Simultaneous Transmigration: From Douluo Continent to the Pinnacle

Chapter 54 Golden-spotted Peacock

The morning mist in the Starry Sky Forest had not yet completely dissipated, and the damp air was filled with the scent of decaying leaves and wildflowers.

Sunlight filters through the dense canopy of trees, casting dappled patterns on the ground.

Tang Ya twirled a freshly picked sawgrass between her fingers, but her gaze was involuntarily fixed on the boy not far ahead.

The young man was dressed in a close-fitting outfit, the hem of which swayed gently in the forest breeze.

Her black hair was tied back with a simple wooden hairpin, and her profile was as sharp as a carefully carved piece of jade.

Standing alone behind an old locust tree, my fingertips seem to be casually tracing the lines on the trunk, glancing in my direction.

Despite being in the perilous territory of soul beasts, he exuded a relaxed demeanor, as if he were not hunting soul beasts but taking a stroll in the courtyard.

Seeing this, Tang Ya's eyes lit up. She quietly tugged at Bei Bei's sleeve and a familiar smile appeared on her lips.

That was the expression on the Tang Sect Master's face whenever he encountered a Soul Master with exceptional talent—his signature "talent-recruiting radar" activated.

"Beibei, look at that kid."

Tang Ya lowered her voice, her excitement barely concealed.

"Tall and composed, looking at us without any panic, he's clearly a mentally strong person. He even dared to come to the Star Dou Great Forest alone; his strength must be considerable. If we could recruit him into the Tang Sect—"

Following Tang Ya's observation, Bei Bei was indeed able to detect an indescribable aura emanating from Lin Yao that was not something an ordinary young man could exude.

However, Bei Bei felt somewhat helpless about Tang Ya's desire to expand the Tang Clan, and subconsciously rubbed her temples.

All I can say is that our teacher, Xiaoya, never forgets to "expand the Tang Clan" wherever she goes.

Right now, his eyes are shining like a little fox eyeing its prey, practically screaming "I want to dig you out!" It wouldn't be good if it caused a conflict.

Thinking this, Beibei gently tugged at Tang Ya's arm, her voice softening: "Teacher Xiaoya, your gaze is too direct, like you're trying to see right through people. Be mindful of your behavior, or you might scare them away."

Tang Ya belatedly realized that her gaze had indeed been too intense. She stuck out her tongue and quickly restrained herself, but still couldn't help but steal glances at Lin Yao out of the corner of her eye.

We can't let such a promising talent slip away right under our noses.

Lin Yao, who was behind the tree, had already noticed the undisguised gaze. His fingertips paused for a moment, and after confirming that the three people who came were Tang Ya, Bei Bei, and Huo Yuhao, he no longer tried to hide himself.

He pushed aside the ferns that were half a person's height in front of him, the tassels on the wooden hairpin swaying gently with his movements, and walked steadily toward the three of them.

The morning dew dampened the tips of his shoes, but it did not affect his gait at all; on the contrary, it added a touch of refined elegance to his appearance.

The moment the four met face to face, Bei Bei instinctively took half a step forward, shielding Tang Ya and Huo Yuhao behind her.

He clenched his right fist slightly, his knuckles emitting a pale blue halo. Although he had not yet summoned the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Martial Soul, he was already able to vaguely mobilize his soul power, ready to deal with any unexpected situation at any time.

After all, in the Star Dou Great Forest, the threat posed by unfamiliar Soul Masters is often more difficult to predict than that of Soul Beasts.

Lin Yao, however, appeared remarkably relaxed, his gaze fixed on Bei Bei with a hint of pure curiosity.

The person in front of me not only possessed the aura of the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex, but also concealed a faint trace of light power, clearly indicating that he was a descendant of the evolved Light Holy Dragon Martial Soul.

It's unbelievable that Yu Xiaogang, who was such a useless person ten thousand years ago, has such outstanding descendants, especially Mu En, the strongest person on the surface in the previous era. It's simply unreasonable.

Out of curiosity and the uniqueness of this bloodline, Lin Yao couldn't help but observe it for a while longer.

The two locked eyes, and for a moment, the air fell silent.

Beibei could clearly sense that there was no malice in Lin Yao's gaze, and her tense nerves relaxed slightly, but she still dared not completely relax.

Lin Yao suddenly felt that the scene of their eye contact was somewhat awkward, as if two strangers had inexplicably frozen in place. He immediately broke the silence, his voice clear and melodious like a forest stream: "Hello, is there something you need that's causing you to look at me like that?"

Upon hearing this, Bei Bei felt a hint of embarrassment. She had indeed assumed the other party was acting with the utmost malice. However, in the Star Dou Great Forest, where soul beasts roamed, it was common sense to be wary of unfamiliar soul masters.

He couldn't help but wonder to himself:

The boy in front of him looked to be about the same age as Huo Yuhao, at most eleven or twelve years old. How could he have such a relaxed demeanor?

Is it because they have never experienced the dangers of the Soul Master world, or is it because their strength far surpasses their own, which is why they are so fearless?

Just as Beibei was lost in thought, Tang Ya spoke first.

She stepped forward, a bright smile spreading across her face, her eyes crinkling into crescents, her tone as warm as a long-lost friend: "My name is Tang Ya, this is Bei Bei, we're both from Shrek Academy, and this little brother behind me is Huo Yuhao, he'll be joining Shrek soon!"

As she spoke, she gently patted Huo Yuhao's shoulder.

Huo Yuhao, dressed in faded cloth clothes, stood somewhat awkwardly in the middle of the three. When Tang Ya introduced him and emphasized that he was "about to join Shrek Academy," his ears turned slightly red and his nose felt a little sore.

This was the first time someone had so openly acknowledged his abilities, and the warmth of that affirmation, like a tiny flame, quietly ignited in his heart.

Tang Ya didn't notice Huo Yuhao's strange behavior and continued to explain to Lin Yao with a smile, "We rarely see anyone come to the Star Dou Great Forest alone, and you are so outstanding in appearance, so we took a few extra glances. Don't take it to heart."

Her smile was like the midday sun, bright and warm. Even the mist in the forest seemed to be dispelled by her smile, which made Huo Yuhao, who had always felt inferior because of his background, feel much more relaxed.

Looking at the light in Tang Ya's eyes, Lin Yao couldn't help but think of the past she carried.

The deep-seated hatred of her entire family being wiped out, the heavy burden of supporting the revival of the Tang Clan—these heavy shackles were all hidden behind her radiant smile.

He suddenly realized that the saying "behind a smile often lies untold pain" was most aptly exemplified in Tang Ya's case.

Even though he already knew how the plot was going to go, he was still touched by this vibrant life force, and a faint smile involuntarily appeared on his lips.

The moment that smile appeared, a gentle yet powerful spiritual force quietly spread out.

Tang Ya felt the restlessness in her heart dissipate instantly, and even her breathing became smooth. Huo Yuhao felt his tense nerves relax, and the fine sweat that had appeared on his forehead due to tension slowly disappeared.

Only Beibei, upon sensing that spiritual power, suddenly stiffened, as if her Holy Light Dragon bloodline had been triggered, and a hint of vigilance arose within her.

He shielded Tang Ya even tighter once more, his gaze even more cautious than before.

As a Soul Master with a top-tier Martial Soul, his perception of Soul Power fluctuations was far more acute than that of Tang Ya and Huo Yuhao.

That spiritual power seemed gentle, but in reality it contained a terrifying force, far exceeding the level of ordinary Soul Masters.

The young man before me was indeed not as simple as he appeared.

Lin Yao observed Bei Bei's reaction and sighed inwardly.

As expected of a direct descendant of Mu En, the bloodline of the Holy Dragon of Light is indeed keen.

His smile grew even more amiable, and his tone became more familiar: "So it's Senior Tang Ya, Senior Bei Bei, and classmate Huo Yuhao. My name is Lin Yao, from Tian Dou City, and I'm also a freshman at Shrek Academy this year."

"You're also a freshman this year? And from Tiandou City?"

Tang Ya's eyes lit up instantly, but when she mentioned the words "Tian Dou City," a fleeting pain flashed across her bright eyes, so fast that it was almost impossible to catch.

Those were memories of the former site of the Tang Clan, the softest and heaviest corner of her heart.

However, Tang Ya quickly suppressed this emotion, and her gaze towards Lin Yao became even more affectionate: "Junior Brother Lin Yao, I really didn't expect such a coincidence. Actually, I'm also from Tian Dou City!"

With Tang Ya's enthusiastic matchmaking, the four of them became more comfortable with each other and began to talk.

Now that Lin Yao has encountered Tang Ya and the others, and since Tang Ya needs to obtain her third soul ring, he plans to travel with them and make a good connection.

The Dark Blue Silver King has immense potential; if given the chance to reach the Emperor level, he would be terrifying beyond measure. Lin Yao is happy to befriend him.

And so, Lin Yao joined the three of them.

While slowly searching for spirit beasts in the outer area, Tang Ya chatted enthusiastically about the interesting things in Tian Dou City, from the sugar painting stall in the south of the city to the spirit master market in the north.

Bei Bei would occasionally add a few words, her tone calm and composed, while Huo Yuhao would quietly follow behind, only answering a few words softly when asked a question.

While chatting with the two, Lin Yao secretly kept an eye on Huo Yuhao.

Although Huo Yuhao no longer possessed the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm, his eyes remained bright due to his unwavering faith and the influence of his Spirit Eye Martial Soul. In particular, when discussing Soul Master knowledge, a yearning for power would gleam in his eyes.

Just then, a subtle mental fluctuation suddenly spread from the bushes on the right, like invisible threads, silently wrapping around the four of them.

Tang Ya and Bei Bei felt their heads sink slightly and the scene before them seemed to sway, but as quasi-Soul Masters and Soul Masters, they quickly regained their composure.

Huo Yuhao, however, was not so lucky.

He was originally a spirit-type soul master, so he was particularly sensitive to this kind of fluctuation. In addition, his soul power was relatively weak, so he was instantly suppressed by that spiritual power, making him breathe rapidly, with fine cold sweat seeping from his forehead and his face turning pale.

Lin Yao, however, was completely unaffected.

His mental strength was far greater than that fluctuation, and he not only easily withstood the impact but also traced the fluctuation back to its source.

Ten meters away, behind a bush, lay a strangely shaped soul beast.

It stands about 2.5 meters tall and is about 3 meters long. Its feathers are as dazzling as molten gold, and its tail feathers are dotted with tiny black spots. It looks somewhat like a peacock, but it is smaller than an ordinary peacock.

What's most striking is its eyes; the pupils are vertical and have a faint purple halo, a characteristic of spirit-attribute soul beasts.

"It's a golden-spotted peacock."

Lin Yao understood. These soul beasts mostly have a cultivation level of three to four hundred years. They are good at using their mental power to hide their bodies. Once the target relaxes their vigilance, they will release a mental shock to interfere with the opponent and then take the opportunity to launch a sneak attack. They are typical "winning by skill" type soul beasts.

However, this golden-spotted peacock clearly chose the wrong target, daring to attack the four of them.

The Golden Peacock thought it could easily control these humans with its mental fluctuations, but it didn't expect that one of them was completely unaffected and could even sense that the other's mental power was locking onto it.

A sense of foreboding suddenly rose in its heart, and it turned to flee into the depths of the dense forest.

But how could Lin Yao give it a chance? With a flash of soul power beneath his feet, his figure instantly disappeared from the spot, and when he reappeared, he was already standing in front of the golden-spotted peacock.

Although the Golden-Spotted Peacock possesses strong spiritual power, its physical body is quite fragile. It could even suppress Tang Ya, an ordinary Blue Silver Grass Soul Master who had not yet awakened the Dark Blue Silver King, let alone when facing Lin Yao.

Lin Yao flipped his right hand, and a long spear with dark patterns gleaming on its silver shaft appeared in his hand; it was his martial soul, the Soul-Destroying Spear.

With a slight flick of his wrist, the tip of the spear sliced ​​through the air with a sharp whistling sound, and a pale purple spear light instantly pierced the chest of the golden-spotted peacock.

The golden-spotted peacock tried to dodge, but its movements were bound by an invisible spiritual force, and it could only watch helplessly as the spear's light came hurtling towards it.

With a soft "thud," the spear's edge grazed the Golden Peacock's chest, failing to strike a vital point but delivering a powerful mental shock.

The golden peacock trembled, its eyes instantly lost their luster, and it fell straight to the ground, completely unconscious.

At this moment, Bei Bei and Tang Ya had also broken free from the mental interference and chased after them with their soul power.

Tang Ya immediately recognized the golden-spotted peacock on the ground, and her face lit up with surprise. She quickly walked to Lin Yao's side, her tone urgent, "Junior Brother Lin Yao, you're the one who severely injured this golden-spotted peacock, right? Can I buy it from you with gold soul coins?"

Seeing Tang Ya's anxious expression, Lin Yao instantly understood her thoughts; she wanted to save it for Huo Yuhao.

He couldn't help but chuckle to himself:

Tang Ya is truly kind, taking such good care of Huo Yuhao, whom she has only known for a short time. No wonder she became Huo Yuhao's "white moonlight" senior in the early stages of his life.

Even with the pressure of reviving the Tang Sect on his shoulders, and despite possessing a dark martial soul like the Dark Blue Silver King, he was able to stay true to himself and still treat those around him with kindness. This purity is truly rare.

"You're joking, senior."

Lin Yao put away the Soul-Destroying Spear, his tone relaxed.

"It's just a hundred-year-old soul beast, why would it need gold soul coins? Just take it, consider it a greeting gift for us when we first met."

Besides, even if I hadn't intervened, with the abilities of my seniors, this golden-spotted peacock wouldn't have been able to escape. I just happened to be the first to spot it.

He was telling the truth.

Beibei possesses the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Martial Soul with the bloodline of the Holy Dragon of Light, which is inherently effective against spirit-attribute spirit beasts. Tang Ya's Blue Silver Grass can also restrict the movement of spirit beasts. Even without him, this Golden-Spotted Peacock would not fare well.

He deliberately held back when he made his move, not intending to kill her, because he was planning to do Tang Ya a favor. Now, it would be perfectly logical for him to use Tang Ya's hand to help Huo Yuhao.

Upon hearing this, Tang Ya's smile widened. She patted Lin Yao's shoulder and said in a lighthearted tone, "Then I won't stand on ceremony! Junior Lin Yao, I'll remember this favor! Xiao Yuhao, come here quickly, this Golden Peacock Soul Ring is perfect for you."

Huo Yuhao was stunned for a moment before realizing that Tang Ya was calling him.

He walked quickly to Lin Yao, nervously twisting the hem of his clothes with both hands, and whispered "Thank you."

When his mother was alive, she always taught him to be polite, but at this moment, he couldn't think of anything else to say except "thank you".

The young man in front of him was not only good-looking, but also incredibly strong, easily subduing the soul beast that he dared not even approach.

That composure and strength stirred a strong longing within him.

"Will I be this strong someday?"

Huo Yuhao looked at the unconscious Golden Peacock on the ground, then at Lin Yao, a spark of fire igniting in his eyes.

He clenched his fists tightly, his initial tension about absorbing the spirit ring now transformed into motivation.

I also want to become a powerful Soul Master, so that I no longer need to rely on others and can protect the people I want to protect on my own.

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