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🕑 Added 2021-09-22 18:19:51 +0000 UTCTitle: Spirit Rings (1)
The next few days were spent peacefully. However, with Bibi Dong returning to the system, she barely had time for respite as her official duties of being the Successor was stacked up for years now— Something she had to take responsibility for. Meanwhile, Ja Sun, Ah Yin, Liu Erlong, Hu Lana, and Xie Xan weren't posted back inside the Spirit School.
They were well above their graduation requirements and even had undeniable strength amongst those in their age group. And already getting tutored by Bibi Dong herself, this menace was avoided by the remaining team members, too, much to their relief. The internal system of the Spirit City is surely more complicated with young, upcoming, and more than arrogant spirit masters rampant at every corner. It was just better for the group to avoid this unnecessary trouble, Bibi Dong reasoned and the group wholeheartedly agreed... well, except Ja Sun.
But one against eight? His voice was drowned this time by the voice of reason and logic.
Xie Xan and Hu Lana had a verified doctor appointed to them by Bibi Dong for utmost attention and medical care. Not only that, the couple began preparing for the new life inside of Hu Lana. It was by Hu Lana's own admittance that her village wasn't particularly attentive to the needs of a pregnant woman and it was only after leaving that place did she even come to know about specific scrolls and tomes that teaches parents about parenting tips and a few mistakes that can be avoided early on.
For instance, Hu Lana had a severe thirst to drink alcohol but ever since Xie Xan read that 'stupid' scroll, Hu Lana was forbidden from such delicacies.
While the couple worked through the new chapter of their relationship while cultivating when the chance allowed them and Bibi Dong now busier than ever, the responsibility of the team fell on Ja Sun which he had to reluctantly accept, being the strongest and all.
Jun'er, Yuehua, and Oscar.
The three of them had entered their bottlenecks and needed spirit rings to breakthrough. Xie Xan, Hu Lana, and Bibi Dong wouldn't be joining them either. So, Ja Sun prepared a trip. He and Ah Yin were already a member of the Spirit Hall so Ja Sun had to apply for a leave even when he wasn't handed down any responsibility, keeping in line with Qian Daoliu's martial side of the Spirit Hall.
The leave quickly went through but he could only apply for it once a month and for a week at most. Any later would inquire questions but again, it was merely a formality. Although the two didn't act like it (Yu Xiaogang) but being the Disciples of the Grand Priest Qian Daoliu himself provided them with status well similar to Bibi Dong, just without a succession seat in the future.
---
"Thank god!"
Liu Erlong groaned the moment they stepped out of the walls surrounding the city.
"I know right?" Ja Sun shook his head.
"Just because you can't drink doesn't mean others shouldn't too. Good riddance," Jun'er giggled and Oscar smiled, too.
"Yeah, and why would Sister Dong slave us for her paperwork! What's with tha?!" Liu Erlong continued to grumble.
Clearly, because they were going through harsh times, as wonderful teammates, Xie Xan, Hu Lana, and Bibi Dong decided to 'share' it with others. A transformative experience, if you will.
"They're just, as Ka-ul would say it, petty bitches," Ah Yin narrowed her eyes, clearly frustrated, too.
"Yeah, they are!" Ja Sun high-fived Ah Yin.
Clearly, their relationship had grown over the few days of hardships faced together. However, knowing that they are never alone inside the city, the duo kept certain verbal and physical matters to themselves. Who knows if Qian Daoliu suddenly jumps when the two are finally getting it going on and remarks how he misses his wife again?
The answer to Qian Daoliu's trouble was simple, just get a new wife.
"So? Where are we going?" Oscar inquired.
"Star Dou Great Forest," Ja Sun smiled, "While Yuehua doesn't have a need to be specific about her spirit beasts aside from those Clear Phoenix doesn't hunt because she only has one ability throughout, you guys need a better upgrade. Jun'er can try and gain a stronger spirit ring... but I want to try something this time. I discussed it with Bibi Dong before we left and she agreed to give this method a try."
"What is it?" Liu Erlong inquired.
"Nothing too groundbreaking," Ja Sun shrugged, "Just keep Oscar's tofu in your mouth and when things start getting rough, chew it and get your support from inside yourself."
Everyone mused over it while they continued to travel on foot peacefully and uneventfully. The Spirit City was right between the borders of the two Empires, signifying its 'neutral' stance and adjacent to the Star Dou Great Forest.
Within two hours of walking and sightseeing, the small group of six reached the borders of the Star Dou Great Forest and Ja Sun recalled many things. He had met Liu Erlong here, made friends with Ah Yin, too. Saved Violet from being captured and absorbed his first spirit soul. It was all great memories to him really...
Except one.
'What the hell does the Evil Egg do?'
Ja Sun sighed internally. Evil Egg was his only S-ranked reward that he did not know the use of. Ja Sun had other rewards that he hadn't used, like the 10th Grade Myriad Blood Mango. It was an immortal fruit with the sole purpose of acting as the medium to fuse bloodline within oneself. There was also the Rakshasa Soul Devouring Technique that Ja Sun had to slowly understand and find the new path of cultivation that he had deduced the technique to contain within itself. And aside from the Beautiful Silk Tulip yet to be absorbed, left for the last, Ja Sun now had to prepare for absorbing the 80000-year-old Hell White Tiger Left Arm Bone, and try to absorb the second 63000-year-old Nightmare's Fantasy Skull Bone.
Since the absorption of each spirit bone would likely directly raise his spirit rank, Ja Sun had to time it so as to keep his strength further hidden. Their time in the outside world had come to a satisfying end and now once again they were inside a territory that could turn hostile in the wink of an eye. The more he keeps his strength saved for the unforeseen circumstances, the better.
Right now, Ja Sun had two priorities, to help Oscar get some really weird tofu ability and finding Yuehua a spirit ring, too. If her spirit rank gets close to his then they will be able to try and achieve Spirit Fusion because as of this moment, the Clear Phoenix seemed to be unable to display any effect aside from the strange sense of compatibility.
And about the practice of forming Essence Tools? That was a profession. It needed to be trained and invented upon constantly. Ja Sum never thought that he would be able to master a profession because things always change. Even now, he would gain varied arrays from his trait almost daily.
With how humongous the Star Dou Great Forest was, it also contained unknown dangers that threatened the lives of Titled Douluos even to this day. However, the outskirts of the forest are visited by many rogue spirit masters who hunt the Spirit beasts for a living. With many smaller forests turned into protected grounds by the Spirit Hall, the traffic of spirit masters in the forest only increased.
"Alright, we won't be using Ah Yin's domain too much. After all, we have a week, and using Ah Yin's domain was a matter of convenience back then. All of us will rely on our senses, got it?" Ja Sun inquired calmly and the rest nodded. He was younger than everyone except Ah Yin but his respect within the group was monumental.
Ja Sun also let out his Death Astral Combatant.
Aside from him assisting the group to get spirit rings, Bibi Dong had entrusted him with another task.
She wanted to find a very specific spirit beast and use Ja Sun's and Ah Yin's assistance to turn it into her seventh spirit ring. Not hiding much, Bibi Dong explained the matter clearly to Ja Sun. After all, it wasn't a matter of secrecy but ambition.
'If possible, scout the inner sections of the forest. Although there is a legend about a Sky Azure Bull Python capable of human speech, indicating its status as a 100000-year-old spirit beast, there is a reason why nobody has tried to absorb its spirit ring. Either they are too weak, or the spirit ring might not be compatible, and those who can contest with the beast already have nine spirit rings. But my needs are different...
Here, this is the map of Star Dou Great Forest that the Spirit Hall has mapped since its formation and is kept upto date. It is one of the tasks of the priests to complete every five years.
Now... this is the spot where a 100000-year-old Death Spider Emperor was spotted three years ago. Check if it's still there. If not, help me find it.'
Ja Sun looked at his trait, too.
[Objective: Locate a 100000-year-old Death Spider Emperor.
Mission Rank: B
Mission Rewards: Set of Death Spider Emperor's Mandibles.
Time Limit: 3 Days]
Ja Sun had tried adding various other constraints to make this mission more difficult but the benefit received wasn't worth the trouble so he simply decided to do this mission vanilla.
"As we have discussed before, we will help Jun'er get her Spirit Ring first. Yuehua, bring out your Clear Phoenix. She would understand her and your needs the best. Keep a clear mind, too."
Yuehua nodded and she once again brought her Martial Soul out. With a loud phoenix cry, the Clear Phoenix flapped her wings and flew about, scaring off the weaker spirit beasts by her aura and then landed behind Yuehua, trotting and following the group calmly.
---
"Do you get it? No messing up," Tang Hao smiled. The burly man had a beautiful blonde woman in his arms.
"Ok!" Dai Mu cheered before pouting, "But... we only got to leave your clan grounds now. We shouldn't just go back quickly after getting my spirit ring."
The duo's relationship had grown for the better once Dai Mu had woken up from her stupor of relying on her background. She trained, too. Clear Sky Clan's training was only open to her once the two had their relationship confirmed by both of their parents. Being the little princess of the imperial clan, even if Tang Siblings were subjected to domestic brutality called love, Dai Mu was showered by care from Tang Peng just like Dai Laohu did for Yuehua when he wasn't in a fit of anger.
Tang Xiao had stayed within the clan and only the couple was allowed to leave.
"Well, Brother Hao, do you have a specific spirit beast in mind?" Dai Mu inquired, "After all, you have entered your bottleneck, too... hehe, I waited to inform others about my bottleneck so that we can go out together."
She stuck her tongue out and blushed slightly as Tang Hao's palm unintentionally brushed past her hips.
"I... want to face the Overlord of the forest," Tang Hao's eyes brightened. "The Titan Giant Ape is said to be the strongest fist of the forest. His fists and my hammer... I want to test it."
Tang Hao's gaze flickered red slightly and Dai Mu pursed her lips. Even she had heard of the stories but most of them could be brushed off as mere legends.
"Anyway, I heard that your father and brothers all have your breakthroughs mapped out and your Spirit Rings decided through accumulated research. Are you sure you want to change your fifth spirit ring?"
"The White Tiger Clan has three major strengthening spirit skills decided. I already have two of them and my sixth spirit ring will be the third self-enhancement skill. Unlike Brother Taiyin, I don't want to try and absorb a spirit ring of a limit higher than my capacity even by the slightest.
So, father allowed me to choose my fifth spirit ring for myself. It is also a test to see if I'm capable enough now to make informed decisions and if these decisions bring me benefits or not."
She explained and Tang Hao mumbled, both entering the outskirts of the forest, "Sounds to me like when dad threw me in the Giant's forest."
Dai Mu giggled but deep down, she couldn't help but feel the need to prepare herself. At least, if their relationship reaches the 'next' level then Dai Mu didn't want Tang Hao to be as abusive as Tang Peng even if it almost seemed traditional. And by now, Dai Mu found this worry mostly unfounded. Tang Hao had been nothing but gentle and caring aside from a few stern warnings that only occurred because of her own foolish actions.
The couple continued to move cautiously within the forest, mindful of their surroundings.
---
From the map that Bibi Dong provided, Ja Sun finally understood the structure of the Star Dou Great Forest. With an area similar in size to the two empires, the forest, too, was divided into various sections. Each of these sections had its own outer, inner, and core rings. The spirit beasts surrounding the regions are affected by the overlord presiding in the core ring.
The area where Ja Sun and Ah Yin first stayed in was none other than the 'Serpent section.' Given that the duo was in the outer ring, the number of the scaled spirit beasts, especially snakes, serpents, and humanoid ones such as lamia was greater in this section than any other.
In essence, this map contained the distribution of spirit beasts, not actual boundaries.
For Jun'er, the group planned to travel the area with the greatest distribution of canines. Wolfs and dogs have always been Jun'er's preference when it came to spirit rings and given her attribute to the element of darkness, Ja Sun felt that Jun'er's skill can be more dangerous than expected if nurtured well. Right now, all of Jun'er's skills were open. Either running too fast, attacking, biting, or even scouting. But with the element of darkness, one would expect more conservative abilities.
For a moment, Ja Sun imagined a ninja dog that used the night as its cloak to hide from prying eyes and complete missions. It was not only fun to think of, but the Spirit Skills that even used terrains to its advantage can be a blessing and a disaster at once. A wild card that Ja Sun would love to have.
And soon, the group found their target in the form of a wolf pack led by a Devil Duke Wolf.
