Oscar withdrew his Jade Sword, and Dugu Yan also dispersed her Martial Spirit.
But recalling the moment when Dugu Yan had fully possessed her spirit just now, Oscar couldn't help but feel a little… stirred.
"Yan-yan, how about we switch to cheongsams from now on? Dresses don't seem too suited for close combat." Oscar suggested with great sincerity — and absolutely not for any ulterior motive.
Hearing him suddenly say that, Dugu Yan couldn't help but imagine herself in such a valiant yet elegant outfit. The image was striking, and she soon nodded with a smile.
"Alright, when we get back, you'll come shopping with me, won't you?"
Oscar chuckled. "Of course. I'll be there."
By now, the sky had already darkened. In the Extreme North, nearly two-thirds of each day was covered by night. But even under the shroud of night, the snow-blanketed land didn't feel particularly dim.
After glancing around and not seeing Gai Yue, Dugu Yan asked curiously:
"Where's Teacher? I haven't seen him."
Oscar sighed helplessly.
"I don't know either. Earlier, when you were in the house consuming the Yearning Heartbroken Red, the Teacher had already gone off somewhere. He didn't tell me where."
Just as Oscar finished speaking, Gai Yue's voice rang out from outside the courtyard:
"You two little lovebirds were so wrapped up in each other earlier — as your teacher, I figured I'd better not intrude. So I went out for a walk."
Hearing that, Oscar and Dugu Yan looked at each other, then both burst into a smile as they turned to greet Gai Yue, who was stepping through the gate.
Oscar asked, "Teacher, where did you go?"
"I went to check on the Mirror Beasts you needed," Gai Yue replied calmly. "There really are some in the Extreme North. They're in a canyon about forty li north of the Frozen Mountains. I just came back from scouting them."
Oscar's eyebrows rose. "And how was it?"
A faint smile crossed Gai Yue's lips.
"You've got good luck, boy. There are three Mirror Beasts there — one at fifteen thousand years, one at twenty-five thousand years, and one at thirty thousand years."
Oscar's eyes lit up with excitement.
"That's practically tailor-made for me! That thirty-thousand-year one is right at my limit — perfect for my fourth spirit ring!"
Gai Yue nodded with a smile.
"Indeed. Rest for tonight. Tomorrow we'll head straight there and secure your fourth spirit ring."
Then he glanced at Dugu Yan.
"And Yan-yan, after consuming that immortal herb, your spirit power should already be at level forty, yes? Do you have a target for your fourth ring?"
Dugu Yan smiled, excitement flickering across her delicate face.
"Teacher, my gains this time are enormous. Honestly, the spirit power breakthrough was just the most ordinary part."
She then explained the evolution of her Martial Spirit and the changes to her spirit abilities. After listening, Gai Yue looked stunned, then finally said:
"Impressive. Seems you'll be the one protecting little Ao from now on."
Oscar wasn't happy with that.
"Teacher, what do you mean! Yan-yan's my woman — it should be me protecting her. Besides, we just sparred, and I still won."
Gai Yue only chuckled and let it slide. It was their business, after all. He had just been speaking casually.
Still, it was undeniable that Dugu Yan's harvest this time was tremendous. Evolving her Martial Spirit into a dragon had elevated her innate talent to an entirely new level. She no longer had to worry about being left behind by Oscar. For this pair, that was the best outcome possible.
Dugu Yan then added:
"I actually had a plan for my fourth spirit ring before — little Ao even researched and suggested a few good candidates for me. But now that my Martial Spirit has evolved, I'll need to reconsider."
Gai Yue nodded.
"Then don't rush. Once you've decided on a target, we'll act."
Dugu Yan agreed, then turned toward Oscar. He thought for a moment before replying:
"Even though your Martial Spirit has become a dragon, it still retains its poison. The Extreme North does have several soul beasts that suit you. I'll plan things over the next two days and see if we can find you the best match here."
Dugu Yan beamed sweetly.
"Hehe, then I'll be counting on you."
Oscar squeezed her jade-like hand and smiled.
"Don't mention it. Every spirit ring is critical to a Spirit Master's growth. It must never be treated carelessly."
Dugu Yan's heart swelled with warmth, and her smile grew brighter. Gai Yue, watching from the side, couldn't help but show a hint of satisfaction on his face.
After chatting a bit longer, Oscar went into the wooden house, retrieved food from his soul tool, and prepared dinner. The three shared their meal, then each retired to their rooms to cultivate.
Oscar, meanwhile, began carefully planning the optimal target for Dugu Yan's fourth ring, determined to help her push her Martial Spirit to its full potential.
The Next Day
After breakfast, the three set out for the canyon Gai Yue had mentioned, aiming to hunt Oscar's fourth spirit ring.
After two hours, Oscar and Dugu Yan followed Gai Yue to the place. Finding a safe spot to wait, the two stood back as Gai Yue personally went to capture the thirty-thousand-year-old Mirror Beast.
This was the advantage of having a powerful backer — all Oscar had to do was choose a target. The rest, he didn't need to worry about.
The Mirror Beast was one of the most formidable types of soul beasts. Not only were they extremely rare, but their abilities were so versatile and overbearing that most spirit beasts considered them enemies.
Because of this, no Mirror Beast was ever allowed to grow to the hundred-thousand-year level. They were always eliminated early.
The Mirror Beast's most infamous abilities were cloning and copying.
Cloning allowed it to produce duplicates, giving it strength greater than the sum of its parts — more than enough to take on multiple enemies at once.
Copying lets it replicate its opponent's abilities, even transforming into their likeness.
Together, these abilities made the Mirror Beast a nightmare for both humans and spirit beasts alike. If such a creature were allowed to grow unchecked, it would become a disaster for the entire world.
In the original timeline, Oscar had gained his sixth spirit ring from a Mirror Beast of over twenty thousand years. With its Copying skill, his combat power rivaled that of an assault-type Spirit Master, enabling him to protect Ning Rongrong.
But now, Oscar's body and spiritual power were already at the Spirit Emperor level, despite his being only rank forty. That gave him the ability to absorb a thirty-thousand-year ring.
And he was certain that by absorbing such a high-level ring, his gains would far surpass his original self. The only question was — by how much?
As he pondered this, Gai Yue returned, dragging a Mirror Beast more than five meters long. Its entire crystalline body gleamed like carved jade. But at the moment, its bones had been crushed to pieces, leaving it limp as a dead dog in Gai Yue's hand.
It had been powerful — a thirty-thousand-year-old beast strong enough to contend with those of fifty thousand years or more. But unfortunately, it had encountered Gai Yue — a Spirit Douluo at level eighty-eight, whose strength rivaled a Title Douluo.
Dropping the Mirror Beast at Oscar's feet, Gai Yue said flatly:
"Little Ao, finish this Mirror Beast."
Then he added with a faint reminder:
"I know you can absorb spirit rings beyond your level, but this creature is equivalent to a Spirit Emperor. If things go wrong, don't force it. Know your limits."
Oscar nodded solemnly.
"I understand, Teacher. I value my life too much to act recklessly. If I can't absorb this one, there are still two more in the canyon."
At those words, the Mirror Beast — once utterly despairing — suddenly widened its crystalline eyes. Then, as if resigned to its fate, it slowly shut them again, no longer resisting…