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"Smack."
The Grand Elder's palm lightly pressed on Chen Yi's shoulder, and a surge of pure spirit power, like a warm current, flowed into his body.
His originally somewhat sluggish spirit power instantly became fluid again.
Gazing at the young man who was meditating with closed eyes, a hint of satisfaction flashed in the Grand Elder's eyes.
For an ordinary Spirit Grandmaster to challenge a 1,500-year-old Wind Baboon in their first battle was already a choice far beyond the norm.
But Chen Yi was different; a Divine Rank Spirit, Innate Rank 20 spirit power, and a thousand-year first spirit ring—he had pushed the "stats" for a Spirit Master's beginning to the extreme.
With such a Foundation, battling a thousand-year Spirit Beast should have been an evenly matched situation.
Yet, Chen Yi had defeated the Wind Baboon without even using his Innate Domain, which still exceeded the Grand Elder's expectations.
After all, it was his first real combat experience.
Even with extensive sparring experience within the Sect, to remain calm in the face of a live, ferocious Spirit Beast showed a Mind that was already excellent.
It was just that compared to children like Chen Zhen, who had grown up scrambling in the outside world, Chen Yi ultimately lacked some ruthlessness—the comfort of being born in the Sect had, in the end, deprived him of the desperate sharpness of those from "impoverished backgrounds."
However, these were not major issues.
The Great Spirit Arena wasn't just for show; a few life-and-death matches there would suffice.
If that wasn't enough, weren't those non-humans in the Yuntian Mountain Range saved for this very purpose?
After a while, Chen Yi, who had finished his meditation, slowly stood up and looked at the Grand Elder, saying, "Next time, before you start fighting, can you find another place? This campsite took us a long time to find."
The Grand Elder merely said indifferently, "In this kind of place, you currently can't kill a thousand-year Spirit Beast.
After all, your Realm is there; defeating it is no problem, but killing it is impossible."
The Grand Elder's meaning was clear: since you can't kill it, why worry?
So, he had just let that Wind Baboon escape.
Although the Spirit Beasts in this mixed zone generally had average cultivation, there were still many Spirit Beasts with top Bloodlines gathered here, and a slight oversight could still be very troublesome.
Looking at the rising bonfire, Chen Yi walked over and added a few dry branches, then took out pre-prepared dishes from his spirit tool, carefully placing them near the fire to heat.
The orange-red firelight illuminated his slightly helpless profile, diluting some of the tension from the recent combat.
"Your Foundation is solid, your Spirit Ability execution is smooth, and everything looks without flaws," the Grand Elder's voice was gentle as a breeze through the forest, yet carried an undeniable seriousness.
"But you lack a certain ruthlessness of 'not just distinguishing superiority, but also deciding life and death.' In daily sparring within the Sect, you can handle things with ease, but when it comes to facing an enemy in a life-or-death struggle, this habit of 'holding back' will sooner or later become your fatal flaw."
Chen Yi took the black steamed bun; a rough texture met his fingertips.
He lowered his head, looking at the fine lines on the bun's surface, and pursed his lips noncommittally.
How could he not understand his own shortcomings?
No one in this world is born cold-blooded and bloodthirsty.
Those ruthless individuals who can later treat life as expendable are mostly forged in the tempering of blood and fire, where reality grinds away all hesitation and weakness.
It's like many people say, 'Give me a truth, and I'll blast so-and-so to bits.' Everyone can brag, but when it comes to actually doing it, that's another story.
Of course, perhaps some people are limited by rules, and in a different environment, they would definitely be a formidable figure.
But such people are few and far between.
Although Chen Yi had already undergone corresponding education on the Douluo Continent, the thoughts of his previous life were still deeply rooted in his heart.
However, this problem did not overly discourage Chen Yi; instead, it made him even more clear-headed.
He looked at the crackling bonfire and recalled what his father had once told him: compared to his grandparents' and parents' generations, who were born during the Body Sect's low point, their generation's life could practically be called "comfortable."
These new generations, from birth, had the protection of Sect powerhouses, careful guidance from elders for their Spirit Abilities, and resources supplied by the Sect as needed, never truly experiencing the taste of "loss."
"Your Legacy Spirit Abilities are practiced better than mine back then," his father had patted his shoulder, his tone filled with relief, yet also hiding a hint of worry.
"But if we were to go back to my age before I Awakened my Spirit, you might win if we sparred; however, in a life-and-death battle, you would definitely lose."
It wasn't just Chen Yi; this was almost a common ailment among the new generation of the Body Sect: growing up in a greenhouse, without undergoing the baptism of blood and fire, they possessed high Realms but their practical combat ability always lagged.
It was precisely for this reason that nowadays, as soon as the younger Disciples in the Sect obtained their first spirit ring, they would be "thrown" into the Great Spirit Arena, where, through repeated real battles, their "delicacy" would be worn away, and the "ruthlessness" in their bones would be forced out.
He suddenly remembered a scene from two years ago: his third uncle's Eldest Paternal Aunt, upon obtaining her first spirit ring, excitedly ran to show off to their group of peers, a faint spirit ring glow condensing on her fingertips, her eyes curved in a smile.
But less than a day later, she "mysteriously disappeared." No one in the Sect said where she had gone, until three months later, his cousin reappeared before everyone.
At that time, she had shed her former charm, her eyes had become sharp as knives, and even when merely standing casually, she carried a subtle aura of killing intent; her entire demeanor was completely different from before.
As he was thinking, the Grand Elder beside him had already opened the lid of a pre-prepared meal box, and a rich meaty aroma instantly permeated the air.
He picked up a black steamed bun, took a big bite, and mumbled indistinctly while chewing, "In the coming days, as long as we haven't found a suitable Spirit Beast for you, you'll have to go deep into the forest every day to defeat, or even kill, three thousand-year Spirit Beasts."
"Remember two points: first, no using your Domain; second, you must end the battle within a hundred Moves, and the fewer Moves, the better."
At this point, the Grand Elder stopped chewing, his gaze suddenly becoming sharp, looking directly at Chen Yi: "I hope that before we leave the Star Dou Great Forest, you can compress this time to within fifty Moves."
Chen Yi's heart tightened; he naturally understood the Grand Elder's intention.
His previous encounter with that Wind Baboon seemed to have been won in just a few Moves, but he himself knew the element of luck involved.
Firstly, the Wind Baboon, sensing his Spirit Grandmaster aura, became complacent.
Secondly, with the Grand Elder backing him up, the Wind Baboon was wary and had no intention of fighting, instinctively wanting to flee the area.
If the scenario were different, without the Grand Elder by his side, and the Wind Baboon fighting with full strength, even if he could win, he would never be able to defeat the opponent within a hundred Moves, let alone kill it.
Clenching the black steamed bun in his hand, Chen Yi took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "Disciple understands!"
The wind in the forest brushed through his hair, carrying the wild scent unique to the Spirit Beast forest, as if foretelling that in the days to come, a series of tempering through blood and fire was about to begin.