Halfway up the mountain, a snake-type spirit beast was undergoing a transformation.
Its original species was no longer distinguishable, but multiple parts of its body had already completed the process of "Dragonization."
"This creature's fate is extraordinary; it managed to complete Dragonization with only a 400-year spirit ring," Chenxin (Dust Heart) couldn't help but marvel.
Given time, this spirit beast would surely become the ruler among spirit beasts. Unfortunately, having met them, this creature had no future.
"If I'm not mistaken, it's about to transform into a Azure Dragon. Tianchen, let's wait here. When it fully completes its Dragonization, the spirit ring it releases will benefit you the most!"
Ning Tianchen nodded seriously.
Spirit beast Dragonization is similar to spirit master's soul weapon evolution. It requires tremendous luck and opportunity to achieve.
In the Sunset Forest, the greatest opportunity is the "Ice and Fire Two Principles Eye," a treasure trove of fortune. Could it be that this creature mistakenly ate the immortal herb there?
After some thought, Ning Tianchen rejected this guess.
The Ice and Fire Two Principles Eye was transformed by Dugu Bo into a private garden. That mountain was shrouded in poisonous mist, where a century-old spirit beast could not venture.
Since the Sunset Forest holds the Ice and Fire Two Principles Eye, perhaps there are other opportunities as well.
However, Ning Tianchen did not plan to take the immortal herb from Dugu Bo now.
Dugu Bo was a man who valued loyalty. Using force might make him yield temporarily, but would never earn his true heart.
Although Ning Tianchen had the backing of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, he also wanted to build his own team.
After all, one shouldn't put all their eggs in one basket. Furthermore, the Spirit Hall would eventually launch a soul hunt against the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. Without preparation, everything would proceed as originally destined.
…
Ning Tianchen and Chenxin waited at the foot of the mountain for two days.
Early this morning, a dazzling cyan light shone from the mountainside.
The spirit beast had fully completed Dragonization; now, it was a true Azure Dragon.
Dragon-type spirit beasts possess the ability to fly on clouds. This one seemed aware that its disturbance had attracted powerful pursuers. It now flew into the high sky, trying to evade its hunters.
"Sword Devotee?" Ning Tianchen urged.
Chenxin was unhurried.
With his strength, no matter how the Azure Dragon fled, he believed he had a chance to catch it.
The Azure Dragon's transformation made quite a stir, and many people had already surrounded the area.
With its 400-year spirit ring, for most spirit masters it was too high for a first spirit ring, and too low for a second.
Thus, most covetous people were not after its spirit ring, but its flesh and blood.
Chenxin was alone and could not guarantee Ning Tianchen's safety while hunting.
"No need to rush. When the time is right, I will take it down myself." With that, Chenxin told Ning Tianchen to walk in the opposite direction.
Finding a secluded spot, Chenxin formed a sword finger with his right hand, manipulating the Seven Kill Sword to casually flick around Ning Tianchen.
"The sword qi I leave around you is enough to resist a Soul Saint. Wait here, I will be back shortly."
The Seven Kill Sword landed at his feet, lifting him into the air.
His speed was so fast he drew a silver-white arc in the sky.
Ning Tianchen simply sat cross-legged where he was.
Based on the knowledge he had learned from books and the sect's academy, he roughly knew how to absorb a spirit ring.
With Chenxin's power, he wasn't worried the Azure Dragon would be stolen. But a 400-year dragon-type spirit ring was still a challenge for him.
"My physical constitution is still too weak. I wish I had a beast-type soul weapon."
Beast-type spirit masters are naturally physically stronger than those with weapon-type soul weapons. However, weapon soul masters excel in mental strength.
Stronger mental power helps resist the spiritual shock brought by spirit rings (soul concussion). But for spirit rings below ten thousand years, only the soul power shock applies, which tests the body's endurance.
"I still need to train my body more," Ning Tianchen scratched his head, feeling quite dissatisfied that he had only traveled here for a month.
Soon after, Chenxin returned carrying the barely alive Azure Dragon.
Along the way, some fools tried to cause trouble, but seeing the nine spirit rings under Chenxin's feet, they wisely backed off.
Ning Tianchen approached the Azure Dragon and could clearly hear its breath — exhaling but not inhaling.
Chenxin said calmly, "You should know that a spirit ring can only be absorbed by the one who kills the beast. Use your Seven Kill Sword spirit weapon to end its life yourself."
Taking a life might seem easy, but it's hard to truly do it mentally.
Struggling to overcome the psychological pressure, Ning Tianchen raised his Seven Kill Sword and aimed at the Azure Dragon's neck.
Closing his eyes, he suddenly exerted force with both hands. The sharp Seven Kill Sword pierced through the Azure Dragon's neck without resistance, ending its life.
Whether or not he hit a major artery, Ning Tianchen's body was soon stained with sprayed blood.
The yellow spirit ring floated above the corpse. Ignoring the smell of blood, Ning Tianchen immediately sat cross-legged and used his mind to pull the spirit ring and attach it to his spirit weapon.
"Very good. It seems you haven't neglected your theoretical knowledge. Sit cross-legged, clear your mind, and try to fuse the spirit ring with your spirit weapon," Chenxin added, "I will guard you here."
As the spirit ring's power entered his body, the strong spirit force impact caused Ning Tianchen to feel immense pressure.
Enduring the pain and discomfort, Ning Tianchen continued absorbing the spirit ring.
Chenxin leaned against a nearby tree trunk, his heart tightening with anxiety.
A dragon-type spirit beast with 400 years cultivation as a first spirit ring had a very low chance of successful absorption. But if successful, it would greatly aid Ning Tianchen's future cultivation.
If it failed, Chenxin's methods could forcibly interrupt the absorption, at worst leaving Ning Tianchen with some hidden ailments.
But with the heavenly materials and treasures in the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's storage, curing these ailments was not a problem.
With that, it seemed worth the risk for Ning Tianchen to try.
Time passed by slowly.
Knowing Chenxin was there, many spirit masters wisely avoided the area to prevent unnecessary encounters.
By evening, as the spirit ring absorption neared completion, Chenxin approached the spirit beast's corpse and searched for any spirit bones.
"None? Makes sense, the chance of a century-old spirit beast having spirit bones is still too low," Chenxin murmured.
Suddenly, Ning Tianchen let out a painful scream, his whole body tensed again.
"The spirit ring absorption is almost finished. How could he feel pressure again?"
Even usually calm Chenxin was momentarily unsettled.
Once the spirit ring absorption is near the end, it cannot be interrupted. The current situation Ning Tianchen faced could only be endured by himself.
After a short while, strange patterns appeared on the surface of his Seven Kill Sword spirit weapon.
Looking closely, these raised patterns were dragon scales.
"Dragon Scale Seven Kill Sword?" Chenxin suddenly smiled. "This kid really has good luck. Absorbing the spirit ring actually caused a mutation in his spirit weapon."
Whether this mutation was beneficial or harmful could only be judged by what came next.