Wisps of cooking smoke rose into the air.
Lighting a fire and producing smoke in the Star Dou Great Forest is an extremely dangerous thing. Of course, this isn't because setting the forest ablaze leads to lifelong imprisonment; there are no laws from any country protecting the Star Dou Great Forest, as it belongs to Spirit Beasts. Rather, it's because smoke and fire can easily attract the attention of Spirit Beasts.
This place is a paradise for Spirit Masters because it has all kinds of Spirit Beasts, which can produce spirit rings and Spirit Bones, and even extremely rare Immortal Herbs might be encountered. However, many Spirit Masters lose their lives here every year. In the perilous jungle, one might encounter powerful Spirit Beasts at any time. The vines on the trees, the flowers by the roadside, or even the stones at one's feet—everything could be a Spirit Beast, a plant Spirit Beast, or a disguise of a Spirit Beast with special talents.
The unknown is even more terrifying.
As students of Shrek Academy, An Zhen and his group had naturally learned about this, but now it was unnecessary.
On the surface: Mu En, a ninety-ninth-level Limit Douluo.
In secret: Gu Yuena, the Silver Dragon King, co-ruler of Spirit Beasts.
Even deeper: Electrolux, the Undead Scourge.
Furthermore, An Zhen's Virtual World also contained the Xue Di Embryo.
With this lineup, even if Ditian came, he'd get two slaps. However, Ditian probably wouldn't presume to disturb them.
An Zhen was eating heartily.
A piece of roasted meat was delivered to his mouth, chewed, swallowed, and entered his stomach. The Spirit Bone's passive Mount Buzhou activated, accelerating its refinement into blood energy.
The others had already finished eating. Gu Yuena was also full from the blood energy; her current strength was limited. An Zhen was still eating. Huo Yutong was roasting meat with a special spirit tool, then brushing it with sauces: honey-flavored, tomato-flavored, spicy... She placed them in front of An Zhen. Xiao Xiao, who had some cooking experience, stepped forward to help. An Zhen felt the taste was good. Although the other girls wanted to help, they were only good at assisting with cooking. Previously, they had never lifted a finger, so they genuinely wouldn't know how to do such work for a while.
Defeating a Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear consumed some blood energy, but it wasn't enough to make An Zhen this hungry. The main reason was that the Spirit Bone's passive Mount Buzhou had raised the upper limit of his body's growth. From a certain perspective, An Zhen's body was currently in a state of "blood deficiency"; his body was still growing, and his satiety would be used to increase his body strength and total blood energy. This was currently a rapid growth phase. Once his body grew to a certain extent, the demand for energy would decrease.
Currently, nearly half of the Blood Fruit's energy had been consumed. Once it was completely used up, the energy supply from the Virtual World alone would not be able to meet An Zhen's current growth needs in terms of energy and blood energy conversion speed. If he were to stay within the Golden Tree, the concentration and quality of the Life energy there would be so high that it would actively permeate his body, eliminating the need for the Virtual World to provide energy. In fact, the Virtual World might even secretly take a bite—just a billion bites.
Moreover, perhaps due to preferences from his previous Life, An Zhen felt that savoring delicious food was truly an immense pleasure.
It was fine not to eat. Even if the Blood Fruit was completely consumed, it was fine. The Spirit Bone's passive Spirit Ability wouldn't continue to operate regardless of the host's condition like in a game; it would stop on its own. An Zhen could also actively pause it. At most, he would feel some hunger, but this would affect his growth and development.
But if he could eat, why wouldn't he?
Mu En looked at An Zhen, who was eating heartily. Although he, a Limit Douluo, couldn't sense his disciple's spirit power without direct contact, he could now feel the active blood energy within his body. Any being with slightly stronger mental force could sense it. An Zhen at this moment was like a burning furnace. As the roasted meat was swallowed, it was like adding fuel, and the flames grew more vigorous, though it was an extremely slight change.
It felt like a child was growing, but this growth process was a bit fast.
After returning, he would arrange for An Zhen's food. His vast Shrek Academy surely wouldn't be unable to support its precious student.
"That's enough."
An Zhen spoke, stopping Huo Yutong and Xiao Xiao from continuing to roast meat. He picked up the remaining plates and quickly finished the four liang of roasted meat left on the table.
The Virtual World cleaned the cooking utensils.
Huo Yutong put the things away.
"Xiao Xiao." An Zhen looked at Xiao Xiao, "Does the Spirit Ability meet your expectations?"
"It exceeds expectations, it's simply perfect!" Speaking of this, Xiao Xiao's adorable, baby-faced cheeks were filled with an excited smile.
Her original expectation was a turtle-type Spirit Beast with powerful defense, or a power-type Spirit Beast with stronger attack power. But she never expected to encounter a powerful Spirit Beast like the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear, which stood at the top of the Star Dou Great Forest's food chain.
Moreover, she heard from Yu Tong that there was even an external Spirit Bone like the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's right palm bone.
The young girl's clear, sparkling eyes looked at An Zhen, her love seemingly overflowing.
Ever since she became An Zhen's girlfriend, Xiao Xiao felt like her Life had been on a fast track. First, there was the Immortal Herb, which she had only heard legends about, then the dream world where she could study and cultivate simultaneously, being brought into the Shrek Academy reserve team, effortlessly winning the Soul Fighting Competition, and later even receiving a hundred-thousand-year Spirit Bone as a reward from the Sea God Pavilion. Now, she had even obtained a Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear spirit ring, and there was even a treasure like an external Spirit Bone waiting for her later.
Taking off!
Without An Zhen, Xiao Xiao felt that she would have struggled to achieve such accomplishments. When she enrolled, she was only at level twenty-something. Leaving aside other things, becoming a Spirit Ancestor in her second year would have been like a fantasy to her at the time.
Although she was usually gentle and seemed like a very lively and adorable young girl, every Shrek Academy student had their own pride. They were already among the most outstanding individuals of their age. This was even more true for Xiao Xiao; her twin spirits were a talent she prided herself on.
But in this current small team, she truly seemed relatively ordinary. As a former member of the three-person team, Xiao Xiao knew that Wang Dong had a second Spirit. Wu Feng's current Extreme Fire and Ning Tian's Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda were definitely not inferior to her talent. An Zhen, with his abnormal talent, goes without saying. As fellow twin spirits, Wang Dong, Huo Yutong, and Gu Yuena—each of their talents surpassed hers. Sometimes, Xiao Xiao even felt that she was dragging the team down.
"An Zhen." Xiao Xiao looked at An Zhen, the young girl's head bowed, her white short boots unconsciously kicking small stones, seemingly a little nervous, "If someone had confessed to you earlier than me, then..."
Would it be someone else in this team right now?
Adolescent girls also had their small worries.
Not only was her boyfriend outstanding, but the girls around him were also very outstanding.
"?" An Zhen was a little surprised.
The black-haired youth took a step forward, gently rubbing Xiao Xiao's head with one hand, and said softly, "It's not 'if.' There were quite a few people eyeing me back then, including even senior female students who were core disciples in the Martial Soul Department."
"Eh?!" Xiao Xiao was surprised.
"Alright, don't overthink it." An Zhen leaned down and left a mark on the corner of the young girl's mouth, "Xiao Xiao is special. You have to believe in yourself more."
An Zhen blinked, smiling as he said, "Actually, even before the freshman assessment, when I went to your class to find Yu Tong and Dong'er, I had already set my sights on Xiao Xiao."
"For Xiao Xiao, I fell in love at first sight, you know."
Love at first sight?!
A captivating blush appeared on Xiao Xiao's cheeks.
The sudden confession made the young girl shy for a moment.
Wang Donger crossed her arms, her pink-blue eyes gazing faintly at An Zhen.
Love at first sight? This pervert clearly just lusted after her! Damn it, back then they had only just confirmed their relationship, and he was already eyeing her good friend.
Mu En watched from the side with a benevolent expression.
He believed his disciple would not repeat their past mistakes.
The moving words dispelled the small worries of adolescence. Xiao Xiao began to explain the function of her fourth spirit ring. She raised her hand, and an ancient bronze cauldron was summoned. As the fourth thousand-year spirit ring lit up, a dark golden light attached to it, empowering this national treasure. A sense of solemnity washed over them. "The Might of the Cauldron can greatly enhance the Three Lives Soul Cauldron's defensive and offensive capabilities. Its rebound ability is greatly increased. It's an amplification Spirit Ability that can be used with other Spirit Abilities, empowering them to possess excellent defensive capabilities and extremely powerful offensive capabilities."
"Very good," An Zhen commented.
It perfectly met, and even exceeded, Xiao Xiao's expectations, and the true power of this Spirit Ability would only truly manifest as Xiao Xiao added other spirit rings to the Three Lives Soul Cauldron.
Given the path Xiao Xiao was now taking, strengthening the Three Lives Soul Cauldron's defensive and offensive capabilities was very important.
For example, Xiao Xiao's third Spirit Ability, Cauldron Sealing, obtained from killing a thousand-year Spirit Devouring Toad, sealed the opponent within the cauldron. With the amplification of the fourth Spirit Ability, it would be even harder for the opponent to break free. A solid support, a fluid offense.
"An Zhen, An Zhen." Xiao Xiao tugged An Zhen's left hand, her eyes filled with anticipation as she looked at him, "What about the ability of that right palm bone?"
Huo Yutong and the other girls also looked at An Zhen expectantly upon hearing this. This was their first time seeing an external Spirit Bone, and coupled with An Zhen's previous explanation, they couldn't help but have great expectations for it.
"I might have to disappoint you." An Zhen extended his right hand; there was no trace of a Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's claw on his palm. "That external Spirit Bone, like the Spirit Bone I absorbed before, is being assimilated by my Spirit. I can't demonstrate it at this stage. Moreover, I estimate that my external Spirit Bone's manifestation after assimilation will be different from yours. It won't grow claws, and even the Spirit Ability will be different."
An Zhen looked at his right hand.
It was supposed to grow claws.
But at that moment, a sense of repulsion and aversion suddenly arose within his heart and body. It was as if an extra part had been added to a perfect work, gilding the lily.
However, An Zhen felt he could have great expectations for the Spirit Ability after assimilation.
Was the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's palm bone Spirit Ability strong?
Of course, it was strong.
It was fully demonstrated on Lord Huo and Tang Wulin in the original work.
But for An Zhen, it wasn't particularly important.
For other Spirit Masters, this meant they possessed a very powerful offensive ability, as their Spirit Abilities were limited. But for An Zhen, this was not the case; he completely lacked such a powerful offensive Spirit Ability.