Yu Xiaogang with a Shadow

"Interesting." Yu Hong's lips curled upward slightly.

He decided that the focus of his upcoming training would be to deepen his resonance with his spirit ring and enhance the power and stability of his spirit ability.

Just like that, Yu Hong began his day-after-day training.

Every morning, he would arrive at the training grounds to practice the Burst Stream of Destruction.

From the most basic accuracy to the flight speed of the light spheres, and then to the power and range of the explosions, he polished this spirit ability bit by bit.

In addition to spirit ability training, he did not neglect his physical conditioning or spirit power cultivation.

He exercised his body and practiced his spirit ability during the day, while cultivating spirit power and consuming Whale Rubber at night.

Although this life was monotonous, Yu Hong enjoyed it.

Because he could clearly feel himself growing stronger every single day.

One month later, his mastery of the Burst Stream of Destruction had become quite proficient.

His accuracy had reached over ninety-five percent, and the power of the light spheres had nearly doubled compared to when he first started.

More importantly, he discovered that he could release multiple light spheres in quick succession, creating a barrage-style attack.

Although continuous release consumed a massive amount of spirit power, this method of attack would be extremely effective in certain situations.

Two months later, Yu Hong's control over his spirit ability became even more refined; he could even control the timing of the light spheres' explosions, causing them to detonate a split second after contact with a target to achieve better armor-piercing effects.

Three months later, the Burst Stream of Destruction had become a quite mature means of attack in Yu Hong's hands.

And it was right at this moment that Yu Xiaogang finally recovered from his injuries.

Yu Xiaogang had been bedridden for three full months.

These three months were nothing short of a nightmare for him.

Lying in bed unable to move every day, he could only stare blankly at the ceiling.

Occasionally, servants would come to deliver food and medicine, but no one was willing to say more than a few words to him.

Even his father, Yu Yuanzhen, had only visited him twice, and each time he had a stern face without saying a single extra word.

Yu Xiaogang knew that his father was very disappointed in him.

But he didn't feel he had done anything wrong.

He only wanted to surpass Yu Hong; what was wrong with that?

If those Soul Hunting Forest hunters had been able to help him suppress the energy of the spirit ring, he definitely would have succeeded in absorbing it!

It was all the fault of those pieces of trash, those useless things!

Yu Xiaogang cursed the members of the soul hunting team countless times in his heart, yet he never once reflected on his own problems.

Three months later, his injuries were finally healed.

The Grand Elder personally examined his body and confirmed that his meridians had recovered and he could continue his cultivation.

"Xiaogang, your body is no longer in any serious trouble," the Grand Elder said. "But I must warn you, your meridians suffered heavy damage. Although they have recovered, they are still more fragile than before. In the future, when you cultivate and absorb spirit rings, you must act according to your ability and stop trying to force things."

Yu Xiaogang nodded impatiently. "Got it, got it."

Watching his attitude, the Grand Elder sighed inwardly and said nothing more.

This child was truly a piece of rotten wood that could not be carved.

The day after his recovery, Yu Xiaogang couldn't wait to head to the Soul Hunting Forest to obtain a spirit ring.

This time, Yu Yuanzhen did not personally intervene, only ordering Yu Leiting to lead the team and ensure Yu Xiaogang's safety at all costs.

Yu Leiting accepted the order and set off with the soul hunting team and Yu Xiaogang.

Along the way, Yu Xiaogang's mood was complex.

He was both looking forward to obtaining a spirit ring and felt an inexplicable fear toward the Soul Hunting Forest.

The scene from three months ago was still vivid in his mind.

He never wanted to experience that pain of having his body torn apart by violent energy a second time in his life.

"Young Master, we have arrived." Yu Leiting's voice interrupted his thoughts.

Yu Xiaogang looked up and saw the entrance to the Soul Hunting Forest right before his eyes.

He took a deep breath and followed the others inside.

"Young Master, what kind of spirit beast are you looking for this time?" Yu Leiting asked cautiously.

Yu Xiaogang was silent for a moment.

He recalled the painful experience from three months ago, and the fear in his heart surged up once again.

A six-hundred-and-fifty-year spirit ring had nearly cost him his life.

He did not want to take any more risks.

"A hundred-year one will do," Yu Xiaogang's voice was low, "a lightning-attribute one."

Yu Leiting was stunned for a moment, unable to believe his ears.

A hundred years?

The young master actually only wanted a hundred-year spirit beast?

One had to know that given the young master's physical constitution, absorbing a three or four-hundred-year spirit ring should have been no problem.

A hundred-year spirit ring was simply too low.

"Young master, are you sure you only want a hundred-year one?" Yu Leiting couldn't help but ask, "With your conditions, you should be able to withstand a spirit beast of around three hundred years..."

"I said a hundred years, so it's a hundred years!" Yu Xiaogang suddenly raised his voice, "Are you trying to get me killed?!"

Yu Leiting was startled and hurriedly lowered his head.

"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare. If the young master says a hundred years, then a hundred years it is."

He sighed inwardly.

It seemed the previous failure had left a deep shadow on the young master.

A hundred-year spirit ring... compared to Yu Hong, the gap was just too vast.

The group searched the forest for the better part of the day and finally found a suitable spirit beast.

It was a 110-year-old Thunder Pattern Lizard. It was not large, only a little over a meter long, and its body was covered in blue scales patterned with lightning-like markings.

"Young master, this is the one," Yu Leiting said, pointing at the Thunder Pattern Lizard, "110 years, lightning attribute, it fits your requirements perfectly."

Yu Xiaogang looked at the Thunder Pattern Lizard, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

110 years...

Compared to Yu Hong's 620 years, it was a world of difference.

But he dared not take any more risks.

He never wanted to experience that kind of pain again.

"Do it," Yu Xiaogang gritted his teeth and said.

The members of the spirit hunting team moved quickly and soon subdued the Thunder Pattern Lizard.

Yu Xiaogang stepped forward, drew a short blade, and stabbed it into the Thunder Pattern Lizard's vital point.

A yellow ring of light rose from the body of the Thunder Pattern Lizard.

Yu Xiaogang sat cross-legged and began to absorb the spirit ring.

This time, there were no accidents.

The energy of the 110-year spirit ring was gentle and stable, and he absorbed it with ease.

The entire process was completed in less than a quarter of an hour.

Yu Xiaogang stood up, felt the new power within his body, and a smug smile appeared on his face.

Although it was only a 110-year spirit ring, it was a spirit ring nonetheless!

He was now an 11th-level spirit master!

With a spirit skill, he was no longer an ordinary person with no power to truss a chicken!

"Young master, congratulations on successfully obtaining your first spirit ring," Yu Leiting stepped forward to offer his congratulations.

"Hmph, that goes without saying," Yu Xiaogang held his head high, acting as if it were only natural, "This Young Master is gifted with extraordinary talent; a mere hundred-year spirit ring is child's play, isn't it?"

The corner of Yu Leiting's mouth twitched slightly, and he said nothing.