"He's actually absorbing a thousand-year spirit ring as his second… and his aura is completely stable, without even the slightest fluctuation."
As night gradually fell, Ye Lingling lit a small campfire nearby. Throughout the process, she kept observing Chu Chen's condition as he absorbed the spirit ring.
It was… unbelievably smooth.
And this was his first time truly absorbing a spirit ring on his own.
To ordinary people, this would already count as absorbing beyond one's level. Two full hours had passed since Chu Chen began.
"What a unique Blue Silver Grass… it even has golden patterns…"
Ye Lingling noticed the Blue Silver Emperor growing beside him and gently reached out to touch it.
It felt smooth—warm, even—not cold like an ordinary plant. The moment she made contact, she could clearly sense a surge of Life Qi flowing within it.
Her own spirit, the Nine-Heart Begonia, was also plant-type.
And precisely because of that, she could feel it clearly—
Her Nine-Heart Begonia… was being suppressed.
Ye Lingling withdrew her hand and silently returned to sit by the campfire, waiting.
---
"Absorbing a spirit ring alone really does take longer…"
Within the cocoon of light, Chu Chen focused his mind.
"If it weren't for constantly tempering my body using life transformation… I wouldn't have made it this far."
He guided his spirit power inward.
The process had already reached its final stage.
Fusion.
---
Half an hour later—
A burst of brilliant blue-gold light erupted from the Blue Silver Emperor in Chu Chen's hand.
The surrounding plants responded instantly, growing rapidly under the influence of the life aura.
Ye Lingling suddenly stiffened.
"Why is my Nine-Heart Begonia… reacting too?!"
Her spirit appeared involuntarily in her hand, trembling slightly.
Shock filled her eyes.
Her Nine-Heart Begonia—one of the top-tier support spirits in the entire continent—was actually being influenced by another spirit?
"What kind of Blue Silver Grass… is this?"
She couldn't believe it.
---
At last—
The spirit ring stabilized.
Two purple rings quietly floated around Chu Chen, radiating a powerful aura.
His cultivation surged.
Level 23. Spirit Grandmaster.
Chu Chen slowly opened his eyes.
The first thing he saw was Ye Lingling staring at him by the fire, slightly dazed.
He smiled.
"Thanks for standing guard."
Ye Lingling snapped back to her senses.
"I didn't really help…"
Chu Chen chuckled.
"Just staying nearby is already protection. If something had gone wrong, I might've needed your healing."
Under the firelight, Ye Lingling studied his face.
For a brief moment… she seemed distracted.
---
"You're really bold," she said softly. "Absorbing a thousand-year spirit ring as your second."
Chu Chen shrugged.
"I just made a calculated gamble. Of course… it wasn't without risk."
He didn't elaborate further.
Some things weren't meant to be explained.
---
The forest grew quieter.
But the rich Life Qi in the area made Chu Chen frown slightly.
"We should leave."
Ye Lingling looked at him.
"Now?"
Chu Chen nodded.
"The Undying Green Vine used to dominate this area. That kept other spirit beasts away."
He glanced into the darkness.
"Now that it's dead… this place will soon become a battlefield."
"If we stay, we'll become prey."
---
That made perfect sense.
The two quickly extinguished the fire and left.
Not long after—
Several powerful spirit beasts emerged from the shadows, drawn by the lingering life aura.
---
As they moved through the forest, Chu Chen asked,
"Where did you get separated from your companions?"
Ye Lingling hesitated.
"You're… willing to help me?"
Chu Chen raised an eyebrow.
"You expect me to let a Nine-Heart Begonia spirit master wander alone in the Star Dou Forest?"
She fell silent.
That… was true.
"Thank you."
This time, her voice was softer.
Less cold.
---
"We were separated by a group of Iron-Horned Rhinos," she explained. "They drove us apart, and I ended up chasing the Mystic Fox here."
She looked around helplessly.
"I don't know the exact location anymore."
Chu Chen nodded.
"Then we follow the traces."
He crouched down, examining the ground.
Soon, he found them—
Massive footprints.
Clearly left by a rhino herd.
"You were lucky," he said calmly. "Iron-Horned Rhinos are fierce in name, but actually docile. Otherwise, you wouldn't have made it out safely."
He stood up and pointed ahead.
"We go this way."
Then he added, glancing at the surrounding vegetation—
"These Blue Silver Grass will guide us."