Chapter 15: Absorbing the Spirit Ring and an Unexpected Gain

Chapter 15: Absorbing the Spirit Ring and an Unexpected Gain

At this moment, only three others were present on the training ground besides Han Li.

Xiu'er's eyes sparkled with admiration as she watched him, her expression filled with awe.

Guang Ling and Qing Luan, however, looked a little… off.

Qing Luan took one look at Guang Ling's face, trembled slightly, then turned around clearly holding back laughter.

As for Guang Ling himself, his face was frozen in an expression of pure bewilderment, staring at his disciple like an old man struggling with a smartphone.

He, Guang Ling, the strongest long range attacker on the continent, had taken in a genius disciple… and what did that disciple do when hunting his first spirit ring?

Used dual blades to finish off the target.

Guang Ling could kind of accept it after all, Han Li had never practiced archery before.

His original plan was to use this hunt as an opportunity to teach Han Li some fundamentals so he wouldn't think long range combat was too easy.

He had one rule, though. As a ranged fighter, even if Han Li couldn't use a bow yet, he at least shouldn't be like those assassins who used daggers. That would be embarrassing.

And then…

Han Li drew his swords and charged in.

That wasn't even the worst part. The worst part was that after executing a single combo, Han Li turned tail and ran.

He ran?

Guang Ling really wanted to grab his disciple and ask:

 Where's your courage?!

 Where's your warrior's spirit?!

 Do you not trust that two Titled Douluo can protect you?!

And yet…

Looking at the Elemental Butterfly, which was rapidly losing its life force, Guang Ling couldn't bring himself to say anything.

Because, technically speaking…

Han Li wasn't wrong.

But dammit, Guang Ling felt like something was stuck in his chest.

As a teacher, he couldn't tell Han Li that his choice was incorrect, lest he set up a bad habit that might be impossible to correct later.

First experiences were important.

While the atmosphere remained awkward, the Elemental Butterfly finally stopped struggling.

Weak in combat even at its peak, the poor creature had already been slapped by a Titled Douluo before getting combo attacked and burned alive.

As its soul left its body, a glowing yellow ring of energy floated into the air.

A faint scent of charred flesh lingered in the training ground, but nobody paid attention to it. All eyes were on the spirit ring.

Han Li let out a breath and turned to Guang Ling, silently asking if he should absorb it now.

Guang Ling wanted to tell him to scram, but when he saw that eager face, he just sighed and waved his hand.

Han Li sprinted toward the ring moving much faster than usual.

Sure, his face was calm, but inside?

Inside, he was thrilled.

This… this is the first real step into the extraordinary.

Arriving beside the Elemental Butterfly's corpse, Han Li didn't immediately start the absorption.

Instead, he carefully reviewed every bit of guidance he had received from his two Titled Douluo teachers the previous night.

Only after confirming that nothing was overlooked did he sit down cross legged.

At four hundred years old, the spirit ring was already pushing the limit of what he could absorb.

Fortunately, thanks to his training and a diet rich in ten year spirit beast meat, his body was just strong enough to handle it.

And since the Elemental Butterfly was naturally weak in combat, it was relatively safe for him to absorb.

Closing his eyes, Han Li first entered a brief meditative state before guiding the spirit ring toward his martial soul.

Unlike before, he didn't summon his Ice Fire Blades.

Instead, he summoned the Ice Fire Bow.

This was something Guang Ling and Qing Luan had suggested the night before. Given Han Li's unique martial soul structure not twin spirits, but two separate hands wielding opposing elements they believed it would be safest to use the fused form of the Ice Fire Bow as the absorption vessel.

The moment his spirit energy touched the ring, the yellow light compressed and shot directly onto the bow's body.

A rush of burning energy instantly flooded into Han Li's body.

His entire frame trembled violently.

"Focus on your martial soul. Stay conscious!"

Guang Ling's sharp voice rang in his ears.

The irritation bubbling inside Han Li immediately calmed, and he returned to a meditative state, guiding the energy through his body.

This was unlike normal cultivation.

Normally, his spiritual power had to push his energy to circulate.

But now, the spirit ring's energy was driving his awareness forward, making him feel weightless.

If only regular cultivation was this fast, Han Li thought wistfully as he continued stabilizing the energy flow.

Time passed.

Eventually, the surging spirit energy settled.

It was still moving far faster than normal, but at least it was no longer chaotic.

Only now did Han Li have the presence of mind to observe what was happening inside him.

To his surprise, he could vaguely see the energy pathways in his body.

Compared to his previous method of relying entirely on instinct, this was much clearer.

Was this… internal visualization?

He immediately dismissed the thought.

It wasn't that developed yet.

Too bad.

If only he had a proper cultivation technique.

Unfortunately, medical knowledge in this world was so backward that even if he wanted to study meridians, he wouldn't know where to start.

Seeing Han Li's energy settle, Guang Ling and Qing Luan stopped monitoring him and casually started chatting.

Qing Luan, watching Guang Ling's conflicted expression, couldn't help but smile.

"Xiao Li's temperament is… quite cautious, isn't it?"

He deliberately chose a mild term.

Guang Ling finally had a place to vent his frustration.

"Cautious? He's a coward!"

Guang Ling snapped.

"There were two Titled Douluo present, and the kid still ran behind me!

No archery? Fine. I get it. He was trained in swordsmanship before.

But "

Guang Ling struggled for words.

He clenched his fists.

His face turned red.

And after a long pause…

"UGH!"

Qing Luan chuckled.

"Come now, there's no need to be upset.

In reality, his strategy was actually more suitable for ranged combat than your style."

Guang Ling sulked.

"Yeah, yeah. I know. That's what pisses me off.

He threw away the romance of being a marksman.

What about my honor?!"

Qing Luan laughed.

"Give it time. Maybe once he grows stronger, things will change."

Guang Ling was about to retort when

BOOM!

A new wave of energy suddenly surged from Han Li's position.

At the same time, Han Li let out a muffled groan.

"Something's wrong!"

Guang Ling and Qing Luan immediately turned and flashed to his side.

Then

They froze.

Han Li…

Had antennae.

Two black antennae, identical to those of the Elemental Butterfly, had sprouted from his head and were now gently swaying.

His expression, however, was completely peaceful.

Xiu'er, who had rushed over from a distance, hesitated upon seeing this strange sight.

But after noting the admiration in the two Titled Douluo's eyes, she relaxed and returned to her spot though she still curiously watched the new additions to Han Li's head.

Eh.

She had ears on top of her head.

What was so weird about Han Li having antennae?

"An external spirit bone…

On his first spirit ring absorption…"

Guang Ling's voice was flat.

Then, he clicked his tongue.

"This brat has way too much luck."

Qing Luan smirked.

"You're not actually jealous of your own disciple, are you?"

Guang Ling scoffed.

"Tch. That's an external spirit bone!

Aside from that woman Bibi Dong, he's only the second person I've ever seen get one!

If he weren't my disciple, I'd have already killed him and taken it for myself!"

He crossed his arms.

Then he grinned.

"…But since he is my disciple, I guess I'll let it slide."

Qing Luan shook his head, amused.

"Enough nonsense. Your dear disciple is waking up."

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