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Dugu Bo had to suspect now.
Did Su Wen really master the trick to absorbing spirit rings beyond the limit?
It was one thing for Su Wen himself, as he could be explained away by various fortuitous encounters. But what about Old Jack?
Even with the transformation from the Earth Dragon Golden Melon, and a significant increase in physique... how could he be sure Old Jack's physique had reached his level?
He was an old man.
Could he withstand the pain of exceeding-limit absorption?
"Kid, tell me the truth. Did you master some kind of technique?"
This time, Su Wen didn't deny it outright. He nodded and admitted it.
Hiss... Having his question confirmed, Dugu Bo instantly felt it was inconceivable and sucked in a cold breath.
Even he himself hadn't expected Su Wen to nod and admit it.
What did this mean?
If exceeding-limit spirit ring absorption could truly be achieved through a technique, then the age limit for every single spirit ring of future Spirit Masters would change.
Raising the limit of absorbable spirit ring age meant the overall progress of the Spirit Master world!
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a great revolution.
Of course, that was assuming this technique was made public.
If only Su Wen mastered it and kept it tightly guarded...
It seemed even more terrifying, leading to a bloody storm of people fighting for the technique in Su Wen's hands.
Facing Dugu Bo's gaze, Su Wen said calmly, "I naturally intend to publish this technique. This is a new achievement that benefits the Spirit Master world, an opportunity for all Spirit Masters."
Protecting his life was one point; gaining fame was another.
In the name of publishing the method for exceeding-limit absorption, at the very least, all Spirit Masters would owe Su Wen a favor. Overtly attacking Su Wen would be unjustifiable.
Sometimes, a reputation also had many benefits in this world.
Of course, Su Wen would wait until the Spirit Master Tournament to publish this method. At that time, he would use the opportunity to accomplish another major event.
"What?" Dugu Bo found Su Wen's idea inconceivable. "Are you sure you want to establish a sect?"
"Something like that."
"Do you know how much energy it takes to establish a sect? Do you know how many people's pie a new sect will cut into once it gains a foothold? And how much suppression it will face—" Dugu Bo stopped.
He remembered the topic they had just discussed.
It seemed... all external problems could be alleviated by that one reputation.
As for the internal issues of sect construction, like funding and personnel...
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan?" Dugu Bo looked at Su Wen, guessing.
Su Wen smiled, nodded, then shook his head.
"Yes, but not entirely."
"Funds can be sought from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. As for talented Spirit Masters, I think Spirit Hall won't be stingy with their help either."
Dugu Bo suddenly realized.
Indeed. With such a great contribution to the Spirit Master world, if Su Wen wanted to establish a faction, Spirit Hall would at least support and praise Su Wen in name.
As for substantive support, Su Wen might have to fight for it himself.
"Grandpa Dugu, you've always been a loner before, mostly because you were suffering from poison backlash and focused on solving it. Now that your problem is solved, do you and Sister Yan truly not plan to establish a family or a sect?"
After all, truly stable inheritance could only be sustained by large sects and families.
Otherwise, even with a top-tier spirit inheritance, it would quickly fade away in the river of time.
Dugu Bo's expression changed.
His eyes flickered uncertainly.
If he really established a faction as Su Wen said, then many difficult problems already had visible solutions.
Basically, they only lacked manpower.
With him, a Titled Douluo, holding down the fort, he might be the most important core.
And that fellow Xiao Zhan... he would probably be invited by Su Wen too.
They could quickly reach the level of a first-rate faction in terms of top-tier combat power.
To be honest, Dugu Bo was moved.
"I'll do it!"
"By the way, what do you plan to name the faction?"
Su Wen pondered for a moment, then uttered a name.
"The Academy." (Xue Gong)
"Ahem, Little Wen, can you teach that method to Yan-yan first?" Dugu Bo asked.
"No problem. However, my method also has an upper limit. It's unrealistic for Sister Yan to rely on my method to absorb a ten-thousand-year ring for her fourth ring." Su Wen didn't refuse, but he clarified many issues in advance.
"I know. Exceeding the limit for a ten-thousand-year ring is hard to handle. But absorbing an extra two or three thousand years for the fourth ring, a few thousand more for the fifth, and ten thousand more for the sixth shouldn't be a problem, right?"
Su Wen nodded.
That wasn't a problem.
"Also, Grandpa Dugu, my method is quite complex. It's a set of spirit power circulation pathways, extremely intricate. Take a look first." Su Wen displayed the spirit power circulation pathway using his Book Spirit.
Even Dugu Bo felt a little dizzy looking at it.
What is this stuff?
Is this a route a human can completely memorize and circulate spirit power through?
Dugu Bo was skeptical at first, but then, remembering that Old Jack had already mastered it, he figured Su Wen must have a method for accelerated learning.
"I do have one, but it's not suitable for Sister Yan," Su Wen said, slightly embarrassed.
"Hm?"
"It requires me to... enter her... inside."
Dugu Bo: ???
"It's nothing if my book pages just merge into the body for simple strengthening. But to use the pages to guide the opponent's spirit power circulation, my spiritual power must also permeate their entire body to distinguish the meridian pathways."
Everyone's meridian pathways had slight differences.
Even knowing the general location, finding the true meridian required exploration.
Su Wen had extraordinary perception and could identify them one by one by looking. Ordinary Spirit Masters, however, could only rely on feeling to distinguish which meridian the spirit power passed through each time.
Dugu Bo fell silent.
That indeed wouldn't do.
"Grandpa Dugu, no rush. There's still plenty of time. I also have some techniques for locating meridians. Sister Yan can slowly explore and eventually master this method."
"Sigh. That's the only way," Dugu Bo said with helpless regret.
"For Grandpa Jack's second ring, it's best to find a life-attribute one. His third ring should also ideally be life-attribute, to compensate for his advanced age as much as possible."
And life-attribute spirit beasts were relatively rare.
This was why Su Wen had sought out Dugu Bo.
"Mm. For a thousand-year one... I do have a choice in mind." Dugu Bo thought of a medicinal herb-type plant spirit beast he had once discovered...
Today, Dugu Bo had inwardly lamented more than once about how ridiculous this grandfather-grandson pair was.
One was ridiculously young, the other ridiculously old.
Two ridiculous people together... it was truly ridiculously extreme.
Inner circle of the Sunset Forest.
In a valley teeming with life, Dugu Bo brought the grandfather and grandson pair, Old Jack and Su Wen, to this place.
"Grandpa Dugu, is this another medicine garden of yours?" Su Wen asked speechlessly. He had already spotted many medicinal herbs.
The life aura in the valley was incredibly dense, very suitable for growing herbs.
What is Dugu Bo's zodiac sign? A treasure-hunting rat?
Has he searched every single remote valley or something?
(End of this chapter)