"Brother Jue, I need to go relieve myself… don't let your wolf spirit peek at me."
After everyone had rested for a while, Xiao Wu slowly walked over to Qian Jue's side and whispered softly.
"...Am I that kind of person?!! You're going alone in the Star Dou Forest? That's way too dangerous. Let Zhuqing go with you, or I can call mistress to accompany you—that's the safest way." Qian Jue looked at her with utter sincerity.
Hmph, accusing me of peeking… You just want to sneak off alone, don't you? Well, I won't let you have your way. Let's see you fume about it!
"Uh…"
Sure enough, Xiao Wu was tongue-tied, unable to respond after being countered by Qian Jue. She stammered for a long while without giving a clear answer.
"Ahhh, Brother Jue… I can't go if someone's watching me… Brother Jue~"
Helpless, Xiao Wu had no choice but to act spoiled toward him. Based on past experience, Qian Jue usually fell for this routine.
And indeed, after a brief hesitation, Qian Jue relented. He only warned her: "Be back within five minutes. If not, I'll send the wolf spirit after you."
"Okay, don't worry, Brother Jue! I'll be quick." Overjoyed that he agreed, Xiao Wu gave a cheerful reply before darting into the dense forest, disappearing from sight.
From a distance, the Grandmaster and the others frowned at the scene. Liu Erlong immediately stood up, intending to follow.
But at that moment, Qian Jue turned his head, met the Grandmaster's gaze, and gave him a subtle shake of the head.
"What's that kid Qian Jue up to?" Flender, sharp-eyed, caught the gesture and asked the Grandmaster suspiciously.
"I don't know. But… he must have his own reasons. His bond with Xiao Wu runs deep; he wouldn't do anything to harm her. Let's just leave it be for now."
"Well… alright then." Liu Erlong sat back down. Since both the Grandmaster and Qian Jue had decided to let Xiao Wu go, she too refrained from interfering.
Sure enough, less than two minutes later, Xiao Wu came running back, looking completely at ease. Flender and Liu Erlong finally relaxed, but only the Grandmaster quietly noted the oddity of the situation, deciding to ask Qian Jue about it later.
---
With that episode over, everyone continued resting. But before long, a rustling sound drifted toward them.
"What's that sound?!" Dai Mubai immediately stood, turning toward the direction of the noise.
"Uh… it's a Phoenix-Tail Crest Serpent. Looks like it's lost its way."
Qian Jue spoke with a strange expression. It wasn't just that the snake seemed panicked and disoriented, but also because… wasn't this the spirit beast that Oscar should use for his third spirit ring? The excited skill Oscar mentioned earlier should only appear at his fourth ring.
"Forget it… must've misremembered. No big deal. After all, it was just a novel I once read—no way I could recall every detail perfectly."
Muttering under his breath, Qian Jue shook his head and focused. He began directing the wolf spirit to attack the Phoenix-Tail Crest Serpent.
Since this was supposed to be Oscar's third ring, then they might as well capture it.
Silently activating the wolf spirit's third skill, a burst-type technique opposite to the sheep spirit's third control skill Stabilizing Army, Qian Jue had named it Army Breaker. Once activated, it granted a 100% stat boost, greatly enhancing the wolf spirit's short-term offensive power.
And with its peerless ambush ability, just one strike was enough—the panicked serpent was nearly bitten in half.
"Xiao San, bind it!" Qian Jue suddenly called to Tang San.
Even as he spoke, the others saw a twisted, blue-black serpent, with faint red wings, writhing and tumbling toward them before crashing to the ground in their midst.
Tang San reacted instantly, unleashing his first skill, Bind. Countless Blue Silver Grass vines surged forth, wrapping tightly around the Phoenix-Tail Crest Serpent. Yet its strength was immense; even bound, it thrashed violently, dragging the vines across the ground in furious spasms.
"Xiao Ao, finish it! Hurry!" Qian Jue called out, tossing a dagger from his storage ring to Oscar.
"Ah? Uh… why me?!" Oscar was dumbfounded. But after years of teamwork, his body moved instinctively—he caught the dagger and rushed forward, plunging it into the serpent's eye, ending its suffering.
Xiao Wu turned her head away, unable to watch.
Seeing the commotion, the Grandmaster, Liu Erlong, and Flender hurried over.
"This is… a Phoenix-Tail Crest Serpent?" The Grandmaster studied it carefully, recognizing the species.
"Judging by its size, if whole it would be around 7 meters. That puts it at roughly 1500 years old. Xiao Jue, did you have Oscar kill it so he could absorb its ring?" The Grandmaster turned to Qian Jue.
"Yes, Teacher. I believe this serpent is perfect for Oscar. It's already rare for a gentle spirit beast like this to appear, and with such an ideal age… letting it go would be a waste. As for the Pink Maiden you recommended, I think that's better saved for his fourth ring. At that point, he'll be able to absorb over 3000 years, and by then the Rose Girl will evolve into a Pink Queen. The resulting spirit skill should be even stronger." Qian Jue gave his well-prepared reasoning.
"You… make some sense."
The Grandmaster frowned.
"But have you considered? The Phoenix-Tail Crest Serpent has no poison, no elemental attributes. Its only trait is speed. If Oscar absorbs it, his spirit skill may simply grant a speed boost. But with Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, her second skill also boosts speed. The two may conflict and fail to stack. If so, Oscar's new skill would be useless!"
Qian Jue nodded. The Grandmaster's concern was valid—if not for the fact that he had read the original story.
After a moment's thought, Qian Jue spoke again:
"But Teacher, isn't its speed due to its wings? That should be its true defining trait. Doesn't it look like a sausage with wings? If Oscar's lucky enough to inherit that ability, his third spirit skill might grant temporary flight. That would be a god-tier ability!"
"…"
The Grandmaster fell silent, startled. He pondered a while, then looked at Qian Jue in astonishment.
It… really made sense!
If Oscar's third skill could grant flight, even for a short time, it would be extraordinary. Flying spirit masters were already exceedingly rare—if an entire team could take to the skies, even briefly, the tactical possibilities would be endless.
But if it turned out to be just a speed boost, then indeed it would overlap with Ning Rongrong.
Should they gamble on it? The Grandmaster wavered, torn.
The others shifted uncertainly—one moment nodding at the Grandmaster's reasoning, the next frowning in thought at Qian Jue's counter.
"Hey, Xiao San—Ah Jue can actually argue with the Grandmaster on martial spirit theory now. Who do you think has the stronger point?" Dai Mubai leaned close, whispering.
"I think both Teacher and Brother Jue make sense. Either outcome is possible—it depends on Oscar's luck."
Tang San himself was surprised. Qian Jue had never shown much interest in theory, yet he had secretly studied so deeply he could debate the Grandmaster himself. Was this the so-called "hiding the fangs until the time comes"?
"I can't decide either. Oscar, it's up to you."
After a long struggle, the Grandmaster waved his hand, yielding the choice. Then, looking somewhat dim, he stepped back beside Liu Erlong and Flender.
Liu Erlong caught the change in him, smiling teasingly in his ear: "What's wrong? Can't handle being outdone by your own student?"
"Yeah…" The Grandmaster gave a bitter smile.
"I never imagined that even in the field I prided myself most in, Xiao Jue would grasp things so deeply. Truly, the student surpasses the master. I suppose… there's less and less I can teach him now."
Oscar glanced between the Grandmaster and Qian Jue, visibly conflicted. One path was steady growth, the other a risky gamble. Should he take the chance?
"Don't hesitate, Xiao Ao. You awakened with innate full spirit power—Heaven is on your side. Even if it's not flight, speed is still useful. As for clashing with Rongrong… unless you plan to be with her forever, it's nothing to worry about."
That last line carried a double meaning, making Ning Rongrong flush faintly. She spat:
"Peh! Who'd ever want to be with this perverted sausage uncle forever?"
"…" Oscar scratched his head awkwardly.
In truth, he had liked Ning Rongrong since the first day she joined. Despite her spoiled ways, she had already started to change for the better after the Grandmaster's words. And when she cried, it broke his heart. Back then, he had desperately wanted to hold her close and comfort her.
But… he was just a commoner, with no background. She was the heiress of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, one of the most powerful in the continent.
And worse, he was a support-type spirit master, just like her. In this world, it was an unspoken rule—support spirit masters always paired with battle types, whether power attack, agility attack, or control. Two supports together simply couldn't protect each other.
So he had swallowed his feelings, choosing silence.
But!
He would not give up. He still had one thing of worth—his innate full spirit power! If she couldn't accept him now, then he would grow stronger until she did!
Oscar's confused eyes hardened into determination.
"Teacher Yu, I've decided! I'll take the gamble and absorb this Phoenix-Tail Crest Serpent's spirit ring!" Oscar declared firmly.
"Very well." The Grandmaster nodded.
"So long as you have no regrets."
"I won't!"
Oscar sat cross-legged at once, beginning the absorption. The longer they delayed, the more the ring's energy would dissipate.
"You bastards!!!"
But just then, a furious roar erupted from the distance.
---