Ling Feng slowly opened his eyes, a flicker of joy flashing within them.
"It was a success!" Hu Liena jumped up excitedly.
Yue Guan also breathed a sigh of relief. "Not bad. It seems your Spirit can indeed withstand a higher-year spirit ring. How do you feel?"
Ling Feng stood up and stretched his body. "Great, and the Spirit Ability is very interesting."
"Hurry and test the Spirit Ability's effect!" Hu Liena urged.
Ling Feng nodded and released his First Spirit Ability: "First Spirit Ability, Vine Armor Protection!"
Instantly, a semi-transparent vine shield appeared around his body, emitting a faint green light.
"It's a defense-boosting Spirit Ability that can significantly increase defense and resistance," Ling Feng explained. "Moreover, it lasts a long time, and the spirit power consumption is low."
Yue Guan nodded with satisfaction. "A very practical Spirit Ability. Combined with your Spirit's characteristics, your defensive power should be quite impressive."
Hu Liena circled around Ling Feng. "Junior Brother, what Rank are you now?"
"Rank eleven, and not far from Rank twelve." Ling Feng felt the abundant spirit power within his body.
Hearing Ling Feng's spirit powerRank, a hint of envy flashed in Hu Liena's eyes.
"Almost Rank twelve already. As expected of a five-hundred-year spirit ring."
Yue Guan listened from the side, nodding inwardly.
Ling Feng's talent was indeed startling. For a first spirit ring to increase spirit power by this much, combined with that five-hundred-year age, his future potential was immeasurable.
"Senior Sister, what type of third spirit ring do you want?" Ling Feng asked curiously.
Hu Liena thought for a moment:
"I want an all-attribute boosting Spirit Ability. My Fox Fire's attack power is decent, and Charm is also practical, but I lack a skill that can comprehensively improve my strength."
Yue Guan nodded:
"A good idea. An all-attribute boosting spirit ring is indeed very suitable for your current Spirit configuration."
The three continued their search for a suitable Spirit Beast in the Star Dou Great Forest.
What Hu Liena needed was a thousand-year-level all-attribute boosting Spirit Beast. This type of Spirit Beast was relatively rare and mostly inhabited the depths of the forest.
The sun gradually sank in the west, and the orange-red sunset glow spilled over the three of them through layers of leaves.
"I'm afraid we won't find a suitable one today." Yue Guan stopped walking. "Let's find a place to camp first and continue the search tomorrow."
Soon, they stopped at a relatively flat clearing.
Yue Guan took out a tent from his storage spirit tool and set it up skillfully.
Ling Feng looked at the tent, feeling somewhat confused. "Teacher, just one tent?"
"I'll keep watch tonight; you two can just rest in the tent." Yue Guan waved his hand. "The Star Dou Great Forest is dangerous at night; someone must be on guard."
Hu Liena's cheeks turned slightly red. "Um, Junior Brother, let's go inside to rest."
Ling Feng nodded and entered the tent. After all, he was still young; even if he had ideas, he didn't have the capability.
Yue Guan watched the interaction between his two Disciples from the side, a smile curling at the corners of his mouth.
These two little fellows were quite interesting.
As night fell, various cries of Spirit Beasts echoed through the forest, sounding somewhat eerie.
Inside the tent, Hu Liena lay on the left and Ling Feng on the right, with a distance between them.
"Junior Brother, are you asleep?" Hu Liena asked softly.
"Not yet. What is it, Senior Sister?"
Hu Liena turned on her side, looking at Ling Feng's silhouette in the darkness. "I can't really sleep; I want to chat."
"Sure."
"Junior Brother, can you tell me about your background?"
Ling Feng was silent for a while:
"I've been in the Spirit Hall orphanage for as long as I can remember. I don't know who my parents are or where I came from."
Hearing this, a wave of heartache surged in Hu Liena's heart.
She gently shifted her body, moving a bit closer to Ling Feng. "Junior Brother..."
"Hmm?"
"From now on, Xiao Feng has me and Teacher." Hu Liena reached out and gently took Ling Feng into her arms. "And ElderYue Guan is also your teacher. You have a family now."
Ling Feng felt his Senior Sister's warm embrace, and a warm current welled up in his heart.
Hu Liena's words had struck the softest part of his heart.
At this moment, Hu Liena was truly comforting him from the perspective of a Senior Sister.
"Thank you, Senior Sister." Ling Feng's voice was slightly choked.
Hu Liena gently patted Ling Feng's back:
"Actually, my brother and I are also orphans. The two of us depended on each other since we were small, then were adopted by Spirit Hall. Later, I was taken as a Disciple by Teacher, which led to the life I have now."
"Senior Sister is also an orphan?"
"Yes." Hu Liena's voice was a bit low. "My brother Xie Yue is one year older than me and has looked after me since we were children. Later, our Spirits awakened and our talent was decent, so we were noticed by Teacher."
Ling Feng could feel the reluctance and attachment in Hu Liena's tone.
"Where is Senior Sister's brother now?"
"He's cultivating at Spirit Hall Academy." Hu Liena's voice regained some vitality. "In a while, I'll introduce you. My brother is a very good person, he's just a bit dull sometimes."
"There's also a friend from the welfare home named Yan. He has a bit of a bad temper, but he's a good person. Senior Sister will introduce you to him as well when the time comes."
Hearing this, Ling Feng nodded gently. This was Hu Liena bringing him into her circle.
The two chatted like this. Hu Liena's embrace was very gentle, making Ling Feng feel extremely happy. This also strengthened Ling Feng's resolve to make his Senior Sister's 'love-brain' focus on him as soon as possible.
Outside the tent, Yue Guan sat quietly on a rock, releasing his perception to guard against any movement in the surroundings.
Listening to the conversation between the two children inside the tent, a gentle smile appeared on his face.
Hu Liena's manner of caring for her Junior Brother reminded him of many past events.
Yue Guan lightly stroked the petal decoration on his chest, a gentle figure surfacing in his mind.
His Elder sister had also once comforted him so gently.
It was just that too much time had passed, and those beautiful memories had become somewhat blurred.
But seeing the way Hu Liena and Ling Feng interacted, the dormant tenderness in Yue Guan's heart was awakened once more.
"These two little fellows..." Yue Guan murmured softly, "They really make one's heart ache."
Yue Guan could hear the sincerity in Hu Liena's words and feel the emotion in Ling Feng's heart.
Two children who had lost their parents finding reliance in each other in this cruel World—perhaps this was the most precious thing of all.
Suddenly, a low roar came from the distance.
Yue Guan instantly became alert, standing up and releasing his Spirit.
A golden chrysanthemum bloomed in the night, emitting a majestic aura.
A moment later, the sound gradually faded away. It was likely a passing Spirit Beast that had felt the pressure of a Titled Douluo and chosen to bypass them.
Yue Guan withdrew his Spirit and sat back down.
The voices inside the tent gradually quieted down; the two children had likely fallen asleep.
Yue Guan turned to look at the tent, a doting smile curling at his lips.
Inside the tent, Ling Feng said softly:
"Senior Sister, get some good rest. We still have to continue searching for a Spirit Beast tomorrow."
"Mm."
The starry sky was brilliant, and the night breeze blew gently.
Yue Guan guarded his two Disciples like this until dawn.
(End of Chapter)
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