It was Wu Qi's first time entering a Spirit Beast forest. His eyes were filled with anticipation and longing for his first Spirit Ring.
For the first Spirit Ring, choosing one around four hundred years, reaching the absorption limit for a first ring was crucial for absorbing higher-year Spirit Rings in the future.
If the first Spirit Ring were only ten years old, then absorbing a thousand-year Spirit Ring as the third ring would be extremely dangerous.
Wu Qi understood the importance of physical training. Even when he was neglected in the Wu family residence, he never stopped training. It could be said that he had long prepared himself to absorb the best possible first Spirit Ring.
Inside Sunset Forest, one tall and one small figure moved through the outer region.
A Spirit Beast forest was a lawless place. One had to guard not only against attacks from Spirit Beasts but also against human Spirit Masters.
However, in the face of absolute strength, such concerns meant little.
Along the way, they encountered criminals blocking their path and suffered sneak attacks from Spirit Beasts.
Each time, Azure Luan Douluo resolved the situation with ease. Afterward, he calmly discussed key points of hunting Spirit Beasts with Wu Qi, as if nothing significant had happened. To him, these were minor incidents. But for Wu Qi, who had never witnessed such bloody scenes before, it was deeply unsettling.
"You'll get used to it after a few more times," Azure Luan Douluo said evenly, handing him a handkerchief and a bottle of water.
"The people you encountered today can barely be considered the 'better' kind among the wicked. In the future, you will meet those truly evil. Their methods are far more disturbing."
Wu Qi took some time to recover before looking into the distance.
In this world, cultivation and strength came first. The strong could decide the life and death of the weak at will.
For some twisted individuals, the dying cries of the weak were nothing more than entertainment.
To establish himself on the Douluo Continent, the first step was to become a Spirit Master. Only by growing stronger step by step could he avoid becoming prey for others.
One day later.
Wu Qi was still a child. His stamina could not compare to that of a Titled Douluo.
When he grew tired, Azure Luan Douluo let him rest beneath a large tree.
About five minutes later, a sharp cry echoed from the sky.
Azure Luan Douluo suddenly looked up and smiled. "Xiao Qi, it's fortunate we didn't move forward. Otherwise, we would have missed this one."
The cry came from a Windcloud Crane Spirit Beast, about four hundred years old, perfectly suited as a first Spirit Ring.
Once a Windcloud Crane surpasses fifty thousand years, it can easily stir the winds and clouds of an entire region.
A Spirit Beast capable of reaching such a level must possess an exceptionally strong bloodline, especially the outstanding ones among them.
For Wu Qi at this stage, a Spirit Ring from a Windcloud Crane would be highly beneficial.
With that thought, Azure Luan Douluo leaped into the air. "Xiao Qi, wait here."
As his words fell, he shot upward.
Wu Qi looked up.
Against a mere four-hundred-year Spirit Beast, there was no possibility of failure for a Titled Douluo.
Looking at this master he had known for only a day, Wu Qi felt conflicted.
Aside from blood relations, the bond between master and disciple was among the most solid. Yet having just accepted him as a disciple, no master would immediately place complete trust in him.
Azure Luan Douluo likely did not see him as merely a disciple, but as a successor to cultivate.
The Azure Luan martial spirit was a legendary divine bird. Its appearance once was already rare; a second occurrence would be nearly impossible.
In a sense, they were kindred spirits.
In a blur of motion, Azure Luan Douluo returned to the ground, holding the Windcloud Crane.
From the moment he acted to his return, only few seconds had passed. This was the speed of a Titled Douluo.
"I've already demonstrated how to absorb a Spirit Ring. Now, it's time for you to absorb yours."
Azure Luan Douluo brushed the dust from his clothes and casually tossed a sharp dagger to Wu Qi.
Wu Qi caught it. As the blade left its sheath, it gleamed coldly in the sunlight.
Taking a deep breath, he approached the Windcloud Crane and, following the position Azure Luan Douluo had shown him, ended its life with a single strike.
Blood splashed across his face, and the metallic scent filled the air.
Before, Wu Qi would have felt sick.
After Azure Luan Douluo's deliberate exposure training, he was now able to endure the sight of blood.
He looked at his master with gratitude.
Azure Luan Douluo simply waved a hand lazily. "Absorb the Spirit Ring quickly. Once we return to the Spirit Hall, your true cultivation will begin."
Wu Qi nodded solemnly. Sitting cross-legged, he guided the Spirit Ring and attached it to his martial spirit.
Absorbing a Spirit Ring below ten thousand years would not cause spiritual backlash; one only needed to withstand the pressure contained within the ring.
A four-hundred-year Spirit Ring was still somewhat beyond the limit for a six-year-old.
The surge of spirit power twisted Wu Qi's expression in pain.
Standing guard beside him, Azure Luan Douluo's relaxed expression disappeared as he watched every movement closely.
"Will he succeed?"
Absorbing a four-hundred-year Spirit Ring as the first ring was not without precedent on the Douluo Continent. However, those who succeeded had usually undergone six months to one year of Spirit Master training beforehand.
In contrast, Wu Qi had no prior experience in Spirit Master cultivation.
There was an element of risk in Azure Luan Douluo's decision. If Wu Qi succeeded, the benefits to his future would be immense.
Even if he failed, Azure Luan Douluo was confident he could interrupt the absorption without causing serious harm.
In any case, Wu Qi was his only true kindred spirit in this world. He would not abandon him.
Even in failure, he would find a way to repair any damage to Wu Qi's talent.
Time passed slowly.
For both master and disciple, each moment felt unusually long.
Fortunately, after about two hours, Wu Qi's condition gradually stabilized. The remaining process would proceed without incident.
Azure Luan Douluo finally relaxed. He took out a blanket from his storage spirit tool, spread it on the ground, lay down, and closed his eyes to rest.
By evening, Wu Qi opened his eyes. A yellow Spirit Ring shone beneath his feet.
"So this is the power of a Spirit Ring?" Feeling the change in his strength, he could not hide his excitement.
His power had increased several times over compared to before.
When a Spirit Ring's power merged with a Spirit Master's body, the enhancement was tremendous.
"What is your Spirit Skill?" Azure Luan Douluo asked casually.
Wu Qi turned toward him.
Since entering the forest, not a speck of dust had touched Azure Luan Douluo's clothes. Now he was even lying on a blanket. Did he dislike dirt?
Wu Qi did not dwell on it and instead demonstrated his Spirit Skill.
"First Spirit Skill — Wind-Control Flying Blades."
The Azure Luan martial spirit flapped its wings, stirring a powerful gust.
A pair of azure wings released countless feather blades that shot forward.
The trees ahead were easily cut down in a wide swath.
Azure Luan Douluo nodded. "It is somewhat forceful at this stage, but this Spirit Skill is only a foundation. If you develop it into a self-created Spirit Skill in the future, its power will increase significantly."
Based on the abilities granted by Spirit Rings, a Spirit Master could cultivate self-created Spirit Skills.
Because the insights gained from a Spirit Ring made such techniques easier to develop than creating them entirely from scratch.
Moreover, the power of a self-created Spirit Skill would continue to grow alongside the Spirit Master's strength.
An attack like a storm of blades would only become more formidable as his cultivation improved.
"Master, I'm not finished yet," Wu Qi reminded him.