When he saw the Spirit Ring, Wang Chuan finally let out a breath, his nerves, which had been taut from the battle, completely relaxing. His Armament Haki faded, and he collapsed onto the ground in exhaustion.
Though Wang Chuan looked disheveled, Wang Lie walked over with a face full of amazement.
"Xiaochuan, you really can do it. My opinion of you has risen even higher.
"Ordinary Spirit Masters would probably be no match for even someone who had just entered the Spirit King realm.
"But through this battle, I could also tell that you lack real combat experience against Spirit Beasts. Otherwise, you should be even stronger."
Wang Chuan smiled as he met Wang Lie's gaze.
Those eyes held nothing but approval for a junior, without the slightest trace of coveting the so-called Self-Created Soul Skill Wang Chuan had displayed earlier.
Wang Chuan felt warmth spread through his heart again. Then, with rare guilelessness, he said,
"Hehe, Grandpa, I told you I could do it."
Afterward, Wang Chuan took out a large amount of dry rations from his storage Soul Tool and began eating to replenish the Haki he had expended.
Rather than sitting down to meditate and recover his Soul Power.
As mentioned before, Haki's cultivation system came from the low-fantasy world of One Piece, while Soul Power on the Douluo Continent belonged to a fantasy cultivation system.
The fundamental difference between the two systems was that Haki depended entirely on one's physique and willpower.
Soul Power, on the other hand, incorporated the concept of the world's vital energy into this internal cycle.
Therefore, Wang Chuan's Soul Power could be used as Haki, but Haki needed to combine with the world's vital energy before it could be converted into Soul Power.
After using his rudimentary Life Return to digest the food and replenish his stamina, Wang Chuan recovered from his listless state in just ten minutes under Wang Lie's astonished gaze. Wang Lie could not help clicking his tongue in wonder.
As for the Spirit Beast meat, Wang Chuan was in no hurry to let Golden Scale eat it.
The Soul Power and effects within Spirit Beast meat would not dissipate as quickly as a Spirit Ring's. Otherwise, no one would make a business out of such things.
After informing Wang Lie, Wang Chuan formally sat cross-legged and summoned Golden Scale.
The moment it appeared, Golden Scale's gaze locked tightly onto the purple Spirit Ring.
At the same time, through their spiritual connection, Wang Chuan sensed Golden Scale's peak desire.
"It's time, Golden Scale. Whether you become a dragon or remain a worm depends on this attempt!"
"Ying, ying, ying!"
Golden Scale responded excitedly.
As Wang Chuan and Golden Scale guided the purple Spirit Ring with their thoughts,
the Spirit Ring immediately settled around Golden Scale's body. Surging Soul Power flowed through Golden Scale, into the Martial Spirit mark on Wang Chuan's right hand, then through his meridians, rapidly pouring into Wang Chuan's body.
Finally, it established a connection with the dantian, the core of Wang Chuan's Soul Power.
The refinement of the Spirit Ring officially began.
Perhaps because his physique was powerful to begin with, or perhaps for some other reason,
Wang Chuan did not feel as though he were being scorched by lava as Tang San had when he first absorbed a Spirit Ring. Instead, he only felt every cell in his body cheering with delight.
Outside, Wang Lie wore an astonished expression.
Because Golden Scale was undergoing enormous changes visible to the naked eye.
Golden Scale's body, originally eighty percent similar to Luo Sanpao's, began changing dramatically.
Its originally muscular body, more than a meter long, visibly began to slim down, while its frame gradually stretched out.
Its limbs did not change much and remained as short as before, but its claws became increasingly distinct. Five sharp hooked talons formed, resembling an eagle's claws.
Beyond that, Golden Scale's facial features also began changing drastically.
Its former face, neither pig nor dog, began developing like a puppy growing into an adult dog. Its dragon snout became increasingly elongated.
The final change was the pair of tiny horns atop Golden Scale's head. They grew larger and began branching.
Looking at Golden Scale, which now seemed like an entirely different species, Wang Lie was completely stunned.
Because this was precisely the ultimate form that their Serpent-Dragon Species Martial Spirits dreamed of attaining!
Yet Wang Lie soon sighed again, because it was ultimately only a Sub-Dragon and still lacked many of the appearance traits of a true Serpent-Dragon Species dragon.
For example, it still lacked the true dragon's most distinctive trait: dragon scales.
Not to mention the camel's head and tiger's paws, nor did it possess the legendary ability to fly without wings.
In the end, Golden Scale grew to three meters long. It awakened from its deep meditative state of refining the Spirit Ring before Wang Chuan did, coiling around him to stand guard.
Seeing this, Wang Lie nodded in satisfaction.
A true dragon or not, it did not matter. With this level of intelligence, along with the combat strength Wang Chuan had displayed earlier, Wang Lie no longer needed to worry about Wang Chuan's future. That alone was enough.
Time passed quickly, and Wang Chuan finally completely refined the energy the Spirit Ring had transmitted into his body.
When he slowly opened his eyes, the sky was already studded with stars.
Before Wang Chuan could react, Golden Scale instinctively wrapped itself lightly around him and rubbed its still somewhat soft cheek against him.
After a brief struggle and moment of confusion, Wang Chuan finally understood the situation through their Soul Power connection. He rubbed Golden Scale's head with a mixture of amusement and helplessness.
"You really are something."
Wang Chuan muttered speechlessly. At that moment, Wang Lie beside him said,
"Hehe, it seems you're very satisfied with Golden Scale's transformation."
"Yes, Grandpa. I never expected Golden Scale to become like this. I thought it would evolve toward the Pterosaur Species."
Wang Chuan spoke with feeling, his eyes filled with anticipation for the future.
After all, a Golden Sacred Dragon...
How could it compare to a Five-Clawed Golden Dragon?
Seeing Wang Chuan so happy, Wang Lie smiled and nodded. But then his expression turned solemn, and he changed the subject.
"Xiaochuan, with your intelligence, you should know what it means for your first Spirit Ring to be a thousand-year one, right?"
Hearing that, Wang Chuan immediately stopped interacting with Golden Scale. He sat upright and said gravely,
"Yes, Grandpa, I know what it means. It means every Spirit Master on the Douluo Continent will want to know my secret."
Wang Lie gave a slight nod, but his expression remained serious, as though he wanted to add something.
At that moment, Wang Chuan continued.
"But that isn't the biggest problem.
"If the clan learns of my secret, the main branch may seize my cultivation method. And to ensure that the inheritance does not leak out, they may even kill me.
"Because only the dead can keep a secret completely."
Looking at Wang Chuan's cold expression, Wang Lie opened his mouth.
In the end, he closed it awkwardly. Sometimes, having juniors who were too clever was not necessarily a good thing.
For example, this had been such a perfect opportunity to educate him, yet Wang Lie had no way to show off an elder's authority.
Still, Wang Lie felt more relief than anything else.
Since Wang Chuan could see so far into the future, there was even less reason for Wang Lie to worry about him.
Afterward, Golden Scale began devouring the Titan Golden Python's corpse.
This also made Wang Chuan discover, to his surprise, that Golden Scale's teeth had become much better. Meanwhile, he and Wang Lie prepared the meat and enjoyed this rare dragon meat.
Before you continue