(A/N: The second chapter because we reached 600k views!)
I have added this story to my Patreon. You can support me and read the latest chapters there. It also fed and motivate me to write more chapters!
Link: Patreon.com/NineClouds69
--- Chapter 38 ---
Sunset Forest, Inner Layer.
Once again, Han Yuan utilized the Purple Silver Grass's innate ability to communicate with the surrounding blue silver grass. Then, he employed them like a bunch of eyes to look for the right spirit beasts so they could hunt them. So, nothing in a 2-mile (over 3km) radius could escape Han Yuan's senses.
Thirty minutes later, a spirit beast suitable for Hong Jia's bone flute entered Han Yuan's range of senses.
"Hong Jia, prepare yourself. I've got your spirit beast in my sight."
"Really, Headmaster?" Hong Jia's eyes lit up in excitement.
Han Yuan's mouth twitched slightly, "I forgot to mention this, but please call me "Boss" or "Leader" when we are outside. I don't want my identity as the Dao Academy's headmaster to get leaked outside."
"That's a recipe for disaster."
"Oops, then you're our Boss now!" Hong Jia and others nodded, indicating they knew the reason behind Han Yuan's decision.
After hearing their reply, Han Yuan smiled and suddenly disappeared with flickers of purple lightning. A moment later, a half-dead White Killer Bat landed before Hong Jia, shocking her and others.
"Kill it and absorb the spirit ring." Han Yuan ordered calmly.
Hong Jia stared at the White Killer Bat and breathed in, calming herself down as a sharp knife appeared in her hand and struck down to the spirit beast's head.
A pale, purple spirit ring rose from the White Killer Bat's body.
Hong Jia comprehended the procedure of absorbing the spirit ring before and quickly sat down, running the Tri-Desolation Art. She summoned the Bone Flute and drew the purple spirit ring in.
Liu Erlong and others watched Hong Jia nervously because she would be the first to attempt absorbing a 1,100-year-old spirit ring as her first ring other than Han Yuan and Han Yue.
Although they knew Han Yuan and Han Yue could do it, Hong Jia's talent was nothing compared to them. Not to mention, Hong Jia only trained at Dao Academy for a month.
They could see Hong Jia's face drained from its color, her body trembled, and her breathing became abnormally heavy.
Han Yuan glanced at Hong Jia and shook his head, focusing on a different matter. He firmly believed in his theory and teaching so Hong Jia would succeed.
Rather than worrying for nothing, he'd look for other spirit beasts.
Twenty tiresome minutes later, Hong Jia opened her eyes and absorbed the spirit ring. She unconsciously clenched her hand and shouted, "I did it!"
"Everyone, I did it!"
"Head-! I mean, Boss, I did it!"
After absorbing her first spirit ring, Hong Jia's body grew and developed some feminine curves. Her black hair also gained lustrous light.
Han Yuan smiled faintly, "Tell us your 1st spirit skill."
Hong Jia hurriedly summoned her "Bone Flute" martial soul, which looked slightly longer and slender than before, with several faint claw marks all around it. A purple spirit ring floated near her left arm, giving off an eerie feeling.
"1st spirit skill: Song of Weakness." Hong Jia played her flute somewhat amorously, sending an invisible sound attack powered with some spiritual energy that weakened (strongly disturbed) one's control over the body and spirit energy by 40% for a minute.
This spirit skill also could forcibly make spirit masters with beast-type martial souls break their possessed state.
Of course, you can resist this spirit skill with enough will and spiritual power.
Overall, a strong and balanced spirit skill. As expected from the 1,100-year-old spirit ring.
Oh, yeah. Hong Jia also reached level 13 immediately.
The other students congratulated Hong Jia and moved forward, looking for the spirit beast they wanted. Their competitive spirit was "nicely" triggered.
Then, Han Yuan experienced how tedious it was to hunt "suitable" spirit rings for seven spirit masters at once. It was not until evening everyone got their share of purple spirit rings. Thankfully, the Blue Silver Clan helped them a lot.
You're welcome, Homie! -Blue Silver Clan.
Anyway, here is the list of spirit beasts they hunted and the spirit skills the students got.
Ye Shan, Spirit Grandmaster-level 22, 2nd spirit ring hunted from a 1,900-year-old Crystal-Horned Armadillo, 2nd spirit skill: Heavy Crystal Horn Strike.
Luo Li, Spirit Master-level 14, 1st spirit ring hunted from a 1,250-year-old Yellow-necked Forest Mouse, 1st spirit skill: Wood's Power.
Du Buzi, Spirit Master-level 16, 1st spirit ring hunted from a 2,000-year-old Vajra Tiger, 1st spirit skill: Diamond Body.
Zhang Lie, Spirit Master-level 13, 1st spirit ring hunted from a 1,169-year-old Cloud Crane, 1st spirit skill: Imitation.
Hong Jia, Spirit Master-level 13, 1st spirit ring hunted from a 1,100-year-old White Killer Bat, 1st spirit skill: Song of Weakness.
Huo Xi, Spirit Grandmaster-level 22, 2nd spirit ring hunted from a 1,999-year-old Three-colored Firebird, 2nd spirit skill: Sky Flame Mysterious Change.
Yu Bai, Spirit Master-level 15, 1st spirit ring hunted from a 1,578-year-old Dragon-blooded Catfish, 1st spirit skill: Thunder Tide Shell.
Sun Yi, Spirit Grandmaster-level 21, 2nd spirit ring hunted from a 1,800-year-old Mad Cow, 2nd spirit skill: Furious Meat Buns.
With that, the red-grade students have completed their hunts. However, Huan Yuan didn't tell them to leave the Sunset Forest soon because the "real" game was about to start.
...
...
The sun was "gradually" replaced by the moon.
Han Yuan detected a group of people in his Blue Silver Grass network and immediately told his students to set a campfire. They roasted the meat of a mad cow hunted for Sun Yi, luring people to their side.
As they enjoyed the roasted beef with a smile, a movement appeared in the bush nearby.
Liu Erlong glanced at the bush and shouted, "Come out! I've detected from a mile away!"
A few people awkwardly revealed themselves from the bush. They wore expensive robes and uniforms, which screamed "noble's status" to Han Yuan and others.
Of course, Han Yuan doesn't judge.
His students, though.
They glared at these new people but didn't say anything.
"Haha, sorry for the sudden intrusion, senior. We couldn't help but smell the scent of food and came here uninvited." A man in a white-green tunic greeted them. "My name is Qin Ming, Heaven Dou Imperial Academy's teacher. We mean no harm."
"Oh, Heaven Dou Imperial Academy?" Liu Erlong glanced at the group of youngsters behind Qin Ming. "So, those kids are the geniuses of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, right?"
Qin Ming smiled, "Yes. They are students under my teaching, which I'm very proud of."
"This man beside me is also Heaven Dou Imperial Academy's teacher. His name is Sun Buyu, a spirit king." He added, pointing at the silver-clothed man with thick eyebrows and big eyes.
"Is that so?" Liu Erlong ignored Sun Buyu because he was too weak to enter her eyes.
She looked at the students again and recognized a familiar face, which made her lips curl slightly. After all, that black-haired, handsome young man in an immaculate white suit with a dragon's logo is easy to spot on.
The young man is Yu Tianhang, the direct grandson of Thunder Douluo, the current Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's Patriarch!
In terms of seniority, Liu Erlong's father is Yu Tianheng's granduncle, which means he must call her aunt.
Unfortunately, like any other Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan member, Yu Tianhang looked at Liu Erlong with one eye open and didn't recognize her status.
That's why Yu Tianheng only stared at Liu Erlong and didn't bother to greet her.
Han Yuan bit the roasted beef and laughed softly, "Well, are you done introducing yourself? Then, you can go because we are busy here."
"Xiao Yuan, that's rude..." Liu Erlong acted her part, giving Qin Ming and others an apologetic look. Yet, she doesn't move from her seat.
Qin Ming, Sun Buyu, and the youngsters frowned at Han Yuan. Some are glaring at him, especially Yu Tianheng.
"About that... We are quite hungry and want to buy those roasted beef from you guys." Qin Ming said with a smile.
Han Yuan smiled back, "Not for sale."
"Go, my meat is too expensive for you guys."
"How much!" Yu Tianheng stepped forward. "Tell me how much your meat cost?"
Han Yuan tilted his head, "You want my meat badly?"
"YES!" Yu Tianheng's eyes flashed with coldness.
"Sorry, I'm not interested in men. Jeez, you people have an interesting hobby." Han Yuan refused again, looking scared. Du Buzi and others couldn't hold their laughter anymore.
"Hahaha~!!"
"HAHAHAHA~!!!"
A fit of laughter echoed around the campfire. Liu Erlong giggled and had to cover her mouth to look polite.
Qin Ming, Sun Buyu, and the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy's students finally realized what Han Yuan meant by "his meat" and grimaced.
Yu Tianheng's face changed between dark, white, and green. He gave Han Yuan a hateful look and said coldly, "You son of a bitch!"
Han Yuan looked humiliated, "What? How can you say that to an orphan like me!"
"You also called my late mother a b-word!"
"Unforgivable! I will beat you up for it!" Han Yuan rolled his sleeves. He was ready to throw his hand anytime.
Realizing the situation had gone out of control, Qin Ming released his spirit king's aura to hold Yu Tianheng down.
"Calm down!" Qin Ming pressed solemnly.
Nevertheless, Yu Tianhang, whose pride hurts, knew nothing about calm anymore. His handsome face was "already" contorted into a ferocious look with murder in his eyes.
Liu Erlong eventually opened her mouth again, "Okay, okay. Xiao Yuan, stop there. We don't want any conflict tonight."
She gave Qin Ming a sorry-not-sorry smile, "Teacher Qin, why won't we step back and forget about this matter?"
Qin Ming wasn't dumb. He knew Liu Erlong's proposal to step back and swallow their anger was intentional.
Who is Qin Ming?
He graduated from Shrek Academy.
Shrek Academy's motto is "Those who don't cause trouble are mediocre!"
As a graduate of Shrek Academy, how could the secretly proud Qin Ming swallow this back?
Unknown to Liu Erlong, she will experience her good old friend's teaching from Qin Ming.
Qin Ming stopped holding Yu Tiaheng back and said, "Hmm, what about an exchange between students, Senior? We know spirit masters solve problems by fighting, so let's solve it that way."
"If my student loses, we will step back..."
"But if your student loses..."
"I want them, especially this unique young man, to give Yu Tianheng a kowtow and apologize." He kindly stared at Han Yuan.
"Hmph!" Yu Tianheng has this "Do you dare" look, grinning at Han Yuan tauntingly.
Liu Erlong knew the fish had taken the bait. She glanced at Han Yuan and saw how calm his eyes were. 'I leave the rest to you, Xiao Yuan.'
Han Yuan handed his roasted beef to Liu Erlong, "Hold my meat while I'm teaching this guy a lesson."
"..." Liu Erlong awkwardly looked at the roasted beef on a stick in her hand.
Another beating is about to begin.
"Wait, I've played this game before." - Tai Long.