Yu Xiaogang had no desire to elaborate on his strange Spirit. "Sanpao, clear the way!" he commanded. At his word, Luo Sanpao waddled forward, sniffing the air.
Since they were still on the outskirts of the Spirit Hunting Forest, the few spirit beasts they encountered were all low-level, ten-year creatures. Yu Xiaogang ignored them completely. As a ten-year tabby cat darted out of a bush, an idea sparked in Huo Feng's mind. He glanced ahead. Yu Xiaogang and Tang San were deep in conversation and paying no attention to him.
System, he asked internally, can I sacrifice that tabby cat?
A ten-year spirit beast was useless to him as a Spirit Ring, but as a sacrifice, it should be worth at least a few points. The system had said he could sacrifice anything, and he'd already sacrificed a person twice. A spirit beast should be no problem.
[Ding!] [Answer: The host can sacrifice spirit beasts, but there are certain restrictions.]
Restrictions? Huo Feng frowned. Did he need to make physical contact, just like with a person? Spirit beasts were incredibly wary of humans; they wouldn't just stand there like Tang San and let him get close.
As if sensing his confusion, the system's voice sounded again.
[Ding! The host does not need to make physical contact. The spirit beast only needs to be within a ten-foot radius of the host.] [However, because the spirit beast will vanish instantly upon being sacrificed, two additional rules apply:] [1. If the spirit beast's strength is lower than the host's, it can be sacrificed directly.] [2. If the spirit beast's strength is higher than the host's, it must be killed before it can be sacrificed.]
I see. Huo Feng nodded, understanding the rules. Right now, the only beasts weaker than him were those under one hundred years old, like that tabby cat. As long as one came within ten feet of him, he could sacrifice it instantly. For anything stronger, like a hundred-year beast, he'd have to defeat it first. He decided to test it out at the first opportunity.
A short while later, a Velociraptor-like creature, probably only about ten years old, appeared in the grass ahead. Sensing Luo Sanpao, it panicked and bolted in the opposite direction. Its powerful legs carried it right past Huo Feng. Yu Xiaogang paid the common beast no mind, continuing his lecture to Tang San.
Seeing his chance, Huo Feng gave the silent command. System, sacrifice the Velociraptor!
The rustling grass in the beast's wake slowly went still.
[Ding!] [Sacrifice of Ten-Year Velociraptor successful. Sacrifice Points +10.]
Ten points? Huo Feng was thrilled. That was much more than he expected. Spirit beasts were clearly a valuable resource.
Up ahead, Luo Sanpao stopped, its head tilting. It sniffed the air, gave two confused snorts, then, finding nothing unusual, continued waddling forward.
"The choice of a Spirit Ring is critical and cannot be undone," Yu Xiaogang's voice drifted back. He looked at both Huo Feng and Tang San, his expression serious. "To advance from a Spirit Scholar to a Spirit Master, the first Spirit Ring should ideally be from a spirit beast with a cultivation level below four hundred and twenty-three years. That is the absolute limit. Therefore, your first ring should be as close to that limit as possible."
Hearing his teacher's profound knowledge, Tang San felt a surge of respect and honor. Huo Feng just nodded along, pretending to be impressed.
Seeing Huo Feng's seemingly attentive response, Yu Xiaogang pressed his advantage. "Our main goal today is to help Tang San get his Spirit Ring," he said meaningfully. "However, your Spirit is an Iron Sword. If we happen to find a suitable spirit beast for you, I can help you as well."
"Thank you, Grandmaster," Huo Feng replied with a smile, while his mind raced. Four hundred and twenty-three years? My system reward is a five-hundred-year ring. I think I'll get it by sacrificing you, Grandmaster. I wonder if you'll still be able to help your precious disciple after that?
Another thought occurred to him. If the 423-year limit was real, could he even absorb a 500-year ring without any danger?
System, can I safely absorb the 500-year Spirit Ring from the mission reward?
[Ding!] [Answer: Spirit Rings awarded by the system are different from those obtained by hunting spirit beasts. The host can absorb them directly without any risk.]
Nice! Huo Feng thought, relieved. Having a cheat was incredibly convenient.
The three continued deeper into the forest. They found several spirit beasts that would have been suitable for Tang San, but their cultivation ages were all too low. As the sky began to darken, Yu Xiaogang found a large, thick tree and decided to set up camp for the night.
Soon, the forest was plunged into darkness, filled with the distant roars and howls of powerful spirit beasts. Their luck seemed to run out as six spectral forms—Nether Wolves—slowly emerged from the shadows. However, being only ten-year beasts, Yu Xiaogang dispatched them with ease before they could even attack.
Looking at the six wolf corpses on the ground, Huo Feng felt a pang of regret. Sixty sacrifice points, gone just like that. With Yu Xiaogang and Tang San right there, he had no opportunity to claim them.
"Yip, yip, yip!"
Without warning, Luo Sanpao began barking frantically, a strange, acrid smell suddenly filling the air. A bizarre noise accompanied the barking.
Yu Xiaogang's expression changed instantly. His two yellow Spirit Rings appeared as he nervously scanned their surroundings. Seeing his teacher's reaction, Tang San activated his Xuantian Technique, and a purple glint appeared in his eyes as he activated the Purple Demon Eye. In a bush not far ahead, he spotted a dark green, triangular snake head rising silently from the leaves.
"Teacher, over there!" Tang San pointed.
Yu Xiaogang immediately threw a lit fire starter in that direction. The bushes burst into light, revealing the creature. The Grandmaster gasped.
"It's a Datura Snake!" he exclaimed. It was a rare and highly sought-after spirit beast, perfect for Tang San's first Spirit Ring... if it were only a ten-year one.
"Luo Sanpao's Third Cannon: Thunderous Fart!" Yu Xiaogang shouted.
Bang!
The invisible blast of concussive force caught the snake by surprise, sending its huge body tumbling out of the bushes.
"Run!" Yu Xiaogang yelled, his face pale with shock. A Datura Snake of that size had to be at least a hundred-year beast. There was no way they could win. He grabbed both boys and turned to flee, with Luo Sanpao scrambling behind them.
This is the perfect opportunity! Huo Feng's mind raced with excitement. He remembered from the original story that Tang San was the one who killed this snake with his hidden weapons; Yu Xiaogang had nothing to do with it. That meant sacrificing the Grandmaster now wouldn't endanger Tang San or alter the outcome. The chaos of the retreat was the perfect cover.
As Yu Xiaogang dragged him through the undergrowth, Huo Feng gave his silent, decisive command.
System, sacrifice Yu Xiaogang!
[Ding!] [Sacrifice of Yu Xiaogang successful!]
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