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Breakthroughs in the Forest
By the time Xiao Wu finished absorbing her third spirit ring and broke through to Spirit Elder rank, Lin Dongyao still hadn't awakened.
Da Ming and Er Ming waited nearby, not daring to make a sound.
"How much longer is this going to take? It's almost dark," Xiao Wu grumbled, plucking blades of grass restlessly.
"Da Ming, Er Ming… is Auntie Blue Silver in the Forbidden Zone?" She glanced toward the depths beyond the lake.
"Most likely. After giving us her instructions years ago, she entered with another person," Da Ming replied.
"Sigh… If only my mother had gone into the Forbidden Zone too, she might not have died outside. Damn Spirit Hall!" Xiao Wu's voice trembled with suppressed fury.
BOOM!
A surge of spirit power erupted from Lin Dongyao, interrupting her thoughts.
"He jumped straight to level 30?! That spirit herb Auntie left must be incredibly potent. I remember eating something similar when I first took human form—it completely masked my spirit beast aura."
Xiao Wu watched the energy fluctuations around Lin Dongyao, recalling the immortal herb the Blue Silver Empress had once gifted her.
"His actual spirit power might be even higher. He just needs a spirit ring to manifest it. Er Ming, find a thousand-year healing-type spirit beast suitable for him," Da Ming ordered.
"GROWL!" Er Ming leaped up and vanished into the trees, returning shortly with a Millennium Flower Serpent in tow.
The Awakening of the Blue Silver Emperor
Lin Dongyao's eyes fluttered open.
"How do you feel?" Xiao Wu asked.
"Incredible. After consuming that flower, I broke through to level 30 instantly. What kind of treasure was that?" His voice brimmed with awe.
"No idea—only your mother would know. But check your spirit! It must have changed," Xiao Wu urged.
Lin Dongyao summoned his Blue Silver Grass—and froze.
The once-ordinary plant now shimmered with golden veins, its leaves radiating regal elegance.
"Lin Dongyao, your spirit isn't Blue Silver Grass anymore. It's the Blue Silver Emperor—a top-tier spirit! Your previous two spirit skills must've strengthened too," Xiao Wu explained.
"The Blue Silver Emperor… This is what Mom left me?" He stared at his palm, stunned.
"We'll talk later. It's getting dark—Teacher Zhao must be frantic. Absorb your third ring first!"
Nodding, Lin Dongyao took the Flower Serpent's spirit ring. Upon fully absorbing it, his power skyrocketed to level 35.
"Thank you," he bowed to the two beast kings before he and Xiao Wu hurried toward the forest's edge.
"Listen, we can't mention anything about Da Ming or Er Ming to the others," Xiao Wu warned.
"Got it. But how do we explain my eight-level jump?"
"Simple: We escaped the Titan Giant Ape, fell into a cave, and ate some random mystical herb. Whether they believe it or not, no one can prove otherwise."
"Fair. Surviving the ape alone is unbelievable enough," Lin Dongyao agreed.
Following the Titan Giant Ape's destructive trail (which kept other spirit beasts at bay), they finally reached the forest's outskirts under cover of darkness.
"This is where we got separated. Do you think… they've given us up for dead?" Lin Dongyao muttered, surveying the chaotic terrain.
"No way. Especially not San-ge. He'd never stop searching," Xiao Wu said firmly.
"But it's too dark to find them now. Let's check the nearby inn. If they're not there, we'll come back at dawn."
The moment they stepped into the brightly lit inn, they spotted the entire group—hunched over a table, food untouched, faces grim.
"San-ge! Teacher Zhao!" Xiao Wu called.
"Teacher Zhao," Lin Dongyao echoed.
Heads snapped up.
"Xiao Wu?!"
"Lin Dongyao?!"
In a blur, Tang San activated Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track and lunged forward, gripping Xiao Wu's arms. "You're alive! I thought—" His voice cracked.
"I'm okay, San-ge. Sorry for worrying you."
Meanwhile, Zhao Wuji clapped Lin Dongyao's shoulder hard enough to stagger him. "You brat! How'd you two escape?!"
"It's a long story. We barely made it… but we also got lucky," Lin Dongyao said, playing his part.
"Yeah, we both broke through to Spirit Elder during the ordeal," Xiao Wu added.
Zhao Wuji bellowed for the innkeeper to reheat their food as everyone crowded around the table.
The two spun their fabricated tale—how Lin Dongyao shielded Xiao Wu from a blow, how they tumbled into a hidden cave, and how they awoke hours later to find their spirits enhanced.
"Lin Dongyao, thank you for protecting Xiao Wu. I owe you," Tang San said solemnly.
"We're friends. Of course I'd help," Lin Dongyao replied, feigning modesty.
Then Tang San's eyes sharpened. "Xiao Wu, do you remember where that cave was?"
"No. Everything was chaos. We just ran toward the exit once it was dark," she lied smoothly.
Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 290 on my patreon, go check it out and remember that if we reach the goal of 60 power stones I will publish the next chapter.