Two and a Half Years of Training

In the days that followed, Chen Yuan practically ate Whale Rubber until he was sick of it, while his physique was continuously strengthened.

But once his physique had been strengthened to a certain extent, the effects of Hundred-Year Whale Gel and Thousand-Year Whale Gel began to diminish more and more, so Chen Yuan gradually stopped eating it.

Even without Whale Rubber, Chen Yuan continued to slowly strengthen his physique through training. The Iron Sword he used for training went from weighing one catty at first, to two catties, then four catties, and finally the Eight-Catty Iron Sword. His constant changes of sword also reflected his growth.

After two and a half years of training, Chen Yuan finally broke through to level twenty Soul Power. That very day, he told Chen Xin the good news.

Delighted, Chen Xin brought Chen Yuan to the main hall on Main Peak and informed Ning Fengzhi of the news.

"Sect Leader, my disciple has broken through to level twenty Soul Power. Over the next few days, I will take him out to choose and hunt a suitable Spirit Beast for his second Spirit Ring!"

There was no reason for Ning Fengzhi to refuse Chen Xin's request. With a refined and gentle smile on his face, he looked at Chen Yuan and praised him.

"You broke through to level twenty Soul Power at only eight years old. Good, very good. If only Rongrong had half your diligence. She is only at level eighteen Soul Power right now."

Though Chen Yuan was only eight, Whale Rubber had improved his physique, and after rigorous training, he had already grown to one meter sixty. His still somewhat youthful face was full of heroic spirit. Hearing this, he answered brightly.

"Sect Leader, I am a Combat Spirit Master, so it is normal for me to cultivate more quickly. Rongrong is an auxiliary Spirit Master, and her cultivation speed is already far from slow."

Ning Fengzhi looked helpless, though he was quite pleased inwardly. He waved a hand and said with a bitter smile.

"You always make excuses for her, just like Sword Uncle and Bone Uncle. Rongrong will be spoiled rotten by all of you sooner or later."

After chatting for a while, Chen Xin left the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect with Chen Yuan.

Flying high in the air, Chen Xin considered for a moment before speaking.

"Yuan'er, based on my Spirit Ring configuration, the skills of my first two Spirit Rings are offense and defense respectively: Sword Drawn from its Sheath and Spirit Sword Guard. They form a relatively balanced combination. For your second Spirit Ring, I likewise suggest hunting a defensive Spirit Beast."

Chen Yuan did not simply say that he would leave it all to his Teacher. After serious thought, he said.

"Teacher, offense and defense do make for a balanced combination, but further enhancing the Seven Kill Sword's sharpness should also have excellent results. If conditions permit, we could also hunt a Spirit Beast with fangs, claws, or great horns."

At this point, Chen Yuan revealed a confident expression and spoke with utmost resolve.

"Moreover, this Spirit Beast should preferably be at least a Thousand Year Soul Beast. Teacher, you know me. My current physical condition is no worse than that of those level-thirty Spirit Masters. Absorbing a Thousand-Year Spirit Ring is not impossible."

Chen Xin gave Chen Yuan a deep look. He was not someone incapable of flexibility. Though he himself followed a balanced path, he would not stop his disciple from strengthening his sharpness in pursuit of ultimate offensive power.

Still, he asked solemnly.

"Yuan'er, you may choose the type of Spirit Beast, but are you certain about a Thousand Year Soul Beast? Even a nine-hundred-year Spirit Beast would pose no danger to you in my opinion, but a Thousand Year Soul Beast may still carry some risk."

Chen Yuan nodded firmly at those words.

"Teacher, the reason I trained so hard these past two years was to surpass the limit with my second Spirit Ring. Besides, this is merely surpassing the limit from a hundred years to a thousand years, not from a thousand years to ten thousand years. There is no spiritual impact, only an energy impact. As long as my physique is strong enough, I can withstand it."

Seeing his resolute expression, Chen Xin finally agreed.

"Since you insist, then so be it. If you truly succeed, you will break the common sense of the Spirit Master world."

Chen Yuan smiled and said.

"Thank you, Teacher, for granting this."

Chen Xin shook his head, then changed direction in midair.

"This is your own choice. If you want a good Thousand Year Soul Beast for your second Spirit Ring, the ordinary Soul Hunting Forests will not offer many choices. For Spirit Beasts over a thousand years old, we should still look in a wild Spirit Beast forest. Let us go to Sunset Forest. Aside from the Star Dou Great Forest, it is the wild Spirit Beast forest with the richest Spirit Beast resources within the Heaven Dou Empire."

Having made the decision, Chen Xin soon arrived at Sunset Forest with Chen Yuan at his speed. However, just then, Chen Xin frowned. He sensed an extremely powerful aura within the forest. Though weaker than his own, it was still at the level of a Titled Douluo.

Facing an unknown expert, he had to determine whether they were friend or foe. He immediately followed the aura and descended.

After landing, Chen Xin and Chen Yuan saw the owner of that aura.

It was an old man with a full head of dark green hair. His cheeks were gaunt, his eyes gloomy, but the aura around him was terrifying enough that no one dared meet his gaze.

Beside the old man stood a girl of around fourteen or fifteen. She had a lovely figure and exquisite features. Her short purple hair and emerald-green eyes gave her an exotic charm.

Seeing such a pair, Chen Yuan immediately understood their identities: the famously unlucky Dugu Bo of Douluo Continent, and his granddaughter, Dugu Yan.

He guarded a mountain of treasure, only to eventually hand the entire mountain over to others. The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, along with the Immortal Herbs surrounding it, all ended up benefiting outsiders, without a single plant left for himself.

Chen Xin also recognized the other party. Poison Douluo Dugu Bo—though weaker than himself, he was undoubtedly one of the most troublesome people on the continent. With that terrifying poison cultivation, he was nearly invincible below the Titled Douluo rank.

Chen Xin was somewhat wary of him, so he took the initiative to speak.

"So it is you. Yuan'er, this is Poison Douluo Dugu Bo, also a Titled Douluo. Do not be disrespectful before him. Why have you not greeted him?"

Chen Yuan knew that Chen Xin's words served two purposes: to let him know who the other party was, and to let the other party know who he was. It was an introduction for both sides. He stepped forward and bowed as well.

"This junior, Chen Yuan, greets Dugu Your Majesty!"

Dugu Bo's eyes flickered as he gave Chen Yuan a deep look, committing that face to memory. That counted as an introduction; he would not make things difficult for him in the future.

Chen Xin was somewhat wary of Dugu Bo, but Dugu Bo was even more wary of Chen Xin. One reason was his strength, and the other was his backing. Both were greater than Dugu Bo's own.

Dugu Bo smiled. Though the smile was somewhat frightening, it showed that he bore no hostility.

"Sword Dao Chen Xin, your bearing remains as impressive as ever. I brought my granddaughter here to hunt Spirit Beasts. It seems you have come for the same purpose. Yanyan, come and greet them."

Once Dugu Yan learned Chen Xin's identity, she did not dare be the least bit negligent. She immediately stepped forward and bowed.

"This junior, Dugu Yan, greets Your Majesty Chen Xin!"

Chen Xin nodded in acknowledgment and remembered Dugu Yan as well.