Duan Xin and Zi Ruyi were extremely satisfied with the results of this practical combat training.
At the (quasi) Spirit King level, displaying strength comparable to a Spirit Emperor—such an improvement was simply unimaginable before! Thus, Yu Qing's status in their hearts had quietly surpassed that of their respective families.
"Sigh, why am I the next clan leader of the Duan Family? Why not just pack up the entire Duan Family and give it to my husband?" Duan Xin sighed inwardly, then a sudden flash of inspiration hit her. "Wait, that seems like a good idea?"
"I have to find a way to give the Zi Family to my husband too! That way, I can be with him forever!" The same thought occurred to Zi Ruyi.
Although The Two Women's thoughts were somewhat "rebellious," if their families knew, they would likely agree with both hands and feet—for a small Spirit Master family, being able to cling to the legs of a Titled Douluo and develop steadily was simply a godsend!
Yu Qing naturally didn't know about the "family plans" in the hearts of The Two Women; at this moment, he was focused on searching for the Crimson-Eyed Burst Dragon's territory.
He expanded his mental force range to a thousand zhang, and the terrain of the mixed zone appeared clearly in his mind like a 3D model. As he moved forward, he compared the characteristics of the Crimson-Eyed Burst Dragon's habitat from his memory, conducting a carpet-style search.
Finally, he captured a pure dragon bloodline aura! That pressure, like a dangerous radiation source, was particularly striking in his spiritual perception.
Stepping into the Crimson-Eyed Burst Dragon's territory, the surrounding environment changed abruptly: trees became sparse, replaced by large patches of shrubs and jagged stone forests. Scattered among the stone forests were numerous giant Spirit Beast skeletons, which, even after being dead for a long time, still emitted a heart-palpitating pressure—among them were the remains of high-level Spirit Beasts, and the three even saw the skeletons of two Vigorous Vajra Bears!
"As expected of a top-tier Spirit Beast, an existence at the top of the food chain..." Yu Qing marveled inwardly.
Sensing intruders, the Crimson-Eyed Burst Dragon in the center of the stone forest flew toward the three at an incredible speed. It covered a distance of over a hundred li in just five minutes, its massive figure appearing in their sight.
This was a Spirit Beast with a typical Western dragon appearance: over seven meters long, with a slender tail taking up a third of its length, and dark red flames burning from its back to the tip of its tail; when its giant dragon wings spread, those flames burst and splashed like sparks, releasing scorching heat; its grayish-white dragon scales glinted with a metallic luster, like a mobile steel fortress; the silver-gray dragon horns on its head were over twenty centimeters long, indicating its twenty-thousand-year cultivation; most striking were the faint gold lines in those crimson vertical pupils, exuding coldness and majesty.
Unfortunately, a mere twenty-thousand-year Spirit Beast was as weak as an ant before Yu Qing.
He didn't give the opponent any chance to react. His right hand glowed with purple light, the astral power within his body surged, and he made a grasping motion in the air toward the flying Crimson-Eyed Burst Dragon!
"Star Luo Hand!"
Starlight gathered in the sky, transforming into a giant purple handprint. Starlight flickered upon it, echoing the astral power in the meridians of Yu Qing's arm—this was one of his self-created Spirit Abilitys, possessing extremely strong sealing and control capabilities. Once suppressed, there was basically no possibility of escape!
It could not only block the flow of spirit power but also seal meridians and acupoints. Although it wouldn't cause substantial damage, it could make the target instantly lose the ability to resist. Of course, if the opponent's spirit power far exceeded Yu Qing's, they could also forcibly break through. But with his Titled Douluo cultivation, a casually unleashed Star Luo Hand was enough to suppress a peer for more than three seconds; dealing with this twenty-thousand-year Spirit Beast, it could practically seal it until the end of time!
Seeing Yu Qing easily suppress the Crimson-Eyed Burst Dragon with just a self-created Spirit Ability, without showing any spirit rings or spirit power fluctuations, the eyes of The Two Women were full of shock and worship.
"Come, Xiner, give it the final blow." Yu Qing pulled the immobile Crimson-Eyed Burst Dragon in front of him.
Duan Xin immediately complied. However, she used all her strength, bombarding it with various Spirit Abilitys, but could only leave a few shallow marks on the dragon scales—the Crimson-Eyed Burst Dragon's eyes even showed clear disdain.
"Husband! I... I can't kill it!" Duan Xin looked at Yu Qing with a long face. She had even used her Spirit Bone Skill, yet she couldn't even break its defense; it was too discouraging!
"Try this." Yu Qing took out a uniquely shaped triangular military bayonet from his storage bracelet. The blade was red and white, emitting an eerie dual aura of ice and fire.
This military spike was forged from Deep Sea Sunken Silver, infused with the spring essence of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and various toxins (including Old Poison's Jade Phosphor Serpent poison). It was not only peerlessly sharp but also incredibly toxic, capable of wounding even a Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Beast!
Duan Xin curiously took the spike and was about to touch the blade—
"Don't touch it!" Yu Qing quickly stopped her. "This thing is incredibly toxic; even a scratch on the skin could poison a Spirit Douluo to death!"
"Ah?!" Duan Xin's hand shook, and she almost dropped the spike on the ground. "It's that dangerous?!"
"When has your husband ever lied to you?" Yu Qing said helplessly.
Next, Duan Xin gripped the spike tightly and stabbed it with all her might toward the Crimson-Eyed Burst Dragon's head. The sharp tip of the spike easily pierced the dragon scales, but it got stuck after sinking in only a little.
Duan Xin: "..."
Yu Qing held his forehead. "Xiner, open your mouth!"
Although she didn't understand why, Duan Xin obediently opened her small mouth. A purple leaf with blood-colored veins was flicked into her mouth by Yu Qing.
"Third Spirit Ability: Dragon-Elephant Power Sky-Propping Leaf!"
In an instant, Duan Xin felt a continuous surge of power within her! This was Yu Qing's Third Spirit Ability, which could double the consumer's strength and spirit power for a short period!
With the blessing of double strength, the spike finally sank completely into the dragon's head! The toxins on the blade spread rapidly, and the Crimson-Eyed Burst Dragon's grayish-white scales were instantly dyed with strange colors like red, blue, and green. Black-red dragon blood gushed from its mouth, and as it dripped onto the ground, it actually corroded deep pits!
"Hiss—such terrifying toxicity!" Duan Xin gasped.
"Of course," Yu Qing said proudly. "This spike is infused with the poison of the famous Poison Douluo."
"Is it that Poison Douluo who is said to be able to slaughter an entire city alone?" Zi Ruyi's voice trembled, her eyes filled with fear.
"Yes." Yu Qing nodded.
"Husband, do you have a good relationship with the Poison Douluo?" Duan Xin asked curiously.
Yu Qing showed a look of recollection. "You could say... we're frenemies." His acquaintance with Dugu Bo began with a carefully designed "chance encounter." After all, the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was related to whether he could break through to Titled Douluo, so he had to find a way to enter.
During the conversation, the Crimson-Eyed Burst Dragon finally died aggrievedly from the poison, and a pitch-black spirit ring emerged from its corpse. The energy fluctuations it emitted far exceeded an ordinary twenty-thousand-year spirit ring, even approaching the thirty-thousand-year level!
Yu Qing summoned his Spirit, and nine spirit rings rose in a rhythmic motion. His sixth spirit ring lit up:
"Sixth Soul Skill: Unbreakable Golden Lotus Leaf!"
A golden lotus leaf separated from the Purple Profound Gold Leaf. Yu Qing put away his Spirit and handed the golden lotus leaf to Duan Xin. "Take this when you absorb the spirit ring."
"Oh!" Duan Xin obediently took it and prepared to begin absorbing.
Beside them, Zi Ruyi's eyes suddenly widened. "Husband... you're a food-system Soul Master?!"
"Yes, what's wrong?" Yu Qing's tone was flat.
"But... but..." Zi Ruyi stammered, "Isn't it said that food-system Soul Masters cultivate extremely slowly? And you could easily defeat Zhao Wuji... is this strength really something a food-system Titled Douluo can achieve?"
This completely overturned the common knowledge of the Douluo Continent!
Yu Qing looked at her with piercing eyes. "Ruyi, remember, rules are meant to be broken. If your husband had played by the rules, with an innate spirit power of level three, could I have achieved what I have today?"
Zi Ruyi shook her head blankly.
Yu Qing stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the sky with an air of absolute mastery. "As Spirit Masters, we should explore realms where predecessors have never reached and push the path of the Spirit Master to even higher peaks!"
After this dose of "chicken soup," the eyes of The Two Women instantly became misty with adoration, their worship flowing like a surging river.
Duan Xin took the golden lotus leaf and began absorbing the spirit ring. However, even with the assistance of Yu Qing's Spirit Ability, the absorption process was still extremely painful. The violent energy impact caused fine beads of blood to seep from her entire body, and in just ten minutes, she was covered in wounds—a precursor to exploding and dying! Coupled with the soul shock from the Crimson-Eyed Burst Dragon, her spirit was also on the brink of collapse.
"Seventh Spirit Ability: Leaves Protecting All Living Beings, True Body Manifestation!"
Yu Qing unhesitatingly unleashed his Martial Soul True Body. A flash of vibrant red light passed, and a lush, green leaf merged into his body. In an instant, a majestic Power of Life gushed out, covering a radius of hundreds of li!
With his Martial Soul True Body active, the life aura around Yu Qing was so dense it almost liquefied. The falling rain of life nourished the earth, and wherever it passed, the desolate stone forest instantly transformed into a lush, green forest!
The wounds on Duan Xin's body healed at a rate visible to the naked eye, and the pain from the soul shock was also smoothed over by the Power of Life. Although the energy impact continued to cause damage, the Power of Life could always repair it in time.
The tug-of-war between destruction and repair lasted for a full half-hour, and Duan Xin finally successfully absorbed the spirit ring! The black spirit ring settled firmly in the fifth spirit ring position, and her spirit power broke through five levels in a row, reaching level fifty-six!
"Congratulations, you've completed your first over-limit spirit ring absorption!" Yu Qing retracted his Martial Soul True Body and congratulated her with a smile.
"Hehe, it's all thanks to you, husband!" Duan Xin giggled foolishly, her face flushed with excitement.
Just as the three were about to leave, a terrifying spirit power fluctuation suddenly approached!
Yu Qing immediately expanded his mental force to investigate, and his expression soon turned strange.
"What's wrong, husband?" Zi Ruyi noticed something was off.
"It's nothing, just a Spirit Beast coming towards us," Yu Qing replied.
"What kind of Spirit Beast?" Duan Xin was eager to try.
"There, it's coming." Yu Qing pointed ahead.
The Two Women looked in the direction he pointed and saw a mountain-like giant ape descending from the sky, crashing onto the open ground a thousand meters away with a "boom"! Its muscles bulged like rocks, and its bright yellow eyes were like two small moons, emitting a terrifying pressure—
The king of the Star Dou Great Forest, the Titan Giant Ape!