An Unexpected Occurrence

Yu Leiting fell silent for a moment, eventually nodding with a helpless sigh.

"Very well, Young Master." Yu Leiting looked at Yu Xiaogang, "We will help you subdue this Thunder Lizard. But when you absorb it, you must be extremely careful. If anything feels wrong, tell us immediately, and we will help you interrupt the absorption."

"I know, I know." Yu Xiaogang waved his hand impatiently, "Hurry up and get to it!"

Yu Leiting took a deep breath and turned to the other team members.

"Prepare to move. The target is that Thunder Lizard. Remember, do not strike its vitals; we need the Young Master to land the killing blow himself."

"Understood!"

The eight men fanned out, quietly surrounding the Thunder Lizard.

The Thunder Lizard seemed to sense the danger; it snapped its eyes open, the two antennae on its head vibrating violently as the light from its electric orbs turned blindingly bright.

"ROAR!"

The Thunder Lizard let out an enraged bellow, opening its maw to spew out a thick bolt of lightning.

"Scatter!"

Yu Leiting shouted, his figure flickering as he dodged the lightning strike.

The other members also dodged in succession, launching attacks on the Thunder Lizard from different directions simultaneously.

Though the Thunder Lizard was ferocious, it gradually fell into a disadvantageous position when faced with eight experienced Spirit Hunters.

After the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, the Thunder Lizard was thoroughly subdued, lying on the ground unable to move.

"Young Master, it is done," Yu Leiting called out.

Yu Xiaogang stepped forward and drew a short blade from his waist.

Looking at the massive Thunder Lizard before him, his heart was filled with excitement and anticipation.

A six-hundred-and-fifty-year spirit ring!

Thirty years higher than Yu Hong's!

Once he absorbed this spirit ring, he would be able to completely outshine Yu Hong!

"Die!"

Yu Xiaogang raised the short blade and plunged it fiercely into the Thunder Lizard's vitals.

Squelch—

Blood gushed out. The Thunder Lizard's body struggled violently for a few moments before gradually falling still.

At the same time, a yellow halo of light rose from the Thunder Lizard's body.

Yu Xiaogang's eyes shone with a frightening intensity. Unable to wait a second longer, he sat cross-legged and began to guide the spirit ring into his body.

The yellow spirit ring descended slowly, settling onto Yu Xiaogang.

The next moment...

"AAAHHH!!!"

Yu Xiaogang let out a shrill, miserable scream.

A surge of energy, violent to the extreme, flooded into his body. It felt as if thousands of lightning bolts were striking him at once, causing him agony beyond endurance.

"Oh no!" Yu Leiting's expression changed drastically, "The Young Master cannot withstand it! Quickly, help him interrupt the absorption!"

That violent energy rampaged through Yu Xiaogang's body, cutting through his meridians like countless sharp blades.

Yu Xiaogang's face turned deathly pale in an instant, beads of sweat the size of peas rolling down his forehead as his entire body trembled violently.

"AHHH!!! IT HURTS!!!"

His screams echoed throughout the forest, startling the nearby birds and beasts into fleeing in all directions.

Yu Leiting and the other members rushed forward, but they dared not intervene rashly.

Once the process of absorbing a spirit ring begins, external interference is likely to cause even greater harm.

Yet, if they did not intervene, given Yu Xiaogang's current state, he would likely be blown apart by the energy of the spirit ring!

"Elder Yu! Hurry!" Yu Leiting shouted toward the back of the team.

An old man dressed in white robes stepped forward quickly.

This old man was Yu Qingfeng, one of the rare healing-type Spirit Masters in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon family, with a spirit power as high as level sixty-three.

He had been specifically arranged by Yu Yuanzhen to be in the team, just in case.

Unexpectedly, that "just in case" had truly come to pass.

Yu Qingfeng walked to Yu Xiaogang's side and pressed his palms against his back. A gentle green light flowed from his palms, slowly pouring into Yu Xiaogang's body.

"Young Master, give up your resistance and let the spirit ring dissipate naturally!" Yu Qingfeng said in a deep voice.

How could Yu Xiaogang possibly listen?

His mind was filled entirely with pain; he was utterly incapable of thinking about anything else.

That violent energy rampaged through his body, and every surge made him feel as though he were being torn to pieces.

"No, he has lost consciousness!" Yu Qingfeng frowned, "We must forcibly interrupt the absorption!"

He increased his soul power output, the green light becoming even more intense, while his other hand tapped lightly on Yu Xiaogang's chest.

The yellow spirit ring vibrated violently before being forced out of Yu Xiaogang's body.

Having lost its host, the spirit ring drifted in the air for a moment, gradually dimming until it finally dissipated into specks of light.

A six-hundred-and-fifty-year Thunder Lizard spirit ring, just like that, was gone.

But no one cared about that now.

Everyone's attention was focused on Yu Xiaogang.

Yu Xiaogang's body slumped limply to the ground, his face pale as paper, a trace of blood hanging from the corner of his mouth.

His breathing was weak and rapid; he looked as if he could stop breathing at any moment.

"The young master's meridians are severely damaged; he must be treated immediately!" Yu Qingfeng's expression was grave as his hands continuously released healing soul power.

Green light enveloped Yu Xiaogang's entire body, slowly repairing the damaged meridians within him.

Time ticked by, second by second.

A quarter of an hour later, Yu Xiaogang's breathing finally steadied, and his complexion shifted from deathly pale to merely pale.

"He is temporarily stable." Yu Qingfeng let out a long breath, fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead, "But his meridian damage is too severe; he needs to recuperate properly back home and cannot cultivate for at least three months."

Yu Leiting's expression was grim.

Three months without cultivation?

Doesn't that mean the gap between Yu Xiaogang and Yu Hong will only continue to widen?

"Let's head back first." Yu Leiting said in a deep voice, "Pick up the young master; we are returning to the clan immediately!"

"Yes!"

Two team members carefully lifted Yu Xiaogang, and the group hurried toward the exit of the Soul Hunting Forest.

Along the way, Yu Qingfeng stayed by Yu Xiaogang's side, continuously channeling healing soul power to maintain his vital signs.

The journey that originally required half a day was completed by the group in just two hours.

When they returned to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon clan, the sky had already turned completely dark.

"Quick! Take the young master to the infirmary!" Yu Leiting shouted.

Servants who had been waiting at the entrance hurried forward, placed Yu Xiaogang on a stretcher, and ran toward the clan's infirmary.

Yu Qingfeng followed as well; he needed to work with the other healing-type spirit masters at the infirmary to provide Yu Xiaogang with more comprehensive treatment.

Yu Leiting, meanwhile, walked alone toward the residence of Yu Yuanzhen.

He had to report this matter to the clan head.

Although he knew this news would certainly displease the clan head greatly.

Inside Yu Yuanzhen's study, the lights were bright.

Yu Leiting stood before the desk, head bowed, reporting everything that had happened in the Soul Hunting Forest in full detail.

Behind the desk, Yu Yuanzhen's expression grew increasingly ugly.

"What did you say?" Yu Yuanzhen's voice was low and suppressed, "Xiaogang failed to absorb the spirit ring?"