During the time Wang Nan was in deep meditation, Ma Xiaotao would come by every few days, but Shrek Academy didn't allow girls into the boys' dormitory, so she could only secretly peek from a distance.
She didn't expect to be caught red-handed this time.
"I just woke up and went to eat. Oh, by the way, who told you to call me that?" Although he was asking, Wang Nan already had a guess in his heart.
"Gongyang Mo! When we were on our way to the Soul Duel Tournament and talked about you, that's what he called you." Ma Xiaotao said, circling Wang Nan once. "You don't look thinner, but you've grown quite a bit taller."
"With Old Zhuang around, how could I get thinner?"
Old Zhuang is the only support system Titled Douluo among the elders on Sea God Island. His Spirit is the Tree of Life, which contains powerful life Qi. Under its influence, even burnt plants can sprout new branches and leaves again. Providing energy for Wang Nan's body is more than enough.
"Did you come here for something? Let me tell you first, if you want to fight, you'll have to wait a few days until I've recovered."
"Do you really think I'm that eager to fight?"
Wang Nan looked at Ma Xiaotao in surprise when he heard this.
Wu Ming and Ma Xiaotao, two famous active volcanoes in the Inner Courtyard. Although they weren't as famous now as they would be later, their reputation for being hot-tempered and always dragging people to the arena was already starting to spread.
Ma Xiaotao's face flushed slightly from Wang Nan's gaze, and she quickly changed the subject. "This time, during the Soul Duel Tournament, I encountered an auction focused on spirit tools. I know you've always been interested in spirit tools, so I bought one for you."
During the Soul Duel Tournament, all the Advanced Spirit Master Academies from across the continent gather, so many merchants take this opportunity to hold auctions and other events. It wasn't surprising that Ma Xiaotao encountered one.
"Look." Ma Xiaotao said, taking out a silver necklace. The pendant of the necklace was about the size of an adult thumb, and from its appearance, it looked like a mini baby bottle.
"This is a charging spirit tool. You can store spirit power in it, and when you're not in good condition, you can use it to replenish your spirit power."
Without waiting for Wang Nan to refuse, Ma Xiaotao grabbed his arm, put the necklace in his hand, and then quickly ran away.
"You rest well, I'm heading back now."
Watching Ma Xiaotao's hurried retreating figure, Wang Nan let out a helpless laugh.
Back in the dormitory, Wang Nan held the necklace in his hand and examined it carefully.
Compared to a charging spirit tool, he thought the name 'energy-storage spirit tool' would be more fitting for it.
Although it could provide spirit power to a Spirit Master, it had many limitations. For example, a low-Rank Spirit Master couldn't use a charging spirit tool that exceeded their own Rank, otherwise, their body would be unable to withstand the excessively vast spirit power.
Another example is that when using a charging spirit tool, one needs to stop all movements and fully focus on guiding the spirit power. Otherwise, the spirit power could easily go out of control and cause physical damage. This also means it cannot be used during combat, greatly reducing its practicality.
In comparison, the ability to store spirit power is actually more important.
If Wang Nan remembered correctly, in the future, offensive spirit tools would appear that use charging spirit tools as a power source. If this method were to be widely adopted, it would greatly lower the barrier to using spirit tools, and even lead to the creation of spirit tools that ordinary people could use.
Coupled with the appearance of sealed baby bottles that could achieve zero spirit power loss, at that time, both warfare and people's daily lives would undergo immense changes due to spirit tools.
'It's a pity my energy is limited, and my talent for making spirit tools is average. I should find some time to ask Lin Xiao or Ye Xiaosheng to help research this.'
Thinking of this, Wang Nan put away the necklace, summoned his Coiling Dragon Staff, held it in his hand, and gradually entered meditation.
...
That evening, outside the east gate of Shrek Academy, a tall, burly man stood. A lifelike White Tiger was embroidered on his left chest, and he carried a military aura. His sharp gaze constantly surveyed his surroundings until he saw Dai Yueheng walk out of the Academy.
"Young Lord." The burly man took two steps forward and bowed slightly.
"How are the matters I asked you to investigate coming along?"
"It has been thoroughly investigated. The target is Wang Nan. There are four people in his family. Besides the target himself, his father, Wang Xing, has the Coiling Dragon Staff Spirit, a Spirit King Training, but no ten-thousand-year spirit ring. His mother is an ordinary person. There is also an uncle, Wang Yan, who works at Shrek Academy, also a Spirit King Training."
Upon mentioning Wang Yan, Dai Yueheng understood and continued to ask, "What about his ancestors? With two Spirit Kings in the family, his grandfather's generation should also have been Spirit Masters."
"The target's grandfather was indeed a Spirit Master, but he passed away very early due to an accident."
"And what else?"
"According to the records in Star Luo City, the Wang family ancestors fled to Star Luo City due to war over six hundred years ago. At that time, they had no other background in the city, and no other famous figures have appeared in these past few hundred years. Anything before that is unclear."
"Hmph, it seems they were just lucky, with such a talented one appearing only after several generations." Dai Yueheng's eyes flickered as he pondered something.
"Oh, Young Lord, there's also a matter from the manor."
"What's going on in the manor?" Dai Yueheng thought for a moment. "Is it related to that mother and son?"
"No, it's about the Second Young Lord." The burly man leaned closer and whispered, "A few days ago, the Second Young Lord already completed his Spirit Fusion with Young Miss Zhu."
"What?"
Dai Yueheng was shocked. He had been taught from a young age not to show his emotions, but at this moment, he couldn't control his shock and exclaimed.
In every generation, two people from the Zhu and Dai families would become husband and wife, the reason being the possibility of Spirit Fusion between their two families' Spirits.
Originally, Dai Yueheng, as the eldest son of the White Tiger Duke, could naturally inherit the title of Duke. But now, Dai Huabin had achieved Spirit Fusion with a member of the Zhu family.
This made the succession of the peerage uncertain. Even if Dai Huabin himself had no intention of contending for the title, the Zhu family behind him would not give up so easily.
Dai Yueheng was silent for a long time. Despite his unease, his ingrained habits from childhood gradually calmed the expression on his face.
"Does Father know about this?"
"As soon as the Spirit Fusion was completed, someone was sent to inform Duke Dai."
"I understand. You can go back now." Dai Yueheng took a deep breath and waved his hand at the burly man. "Oh, and instruct everyone that my brother has completed his Spirit Fusion and will surely be the heir to the White Tiger Duke in the future. Whatever he asks you to do, you must complete it with all your heart and effort, understand?"
"Yes, Young Lord, your subordinate understands your meaning."
"Good, go do it."