Chapter 76: The Ten Thousand Sword Willow King
Another month passed, and Ye Wen finally reached the Spirit Saint level. He was just one spirit ring away from unlocking his Spirit Avatar. As he gazed at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, which they had tended for the better part of half a year, a trace of reluctance crossed his face. He turned to Alán and instructed firmly, "From here on out, this place is under your protection, Alán. No matter who intrudes, they are to be eliminated on sight."
With that chilling command, Ye Wen made his stance clear. He had never pretended to be a good man anyone who dared cross his bottom line would face death without exception.
"You can count on me, Your Majesty," Alán replied with resolute loyalty. "Even if a Title Douluo appears, I will fight to protect this place." Though highly unlikely, since no ordinary Title Douluo would venture so deep into the forest for a spirit ring, Alán's commitment moved Ye Wen. After a heartfelt farewell, Ye Wen and Ah Yin set out to find a new spirit ring.
Though Sunset Forest teemed with a variety of high level spirit beasts, many of them no longer posed a challenge to someone like Ye Wen. His physical strength had reached an astonishing 200,000 jin (about 110 tons), more than sufficient to wield the Sea God Trident effortlessly if he ever acquired it. If they could locate a 200,000 year old beast, his only real concern would be dealing with its mental power.
The primary goal this time, however, was securing Ah Yin's seventh spirit ring. Unlike Ye Wen, Ah Yin's physical strength was at a more typical level for an exceptionally talented spirit master. Thanks to the enhancement from the Lovesick Heartbroken Red, Ye Wen estimated she could withstand a spirit ring of around 70,000 years.
"Brother, what type of spirit beast do you think would be best for my seventh ring?" Ah Yin asked curiously.
Ye Wen gave the question some thought. "When a spirit master reaches the level of Spirit Saint, the seventh spirit ring will unlock the Spirit Avatar, regardless of the spirit ring's age. But the quality of the spirit and the age of the spirit ring greatly impact the power of the Spirit Avatar. Essentially, the stronger the spirit, and the higher the ring's age, the more powerful the Spirit Avatar becomes.
"Moreover," Ye Wen continued, "at the Spirit Saint level, if the ring acquired has a unique resonance with the spirit, it's possible to trigger a spirit evolution. I found this information buried in some ancient texts, but it's extremely rare because most who reach this level already possess strong spirits, making such cases almost unheard of."
"Oh, I see," Ah Yin replied, though a slight frown creased her forehead. "But my Blue Silver Emperor is already one of the most powerful plant based spirits. I don't think there's any beast in Sunset Forest that could trigger its evolution not even in Star Dou Forest."
Ye Wen nodded. "Exactly. In terms of life force, your Blue Silver Emperor is unmatched among plant spirits, perhaps second only to the mythical Golden Ancient Tree. But there's another path: every time a spirit master gains a ring, it not only enhances their spirit but often brings new traits to the spirit itself.
"For your Blue Silver Emperor, which has an innate strength in vitality, this ring may not bolster its life force much further. But it can still undergo a transformation. Since this ring will be your first acquired through direct combat rather than being self condensed, it might lead to a distinctive change."
Hearing this, Ah Yin finally understood. Indeed, human spirits were peculiar creations; while they didn't always evolve directly with new rings, they often developed unique abilities. It was akin to the Clear Sky Hammer, which varied based on the attached spirit rings clan members outside the main line, who lacked extreme attack type rings, often ended up with strange effects, even humorous ones.
For example, some Clear Sky elders had developed hammers that generated bubbles or, in some cases, even detached and could be thrown like projectiles. This was due to the Clear Sky Clan's restrictive practices that stunted the development of all branches outside the main family line.
Ye Wen continued, "Based on your current spirit skills, your control ability is unparalleled. Even someone an entire level above you would have difficulty breaking free. However, you only have one true offensive skill the Blue Silver Overlord Lance. That's a disadvantage, so our goal this time is to balance it out."
"How do we do that?" she asked, intrigued.
"By finding a spirit beast that is essentially a living weapon!"
As he finished speaking, Ye Wen pointed toward the distance.
There, not far ahead, stood a colossal willow tree reaching a height of ten meters. It presided over a barren clearing, devoid of other plants or animals. The tree's looming presence left no doubt about its formidable nature.
"An 80,000 year old Ten Thousand Sword Willow King?" Ah Yin was taken aback. "Are you suggesting that I absorb its ring? My limit is only 70,000 years!"
The Sword Willow's dense network of branches stirred ominously, as if ready to attack at the slightest provocation.
Ye Wen explained, "The Sword Willow is rare but widespread. It can be found in almost every area with spirit beasts, and its sword like leaves give it the name 'Sword Willow.' Once it surpasses 10,000 years, it is known as a Ten Thousand Sword Willow, and if it reaches 50,000 years, it gains the title of Ten Thousand Sword Willow King. This species is a favorite for weapon masters who specialize in sword qi because its innate skill is usually sword based.
"If you absorb its ring, your Blue Silver Emperor will likely develop razor sharp properties. Your usual control skills could evolve into techniques with offensive qualities, capable of shredding anyone who touches them to pieces."
The more Ye Wen explained, the brighter Ah Yin's eyes grew. Despite her impressive control abilities, the appeal of being able to slice through enemies was undeniable.
Yet she hesitated. "But, Brother, I can't absorb an 80,000 year ring…"
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