Thousand-Year First Ring

"Sister Youquan, what level are you now?" Dugu Yan asked curiously.

"Level 28."

"As expected of you. You're almost catching up to me." Dugu Yan sighed in admiration.

"Do you two have any plans for your future cultivation paths?" Seeing Baishuang and Zhuang Yanyan shyly following behind them, Dugu Yan steered the conversation toward the two girls.

"My martial soul is the Phantom Spirit Ancient Mirror. It seems suited for support and control," Baishuang analyzed.

"My martial soul is the Water Cloud Butterfly. The dust on its wings also has hallucinatory effects. It seems suited for the Support and Control Systems as well," Zhuang Yanyan replied after thinking for a moment.

"The Control System is very good. There's no need to pursue the Support System," Youquan suddenly said.

"Both of your abilities are related to hallucinations. Is it possible for you to possess a Martial Soul Fusion Skill?" Hearing the introductions of their martial souls, Dugu Bo asked curiously.

"A Martial Soul Fusion Skill?" Baishuang looked at Dugu Bo in curiosity.

"Didn't little Youquan tell them?" Dugu Yan asked.

"No. I didn't get around to it. I was planning to let them learn about it themselves after they arrived at the academy. Hearing it from others would inevitably be somewhat one-sided." Youquan spread her hands in explanation.

"I see." Dugu Yan nodded, then explained to Baishuang and the other girl, "A Martial Soul Fusion Skill is a powerful skill formed when two martial souls with extremely high compatibility merge together. Martial Soul Fusion Skills are exceedingly rare. Usually, only similar martial souls, identical martial souls, or relatives related by blood can possess such a skill."

"You might try working toward that. If you truly can develop a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, cultivating together will also make your progress much faster," Dugu Bo suggested.

"We'll try it after we return. Thank you, Grandpa Dugu and Sister Yanzi." Baishuang smiled as she thanked them.

As they chatted and laughed, Dugu Bo suddenly flashed away, and a massive purple python was thrown onto the ground.

"Yanyan, this Purple Scale Python is highly suitable for you, and its age is just right." Dugu Bo was rather pleased. He had not expected their luck to be so good that they would find a Soul Beast suitable for his Yanyan so quickly.

"Alright, thank you, Grandpa." Dugu Yan happily stepped forward, drew a dagger, and stabbed it into the Purple Scale Python's vital point.

After Dugu Yan began meditating to absorb the Spirit Ring, Youquan released her Soul Force and began searching for Soul Beasts suitable for Baishuang and Zhuang Yanyan.

"Grandpa Dugu, there's a Thousand-Year Phantom Nether Butterfly at ten o'clock. I'll have to trouble you, Grandpa Dugu." Youquan opened her eyes and spoke to Dugu Bo.

"A thousand years? Are you sure? This girl is only level 10, isn't she?" Dugu Bo stared at Youquan in disbelief.

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. I'll have to trouble you, Grandpa Dugu."

"Alright, wait here." With a flash, Dugu Bo found the Thousand-Year Phantom Nether Butterfly that Youquan had mentioned.

After returning with the dying Phantom Nether Butterfly, Dugu Bo curiously watched Zhuang Yanyan and Youquan, wanting to see whether this little girl could create a miracle like Youquan had. If she could, perhaps his Yanyan could as well.

"Yanyan, don't use a weapon. Feel the water element within your body. Use your cultivation method to transform the water element into an ice spike, then use the ice spike you condense to kill this Soul Beast. If you still can't kill this Phantom Nether Butterfly before it dies from the poison, then you can only search for a suitable Soul Beast yourself." Youquan spoke sternly, without the slightest hint of joking.

Seeing this, Zhuang Yanyan put away her smile and nodded seriously. She knew Youquan was doing this for her own good. If she could not even accomplish this much, what right did she have to take the entrance exam for Spirit Hall Academy with her sisters?

Zhuang Yanyan stepped forward and walked up to the Phantom Nether Butterfly.

"Martial soul, possess."

A pair of watery blue wings grew from Zhuang Yanyan's back. Using their ability to fly, she rose into the air as a ball of water gradually condensed in her hand.

Zhuang Yanyan closed her eyes and began circulating the Heavenly Gang Profound Ice Cultivation Method. The water ball in her hand slowly froze into ice, but it refused to take the shape of an ice spike. Zhuang Yanyan could not help growing anxious.

"Calm your mind! Feel your cultivation method for yourself!" Youquan's words calmed Zhuang Yanyan, and the ball of ice in her hand gradually transformed into a sharp ice spike.

Gripping the ice spike tightly, Zhuang Yanyan dove from above, using the force of her dive to pierce through the Phantom Nether Butterfly. A purple Spirit Ring slowly floated before her.

"Sister Shuang, after Yanyan finishes absorbing her Spirit Ring, we'll go find one suitable for you." Afraid that Baishuang would be anxious, Youquan immediately explained.

"It's alright. I'm not in a hurry." Baishuang smiled.

Youquan nodded. Then, looking at Zhuang Yanyan, she said, "Yanyan, although people usually absorb hundred-year Spirit Rings as their first Spirit Rings, there are exceptions. Based on what I've read in books and my own personal experience, I've discovered that as long as your physical constitution and Spiritual Power can keep up, absorbing a Spirit Ring beyond your level is not difficult at all. Over the past half year, you and Sister Shuang have soaked in the Spiritual Liquid I refined for you every day, and you've also taken medicinal pills to improve your physical constitutions. Absorbing a thousand-year Spirit Ring this time will be completely fine. There may be some difficulties, but as long as you persist, you can definitely pull through. I'll protect you. Just go for it without holding back."

"Alright." Zhuang Yanyan nodded firmly, her eyes filled with determination to grow stronger and eager anticipation. Having a thousand-year first Spirit Ring like Sister Youquan was insanely cool, wasn't it?

"Use the cultivation method you learned flexibly. It isn't merely for helping you cultivate faster," Youquan reminded her.

After nodding, Zhuang Yanyan sat down cross-legged.

Zhuang Yanyan extended her right hand and began circulating her Soul Power. Drawn by her Soul Power, the thousand-year Spirit Ring produced by the Phantom Nether Butterfly moved toward her palm.

Purple light fused into Zhuang Yanyan's body, and the pressure of the thousand-year Spirit Ring made her let out an involuntary muffled groan.

Remembering Youquan's words, Zhuang Yanyan began circulating the Heavenly Gang Profound Ice Cultivation Method. To her delight, she discovered that with the cultivation method's assistance, the energy of the thousand-year Spirit Ring was divided into tiny threads of energy. Guided by the cultivation method, they flowed through her meridians. Although the thousand-year Spirit Ring contained immense energy for a level 10 Spirit Master, as long as she absorbed it bit by bit, there would be no danger of her body exploding. Successfully absorbing it was only a matter of time.

Seeing Zhuang Yanyan steadily absorbing the Phantom Nether Butterfly's Spirit Ring, Youquan relaxed. She sat down again and began searching for a Soul Beast suitable for Baishuang.

"Grandpa Dugu, there's a Thousand-Year Crimson Crystal Tiger about a thousand meters away at three o'clock. I'll have to trouble you, Grandpa Dugu." Youquan opened her eyes and smiled at Dugu Bo.

Because the Crimson Crystal Tiger's defense was extremely strong, and Baishuang's martial soul temporarily lacked offensive power, when Dugu Bo brought the Crimson Crystal Tiger back, Youquan used Heavenly Flames to melt away its hard outer defense before having Baishuang kill it with a dagger. Then, like Zhuang Yanyan, Baishuang sat down cross-legged, circulated the Ancient Saint's Treasure Scroll, and began absorbing the thousand-year Spirit Ring produced by the Crimson Crystal Tiger.