Chapter 7

The spirit rings I have now gave me support, mental attacks and agility. There will be a time where I can't rely on sneak attacks and fight one on one against someone. I might be weak in direct attacks because I lack that sort of skill. I need an ability that will cover that weakness for me. Not to mention, my divine eyes still doesn't have any rings. I didn't really need to worry about it because the eyes itself already has great skills without rings.

For now, I just need to focus on my tool spirit. Something I can use to take on opponents head on and implement into my combat style at the same time. My light and shadow abilities won't fit. I need to think out of the box. Once I find it, it might become my trump card. I decided to leave immediately the next morning because I can't waste anymore time.

The next morning~

After changing into a suitable outfit, I activated my storage ring and took what I needed such as blanket, books and cooking utensils. I used Shadow walk to travel because it is faster and more efficient. Though it does drain some spirit energy from me. It only took me an hour to reach Star Dou forest. The place I practically lived in for years and the forest that is brimming with spirit beasts.

Since no one was around, Lei could come out from my body. The only time he ever came out was either in my dorm room or whenever we're alone.

"Lei, I'm looking for a spirit ring that can give me an attack ability. Do you know any good spirit beast?"

[According to the young master's fighting techniques and style, I suggest you try a spirit beast of the wind element.]

"Wind, huh. I'll give it some thought. It's a good idea. Wind is versatile and fast, suitable for me."

[If young master is looking for a strong wind element spirit beast, I have someone in mind.]

"Someone?"

Timeskip~

I had been traveling for a good days on foot. Lei told me nothing of our destination, neither the place or how ling it will take. All he said was to keep walking in a certain direction. During the day, I would walk non stop except for certain food breaks in between the hours of trekking. During the night, I would sleep and recover my mentality and physical body. Whenever I run into a spirit beast, I would hide in the shadow realm and wait for it to go away or pop out somewhere further away as fighting it would only waste my time and energy.

It was only during the evening of the 4th day that....

[Young master, we've arrived.]

"This is...."

I pushed away some branches and the scenery beyond was astonishing. There was a tall complex waterfall with clear water falling from rock to rock before landing in the little serene lake. The spirit energy here was calming and dense. The light from the sun reflected in the waters sparkle and shimmers, making it look as if covered in stars. I head over to the lake and used my water bag to collect the water.

{ Who goes there? }

A voice appeared.....it was different from Lei's but also similar. It was a bit more child-like and lighter than Lei's.

{ How dare a mere human enter my territory? Do you wish to die!} The voice gradually became more menacing and hostile.

[ Don't talk down on my young master, Feng.]

Feng? Does Lei know him?

{Lei? The divine spirit of lightning? What are you doing here? In this world?}

[I'm a spirit guide now and this is my master.]

{Hah! How the mighty have fallen! For a divine spirit to become something as lowly as a guide for a human even.}

[My young master is ,by all means, not different from those weak creatures.]

'I mean...I know I'm a half spirit beast but do remember that I was a former full blooded human in my past life.'

{ Humans are all weak! They are also vicious murderers! How many young little beasts have fallen!}

[Calm down. For now, why don't you show yourself. Or are you shy?]

{Hah! Who's shy!! Your the one that's shy! Your whole family is shy!!!} A ball of bright emerald green light appeared above the little lake and morphed into the figure of a human body.

Once the light calmed down, I see a boy no taller than four feet was floating. He had light green hair and emerald eyes. A child?

{Who are you calling a child!!!}

"My apologies, did I say that out loud?"

{Your a child!! Your whole family are children!!}

"....."

[Now that we can meet face to face. I have a favor to ask of you.]

{Favor? What is it?}

[My young master is looking for a spirit ring. It has been decided that he will get a wind element beast as his ring. I want you to become his third essence and fourth spirit ring.]

{....you're joking, right?}

[No, I am not joking.]

{NO!! Never!! Absolutely not!! Not even in your dreams!!!}

[I'd figure you'd reject. If I recall, about fifty thousand years ago, you owed me a favor. It's time to pay up.]

{T-this and that are completely different matters. Favor? What favor? I don't know any favors?}

[Instead of outright rejecting it, think about it, you have been in this world for hundreds of Thousands of years. Your chances of become a divine spirit and ascending is low and decreasing by the years. If you become his spirit essence and he ascends to godhood, you can become a true divine being.]

{...is that possible...?} the boy lowered his head, allowing his bangs to cover his eyes.

[Yes, that is possible.]

{How likely is he to ascend?}

[ With the speed of his progression, I can assure you that the percentage of him becoming god is ,at least, 50.]

{Humans are weak beings...How can they ever become something as great as a god?}

[They are weak yet strong. Their constant evolution is astounding. Among these people, my young master is a different matter entirely. He was someone who was acknowledged by a high rank god and given the chance of living a new life.]

{A reincarnator?!}

[Not to mention that he also received 3 gifts from the gods.]

{3!!}

[ His future will definitely be limitless. Isn't this a good chance to obtain enlightenment. Isn't becoming a divine spirit your dream and goal? It's not like you have any other option, other than dying here in this world.]

{...I understand. I'll agree to become his third essence. You better be honored that I'm lending you my power!!} the boy points his finger at me.

".....I'm grateful..."

{What's with that tone!!!}

[Please get on with the fusing.]

{You two!!!}

Time skip ~

{I will be fusing you with my spirit bone and making an unofficial contract with you at the same time with Lei as the supervisor.}

"Pardon me for asking but how old are you?"

{Me? Hehehe, be bewildered for I am 550,000 years old!}

"Is being old something you should be proud off?"

{Oi! Age means power for spirit beasts! It's just you humans who have short lifespans!}

"Lei, is it really alright for me to absorb him? Won't it be strange for me to possess a 550,000 year old spirit ring?"

{Don't ignore me!!}

[Since you're making a contract, you should be capable of changing the people's perception of the ring as you please. Just like how people can't see me without your consent.]

"Is that so? But last time you were against me absorbing a 100,000 year old ring so why now?"

[Young master was still too young and weak then. Now that you're spirit level has risen to 40, I believe you should be able to withstand the pressure. A part of Feng will be taken into your Yin and Yang daggers and evolve them. The second part will become your third essence.]

"Evolve? Is there such a thing?"

{There is. It's just that you humans haven't discovered it. Not that they're even close to it.}

[Enough questions. Time to start the contract. Young master, please get into the lotus position.]

I did as Lei told and sat cross-legged and closed my eyes as if I was about to cultivate. I didn't know what was happening but all of the sudden I felt an unfamiliar energy enter me.

[Young master, if you can hear me, please absorb that energy.]

I attempted to take in the energy and merge it with me. But little did I know this was just the calm before the storm.

I didn't know what had happened but my mind is in chaos. The different spirit energies within me are colliding and clashing against each other. I feel like I'm about to be split in half. I knew I had to somehow make them integrate and harmonize together but it was extremely difficult as they are almost completely different. The pressure from the impact was messing with my body and mind. This will definitely not be smooth sailing.

Stage 2 has started. Things are calming down but the different energies are still separated. Within the clashing, I could see a new energy was being made. It was small, almost unnoticeable but it was definitely there.

[Young master, if you see that new energy source, you must get a hold of it and bond yourself with it. That is your new Martial soul. You have to connect it with your soul.]

'My new Martial Soul?'

After grasping that energy, I could feel that it was struggling to get out like how a cat would react to a stranger. It doesn't seem like it would go down easily so I have to somehow coax it. Releasing what's left over from my power, I slowly allowed it to familiarize itself with my energy. Bit by bit, it stopped struggling, taking advantage of that I took in the energy into my soul and merged with it. Once I and the energy source became one, my consciousness entered into slumber out of exhaustion. I was so tired that I didn't realize that my Martial Soul was changing and becoming stronger alongside me.

3rd pov

Lei and Feng were watching from the outside world. Feng had sent his energy into the boy, ready to be absorbed. It was difficult as the spirit energy in the boy would not accept him, thus, the continuous clashing and collisions happening in his mind. The body of Shen Yin was sweating profusely and he was frowning.

{What a stubborn energy! It's already their good luck having me support them and yet it's trying to throw me out!!}

[Well, it probably feels that you're invading them and stealing the host.]

{Do they think I'm some sort of unscrupulous thief!!!}

[Oh, a new energy source is forming. That's the one the young master must aim. I'll send him a message.]

{Did he get it?} the wind spirit asked, feeling that the boy's martial soul was relaxing all of the sudden.

[Seems like the second step is a success. Now for him to take in that energy.]

An hour passed...

[The third stage is nor completed.]

{The contract can be made now right?}

[Yes, I shall start.] Lei chanted some unknown language as a circle glowed underneath them. Using his sharp claws, Lei prickled the boy's finger and allowed a single drop of blood to fall on the circle.

The wind spirit then shone brightly before turning into a ball of light and entered the boy's body completely.

[Both parties have accepted the bond. Contract Confirmed. The young master is truly fortunate, who would've thought that he himself would forcefully activate his own potential through sheer willpower and persistence.]

Lei observed as his young master be wrapped in an orb like a caterpillar in a cocoon, protected by a mini cyclone, preventing anyone from going any closer. The cyclone seem to be acting as a shield protecting the boy from the outside world.