Breaking Through Level Ten, Choosing a Spirit Beast

However, just as this local conflict was about to spiral out of control, forces from a higher level intervened.

Zhao Tianba, the Head of the Family of the Zhao Family, was restrained by the Heaven Dou Empire's official forces and ordered to remain restrained.

Xia Shi and Huo Yang likewise received explicit orders from Spirit Hall's upper ranks, commanding them to immediately cease their conflict with the Zhao Family.

The orders from their respective backers were like two invisible shackles, instantly binding both sides hand and foot.

No matter how far the conflict had escalated before, they had to stop at once.

Thus, the once-chaotic Xiling Harbor rapidly cooled down like hot oil doused with cold water, returning to its usual order and peace.

For Xia Yang, the troubles of the outside world temporarily faded away, allowing him to continue immersing himself wholeheartedly in his own cultivation.

Besides his daily cultivation, his father, Xia Shi, would occasionally bring back some Whale Rubber.

This Whale Rubber became an important aid in improving Xia Yang's Physical Quality.

However, most of the Whale Rubber painstakingly collected was only of the Thousand-Year level. Truly Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Rubber was exceedingly rare.

As for the proposal Huo Yang had once raised—going out to sea to hunt spirits, personally killing Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Soul Beasts to obtain high-quality Whale Rubber—Xia Shi reluctantly rejected it after careful consideration.

The reason was simple: the risk was simply too great.

The two of them were a Level Fifty-Six Battle Soul King and a Level Fifty-Five Battle Soul King.

Though neither of them was weak, and they had some Subordinates as well,

each of them ultimately possessed only one Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Skill.

Hunting spirits at sea meant facing powerful Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Soul Beasts that traveled in groups. Their chances of victory were too slim, and one careless mistake could see them buried beneath the waves.

After weighing the matter repeatedly, the couple reached a consensus: it would be safer to spend more and buy it through various channels.

Of course, to avoid alerting outsiders—especially potential competitors—through large-scale purchases of Whale Rubber, Xia Shi put considerable thought into the method of procurement.

On one hand, he drew upon the connections he had built during his early years roaming the seas, entrusting reliable Sea Soul Master friends who spent all year at sea to make scattered purchases in coastal cities throughout the region.

This way, although the total amount of Whale Rubber purchased was substantial, the buying locations were sufficiently spread out. Like tiny streams flowing into the sea, it did not attract much attention.

On the other hand, to throw people off the scent, Xia Shi and Huo Yang even publicly offered to purchase Whale Rubber over ten thousand years old in their own names.

Though this move successfully muddied the waters and concealed their true purpose in gathering Whale Rubber on a large scale,

it also caused the couple considerable damage to their reputation.

For a time, rumors ran rampant throughout Xiling Harbor.

Many people privately gossiped that Xia Shi, as a Husband, was "physically weak" and "couldn't perform."

Huo Yang, meanwhile, was described as "unsatisfied" and "promiscuous."

Sometimes, even the looks outsiders gave the couple carried hints of suggestiveness and mockery.

Whenever they heard such gossip or sensed those unusual stares, they felt deeply uncomfortable.

But they knew that everything they endured now was for their son's future.

For Xia Yang's cultivation prospects, they could only swallow every grievance and bitterness, pretending on the surface that nothing was wrong.

It was precisely through his Parents' patient endurance and difficult efforts that large quantities of Thousand-Year Whale Rubber, along with two incomparably precious pieces of Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Rubber, were gradually delivered into Xia Yang's hands.

Xia Yang did not disappoint his Parents' expectations either. Through persistent, grueling training and regular consumption of Whale Rubber, both his Soul Power cultivation and Physical Quality steadily improved.

Spring passed into autumn, and cold gave way to heat.

Effort was always rewarded, and sweat forged the steps upward.

Finally, in the year Xia Yang turned ten, the Soul Power within him accumulated enough to break through the bottleneck of Level Ten!

This marked the arrival of a crucial moment.

Xia Yang needed to obtain the first Spirit Ring of his life.

Night had fallen, yet the main hall of the Xia Family residence was Brightly Lit.

The family of three sat around the Dining table, and the air was filled with celebration.

Today was a memorable day, because Xia Yang's Soul Power had finally broken through to Level Ten. This meant he would soon obtain the first Spirit Ring of his life.

At that moment, Xia Shi's face was glowing red as he raised his wine cup and drained it in one gulp.

The strong liquor burned down his throat, adding a few more traces of bold spirit.

He carefully examined his son. Xia Yang's skin, tempered by long-term training, had taken on a healthy bronze hue. He stood tall and sturdy, half a head taller than children his age, while determination gleamed in his bright Eyes.

Looking at the vigorous young man before him, Xia Shi felt an indescribable pride rise within his heart.

"Other than his Spirit being slightly inferior and his Innate Soul Power a little lacking, Yang'er is flawless in every other respect. He truly is my, Xia Shi's, son."

He thought silently to himself and poured another full cup of wine.

After several cups of strong liquor, Xia Shi was already slightly drunk.

He set his wine cup heavily upon the table, producing a crisp sound.

"Yang'er."

Xia Shi's voice carried a trace of drunkenness, but he was exceptionally serious. "Since your Soul Power has stabilized at Level Ten, it's time to consider obtaining your First Soul Ring."

"What kind of Spirit Beast do you want to hunt for your First Soul Ring? Do you have any thoughts?"

Huo Yang took over, concern in her tone. "Yang'er, you've consumed so much Whale Rubber that your Physical Quality already far surpasses that of ordinary Soul Masters."

"We also have no way to accurately judge the Soul Ring Year Limit you can currently withstand. You must consider this decision carefully yourself."

"You must choose not only the type of Spirit Beast, but also an appropriate Year Limit. This concerns your future development, so you must think it through carefully before acting."

Xia Yang sat up straight and said with a focused expression, "Dad, Mom, I've already decided."

"I plan to hunt an Ice Flame Crystal Shell that is over six hundred years old, but no more than a thousand years old."

"An Ice Flame Crystal Shell?"

Xia Shi frowned slightly, his expression puzzled.

"Your Spirit is your skeleton. Logically, you should choose a Spirit Beast with powerful flesh."

"For example, Turtle Class, Whale Class, or Shark Class Spirit Beasts from the sea; or Tiger Class, Sub-Dragon Class, Bear Class, and other Spirit Beasts from the land."

"Why would you choose a Spirit Beast like the Ice Flame Crystal Shell?"

"Dad, you're right. Under normal circumstances, that is indeed what I should do."

Xia Yang explained calmly, "But have you ever considered why my Spirit underwent a malignant mutation?"

The question left Xia Shi silent for a moment. He sighed softly and said, "It was likely because my North Mystic Black Tortoise Spirit conflicted with your mother's Blazing Flame Tiger Spirit in attribute."

"I am ice, while she is fire. The qualities of our two Spirits were equal, and conflict arose during inheritance. That was what caused your malignant mutation."