Chapter 23: Torkoal
After 3 full days of searching through the Soul Hunting Forest, Lin Mo and Dean Wang Zongchang finally located 3 Spirit Beasts that were barely acceptable.
One was a roughly 200 year Cyndaquil, another was a nearly 400 year Torkoal, and the last was a 300 year Saber Tooth Earth Dragon.
Judging by age and attribute alone, all 3 barely matched the requirements Lin Mo had outlined earlier.
Lin Mo studied the notes he had recorded, their locations, ages, and traits, rubbing his chin in thought.
Which one should I pick?
Cyndaquil's age was the lowest, only 200 years, so it was the first to be crossed off.
The power of a Spirit Ring and the attribute boost it provided depended directly on age. If he had a choice, higher was always better.
That left Torkoal and the Saber Tooth Earth Dragon.
The name "Saber Tooth Earth Dragon" sounded fierce, and it even had the word "dragon," but Lin Mo knew its dragon bloodline was pitifully thin, almost nonexistent.
Even if he absorbed its Spirit Ring, it would barely improve Charmander's bloodline quality.
By contrast, Torkoal was not only the oldest, close to 400 years, but based on Lin Mo's observations, it also possessed an innate ability similar to Sunny Day.
That possibility made his heart race.
Sunny Day altered the weather in an area and greatly amplified fire type moves. If Charmander gained something like that, the boost in strength would be enormous.
Even if Sunny Day did not appear, Torkoal was still a pure fire type Spirit Beast of excellent quality.
Absorbing its Spirit Ring would at least grant a strong fire type Spirit Ability. There was no downside.
With that, Lin Mo made up his mind.
He looked up at Dean Wang Zongchang, who had been patiently waiting beside him.
"Dean, I've decided. I'll take the nearly 400 year Torkoal."
Wang Zongchang smiled slightly, not surprised, and nodded.
"Good age, matching attribute, an excellent choice. Let's move. Hopefully it hasn't wandered off."
Following the markers they had left, the 2 headed toward a section of the Soul Hunting Forest thick with dark brown dwarf shrubs.
Torkoal were homebodies with small territories. It did not take long before they spotted it again near a dry slope backed by rocks.
The Spirit Beast lay there, slowly chewing red moss flecked with embers.
Its shell was dull black, streaked with glowing orange red lines like banked coals, radiating faint heat.
"That's the one." Wang Zongchang lowered his voice. "Stay here. Summon your Charmander for protection. I'll be right back."
Lin Mo nodded, focused, and Charmander appeared at his feet, watching the distant Torkoal warily.
Wang Zongchang stepped forward and released his Martial Soul, Blazing Sabre.
In an instant, a scorching aura spread outward.
A crimson long blade, as if forged from solid flame, formed in his grip.
At the same time, 2 yellow and 2 purple Spirit Rings rose from beneath his feet and circled rhythmically.
Those 4 rings, especially the 2 purple millennium rings, radiated terrifying pressure.
Watching them spin, Lin Mo could not help marveling.
The dean should be around Yu Xiaogang's age, yet he looked noticeably younger.
More importantly, his Spirit Power was a genuine 4 ring Spirit Ancestor, and he still had room to grow.
Reaching 6 ring Spirit Emperor might be difficult, but stepping into 5 ring Spirit King was entirely possible.
Compared to Yu Xiaogang, who was stuck forever at Rank 29, the dean's future was bright.
While Lin Mo was still watching, Wang Zongchang acted.
His third Spirit Ring, the purple millennium one, flared.
"Third Spirit Ability, Blazing Slash!"
The Blazing Sabre blazed with red light. A crescent blade of fire shot out and struck the Torkoal, which had already sensed danger and retreated into its shell.
Boom.
The fire arc slammed into the shell with a heavy thud.
Torkoal were known for defense, but in front of a Spirit Ancestor's strike, its protection still cracked.
Moreover, Wang Zongchang's fire type Blazing Sabre suppressed Torkoal's own flames.
A deep crack split the shell, fragments flying.
Torkoal screamed in pain, its aura weakening rapidly.
Seeing that, Wang Zongchang followed up with several more strikes, completely smashing through its defense.
Satisfied, he withdrew his blade. The Spirit Rings faded, and he waved Lin Mo over.
"Alright, Lin Mo, bring your Charmander. It's mortally wounded and defenseless now. The rest is up to you."
Lin Mo hurried over with Charmander.
Up close, the damage was clear. Through the shattered shell, they could even glimpse the faint flicker of its heart.
"Charmander, strike that wound!" Lin Mo ordered.
Charmander growled. Its short forelimbs extended as it quietly activated Metal Claw.
This time, the power of Metal Claw was kept internal, invisible to onlookers.
It leapt forward. Its claws slid precisely along the crack the dean had opened, then plunged into the wound.
Shhk.
A soft sound followed. Torkoal let out a final faint cry, then its life faded completely.
A moment later, a bright yellow Spirit Ring rose from its body, pulsing with gentle yet powerful energy.
A 100 year Spirit Ring.
Staring at this milestone, Lin Mo took a steadying breath.
He patted Charmander's head, then sat cross legged beside the corpse, adopting the cultivation posture.
Charmander mirrored him, squatting nearby, big blue eyes fixed on the yellow ring.
"Begin," Lin Mo said.
Charmander nodded, opened its mouth, and inhaled.
The 100 year Spirit Ring turned into flowing light and disappeared down Charmander's throat.
In the next instant, Lin Mo felt a torrent of energy surge through the bond between him and Charmander, flooding into his own body.
He did not dare relax. He focused completely and guided that violent energy along the pathways of the Calm Mind method.
Together with Charmander, he began refining the power brought by the Spirit Ring.
.....
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