After their meal, the warm glow of the bonfire began to fade, leaving the clearing shrouded in soft shadows under the gaze of the moon.
The air grew cooler, and the sounds of the nocturnal forest surrounded them.
Xuan Yan watched as Bibi Dong gracefully rose from her seat near the fire.
She stepped toward the modest tent she had set up earlier, her figure illuminated faintly by the moonlight.
Inside the tent, the accommodations were sparse but functional... a single bedroll placed neatly on the ground.
As Xuan Yan followed her inside, he paused, realizing the arrangement. There was only one bed.
Bibi Dong noticed his hesitation and gave him a gentle smile.
Without a word, she lay down first, her eyes looking up at him expectantly, "Yan'er, come here."
Xuan Yan blinked, his cheeks flushing slightly, but he quickly nodded and approached the bed.
He hesitated for a brief moment, unsure if he should join her.
But when Bibi Dong reached out her hand toward him, the faint warmth in her gaze melted away any of his reluctance.
Carefully, he lay down beside her, his small body fitting easily against her side.
Before he could adjust further, Bibi Dong wrapped an arm around him, pulling him close.
The embrace was gentle and he felt the comforting warmth of her presence envelop him.
She looked down at him, her delicate fingers brushing through his soft hair. "You've done well today, Yan'er,"
Xuan Yan's golden eyes blinked up at her, a soft smile forming on his lips. "Thank you, Teacher,"
Bibi Dong continued to ruffle his hair, her touch light and affectionate.
He closed his eyes, leaning into her touch, the exhaustion of the day catching up to him.
"You're such a thoughtful child," she said softly, more to herself than to him.
"Rest now. Tomorrow will be another long day."
As her words settled in the air, Xuan Yan felt his breathing slow, the steady rhythm of her heartbeat lulling him into a peaceful slumber.
Bibi Dong's own eyes softened as she watched him drift off.
The two of them lay there, surrounded by the quiet of the forest and the distant sounds of spirit beasts.
Eventually, Bibi Dong closed her eyes as well, her hand still resting lightly on Xuan Yan's hair.
...
The forest was calm and quiet in the early morning, with the faint light of dawn seeping through the dense canopy.
Bibi Dong stirred slightly, her consciousness rousing as she felt a faint weight against her chest.
Her eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the dim light filtering into the tent. It took her only a moment to realize the source of the sensation.
Xuan Yan was nestled close to her, cuddling with him.
His small frame was pressed against her side, and to her surprise, his face was buried against her chest, his soft white hair tickling her skin.
Bibi Dong's chuckled faintly 'This naughty little guy…' she thought, her lips curving into a faint smile despite herself.
Though her initial instinct was to gently push him away, she hesitated.
Instead, she sighed quietly and wrapped her arms around him, holding him closer.
Her fingers moved to his hair, ruffling it gently.
As the warmth of the morning began to seep in, Xuan Yan slowly woke up.
For a brief moment, he blinked in confusion, his gaze darting upward.
His eyes met the calm, slightly amused gaze of his teacher, who was still holding him gently.
His breath caught, and his cheeks flushed as realization struck him.
A sheepish smile formed on his lips as he looked back at her. "Good morning, Teacher." he said softly, his voice warm and sweet, laced with a hint of embarrassment.
Bibi Dong's smile deepened as she looked at him and her hand reached out to pinch his cheeks lightly, "Good morning, Yan'er. Did you sleep well?"
Xuan Yan nodded enthusiastically, his earlier shyness quickly replaced with his usual cheerfulness. "Yes, Teacher. Very well!"
She chuckled softly, withdrawing her hand as Xuan Yan sat up, rubbing his eyes and stretching.
His small hands moved to straighten his slightly disheveled clothes.
With a graceful motion, she rose from the bedroll as well, smoothing her robes and adjusting her slightly tousled hair.
...
Once they had both organized themselves, the duo stepped out of the tent, the crisp morning air greeting them.
"Come, Yan'er, let's continue our search for your spirit ring."
"Yes, Teacher."
...
The river sparkled under the soft light filtering through the dense forest canopy.
The sound of flowing water was serene as Bibi Dong and Xuan Yan walked side by side.
Xuan Yan's eyes darted around, his enhanced senses searching for any sign of a suitable spirit beast.
As they approached the riverbank, a sudden rustling of leaves caught their attention.
"RWAAARRR!" A powerful roar echoed through the forest, shaking the ground beneath their feet.
A majestic beast that looked like a tiger walked out from the bushes. Its sleek, golden-striped body exuded sparks of electricity, dancing along its fur.
Bibi Dong's gaze narrowed 'It is a Thunder Fang Tiger, and judging by its aura, it has lived for more than 40,000 years.'
Xuan Yan's eyes lit up. "Teacher. That's it. That's the spirit beast I want."
Huh? Bibi Dong turned her gaze to her disciple, "Yan'er, it's a 40.000 year old spirit.. you said you wanted 30,000 one."
Xuan Yan shrugged casually, "It's just another 10,000 years... I can handle it and I really like this spirit beast."
"So... please, get it for me, teacher."
Hearing this, Bibi Dong's eyes quivered 'This is the first time my disciple has asked me for something so eagerly,'
Bibi Dong thought as she took a step forward, placing herself between Xuan Yan and the beast.
Her gaze never left the tiger, which was now baring its fangs, its body crackling with lightning.
'If Yan'er wants this beast, then I will ensure it becomes his.'
Raising her gaze, she looked at the tiger "Thunder Fang Tiger, my disciple desires you. Blame your misfortune for crossing our path today."
The tiger's roar grew louder, its stance growing more aggressive as it prepared to attack.
Bibi Dong could see the hatred in its eyes, as she knew at 10,000 years old, all beasts develop intelligence.
And since this is a 40.000 year old beast, it must have clearly understood her words.
With a calm yet terrifying aura, Bibi Dong released her Death Spider Emperor martial spirit.
A green phantom of eight spider legs, glistening with a faint purple hue, extended from her back.
She ensured that her full form did not manifest, wary of frightening Xuan Yan.
'She knows how ugly and grotesque her martial spirit's full form is, and she doesn't want Xuan Yan to see that.'
Her nine spirit rings lit up, two yellow, two purple, four black, and one crimson red.
Looking at the red ring, Xuan Yan's eyes squinted 'Is it Ah Rou.. Xiao Wu's mom's ring... or is she already taking Rakshasha God's trials?'
'No, this is her first martial spirit and she absorbed Ah Rou's ring for her second martial spirit's 7th ring... so I guess she increased her ring's age by undergoing Rakshasha trials.'
'But if that's the case, her first rings should also be black... seems like she is faking her first rings.'
With a wave of her hand, her third spirit ability activated.
Two massive spider webs, imbued with purple energy, shot forward with incredible speed.
They ensnared the tiger in mid-leap, binding its movements.
"GRRR!!!" The beast roared in defiance, its body crackling with even greater intensity as it struggled against the web.
Her sixth spirit ring lit up, casting a blood-red glow around her. "Bloodsucking Spider Thorns."
Countless sharp, purple thorns materialized in the air, each one shimmering with deadly intent.
They shot toward the tiger in a coordinated attack, piercing its golden fur and tearing into its body.
"GUARRRR!" The beast roared in pain as the thorns drained its energy, leaving it severely weakened.
When she turned to him, her violet eyes softened, and a gentle smile graced her lips. "Yan'er, the final blow is yours. Go."
Smiling, Xuan Yan walked forward and summoned his Ea as he gripped it tightly.
He raised his hand and finished the beast in a single slash, quickly ending its life.
The black spirit ring hovered in the air, and Xuan Yan sat cross-legged before it.
He took a deep breath, centering himself as he prepared to absorb the 40,000-year-old spirit ring of the Thunder Fang Tiger.
Bibi Dong stood nearby, her gaze fixed on her disciple.
Though she appeared calm, a trace of concern flickered in her violet eyes. 'A 40,000-year-old spirit ring is no small matter, especially for someone as young as Yan'er. But his potential is limitless. He can do this.'
"Yan'er, focus. Let the energy flow naturally. Don't resist it too much."
Xuan Yan nodded as he began to absorb the black ring.
The ring pulsed, responding to his intent, and began to descend. The moment it touched his body, a surge of raw energy coursed through him.
As the energy of the spirit ring flooded him, Xuan Yan's body trembled.
The power of the Thunder Fang Tiger was unrelenting, its electrifying nature resisting his attempt to assimilate it.
Sparks of lightning danced across his skin, crackling around him.
Xuan Yan gritted his teeth, sweat beading on his forehead as he struggled to control the energy.
'It's... stronger than I thought.' Xuan Yan thought, his body tensing as waves of pain rippled through him.
The energy pushed against his internal circulation, threatening to overwhelm him.
"Stay calm, Yan'er," Bibi Dong's voice cut through the haze of pain.
Her words grounded him. Xuan Yan focused inward, guiding the energy through his body with deliberate care.
His golden eyes glowed brighter, and his breathing steadied as he slowly began to assimilate the ring's energy.
Sparks of lightning continued to erupt around him, charring the ground beneath.
Bibi Dong remained vigilant, her aura subtly suppressing the surrounding area to ensure no spirit beasts approached during the process.
Minutes passed, and his hands clenched tightly, as his entire body shook under the strain.
The energy began to calm down, flowing more smoothly through his body.
As the evening rays of sunlight filtered through the trees, a surge of power erupted from Xuan Yan's body.
He opened his eyes, and stood up slowly.
A faint smile tugged at his lips as he turned to face Bibi Dong. "Teacher, I did it."
Bibi Dong's lips curved into a proud smile.
She walked over, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Well done, Yan'er. You've surpassed my expectations once again."
'But...'
Xuan Yan's gaze narrowed in confusion 'Where is my bloodline awakening?'
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I hope you guys liked this chapter!
Dont forget to drop powerstones!