Xiao Wu quietly stood by, watching in amazement. She hadn't expected Su Ming's wood element to possess such a powerful search ability.
Before long, Su Ming had learned the exact location of the cave where the Blue Silver Emperor was hiding, along with the spot where Tang Hao had hidden the ten-thousand-year Blue Silver Emperor right leg bone.
Su Ming decided his first priority was to see if he could convince Ah Yin to become his spirit soul and provide his fourth spirit ring. As for the soul bone, he would retrieve it later since taking it immediately would alert Tang Hao due to the markings he had left.
Holding Xiao Wu's hand, Su Ming led her to the cave on the mountainside.
Xiao Wu, though aware of what Su Ming intended, asked curiously, "Su Ming, are you sure you can find your fourth spirit ring here? This place is so damp and remote; it doesn't seem suitable for spirit beasts to cultivate."
Su Ming nodded, acknowledging her concern, but replied, Ah Yin is definitely here. Damn Tang Hao!
"Xiao Wu, there's an undeveloped Blue Silver Emperor here. I'm going to see if I can convince it to become my spirit soul."
Xiao Wu nodded in understanding, pretending she was learning something new.
Soon enough, Su Ming spotted a unique Blue Silver Grass deeper in the cave. The plant had blue and golden streaks on its leaves, and it was surrounded by a few ordinary Blue Silver Grass plants. Su Ming recognized this as the Blue Silver Emperor, Ah Yin.
Suppressing his excitement, Su Ming, with Xiao Wu in tow, approached the Blue Silver Emperor. However, one dilemma troubled him—how could he communicate with Ah Yin?
Despite this, Su Ming decided to try. After all, Ah Yin wasn't an ordinary Blue Silver Grass but a reborn spirit with her own consciousness. She should be able to understand him.
Su Ming expressed his intentions, explaining the concept of a spirit soul and the benefits it would bring to her. He spoke at length, presenting all the advantages of becoming his spirit soul, confident that Ah Yin's intelligence would grasp the message.
After half an hour of talking, Su Ming finally finished and eagerly asked, "Ah Yin, what do you think? If you become my spirit soul, you can grow alongside me. Once you reach the ten-thousand-year mark and reform your body, I'll help you reunite with Tang Hao. How does that sound?"
"And as for how I know about your relationship with Tang Hao... well, you'll find out eventually."
Ah Yin thought to herself: No, I already know...
"If you agree, wrap one of your Blue Silver Grass leaves around my hand."
Ah Yin had no real choice in the matter. Resigned, she wrapped one of her leaves around Su Ming's hand.
Though becoming Su Ming's spirit soul would mean temporarily giving up her freedom, it wasn't much different from being trapped in this dark cave. She might as well change her circumstances. Moreover, as both Su Ming and the system had said, there were plenty of advantages to being a spirit soul.
Seeing Ah Yin agree, Su Ming was overjoyed. He recited the spirit soul contract spell from the system, and in a special process, he extracted Ah Yin's soul from her Blue Silver Emperor body and formed an equal contract with her.
Another half hour passed.
Su Ming opened his eyes, releasing all of his spirit rings. Four rings appeared around him: purple, purple, black, and purple!
Su Ming felt the power of his new spirit ring. The ring Ah Yin had granted him was only two thousand years old, just as he had anticipated. Given her environment, reaching even this level of cultivation was quite impressive!
What Su Ming didn't know was that Ah Yin had actually reached twenty thousand years of cultivation. However, thanks to the system, her power had been sealed to two thousand years to avoid raising Su Ming's suspicions.
Xiao Wu, seeing Su Ming's contract completed and his fourth spirit ring acquired, excitedly asked, "Su Ming, what's the effect of your fourth spirit ring?"
Su Ming grinned. "The fourth ring's ability is pretty good, as I expected. It enhances life attributes. The passive effect increases the life energy of myself and any wood element I control by thirty percent. When actively released, it adds another thirty percent on top of that."
"This spirit ability is fantastic! It pairs perfectly with the wood element's healing capabilities. Once Ah Yin's cultivation reaches ten thousand years, I might even gain the ultimate life attribute!"
With that, Su Ming activated his fourth spirit skill: "Fourth Spirit Skill—Revival of the Withered!"
Indeed, Su Ming's spirit abilities weren't limited to himself. He could also use them on others, including his earlier abilities. In a way, did this mean he was also a support-type spirit master? Though in truth, Su Ming only wanted to buff his wood element and self-enhancement skills.
Xiao Wu felt the effects of the spirit skill on her body. A surge of energy flowed through her, making her feel more alive and vibrant.
"If I get injured now," Xiao Wu thought, "I'd probably heal in an instant. That's how it feels!"
Su Ming smiled and asked, "How are you feeling, Xiao Wu?"
After a moment of reflection, Xiao Wu answered, "Su Ming, this life attribute boost is pretty incredible. I feel like it's enhancing me in all sorts of ways."
"For instance, I think my recovery abilities have been strengthened, and I also feel... energized."
Su Ming nodded in satisfaction. That was exactly the result he was hoping for. Life attributes weren't just for healing—they did so much more.
With a thought, Su Ming summoned a more translucent, human-shaped figure from his fourth spirit ring. This figure had long blue hair and was breathtakingly beautiful, with a perfect physique, especially her upper body. This figure was none other than Ah Yin!
Su Ming was just testing the skill and hadn't expected it to work. However, since Ah Yin's cultivation was still low, her form was faint and unstable, as though it could disappear at any moment.
Even so, this was already quite remarkable. Ah Yin, now at only two thousand years of cultivation, couldn't speak yet, though she could communicate with Su Ming telepathically.
Seeing the ethereal form of Ah Yin, Xiao Wu was stunned. She hadn't expected Ah Yin to be so beautiful, with such a noble aura. It made her think of her mother, but Xiao Wu quickly suppressed the sadness, reminding herself that her mother could be resurrected soon.
Ah Yin, summoned into physical form, took a moment to adjust to her new state. It was much better than being confined to a dark cave—at least now, she could move around within a certain range.
[Ding! Congratulations, Ah Yin has successfully become Su Ming's spirit soul. She has received a mysterious reward package!]