake breathed its last. Above its lifeless body, a violet soul ring appeared.
Exhausted from the strain, Fu Huan decided to rest and recover her strength. In the distance, hidden among the rocks, the man in black rags was shocked by her power. He had intended to intervene, fearing that the young girl would not be able to handle the four-thousand-year-old beast, even if it was wounded. But his help was not needed.
About an hour later, when the violet soul ring still hovered above the snake's body, Fu Huan gathered her strength and prepared to absorb it. The moment it touched her skin, the energy surged into her body. Pain flared, brief but sharp, like needles of ice threading through her meridians. Her cultivation base had grown enough to contain the will of a four-thousand-year soul beast.
Hours passed.
When she finally opened her eyes, the world seemed clearer, distances sharper. The third soul ring had settled. And with it, a deeper harmony formed between her and the mysterious power of space.
"That's where it ran off to!" an old man with yellow eyes, filled with anger, shouted. His spiritual energy pressed down on Fu Huan like tons of lead.
"Because of your incompetence, we lost such a prize!" sneered an older woman, looking down at Fu Huan with disdain. "This little girl killed it!"
"For killing our beast, little girl, you have a choice," intervened a handsome young man in his mid-twenties. His gaze slid over Fu Huan's figure, lingering on her face and exposed back with obvious lust. "You will become part of our family... my personal possession. Or you will die right here. Such a soul ring is too valuable to simply fall into the hands of some upstart."
The old man and woman simultaneously unleashed their Soul Emperor power, their spiritual energy squeezing Fu Huan from both sides, leaving her no room to move. Is this the end? – a desperate thought flashed through her mind. The instinctual desire to flee surged within her, but any attempts were immediately thwarted by the invisible wall of pressure. Rage and helplessness fought for dominance in her soul.
Seeing the hopeless situation Fu Huan was in, the man in tattered clothes decided to act. He suddenly appeared before her, like a shadow.
Leave now! he barked, amplifying his voice with his spiritual energy. In the air, nine soul rings flared to life: two yellow, two purple, and four black, with the last one glowing a sinister red.
The old man and woman from the Soul Sect froze in shock as they witnessed the sudden appearance of the titled Douluo.
We... we will leave immediately, esteemed Douluo!
And the girl! She is perfect... The young man didn't finish his sentence before a mighty wave of spiritual energy from the nine-ringed master sent him flying tens of meters away.
As though fleeing from a ghost, the old man and woman hurried to find their unlucky grandson. Once they did, they quickly fled the gorge.
This is the first and last time I help you, a hoarse voice rang out above Fu Huan. If you get yourself into trouble again, you'll get yourself out.
And just as suddenly as he appeared, he vanished, leaving Fu Huan no chance to express her gratitude. His mere presence had instilled terror into the mighty Soul Emperors.
Having experienced such a shock, Fu Huan did not want to linger in this cursed gorge. She quickly searched the serpent's body, hoping to find a spiritual bone, but there was none. Deciding to take some blood and internal organs for future study, she hastily left the gorge, unwilling to stay in this perilous place for even a moment longer.