Surprisingly, the Spirit Ring of the Golden Holy Calabash still had some residual soul hidden inside.
The soul of the Golden Holy Calabash screeched loudly as it struggled to break free of my integration, attacking my soul.
I was a little shocked by the appearance of the Golden Holy Calabash's soul. Soul shock is only meant to appear on Spirit Beasts at least 10,000 years old.
But this Golden Holy Calabash is quite special, and it is close to 10,000 years old, so it is not unreasonable for it to have a strong soul.
The soul of the Golden Holy Calabash tried to drill its way into my brain, however my mind is not weak.
If you count both lives, I am already 33 years old, my mind is already properly developed, and my willpower is immensely strong.
Although I can't say that it is stronger than Tang San's willpower, it is not much weaker.
After all, I was able to shrug off the life-threatening damage from Er Ming and the sneak attack with this Golden Holy Calabash without my willpower breaking.
Inside my mind, I watched the Golden Holy Calabash's soul fruitlessly try to penetrate my mind, "I have already beaten you once, it will only be easier the second time."
I directed all my killing intent and mind power towards the struggling Golden Holy Calabash, seeking to eliminate its soul once and for all.
The soul of the Golden Holy Calabash let out a mournful screech as it began to disintegrate under my powers, eventually disappearing completely.
Now left with a Spirit Ring without lingering souls, I absorb it in peace.
One hour later, I fully integrate with the Spirit Ring of the Golden Holy Calabash. Information about the Spirit Ability washes over my mind.
The Spirit Ability I have received allows me to create a gourd containing special liquids that can purify toxins in the body.
Currently, it is able to purify all uncommon poisons in the Douluo Dalu Continent, as well as purifying the toxins within the skin, flesh and internal organs.
As expected from a Spirit Beast with a special bloodline, the resulting Spirit Ability is also amazing, I can imagine that when it evolves, it will begin to purify more poisons and more parts of the body.
Before I stand up, I feel the dormant Spirit Power stored in my body start to liven up. I concentrate as I cultivate, allowing the Spirit Power to flow in its usual path.
Pop—
My Spirit Power instantly broke through another rank, reaching the fifty-second level.
I knew I wouldn't be able to use the efficacy of the Lengthy Flaccid Banana much more.
An Immortal Herb of that level can give Tang San and the others around 10 levels, but for me who is much further ahead of them in cultivation, I will only be able to get one or two more levels.
I stand up and stretch my limbs, the Immortal Realm has levelled up now that I received my next Spirit Ring.
Seeing how useful my fifth Spirit Ability is, I plan to devote most of my time in the Immortal Realm to evolving the Spirit Ring to 1,000,000 years old.
*****
Several days passed and the week-long temporary seclusion has been completed. During this time, Tang San was called out by Flander to heal Dugu Yan, also signalling the departure of Dugu Bo.
Now, it will be safe for Little Jing and Xiao Wu even if they aren't concealed by the Yearning Heartbroken Red or my Illusion Ice Transformation.
I spent the entire 48 hours of my time in the Immortal Realm grinding Spirit Beasts and was just barely able to evolve my fifth Spirit Ability to 1,000,000 years old.
The strength that each evolution gained was incredible. Currently, the liquid inside the Purifying Bottle Gourd can purify the skin, flesh, internal organs, meridians, bone marrow and even the soul.
It can also nullify any poison, I'm not sure how far "any" extends, but it should be fine against even Dugu Bo's poison.
I have yet to drink from the Purifying Bottle Gourd since I was worried that the cleansing effect only works once per person.
If I had drunk it when it was only a purple Spirit Ring, I wouldn't get the benefits of cleansing the soul, though the information given by the Spirit Ring didn't say anything about once per person.
All of us were gathered inside Liu Erlong's cabin. Right now, half of us are ready to get our next Spirit Rings.
Of course, nobody knows that I already have my fifth Spirit Ring, I have been using an illusion to hide the fact that I am already rank 52.
I will go with the others to get their Spirit Rings and stage myself absorbing another Spirit Ring, when I am really just absorbing its age.
"Alright, it has been a week already, I will take the others that need a Spirit Ring with Liu Erlong to the Sunset Forest nearby." Yu Xiao Gang said.
"The rest of you, stay at the academy and enter the advanced classes until we come back." He added.
"Grandmaster, I would like to request permission to return to my Clan. I must report the change in my Spirit to my father." Rong Rong spoke up.
Yu Xiao Gang nodded his head, "Alright, permission granted. Don't stay there for too long, there is still much to prepare for the Continental Tournament."
Everyone knew just how major of an incident Rong Rong's secondary awakening was, if it weren't for her consolidating her foundation, she would have already gone back to her clan.
All of us left Liu Erlong's cabin to go and prepare for our journey to the Sunset Forest.
The girls packed some clothes while Rong Rong and I sat on the bed watching them.
"Brother Wulin, Daddy knows that I am in a relationship, but he doesn't know that the rice is cooked..." Rong Rong was a bit hesitant.
I thought about it, even though Rong Rong is more developed than others her age, she is still just under 14 years old.
If her father finds out that she is no longer a virgin, no doubt he will go in a rampage and try to kill me.
If it's just him, then it isn't a problem, but he has two Titled Douluo beside him. They will be able to kill me within seconds if they get serious.
"Uh… Do your best to upsell me to your grandpa's. Hopefully my talent as a 13-year-old Spirit King can appease your fathers rage when he finds out."
Rong Rong nodded her head, "My grandpas dote on me a lot and have more say than my father, if I stay adamant on this, they will eventually give up."
"If not, I will threaten them with my life." Her eyes showed resolution with this statement.
I pet her head, "It won't get that far, at most they will ask me for a couple spars. I will give them a couple gifts that will change their minds. Even your father will beg for me to marry you."
Rong Rong arrogantly hmphed, "Daddy has never begged anyone for anything. He can be extremely stubborn on some things."
I smirked as I pulled her into my embrace, "How come you don't also have his personality. From what I recall, you beg me almost every night."
Rong Rong blushed, "That's because I don't have your regeneration abilities, you go for too long! I am still stubborn, just on different things."
Soon, the others were finished packing, including Little Jing. She was happily bouncing around, excited to go on an adventure.
Rong Rong looked at Little Jing as she asked, "Brother Wulin, how come you are taking Little Jing with you?"
"For safety reasons." I shortly explain, it's not that I don't trust the others, but the less that know about Little Jing, the better.
If I left Little Jing at the academy, she would become immediately exposed when Rong Rong's Grandpa Bone came along.
Rong Rong, not understanding what I meant nodded her head, "Right, if she is left alone in the academy, she will terrorise all the students."
I smiled but didn't correct her, "Since you are all ready, let's go now."
They nodded their head as all of us left to the entrance of New Shrek Academy.
Already waiting there, the rest of our group of Guardian God's, as well as Yu Xiao Gang, Liu Erlong and Flander were standing around talking together.
Liu Erlong and Flander will be following us to the Sunset Forest. Zhao Wuji, the next strongest, will be in charge of the academy while they are gone.
All of us begin to say our goodbyes to the ones staying here, Mu Bai is standing by Qing'er as he lightly talks to her.
After saying our goodbyes, we left New Shrek Academy and headed towards the city gates.
Soon, we left the city gates and saw a group of people in white clothes and masks standing still like dolls.
Once Rong Rong stepped forward, all of them suddenly kneeled on one knee as they simultaneously yelled, "Greetings to the Young Miss!"
Rong Rong nodded her head and waved her hand, allowing them to stand up again.
She turned towards me as she leapt into my chest, embracing me. I smiled and hugged her soft body tightly.
"Alright, we aren't going to be gone for long. Don't keep your father waiting and hurry to tell him the good news." I say.
Rong Rong nodded her head gently, "I know." She stood on her tip toes as she leaned in for a kiss.
I also lowered my head as I kissed her pink lips in front of her Clansmen.
Their bodies trembled greatly when they saw we were bold enough to kiss in public.
Most people have already been informed that Rong Rong was in a relation with a man, but with her age, they didn't think that the relationship could progress so quickly.
However, they couldn't do anything about it. They made a mental note to report the progression of the relationship to the Clan Head when they returned.
Rong Rong left under the escort of her clansmen while the rest of us headed towards the Sunset Forest.
****
It didn't take long before the nine of us reached the entrance of Sunset Forest.
I turned to Flander as I said, "Teacher Flander, let's split up here. You help Yu Xiao Gang and Mu Bai get their Spirit Rings while I will help my girls."
Flander thought about it and nodded his head, "Alright, you are strong enough to take care of yourself. We will meet back here in five days."
Liu Erlong smiled as she said, "Great, we can have some time as the Golden Iron Triangle again!"
Mu Bai almost choked when he heard her words, "Teacher Liu, I am still going with you, you know?"
She nodded her head, "Right, I didn't forget about you. We will teach you all about the strength of our group during these days."
Mu Bai had a strange expression on his face, it was incredibly subtle, but he felt like Liu Erlong was threatening him.
I quickly left with my girls, leaving Mu Bai to fend for himself among those three teachers.
If I am able to move around with my girls, I don't have to worry about making a fake scene of absorbing a Spirit Ring like I had planned to.
"Alright, let's go deeper into the forest, we should be able to find some Spirit Beasts between 3,000 to 5,000 years old."
I lead the girls deeper into the forest as we began hunting for Spirit Beasts. Luckily, they only need relatively young Spirit Beasts, so it is easy to find Spirit Beasts.
In the future when we are looking for those over 10,000-years-old we will have to search a lot harder.
****
Four days later, Xue Mei slowly opens her eyes.
I look toward her expectantly, "So, how is it? What Spirit Ability did you get?"
Xue Mei smiled as she stood up, "Master, my Spirit Ability is called Skin Agitation. By agitating the skin, I can either strengthen defence by 40% or weaken it by 20%."
I nodded my head, "Good, now you have strength, speed and defence. If Rong Rong also gets a defence amplification, you two will be able to strengthen us all round by 70%."
Little Yue and Feng Feng also have their next Spirit Rings and Spirit Abilities, it didn't take long for me to find some suitable Spirit Beasts within this forest.
After killing a 5,000-year-old Frost Rhinoceros Spirit Beast, Little Yue gained the Spirit Ability Yin Ice Barrier.
Her Spirit Ability creates a protective dome around her, giving her invincibility for 4 seconds, and it seems to increase for every additive Spirit Ring.
Feng Feng on the other hand gained another attack Spirit Ability from killing a Fiery Porcupine Spirit Beast.
Her fourth Spirit Ability Yang Fire Arrows allows her to create small arrows made from her Yang Fire.
It is weaker than her other Spirit Abilities, however, the cost is drastically reduced, allowing her to spam it constantly.
Now that each of us have our Spirit Rings, we are ready to head off to meet up with Liu Erlong and the others, but there is still one more thing that I must do.
I turn towards Xue Mei as I say, "Xue Mei, your body should be strong enough now…"
Here is a chapter to signal that I am not dead.
Work has been pretty busy, so I don't have many chances to write, but I am slowly getting through.
My city is also on flood watch right now because it has been raining non-stop for the past week, so that's fun.
I will keep you guys updated if I don't get swept away.