Bang—!
Scarlet Tiger was slammed heavily into the ground, completely pinned beneath Yin Zhang.
The Crimson Flame Roaring Tiger let out a furious roar and struggled desperately, trying to force itself back up.
But Yin Zhang gave it no such chance.
"Don't be so impatient," Yin Zhang said with a grin. "Let's have a proper fight first. After that, your old man can come keep you company too."
He fully indulged in unleashing his current peak, extreme physical strength upon Scarlet Tiger.
There was no need to use Spirit Abilities—none at all.
"Hahaha! This really is satisfying!" Yin Zhang laughed loudly.
The solid, realistic feeling of fists striking flesh sent a rush of exhilaration through him.
As for why he was beating the seemingly innocent Scarlet Tiger so ruthlessly?
It was much like a saying passed down on Blue Star:
Once an Orphnoch, always an Orphnoch.
Once a Spirit Beast, always a Spirit Beast.
Isn't it common sense that Spirit Masters kill Spirit Beasts?
To grow stronger, killing Spirit Beasts is perfectly justified.
He wasn't slaughtering indiscriminately.
And even if he were, it wouldn't matter. The future of the Douluo Continent didn't hinge on the lives of a few Spirit Beasts.
Not to mention, Yin Zhang knew very well that in the future, Spirit Souls—and even better systems—would emerge, allowing the Spirit Master path to continue evolving.
Spirit Beasts and Spirit Masters were fundamentally the same.
It was only a difference in position.
From above the valley, Hu Liena watched as the massive dragon pinned the giant tiger to the ground and beat it mercilessly. The raw, overwhelming spectacle of pure physical dominance left her deeply mesmerized.
Of course, that also had something to do with her rose-colored glasses.
In the eyes of someone hopelessly in love, everything Yin Zhang did was right.
Eventually, Yin Zhang had vented enough and felt completely satisfied.
But the Crimson Flame Roaring Tiger was in utter misery.
Its wails rang continuously through the valley.
It wanted to struggle, but the terrifying weight and overwhelming power crushing it down made even breathing difficult.
In the end, its entire body was drenched in blood.
Yin Zhang nodded in satisfaction.
"Huff… huff… huff…" He panted lightly. "I've had my fun. Time to end this."
"If you want to blame someone, blame your dad for bringing you near Nuoding City. Don't worry—your old man will be joining you soon."
With a powerful flap of his wings, Yin Zhang rose into the air.
He opened his dragon maw, and an enormous sphere of light rapidly began to condense.
This was an extremely powerful Spirit Ability he could unleash while in his Bloodline Spirit Ability—Dragon God Transformation.
Dragon God Blazing Flame!
Scorching dragonfire gathered, as if it could burn a hole straight through the heavens. The surrounding air began to distort and ignite from the sheer heat.
Even from over a hundred meters away, Hu Liena felt the temperature skyrocket. Her eyes widened in disbelief.
A Spirit Ability with this level of power—
Even her teacher… no, even Elder Yue and Elder Gui wouldn't be able to withstand it!
After gathering energy for a full minute, Yin Zhang's enormous dragon eyes—each over five meters in diameter—snapped open.
A torrent of dragon flame, nearly as large as his entire body, erupted from his mouth.
The terrifying heat annihilated everything in its path.
Even the Crimson Flame Roaring Tiger, which had already resigned itself to death, widened its eyes in shock.
If you're going to kill me, then just kill me—why do you have to do this?!
When Yin Zhang finally finished venting his attack, the valley had been completely transformed.
What had once been a land of birdsong and fragrant flowers was now a blazing inferno.
Even the forest beyond the valley's edge had caught fire—no, it had already been reduced to scorched earth.
Yin Zhang coughed lightly, a bit embarrassed, the sound echoing through the now-silent valley.
As for Scarlet Tiger—
It was thoroughly cooked. Charred black.
A jet-black spirit ring slowly condensed above its remains.
Yin Zhang reverted to his human form and looked up at Hu Liena.
"Nana, how was it?" he asked with a smile. "How did I look in dragon form?"
Hu Liena finally snapped out of her daze, her eyes filled with worship and admiration.
"Brother Zhang, you were incredible just now! An eighty-thousand-year Crimson Flame Roaring Tiger—a Spirit Beast that even Spirit Douluos below the Titled Douluo level would struggle against—was completely helpless in your hands. And you…"
She poured out her thoughts without restraint. By the end, even Yin Zhang felt a little embarrassed.
Was he really that impressive?
Maybe he was strong—but probably not to the exaggerated degree she described.
Yin Zhang smiled faintly.
"Nana, stay here and act as my Protector for now. I'll go absorb the spirit ring. It's extremely hot down there, but it's nothing to me. Just keep watch from above."
Hu Liena nodded firmly.
"Don't worry, Brother Zhang. Leave it to me!"
If it weren't for the unbearable heat below, she would have insisted on going down with him.
Yin Zhang descended, used flames to burn away the blackened ash on a clear patch of ground before Scarlet Tiger's corpse, then blew the residue aside.
He summoned his Spirit, transforming into a smaller dragon-man form, and sat cross-legged before the remains.
At the same time, he summoned his Golden Holy Dragon Spirit, which circled around him protectively.
The Golden Holy Dragon had witnessed the battle earlier. Though it was a Spirit, it possessed its own consciousness and resided within Yin Zhang's spiritual sea.
Unless it was a special circumstance—like late at night when he was alone with Hu Liena—Yin Zhang generally didn't block its perception of the outside world. Cultivating their bond was important.
Half an hour later, Yin Zhang finished absorbing the deep black spirit ring.
As his strength increased, his speed in absorbing spirit rings had also accelerated.
However, once he fully understood his Martial Soul True Body, Yin Zhang felt a bit helpless.
Because his Martial Soul True Body was fundamentally different from that of ordinary Spirit Masters.
It was almost identical to Dynamaxing from the Pokémon of his previous life.
But after transmigrating for so long and absorbing so many spirit rings, his Spirit had continuously evolved.
Yin Zhang estimated that once he used his Seventh Spirit Ability—Martial Soul True Body, or Dynamaxing—his strength would undergo a drastic transformation.
All attributes would be comprehensively enhanced, and his body size would surpass even that of his Dragon God Transformation.
However, compared to his dragon form, he would likely be less agile.
"My spirit power has broken through to level 72," Yin Zhang muttered thoughtfully. "Not bad."
"All the benefits from this spirit ring have manifested. But now, even an eighty-thousand-year spirit ring doesn't boost me much anymore."
He sighed softly.
"Looks like I still need to find a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring."