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This was still the Blue Silver Grass after being transformed by divine Internal Energy; otherwise, if it were just the Blue Silver Grass, its toughness would probably be even lower.
The name 'Waste Martial Spirit' isn't baseless, Shi Quan thought with a sigh.
His Blue Silver Grass Martial Spirit's toughness should now be similar to a normal rope, but fortunately, although its toughness isn't ideal, he has a lot of it!
With a flick of his single hand, four or five vines formed from branches and leaves extended simultaneously, bind the tree trunk.
Applying force again, the tree's bark instantly cracked inch by inch, and even the sturdy trunk was dented a bit.
Although the Blue Silver Grass's Innate conditions aren't strong, its consumption is extremely low, so releasing Martial Spirit Abilities like this isn't a big drain for him.
"This first Spirit Ability will be called Blue Silver Growth. Although the age is a bit low, fortunately, the Spirit Ability is what I wanted. Let's try it first."
Saying that, a playful look appeared in Shi Quan's eyes. After looking around to confirm no one was nearby.
He clenched his single hand and shouted, "Blue Silver Growth First Form, Blue Silver Barrier!"
The spirit ring beneath Shi Quan instantly bloomed with brilliant light. A large number of Blue Silver vines coiled, extended, and stacked in front of Shi Quan. In just two breaths, the light blue Blue Silver vines stacked together to form a barrier resembling a wall.
"Not bad." Shi Quan smiled faintly, retracted the Blue Silver Grass, and simultaneously threw a punch, "Blue Silver Growth Second Form, Blue Silver Fist!"
As Shi Quan threw a punch, the spirit ring brightened again. The Blue Silver Grass in front of Shi Quan's fist seemed to swell, rapidly enlarging, and then as Shi Quan's punch landed, a Blue Silver vine ball with a diameter of one meter crashed to the ground with a boom.
"Haha, excellent, excellent." Shi Quan's smile widened. He then struck a chuunibyou transformation pose, "Blue Silver Growth Ultimate Profound Truth, Blue Silver Armor… Body Integration!"
The familiar light once again bloomed from the spirit ring. The Blue Silver Grass started from Shi Quan's right hand and rapidly coiled up his right arm. In one or two breaths, the slender Blue Silver vines covered Shi Quan entirely, leaving only his eyes and nostrils exposed. His entire body transformed directly into a Blue Silver cocoon.
Ho-ho-ha-hey!
Shi Quan stiffly swung his fists, his chuunibyou tendencies even more pronounced. After playing around for a bit, he retracted the Blue Silver vines.
Although it was a prank, it doesn't mean the Blue Silver Armor has no feasibility. If he were to attach a portion of the Blue Silver Grass to his arms and limbs during combat, it could genuinely provide a certain defensive effect.
Although this Blue Silver Growth appears to have no offensive capabilities, if used properly, its effect is no weaker than many offensive and defensive Martial Spirit Abilities.
As for bind? It only requires a slight control over the Blue Silver Grass Martial Spirit, plus most vine-type Spirit Beasts inherently possess the bind talent, so it's not an issue at all.
Compared to Tang San's singular bind control, Blue Silver Growth is much more flexible.
However, since it can be called a Spirit Ability, Tang San's bind Spirit Ability also has its unique aspect, which is power!
In the original work, when Tang San released bind, there was always a description of tightening. Besides the bind toxins, Tang San's first Spirit Ability's bind effect should also carry the power of the Datura Snake bind its enemies.
It was also fortunate that Tang San's Blue Silver Grass Martial Spirit possessed the Blue Silver Emperor Bloodline, making its inherent toughness stronger than ordinary Blue Silver Grass, and its attribute growth after absorbing a spirit ring was high enough.
Otherwise, if a normal Blue Silver Grass Martial Spirit obtained such a Spirit Ability, it would probably break itself the moment it was released, unable to withstand the Spirit Ability's power, even without the enemy struggling.
"Oh, right, there's also the treasure chest reward."
Retracting his thoughts, Shi Quan's attention returned to the System. More than a year had passed since the last treasure chest was triggered, and he had almost forgotten the System's existence.
System Storage Space.
Shi Quan's gaze fell upon the yellow rhomboid crystal in the light screen.
Elementary spirit ring Enhancement Stone: From a certain Douluo Continent fan-made mobile game item. After use, it can enhance a hundred-year spirit ring, increase the spirit ring's age, and amplify the Spirit Ability's effect.
Note: Can be used by crushing.
System, are you serious?
Mobile game? Game item? It can even open these things.
Shi Quan secretly complained in his heart, but his body was very honest as he took out the Elementary spirit ring Enhancement Stone and carefully examined it up and down.
With a crisp shattering sound, the yellow rhomboid crystal in Shi Quan's hand exploded, then transformed into a cloud of yellow mist, instantly merging into Shi Quan's body.
A warm sensation flowed within his body, finally dissolving into him.
Gone?
Before Shi Quan could even properly feel it, he realized that the warm current had already merged into his body.
He summoned his spirit ring again and examined it carefully.
There was no change at all. Shi Quan could confirm that, from its appearance, the spirit ring hadn't changed in any way.
"It couldn't be fake, could it?"
Shi Quan pouted, then released his Spirit Ability again. The light blue Blue Silver Grass extended once more. After a careful comparison, Shi Quan was pleasantly surprised to find that although the spirit power consumption hadn't changed, the Blue Silver's extension speed had increased by a few points, and the extended Blue Silver Grass gained a healing and regeneration attribute. This meant that as long as the Blue Silver Grass wasn't completely severed, it would slowly heal.
With the current toughness of the Blue Silver Grass, the healing attribute wouldn't play much of a role, but as the Blue Silver Grass's resilience increases, it will definitely play a significant role in the Late Stage.
System-produced, truly a masterpiece!
Although it was just a hundred-year Spirit Ability, with one Elementary spirit ring Enhancement Stone, the effect of this Spirit Ability felt like it was already approaching that of a thousand-year Spirit Ability.
One word: awesome!
Although the System treasure chest is difficult to trigger, every item opened from a treasure chest is useful to Shi Quan.
"Now that the first hurdle is passed, before Rank thirty, Spirit Hall should be temporarily safe for me."
After sensing the changes in his Spirit Ability, Shi Quan sat down while pondering.
His spirit ring limit theory would probably be finished in two more days. Dawson would definitely submit his initial theory to Spirit City. For Spirit Hall, Shi Quan was now a free and diligent guinea pig. Before his theory was perfected, Spirit Hall should not touch him. Not only would they not touch him, they might even deliberately conceal his existence.
"Spirit Hall knowing my theory can indeed protect me temporarily, but this also harms Master."
Shi Quan's expression was somewhat complex. He had only been thinking about how to protect himself before, but he had overlooked one person, and that was Marde.
As his academy's Master, the person who now understood his theory best was Marde. The more he knew, naturally, the more dangerous it would be.
If Spirit Hall wanted to exclusively possess his theory, once they decided to control him, Marde would inevitably be unable to escape death.
His current strength was still low. Although he successfully absorbed a spirit ring beyond his Rank, his theory was not yet mature, and his talent had not yet been revealed. Spirit Hall should not have the intention to act, but it's hard to say what will happen later.
Balance.
Shi Quan wrote these two large characters on the ground.
To protect himself and Marde at the same time, he must maintain balance. He had to choose another force to counterbalance Spirit Hall.
"Who can make Spirit Hall and the Upper Three Sects not bother me…"
A moment later, another character appeared on the ground.
Xue Qinghe or better said Qian Renxue!
Only she could do it.
After all, only she was a person of the Heaven Dou Empire, could be considered a person of the Upper Three Sects Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and was also a person of Spirit Hall!
If she can protect me, who would dare touch me?
Moreover, at that time, he might even trigger a treasure chest.
However, this wasn't something he needed to rush now. This matter would have to wait until he obtained his second spirit ring before he could execute it. For now, he still had to plan for the long term.
Continue to Cultivate.
Two days later, Shi Quan handed his drafted spirit ring limit theory to Dawson.
As expected, he received Dawson's overtures.
Shi Quan neither agreed nor refused, but instead found a casual excuse and chose to procrastinate.
Time flew by, and Shi Quan's days remained busy and fulfilling.
Because there was no longer any interaction, Tang San and Xiao Wu also did not come to bother Shi Quan again.
As the theoretical learning content grew, Shi Quan and Marde also became like teacher and friend.
For convenience of discussion and exchange.
Later, Marde directly used his authority as dean to arrange a private dormitory for Shi Quan. Shi Quan also became the most special exception in the academy; he was clearly a student, but he never had to attend classes, and his dormitory was also a private dormitory where teachers resided.
A year passed, and Shi Quan's spirit power Rank reached sixteen. On average, he could advance one Rank every two months or so, and his martial arts Realm also showed significant improvement.
If he hadn't spent his daytime hours studying and practicing martial arts, Shi Quan's spirit power Rank might have been even higher.
Although Cultivating was monotonous, the feeling of having that power in his hands was addicting, so Shi Quan's Cultivation enthusiasm did not wane, but rather continued to grow.
During this year, Shi Quan also keenly noticed his movements within the academy being observed intentionally or unintentionally. It was clearly people sent by Spirit Hall.
Besides Spirit Hall's people, another person who was particularly interested in him was Yu Xiaogang. Throughout this year, Yu Xiaogang inquired about his situation more than once, intentionally and unintentionally.
People's curiosity is like that: the more you don't want them to know, the more they want to know. Even someone as proud and arrogant as Yu Xiaogang finds it hard to escape the influence of curiosity, especially when the matter he is curious about is in a Domain he considers invincible.
...
"To this day, you still can't tell me!" Yu Xiaogang's questioning voice came, his hoarse voice carrying a suppressed anger.
"Xiaogang, why are you so persistent?" Marde looked at Yu Xiaogang in front of him with a headache and advised, "I've told you many times, when it's time to tell you, I will."
"Then tell me Shi Quan's spirit power Rank." Yu Xiaogang's stiff face showed no expression, his eyes staring intently at Marde.
"I said... Xiaogang, why make things difficult for me?" Marde showed a helpless expression.
"I understand." Yu Xiaogang looked disappointed, turned, and left.
...
"Shi Quan, Xiaogang came to inquire about you again. How about telling him something? After all, his theoretical foundation is much better than mine." Marde looked at Shi Quan with an awkward expression.
Shi Quan paused his writing, put down his pen, looked up at Marde, and asked, "Master, do you know about Tang San's twin spirits?"
"twin spirits? Tang San has twin spirits?" Marde was first stunned, then his eyes widened as he looked at Shi Quan. "How do you know Tang San has twin spirits?"
"Yu Xiaogang's theory told me."
"What?" Marde looked at Shi Quan in surprise.
Shi Quan stood up and took down the book 'The Ten Core Competencies of a Spirit Master' written by Yu Xiaogang from a nearby bookshelf.
He opened the book, pointed to a passage, and said, "Yu Xiaogang's book states that Innate spirit power is directly proportional to Martial Spirit quality. That's what told me."
Marde looked at the sentence, still somewhat confused.
Shi Quan explained, "The Blue Silver Grass Martial Spirit is inherently weak. Even my mutated Blue Silver Grass only has Rank one Innate spirit power. Yet Tang San has Rank ten full spirit power. According to Yu Xiaogang's theory, Innate spirit power is directly proportional to Martial Spirit quality. The Blue Silver Grass Martial Spirit certainly cannot meet this condition. To fulfill his theory, Tang San must possess another Martial Spirit, and it must be a very powerful Martial Spirit, one strong enough to grant him full Innate spirit power!"
"So that's it!" Marde then showed a look of sudden realization. He also knew of Master's Ten Core Competencies of a Spirit Master, but he had never thought of such a situation. He couldn't help but shake his head and say, "I'm old, I'm old. Why couldn't I think of that?"
If everyone could think of it, how would it highlight Master's wisdom? Shi Quan secretly complained in his heart.
Shi Quan continued, "If Yu Xiaogang comes to inquire about you again, you can use this to question him in return. If he can tell you Tang San's second Martial Spirit, then you can also tell him my secret."
"Hahaha. Good." Marde laughed and agreed, "You said it, Shi Quan."
It's just a pity that fellow Yu Xiaogang will never tell you about Tang San's Clear Sky Hammer, Shi Quan secretly laughed in his heart.
...
Another half a year passed.
Shi Quan had almost finished reading all the books in Nuoding Academy. In terms of Martial Spirit theory alone, Shi Quan had already surpassed Marde.
With his current knowledge of Martial Spirit theory, he was already qualified to teach at most academies.
Because there were no more books to read, Shi Quan began to engage in Martial Spirit theory research in the mornings. The knowledge in books is limited; more theories still need to be researched and practiced by oneself.
Another half a year passed like this.
Late at night.
"Hmm?"
Shi Quan, who was Cultivating his divine art, found that his Rank had finally Broken through.
"Rank twenty."
Shi Quan opened his eyes, showing no emotion. He wasn't surprised by the Rank Breakthrough. If he hadn't deliberately controlled it and used a lot of his Internal Energy to nourish his Martial Spirit, he might have Broken through even faster.
Looking at the bright moon outside the window, Shi Quan murmured, "It's time to leave Nuoding Academy…"