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If you want to hunt spirit beasts in other regions, you'll need to go through considerable effort.
You may even need to visit Spirit Hall to purchase a Spirit Hunting Warrant to enter the Spirit Beast Forest.
But in Blackstone City, none of that is necessary.
South of Blackstone City lies the western edge of the Star Dou Forest.
Lin Jin set off with determination and reached the outskirts of the Star Dou Forest in less than half a day.
The Star Dou Forest was filled with towering ancient trees, their massive trunks stretching up into the clouds.
It's one of the few places in the world untouched by human influence—a rare, pristine sanctuary.
"Dean, is this the Star Dou Forest?"
Even at midday, when the sun should be at its peak, the forest remains dim and overcast. The thick canopy overhead blocks most of the sunlight, trapping moisture and filling the air with a light mist.
"Yes, we've entered the Star Dou Forest. Stay close, and don't wander too far," Lin Jin warned.
Shen Xin cautiously scanned their surroundings, sticking close behind Lin Jin.
"Not that close," Lin Jin muttered, black lines forming across his forehead.
Any closer and we'd be attached at the hip…
"Ahh!! Dean, look! That flower moved!"
Shen Xin suddenly screamed, loud enough to rupture eardrums. He pointed excitedly at a patch of plants ahead of them.
Lin Jin didn't have time to question why the guy was so excited—he immediately turned toward where Shen Xin was pointing.
A short distance away, tangled shrubs formed a chaotic patch of greenery.
A vine-like plant coiled around a nearby tree, resembling a snake.
It was tightly wrapped around the trunk, with a massive, vivid red flower blooming at its top—about the size of a washbasin. Most notably, the vine beneath the flower was slowly slithering, like a serpent.
[Ding! The system alert chimed in.]
[Spirit Beast: Red Snake Flower, Category: Plant, Cultivation: 27 years, CompatibleSpirit Types: Plant, Snake, Rope]
"Holy crap!" Lin Jin's eyes widened as he blurted out a reflexive curse.
He hadn't expected the system to identify spirit beasts like this.
"Dean, what's a 'crap'?" Shen Xin asked with innocent curiosity.
"You don't need to know, you little runt!" Lin Jin snapped back without thinking.
Then, as if remembering something, he focused his mind and opened the system map.
To his surprise, the map now marked all spirit beasts within a 500-meter radius, centered on him.
Beyond that range, only terrain was visible; no signs of life were apparent.
Even so, Lin Jin was thrilled. With this radar system, their safety in the Star Dou Forest had increased significantly.
"Follow me! I'll guide you through it all!" he said, feeling a bit inflated with confidence.
No wonder so many people were addicted to games in his past life—this truly felt amazing.
After walking a few steps, he noticed the lack of footsteps behind him. He turned around, confused.
"What's wrong?"
Shen Xin stood there, puffing out her cheeks, clearly sulking.
"What does crap mean, anyway?" she demanded.
Lin Jin's expression darkened.
'This brat is too curious for her own good. And how am I supposed to explain what 'crap' means, anyway?'
He stroked his chin, thinking. 'Does it mean surprise? Anger? Shock? Honestly… it could mean anything.'
"If you're not coming, I'm leaving," he said, turning away with a sigh.
Lin Jin had no choice but to glare and issue a threat.
Shen Xin looked around. In the depths of the forest, she couldn't even tell east from west.
If Lin Jin left…
"Wait for me!" she called out, finally giving in.
...
According to the research, the maximum age a first Spirit Ring can safely have is around 400 years. By Lin Jin's estimation, the spirit ring Shen Xin would hunt could at least be 300 years old.
A high-quality spirit ring could sometimes be worth more than a spirit master's hard training for half a year.
Not only that, it can also raise the upper limit of a spirit master's future growth.
Take the Title Douluo, for example. Every known one began their path with a century-old first Spirit Ring.
That foundation is crucial. No matter how talented someone is, without a strong start, it's impossible to reach the peak.
As for the self-adaptive spirit ring he held, she couldn't make full use of it.
Without any combat training, she wouldn't be able to push past her limits or unlock the ring's true potential.
That's why, after thinking it over, Lin Jin decided to take her to the Star Dou Forest to hunt a spirit ring the old-fashioned way.
"Still sulking?"
Lin Jin suddenly turned around after a while, glancing helplessly at the stubborn girl behind him.
She had been quietly following him, a stark contrast to her earlier lively self.
Shen Xin only pouted, her bright, watery eyes glaring at him with a silent message:
'I'll stay mad until you explain!'
Lin Jin reached out and gently pinched her puffed-up cheeks.
She slapped his hand away instantly.
"You could hang something on that pout," Lin Jin chuckled.
Shen Xin shot him a glare, but before she could reply, Lin Jin's expression shifted.
His eyes narrowed, and he suddenly grabbed her shoulder.
"Quiet. There's movement up ahead."
Though Shen Xin could be a little bratty, she understood the seriousness in his tone.
She immediately ducked behind him without protest.
In an instant, Lin Jin summoned his Martial Spirit: the Ruler.
He wasn't sure if it was just in his head, but the moment he held it, his thoughts became clearer, more focused.
"What is it," Shen Xin whispered.
"I don't know what it is, but I can feel something coming," he replied grimly.
Although the system radar could detect life signs, it couldn't distinguish between humans and beasts, or determine their strength.
Whatever was coming, it was fast. Agile. A blur among trees.
Lin Jin braced himself, spirit power flooding his body, his eyes locked on the source of movement.
"It's coming!"
At that moment, he caught a flash of motion above the treetops—leaves rustled as something darted through the canopy.
[Ding!]
[Spirit Beast Detected: Iron-Winged Eagle, Category: Beast, Cultivation Age: 478 years, Compatible Spirits: Beast Spirit, Weapon Spirit]
A massive figure dove from the trees, piercing through the canopy.
Its sharp eyes locked directly onto Lin Jin, filled with the predatory intensity of a seasoned hunter.
With wings tucked in, the Iron-Winged Eagle plummeted toward him like a missile.
Lin Jin's face paled. This was his first real encounter with such danger, and for a second, panic flickered in his eyes.
But the combat basics the system had infused into his body kicked in. His reactions became automatic, like muscle memory.
He raised the ruler with his right hand.
The second spirit ring lit up—[Vertical Split: Fall!]
A brilliant beam of white spirit power blazed down like a pillar of light from the heavens—blinding and searing, like thunderous judgment.
With a deafening boom, the light struck the eagle.
A spray of blood exploded in midair.
The Iron-Winged Eagle vanished into a cloud of crimson mist. Broken feathers and gore rained down like snowflakes.
Sunlight streamed through the forest canopy, casting dancing shadows across the blood-streaked leaves.
The scene was eerily dreamlike—beautiful and terrifying at the same time.