Li Qing also compared his physique with other Spirit Masters, dividing them into levels, hoping to determine the limit of spirit rings he could withstand this way.
Based on a comprehensive assessment of strength, speed, endurance, and other factors, his current physique is roughly equivalent to that of an ordinary Spirit Master at level seventeen or eighteen.
Based on this, it can be estimated that the limit for his first spirit ring should be around six to seven hundred years, and getting a thousand-year second spirit ring is probably not difficult.
However, this was already the limit.
This year, Li Qing had almost exhausted all the savings left by his parents, having consumed a large amount of Whale Gum, to the point where even Whale Gum of five-thousand-year quality had little effect on him now.
"Hoo!"
Li Qing opened his eyes and exhaled a long, cloudy breath, the joy on his face impossible to hide.
He had finally reached level ten.
Since his spirit power level reached seven, the effect of Whale Gum on spirit power improvement was almost nil. These last three levels, one could say, were entirely cultivated by himself.
In the Spirit Scholar stage, three levels in half a year.
This speed wasn't fast, but it wasn't the speed his talent should have either. According to his estimation, his current cultivation talent is probably similar to someone with innate spirit power of five or six.
What is talent?
Both Li Qing and the original owner, in the past, understood this term only in terms of cultivation speed. But now, he had a deeper understanding of this word.
Why is innate spirit power level linked to talent?
Because when a spirit awakens, the Spirit Master undergoes a comprehensive baptism. The higher the innate spirit power, the more thorough the baptism, and naturally, the better the talent.
Fundamentally, talent is merely the efficiency of absorbing and refining energy.
After some investigation, Li Qing concluded that regardless of talent level, the perception of energy is the same. The difference in talent lies in the degree of baptism and the strength of the meridians.
With different meridian strengths, the efficiency of absorbing and refining energy is naturally also different.
And the function of Whale Gum happens to be able to strengthen meridians, so his efficiency in absorbing and refining energy improved, and his talent naturally increased as well.
However, this improvement was not too exaggerated.
It merely allowed Li Qing to move from being mediocre to barely entering the level of a minor genius, still a significant distance from true geniuses, such as those with innate full spirit power and divine-level spirits, who are peerless prodigies.
Next is the issue of attaching a spirit ring.
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Over the past year, Li Qing had gained a very detailed understanding of spirit beast types and information, and had also compiled a list of many spirit beasts that were quite compatible with his spirit. However, whether he could encounter them depended on luck.
Li Qing got out of bed, stretched his limbs a bit, and then headed out towards the Spirit Hall.
"Xiao Qing is here."
As soon as Li Qing arrived at the entrance of the Spirit Hall, he met a woman who looked quite good and was even a minor character with a few scenes in the original work.
Su Yuntao's 'white moonlight', Liu Sisi.
"Sister Sisi, good afternoon!" Li Qing glanced left and right and asked, "Where's Brother Tao? Why haven't I seen him today? Doesn't he usually follow you around?"
Liu Sisi smiled and said, "He went to awaken spirits for the children in those villages."
Li Qing suddenly understood.
Because the past year had been so fulfilling, he had actually forgotten about the protagonist, Tang San.
When school started, Li Qing would be in the second grade, while Xiao Chenyu and the others would be in the sixth grade. This meant that Tang San was about to appear, and the plot of Douluo Continent 1 was about to begin.
"Alright then, Sister Sisi, you go ahead and get busy."
"Okay."
After Liu Sisi left, Li Qing entered the Spirit Hall. Many people greeted him along the way, and he politely responded before heading up to the second floor.
"Knock knock knock!"
Arriving at the door of Matthau's office, Li Qing raised his hand and knocked.
"Enter!"
A somewhat aged voice came from inside the room. Li Qing pushed the door open and saw an old man wearing the unique uniform of the Spirit Hall looking at him.
"Grandpa Matthau."
When Matthau saw that it was Li Qing, his expression inexplicably became serious. He got up, came to the door, peered out, and then closed the door.
"You're at level ten?"
Matthau was so cautious, naturally, because of his talent. With innate spirit power of only three, he was able to cultivate to level ten in just one year.
If this news were to spread, the disadvantages would outweigh the advantages.
After all, the Spirit Master world has always judged based on talent. Suddenly, a Spirit Master appears who doesn't have good talent but cultivates at a speed comparable to those geniuses.
What do you think the various forces would do?
Perhaps there would be attempts to recruit him, but there is only one person after all. Would the forces that fail to recruit him develop ill intentions and have the wicked thought of destroying what they cannot obtain?
"Yes."
When his spirit power reached level nine, Li Qing had already discussed it with Matthau because he would definitely need his help to obtain a spirit ring, especially since his first ring wouldn't be a conventional three or four hundred years.
"Child, have you thought it through? One slip-up could cost you your life."
In Matthau's eyes, there was both relief and worry. Relief, naturally, was because Li Qing had reached level ten so quickly. Worry was because he knew Li Qing's idea.
Although absorbing spirit rings below ten thousand years old does indeed only depend on physique, some things are unpredictable.
Moreover, Li Qing's testing method was too general and might not be accurate. If an accident occurred, as a Great Spirit Master, he would be powerless to save him even if he wanted to.
"Grandpa Matthau, I've thought it through."
Li Qing didn't explain further, but his expression was unusually firm.
Matthau knew that this child had seemed exceptionally mature since his parents passed away. No matter how much he advised him, it would be useless once he had made up his mind.
"Then do you have any target spirit beasts for your first spirit ring?"
Li Qing nodded and told him the names of the spirit beasts he had compiled. Matthau was bewildered because his expectations were all too rare.
Let alone in the Spirit Hunting Forest, they might not even be encountered in the Star Dou Great Forest.
"Then let's go to the Star Dou Great Forest."
Matthau still decided to take him a bit further, after all, the probability in the Star Dou Great Forest was ultimately higher than in the Spirit Hunting Forest, and if that didn't work, there were more options, right?
Li Qing bowed and said, "Thank you, Grandpa Matthau."
Matthau put on a stern face and said, "What's wrong with you, child? Didn't I tell you? Since your parents passed away, I am your own grandfather. Why are you being so polite with me?"
Li Qing smiled and said, "Even among family, one should say thank you. This isn't being polite, it's being courteous."
"Haha..."
Matthau laughed, a very happy laugh. It was truly difficult to find fault with the way this child spoke and acted.
"Let's go."
Walking out of the office, Matthau called someone over and gave a few simple instructions, then took Li Qing and left the Spirit Hall. However, before leaving, they needed to purchase some supplies.
Such as food and water needed for the journey.
After the supplies were purchased, seeing that Matthau seemed ready to hire a carriage and head directly to the Star Dou Great Forest, Li Qing couldn't help but ask, "Grandpa Matthau, aren't we going to find another person?"
The spirit beast he wanted to hunt was six or seven hundred years old.