The fierce battle lasted a full five minutes. Under the combined assault of Yu Qingfeng and Ma Zhiyu, the Ice Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard lay powerless on the ground, 'enjoying' the final moments of its life.
Yu Qingfeng and Ma Zhiyu, victorious, were in poor shape as well—Yu Qingfeng's arms trembled slightly from overexertion, while Ma Zhiyu bore numerous wounds.
That the Ice Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard could last so long against two attack system Spirit Grandmasters and still inflict serious damage spoke volumes about its strength.
Mentioned on its own, the Ice Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard might not conjure a clear picture.
Put it this way: under normal circumstances, a Two-Ring Great Soul Master can reliably defeat Spirit Beasts under five hundred years old.
With that common knowledge in mind, the lizard's performance reveals just how formidable it is—and why so few hunters target it.
"Xiao Yan, it can't fight back anymore. You finish it."
Perched atop the lizard and pinning it down, Yu Qingfeng called Yu Yan over to deliver the final blow.
Yu Yan drew the dagger bought in the last town, stepped to the lizard's neck, and drove the blade in.
The Ice Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard tried to struggle, but Yu Qingfeng held it fast, and Yu Yan plunged the dagger a second time.
A dozen seconds later the lizard stilled, gone from the World.
As it died, faint yellow motes gathered above its body, condensing into a hundred-year yellow spirit ring before Yu Yan's eyes.
Standing before the yellow halo, Yu Yan could feel the vast energy within even before absorption began.
He took a deep breath to calm himself, sat cross-legged, summoned the Ice and Fire Twin Fish, and drew the lizard's ring toward him.
The ring settled over him, then over the twin fish circling his body.
The instant it locked in place, a wild blend of hot and cold energy surged through him, aggressive and unrelenting.
Yu Yan used his Meditation Technique to marshal his spirit power, suppressing, guiding, and absorbing the rampaging force.
High-quality spirit power and powerful mental force now showed their worth.
He easily tamed the violent energy and forced it along the pathways of his Meditation Technique.
"So this is the mutated Ice and Fire Twin Fish Spirit—truly bizarre. No wonder he targeted the Ice Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard; they're a perfect match."
With his wounds roughly tended, Ma Zhiyu stared in curiosity at the twin fish swimming around Yu Yan—he had never seen such a peculiar Spirit in all his travels.
"It is strange. I was startled the first time too. When Spirit Hall Awakened his Spirit they almost thought he had twin spirits."
Yu Qingfeng picked up the tale, recounting his own first reaction to Yu Yan's Spirit.
"Do you think Xiao Yan can absorb the ring it produced?"
Li Rong's concern was whether Yu Yan could succeed; success or failure would decide many things.
"He should be fine. Look closely—since the ring landed on him he hasn't shown a trace of pain or spirit power backlash. I'd wager he'll wake any moment."
The observant Ma Zhiyu pointed out what was happening to Yu Yan.
Prompted, Yu Qingfeng and Li Rong studied Yu Yan's calm expression and saw Ma Zhiyu was right.
On the tenth circulation of his Meditation Technique, a flash of light filled Yu Yan's consciousness.
In a trance he seemed to see his Ice and Fire Twin Fish devouring an energy-formed Ice Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard.
The lizard split in two: fiery energy fell into the fire fish's mouth, icy energy into the Ice Fish's.
After consuming it, the twin fish began to change.
The fire fish's flames burned hotter; its body lengthened, scales hardened, and the barbels at its mouth stretched.
The Ice Fish underwent similar changes.
The moment the transformation finished, the barrier locking Yu Yan at rank ten shattered, and the remaining energy within the hundred-year ring turned gentle.
That gentle energy flowed through his body, bringing a minor evolution.
When Yu Yan opened his eyes, the sky had darkened and the moon hung overhead, proof of how long the absorption had taken.
Standing, he felt noticeably taller—a six-year-old who could pass for nine.
With every movement he sensed his strength had more than doubled.
By the campfire, Yu Qingfeng saw him stand and called out at once, "Xiao Yan, you're finally awake! Come tell me—what ability did you get?"
He was eager to know what skill the mutated Ice and Fire Twin Fish would produce after absorbing the Ice Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard.
Ma Zhiyu and Li Rong looked over as well, waiting for the answer.
"Hmm… Brother Yu, my first ring seems to have given me two abilities."
After a moment's hesitation Yu Yan decided to speak a partial truth, not the whole.
He couldn't hide it forever; using the abilities would reveal the double skill sooner or later.
Since exposure was inevitable, hiding it now would only damage their trust.
"What?""
Yu Qingfeng's expression was even more shocked than when he'd heard Yu Yan had reached rank ten.
Reaching rank ten merely meant fast cultivation, but two abilities from one ring was almost unnatural.
The calm vanished from Ma Zhiyu's face; he pinched his wound to be sure he wasn't dreaming.
Li Rong massaged her temples, wondering if she'd misheard.
"Actually it's still one ability in essence; the ice and fire fish just manifest it slightly differently.""
Yu Yan bent the truth a little, disguising his dual skills.
"That makes sense—after all, it is a mutated Ice and Fire Twin Fish.""
Yu Qingfeng pondered, inwardly marveling at the wonders of Spirits.
Giving up on the puzzle, he returned to his original question: "Show us the ability then?"
Ma Zhiyu and Li Rong, equally stumped, watched eagerly—one ring, two abilities was something they had never seen.
Today had certainly broadened their horizons.