Not long after the sun rose into the sky, a red figure leaped across the Sea God Lake towards Sea God Island, the breeze stirred by her body creating subtle ripples on the surface.
It was Wang Nan, who had already absorbed his fifth spirit ring.
As he expected, absorbing a 20,000-year spirit ring was not difficult for his body's strength. After the mutated White Tiger's consciousness contained within the spirit ring was captured by the light cluster in Wang Nan's spiritual sea, the spirit power within the ring unreservedly entered Wang Nan's body.
Rank 53 — this was his current spirit power rank.
Not long after landing on Sea God Island, Wang Nan saw about a dozen Inner Courtyard Disciples gathered around the arena not far away, with occasional cheers erupting.
Disciples who could enter the Inner Courtyard were usually either carrying out surveillance missions or diligently training; scenes like this, where they gathered together, were uncommon.
"Senior Brother, what's happening here?" Wang Nan approached the edge of the arena and asked an Inner Courtyard Disciple standing beside him.
The Inner Courtyard Disciple turned his head, saw that Wang Nan was an unfamiliar face, and explained, "You must be a Disciple who just entered the Inner Courtyard last year. You know that the Inner Courtyard encourages Disciples to spar with each other. The Inner Courtyard Disciple on the arena is the famous Golden Crow Holy Maiden, Senior Sister Wu Ming..."
The Inner Courtyard Disciple stopped midway when a gaze fixed on him.
He shivered, his mouth closing quickly. No matter how much Wang Nan asked, the Disciple wouldn't speak, only continuously nudging his chin towards the arena.
"Junior Brother, since you're so interested in Senior Sister, why don't you come to the arena and try your hand?"
After hearing this voice, the surrounding Disciples all turned to look at Wang Nan, many showing a hint of sympathy in their eyes.
"Junior Brother, you should go up. The Golden Crow Holy Maiden's combativeness is famous in the Inner Courtyard; so far, no one she's targeted has managed to escape."
"Junior Brother, since you understand me so well, how about after I defeat him, you're next?"
"Hiss—" The Inner Courtyard Disciple gritted his teeth, took a breath, and stopped speaking.
"Alright, I'll have to ask Senior Sister for much guidance."
Wang Nan leaped up onto the arena.
Wang Nan had just acquired a spirit ring, and he needed to test its specific effects to become more proficient in future battles. Even if Wu Ming hadn't actively invited him to spar, he probably would have sought someone to test his Spirit Abilities on.
"Then it depends on your strength. If you can make me fight happily, I will definitely give you more guidance in the future."
As Wu Ming's words fell, golden-red Golden Crow True Flame erupted from her, the intense firelight instantly illuminating the entire arena. Six spirit rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black—rose from beneath her feet.
Her second spirit ring lit up, and a cluster of golden-red flames danced in her palm. The next moment, intense firelight spread from around her body to the entire arena. This was her second Spirit Ability, Golden Crow True Flame Burn.
The moment Wu Ming activated her Spirit, Wang Nan felt a wave of heat. Wang Nan often sparred with Ma Xiaotao, but her flames were completely different from the ones before him. When Wu Ming's Spirit activated, it was as if another sun had risen in front of him.
Watching a sea of fire spread from Wu Ming's side towards his feet, Wang Nan lightly leaped, his body floating in mid-air.
Although it was only a Rank 3 spirit tool thruster, it was still effective in battles between Spirit King and Spirit Emperor. In fact, after Wang Nan obtained his fifth spirit ring, the consumption of spirit power was even less, allowing him to float for a longer time.
However, since the academy promoted Spirit Masters using spirit tools, Wu Ming had clearly sparred with Spirit Masters who quickly adopted spirit tools.
Seeing Wang Nan rise into the air, she showed no surprise. Instead, her first spirit ring lit up, and her first Spirit Ability, Golden Crow True Flame Break, was unleashed from her hands.
She brought her hands together, and a golden-red pillar of fire spewed forth from between them, directly blasting towards Wang Nan.
Wang Nan dodged, only to see a smile appear on Wu Ming's face.
No Disciple who could enter the Inner Courtyard was simple, especially Wu Ming, who also had a considerable reputation within the Inner Courtyard.
With her spirit power circulating and a slight movement of her hands, the pillar of fire changed direction, following Wang Nan like a shadow.
Wu Ming's ability to remain undefeated through various battles in the Inner Courtyard and forge a formidable reputation was greatly due to her control over Spirit Abilities. Even some Spirit Masters with higher cultivation found it difficult to control their Spirit Abilities with such ease and precision as she did.
Seeing this, Wang Nan stopped dodging. He drew out his Coiling Dragon Staff with a backhand, and without using any Spirit Ability, a faint Dragon roar could be heard from the Coiling Dragon Staff as he split the pillar of fire behind him with a single strike.
Wu Ming wasn't annoyed by this; after all, it was only her first Spirit Ability, and she couldn't expect much power from it. Being able to force Wang Nan to stop had already achieved her goal. She then let out a low cry, pointed her right hand skyward, and her fourth spirit ring shone brightly. A red orb the size of a Dragon's eye shot up into the sky.
The orb was small at first, but quickly grew exponentially with the wind, then plummeted towards Wang Nan. This was her fourth Spirit Ability, Golden Crow True Flame Ring.
Wu Ming truly deserved the title "Living Volcano"; she had just started sparring, yet three Spirit Abilities were unleashed in quick succession, completely disregarding spirit power consumption, launching a barrage of attacks at Wang Nan.
The fireball descended, and a powerful impact and flames erupted from where Wang Nan was, completely engulfing him. But very quickly, a black shadow burst out of the flames.
Wang Nan was now clad in black armor, the dark golden scales shimmering in the firelight, much like Dragon scales.
In addition to greatly enhancing Wang Nan's defense, the Tyrannosaurus Armor also provided some other boosts. At this moment, his spirit power circulated faster, and the effect of his first Spirit Ability also became stronger.
Wang Nan threw the Coiling Dragon Staff in his hand, then stomped hard on the Coiling Dragon Staff with both feet. His figure shot towards Wu Ming like an arrow from a bowstring. Then, with a gesture of his right hand, the Coiling Dragon Staff cut a semicircle in mid-air and returned to his hand.
He was like stepping on his left foot with his right, and his speed towards Wu Ming became faster and faster.
In fact, sometimes, speed is also a form of strength. Using this momentum, Wang Nan raised the Coiling Dragon Staff and smashed it fiercely towards Wu Ming.
Wu Ming seemed to have no defensive Spirit Abilities; she just quickly dodged.
Wang Nan knew about feints when he sparred with Sun He during the entrance examination. Now that he was in the Inner Courtyard, how could he use such an obvious Move?
Before this chop landed, the Coiling Dragon Staff changed direction in mid-air, sweeping towards Wu Ming.
Wu Ming looked back, then surprisingly lunged towards Wang Nan's embrace.
At the same time, her third spirit ring lit up, and a crimson light appeared around her. Her third Spirit Ability, Golden Crow True Flame Burst, was unleashed, and she was like an extremely unstable fireball about to explode right in front of Wang Nan.