A Thousand-Year First Spirit Ring
Yu Yuanzhen stood quietly beside the fallen corpses of two Crimson Blood Flying Dragons.
The air was still thick with the lingering scent of blood and spirit energy. The battle had ended, but its aftermath remained heavy in the forest.
Yu Xiaogang stepped forward.
His gaze fell upon the first Crimson Blood Flying Dragon.
He crouched slightly, carefully examining the spirit beast's body—the density of its scales, the fluctuations of residual energy, the faint traces left behind by its life force.
A moment later—
His brows slowly furrowed.
"…Only a little over seven hundred years."
His voice was low, but there was a clear hint of dissatisfaction.
Behind him, Yu Yuanzhen said nothing.
But when Yu Xiaogang turned to look—
He saw that his father was also frowning.
At that moment, father and son shared the same thought.
The age… was too low.
The Foundation of Strength
Ever since the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan discovered the secret of whale jelly, the family had conducted extensive testing.
Over the past two years—
Multiple disciples had consumed thousand-year whale jelly and attempted to absorb spirit rings beyond the normal limit.
The results were astonishing.
Many had successfully absorbed spirit rings exceeding five hundred years.
Some reached six hundred years.
A few even crossed into the seven-hundred-year range.
Among them, those who obtained spirit rings above seven hundred years were immediately elevated in status.
They became the pride of the clan—figures admired and surrounded by praise.
But those individuals…
Were merely ordinary disciples.
Yu Xiaogang was different.
He was the one who discovered the secret of whale jelly.
Because of this contribution, the resources he received far surpassed that of any ordinary clan member.
His treatment was equivalent to that of a Spirit Douluo.
Rare materials.
High-grade cultivation techniques.
Carefully designed training regimens.
All of it had been poured into him.
And Yu Xiaogang himself—
Had never wasted a single bit of it.
He trained diligently.
Relentlessly.
Pushing himself far beyond what others expected.
Even without whale jelly, his foundation alone was enough to support a first spirit ring of over four hundred years.
If he truly pushed himself—
He might even break the long-standing record of the Douluo Continent.
And then—
He went a step further.
With Yu Yuanzhen's help, Yu Xiaogang had consumed and refined a piece of ten-thousand-year whale jelly.
Such a foundation…
Was terrifying.
Under these circumstances—
An eight-hundred-year first spirit ring would be easily achievable.
A nine-hundred-year spirit ring?
Risky—but possible.
And yet—
Now, standing before a seven-hundred-year Crimson Blood Flying Dragon…
It felt insufficient.
Even disappointing.
A Father's Expectation
Yu Yuanzhen exhaled slowly.
"…Shall we continue searching?"
His voice carried a trace of reluctance.
As a father, he knew his son well.
Yu Xiaogang was not someone who would settle.
Not with his talent.
Not with his determination.
And certainly not with the foundation he had built.
This seven-hundred-year spirit beast—
Was not worthy of him.
Or so he believed.
But—
Yu Xiaogang's next words shattered that expectation.
"No."
Yu Xiaogang shook his head slightly.
"There's no need to continue searching."
His gaze sharpened.
"This is the one."
Yu Yuanzhen froze.
"…Are you certain?"
He frowned deeply.
"This is only a seven-hundred-year spirit beast—"
But then—
He noticed something.
Yu Xiaogang's eyes…
Were not looking at the seven-hundred-year Crimson Blood Flying Dragon.
They were fixed—
On the other one.
The one lying slightly farther away.
The one that had just crossed into—
A thousand years.
A Shocking Decision
Yu Yuanzhen's pupils shrank.
"You… you want to absorb that one?"
His voice rose sharply.
Before Yu Xiaogang could respond—
"No!"
"Absolutely not!"
Yu Yuanzhen stepped forward immediately, his tone firm and unyielding.
"A thousand-year first spirit ring?! What are you thinking?!"
His words came rapidly, like a barrage.
"Even with your body strengthened by ten-thousand-year whale jelly…"
"Even if you could push toward nine hundred years…"
"A thousand years is completely different!"
He pointed toward the fallen spirit beast.
"Don't be fooled by the difference of a mere hundred years between nine hundred and one thousand!"
"Their essence is fundamentally different!"
"The impact of a thousand-year spirit ring far exceeds anything below it!"
"Even with your current physique…"
"You would not be able to withstand it!"
His voice grew heavier with each sentence.
This wasn't just concern.
It was fear.
Because what Yu Xiaogang was proposing…
Was no longer a challenge.
It was courting death.
Unwavering Resolve
Yu Xiaogang listened quietly.
From beginning to end—
His expression did not change.
Only after Yu Yuanzhen finished speaking did he finally respond.
"Father… I understand."
"I know the difference between a thousand-year spirit ring and a hundred-year spirit ring."
"I also know the risks."
His voice was calm.
But steady.
Unshakable.
"But…"
He raised his head, meeting his father's gaze directly.
"Isn't the path of a Spirit Master always like this?"
"If there is no risk…"
"How can one become stronger?"
Yu Yuanzhen fell silent.
"I have poor talent," Yu Xiaogang continued.
"If I want to stand among the strong…"
"I must take risks others would never dare to take."
Each word carried weight.
Each sentence struck like a hammer.
A Father's Fear
Yu Yuanzhen's expression darkened.
He understood risk.
More than anyone.
As someone who had climbed to the level of a Titled Douluo, he had faced countless life-and-death situations.
Every spirit ring he absorbed—
Had been chosen at the very edge of his limits.
But this—
This was different.
A thousand-year second spirit ring?
Perhaps imaginable.
But a thousand-year first spirit ring?
That was something the Douluo Continent had never seen.
Not once.
Not ever.
Even the legendary figures recorded in history—
Had never achieved such a feat.
"Still no," Yu Yuanzhen said firmly.
"It's too dangerous."
He stepped closer, placing both hands on Yu Xiaogang's shoulders.
"Xiaogang…"
His voice softened slightly.
"I know what you want."
"I know you want to prove yourself."
"I know you want to wash away the humiliation you've endured."
He looked directly into his son's eyes.
"But this time… you must listen to me."
"A thousand-year first spirit ring is impossible."
"In all the history of the Douluo Continent…"
"There has never been such a record."
"Even the Angel God worshipped by the Spirit Hall…"
"Could not have achieved this."
His grip tightened slightly.
"If even a god could not do it…"
"How can you?"
Breaking the Impossible
For a moment—
Silence.
Then—
Yu Xiaogang spoke.
"But Father…"
"Why is it that if others cannot do it…"
"…we must also believe we cannot?"
Yu Yuanzhen froze.
Yu Xiaogang's gaze burned with determination.
"The discovery of whale jelly has already pushed the limit of the first spirit ring beyond eight hundred years."
"Why must one thousand years be impossible?"
"In everything…"
"Someone has to try first."
"Only then can there be a breakthrough."
His voice grew stronger.
More resolute.
"And you said it yourself, Father."
"I am a child with poor talent."
"If I follow the same path as others…"
"I will never surpass them."
"Only by doing what others believe impossible…"
"Can I truly rise."
A Son's Promise
Yu Xiaogang took a step forward.
His voice lowered—
But became even more powerful.
"I don't want to remain mediocre."
"I don't want to live under the shadow of others' ridicule."
"I don't want people to look at you and say—"
"'That is the father of Yu Xiaogang, the useless one.'"
His fists clenched.
Instead—
"I want them to say…"
"'That is the father of Yu Xiaogang—the one who created a miracle.'"
The forest fell silent.
Even the wind seemed to pause.
Yu Yuanzhen looked at his son.
At the determination in his eyes.
At the fire that refused to be extinguished.
And in that moment—
He understood.
No matter what he said—
He could not stop him.
The Edge of Fate
A thousand-year first spirit ring.
An impossible path.
A step between genius—
And death.
Yu Yuanzhen slowly released his grip.
His expression remained heavy.
But his resistance…
Had begun to waver.
Because he knew—
Some paths…
Could not be chosen by others.
They could only be walked—
By the one who dared.
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