The Rest of Rings and a Swan?

As the golden lotus was floating in the air it started to emit a golden radiance of energy, the moment the cacoon has fully formed around Xue Long body.

His followers could only watch with awe thinking what this means and which stage of meditation this was. What does it do what kind of benefits he will gain from this?

They already know that each stage makes one more and more capable in pretty much anything. But progressing through each stage takes a considerable amount of time as one needs to unravel more things about oneself.

So, seeing how the fourth Prince just advanced to the next stage is quite an eye-opening experience. 

Especially when the lotus flower each time glows it…affects them as well! It's like… it simply makes sense in what was happening! Even though they have no idea what was happening.

Eventually, the lotus flower fully bloomed and exploded into golden particles which fused with the golden cacoon.

Then the cacoon started to blink in a golden glow, beating like a heart.

"Did…his cultivation just increased?" 

"Yes. It appears so. By a rank or two. Strangely, it happened without being…" Dugu Bo looked around and realised that the area is still heavily influenced by the energies of Heaven and Earth.

But to leap a few ranks like that? Especially in the stage the prince was. This is simply absurd.

Eventually, the cacoon cracked and shattered completely. Revealing the Fourth Prince who looked identical to how he was before. Nothing has changed!

"Long! Are you alright!?" Qian Renxue used her martial spirit and floated right into him. Xue Long caught her quite easily.

He then hugged her and hold her for a few moments. The blonde angel girl used that moment to recharge her 'batteries' as well by snuggling into him. She felt positive vibes washing her over! It was amazing!

Eventually, he answered her question.

"Yes. The Golden Dragon King changing the core into his one caught me by surprise. It didn't last long though." He said that with a serious tone. 

"I see… never heard anything like this before. Not that I heard anything about Martial Spirits giving cores…

Not that Spirit Cores is something my Spirit Hall knows about…" The blonde said that with a thoughtful look. She is thinking to tell about this to her grandfather and Snake Lance will most likely tell this to THAT woman as well.

"Well, for now, let's forget about this and focus on getting rings for you and my maids." 

She slowly nodded at him. Truthfully she wants to find out more about the Spirit core. But at the moment they are in Spirit Beast forest and there will be enough time to ask him when they are back at home.

~~~

A golden beam slammed into a bird of considerable size and burn one of its wings. The blast was so powerful that the bird lost its entire wing which forced it to crash on the ground.

Qian Renxue's fifth spirit ring glowed and a holy sword appeared in her hand. She used this to kill the bird.

Moments later a black ring manifested above the dead body of the bird.

"Impressive. The power of your energy attacks has increased significantly." Dugu Bo said that as he just saw how quickly a 70 thousand-year beast has been dealt with by the Prince's casual energy attack…

The density and speed at which this energy is charged went up by quite a bit. This can be explained by increased cultivation and the creation of the core. 

Though the Poison Douluo is leaning towards Core creation. Then cultivation rank. There was that heaviness in the Spirit energy which made these attacks more deadly.

'Maybe this is what he means that I can be Assault system Spirit Master? If I make one of these cores and learn how to make these energy attacks… I could easily bypass the weaknesses of the Control System.' 

Truthfully Dugu Bo had quite a bit of time to think about this. These kids could take care of themselves quite easily…

More like the pair of Titled Douluos benefit quite a bit when they could cultivate the whole day in the Cultivation Domain and found out about the Spirt Core. Now they know how to get stronger not just by increasing their Ranks!

"Hmm. Yes. The gathering speed and compression increased significantly. Cultivation pressure helps in that. Though it's because Spirit Energy on its own was improved considerably.

I can feel that the core is improved with Heaven and Earth Energies." 

The Poison Douluo's eyes widened as he realised that this core is even better than normal which is most likely because it was created inside the Cultivation domain!

"I see… does this means this is what you meant by making me assault system Spirit Master?"

"Part of it. Just because you can make beams of energy doesn't make you Assault System Spirit Master. My idea is to help you develop martial style to fit you and your Martial Spirit." Xue Long said that with crossed arms as he watched Qian Renxue absorb her Seventh Ring.

"...Hmm… my martial arts? I assume based on snakes?"

"Yes. Na'er herself has developed spear style based on tiger lunging and hand-to-hand combat based on Dragon attacking. So you can develop one through observing snake movements and how they strike. I thought suggest watching a viper. They are more ferocious." 

Dugu Bo casually nodded he knows well enough about which snake he should observe.

"I will see, If I can find one." After saying that the man disappeared from the position to look for snakes.

Xue Long could only shake his head in amusement at how quickly he sorted it out. He knows of snake style. There was a kung-fu style on that. Though one needs extremely strong fingers or more like nails which would fit a woman's fighting style more. 

He is pretty sure he could give some tips to his granddaughter to get the style done and brought into this world.

~~~

A big rhino-like creature run into Xue Long who with one hand grabbed the front horn. The collision pushed him back several metres before the beast was stopped in its tracks.

He lifted it with one hand as the other one was gathering golden energy. The prince then pushed the spirit beats up.

The beast is that it was in trouble and started to thrash around, trying to get out of this situation.

Then the fourth prince threw the beast into the air, pointing his other hand which had gathered energy into the air and released a beam of devastating energy. 

The blast released a ton of energy which send shockwaves into all sides and slammed into the rhino which was the target of this attack.

Once the blast has settled down, the scorched-up rhino landed on the ground with a loud thud.

"He is all ready for you Na'er." Xue Long said that as he looked at the twitching rhino.

The maid quickly rushed over and stabbed the beast in its neck where the plates were the thinnest. In truth, both maids and Qian Renxue were in awe seeing how casually their prince is dealing with spirit beasts.

They didn't expect to get such a big power boost. Before he wasn't able to shoot beams so casually it would take him a long time to charge them and they were not as useful because of it.

Now however it was different, the speed of charging up increased considerably and from the looks of it, he only needs these beams to fight!

~~~

Once Na'er got her Earth Attribute Spirit Ring it was time to look for a fox which would go to Hu Liena. His fox girl is slowly becoming quite the illusionist and opportunistic type of fighter.

One could say she could easily be his assassin maid. But then again he would prefer if she could mess with people's heads with her illusions.

There is that sense of amusement seeing enemies end up fighting each other before they could even attack their main true enemy.

"There is one in that cave over there. From the looks of it has dark attributes." Snake Lance Douluo said with a thoughtful look as he scouted out the cave. 

"Dark attribute? This one is going to be quick…" As Xue Long said that he casually started to walk towards the cave. 

Slowly his body glowed with a Diamond-like aura. Behind him, a monk manifested though people instantly noticed difference… the monk's skin was pure gold!

Did it change because he reached the next stage in the cultivation!?

The moment Xue Long was inside the cave he released Deva Diamond Radiance and scorched the fox. Then there was a loud smack…

A few moments later the prince came out with a fox which he was pulling by the tail. The spirit beast has been knocked out.

The group had a sweat droop look when they saw how he was treating at least 50 to 60 thousand-year-old beast…

"Here it is. I think you will gain another illusion-based Spirit Ring." The Fourth Prince dropped the fox in front of Hu Liena who dumbly nodded at him. This was the first time where he was this proactive. 

Though they can guess that he wants to return to the academy so he is dealing with everything quickly enough.

Hu Liena quickly pulled out her short sword and finished off the beast and moments later she started to absorb the black ring.

It's going to take some time so Xue Long went over and found a good spot to relax. Using this opportunity Qian Renxue ended up sitting next to him.

She quickly felt very positive vibes coming from him which she can guess that it comes from the fact that his very being has been affected by that breakthrough in his Lotus Meditation.

Not that I mattered much! The best part was that she feels extra warm just by snuggling to him!

While the blonde fiance of his was smuggling into him, the Fourth Prince was more curious to look at how Dugu Bo found a viper Spirit beast and watching it how it attacks and coils and does its natural things. It is amusing to watch how the Poison Douluo doesn't care at all for all those poisonous bites…

The snake itself didn't realise that its bites mean nothing to the old man and he is treating the snake like a test subject and a pet!

Eventually, Hu Liena got her ring and her cultivation nearly went halfway to rank 65.

However…

The carcass didn't disappear, the blonde maid quickly realised that and quickly started to dissect it!

Pulling out a tailbone!

"Another External Spirit bone! What nonsense luck is this?" Dugu Bo said that as he was holding a viper snake. The snake in question is trying to bite his finger off… not that I was having any sort of luck…

"It will fit you nicely Liena so absorb it." Xue Long casually said that as he was stroking the blond hair of the angel girl.

The girl quickly nodded with the giddy look and started to absorb it.

"Hmm…My Prince… look over there." Na'er said that as she pointed at a tree.

Xue Long's gaze went to the side where Na'er has pointed to him.

What he saw was exquisite-looking emerald Swan which was looking curiously at him.

"What a beautiful Spirit Beast!" Qian Renxue said with wide eyes. 

"Indeed! It will make an incredible pet for Princess Ke'er" Snake Lance Douluo said that as well. 

However, what baffled the Prince was that… this Spirit Beast should be over 100 thousand years old. So why the Titled Douluo's didn't pick this up?

'Perhaps she has means to hide her aura? Well, it doesn't matter. Such a beautiful bird. There is no way I will allow it to get away. It will fit with my little sister nicely especially when her Martial Spirit is a Heavenly Swan.' As the Fourth Prince thought about that he walked over to where the swan was. 

He could see extreme intelligence in the creature's eyes. As someone who always looks into people's eyes, Xue Long can pick up that this is indeed THE Emerald Swan. 

There was a short period of staring at each other before Xue Long extended his hand and the Emerald Swan landed on his hand.

He stroked the bird's feathers gently.

"What a beautiful bird you are. My sister will love you alot. I can promise you that." He said that softly as he was enjoying the softness of those feathers. 

There was a slight blush on the cheeks of the bird. Which… it mean it fully understood what the prince has said. However, he pretended that he didn't see it…

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