Finally, just past noon, as the heat began to fade, Yin Zhang completed the absorption and slowly opened his eyes.
"Hoo—finally done. It went smoothly overall, but it was a three-thousand-year spirit ring after all. It really took a long time… It's already afternoon now. I'm starving!"
He smacked his lips, stood up, and stretched comfortably. Aside from the pleasant feeling throughout his body, the strongest sensation was the hunger roaring in his stomach.
"Hungry?" Qiangu Yuan said with a chuckle. "Come eat something. I already ate half a thigh at noon. I roasted some for you too—though it might be a bit cold."
Yin Zhang glanced over.
On the campfire sat a peeled tree branch, skewering several pieces of roasted meat that still sizzled faintly.
His eyes immediately lit up.
He rushed over and took a few bites, but quickly felt something was off. Pulling out his homemade seasoning, he sprinkled it on generously before digging in again—this time with great satisfaction.
After finishing those skewers, Yin Zhang directly cut off another thigh from the Crimson Flame Roaring Tiger and roasted it on the spot using Flamethrower.
By the time he was finally full, the tiger's corpse was missing two thighs, and its soft abdomen had been torn open, leaving a bloody cavity.
"Hic—!"
Yin Zhang patted his round belly and let out a satisfied burp.
Only then did he find a rock to sit on.
"Uncle Qian Gu, how about it? Pretty impressive appetite, right?"
Qiangu Yuan stared blankly at the mangled corpse of the Crimson Flame Roaring Tiger.
"…Your appetite is way too big. Looking at your spirit, you're not a Charizard—you're a starving ghost."
Yin Zhang laughed. "That's normal. I just absorbed a spirit ring, and I haven't eaten since noon. Of course my appetite would spike."
Qiangu Yuan's mouth twitched. "I just hope Spirit Hall doesn't go bankrupt feeding you in the future."
"By the way," he continued, "what level is your spirit power now? And what does your third spirit ability do?"
Yin Zhang tapped open his attribute panel.
---
Host: Yin Zhang
Age: 10
Spirit: Charizard
Spirit Power: 33
Spirit Rings: Yellow, Purple, Purple
Spirit Abilities: Dragon Claw, Double Team, Azure Flame Shield (ring), Flamethrower, Fire Dragon Evasion Kill (ring), Dragon Tail, Crimson Flame Roar (ring)
Spirit Bone: None
Items: Charcoal (buff)
Storage: Spirit Ring Age Enhancement Card (500 years), Spirit Bone Age Enhancement Card (500 years), Holy Grail (Equipment)
---
The increase in spirit power was exactly as Yin Zhang had expected.
Absorbing a three-thousand-year spirit ring as his third ring—more than a thousand years beyond the theoretical limit—naturally granted him more growth than an average Spirit Master.
As for this new spirit ability… Crimson Flame Roar seemed to be related to sound waves?
He clicked on its description.
---
Crimson Flame Roar:
Launch a punch accompanied by the earth-shaking roar of a Crimson Flame Roaring Tiger. Targets with unstable mental fortitude will be stunned for one to two seconds. Immediately afterward, five Crimson Flame Tiger-head-shaped flames attack the enemy along irregular trajectories.
---
Yin Zhang's eyes brightened.
This ability was strong.
The roar alone could stun weaker-willed opponents for one to two seconds—and in real combat, that window was more than enough for the five flame tiger heads to land clean hits.
"Ahem," Yin Zhang said. "Uncle Qian Gu, my spirit power is now level thirty-three. My third spirit ability is called Crimson Flame Roar."
He summoned his spirit.
Charizard spread its fleshy wings and lifted into the air, one yellow and two purple spirit rings glowing beneath him.
"As for its effect…"
He didn't finish the sentence.
His third spirit ring suddenly flared.
"Watch closely, Uncle Qian Gu—this is my Third Spirit Ability!"
"Crimson Flame Roar!"
Yin Zhang threw a punch.
A thunderous tiger roar exploded through the forest.
Spirit Beasts in the surrounding area were instantly alarmed, mistaking it for the Crimson Flame Roaring Tiger reviving and preparing to hunt. Panic spread as the forest plunged into chaos, countless roars and cries echoing in response.
Even Qiangu Yuan was momentarily stunned.
Before he could fully react, Yin Zhang threw another punch.
Five head-sized flames shaped like roaring crimson tigers shot forward, slamming into the trunk of a massive tree ahead.
With a series of dull impacts, the tree was riddled with holes—its upper half turned into a honeycomb.
Yin Zhang slowed his wingbeats and descended gently, landing in front of Qiangu Yuan with a faintly proud smile.
"Uncle Qian Gu, that's the power of my Third Spirit Ability, Crimson Flame Roar. What do you think?"
Qiangu Yuan stared in shock.
"The power of this third spirit ability of yours is already stronger than the fourth spirit ability of most Spirit Ancestors!"
He shook his head in disbelief.
"Although the optimal age for a fourth ring is around five thousand years, yours is already three thousand. It's no wonder the power is this terrifying. With your current strength, even some Spirit Ancestors probably wouldn't be able to beat you."
Yin Zhang smiled calmly. "A Spirit Ancestor? At my current level, only a Spirit King is even qualified to spar with me."
Once he found a secluded place and equipped the Holy Grail, he would have attack power, spirit abilities, spirit power reserves, and endurance all covered.
At that point, even Spirit Ancestors would mean nothing.
Defeating a Spirit King would only be a matter of time—and challenging a Spirit Emperor wouldn't be impossible either.
With that in mind, Yin Zhang decided that after returning to Spirit Hall Academy, he would find a way to enter the Elite Class ahead of schedule and make a grand entrance at the Elite Tournament.
He already had the strength.
And he certainly didn't lack background.
His current teacher was the Second Consecrator, Golden Crocodile Douluo.
Uncle Qian Gu's father and uncle were the Sixth and Seventh Consecrated Elders, whose coordination in battle was flawless. When the two joined forces, only the Second Consecrator—or the High Priest Qian Daoliu himself—could rival them.
With this kind of backing, plus his own strength…
Even if Bibi Dong objected, it would mean nothing.
Entering the Elite Class would be effortless.
Using connections?
No.
He had the strength to deserve it.
Those who relied on connections without strength were the truly shameful ones.
Besides—background was also a form of strength, wasn't it?
Qiangu Yuan inwardly agreed with part of that reasoning, but still wore a disdainful expression.
"Tsk. Brat, being able to defeat a Spirit Ancestor is already impressive enough. Saying that even a Spirit King can only spar with you for a while? You really don't know how vast the world is."
---
On the other side of the Star Dou Great Forest.
Dugu Bo stood atop the head of his spirit, the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor, gazing calmly down at a seemingly ordinary poison pool.
Bubbles continued to rise and burst on its surface.
"After searching all day…" he muttered coldly.
"I finally found you."