Wu Qi stopped walking.
"First, I never use my elders' names to cause trouble."
"You obtained your first Spirit Ring at this age. Your talent is indeed strong, but that is not a reason to bully your classmates."
"Second, I do not regard your strength as anything noteworthy, and I have no interest in sparring with you."
"You—!"
QianGu Chang Kong flew into a rage. His Coiling Dragon Staff Spirit appeared in his hand.
"First Spirit Skill, Coiling Dragon Blaze!"
Flames wrapped around the Coiling Dragon Staff, granting it fire-attribute offensive power. At the same time, the muscles in QianGu Chang Kong's arm swelled slightly.
Clearly, the Skill also enhanced his strength.
As expected of the direct descendant of Fifteen Ton Douluo and Falling Devil Douluo, the advantages of the Spirit were fully manifested in him.
Wu Qi leapt into the air. Azure Luan wings spread from his back, lifting him into midair.
The Azure Luan Spirit was not comparable to Ma Hongjun's inferior phoenix. Even without a Spirit Ring, it possessed the innate ability of flight.
The Spirit hovered behind him, releasing clear cries.
Within the cry was a trace of sonic force, causing his opponent's mind to waver.
So this was what his master meant by an innate Spirit ability.
The Azure Luan Spirit could manipulate sound waves and control wind. Even without a dedicated sound-based Spirit ability, its inherent traits were enough to suppress an opponent.
QianGu Chang Kong shook his head and steadied himself, swinging the long staff in his hand.
Sparks scattered from the Coiling Dragon Staff as flames spread outward, gradually forming a sea of fire intended to force Wu Qi down from the air.
"Not a bad tactic," Wu Qi nodded slightly.
Most children would be helpless against a flying Spirit Master.
QianGu Chang Kong had used his Spirit's strengths, sealing off retreat paths with flames. His adaptability was worthy of Fifteen Ton Douluo's grandson.
However, without a reliable anti-air method, a flying Spirit Master could easily toy with someone bound to the ground.
Wu Qi dove downward. The Azure Luan Spirit granted him astonishing speed during the descent.
At the moment he landed, he seized Qian Gu Chang Kong's arm. His wings beat rapidly, reducing the impact of landing while dragging his opponent back into the air.
"Ahhh!"
The Coiling Dragon Staff vanished from QianGu Chang Kong's hand as panic overtook him.
He had never flown before. With no ground beneath his feet, he felt utterly unstable. Terror drove him into frantic struggle.
"You are only a level-twelve Spirit Master. If you fall from this height, you will certainly die," Wu Qi said calmly.
QianGu Chang Kong immediately begged for mercy. "Big brother, I was wrong! Please put me down. I'm afraid of heights…"
"Do not bother me again. Understood?"
QianGu Chang Kong nodded repeatedly like a pecking chick. When they returned to the ground, his fear slowly subsided.
He still wanted to cause trouble, but recalling the experience moments ago, he could only give up resentfully.
Wu Qi ignored him and headed toward the academy library.
Recently, he had been researching different types of Spirit Beasts.
Searching for the species of that small deer was simply a way to add some interest to his otherwise routine studies.
If he found it, he would gain a sense of achievement. If not, he would still have learned about many kinds of Spirit Beasts.
Within the theoretical circles of the Douluo Continent, Spirit Beasts were classified according to habits, habitats, and many other factors.
Wu Qi favored classification by region, for example, which Spirit Beasts inhabited swamps, snowfields, or forests.
When hunting for a Spirit Ring, knowing the habitat of the desired Spirit Beast greatly increased efficiency.
Opening his book, he continued reading from where he had left off the previous day.
"Special classifications, these should be relatively rare."
Special classification referred to Spirit Beasts that lived in extremely unique environments, making them difficult to categorize clearly.
The first section described Spirit Beasts that lived in caves.
These were not ordinary caves, but complex underground ecosystems.
After several pages, one Spirit Beast caught his attention, the Toxic Flash Antler Deer.
The book included a hand-drawn illustration of an adult specimen. It had a pair of glowing antlers, similar to the Spirit Beast he had seen in the estate.
However, this Spirit Beast was not inherently poisonous. Instead, it could sense toxins and issue warnings. If poisoned, its blood could even be used as an antidote.
"So remarkable?" Wu Qi grew interested.
Reading further, he discovered that there was very little recorded information about this Spirit Beast. At the end of the entry, the discoverer was listed as Azure Luan Douluo.
The Primary Spirit Master Division consisted entirely of children.
Few children enjoyed reading theoretical books, so the library was empty except for him.
Immersed in the sea of knowledge, Wu Qi lost track of time.
It was not until late at night that a large hand gently tapped his shoulder.
He turned around. The person standing behind him was none other than Azure Luan Douluo.
Since enrolling a month ago, this was the first time his master had appeared.
Wu Qi greeted him and quickly flipped the book in his hands to the page about the Toxic Flash Antler Deer.
"Master, what exactly is the situation with this deer? And where is the underground world it lives in?"
Azure Luan Douluo smiled faintly.
Wu Qi's dedication to absorbing knowledge had truly surprised him.
For a child to give up play and focus wholeheartedly on study was rare.
"That place was somewhere I entered by accident many years ago."
As he spoke, he patted Wu Qi's back lightly. "Come, we'll talk while walking."
About a hundred years ago, Azure Luan Douluo had only been a Spirit Elder. During a trial experience, he was ambushed and chased into a mountain hollow. In order to survive, he kept going deeper inside.
Eventually, falling rocks struck him, and he fell into an underground cavern.
When he awoke, his pursuers were gone. The only living creature nearby was a young Toxic Flash Antler Deer.
Even Azure Luan Douluo had not conducted much research on this Spirit Beast. He had brought the little creature back and raised it for a hundred years, yet it had not grown in size.
By age, it was already a hundred-year Spirit Beast, but in appearance, it still seemed juvenile.
Studying a Spirit Beast often required the efforts of generations of Spirit Masters. Azure Luan Douluo had merely made the beginning.
The detailed understanding of the Toxic Flash Antler Deer would have to rely on future research.
Wu Qi could not help asking further, "Master, what kind of place is this underground world you mentioned?"
Azure Luan Douluo sighed. "Fifty years ago, your Grandfather Qian went in to investigate. It appeared to be the resting place of an unknown powerful figure. Many treasures were scattered inside. However, it seemed to strongly reject high-level Spirit Masters. I went in later as well and clearly felt a suppressive force. The treasures there seem to have been left for the younger generation of Spirit Masters."
"Over the past fifty years, nearly ten teams of talented Spirit Masters from the Spirit Hall have been organized to explore it. Very few returned alive."
"You know Ghost Leopard Douluo. He entered that place in his youth. The opportunity he obtained allowed someone with innate level-six spirit power to eventually break through to Titled Douluo."
"I did not tell you before because I do not want you to take such a risk. The opportunities there are indeed tempting, but too few people make it out alive."
There were many treasured lands across the Douluo Continent. Could this place be comparable to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well?
Seeing the look in Wu Qi's eyes, Azure Luan Douluo frowned. "You are not lacking in resources. You must not go there to take risks."