In the blink of an eye, several more months passed.
During that time, nothing particularly major happened.
However—
"Brother Yuntao, I bought some really good ingredients today. I even got braised pork ribs—you like those, right?"
"Of course I do! As long as you make it, Si Si, I like anything."
Not far away, Si Si had just returned from the market. Carrying a basket of groceries, she waved at Su Yuntao with a gentle smile. That single sentence and small gesture alone were enough to leave Su Yuntao completely smitten.
And scenes like this had played out more than once over the past few months.
"Sigh…"
Watching this, Taichu didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Even from a distance, he could practically smell the overwhelming stench of romance.
At first, he'd thought Si Si was just stringing his uncle along, which was why their relationship had progressed so slowly.
But after Su Yuntao lost his leg, Si Si's attitude made things clear. She hadn't been playing with his feelings at all—she was simply overly cautious. Combined with Su Yuntao being… well, Su Yuntao, the progress had naturally been painfully slow.
Still, this time, things had finally improved.
His uncle had lost a leg—but gained love in return.
Sometimes, when chatting with Taichu, Su Yuntao would even say outright that if he'd known losing a leg would lead to this outcome, he would've happily broken it sooner just to win the beauty's heart earlier.
Whenever Taichu heard that, his expression was impossible to describe.
He only felt that his uncle had truly walked farther and farther down the path of simping—and had even reached a whole new realm.
That said, at least the outcome was good. Even if the lovey-dovey atmosphere made his eyes ache, he endured it for the sake of his uncle's future happiness.
"Xiao Chu, I also bought some of your favorite food. I'll cook it for you in a bit," Si Si added, not forgetting about him.
"Alright, Sister Si Si," Taichu replied.
In his heart, though, he sighed. Eating with the two of you isn't having a meal at all—this is clearly being force-fed dog food.
With that, Si Si carried the basket into the kitchen.
"Uncle, it looks like good news isn't far off for you two," Taichu said, glancing at Su Yuntao, who was grinning like a blooming chrysanthemum.
"That's a given!" Su Yuntao said proudly. "If you learn even half of your uncle's woman-chasing techniques, I guarantee you'll be able to win a beauty's heart in the future. That way, even if I die, I can face your grandfather, your parents, and your mother with a clear conscience."
Taichu was speechless.
Learn from you? Learn what—how to be a top-tier simp?
If you hadn't happened to simp for the right person this time, you'd deserve to rank behind the dogs.
"Uncle," Taichu said, turning serious, "I've completely finished consuming the second piece of ten-thousand-year Whale Glue. It's time for me to go obtain my spirit ring."
He had waited a long time for this day.
If not for pushing his absorption limit higher, why would he have delayed so long? From Spirit Awakening until now, he had postponed absorbing his first spirit ring for a full six months.
"You brat, you've finally come to your senses," Su Yuntao said, immediately launching into nagging mode. "I told you long ago—your physical condition already rivals that of a Spirit Grandmaster. Absorbing a seven- or eight-hundred-year spirit ring would've been more than enough. But you insisted on aiming for a millennium spirit ring."
"You've got Innate Full Spirit Power. You've wasted far too much time."
If someone with Innate Full Spirit Power absorbed a hundred-year spirit ring right away, they could easily reach level 11—or even level 12 if the ring's age was high enough. Add half a year of cultivation on top of that, and Taichu could've been level 14, maybe even 15 by now.
That was why Su Yuntao always felt his nephew had wasted time chasing a high-year spirit ring—it was completely unnecessary in his eyes.
Taichu didn't bother arguing.
His uncle simply didn't understand.
Was he doing this just for a millennium spirit ring?
Of course not.
He was doing this so that when it came time to absorb his third spirit ring, he could directly challenge a ten-thousand-year spirit ring.
Absorbing a ten-thousand-year spirit ring required enduring a soul shock, and anyone with insufficient mental strength would die on the spot.
But Taichu was different.
The Mangekyō Sharingan had already massively enhanced his mental force. On top of that, he hadn't absorbed a single spirit ring yet.
If he absorbed two millennium spirit rings first, both his physical body and mental strength would improve even further.
With that foundation, absorbing a ten-thousand-year spirit ring as his third ring might actually be possible.
"What kind of Spirit Beast are you planning to hunt?" Su Yuntao asked curiously.
"The Phantom Domain Spirit Fox," Taichu replied without hesitation.
Su Yuntao froze, clearly confused.
Seeing this, Taichu explained, "It's a mental-type Spirit Beast that lives in the border mountains near the neighboring Balak Kingdom. It's extremely skilled in illusion techniques and matches my spirit very well. If I absorb its spirit ring, I should gain a solid mental-type spirit ability."
He had thoroughly studied the books in the branch hall and had a deep understanding of Spirit Beasts. He'd decided on his first spirit ring target months ago.
"Oh—oh—oh! Right, the Phantom Domain Spirit Fox!" Su Yuntao said, putting on a look of sudden realization.
Taichu knew full well his uncle was just pretending to understand, but there was no need to expose him.
"Since you're going to hunt a Spirit Beast, why don't I go with you myself?" Su Yuntao suggested.
"No need," Taichu shook his head. "I've already arranged it with Master Ma. He'll take me when the time comes."
"What? You think that just because I lost a leg, I can't even handle a Spirit Beast anymore?" Su Yuntao frowned, feeling looked down upon.
"My target is a millennium Phantom Domain Spirit Fox," Taichu said bluntly. "Uncle, in your current condition, you really wouldn't be able to help."
"Millennium?!" Su Yuntao's eyes went wide. He immediately tried to talk him out of it. "Kid, don't do anything reckless. Even if your physical condition rivals a Spirit Grandmaster's, absorbing a millennium spirit ring as your first ring is still far too dangerous."
"Eight hundred years would be much safer."
He truly feared that his nephew might die from spirit ring backlash. If that happened, how would he ever face his father, his sister, and his brother-in-law in the afterlife?
"Uncle, don't worry," Taichu said calmly. "I had Master Ma help me test my physical condition not long ago. Absorbing a spirit ring around 1,100 years won't be a problem. Anything higher would be impossible."
"I know my limits."
Seeing the firm resolve in his nephew's eyes, Su Yuntao finally let out a long sigh.
"Since you've made up your mind, I won't stop you," he said seriously. "But I only have one request—no matter what, you must come back alive."
"Uncle," Taichu smiled, "I'm going to be a Titled Douluo someday. How could I possibly die while absorbing my very first spirit ring?"
That night, the three of them enjoyed a warm and joyful dinner together.
The next day, Taichu set out with Master Ma, heading toward the Spirit Beast Forest in the border mountains.