Amidst Xiao Wu's shouts, the originally calm lake surface suddenly rippled, and a giant bull's head slowly emerged, its lantern-like eyes glowing eerily in the moonlight.
Following that was a serpent's body covered in dark green scales, vast as a mountain range, shimmering with a cold, metallic luster.
"Wow, so this is the Sky Azure Bull Python, so big and long."
Jiang Yunzhou's tone was calm, but he was actually a bit shocked internally; this physique was an IMAX-level visual impact.
However, he wasn't afraid, just a little bit of megalophobia acting up.
Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing, who were behind him, had shrunk back again, not even daring to show their heads.
"Da Ming, I'm back! Did you miss me?"
The Sky Azure Bull Python stared at the group for a long time, then spoke in human tongue: "Sister Xiao Wu, welcome back, but you shouldn't have brought humans here."
Hearing this, Xiao Wu's temper flared up. She put her hands on her hips: "He's my teacher! What's wrong with me bringing him to meet my family? If you don't welcome us, then we'll just leave now!"
The Sky Azure Bull Python sighed: "Sister Xiao Wu, it's not as simple as you think. Alas, since you're already here, stay for now! Did you bring them to obtain spirit rings?"
Xiao Wu scratched her head, a little embarrassed. As a Spirit Beast, this kind of thing was indeed a bit awkward for her.
If it weren't for her teacher's words earlier, she really wouldn't have been able to speak up.
"Da Ming, Teacher said that since you all need to eat anyway, let them absorb spirit rings first, and then you can eat. Isn't it the same?"
"Oh, and you must have heard what I said just now, right? Do you have a solution?"
The Sky Azure Bull Python sighed again: "Sister Xiao Wu, this time, for your sake, I'll help. Don't bring humans here again next time."
As it spoke, its gaze seemed to subtly sweep towards the depths of the lake's center.
Jiang Yunzhou's thoughts raced, and he immediately understood that it was probably worried about disturbing the being at the bottom of the lake, wasn't it?
"Got it! This is my teacher, Jiang Yunzhou. He helped me a lot and even helped me evolve my Spirit. I already consider him family."
"You are also my family, otherwise I wouldn't have brought him to meet you, right?"
The Sky Azure Bull Python's giant eyes suddenly widened: "Sister Xiao Wu, you said your Spirit evolved?"
Xiao Wu nodded vigorously: "Mm! If you don't believe me, I'll let you feel it right now!"
After she finished speaking, she directly performed Spirit possession, and an aura far nobler and more mysterious than before permeated the air.
The improvement in Spirit quality simply couldn't be faked.
The Sky Azure Bull Python looked at Jiang Yunzhou, its tone softening a bit: "Human, it's not that we Spirit Beasts are heartless; this place is indeed not suitable for humans to tread."
"The reasons are not convenient to disclose to you."
"Thank you for your help to Xiao Wu. I will also help you once. I will take care of the spirit rings you need."
It turned to Er Ming: "Go bring that 'Thunderous Sky Lone Wolf' whose lifespan is nearing its end. As for the Spirit Beasts for the two girls, you can decide."
Then it said to Jiang Yunzhou: "Human, you're lucky. This Thunderous Sky Lone Wolf is close to 90,000 years of cultivation, and its lifespan is now at its end. It's a bargain for you."
"As for whether you can successfully absorb it, that depends on your own ability."
In the forest, the law of the jungle was the norm.
Powerful Spirit Beasts also needed to eat, and their subordinate 'resources' were actually quite abundant.
Therefore, the Sky Azure Bull Python's arrangement was not too difficult.
And that Thunderous Sky Lone Wolf, after the Sky Azure Bull Python promised to protect its clan, also readily agreed to become Jiang Yunzhou's spirit ring.
Jiang Yunzhou secretly rejoiced at the news, 90,000 years!
He was certainly capable of absorbing it; he wasn't afraid of that.
However, he couldn't help but feel sorry for this Spirit Beast.
90,000 years of cultivation, yet its lifespan was nearing its end. If it could have advanced further, perhaps it would have become a 100,000-year Spirit Beast.
Not long after, Er Ming brought back two Spirit Beasts of about three thousand years.
It wasn't that they were overconfident; the cultivation methods they practiced all included techniques for body tempering and mental force cultivation.
At this moment, both their physiques and mental force had been greatly enhanced compared to before.
According to Jiang Yunzhou's calculations, absorbing a three-thousand-year spirit ring would definitely be no problem.
Of course, he hoped that the higher the age of the spirit rings the girls absorbed, the better, because he was also a beneficiary.
Ning Rongrong obtained a very beautiful Spirit Beast named Flax Butterfly.
She had no specific requirements for the Spirit Beast's attributes or type; her only requirement was that it had to be beautiful.
Zhu Zhuqing also successfully obtained a dark-elemental fox-type Spirit Beast as she wished.
Xiao Wu joined the latest and received the cultivation method relatively late.
Although she had also reached level 30, Jiang Yunzhou told her to take it easy for a while, at least to improve her mental force and physique further before condensing a spirit ring.
Afterward, they immediately began to absorb their spirit rings on the spot.
It was a bit of a pity, but also expected, that none of them encountered Spirit Beasts that produced Spirit Bones.
However, they were already very happy to be able to absorb suitable spirit rings so smoothly.
It really was as they had thought earlier, having Spirit Beasts deliver spirit rings to them.
This feeling was just too cool!
A little over an hour later, the two girls successively completed their absorption.
A three-thousand-year third spirit ring—this was something they wouldn't have dared to imagine before, directly exceeding the theoretical limit by over a thousand years.
It could be said that they had already surpassed ninety-nine percent of Spirit Masters of the same rank.
Xiao Wu saw the two girls wake up one after another and quickly stepped forward: "Rongrong, Zhu Qing, was the absorption smooth?"
Both girls nodded: "Very smooth, Xiao Wu, thanks to you."
Although Spirit Beasts around three thousand years old were not uncommon.
However, their process of absorbing spirit rings this time encountered almost no trouble, no lingering resentment or mental resistance from the Spirit Beasts.
Now, they just had to wait for Jiang Yunzhou to finish absorbing.
He was also very smooth, but absorbing a ninety-thousand-year spirit ring took a longer time.
Before long, an aura belonging to a Spirit Douluo spread from around him.
He slowly opened his eyes, a sharp killing intent revealing itself on his face.
"Teacher has become stronger again."
"Yes, I leveled up two more times after absorbing the spirit ring. I'm level 32 now. What about you, Zhu Qing?" Ning Rongrong whispered.
Zhu Zhuqing replied: "I'm also level 32. We're about the same."
The two girls had always progressed together, and the age of the spirit rings they absorbed was similar, so their levels naturally wouldn't differ much.
This was something they wouldn't have dared to imagine before.
Recalling a month ago, they were only level 26 Spirit Grandmasters. Rising six levels in a month—how many people would envy that if word got out?
After absorbing the Thunderous Sky Lone Wolf's spirit ring, Jiang Yunzhou also absorbed its vast residual spirit power.
Coupled with the Nine Leaf Sword Grass growing its eighth leaf, his cultivation speed had doubled again, now reaching eight times the cultivation speed and eight times the combat power bonus.
His level was also pushed directly to 82.
With a fresh Spirit Beast, without much resistance, and with an eightfold absorption speed, this result was actually not much of a surprise.
He slowly exhaled a turbid breath and murmured: "Eighth Spirit Ability: Jian Zhong Xin Ying Huan Yu."
This was also a powerful and practical Spirit Ability.
He opened his attribute panel and began to examine it:
[Name]: Jiang Yunzhou
[Age]: 18
[Charm]: 99
[Spirit]: Nine Leaf Sword Grass (Divine Grade)
[Trait]: The Nine Leaf Sword Grass Spirit grants the host a constant increase in basic combat power and cultivation speed. Current increase multiplier: 8 times
[Level]: Level 82, attack system Spirit Douluo
[Spirit Rings]: Purple (4600 years), Purple (5100 years), Purple (3000 years), Purple (6000 years), Black (14000 years), Black (40000 years), Black (60000 years), Black (90000 years)
[Spirit Bones]: None
[Spirit Abilities]:
First Spirit Ability · Green Leaf Split Air: Sword leaf transforms into a green blade, unleashing a highly penetrating and Weird sword qi slash, possessing armor-piercing and tearing effects against energy-defense type Spirit Abilities...
Eighth Spirit Ability · Jian Zhong Xin Ying Huan Yu:
This Spirit Ability has the following effects:
Seed Sword: Can condense a Sword Seed and implant it into the target's body. The Sword Seed will lie dormant and concealed within the target's body, not easily detected.
Heart Reflection: Can sense the location of targets implanted with a Sword Seed.
Sword Guidance: Can communicate with the Sword Seed and, regardless of distance, trigger the Sword Seed to erupt, causing damage to the target.
Heart Lock: Can transform the Sword Seed into a seal, preventing the target from using spirit power. The duration of the seal varies depending on the target's strength.