This time, the demand for spirit beasts was extremely high. Dugu Yan, Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, Xiao Wu, and Tang San aside from Xiao Wu, who herself was a spirit beast in reincarnation and did not need to hunt four of them required spirit rings.
Among them, Dugu Yan's fifth spirit ring had to be at least thirty thousand years old. For this group of little monsters, this could be said to be the best form of tempering.
After all, spirit beasts were different from humans. Once their lives were threatened, they would retaliate with everything they had.
On top of that, the Star Dou Great Forest, being the largest wild spirit beast forest on the continent, was home to countless species. While searching for suitable spirit rings, they could very well attract the attention of other powerful beasts.
To some spirit beasts, powerful spirit masters were also the best kind of nourishment.
After entering the Star Dou Great Forest, the group formed a professional hunting formation under Oscar's command, moving toward their planned targets.
Before coming, they had already outlined what kind of spirit beasts they needed, which would save them considerable time.
Once inside, the assault type Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun led the front, while the agility types Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu scouted along both flanks, always alert for ambushes.
Tang San stayed in the middle to protect Ning Rongrong, while Oscar and Dugu Yan guarded the rear.
Zhao Wuji and Flender did not plan to intervene, quietly following along in the middle of the formation without lifting a hand.
Normally, as a control type spirit master, Tang San should have been the one formulating tactics, but Oscar's authority within Shrek Academy was far beyond what Tang San could compare to.
Moreover, Tang San held great admiration and respect for Oscar, so Oscar's word was absolute no one questioned it.
The search for spirit rings involved some luck. With good fortune, the very moment you stepped into the forest, the ring you needed might present itself.
With bad luck, you might spend months without finding anything.
Oscar's group was fairly lucky. On the third day in the Star Dou Great Forest, Zhu Zhuqing found her third spirit ring.
Remarkably, it was a 2,700 year old ring surpassing the supposed thousand year limit by nearly double.
Among the group, Tang San, once Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang's disciple, was the most shocked.
He could barely understand Dugu Yan absorbing beyond the limit after all, her grandfather was a titled Douluo with unimaginable treasures at his disposal.
But now it seemed every student of Shrek Academy could absorb beyond the supposed limits? Could it be that everything he had learned from Grandmaster was false?
Oscar calmly said, "Tang San, now do you understand why I hold prejudice against Yu Xiaogang? His so called theories were just summaries from predecessors, with many being mere conjecture. He never tested them himself. I can't imagine what your future would have been like if you had continued following his advice."
Hearing this, Tang San, already dissatisfied with Yu Xiaogang, now held even deeper contempt.
How many innocent spirit masters had those faulty theories harmed? How many gifted spirits had been buried?
Oscar continued, "The limits of absorbing spirit rings aren't absolute. Yu Xiaogang's theory only applies broadly to most spirit masters. But for true geniuses or the extremely untalented each case varies."
Everyone listened carefully. Oscar went on: "For absorbing rings under the ten thousand year level, the most important factors are the spirit master's physical fitness and willpower. If your body is strong enough, surpassing the supposed age limit isn't a problem."
"Like Zhuqing and the others having been in the academy for more than two years their growth during this time far exceeded normal training, allowing them to absorb beyond the standard limits."
Oscar's eyes flickered as he added, "In fact, the academy has methods to help you raise the age limit of rings you can absorb. But to obtain this method, the price you pay will be more than you can imagine."
At this, Tang San, Ning Rongrong, and Xiao Wu's eyes widened. "A method to raise spirit ring absorption limits?"
Flender interjected, "Correct. But it's an academy secret. Although you've entered the academy, you're not yet qualified. Once you reach the standard, the academy will grant you this method freely."
Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up. If she could bring this method back to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, wouldn't it elevate the entire sect?
But Flender seemed to read her mind and said coldly, "Remember this: I don't care where you're from. Even if you do gain the academy's secrets, they must stay with you forever. The academy will help you monsters unconditionally, but you must never act against Shrek."
Ning Rongrong's rising thoughts were immediately extinguished. She understood.
If she brought this method back to her clan and made it public, it would no longer be Shrek's secret.
Flender continued, "I know some of you come from great families, but once you enter Shrek, you are Shrek. If you can't abide by that, you may leave now."
Then he gave a devilish smile: "In fact, it doesn't hurt to tell you though we're just a small academy in a remote village, our backing is enormous. If someone breaks the rules, I, Flender, won't acknowledge them as a student."
Hearing this, Ning Rongrong, Tang San, and the others all nodded. They weren't fools; since Flender had made it clear, they knew better than to break the rules.
After Zhu Zhuqing absorbed her third spirit ring, her third skill turned out to be a single target attack, greatly enhancing her piercing and slashing ability.
Once her ring was settled, the group continued searching for the others.
Perhaps because Tang San had joined Shrek, or perhaps because their hunt coincided with events of the original timeline, they happened to encounter the Serpent Grandmother and her granddaughter, Meng Yiran, of the famed Dragon Serpent Duo.
While Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu scouted, a thousand year spirit beast suddenly rushed toward them.
With their warning, Ma Hongjun spread his fiery wings and took to the skies, intercepting it.
It was a 1,500yearold Phoenix Tailed Cockscomb Snake, seemingly fleeing from something.
Regardless, since it might threaten the group, Ma Hongjun struck. His phoenix bloodline had been purified by the Phoenix Nirvana Pill, and upon sensing his terrifying aura, the snake tried to escape.
But Ma Hongjun gave it no chance. Flames surged over his body, and his spirit power formed a massive fiery phoenix claw, pinning the snake to the ground.
Burned by phoenix fire, the snake writhed in agony. But against Ma Hongjun, now at level 46, it had no hope of resistance.
Having subdued it, Ma Hongjun called back to Oscar: "Boss, this is a 1,500 year Phoenix Tailed Cockscomb Snake. What do we do?"
Oscar raised a brow. Already level 48 himself, he had no need for it as in the original story.
"Not useful to us. Let it go," he replied.
Ma Hongjun nodded and was about to release it when suddenly, a voice rang out:
"Spare it!"
Two figures a woman elder and a young girl appeared from the snake's direction.
The elder looked seventy or so, hair neatly tied, her spirit power evident in the six rings (two yellow, two purple, one black) circling her serpent headed staff. Her eyes gleamed sharply.
The young girl, around sixteen or seventeen, was pretty, short haired, wearing fitted combat clothes. She too held a serpent staff, though hers bore only two yellow rings.
In an instant, Oscar had already moved to the front, assessing them calmly.
"Senior, is there a problem?" he asked evenly.
Zhao Wuji and Flender recognized her martial spirit and silently guessed her identity, but trusted Oscar to handle it.
The elder softened her tone. "No need to release that snake. It is our prey. My granddaughter just broke through to rank thirty and requires her third spirit ring."
Oscar examined the snake and indeed saw signs of earlier wounds.
"In that case," he said, "since it's useful to Senior, we'll leave it to you."
The elder smiled warmly. "Then thank you."
Oscar instructed Ma Hongjun to release it. As he withdrew his power, the elder quickly subdued the snake with her staff.
Oscar nodded. "We won't trouble Senior further."
Just as they turned to leave, the elder added, "Children, I cannot accept your kindness for free. I am not unknown in the spirit master world. If ever you need help, you may invoke the names of Dragon Duke and Serpent Granny."
Oscar paused in surprise. "Senior is none other than the famed Serpent Granny of the Dragon Serpent Duo?"
The elder waved it off. "A hollow reputation."
Oscar smiled sincerely. "I've long admired your name. To meet you today is my honor. Unfortunately, we're pressed for time seeking rings, but I hope to pay a formal visit in the future."
She chuckled. "So be it. I won't delay you."
Oscar and his group departed, though Meng Yiran's gaze lingered on them, particularly Oscar.
The Serpent Granny noticed and teased, "Yiran, they've gone. Hurry and absorb your ring."
Blushing, Meng Yiran nodded, killed the snake, and began her absorption.
The elder knew well that these youths were extraordinary. That fire attribute boy could so easily suppress a thousand year beast he was no ordinary talent.
Still, what struck her most were the two middle aged men in their group whose strength she couldn't fathom. Their power surely surpassed her own.
So, rather than cause trouble, she chose to forge goodwill.
Meanwhile, Oscar didn't dwell on the Dragon Serpent Duo, but the encounter reminded him of something important.
In the original timeline, wasn't this when Tang San acquired the external spirit bone the Eight Spider Spears?
Now, with Tang San following Oscar's training plan, his third ring had nothing to do with the Human Faced Demon Spider. Yet, if they could still find the Eight Spider Spears, it would be an unexpected boon.
Aside from Tang San, Dugu Yan would also be highly suited to the Eight Spider Spears. With its poison, devouring ability, and terrain ignoring mobility, it matched her perfectly.
If she could acquire it, her strength would skyrocket.
So, Oscar pondered: how could he seize the chance to obtain the Eight Spider Spears?
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