Among fire-attribute spirit beasts, the Skyfire Fox is an extremely difficult opponent.
Not only does it possess the cunning of a fox, but it also has the flight capabilities of avian spirit beasts, making it incredibly fast.
Spirit Masters without flight abilities simply cannot keep up with it.
For Yan, the Skyfire Fox engaged in battle was like a gift from the heavens—this might be his chance to take it down.
Hiding in a concealed spot, Yan quietly observed the battle, waiting for the right moment to strike.
The fight between the two spirit beasts grew fiercer.
The Skyfire Fox was agile, its movements unpredictable, and its attacks were formidable.
Meanwhile, the Twin-Headed Demon Snake relied on its massive body and deadly venom to counterattack.
As the intense battle continued, the Twin-Headed Demon Snake began to show signs of fatigue. Its large body became a disadvantage, slowing it down.
Even its lethal venom was neutralized by the flames released by the Skyfire Fox.
The Skyfire Fox slashed open the Twin-Headed Demon Snake's body with its sharp claws, then burned it with its flames, ultimately killing it.
However, during the battle, the Skyfire Fox also sustained injuries.
Its wings had been struck by the massive snake tail, and one of them seemed to be broken.
Panting heavily, it was clear that the battle had drained a great deal of its energy.
Now was Yan's chance.
Without hesitation, Yan sprang into action.
Just as the Skyfire Fox was about to feast on the Twin-Headed Demon Snake, it suddenly sensed Yan's presence.
Feeling threatened, the Skyfire Fox let out a furious screech and lunged at Yan.
Yan was prepared. He instantly released his Flame Lord martial soul, ready to fight.
A burst of flames shot from his palm, clashing head-on with the Skyfire Fox.
As a fire-attribute spirit beast, the Skyfire Fox naturally did not fear being burned by flames.
Seeing that Yan was alone and also a fire-attribute Spirit Master, a glint of cunning and greed flashed in its eyes.
For this fire-attribute spirit beast, devouring Yan would not only replenish the energy it had spent battling the Twin-Headed Demon Snake but also strengthen its own fire abilities.
However, this was exactly what Yan had planned.
He deliberately revealed his fire attribute as bait, luring the Skyfire Fox into attacking.
Because he knew that this cunning spirit beast would never pass up the chance to devour a Spirit Master of the same attribute.
Sure enough, the Skyfire Fox was drawn to Yan's fire attribute, thinking he was an easy prey, and launched an even fiercer assault.
With a roar, its fiery-red figure shot toward Yan like lightning, attempting to overpower him with its speed and strength.
But Yan was already prepared, dodging its attacks with agility while secretly calculating the right moment.
Finally, at the very instant the Skyfire Fox launched another close-range strike, Yan seized his opportunity.
He swiftly activated his second spirit skill Granite Avalanche.
This spirit skill had two modes, offering both offense and defense.
It could either attack the enemy with rocks or form a protective barrier around himself.
This time, Yan chose the offensive mode.
In an instant, countless hardened rocks shot out from all directions like cannonballs, bombarding the Skyfire Fox.
These rocks were not only heavy but also incredibly hard, catching the Skyfire Fox off guard.
It hadn't expected that the fire-attribute Spirit Master before it would possess such a skill.
Under the assault of Granite Rock, the Skyfire Fox sustained severe injuries and was ultimately pinned beneath a pile of rocks, unable to move.
Yan did not give the Skyfire Fox any chance to recover. He swiftly leaped to the subdued spirit beast's side, his tightly gripped blade flashing as he precisely stabbed it into the Skyfire Fox's neck.
All struggle ceased with that single strike. The Skyfire Fox's life force rapidly faded away.
Moments later, a purple mist slowly rose from the Skyfire Fox's corpse. The mist gradually condensed, eventually forming a purple spirit ring that hovered in the air.
Gazing at the spirit ring radiating a brilliant purple light, Yan revealed a satisfied smile.
This was the first spirit ring he had obtained in this world through his own strength.
Although he couldn't compare to those prodigies who had a ten-thousand-year spirit ring as their fourth ring, he was already quite content.
After all, hunting a Skyfire Fox one that possessed both speed and fire attributes was no easy feat.
This time, he had simply been lucky.
Yan understood that with his current spiritual power and physique, he was still not capable of absorbing a ten-thousand-year spirit ring.
However, this six-thousand-year-old Skyfire Fox was a great find.
After absorbing its spirit ring, he would not only enhance his fire attribute but also increase his speed.
Yan walked beneath the hovering purple spirit ring and sat down cross-legged.
Adjusting his state, he prepared to absorb the ring.
The area had just experienced two fierce battles, and the surrounding spirit beasts had long since fled in fear.
Furthermore, Yan himself exuded a strong fire-attribute aura, making him appear like a burning flame. Ordinary spirit beasts wouldn't dare to approach him easily.
Thus, even though he was absorbing the spirit ring alone, it wasn't particularly dangerous.
The only concern was that this spirit ring had a six-thousand-year lifespan—exceeding the typical five-thousand-year limit for a Spirit Master's fourth ring.
In this life, he possessed an exceptionally powerful fire-attribute physique.
Therefore, he believed he could withstand the energy of this spirit ring.
After making all the necessary preparations, Yan began absorbing the ring.
As the absorption process commenced, he felt an immense surge of energy flooding into his body, as if it was going to burst him apart.
The energy was like a wild torrent, raging through his meridians, bringing excruciating pain.
"Just one extra thousand years, and it's already this overwhelming?"
Yan clenched his teeth tightly, using all his strength to suppress the rampaging energy.
Time passed second by second.
Through sheer willpower and determination, Yan gradually gained control over the energy, and it began to flow smoothly within his body.
In the end, the absorption process proceeded without any major mishaps, and the spirit ring was about to be fully integrated.
Just then, Yan suddenly felt a strange sensation in his back.
It was as if something was swelling beneath his spine, rapidly pushing against his clothes.
Immediately after, a sharp pain spread through his body, as if something was trying to burst out.
"What's going on?"
Yan gritted his teeth against the pain and turned his head slightly only to see two pairs of wings break through his back.
At first, the wings appeared fragile and weak, but they quickly grew at a speed visible to the naked eye.
They became larger and larger until, when fully extended, they reached an astonishing length of three meters.
The two wings radiated a blazing glow, as if they were made of fire itself.
Yan's heart trembled as he realized what had happened.
"This is… an External Spirit Bone!"
"I reincarnated into this world, and in my very first hunt for a spirit ring, not only did I successfully slay a flying fire-attribute spirit beast, but I also unexpectedly obtained an External Spirit Bone."
"Seems like, as a reincarnator, I do have some good fortune after all."