"Ice Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard... I didn't expect you to choose this Spirit Beast as your first spirit ring. You've really given me a difficult task."
Hearing Yu Yan say the name of the Spirit Beast, Yu Qingfeng's attitude and tone made it clear that he had seen an Ice Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard before.
"This is the most suitable Spirit Beast for me that I found in the academy's Introduction to Continental Spirit Beasts."
This was no lie; Yu Yan had scoured the library's books on Spirit Beast records and, after considering and ruling out many others, finally chose the Ice Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard.
It had both ice and fire attributes, and the richer the Dragon Clan Bloodline, the better. Among many Spirit Beasts, only the Ice Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard perfectly met these requirements.
Able to tell from Yu Qingfeng's tone that he had seen this Spirit Beast, Yu Yan looked at him and asked, "Brother Yu, have you seen this Spirit Beast before?"
"Yeah. Two years ago, while following a soul-hunting team to help a noble's son obtain a spirit ring, I saw an Ice Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard on the outskirts of the Sunset Forest. It has a very distinctive appearance, with a single horn of mixed red and blue on its head. It's very fast and has strong attack power. Someone in our team got injured..."
Yu Qingfeng admitted he had seen an Ice Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard and briefly described the encounter.
Listening to Yu Qingfeng, Yu Yan recalled what was recorded in the books: the Ice Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard is highly territorial and has strong combat power. If it isn't your target Spirit Beast, you must stay as far away as possible when encountering it.
"Brother Yu, if this Spirit Beast is too difficult to deal with, I have some backup options here."
Seeing Yu Qingfeng describe the Ice Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard as so fearsome, Yu Yan assumed he might not be able to handle it and prepared to suggest some backup options after he finished his story.
As someone who always prepared for the worst and thought of backup plans, Yu Yan had identified three other Spirit Beasts as alternatives to his top choice, the Ice Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard.
These three backup Spirit Beasts could also be found in the Sunset Forest.
Regarding the abundance of ice and fire attribute Spirit Beasts in the Sunset Forest, Yu Yan speculated it might be related to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well or the remains of the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings.
Before Yu Yan could mention his backup options, Yu Qingfeng waved his hand dismissively. "No need for backup options. Other Spirit Beasts definitely won't be as good as the Ice Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard. Besides, I only said it's difficult to deal with, not impossible. Just leave it to me."
The importance of the first spirit ring went without saying. Since Yu Yan's first choice was the Ice Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard, there was no need to consider other Spirit Beasts.
So what if it was difficult? Taking a bit more trouble and spending some favors to make a Genius like Yu Yan owe him—and to get closer to him—was the key.
Providing help in a time of need is always more memorable than adding brilliance to an already successful situation.
"Thank you, Brother Yu."
Yu Yan thanked Yu Qingfeng again. Being able to choose the Ice Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard was naturally for the best.
As for owing a favor, it didn't matter. If he owed one, he owed one.
Even if he didn't owe Yu Qingfeng a favor, for the sake of him being Old Man Yu's son, Yu Yan would still help him out if he encountered trouble in the future.
"Given our relationship, I'll definitely help you."
Once the Spirit Beast for the hunt was decided, the remaining issues were just minor details.
Yu Yan sat at the table eating, listening to Yu Qingfeng and Li Rong discuss which friend to invite for assistance. He really couldn't contribute to this conversation at all.
Having confirmed the friend to invite, Li Rong looked at Yu Yan, who was eating silently. "Xiao Yan, how many years old do you want the Ice Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard Spirit to be for your absorption?"
"As close to the age limit of the first spirit ring as possible."
Yu Yan answered Li Rong's inquiry; this was a question Yu Qingfeng had never asked.
The age limit for the first spirit ring is exactly 423 years. This was part of the Spirit Theory released by Yu Xiaogang and was definitely not false.
As for the reason, Yu Yan could only say that those who know, know.
If Yu Xiaogang hadn't plagiarized such an accurate age limit, Yu Yan would have to go eat something in the toilet.
"Xiao Yan, don't blame me for being nosy, but the more powerful the Spirit Beast, the harder its spirit ring is to absorb. Absorbing an Ice Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard's spirit ring already carries some risk, and choosing one at the age limit makes it even riskier. You should have learned about this at the academy. Are you really confident you can absorb a spirit ring from an Ice Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard at the age limit?"
The Ice Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard was not weak. Li Rong had originally wanted to choose one around two hundred years old so it would be easier for them to handle and for Yu Yan to absorb.
Who would have thought Yu Yan's goal was actually an Ice Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard at the age limit?
Li Rong's concern was normal. Many Spirit Masters from commoner backgrounds often died due to various accidents when absorbing high-age spirit rings.
Especially after Yu Xiaogang released the limit for the first spirit ring, there were always some reckless people who died from their bodies exploding because they chose spirit rings with too many years. She was worried Yu Yan might have an accident while absorbing the Ice Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard's spirit ring.
"My Ice and Fire Twin Fish Spirit quality isn't weak. I've been consistently exercising my body, and I haven't taken any shortcuts in cultivating my spirit power. My foundation is very solid, so absorbing an Ice Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard's spirit ring should be no problem."
Yu Yan's Spirit quality, physical fitness, and spirit power quality were all strong. He had also absorbed the Essence of Sun and Moon twice to strengthen himself.
With these conditions combined, he had absolute confidence that he could absorb a spirit ring produced by an Ice Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard at its age limit.
As for absorbing a spirit ring beyond this age limit, Yu Yan hadn't considered it for the time being.
"Xiao Yan, why don't you reconsider? A spirit ring at the age limit isn't that easy to absorb. Safety is the most important thing."
After hearing Yu Yan's words and finishing the food in his mouth, Yu Qingfeng also spoke up to advise Yu Yan.
Despite Yu Qingfeng often regretting not absorbing a century-old spirit ring now, if one had actually been placed in front of him back then, he might not have even dared to try.
"Brother Yu, Sister Li, please rest assured. I've been tested by a teacher at Balak Junior Soul Master Academy, and there's absolutely no problem with me absorbing a spirit ring at the age limit."
Yu Yan used a white lie to end this difficult-to-explain issue.
Hearing that absorbing a spirit ring at the age limit had been approved by a school teacher, Yu Qingfeng and Li Rong were completely relieved and went back to discussing who to invite for assistance.
After lunch, Yu Qingfeng went to find his friend, Li Rong sent their son to her parents' home in Balak City for childcare, and Yu Yan went to wait at the North Gate of Balak City... Balak City, North Gate.
Standing beneath the city wall at the gate, Yu Yan saw Yu Qingfeng approaching in a carriage.
"Come, Xiao Yan, get in."
Yu Qingfeng had seen Yu Yan before Yu Yan saw him; a Spirit Master's vision is much better than an ordinary person's.
Yu Qingfeng drove the carriage up to Yu Yan and reached out a hand to him.
Yu Yan grasped Yu Qingfeng's palm and was pulled directly onto the carriage.
Inside the carriage, Yu Yan saw Li Rong and a middle-aged man dressed in black.
"This is the Yu Yan I told you about, the Genius from the same village as Qingfeng. This trip is to help him obtain a spirit ring."
Li Rong motioned for Yu Yan to sit beside her. After introducing Yu Yan to the middle-aged man, she then introduced their friend to Yu Yan:
"This is a good friend of Qingfeng and mine, Ma Zhiyu. He is a two-ring attack system Battle Spirit Master."
Yu Yan greeted him, but he only nodded indifferently, looking like he didn't want to talk.
With two two-ring attack system Battle Spirit Masters and one one-ring support system Spirit Master, this lineup was definitely enough to help Yu Yan hunt a suitable Ice Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard.