Suddenly, another cry of a Firewing Dragon echoed from deeper within the cave—this one laced with pain and urgency.
Lin Feng immediately conjured flames, illuminating the dark cliffside in front of them.
A blood-soaked Firewing Dragon slowly came into view, its entire body covered in wounds. Compared to the one they had seen outside, this one radiated an even stronger aura.
The pressure it exuded evoked awe in everyone present.
After a quick inspection, Lin Feng estimated this injured dragon's cultivation to be around thirty thousand years.
Nestled beside it were a few tiny, newly-hatched Firewing Dragons, clearly its offspring.
"The one outside was the male, and this injured one must be the female."
"And it seems the male led us here to save its mate and children," Dugu Yan guessed aloud, voice trembling slightly as she pieced it together.
"But this mother dragon looks seriously injured…"
"Lin Feng, if she dies, what happens to those babies?"
Dugu Yan looked at the fragile hatchlings huddled against their mother, her heart sinking.
"These wounds... they look like lightning damage," Dugu Bo muttered, frowning as he examined the injuries. "Likely caused during a battle with a Golden-Feathered Thunderhawk."
"I'm afraid I can't heal this one."
The male Firewing Dragon stood protectively in front of his mate, crying out to them in desperation. There was anguish in its eyes, and hopelessness in its voice.
"Lin Feng, you're well-versed in medicine and immortal herbs… please, help them."
Moved by the scene, Dugu Yan tugged on Lin Feng's hand, pleading.
"Yan'er… her belly's been torn open. There's no saving her," Dugu Bo said softly, not wanting to see Yan'er's kindness trampled by reality—but also unwilling to give false hope.
Lin Feng looked into the male Firewing Dragon's eyes.
A soul beast that sought out humans for help—it was rare, even unheard of. If this dragon had run into another soul master, it might have been slaughtered on the spot. The babies sold off to battle arenas.
This dragon believed in him.
He couldn't let that faith be in vain.
Lin Feng's firm tone drew everyone's attention.
He pulled a pale-blue lingzhi herb from his soul tool and approached the mother dragon carefully, feeding it to her.
It was the Millennium Dewdrop Lingzhi—a rare healing herb whose effects could rival the Nine-Hearted Begonia.
A soft purple glow emanated from the mother dragon's wounds as the herb took effect, visibly slowing the bleeding.
Moments later, her breathing steadied. Her eyes—once shut tight in pain—fluttered open, glimmering with life and gratitude.
The male Firewing Dragon chirped joyfully, gently nuzzling his mate's healing wounds.
"Incredible… I didn't know such miraculous herbs even existed," Dugu Bo exclaimed in awe.
The others breathed a collective sigh of relief as they watched the family reunite, comforted and smiling.
"Feng'er, let's move on," Lin Ye said, clapping his son on the back. "We'll find another soul beast that suits you."
To him, helping this dragon family was far more meaningful than just gaining strength.
But as they turned to leave, the male Firewing Dragon suddenly ran ahead, blocking their path.
It stepped forward, inhaling Lin Feng's scent, then turned back to look at its mate and children.
Finally, it spread its wings—gently wrapping Lin Feng in their embrace.
The female dragon cried out in alarm, as though sensing her mate's intent. Her call was filled with panic and heartbreak.
The male Firewing Dragon's body began to glow—a deep, translucent crimson like a gemstone.
"It's going to… sacrifice itself!"
"It's trading its life for hers!" Dugu Bo shouted, stunned.
The others were speechless, their hearts gripped by the sheer weight of the moment.
The dragon let out one final, piercing cry—full of love and farewell. It was telling its mate to live on, to raise their young well.
Even as soul beasts, their emotions were pure—perhaps even purer than most humans.
The female Firewing Dragon pressed her babies close to her chest, replying in kind with a sorrowful wail of her own.
"Stop! Please, don't do this!"
Lin Feng tried to force the dragon away with his soul power, but it wouldn't budge.
A golden flame ignited across the dragon's body.
But it wasn't fire. It was bloodfire—born of its life force, its soul power, its very essence.
Its eyes—blood-red yet gentle—locked with Lin Feng's.
Then, the dragon bowed its head, touching it lightly to Lin Feng's forehead.
As the flame darkened from crimson to black, the dragon's form faded.
A massive black soul ring condensed around Lin Feng, pulsing with power.
Everyone stood frozen, stunned by the raw emotion and sacredness of the moment.
With a deafening roar, Lin Feng completed the absorption.
His soul power surged—breaking through to Rank 52.
[Ding! Congratulations, host has obtained a new purple-tier trait — Graceful Hero!]
[Ding! Soul ring triggered soul bone drop — obtained external soul bone: Firewing!]
[Ding! Trait refresh timer reset.]
Flames burst from Lin Feng's back as a pair of blazing wings formed—each several meters long.
"An external soul bone?!"
"Feng'er's luck is unreal! This is the dream of countless soul masters!" Dugu Bo and Lin Ye shouted with glee.
Only Dugu Yan watched silently, her expression clouded with sorrow.
Lin Feng must be hurting right now...
Unlike the others, she saw past the breakthrough.
Lin Feng didn't smile.
He retracted the wings and walked to the female dragon, gently brushing his hand across her feathers.
"I know this is hard…"
"But this was his choice. A gift… in return for what we gave."
"Come with me. I'll take you somewhere safe."
"You and your children can live there in peace. I promise, I'll protect you."
His voice trembled, eyes reddening.
This was all he could do to honor the dragon's sacrifice.
"Father, Grandpa, Yan'er," Lin Feng turned abruptly, eyes sharp with resolve.
"Let's bring them to Flame Valley!"
A hidden sanctuary he'd discovered before entering Heaven Dou Academy—dense with fire-attributed soul energy, secluded and ideal for both fire-type soul masters and soul beasts.
30 Advance Chapters on !
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