Breaking through the surface of the water, Chen Yuan gasped for air. Although he could hold his breath for a long time by circulating spirit power through his body, breathing was still the quickest way to regulate his energy.
He swam to the shore, climbed up, put on his clothes, and fastened his storage soul tool before walking out.
When he saw Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan, the two seemed to be discussing a type of poison.
Chen Yuan walked over, not interrupting their discussion, but they stopped anyway.
Dugu Bo, with his keen senses, clearly felt that Chen Yuan now resembled a bottomless black hole. Just standing there casually, he was drawing in the surrounding energy of heaven and earth, which swirled into his body like a vortex.
This was extraordinary. This ability was typically only seen in Titled Douluos—solidified spirit power that continuously attracted external energy to speed up recovery and maintain peak condition.
Dugu Bo said with certainty:
"It seems you've successfully refined that black pearl from the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, and your gains are substantial."
Chen Yuan smiled and nodded:
"Indeed, my spirit power has increased by two levels. I'm now at the 57th rank, and I've also gained some new abilities."
Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan both gasped in shock. Chen Yuan had just become a Spirit King and was already at the 57th rank. It was almost certain that within two years, he would become a Spirit Emperor—a fifteen-year-old Spirit Emperor.
This was a staggering achievement. Tang Hao, once hailed as the fastest to break through, had only become a Spirit Emperor in his late twenties. Qin Ming, currently regarded as the second fastest, had achieved it around the age of thirty.
The gap between people was even greater than the gap between humans and spirit beasts.
Dugu Yan then asked curiously:
"New abilities? Did refining that pearl give you a new spirit bone skill, like refining a spirit bone?"
Chen Yuan shook his head and explained:
"Not exactly. It's not a skill, but it has infinite potential. I've currently mastered the attributes of wind and thunder. With more practice, I can create my own skills. For example…"
As he spoke, Chen Yuan raised his hand and grabbed at the air. The invisible wind became tangible in his grasp. With a flick of his finger, he released the wind he had gathered:
"A little trick—Wind Binding."
The invisible wind shot forward at incredible speed, wrapping around Dugu Yan in layers. Her body stiffened as she was bound.
But with a snap of Chen Yuan's fingers, the wind binding Dugu Yan quietly dissipated.
After personally experiencing what Chen Yuan called a "little trick," Dugu Yan said with a strange expression:
"That's a little trick? The suddenness of that attack left me no time to react, and its power was no less than a thousand-year spirit skill from a control-type Spirit King. This is the power of wind. Can you also control thunder?"
Chen Yuan demonstrated again, this time with his palm facing upward. A bright white light appeared, crackling with arcs of electricity. With a forward push, a bolt of lightning shot from his palm and struck a nearby rock.
With a loud boom, the rock, as large as a person, shattered into large pieces.
"That's how it is. I can control wind and thunder, but these are just little tricks. They're not enough to deal with truly powerful opponents. Right now, I don't have the time to develop attribute-based self-created spirit skills."
"Most of my time is spent cultivating spirit power. In the future, when I have more time, I might be able to combine these attributes to create some powerful self-created spirit skills."
Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan looked at Chen Yuan as if he were a monster. They had never seen such a monstrous Spirit King.
Soon, Dugu Bo spoke again:
"Yesterday, your teacher breaking through to the 97th rank shocked me. Today, you refining the black pearl from the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger has shocked me again. I plan to continue my seclusion. What are your plans?"
Chen Yuan thought for a moment, then smiled:
"First, I'll return to the academy. The Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Competition is coming up soon. Although I'm not participating, that won't stop me from watching the excitement. I'll take a few days to rest, then focus on cultivating to break through to the 60th rank as soon as possible and absorb my sixth spirit ring."
Since Chen Yuan was returning to the academy, Dugu Yan would go with him. Dugu Bo gave his granddaughter a few more words of advice before watching Chen Yuan and Dugu Yan leave.
Finally, Dugu Bo returned to his cultivation. After witnessing and experiencing so much, he had even more motivation to grow stronger.
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Meanwhile, when Chen Yuan and Dugu Yan returned to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, it was already dusk, and the sky was growing dark.
Returning to their residence, they happened to find Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing, who had just finished their day's training and were preparing to wash up and rest.
As Chen Yuan entered the room, he smiled at them and said:
"We're back."
Just those words made the two girls happy. They quickly put down what they were doing and came over to ask about Chen Yuan's situation.
Ning Rongrong said with envy:
"Brother Chen Yuan, Sister Yan Yan, congratulations! You're both Spirit Kings now. Zhu Zhuqing and I don't know how long it will take us to reach that level."
Zhu Zhuqing also looked longing:
"While you were away hunting spirit beasts, Rongrong and I have been working hard every day. We won't hold you back for too long."
Dugu Yan, hearing the envy in their voices, glanced at Chen Yuan and said:
"Catching up to Chen Yuan will be difficult for you. I absorbed a ten-thousand-year spirit beast and, with my previous accumulation, am now around the 52nd rank. Chen Yuan absorbed a fifty-thousand-year spirit beast and is now at the 57th rank. He's already approaching the 60th rank bottleneck."
Shock!
Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing both opened their mouths wide, their eyes filled with astonishment. This was monstrous. He wasn't human.
A thirteen-year-old at the 57th rank—even if this were spread, no one would believe it.
Seeing their reactions, Chen Yuan, though enjoying the feeling, thought for a moment. He closed the door and brought Dugu Yan, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing inside, saying:
"There's no need to envy me. I'll help you improve quickly too. Rongrong, the Seven Treasure Glazed Lily you consumed has a complementary immortal herb—the Eight Petal Immortal Orchid. Zhu Zhuqing, the Water Jade Bone you consumed also has a complementary immortal herb—the Chrysanthemum of Heavenly Radiance. Although these herbs complement each other, consuming them back-to-back would be a burden on your bodies since you've already eaten immortal herbs."
"But once you become Spirit Kings and your bodies and souls mature, and the effects of the first immortal herb have mostly taken hold, you should be able to consume the second herb. It might even enhance the absorption of the first."
Hearing this, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing's eyes shone with various emotions—gratitude, admiration, affection… If Chen Yuan said it, it must be true. This meant they still had a chance to catch up to him.
At this moment, Chen Yuan turned to Dugu Yan. She had given so much, and he owed her something in return:
"Yan Yan, the Lovesick Heartbroken Red you consumed also has a complementary immortal herb—the Crystal Blood Ginseng. Coincidentally, I know the location of one. This herb might even trigger a second evolution of your martial soul."
Dugu Yan's eyes burned with excitement. As a descendant of the Po Clan, she knew about the complementary relationship between the Lovesick Heartbroken Red and the Crystal Blood Ginseng. Even the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye didn't have one, but Chen Yuan knew the location of a Crystal Blood Ginseng. This was of immense significance to her.
(End of Chapter)
Word Count : 1,352
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