Chapter 113: Ah Yin's Choice, The Third spirit ring
Lin Yuan squatted down and reached out his fingers to gently stroke the cool and delicate leaves, a flash of tenderness appearing in his eyes.
"Ah Yin."
He asked softly, his voice echoing clearly in the empty valley: "I'm leaving."
"Do you want to stay here and continue to Cultivate, using this treasure land to Take human form sooner?"
"Or... do you want to come back to the academy with me?"
This was a choice.
Staying here would definitely be the fastest way to recover her cultivation; she might be able to regain human form within three to five years.
But that would mean loneliness.
Dugu Bo, seeing this scene from the side, couldn't help but walk forward with a face full of confusion.
He stared at that singular Blue Silver Grass for a long time, his brow furrowing slightly: "Lin Yuan, I've been meaning to ask, what exactly... is this plant?"
"It looks like the Blue Silver Grass found all over the streets, but this aura—even among the plant-type Spirit Beasts I've seen, none have such noble patterns."
"Moreover, it seems to understand your words?"
Lin Yuan didn't look back, still watching Ah Yin, and explained calmly:
"She is no ordinary Blue Silver Grass, but the ruler of the Blue Silver Clan, the Blue Silver Emperor. I found her by chance and felt a connection, so I've kept her by my side to nurture her. I call her Ah Yin."
"Blue Silver Emperor?!"
Dugu Bo's pupils constricted slightly.
Although his research into plant-type Spirit Beasts wasn't deep, anything with the word 'Emperor' in its name was absolutely a top-tier existence.
"No wonder..."
Dugu Bo stroked his chin and remarked, "Though I don't know why you'd go to the trouble of nurturing a plant."
"But truth be told, this Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well is indeed a paradise for plant-type Spirit Beasts."
"If you leave it here, it would be of immense benefit to its growth."
However, the instant Dugu Bo finished speaking.
The previously motionless Blue Silver Emperor suddenly moved.
Several long, flexible blue vines gently reached out, like the shy arms of a young girl.
Without the slightest hesitation, they wrapped around Lin Yuan's finger, then followed his wrist to gently rub against his palm.
It was a sensation of extreme attachment, even carrying a hint of coquettishness.
Ah Yin had given her answer.
She wanted to go!
She wanted to leave with Lin Yuan!
Although staying here would allow her to Take human form faster and recover her strength more quickly.
She had had enough of that day-after-day loneliness, accompanied only by the sound of the wind and the spring water.
Even if it meant returning to that tiny apartment balcony of Lin Yuan's.
Even if she still couldn't speak or have deep communication with him.
Every morning, Lin Yuan would water her, talk to himself in front of her, and gently tease her leaves with his fingers.
That warmth of being cared for and needed was what she craved most right now.
She wanted to stay with Lin Yuan.
This decision was very emotional, even a bit 'love-brained'; she didn't consider System rewards or how many times she was mentioned in the diary at all.
Right now, she was just a plant.
She only wanted to accompany the youth who had brought her out of that dark, sunless cave.
Even if it was just to be a quiet potted plant.
Lin Yuan felt the determination and attachment coming from his fingertips, and a warm smile curled at the corners of his mouth.
"Good. Then leave with me."
As he spoke, Lin Yuan flipped his palm, and a flash of light appeared, pulling Ah Yin back into his spirit tool.
Nearby.
Dugu Yan watched this scene, a strange light flashing in her emerald eyes.
A woman's intuition told her that Ah Yin's feelings for Lin Yuan were not simple.
That wrapping posture, that feeling of attachment... "Hmph."
Dugu Yan snorted softly in her heart, but didn't say much.
She touched her lips; the heat from when she kissed Lin Yuan earlier seemed to still linger there.
During this time, she had been "lurking" in the chat group for a long while.
Even though Ning Rongrong, Xiao Wu, and Ye Lengleng were frantically tagging her in the group, asking where she and Lin Yuan had gone and when they would be back.
She had only given a perfunctory reply of "soon."
She wouldn't leak the incredible news of her Spirit evolving and her spirit power skyrocketing in advance.
She wanted to wait until they returned to the academy to give everyone a huge surprise during combat class!
...After packing up, the three of them left the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and stepped back into the dense thickets of the Sunset Forest.
Lin Yuan walked in front, checked the sky, and said to Dugu Bo behind him: "Senior, since we're out, let's not rush back to the academy."
"Before we go back, I want to take care of my third spirit ring first."
Dugu Bo was stunned, then realized: "Oh, right!"
"You brat just took those Medicinal Pills; your spirit power should have already broken through to Rank 30, right?"
Lin Yuan nodded.
He had refined two Medicinal Pills for himself in total.
One was the Purple Pole Clear Eye Pill, refined with 'Gazing Through Autumn Dew' as the main ingredient, specifically to enhance mental force.
After taking it, the Origin power of his Pupils of Providence was also greatly nourished.
More importantly, he had successfully opened his spiritual sea!
This meant his mental force capacity and resilience far exceeded Spirit Masters of the same level, comparable to a Spirit King!
The other was the Essence Augmenting Pill, which increased spirit power.
The medicinal effect was extremely domineering, directly causing his spirit power to charge from Rank 26 through the Rank 30 Bottleneck in one breath!
As long as he obtained a third spirit ring, he would be a true Spirit Elder!
"Then have you thought about what Spirit Beast you want to hunt this time?"
Dugu Bo asked, "Your Soul Slaying Spear is of the ultimate attack system; the third spirit ring is crucial."
Lin Yuan: "I've thought about it. I need a Spirit Ability that can purely amplify attack power."
Dugu Bo mused, "A Thousand-Year Spirit Beast that purely amplifies attack... that kind of Spirit Beast isn't easy to find in the Sunset Forest..."
Lin Yuan smiled, stopped his pace, and spoke startling words: "No, Senior Dugu Bo, you've mistaken one thing. The one I want to absorb for my third spirit ring... isn't a Thousand-Year Spirit Beast, but a Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Beast!"
"Moreover, I've already locked onto a target. There happens to be a type of Spirit Beast in the Sunset Forest that is very suitable for me."
Dead silence.
"Wha... what?!"
Dugu Bo even thought he had misheard: "How many years did you say you want to absorb?"
"Ten... Ten-Thousand-Year?!"
"Nonsense! Absolute nonsense!"
Dugu Bo instantly flared up: "Kid! Have you gone stupid from Alchemy?"
"Absorbing a Ten-Thousand-Year for the third spirit ring? How is that possible!"
"The theoretical limit in the Spirit Master's world for the third spirit ring is around one thousand seven hundred and sixty years!"
"Even if you've tempered your body with the Ice and Fire springs, at most you could absorb one from three to five thousand years!"
"A Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Beast produces a Soul shock after death, which directly attacks the spiritual sea!"
"You're only Rank 30, how could your mental force possibly withstand it?"
"This is a matter of life and death!"
Although Dugu Bo was usually unconventional, he wouldn't budge an inch on this matter.
Lin Yuan was his benefactor and his granddaughter's 'future husband'; how could he watch Lin Yuan go to his death?
...