The Eighteen Strikes of the Single-Handed Technique was straightforward, marked by its bold and expansive moves.
For a moment, Nan Feihuang gained the upper hand in his battle against the Silver Moon Wolf. However, his spirit power was limited, and his stamina wasn't enough to quickly overcome a spirit beast nearing seven hundred years in age. As the fight dragged on, his halberd technique began to lose its precision.
After all, he had only been practicing the Eighteen Strikes for a short time. If Xiang Yu or Lü Bu were here, even with less power, defeating a stronger opponent wouldn't be too difficult.
"To hold off the Silver Moon Wolf for so long without a spirit ring—Feihuang, you've done very well," Lan Xue praised as she decided to intervene.
Grasping her Frost Battle Halberd, the first spirit ring around her glowed brightly.
"First Spirit Skill: Frost Slash!"
Lan Xue swept her halberd across the ground, unleashing a freezing force that surged toward the Silver Moon Wolf. The beast had no time to react before its limbs were encased in ice, shattering on impact.
Nan Feihuang seized the opportunity, charging forward. With one decisive strike, he smashed the Silver Moon Wolf's skull.
A yellow spirit ring formed over the fallen beast.
"Feihuang, take these first, then absorb the spirit ring," Lan Xue said, tossing an orange and an apple to him.
These were the famed Vitality Orange and Energy Apple from Elder Zhang. With these fruits, Nan Feihuang's physical and mental strength would quickly be restored. It was this level of support that allowed Lan Xue to let her son exhaust himself in battle against the Silver Moon Wolf, ensuring his growth through real combat.
With the help of the food provided by the Food-type Soul Saint, Nan Feihuang would be in peak condition to absorb the spirit ring.
Without hesitation, Nan Feihuang ate the orange and the apple. His energy and strength returned to their peak, and he sat down cross-legged, the spirit ring enveloping his body.
Absorbing a nearly seven-hundred-year-old spirit ring posed a significant challenge for a ten-year-old Soul Master. After all, a six-year-old's body wasn't fully developed, and his meridians weren't wide enough to handle such a force. The risk of his body being overwhelmed was high.
Despite his immense potential, Nan Feihuang still needed time and practice to fully unlock it. Without the support of the whale jelly he'd consumed, he would never have dared to absorb a spirit ring close to three hundred years beyond the usual limit for a first ring.
Still, for him, though painful, it was manageable.
Seeing that her son's spirit power remained stable and his expression showed only slight discomfort, Lan Xue finally relaxed. She knew that such a challenge would not defeat her brilliant and precocious son.
After about two hours, Nan Feihuang's body flashed with golden light, and his spirit power stabilized completely.
He leaped to his feet, raising his Fangtian Halberd high before delivering a powerful vertical slash.
"First Spirit Skill: Crescent Slash!"
A crescent-shaped blade of energy flew from his halberd, slicing through the nearby lake, sending a massive wave surging forth. The river ahead was split in two by the force of his attack.
This Crescent Slash, one of the martial techniques of a general, was on par with Dian Wei's Ghost Halberd and Lü Lingqi's Flying Dagger. However, it combined the durability of the Ghost Halberd—able to continue attacking without disappearing—with the speed of the Flying Dagger.
Most importantly, it consumed very little spirit power and could be used consecutively.
Even now, Nan Feihuang could swing his halberd four times in quick succession, releasing four Crescent Slashes in an instant.
Moreover, this technique had a hidden feature: it dealt true damage, bypassing defenses, similar to Bibi Dong's Eternal Creation.
"Excellent. The attack is sharp, fast, and capable of continuous strikes—an outstanding first spirit skill," Lan Xue praised. The nearly seven-hundred-year-old spirit ring had not disappointed her.
As expected, high risks came with high rewards.
"It seems we've gained a lot from this trip to the Soul Hunting Forest. Let's head back," Lan Xue called out to the group.
"Mother, once we return, should I attend the primary academy for training?" Nan Feihuang asked.
At his age, it was common for children to begin their studies at a primary academy, gradually advancing to a higher-level academy.
The Gu Lei Kingdom had its own royal academy, which offered both primary and advanced levels of education. The academy was also eligible to compete in the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament.
Unfortunately, the kingdom's performance in the tournament had been consistently poor in recent years.
"No need for now. I'll have you and the others enrolled in name only. You can attend if you wish, but it's not mandatory. All the resources available in the primary academy are also present in the palace. However, when the Spirit Master Elite Tournament comes around, you will still need to represent the Gu Lei Kingdom. It's been too long since we've had a decent showing," Lan Xue sighed.
The Gu Lei Kingdom's spirit master strength was the weakest among the four major kingdoms. They only had two experts at the Soul Douluo level, and one of them was Lan Xue, who had joined the royal family later on.
In fact, before Nan Tianchen married Lan Xue, the royal family had only one Soul Douluo.
Had it not been for this weakness, the Gu Lei Kingdom wouldn't have felt the need to align so closely with the Heaven Dou Empire, paying tribute every year in exchange for protection.
In recent years, the Spirit Hall had extended an olive branch to the kingdom in secret. It was impossible for Nan Tianchen not to be tempted.
After all, the Spirit Hall possessed the most formidable spirit master force on the continent.
Nan Tianchen understood exactly what the Spirit Hall wanted—Gu Lei's rich agricultural resources.
When the offer was made, Nan Tianchen had been filled with dread. Why would the Spirit Hall, which lacked a standing army, suddenly need so much grain?
The answer was clear: they were likely building a military force in secret, preparing for something big in the future.
Though Nan Tianchen maintained a polite front with the Spirit Hall, his true allegiance remained with the Heaven Dou Empire.
In Xun Yu's view, Nan Tianchen was like a man trying to please two women at once—playing both sides would only lead to disaster.
A man like that never fares well, especially when both women are stronger than him.
Xun Yu's analysis was clear: while it may seem like Nan Tianchen was playing both sides successfully, the eventual outcome would be grim. In a war, the Gu Lei Kingdom would likely be torn apart by both sides.
Despite agreeing with Xun Yu's assessment, neither he nor Nan Feihuang made any effort to stop Nan Tianchen's actions.
First, Xun Yu, despite his remarkable political insight, was only six years old. Other than Nan Feihuang, no one would listen to the analysis of a child.
Second, though siding with both powers would inevitably lead to ruin, the years leading up to that downfall would be the most prosperous for the kingdom.
Third, Xun Yu's predictions were based on the assumption that Nan Feihuang and the others weren't in the picture.
Now, with their presence, the future held many more possibilities. Once they grew stronger, any problem could be solved.
Nan Feihuang had no interest in serving the Spirit Hall or the Heaven Dou Empire, nor did he wish to rely on Tang San and his group.
He possessed the power of the Three Kingdoms, and as the crown prince of a nation, he was destined for greatness. With warriors like Dian Wei and Lü Lingqi at his side, and Xun Yu's unmatched intellect, it would be a waste not to lead the kingdom to glory and unify the land.
For now, he was still too young. His father, though short-sighted, was competent enough to maintain the kingdom's stability during these peaceful times.
When the wars began, Nan Feihuang would be ready to take control.
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