Reborn as the Candle Dragon, I became the strongest academy guardian beast.

Deep within the dungeon, a girl in a white dress, wearing the Azure Dragon Academy badge around her neck, leaned against a broken tree trunk, watching helplessly as a giant wolf, its body crackling with purple electricity, approached step by step.

She tried to stand up, but her injured legs were no longer under her control.

Am I going to die?

The girl murmured to herself, as many images flashed before her eyes like a revolving lantern.

Her name is Xu Liyue, and she is a student at Qinglong Academy.

Xu Liyue's parents were both powerful martial artists who had awakened the [Vermilion Bird] martial spirit.

Three years ago, on the day Ningchuan City was attacked by a beast tide, they stood guard on the front line, building a Great Wall of Fire with their flesh and blood to protect the lives of tens of millions of people, and ultimately sacrificed themselves heroically.

On the day her parents sacrificed themselves, Xu Liyue tearfully vowed to become a martial artist as powerful as they were.

But reality is cruel.

During the awakening ceremony, Xu Liyue, whose parents both possessed S-rank Vermilion Bird martial souls, surprisingly awakened an F-rank Sparrow martial soul.

This is tantamount to a death sentence for her martial arts career!

Xu Liyue was unwilling to accept it.

She was unwilling to accept her fate!

She wanted to prove that an F-rank martial soul might still have a chance to defy fate!

After the awakening ceremony, Xu Liyue secretly entered the teleportation array and arrived at this instance.

However, fate played another trick on her.

A terrifying purple lightning wolf was born in a Tier 2 dungeon.

Several third-tier martial artists were torn to pieces on the spot, and her legs were also injured, making it impossible for her to stand up.

At this moment, the Purple Lightning Wolf was walking towards Xu Liyue step by step, its bloodthirsty fangs emitting a nauseating stench.

"Dad, Mom, I'm sorry, I'm afraid I can't become like you. I'm so useless..."

Xu Liyue gave a bitter smile and quietly awaited her death.

suddenly!

The Purple Lightning Wolf stopped in its tracks.

The once arrogant Purple Lightning Wolf suddenly became like a mouse seeing a cat, its purple fur bristling, its body trembling slightly, and it kept letting out low growls that sounded fierce but were actually cowardly.

"It's scared!"

Xu Liyue's eyes widened slightly in surprise, her heart filled with turmoil.

This is a terrifying beast! What kind of being could possibly frighten it like this?

The next second, Xu Liyue knew the answer.

Above the jungle, a huge shadow fell silently down.

Xu Liyue subconsciously raised her head.

What came into view was a gigantic, suffocatingly large black serpent.

Xu Liyue's breath hitched.

She recognized the black snake!

It is the black snake that appeared at the awakening ceremony today, the guardian beast of the Azure Dragon Academy!

"Guardian Beast... what are you doing here?"

That's right, the black snake is Su Chen.

Su Chen's golden snake eyes looked down at Xu Liyue, a hint of surprise flashing in them.

He had just heard those martial artists say that some students from the Azure Dragon Academy were in danger, and he had only intended to come and take a look, but he never expected to receive such a pleasant surprise!

A system panel slowly unfolded in front of Su Chen's mind.

Xu Liyue

Age: 18

[Realm Level: First Tier, Eighth Level]

[Martial Soul: Sparrow (Rank F) - Unawakened]

[Qualification: Mythical (Gold)]

[Background: A student of Azure Dragon Academy. Her parents tragically sacrificed themselves in the beast tide three years ago. After the opening of the Starry Sky Ancient Road, her martial soul will transform into the Phoenix Martial Soul, allowing her to grow into a top powerhouse in the starry sky and a future empress!]

[Investment targets meeting the criteria have been detected]

[Distributing Investment Funds - 1 Drop of Phoenix True Blood]

[Phoenix True Blood: A drop of essence blood from the ancient divine beast Phoenix, which can help Xu Liyue unlock her bloodline ahead of schedule and awaken her SSS-level Phoenix Martial Soul]

Please make an investment.

Mythical-level talent!

It should be noted that Lin Fan, despite being a chosen one, only possesses an epic-level destiny.

Unexpectedly, the girl in front of me has a mythical talent and is the future empress!

"The Ancient Road Under the Stars..."

"In other words, Xu Liyue will one day leave Earth, step into the starry sky, and step onto a bigger stage."

"Very good! Excellent!"

Su Chen gave Xu Liyue a satisfied look.

The further Xu Liyue goes and the more he grows, the more evolution points he can obtain!

"roar."

Just then, an untimely low growl broke Su Chen's thoughts.

Although the purple lightning wolf was trembling with fear, it did not run away. Instead, it kept making threatening noises at him, clearly unwilling to hand over its prey to the snake.

"I almost forgot about you."

Su Chen turned his head, his golden vertical pupils coldly sweeping over it.

As soon as he finished speaking, Su Chen's thick snake tail slammed down from above, the terrifying force tearing through the air and producing a piercing sonic boom.

The purple lightning wolf's pupils suddenly dilated as it tried to dodge, but its body's reaction was far slower than the snake's tail.

"Bang!"

The snake's tail struck the purple lightning wolf head-on.

The Purple Lightning Wolf let out a miserable howl as its body was instantly crushed by the overwhelming force, eventually turning into a mess of blood and flesh.

Gravel and dirt flew everywhere, leaving only a shockingly huge crater on the ground.

Xu Liyue's pupils contracted slightly as she stared at the scene before her in disbelief.

one strike.

It was just one strike.

The once invincible, terrifying beast was instantly smashed into a pulp!

If I could also possess that kind of strength...

Xu Liyue quickly shook her head, a bitter smile appearing on her lips.

She understood that this was ultimately just an unrealistic fantasy.

No matter how hard a sparrow tries to fly, it will always just be a sparrow.

"Don't underestimate yourself; your martial spirit is not its true form."

As if reading her thoughts, the black giant snake suddenly spoke.

Su Chen gently swept his snake tail.

Suddenly, a crack appeared in the space, and a drop of golden blood flew out and flew towards Xu Liyue.

Su Chen calmly gazed at Xu Liyue: "This is a drop of Phoenix True Blood. If you can refine it, you will awaken your true Martial Soul."

Phoenix True Blood?

Xu Liyue's heart was filled with turmoil.

She relaxed her mind and let the golden blood transform into a stream of light, flying into her brow.

boom!

It was as if a blazing sun was rising within Xu Liyue's body, and a scorching power swept over her entire being.

Xu Liyue felt as if the blood in her body was boiling, and her skin was burning. The intense pain and heat were intertwined, almost melting her whole body.

But she gritted her teeth and endured the pain.

She didn't want to fail, and she couldn't afford to fail.

Five minutes, ten minutes, twenty minutes...

The scorching power gradually subsided, flowing slowly along her meridians like water, transforming her body inch by inch and reshaping her martial spirit.

After an unknown amount of time, Xu Liyue suddenly opened her eyes.

A loud and clear phoenix cry rang out from her body, soaring straight into the sky.

Golden flames surged from her body like a tide, eventually coalescing into a dazzling phantom behind her!

It was a divine bird engulfed in flames, each feather shimmering with golden light, its nine tail feathers swaying slowly in the flames, radiating an aura of majesty capable of burning everything in its path.

SSS-level Divine Beast Martial Soul - Nirvana Divine Phoenix!

"This is... my martial spirit!"

Xu Liyue stared blankly at the golden phoenix phantom in the sky, her eyes reddening.

[Completed a legendary investment]

[Congratulations, host, you have received a reward of 40000 Evolution Points]

[Gain Fire Affinity +3]

Su Chen's snake eyes lit up, a hint of surprise flashing across them.

As expected of a legendary investment, the first return was a whopping 40,000 evolution points!

"Let's go back to school first."

Just as Su Chen was about to turn and leave, he heard a thud, and a soft body fell onto him.

"Guardian Beast, I feel like... I have no strength left."

Xu Liyue pressed her cheek against Su Chen's black scales, her face flushed red with shame.

Awakening her martial soul had exhausted too much of her strength, and even though she tried hard to stand up, her body was completely out of her control.

Su Chen: "..."

"Although she's supposed to be the future empress, she's still just a little girl right now..."

Su Chen shook his head helplessly and could only gently lift Xu Liyue with the snake's tail and leave the instance.