The morning sun rose over the towering spires of the Spirit Hall, casting long golden rays across the marble floors of its grand corridors.
Xuan Yan is walking beside Bibi Dong on the quiet corridor.
Raising his head to look at her, he asked "Teacher, are we going to the Star Dou Forest today?"
Bibi Dong shook her head gently as she gently ruffled his hair "No, Yan'er. Today, we are heading to the Spirit Forest."
Xuan Yan's brow furrowed for a moment before he nodded in understanding. The Spirit Forest is one of the three sacred forests governed by the Spirit Hall.
With their destination set, they exited the grand doors of the Spirit Hall.
Outside, a luxurious, finely adorned carriage awaited them with two powerful spirit beasts standing harnessed at the front.
Bibi Dong gestured toward the carriage. "Come on, Yan'er."
Xuan Yan nodded and stepped forward, opening the door to the carriage.
Bibi Dong settled gracefully into her seat, her composure immaculate as always, while Xuan Yan sat beside her.
The carriage began to move smoothly, the rhythmic clatter of its wheels blending with the faint chirping of birds outside.
As the morning wore on, the soft light filtering through the carriage windows seemed to lull Xuan Yan into a relaxed state.
...
The Spirit Forest was vibrant, with its dense canopy filtering the sunlight into streaks of golden green that danced across the forest floor.
The air was alive with the rustle of leaves and distant cries of spirit beasts, but the deeper parts of the forest held an eerie stillness.
Beside Bibi Dong, holding her hand, Xuan Yan walked alongside her, glancing around at the forest.
As they walked, the surrounding spirit beasts, whether ten-year, hundred-year, or even those older, instinctively avoided them.
The oppressive yet refined aura emanating from Bibi Dong was a clear warning—approach at your own peril.
As Xuan Yan enjoyed the beautiful scenery of the forest, his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Bibi Dong's voice.
"Yan'er, do you have any idea of what kind of spirit beast you need? And how old should it be?"
With a faint nod, he replied "Teacher, I'm thinking of a spirit beast with an age of more than thirty thousand years."
Bibi Dong froze mid-step, her eyes widening slightly as she turned to look at her disciple.
'Thirty thousand years?'
She was well aware of Xuan Yan's extraordinary physical strength and potential, but a thirty-thousand-year-old spirit ring was no trivial matter.
Even seasoned Soul Emperors and Soul Sages approach such spirit beasts with great caution, as the gap in power could be insurmountable.
Looking at his smile, she is not sure if it is the arrogance of a child who didn't understand the dangers or the assuredness of someone who believed in his abilities.
"Yan'er," she began, her voice softer now, "you understand that a spirit beast of that age is not only extremely dangerous but also difficult to absorb, even for someone with your physique?"
Xuan Yan nodded, keeping his cheeky smile "Yes, Teacher. But I think I can do it."
Her lips pressed into a thin line as she considered his words.
Despite her initial hesitation, she couldn't help but feel a trace of pride.
Her disciple wasn't ordinary, and perhaps it was time she stopped treating him as such.
"Very well... if you're certain, then we'll find a suitable beast. But remember, Yan'er, your safety comes first."
"Mhm."
As they continued deeper into the forest, Bibi Dong's thoughts lingered on her disciple. 'Thirty thousand years... Perhaps he really can do it. After all, he's no ordinary child.'
...
Night descended upon the Spirit Forest...
The air turned cooler, and the once lively chirping of birds gave way to the occasional rustle of leaves and distant cries of nocturnal spirit beasts.
The moonlight filtered through the treetops, casting silvery patterns on the forest floor.
After a long day of fruitless searching for a suitable spirit beast, Bibi Dong and Xuan Yan found themselves in a small clearing surrounded by towering trees.
Fireflies flitted about, their soft glow adding an otherworldly charm to the quiet forest.
Bibi Dong glanced at Xuan Yan, who was still holding her hand "Yan'er, let's camp here for the night. We'll continue searching for the spirit beast tomorrow."
Xuan Yan nodded his head "Alright, Teacher."
Without hesitation, Bibi Dong retrieved a set of camping materials from her storage ring.
Her movements were graceful yet efficient as she began setting up the camp.
As she worked, Xuan Yan stood nearby, observing her with quiet admiration.
After a moment, he spoke, "Teacher, I'll go and search for some spirit beasts for dinner."
Bibi Dong paused and looked at him, her expression softening slightly. "Alright, but don't go too far."
Xuan Yan smiled "Understood, Teacher."
With that, he turned and disappeared into the shadows of the forest, his small figure blending effortlessly into the darkness.
As Xuan Yan ventured deeper into the forest, his senses remained sharp, alert to every faint movement and sound around him.
With his enhanced sense granted by his physique, it was easier for him.
It wasn't long before his senses picked up on a group of spirit beasts grazing in a small clearing ahead.
Before him, three rabbit spirit beasts were running amok and each of them radiated the aura of a three-hundred-year-old spirit beast.
In a few moves, he hunted the three beasts, ensuring a clean capture without unnecessary struggle.
Once the task was complete, he paused for a moment, leaning against the rough bark of a nearby tree.
'Now that I think about it... my storage ring.'
His current storage ring is a gift from his teacher, was functional but limited. It was a standard item, unable to accommodate more than the bare essentials.
His gaze squinted in thought 'The art of making 'Essence tool's is already lost in this world.'
'Now storage rings are like great artifacts which can't be replicated. I should find a way to recreate these Essence tools.'
His mind wandered briefly to his system rewards. 'My first silver token reward should help with my ring for now.'
'System'
[Yes, Host!]
'Use one silver token,'
[Ding!]
[Received reward: Star Ring!]
[Star Ring: A storage ring capable of holding both living and non-living things. Space: 500 square meters.]
A soft glow enveloped his hand, and a beautiful golden ring materialized.
The ring was intricately crafted, with a red star-shaped gem at its center that shimmered faintly in the moonlight.
'For now, let me use the ring teacher gave. I can't explain this ring to her.'
He stored the rabbit corpses in the storage ring.
Satisfied with his new treasure and his task complete, Xuan Yan turned and began making his way back to the camp.
At the camp, the warm glow of the bonfire greeted Xuan Yan as he stepped into the clearing.
Bibi Dong sat by the fire, her elegant figure illuminated by the flickering flames.
Her expression was calm and serene, her violet eyes reflecting the light as she gazed into the fire, lost in thought.
Xuan Yan approached quietly, but she noticed him almost immediately, her gaze lifting to meet his.
A faint smile curled her lips as she looked at him.
He settled down beside her, as he retrieved the rabbit spirit beasts and began preparing them.
Using the tools his teacher had provided, Xuan Yan worked with precision, skinning and cleaning the beasts before setting them up on spits over the fire.
The scent of roasting meat soon filled the air, mingling with the earthy aroma of the forest.
From a small pouch, Xuan Yan retrieved a mix of spices, sprinkling them over the meat as it cooked.
Bibi Dong looked at him in wonder as he is doing all of this as a 6 year old.
When the meat was ready, he pulled one of the spits from the fire and handed it to Bibi Dong. "Here, Teacher,"
Bibi Dong accepted the offering with a small nod, looking at it briefly before taking a bite.
Her expression softened as the flavor hit her palate, and she gave nod. "Your cooking skills are great, Yan'er. Just like how you prepared food for me the last time."
Xuan Yan just chuckled and showed a cheeky grin.
He then took his own portion and began eating, savoring the tender meat and the rich blend of spices.
The two of them sat in silence, the crackling of the fire and the distant sounds of the forest their only backdrop.
As he was eating the rabbit meat, Xuan Yan suddenly remembered Xiao Wu 'She must be still within the Star Dou forest...'
'I should go and visit her.'
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