At Old Man Yu's house, Yu Yan met the pride of his life—his son who had become a Spirit Master, Yu Qingfeng.
Yu Qingfeng was built like a bear, broad-backed and thick-necked, his buzz-cut framing an utterly ordinary face that would vanish in a crowd.
"This is my son, Yu Qingfeng. I'm sure you two have already heard about him, so I'll spare you the long introduction."
After the brief introduction, Old Man Yu began presenting Yu Yan and Xiao Wu to his son.
"Qingfeng, these are the two kids from our Yu Village who awakened spirit power this year—Yu Yan and Xiao Wu. Both have seven-and-a-half levels of Innate spirit power, far stronger than you back in the day."
"Not just stronger—way stronger. My Innate spirit power was only level two. I can't compare with these two little Geniuses."
Yu Qingfeng stressed the point without embarrassment, stepped up to the pair, and looked them over.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Yu Qingfeng, a level-27 attack system Spirit Grandmaster. Dad told me about you. When you're ready to obtain your spirit rings, just come find me."
"Thanks, Brother Feng. We'll be counting on you then."
Yu Yan was sincerely grateful to this man willing to help them secure spirit rings free of charge.
"Thank you."
Xiao Wu offered her thanks as well, though her heart clearly wasn't in it.
A Spirit Beast reborn in human shape, she could never feel happy about the idea of hunting Spirit Beasts for their rings.
"Don't stand on ceremony. I'll look after you for the next couple of years; a couple of years after that, maybe you'll be the ones looking after me. Like my old man says, we're from the same village—helping each other is only natural."
Knowing how vital Innate spirit power was, Yu Qingfeng thought his father's decision nothing short of brilliant.
One side wanted to forge ties and invest in the future; the other was grateful and eager to reciprocate.
With a little effort, the two parties became as warm as old friends who hadn't seen each other in years.
In the course of conversation, Yu Yan learned that Yu Qingfeng's Spirit was the Big-Head Black-Fish, another mutated variant.
As the name implied, it was a black fish with an oversized head—hard and heavy.
Consequently, Yu Qingfeng's entire cultivation revolved around using that rock-hard skull.
While chatting, Yu Yan asked what he thought of the founder of the Ten Core Spirit Studies, Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang.
At the mention, Yu Qingfeng showed open disdain: people called Yu Xiaogang "Grandmaster" not out of respect, he said, but as mockery.
If a level-29 Spirit Grandmaster could be dubbed Grandmaster for writing unproven theories, then so could he.
Having vented, Yu Qingfeng admitted that some of Yu Xiaogang's ideas were useful—worth a critical read rather than outright dismissal.
Xiao Wu, already familiar with Yu Yan, spotted the same politely insincere smile he'd worn the first time they met.
She had questions, but she kept them for later that night.
With three Spirit Masters at work, jobs finished several times faster than with ordinary folk.
A fishing net that needed several grown men to haul in, for instance, Yu Qingfeng dragged ashore alone.
He didn't even use Martial Soul Possession—only the raw strength of his Physical Body.
The sheer power made him seem superhuman.
Seeing it deepened Yu Yan's understanding of a Spirit Master's might and intensified his hunger for that strength.
"Haha, Xiao Yan, don't envy me. Your Innate spirit power is high; you'll have strength like mine soon enough."
Dragging the net onto the bank, Yu Qingfeng recognized the envy in the boy's eyes—he'd once worn the same look while watching matches in the Soul Fighting Arena.
"Mm."
Yu Yan didn't argue. He nodded, openly admitting how much he craved that power.
The four fish-ponds were emptied in a single day, thanks to one Spirit Grandmaster and two Spirit Scholars.
When they left, Old Man Yu forced two huge black carp into Yu Yan's arms, refusing every attempt to decline.
After several failed refusals, Yu Yan and Xiao Wu each trudged home carrying a fish.
"Xiao Wu, you seemed unhappy today. What's wrong?"
On the way home, Yu Yan struck up conversation, hoping to cheer her up.
Joy is contagious—but so is sorrow.
Xiao Wu walked in silence, wondering how much she could safely say.
Yu Yan didn't press her; he simply waited for her to speak or stay quiet—pressure never helped.
They walked home without a word. Only after the courtyard gate shut did Xiao Wu look up. "Yu Yan, do Spirit Masters have to kill Spirit Beasts to Break through?"
"Mm… that's still open to debate, but it's the only known method so far."
It was a lie. Besides the standard way, Yu Yan knew several alternatives—but explaining them would raise impossible questions.
A village boy couldn't possibly know such things.
The answer left Xiao Wu even more downcast. She set the carp on the table and sat staring at the night sky, lost in thought.
Yu Yan stowed the fish in an ice bucket, then sat beside her and cut straight to the chase: "Are you feeling sorry for the Spirit Beasts?"
He had plenty he wanted to discuss on the subject.
"Mm. It feels cruel."
Since he'd guessed, Xiao Wu nodded.
"What I'm about to say may sound harsh—cold, even. Do you still want to hear it?"
Before continuing, he asked if she wished to go on.
Xiao Wu rolled her eyes. "You've already started and got me curious. You're really going to stop now?"
"I just thought you might be too young for what I'm about to say." After that, he posed his first question: "How do you feel about Spirit Beasts eating other Spirit Beasts?"