First Level Up

Day Two, Early Morning.

After a night of rest, Su Luoheng's mental state had noticeably improved. Since the training was over, Su Junran didn't waste any time and directly led him deep into the Maple Leaf Forest to find a spirit beast with a mental attribute suitable for him.

This was where having an elder as a companion showed its advantages.

Whenever they encountered a spirit beast blocking their path, Su Junran would take care of it himself.

This way, they didn't have to waste time dealing with them, which greatly saved time in their search for a suitable spirit beast.

Even so, they spent the entire morning without any success. However, Su Luoheng wasn't anxious, knowing that spirit beasts with mental attributes were quite rare.

Perseverance pays off.

Finally, after another hour passed, the father and son duo found a suitable spirit beast.

It was a Phantom Cloud Wolf, about four hundred years old—just within the range for the first spirit ring a Spirit Master could obtain.

"Luoheng, this is your task."

Su Junran said, "The Phantom Cloud Wolf is a rare spirit beast with spiritual attributes. Its speed and attack power are comparable to ordinary wolf-type spirit beasts, but it can simulate the appearance of mist to affect an opponent's vision and launch attacks. You need to be mindful of this."

"Got it."

As they spoke, the Phantom Cloud Wolf sensed the presence of strangers.

"Awooo—"

The Phantom Cloud Wolf let out a menacing howl, trying to drive the two out of its territory.

Seeing a weak two-legged creature daring to invade its domain, the Phantom Cloud Wolf was quite irritated by Su Luoheng's behavior. It immediately darted towards him like a gust of wind.

"Come on!"

Su Luoheng didn't retreat but instead stepped forward, channeling his spirit power into his short sword, and slashed fiercely!

'Bang!'

The crimson blade collided with the wolf's claws.

In the deadlock, Su Luoheng suddenly surged, the short sword glowing intensely. Several crisp snapping sounds were heard, followed by the Phantom Cloud Wolf's wretched howl.

Its once invincible claws had been cut off, leaving a mess of blood and flesh, with blood pouring out!

The agonized Phantom Cloud Wolf tumbled several times before getting back on its feet. Its front paws bled profusely, trembling uncontrollably.

Its eyes, filled with bloodlust, stared intently at Su Luoheng.

At the same time, its speed suddenly increased, and its ethereal form transformed into a cloud of blood rushing forward.

Was this its spirit ability?

Su Luoheng was surprised, but the blood cloud had already reached him.

"Come out!"

With Su Luoheng's shout, a desert scene appeared behind him. Under the impact of his mental power, the blood cloud suddenly paused and briefly revealed its true form.

This was an opportunity Su Luoheng wouldn't miss.

His short sword, infused with a large amount of spirit power, shone brightly as he thrust it straight into the Phantom Cloud Wolf's neck.

'Thud!'

Amidst a howl, the Phantom Cloud Wolf collapsed to the ground.

Su Luoheng withdrew his short sword, unable to stop the blood from gushing out from the wound on its neck.

Soon, the Phantom Cloud Wolf lying in a pool of blood had no breath left.

An invisible energy left its body, forming a ring hovering above it, emitting a faint yellow glow.

This was the spirit ring condensed from the Phantom Cloud Wolf.

"Phew..." Su Luoheng exhaled deeply, unable to hide the excitement in his eyes as he looked at the spirit ring.

"Good use of your strengths, and a well-executed strategy,"

Su Junran praised generously. Su Luoheng had performed exceptionally well in this battle, especially with his use of his martial spirit's mental impact to break the Phantom Cloud Wolf's ability.

"A spirit ring can last for a while. Restore your spirit power before absorbing it."

"Okay."

Absorbing a spirit ring is best done in the optimal state; Su Luoheng would naturally not forget this.

About a quarter of an hour later, Su Luoheng stood up and approached the earth-yellow spirit ring.

He had long memorized the precautions for absorbing a spirit ring, and now, as long as he successfully absorbed this ring, he would officially become a Spirit Master!

"Luoheng, go ahead."

"Alright."

After calming his mind a little, Su Luoheng sat cross-legged, and with a slight mental command, his martial spirit projection appeared around him.

As the century-old Phantom Cloud Wolf's spirit ring drew closer, Su Luoheng's body felt a powerful pressure, and all the bones in his body trembled slightly under this pressure.

Soon, the spirit ring hovered above Su Luoheng's head.

In the next instant, the ring contracted suddenly and, with lightning speed, merged directly into his martial spirit.

The absorption of the spirit ring had officially begun.

The domineering energy within the ring surged into his body, quickly coalescing into a phantom of the Phantom Cloud Wolf filled with resentment, which roared as it launched an attack.

Having anticipated this, Su Luoheng focused his mind and counterattacked with his spirit.

He had already killed the real Phantom Cloud Wolf; what threat could this mere lingering consciousness pose?

Although he had the upper hand in every clash, the battlefield was within Su Luoheng's own body, and while the energy released was increasing his spirit power, the entire process of it rampaging inside him was far from pleasant.

"The power of the spirit ring is indeed overwhelming!"

Su Luoheng clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, enduring the refinement of the energy contained in the ring.

However, everything has two sides.

For Su Luoheng, this was also a great exercise for his mental strength.

Moreover, as time passed, the Phantom Cloud Wolf was, after all, merely a lingering thought attached to the spirit ring and could not last long.

As the process continued, its impact grew weaker and weaker.

The phantom of the Phantom Cloud Wolf gradually faded.

Once it completely disappeared, this century-old Phantom Cloud Wolf spirit ring would be fully refined.

As the energy from the spirit ring continued to pour into his body, Su Luoheng finally felt a loosening at the threshold of level ten spirit power. It was a subtle feeling, as if a thin membrane had been broken, and the overflowing spirit power within his body finally found an outlet to surge through. An indescribable comfort and exhilaration, entirely different from previous breakthroughs, filled his entire being.

At the same time, the martial spirit projection behind him quietly grew stronger.

...

Outside.

Su Junran stood guard beside Su Luoheng.

Although he appeared calm on the surface, his eyes were constantly monitoring the situation.

He was even more nervous than when he absorbed his own seventh spirit ring back in the day, almost wishing he could absorb it for Su Luoheng himself.

"..."

Time passed slowly.

More than two hours had elapsed since the start of the spirit ring absorption.

The sun had already set, and the clear moonlight shone down.

Judging by the aura emanating from Su Luoheng, it wouldn't take much longer for the spirit ring to be fully absorbed.

Su Junran's anxious mood gradually relaxed.

Boom!

All the energy within the spirit ring fully merged into Su Luoheng's body in an instant. An earth-yellow spirit ring floated at his feet, while the martial spirit projection behind him burst forth with a powerful surge.

"It's done."

A slight smile appeared on Su Luoheng's young face.

The four-hundred-year-old Phantom Cloud Wolf spirit ring had allowed his spirit power to successfully break through to level twelve.

Moreover, becoming a Spirit Master had brought about changes in his body as well. The most noticeable change was that he had grown quite a bit taller; his previously well-fitting clothes and pants were now slightly short. His skin had a glossy sheen, and he moved with more ease and control over his spirit power.