Absorbing the Spirit Ring

The Azure Water Spirit Snake struggled more and more violently, its emerald-green body twisting and rolling across the grass, sending broken leaves flying into the air.

Juice kept seeping from the golden markings atop its head. Those wounds had been damaged by the extreme Water Attribute Energy, yet the ferocity of the Thousand-Year Spirit Beast remained—it suddenly whipped its long tail around, sweeping toward the rocks beside the stream with a howling wind. With a thunderous boom, the bowl-thick rock was smashed to pieces.

Jiang Zhen had just steadied himself in the puddle when he saw the spirit snake's head suddenly turn toward him. Its Blue Vertical Pupils were filled with madness.

It no longer cared about the injury atop its head. Its enormous body coiled like a green python, and the next second, it launched itself at Jiang Zhen. Its jaws gaped wide, foul venom dripping from its fangs and burning tiny holes into the grass wherever it landed.

"Damn it, it's going to take me down with it!" Jiang Zhen's heart tightened. Compressing the water bullet earlier had nearly drained half his Soul Power, and the Water Condensation Shield covering his body had dimmed from the previous impact. It could not possibly block this fatal lunge. He instinctively reached for his waist, and his fingertips touched the long saber wrapped in coarse cloth—the defensive saber Village Chief Liu had given him!

There was no time to hesitate. Jiang Zhen abruptly drew the long saber, its blade reflecting the light spots filtering through the forest and carrying the cold, hard feel unique to iron.

He planted both feet against the ground and advanced instead of retreating. Borrowing the momentum, he twisted aside to evade the spirit snake's jaws while pouring all his remaining Soul Power into the blade.

The "Profound Water Clear Mind Art" circulated at full force. Pale-blue Soul Power spread along the hilt and into the blade, condensing into a thin layer of Water Film over its edge.

"Ha!" Jiang Zhen shouted under his breath. His wrist turned, and the long saber stabbed viciously into the gap between the scales on the spirit snake's neck—that was where its scale coverage was thinnest, as well as where the Water Arrow had left a shallow mark earlier!

"Pfft!"

With the Water Film reinforcing it, the blade easily pierced through the spirit snake's scales and sank deep into its neck.

The Azure Water Spirit Snake let out an even more agonized hiss than before. Its body convulsed violently, and its tail lashed the ground in a frenzy. The impact numbed Jiang Zhen's arm, and he nearly lost his grip on the hilt.

He clenched his teeth and exerted force through his wrist again, driving the long saber another half-inch into the spirit snake's body. At the same time, he condensed the last Small Water Orb in his palm and slammed it hard against the back of the blade.

"Break for me!"

The water ball exploded against the blade's spine. Violent Water Attribute Energy surged along the blade and into the spirit snake's body, instantly crushing the last of its vitality. The Azure Water Spirit Snake's body stiffened, the Blue Vertical Pupils gradually losing their luster. Its enormous body crashed onto the grass with a thud and fell completely still.

Jiang Zhen could no longer hold himself up. He released the hilt and collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath.

He was drenched in sweat. The spirit snake's venom had splashed onto several parts of his clothes, burning tiny holes through them, while his arm and back throbbed faintly from the earlier impact.

The Small Water Orb in his palm had long since dissipated. The Soul Power inside his body was nearly depleted, and he barely had enough strength left to circulate the "Profound Water Clear Mind Art."

"Finally... it's done." He looked at the Azure Water Spirit Snake gradually growing cold on the ground, a weak smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

This battle had been even more difficult than he had expected. The physique and ferocity of a Thousand-Year Spirit Beast were far beyond those of a Hundred-Year Spirit Beast. If he had not found its weakness with the long saber at the end, he might truly have fallen here.

He rested for roughly a quarter of an hour before finally recovering some strength.

He rose and walked to the Azure Water Spirit Snake's corpse, then pulled out the long saber. Emerald-green blood stained the blade, yet it had not bent in the slightest. Blacksmith Li's craftsmanship was indeed solid.

He washed the blade clean with Stream Water, wrapped the coarse cloth around it again, and returned it to his waist. He then inspected the spirit snake's corpse: the golden markings atop its head were shattered, the wound on its neck was deep enough to expose bone, and there was indeed no sign of life remaining.

Just then, a pale-purple Spirit Ring floated out of the spirit snake's body and slowly rotated in the air.

Jiang Zhen's eyes lit up, but he quickly grew wary. The Soul Hunting Forest was never short of Spirit Masters coveting Spirit Rings. The commotion from the battle had been considerable, and it might have already attracted others. He had to find a secluded, safe place to absorb the Spirit Ring as soon as possible.

He looked around, his gaze landing on the hillside not far away. There was a dense patch of Bushes there, and a cave seemed to lie behind them.

He hoisted half a sack of Wheat Cakes and the Water Bag onto his shoulders and hurried toward the cave.

The cave was not large, roughly the size of two adults. Vines concealed its entrance, making it extremely difficult to spot.

Jiang Zhen entered the cave and carefully inspected it first. Only after confirming that there were no traces of other Soul Beasts inside did he relax.

Once he had made his preparations, Jiang Zhen sat cross-legged deep inside the cave and took a Beginner Spirit Power Pill from his system inventory before stuffing it into his mouth.

The pill dissolved as soon as it entered his mouth. A gentle energy flowed down his throat into his body, rapidly nourishing his withered Meridians.

He closed his eyes and circulated the "Profound Water Clear Mind Art," beginning to guide the Spirit Ring in the air.

With a thought, the remaining Soul Power inside his body slowly surged out, forming a pale-blue Traction Line that flew toward the Spirit Ring at the cave entrance.

The pale-purple Spirit Ring seemed to have received a summons. It slowly drifted into the cave and finally stopped above Jiang Zhen's head.

Jiang Zhen drew a deep breath and firmly connected the Traction Line to the Spirit Ring. He then slowly pulled the Spirit Ring downward. The instant it touched the top of his head, an enormous energy suddenly poured into his body!

"Ungh!"

Jiang Zhen groaned, cold sweat instantly beading on his forehead.

The energy was even more violent than he had imagined. Though it was Water Attribute Energy, it carried the distinctive wildness of a Thousand-Year Spirit Beast and surged madly along his Meridians, battering his Dantian and Martial Soul.

His Meridians felt as though they were about to burst, waves of swelling pain radiating through them. Even circulating the "Profound Water Clear Mind Art" had become difficult.

"Hold on!" Jiang Zhen clenched his teeth and endured the pain, continuing to guide the energy into his Martial Soul.

He knew this was an unavoidable part of absorbing a Spirit Ring. The impact of a Thousand-Year Spirit Ring on the body was especially immense.

Fortunately, he had tempered his body with Body Tempering Spirit Liquid since the age of three. The toughness of his Meridians far surpassed that of ordinary Spirit Masters; otherwise, the energy would have already overwhelmed him.

Following the cultivation route of the "Profound Water Clear Mind Art," he gradually subdued the violent energy.

Time passed little by little. The cave held only Jiang Zhen's heavy breathing and the buzzing sound of the flowing energy.

A layer of pale-blue radiance gradually appeared over his body. Flecks of purple Spirit Ring energy mingled within it, creating an especially strange sight.

No one knew how much time had passed. When the final wisp of violent energy was absorbed by his Martial Soul, Jiang Zhen suddenly opened his eyes!

The Small Water Orb in his palm instantly bloomed with dazzling Blue Light. It was a full circle larger than before, and the water patterns on its surface had become finer and more lively, as though it had gained a life of its own.

He could clearly feel that his control over Water Element was more than twice as strong as before. The Water Attribute Energy in the surrounding air seemed to have become part of his body. With a thought, he could manipulate it as he pleased.

He tried circulating his Spirit Skill and shouted in a low voice, "Moisten All Directions!"

Pale-blue Soul Power surged from his body. The Small Water Orb in his palm instantly spread outward, forming a translucent Water Film that enveloped the entire cave.

With a thought, the Water Film instantly condensed into three sharp Water Arrows that floated before him, their tips flashing with cold light.

With another thought, the Water Arrows transformed into a Water Shield and stopped in front of him. The water patterns on its surface flowed slowly, radiating a solid presence.

"What incredible control!" Jiang Zhen could not help exclaiming.

Before, he could only barely condense Water Arrows, and their power had been limited. Now, with the enhancement of a Spirit Skill, he could not only control multiple forms but also precisely control their range and power!

Besides that, he also felt that his own attributes had probably been increased by 200%!

As expected of a Thousand-Year Spirit Skill!

Jiang Zhen stood up and stretched his arms and legs, feeling the Soul Power surging through his body and the changes brought by the Spirit Skill. The corners of his mouth rose uncontrollably.

From today onward, he was no longer the "unfinished" Spirit Master who possessed only Innate Full Soul Power. He was a genuine One-Ring Spirit Master with a Spirit Skill!

He walked to the cave entrance, withdrew the Water Bead he had set up as a warning, and pushed aside the vines to look outside. The sky had gradually darkened, and sporadic insect chirps and beast roars echoed through the forest.

"It's time to set out for Nuoding City." Jiang Zhen slung his pack onto his back and tightened his grip on the long saber at his waist. With the First Spirit Skill and the "Profound Water Clear Mind Art," he was confident he could handle the dangers along the road.