Chapter 16 — Slap
Ning Chen left the cave he was hiding after completely recovering his energy.
He then decided to continue his search for the spirit beast suitable for his second spirit ring.
Ning Chen went to many locations inside the Star Dou Forest and he didn't dared to enter the deeper layers of the forest with his current strength.
He inwardly knew that many dangerous spirit beast lurked within the deeper layers.
Ning Chen didn't knew how much time had passed since he started looking around. As he was walking, he suddenly heard a very loud howl from the distance.
It was different from any other howls he heard before. This howl contained endless sorrows and sufferings.
Feeling quite interested, Ning Chen walked toward the place where he had heard the howl.
Arriving at the place, he frowned heavily, seeing dry blood all over the ground.
Ning Chen then saw a wolf with a large and slender body and a small wolf besides her.
Both of their furs were very messy and filled with big wounds. Their white fur were also stained completely in red blood.
Ning Chen saw there were also several footprint on the small wolf's body and signs of struggle around the area.
After calmly thinking about everything he had seen, Ning Chen was able to vaguely guess what happened.
He was about to leave since it looks like the two wolf's were already dead, but he suddenly heard a silent cry near him.
Ning Chen quickly searched for the source of the cry and was surprised to see it belonged to the large wolf.
He approached the large wolf slowly and then saw her pair of eyes which were slowly growing dimmer.
Although those eyes were looking weak, Ning Chen was able to see a very deep desire for revenge.
Ning Chen knew the large wolf was called as Azure White Wolf and it's age looked about over 1000 years old.
It was also spirit beast which excelled in agility.
He thought this wolf attributes fitted his spirit perfectly since it would mostly like give him an agility enhancement.
The reason Ning Chen came into this idea was because just like the seven treasure pagoda which provide buffs to the others, his spirit instead gives him with buff.
However, he couldn't just simply kill the Azure White Wolf after seeing those eyes which sought revenge.
Ning Chen decided to show some respect even though she was merely just a spirit beast.
He decided to make a simple offer which would benefit him and the wolf.
"Revenge... I'll take revenge on your behalf. In exchange become part of my power," Ning Chen said with a solemn expression.
He saw the large wolf's eyes trembling before she nodded her head faintly.
She accepted his offer without any hesitation.
Ning Chen let out a sorrowful sigh and held Kel'al with both of his hand.
Stab!
He pierced his sword toward the large wolf's chest in a swift manner to not make it feel any pain anymore.
The large wolf died peacefully while having her own child within her embrace.
A brilliant purple spirit ring hovered above the body of the large wolf and Ning Chen stared at with amazement.
It was very beautiful like a crystal and had a mystical wind symbol at it's center.
Ning Chen then saw something shining on the large wolf's right leg and after looking at it more closely, he was very surprised.
It was a right leg spirit bone!
Ning Chen couldn't contain his excitement seeing this since it was after all quite rare, but he soon calmed down.
He needed to absorb the purple spirit ring first before it dispersed.
Ning Chen placed the spirit bone on his spatial storage and then sat cross-legged on the ground.
He then commanded Kel'al to absorb the purple spirit ring without feeling afraid because although it's age was far too high for his current rank, he didn't cared about it.
His powerful body and mind could fill in what his spirit power was lacking.
You can't also forget about his spirit power being denser and potent than normal.
Time slowly passed along with intense pain and suffering.
Ning Chen was drenched in sweat as he exhaled out, causing a white mist to escape out from his mouth.
His current complexion was brighter than before with his spirit power surging toward rank 23.
He had successfully merged with his second spirit ring, increasing his spirit power and widening his meridians greatly.
Ning Chen was delighted to see that he managed to advance successfully.
He soon forgot about the pain he felt when he was absorbing the spirit ring and started enjoying this success.
Ning Chen then decided to check his current spirit abilities. He closed his eyes and started to check each of his abilities.
His <Red Dragon Power> strengthening effect increased to 50%, but It's fire element resistance just stayed at 40%.
Ning Chen thought that only way to increase that element resistance was by somehow increasing his spirit ring age.
The ability of the scabbard, <Sword Draw> also increased by 10%, becoming 20% increase in damage.
After finishing his check on his past abilities, Ning Chen decided to try out his new spirit ring ability.
Ning Chen pointed Kel'al Infront of him and activated his new second spirit ability.
"Green Dragon Agility!" He chanted deeply as his amethyst eyes released a faint green light.
A large amount of wind surrounded his whole body, causing his shoulder-length glossy pink hair to flutter messily.
Ning Chen closed his eyes, enjoying the sensation of activating his second spirit ability for the first time.
When he opened his eyes again, his pupils were no longer amethyst, but changed to green pupils.
His sword, Kel'al also transformed, becoming more slimmer and lighter in weight.
Ning Chen smiled faintly, "Indeed. My second spirit ring ability increase my agility by 50% and wind/air element resistance by 40%!"
He then recalled Kel'al back inside his body and took out the right leg spirit bone from within his spatial storage.
The spirit bone looked like a clear crystal that sparkled in brilliant white and blue light.
Ning Chen started to absorb this spirit bone into his right leg, feeling an intense amount of pain as his own leg bone was being replaced by the right leg spirit bone.
A hour filled with pain quickly passed and Ning Chen was able to endure everything with his tough mind.
Ning Chen successfully fused with the spirit bone, causing his right leg to be strengthened and obtaining it's own ability.
He then smiled after knowing the ability he received from the spirit bone and decided to check it later.
Ning Chen looked at the two wolf corpse before him.
"As a thanks for giving me your spirit bone and becoming my spirit ring, I will make you guys a grave," Ning Chen muttered with deep gratitude.
He started digging a large hole nearby to place the wolf.
After several minutes of hard labor, Ning Chen managed to place the two inside the hole and made it seemed like a simple grave.
He smiled faintly after completing his task and then noticed a blue flower placed near his location.
After looking at it more closely, his smile suddenly froze as chills covered his entire body.
That blue flower was definitely the wolf origin flower!
Awooo!
Ning Chen suddenly heard many howls around him. He looked around and saw many red eyes glaring at him from within the darkness.
"Damn!"
He was completely surrounded by the pack of crimson wolfs that were chasing after him previously.
Ning Chen was also abit thankful at them for not arriving when he was absorbing the spirit ring and spirit bone.
And after thinking longer, he thought this was the best time to test his second spirit ring ability and current battle power.
<Second Sword Color: Green Dragon Agility>
Ning Chen's pupils turned green as he felt the surrounding wind becoming calm.
He was also able to feel the flow of the wind after activating his second spirit ring ability.
Ning Chen looked around before declaring loudly, "I didn't wanted to kill you guys at first, but since you guys kept on courting dead, I shall grant it to you!"
He silently pointed his sword at the crimson wolfs before charging at them with a fierce expression.
A slaughter soon began.
...
Yun Feng went back at the wolf's place after several hours had passed. He had mostly recovered from his injuries and exhausted state after consuming some healing pills.
He was currently thinking that the Azure White Wolf was now nearing dead door with all those injuries and he could now easily kill it to have his revenge.
Yun Feng ran toward the place while feeling excited at the thought of killing the Azure White Wolf and acquiring it's spirit ring.
But as he approached the place, he smelled a thick scent of blood filling the air.
Yun Feng frowned after reaching his destination and was then shocked to see the place turning into a slaughter field.
There were several dead bodies of crimson wolfs scattered all across the ground, their blood gathering together to form a small blood pond.
At the center of all the scattered corpse of crimson wolfs and pond of blood was a young boy whose clothes was stained in blood as his sword hanged silently on his shoulder.
Yun Feng was surprised to see this young boy and quickly knew he was the one behind this slaughter.
He was also shocked to see the young boy just merely being rank 23.
Yun Feng searched around the area for the Azure White Corpse, but became anxious after not finding her.
"Hey kid, do you know what happened to the large wolf with white fur and Azure eyes?" He asked toward the young boy while not feeling scared.
Ning Chen narrowed his eyes as he stared at the man who questioned him. An instant though crossed his mind and it was from his second spirit ring.
This man was the target for the wolf's revenge.
"The Azure White Wolf? They're no longer here because I already killed her and absorbed her spirit ring," Ning Chen said while wiping away the sweat and blood on his forehead.
Yun Feng was stunned before getting furious after hearing those words!
This was kill steal!
Ning Chen had stole the Azure White Wolf from him along with all of his hard-work on preparing to hunt the wolf.
It was all wasted!
"You thief bastard!" Yun Feng screamed in frustration as he gripped his hand very tightly.
He was never a cautious and calm-headed person at the first place, but someone with problem at controlling his anger and emotions.
"I will kill you!" Yun Feng growled heavily as vicious light appeared within his eyes.
Even though he knew Ning Chen was very strong to be able to kill all of those crimson wolfs alone, Yun Feng thought that Ning Chen was now exhausted after fighting against those many wolfs.
His current rank and age being higher than Ning Chen also brought him some confidence.
Yun Feng transformed into his Demon Wind Leopard spirit and glared at Ning Chen with intense killing aura.
This was his first time feeling a killing aura, but he strangely didn't felt any fear.
"I've also promised to a certain someone to kill you," Ning Chen said as he held his sword firmly.
He wasn't afraid to kill the man Infront of him because in his eyes, the man was no different from those spirit beast he had killed before.
"Wind Blessings!" Yun Feng activated his first spirit ability, causing his speed to rise significantly.
"Want to compete with me in terms of speed?" Ning Chen chuckled lightly as he pointed his sword forward.
<Second Sword Color: Green Dragon Agility>
A powerful devouring force appeared within his sword, devouring all of the wind element on his surroundings.
Yun Feng was quite surprised to see the wind blessing's speed enhancement was getting weaker.
Ning Chen's eyes turned green as he abruptly leaped toward Yun Feng with explosive speed.
He appeared quickly Infront of Yun Feng who couldn't compete with him in speed and his sword transformed into a dazzling arc headed toward Yun Feng's head.
Yun Feng's heart was gripped with anxiety as his perception of the world slowly grew slower, allowing him to activate his barrier ability.
Ning Chen was pushed back by the barrier and Yun Feng managed to extend his life for a little bit longer.
"My speed wasn't enough, but what if I go more faster?" Ning Chen muttered as he activated his right leg spirit bone ability
<Spirit Bone Ability: Origin Wolf Leg>
Ning Chen's right leg was suddenly covered in white light for a few seconds before disappearing away, revealing his right leg now covered in metallic armor with complex designs of a wolf.
Yun Feng grew agitated seeing that, realizing it was the rare spirit bone that many yearned to acquire.
"Did you know where I obtained this spirit bone from? The Azure White Wolf you were desperately trying to hunt," Ning Chen ridiculed while testing his spirit bone ability.
This spirit bone ability increased his right leg's power, defense, and speed greatly at the cost of consuming a large amount of his spirit power.
Yun Feng felt his heart flaring up after hearing those words.
if he had been one to kill the Azure White Wolf, the spirit bone would have belonged to him.
The more he thought about it, the more angrier he got.
That spirit bone should have been his!
Yun Feng charged toward Ning Chen fiercely, his claws splitting the air as it thrusted toward Ning Chen.
Ning Chen smiled seeing Yun Feng foolishly losing himself to his emotions and quickly parried the claws with his sword.
He then appeared behind Yun Feng quickly with his sword chopping toward his enemy's head, but a barrier swiftly formed once again to block it.
The wind barrier appeared more tougher than before.
<First Sword Color: Red Dragon Power>
Ning Chen snorted seeing that barrier as his arm muscles was suddenly overflowing with tyrannical strength.
His pupils became two-colored and it was a combination of red and green color.
Kel'al also became a mixture of red and green colors. It was still slimmer, but it's weight became extremely heavy.
Ning Chen's sword strike easily shattered the barrier and continued smashing toward Yun Feng's head.
Yun Feng was terrified to see that barrier made by his two spirit abilities shattering very easily under Ning Chen's sword.
He quickly avoided the strike headed into his head and instead received it with his chest, causing a terrifying slash wound to appear on it.
Yun Feng grunted in pain, blood constantly poured out from his chest. His face was ashen as he stared at Ning Chen as if he was a monster.
"How could a mere rank 23 be this possibly strong...?" He questioned with disbelief.
"You don't need to know," Ning Chen briefly answered.
He then abruptly slammed his right foot hardly on Yun Feng's head.
Yun Feng hit against the hard ground, his head slowly sinking deeper.
"How does it feel? To be trampled on by me using the spirit bone of the spirit beast that had it's child killed by you cruelly?"
Ning Chen asked with his right foot continuing to kick at the man's face.
Yun Feng didn't answered and he just simply glaring angrily at Ning Chen for humiliating him badly.
Ning Chen began to think for a moment. He didn't wanted the wolf's revenge to end so easily.
He wanted to make Yun Feng suffer more greatly since it was a promise.
Ning Chen suddenly grabbed Yun Feng by his throat and raised him up to the air.
"The Azure White Wolf will not be satisfied by just simply kicking you to death. Since I promised to revenge them, I must do it in a way to satisfy them."
Yun Feng desperately tried to escape from Ning Chen's grasp, but couldn't get away from his superhuman grip strength.
He couldn't also use his barrier ability since it wouldn't work when he was very close to Ning Chen.
"I'm not very experienced at torturing people, but I will try my best," Ning Chen muttered and moved his hand.
Slap!
A very loud slapping sound echoed, Ning Chen had slapped Yun Feng at his face very harshly.
"What?" Yun Feng was absent-minded for a while as he didn't expected Ning Chen to slap him.
It was also very painful and made his cheeks turning red.
"How dare you—!" Yun Feng wasn't able to finish his words filled with hate as Ning Chen slapped him at the face again.
"Bastard! If you're a real man, fight me with your fist!" Yun Feng roared angrily, but Ning Chen once again slapped him at the face.
"Did you say something?" Ning Chen asked quietly with his eyes staring deeply into Yun Feng's own eyes.
"I said stop slapping—!"
Slap!
"Did you said anything?" Ning Chen once again asked after slapping Yun Feng to shut him up.
Yun Feng's entire face was entirely red as he stared venomously at Ning Chen.
This humiliation was something he couldn't accept.
Ning Chen continued slapping Yun Feng on the face until his face was unrecognizable due to it swelling very badly.
He was slowly growing tired of slapping Yun Feng and decided to move to the final act of his revenge for the wolf's.
Ning Chen approached the grave he made for the wolfs while dragging Yun Feng along with him.
He threw Yun Feng Infront of the grave before stepping heavily on his face, causing a crunching sound to echo.
"Beg for their forgiveness," Ning Chen said while inwardly feeling tired.
He wasn't used to doing this kind of cruel thing and it was exhausting him a lot mentally.
"I would never apologize to those inferior beast! Why are you even siding with those losers who only serve as our spirit ring?" Yun Feng said with clear disdain.
He was someone who hated spirit beast to his core and treated them as very inferior to human.
"A promise is a promise," Ning Chen coldly uttered.
His right foot became heavier as he stepped on Yun Feng's head, making him feel like his brain was about to explode into pieces.
"Arghh!" Yun Feng shrieked in pain as he struggled desperately, but he couldn't fight back at all.
Seeing him still not begging, Ning Chen continued to add his strength to his right foot.
Crack...!
A cracking sound drifted through his ears, Yun Feng's ears were dripping with blood as thick veins covered his head.
"S-sorry...! p-please forgive me!" Yun Feng couldn't handle the pain anymore and started begging.
"Continue begging. If I found your words pleasant, I will let you escape alive."
Yun Feng was able to see a faint light of hope after hearing those words.
He started begging more miserably and his actions resembled like a loser.
This lasted for several minutes until Ning Chen finally said for Yun Feng to stop.
"I have found your words very pleasant," Ning Chen said while being expressionless.
Yun Feng was delighted hearing those words and his heart rapidly beat with hope.
He swore to take revenge for the humiliation he felt today by several folds in the future after escaping alive.
However, Ning Chen's next words caused him to fall into despair.
"You can now die," Ning Chen said before smashing Yun Feng's head heavily with his right foot, causing his head to be crushed flat and his brain to splatter into pieces.
Ning Chen stood beside Yun Feng's corpse with his complexion growing pale, but it quickly vanished.
"The deal has been completed," He softly muttered while looking at the grave.
He then walked away silently, leaving the place.
The rejection he was feeling from his second spirit ring and spirit bone completely disappeared and had now truly merged one with him.
It now truly belonged to him.
After he left the area, Ning Chen didn't noticed an ethereal-looking large wolf and a small wolf standing above the grave, looking at him with deep gratitude.
...
3k+ words so there might be many errors I didn't see.