Afterward, Chu Chengzhou glanced at the attribute panel, especially the second spirit ring whose year count showed in black (10002). Without much hesitation, he put the Crystal Aegis Left Arm Soul Bone into the first AFK slot that opened up after the True Spirit Banner martial soul upgraded.
Because the Crystal Aegis Left Arm Soul Bone came with an Absolute Defense skill, even if its year count was not high, Chu Chengzhou still did not intend to abandon it, but planned to raise its year count.
As for the first, second, third, and fifth spirit rings that seriously lagged behind his current strength?
Before the True Spirit Banner martial soul evolved, Chu Chengzhou had indeed planned to hang those four spirit rings up for AFK leveling, but at this moment he had dropped that idea.
When testing the traits of the True Spirit Banner martial soul earlier, a sudden inspiration struck him, and he thought of a special use for the Spirit Transformation trait.
The rainbow-tier Nine-Breath Qi can refine all energy for one's own use. Besides rapidly restoring spirit power, it can also convert devoured energy into one's own spirit power accumulation and quickly raise one's spirit power level.
But he alone can use Nine-Breath Qi. The spirit familiars cannot. Except for the Dark Devilgod Tiger spirit familiar, which can raise its year count by devouring spirit beasts, the other spirit familiars can only increase their year counts by taking special heavenly materials and earthly treasures or by AFK leveling.
As for the spirit familiars cultivating on their own?
They can, but their cultivation speed is the same lousy pace as spirit beasts. Chu Chengzhou did not think he could afford to wait.
Once the True Spirit Banner martial soul gained the Spirit Transformation trait and he could merge with his spirit familiars, everything became different.
Transform the spirit familiar, with him as primary and the familiar as auxiliary, the Spirit Transformation form being human. Then release the True Spirit Domain, use the domain skill Control Heaven and Earth to rapidly draw in external elemental energy, urge Nine-Breath Qi to devour and refine it, and supply that energy to the spirit familiar fused with him. What would happen?
The second spirit ring, which had been exactly 10,000 years and now reached 10,002 years, proved that his sudden inspiration was workable.
Since Nine-Breath Inhalation combined with the Spirit Transformation trait can rapidly raise the strength of the various spirit familiars, and raising a familiar's strength equals raising a spirit ring's year count, Chu Chengzhou naturally no longer planned to rely on AFK leveling to increase his rings' year counts.
Of course, if one day he no longer needed to AFK level techniques or soul bones, and the nine spirit rings still had not reached one million years, he could use the AFK plugin to save some effort.
Two days later, in the afternoon, with the sun high overhead, a silver dragon silhouette flew in from the western sky and landed by the official road outside the South Gate of Heaven Dou City.
Although the Sun Moon Continent lies to the west of Douluo Continent, the direction of Chu Chengzhou's return had some deviation. When he reached the western coast of Douluo Continent, it was not the western coast of the northern continent, but the western coast within the southern Star Luo Empire.
Since Heaven Dou City had only four gates—east, south, west, and north—with no southwest gate, and his own place was a bit closer to the South Gate and farther from the West Gate, naturally he had to take the South Gate.
"Old Ma, we're at Heaven Dou City!"
Putting away the Space Sacred Dragon spirit familiar, Xiao Yin, Chu Chengzhou spoke to Ma Jieke after they dismounted from the dragon's back.
"Young Master Chu, I think there are quite a few knights at the gate ahead. Are they here to receive you?"
After taking in the towering South Gate tower of Heaven Dou City, Ma Jieke noticed many silver-armored knights with long spears standing outside the gate and could not help asking Chu Chengzhou.
"You're overthinking it. Even I didn't know when I'd be back. How could anyone come in advance to welcome me? Come on, let's go home."
With a glance he saw it was a squad of over a hundred Heaven Dou Royal Knights. Chu Chengzhou rolled his eyes, waved his hand, and led Ma Jieke toward the gate.
But just as they reached the gate, a middle-aged man in ornate gold armor, clearly not an ordinary member of the Heaven Dou Royal Knights, stepped forward a few paces, bowed to Chu Chengzhou, and said, "Greetings, Young Master Chu."
Young Master Chu was a hero of the empire and the emperor's beloved sworn brother. Although he was not a Titled Douluo (faulty intelligence), he surpassed one in standing. Styling himself as one of His Majesty's confidants, the gold-armored middle-aged man felt that in every sense, he ought to take the initiative to salute Young Master Chu.
"And you are..."
Hearing this, Chu Chengzhou halted and turned to look at the unfamiliar gold-armored middle-aged man.
"I am Brian. Favored by His Majesty, I humbly serve as commander of the Heaven Dou Royal Knights."
Brian spoke respectfully.
"Hm? If I'm not mistaken, the commander of the Royal Knights isn't you, is it?"
Chu Chengzhou asked with a trace of surprise.
Although he was not familiar with the commander of the Heaven Dou Royal Knights, they had met a few times, and he clearly remembered it was not this Brian.
"Young Master Chu, the previous commander of the Royal Knights was indeed not me, but Commander Norton.
After His Majesty ascended the throne, in recognition of Commander Norton's great service, he specially rewarded him with a soul bone, helping him break through the bottleneck at the peak of level 79 and achieve eight-ring Spirit Douluo.
Then, as the empire launched its campaign to punish Star Luo, Commander Norton was promoted to serve as deputy to Marshal Ge Long and followed the marshal to campaign against the Star Luo Empire. Only then did I take the Royal Knights commander's post."
Brian explained.
"Oh, so the former commander was promoted. Right, who are you waiting for here?"
Chu Chengzhou nodded, then asked curiously.
"The situation at the front is excellent. Under the empire's punitive army, the Star Luo Empire is retreating step by step, except..."
"Except what?"
Chu Chengzhou pressed.
"The Star Luo curs are hateful and utterly without martial ethics. They specifically dispatch experts for sneak attacks. After three legion commanders and many officers, even Marshal Ge Long, who commanded the army, and Prince Xue Xing, who served as military overseer, have unfortunately fallen. Even former Commander Norton... sigh. By His Majesty's order, we are here to await the return of heroes who gave their lives for the nation."
Brian shook his head and sighed, speaking with some sadness.
Chu Chengzhou: "."
Our side's front is winning across the board, yet the senior officers are dying one after another. Even the army's commander has gone down. This war might be the strangest in the continent's history, right?
Uh... no. What are you sad about, Brian?
With a war that was a certain victory, this was Qian Renxue using it to purge the Heaven Dou Empire's army.
Any general loyal to the Xue royal family, once he entered the battlefield, would be targeted by experts secretly arranged by Spirit Hall. After he died and the position opened up, Qian Renxue would promote a trusted confidant to take the seat, thereby taking control of Heaven Dou's million-strong army.
Since this Brian could become the new commander of the Royal Knights, it meant he was either one of Qian Renxue's cultivated confidants or a Spirit Hall spy. What the hell are you being sad about? Putting on an act in front of me?