As expected, after the incident, Yu Tianheng never appeared before Chen Yuan or Dugu Yan again.
Without any external disturbances, Chen Yuan, Dugu Yan, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing devoted most of their time to intense cultivation.
Half a year passed in the blink of an eye!
Chen Yuan had broken through to the 50th rank, and Dugu Yan had also reached the 50th rank. Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing had each broken through to the 40th rank, all reaching a bottleneck that required absorbing spirit rings to progress further.
At this moment, Chen Yuan, Dugu Yan, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing were already on their way to the Sunset Forest.
Although they were students of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, they did not participate in the academy's regular classes. They had their own training plans, and their progress was not monitored by the academy. Hunting spirit beasts and obtaining spirit rings was something they did on their own.
This was a privilege Chen Yuan had negotiated with the three academy deans—Meng Shenji, Bai Baoshan, and Zhi Lin.
Since there were four of them, Chen Yuan decided not to use his sword to fly. Instead, they traveled by carriage. Inside the carriage, Ning Rongrong looked at Chen Yuan and Dugu Yan with envy and said:
"I'm so jealous of you two. You've both reached the 50th rank. After absorbing your spirit rings, you'll become Spirit Kings."
Chen Yuan, sitting upright, smiled lightly and replied:
"Although you've all absorbed immortal herbs, I've not only absorbed them but also exceeded the limits when absorbing spirit rings every time. It's not surprising that I've progressed this much."
After Chen Yuan finished speaking, Dugu Yan, resting her chin on her hand, chuckled:
"Why envy me? I've had six more years of cultivation than you and absorbed an immortal herb. That's why I've reached this level of spirit power. You're younger than me, and your talents are far better than mine."
As she spoke, Dugu Yan glanced at Chen Yuan, her eyes flashing with admiration, and added:
"If we're talking about who's truly impressive, it's Chen Yuan. A 12-year-old Spirit Ancestor and a 13-year-old Spirit King—such achievements are unparalleled across the entire continent. Even the Golden Generation of the Spirit Hall, those three Spirit Kings who received Purple Records Medals, are already 23 or 24 years old. They can't compare to Chen Yuan."
Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing also looked at Chen Yuan with admiration. They were the same age as him, and becoming Spirit Ancestors at 13 was already remarkable. But Chen Yuan was about to become a Spirit King.
Although Chen Yuan enjoyed their admiration, he didn't let it consume him. He spoke seriously:
"This trip to the Sunset Forest is primarily to find suitable fourth spirit rings for Rongrong and Zhuqing. The Sunset Forest isn't as rich in spirit beasts as the Star Dou Forest, but there are still a considerable number of 5000-year spirit beasts. As for me and Yan Yan, we need ten-thousand-year spirit beasts. If we can find suitable ones in the Sunset Forest, that's great. If not, we'll have to go to the Star Dou Forest."
"Additionally, hunting ten-thousand-year spirit beasts requires the presence of a senior. I'll return to the sect alone and bring my teacher along. With my speed, the trip won't take long."
Dugu Yan also spoke seriously:
"My grandfather is in seclusion in the Sunset Forest. I'll ask him to come out and help me decide on the type of fifth spirit ring I should get."
As they spoke, the carriage arrived near the Sunset Forest. Since it was a wild spirit beast forest, the carriage didn't dare get too close, so the last stretch of the journey had to be covered on foot.
After getting out of the carriage, Chen Yuan paid the driver and sent him back. The driver and carriage were rented.
With the physical strength of the four, it didn't take long to reach the Sunset Forest. As they entered, the natural, wild aura of the forest instantly enveloped them.
At this moment, the tacit agreement between the four was evident without needing to be spoken.
Zhu Zhuqing immediately activated her Nether Spirit Cat martial soul. With a flash, she leaped onto a nearby tree and began moving through the treetops, scouting the surroundings and staying alert for potential dangers.
Chen Yuan walked at the front, ready to face any danger head-on. Behind him were Dugu Yan and Ning Rongrong. Dugu Yan was a control-type spirit master, while Ning Rongrong was a support-type.
Although there were only four of them, they had a balanced team with a strong attack-type, an agility attack-type, a control-type, and a support-type spirit master.
The outer regions of the forest were mostly inhabited by ten-year and hundred-year spirit beasts. To hunt 5000-year or even older spirit beasts, they had to venture into the middle or even the core areas of the forest.
After most of the day, they had already ventured deep into the Sunset Forest. They had encountered many spirit beasts, but none suitable so far.
They took a short rest at noon and continued exploring in the afternoon. As dusk approached and the sun disappeared below the horizon, the moon began to rise.
A distant howl echoed through the forest!
Zhu Zhuqing immediately became alert and moved toward the source of the howl. Soon, she spotted the creature making the sound.
On a hillside stood a giant wolf with silver-white fur. Its body was over two meters long, and its shoulder height exceeded one meter. It seemed to resonate with the moon in the sky, its body glowing with a silvery light.
"A Moon Howler Wolf!"
Zhu Zhuqing recognized the spirit beast and quickly returned to report its presence to Chen Yuan, Dugu Yan, and Ning Rongrong.
After listening to Zhu Zhuqing's report, Chen Yuan said:
"From what Zhuqing described, it's at least a 4500-year Moon Howler Wolf. Moon Howler Wolves can absorb lunar energy to enhance their attacks during battle. Rongrong, it seems your fourth spirit ring has been found. Zhuqing, lead the way. Let's go."
Zhu Zhuqing responded without hesitation:
"Alright!"
She then took the lead.
Chen Yuan, Dugu Yan, and Ning Rongrong followed closely behind. Ning Rongrong's eyes sparkled with excitement. Her first three spirit rings enhanced strength, speed, and spirit power, respectively. A fourth spirit ring that enhanced attack power would be perfect. For her fifth and sixth spirit rings, she could focus on defense and attributes.
Soon, under Zhu Zhuqing's guidance, Chen Yuan, Dugu Yan, and Ning Rongrong also saw the Moon Howler Wolf standing on the hillside.
At the same time, the Moon Howler Wolf noticed the four uninvited guests.
"Roar!"
The Moon Howler Wolf let out a fierce roar, its beastly eyes fixed on the four, filled with hostility. Its fur bristled, and a layer of lunar energy enveloped its body, significantly boosting its aura. It seemed ready to attack at any moment.
After a quick assessment, Chen Yuan determined the spirit beast's approximate age:
"About 4800 years. It's perfect for a fourth spirit ring. Rongrong, focus on boosting Zhuqing. Zhuqing, try to see if you can severely injure it on your own. With us here, you don't need to worry about anything else."
Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing immediately agreed:
"Alright!"
(End of Chapter)
Word Count : 1,229
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