Chapter 72: Golden Holy Calabash!
All of us spent the rest of the day in Liu Erlong's cabin, consolidating our realms and cultivating Spirit Power.
Cultivating Spirit Power isn't useless even when we can't increase our level. According to Yu Xiao Gang's Ten Great Core Competences, Spirit Ring Bottlenecks didn't prevent Spirit Masters from increasing their Spirit Power.
It only prevented them from reaching the next realm, and the stored-up Spirit Power would show its effects after obtaining a Spirit Ring.
Once it was night time, I left for Liu Erlong's bedroom, so I could sleep and enter the Immortal Realm. I don't have to wait the seven days like the others to gain my next Spirit Ring.
Once inside, I am greeted by a bunch of Spirit Beasts that are playing around inside the Immortal Realm.
They are growing quite quickly thanks to the beneficial environment they live in, they are able to grow much faster than they normally would outside.
And it is much safer for them to grow inside here, I didn't buy any particularly aggressive Spirit Beasts, so they are all coexisting peacefully.
Of course, there are exceptions to this. The five monkeys I bought are more combat oriented and mischievous, so they often bully other Spirit Beasts.
Recently, they have started to act more and more like bandits, robbing Spirit Beasts of their fish bones so they can give it to Little Rice as offerings.
I watch the Spirit Beasts play around for a while, it is interesting to see Spirit Beasts living up close, each of them has unique features and living styles.
After watching them for a couple minutes, I leave to the Spirit Ascension Realm, now that I have reached the fiftieth rank, it has upgraded to the fifth level.
Now, I will be meeting Spirit Beasts around 5000 – 9999 years old. The Spirit Beasts inside the Spirit Ascension Realm are quite weak right now.
Unless I find a special Spirit Beast like the Titan Giant Ape or something with a strong and ancient bloodline, these not even 10,000-year-old Spirit Beasts can't put up a fight.
Inside the Spirit Ascension Realm, I travel between region to region in search for a suitable Spirit Ring for myself.
Starting off in the middle region, the forest, I scour the lands as I kill all the Spirit Beasts that come near.
I can't absorb their Spirit Rings right now because it will forcibly make that my own Spirit Ring, which I don't want.
I don't have any idea of what kind of Spirit Ring I want right now, but I was thinking about searching for a cloning Spirit Ability which will allow me to create clones of myself.
I can already create clones using my Illusion Ice Transformation, but they have no combat prowess to speak of, and break if they strike something.
If I can get a real cloning ability, I will be able to mix them in with my Illusion Ice Transformation, making it impossible for others to tell which clone real, and how many I have.
Time slowly passes as 30 hours of exploration are wasted, not a single suitable Spirit Beast…
I exit the Spirit Ascension Realm with a sigh, there are only 10 hours left in the Immortal Realm before I get kicked out.
I plan to spend this time on my self-made Spirit Skills, I am lacking in strong offensive moves, causing it to be difficult for me to truly defeat opponents of higher realms.
I do have my Raging Monkey God's Slam, however that move doesn't differentiate between friends and foe, meaning that I can't use it when others are in the line of fire.
Lately, I have been creating a new Spirit Skill made for the sole purpose of slaughtering strong opponents, and it just needs the final finishing touches before I master it.
I move to the training grounds that I made in the Immortal Realm and summon my Yin Ice Staff.
Manipulating the head of the staff to become a sharp pointed spear, I prepare to test my new self-made Spirit Skill.
Using my Yin Ice Staff as the framework for my Spirit Skill, I encase it with Spirit Power fused with the durable nature of earth, creating a strong and durable spear.
Next, I layer the spear tip with the strong piercing nature of metal, enough to allow me to tear through a Spirit Sage's Avatar like breaking glass.
Finally, I create a small reverse whirlpool using fire and water nature on top of the metal nature.
The natures are calm right now, but once I agitate the whirlpool a little, the opposing water and fire natures will fight create a massive explosion.
The power of the explosion will be much stronger than just using fire nature on its own, due to the conflicting nature of the two.
I plan to use this explosion to blow away any defences that might be set up, allowing the metal nature infused spear tip to pierce the target without chance for resistance.
Once the spear is created, I look towards a tree as I throw the spear directly at the middle of the tree.
The water and fire natures start conflicting mid-flight and create a strong pressure. Quickly, the spear reaches the tree, first making contact with the water-fire whirlpool.
BANG—
A massive explosion occurs as the bark of the tree was completely obliterated, startling all the Spirit Beasts in the area.
The spear pierced straight through the gap in the tree and penetrated another 10 trees in the line of fire before lodging itself inside a tree.
The tree that took the first explosion crashed to the ground, and the spear began to crumble quickly, disappearing into the atmosphere.
I felt elated at the power of the Spirit Skill, these trees aren't normal trees but are instead strengthened by the Immortal Realm.
Suddenly, the five monkeys appeared in the trees above my head as they began making noises to me.
I looked up at them and shooed them away with my hands, "Go away! I am just practicing my new Spirit Skill."
The monkeys naturally don't understand what I am saying, and try to shoo me away as well, copying my movements.
My face twitches as I watch the five monkeys laughing and shooing each other, "Piss off! You idiots, go and play somewhere else!"
My loud shout startled them as they quickly scattered, letting me regain my peace.
…
Whack—
I slam the mace-like head of my staff into the torso of the Green Striped Liger, sending it flying a couple meters away.
Crash—
The flying body of the Liger Spirit Beast crashed into a tree, creating a loud sound as the impact almost broke the tree in half.
The Liger Spirit Beast's body was like a ragdoll, lifelessly falling onto the ground as blood seeped out of its orifices.
The power of my strike was enough to rupture the internal organs of normal Spirit Beasts lesser than 10,000-years-old.
I am not even in my Monkey Emperor Transformation, I don't use my full power with these Spirit Beasts, otherwise the experience will be useless.
I leave the battered body of the Green Striped Liger and continue moving through the forest.
It is the second day of our week-long consolidation period and I have been in the Spirit Ascension Realm for 5 hours already.
I casually stroll through the forest region, using my hands and tail to swing from tree to tree. It is quite satisfying to almost fly through the air.
Suddenly, a shadow streaks across from my side and rapidly approaches my position, it is so fast that I can only see a bright yellow or golden blur.
Unprepared by the sheer speed of the shadow, I couldn't react in time and allowed it to strike my body.
"GAHH!" The shadow struck me like a tuck with nitro boosters, sending my body crashing towards the ground.
It felt like I was being struck by Zhao Wuji in his Vajra Avatar. My body was unprotected, and I wasn't in my Monkey Emperor Transformation, so I took massive damage.
I felt bones cracking and internal organs getting injured, the ground created a pit where I landed due to the strong impact.
Luckily, my Phoenix Regeneration works at all times and my body already started regenerating at insane speeds.
Without even looking, I entered my Monkey Emperor Transformation and leapt in the opposite direction of the shadow.
Once my body healed to a suitable state, I stopped retreating and turned to look at my aggressor. I was already a kilometre away, but with my eyesight I could see all the details.
It was a plant type Spirit Beast, but one that I have never seen before. It seemed to be a gourd tree of sorts with bright golden vines and gourds.
It looked like one massive hourglass shaped gourd as the body with four more smaller gourds surrounding its body like four hammers.
The gourds were connected by long golden vines, the entire Spirit Beast emitted a strong presence, it didn't feel violent or dominating, but more holy and suppressive.
The Spirit Beast seemed to be staring at me from a distance, observing my actions calmly.
Its eyes contained a wisdom unheard of from normal Spirit Beasts of less than 10,000-years-old, even from monkey and ape type Spirit Beasts.
I quickly use my Observation Ability on it to find out what kind of Spirit Beast it is.
==
Name: Golden Holy Calabash (Bottle Gourd)
Age: 8888 years old
Spirit Ability: Purifying Bottle Gourd
==
This Golden Holy Calabash Spirit Beast has enough strength to compete with a Spirit Sage even though it is less than 9000-years-old.
It must have some sort of ancient or strong bloodline flowing through its stems.
I allowed my body to restore to its peak condition as I silently stared at the Spirit Beast, it seemed to understand what I was waiting for and quickly flickered in my direction.
It used all four smaller gourds to kick off the ground and pivot as it dashed through the trees, quickly catching up to my position.
I don't sit around as I summon my Yin Ice Staff and start my Slaughter domain. I rarely have to use my slaughter domain, only against strong opponents like Zhao Wuji and Flander.
But this Golden Holy Calabash definitely meets the strong opponent check list. My overflowing killing intent washes over the Golden Holy Calabash as it becomes startled for a second.
However, that was only for a second, before it continued its charge with determination to kill, only slightly slower than before.
I won't be able to worry about my Spirit Power wastage with this Spirit Beast if I don't want to experience death and get thrown out of the Immortal Realm for a week.
I use Golden Fiery Eyes to increase my perception, slowing the Golden Holy Calabash's movements even further.
Once the Golden Holy Calabash is close, I swiftly activate my Illusion Ice Transformation and create three clones, one in each cardinal direction of the Spirit Beast.
The Golden Holy Calabash stopped in the middle as it cautiously looked around, three of its smaller gourds were held around its body, protecting it from surprise attacks.
It had a slightly confused look in its eyes, each of the four people looked exactly the same and emitted the same aura.
I could create more clones to intimidate it, but when creating clones using my Illusion Ice Transformation, I have to use my own mental prowess to control them.
They would just be statues emitting the same aura as myself, unable to move at all, becoming a useless distraction when I, the original, am the only one moving.
They also possess no combat abilities to speak of, if they are struck once by the Golden Holy Calabash, they will disappear into ice.
Thanks to Rong Rong's Heart Separation Control Technique, I am able to control these three clones as efficiently as I move my own body, causing the Golden Holy Calabash to become confused.
However, its wisdom was not for show as it turned its gaze back to me, it was able to figure out that something is suspicious about the clones.
I was also the only body that didn't appear out of nowhere, so if I didn't teleport, it should be my real body.
Although that is a flaw of creating clones further away from myself, I also have a plan to counter that.
Using my Illusion Ice Transformation, I create a massive dense fog covering a large area including the Golden Holy Calabash and all my clones.
This is able to obstruct the Golden Holy Calabash's vision, but being my own creation, I can see through it like tinted glass.
Not wasting any time, I and the three clones charge at the Golden Holy Calabash as we circle around it.
The Golden Holy Calabash was able to tell that we started moving, and stood its ground, all four smaller gourds hanging defensively in the air.
I control one of my clones to attack the Golden Holy Calabash, the attacking intent was transmitted to the Golden Holy Calabash as it quickly sent two gourds flying in the clone's direction.
Seeing that only two gourds were sent, I quickly controlled the clone opposite to also attack, causing the last two gourds to go flying at it.
The clones use their Yin Ice Staffs to block the gourds, however, the gourds pierce straight through them as they shatter like glass.
I take my chance as I charge at the Golden Holy Calabash, striking it as hard as I can.
The Golden Holy Calabash didn't have its smaller gourds to defend itself as I attacked its unguarded body.
It quickly tried to retract its gourds when it felt my attack, but it was too slow. My strike hit the unguarded back of the Golden Holy Calabash with full power.
The ground cracked from my strike and the Golden Holy Calabash let out a furious screeching sound, quickly sending all four gourds at me.
However, I had already fled once my attack hit, causing the gourds to strike at nothing. I created another two clones as I looked at the Golden Holy Calabash.
There was only a light scratch on the body of the Golden Holy Calabash, but I guess this is to be expected when Calabash are known for having hard shells.
I try the same tactic again, but the Golden Holy Calabash had already adapted and only sent one gourd at a time.
I battle with the Golden Holy Calabash for half an hour in this fog, it was beginning to tire from being on constant high alert and having to send out strikes at even clones.
However, its defence was too much for me to break through without using my powerful offensive moves, so there are only a couple scratches and bruises on the body of the Golden Holy Calabash.
I am doing a little better than it thanks to my Phoenix Regeneration healing my strength, however my Spirit Power supplies are starting to run low.
I will need to finish this battle in the next conflict. If I can't kill it, I will need to flee quickly otherwise I will die.
Inside the fog, I circle around the Golden Holy Calabash with each of my three clones. Suddenly, I create another clone right beside me as I hide my own presence, retracting the Slaughter Domain.
The process was so smooth that the Golden Holy Calabash didn't notice me creating another clone.
Although I won't be able to control them as efficiently as normal, they will still be able to serve the purpose that I need.
The clones circle around the Golden Holy Calabash, moving in erratic motions in an attempt to confuse the Golden Holy Calabash and create openings.
I had been doing this a couple times already with the three clones, and the Golden Holy Calabash has slightly gotten used to it and now expects it.
I move further back, just outside the Golden Holy Calabash's perception, since it is so focused on the four clones, it doesn't realise that I am around.
I shape the tip of my Yin Ice Staff into a spear head as I begin preparing my new Spirit Skill. The time to charge up the Spirit Skill is too long to be practical, but the offensive power is more than any other skill I own.
I can also create the Spirit Skill without using the Yin Ice Staff, but it helps me form the Spirit Skill with greater efficiency.
I input all my Spirit Power into this last strike, because of the Golden Holy Calabash's focus on the four clones, and its tired state, it is unable to notice me charging up the Spirit Skill.
Once the Spirit Skill is ready, I make all four clones approach the Golden Holy Calabash as they give off their strongest attacking intent yet.
The Golden Holy Calabash sees this as me making my final attempt to kill it, and it instantly sends all four smaller gourds flying at the clones.
Although the Golden Holy Calabash is smart, it is still not smart enough.
Because I have only been using three clones this entire time, it concluded that I was only able to produce three clones, not even considering a fourth clone.
Seeing the small gourds attacking the four clones, I use all my physical strength and throw the spear as hard as I can at the Golden Holy Calabash.
Zoom—
The spear tears through the air at Mach speed, the Golden Holy Calabash felt a strong danger enter its perception.
However, all four of its gourds were away from its body attacking the clones, it quickly tried to retract them but was too slow.
The reverse whirlpool made contact with the face of the Golden Holy Calabash, looking like it was trying to drill a hole through it.
Kaboom! Shuu—
The reverse whirlpool exploded in the face of the Golden Holy Calabash, cracking parts of its body and softening it.
Before the Golden Holy Calabash could let out a painful screech, the metal nature infused spear tip pierced directly into the weakened shell, lodging itself deep inside.
The Golden Holy Calabash flew more than 20 metres before crashing onto the ground, the end of the spear sticking out from a hole inside its face.
The four smaller gourds fell lifelessly as the Golden Holy Calabash didn't make a single sound. A dark purple Spirit Ring floated out of the body of the Golden Holy Calabash.
Once I saw the Spirit Ring, I knew that the Golden Holy Calabash finally died as I sighed with exhaustion.
All of my Spirit Power was gone, and I could only rely on my physical body now. I quickly dragged my body to the corpse of the Golden Holy Calabash and sat down.
This Spirit Beast was so strong, so its Spirit Ability naturally shouldn't be something weak either, I sit cross-legged as I draw the Spirit Ring towards me and integrate it…
(5th Spirit Ability: Purifying Bottle Gourd
Description: A Spirit Ability gained from a Spirit Beast containing the bloodline of Yggdrasil. Produce a bottle gourd containing liquids with toxin purifying and cleansing effects. costs more Spirit Power to produce more liquid. Liquid can last outside the gourd for 3 days before becoming useless.
White: purifies most common poisons, cleanses the skin (Increases Defence)
Yellow: purifies all common poisons, cleanses the flesh. (Increases physical strength)
Purple: purifies all Uncommon poisons, cleanses the internal organs (Increases health and power)
Black: purifies all Rare Poisons, cleanses the meridians (12 normal and 8 extraordinary meridians. Increases smooth Spirit Power flow.)
Red: purifies all mortal poisons, cleanses bone marrow (Increases internal defence, enhanced vitality)
Gold: purifies all poisons, even god level poisons, cleanses the soul (Secondary awakening)
So I plan to use this to fix Oscar's Spirit to become his light novel Sausage Spirit, and most importantly for Yu Xiao Gang, to fix his spirit.
I also plan to use it as a gift for Ning Fengzhi and the two protectors at Ning Clan. It will allow the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda to mutate like Fatty's Spirit in the future, gaining an extra level every Spirit Ring.
And now the down part that everyone hates... yes, it will give Tang San a premature secondary awakening, it can't be helped if I want to do all the other things as well. I can't just give it to others and keep it from him.)
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
The_Wulin
The_Wulin Here is today's chapter!
Sorry for taking longer than expected, the chapter ended up being like 1.5 chapters long or something like that, I didn't expect for it to be this long.
Thanks for reading!
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone