Just as Tang San's heart was still screaming and struggling frantically.
At this time, Fu Qin had already seen various changes appearing on his panel.
[Successfully absorbed the 250-year Camouflage Snake Vine spirit ring!]
[spirit power increased to Level 12!]
[First Spirit: Blue Silver Grass unlocked Spirit Ability — Binding (Common): Resilience +5%, Hardness +5%, no other effects]
[Spirit Ability Evaluation: Common (Due to the average quality of the Spirit Beast, the effect of the Spirit Ability is significantly weakened)]
Tang San frowned deeply; this was completely different from what he had expected.
In his past life, the Datura Snake spirit ring not only greatly increased the resilience and hardness of the Blue Silver Grass but also came with a potent toxin, making it extremely powerful.
But this "Datura Snake's" spirit ring only increased resilience and hardness by a tiny bit, and it didn't even have any toxin. It was practically a useless spirit ring!
Only then did he realize that he might have been tricked!
This wasn't a Datura Snake at all, but another Spirit Beast disguised as one!
But things had already come to this, and it was too late for words.
The spirit ring had already been absorbed and could not be replaced.
He could only feign composure, pretending to be satisfied with the Spirit Ability.
[Tang San's thoughts: Damn it! I was actually tricked! No, I can't let Fu Qin and Yu Xiaogang see any flaws yet, or I'll lose too much face!]
"How is it, Tang San? Are you satisfied with the effect of the Spirit Ability?"
Yu Xiaogang stepped forward and asked, a hint of anticipation in his eyes.
Tang San forced a smile.
"I'm very satisfied, Teacher. This Datura Snake's spirit ring is indeed good; my Blue Silver Grass's strength has improved a lot."
Fu Qin also spoke up at the right time.
"Little San is so amazing! To be able to kill a hundred-year Datura Snake so easily and successfully absorb the spirit ring!"
[Intelligence Reduction Halo in effect. Yu Xiaogang fully believes that "Tang San is very satisfied with the Spirit Ability."]
[Tang San's favorability toward Yu Xiaogang -2]
[Thoughts: If it weren't for you, how could I have absorbed such a useless spirit ring? You must compensate me in the future!]
Yu Xiaogang nodded, a gratified smile appearing on his face.
"As long as you're satisfied! Since you've both obtained your spirit rings, let's leave the Hunting Soul Forest quickly. It's not safe here."
Tang San nodded, suppressing the frustration in his heart, and turned to walk out of the forest.
He swore to himself that he would find an opportunity to obtain a high-quality spirit ring in the future to make up for this loss.
Fu Qin followed behind, a barely perceptible smile at the corners of his mouth.
This trip to the Hunting Soul Forest was quite fruitful. Not only did he get a 400-year mutated spirit ring, but he also caused Tang San to mistakenly absorb a useless one. It was truly a win-win.
The three of them were silent along the way, quickly leaving the Hunting Soul Forest and heading toward Nuoding Academy.
...
Six years passed in the blink of an eye.
On the square of Nuoding Academy, the dust slowly settled as the last strand of Blue Silver Grass was retracted.
Fu Qin stumbled back two steps, clutching his chest with his right hand. A trace of blood, deliberately forced out, seeped from the corner of his mouth as he looked at Tang San with eyes full of "amazement" and "unwillingness."
"Third Brother, you're too strong! To think that Level 28 spirit power could unleash such terrifying power. Even as a Level 33 Spirit Elder, I couldn't withstand your Blue Silver Grass restraint and Binding combo."
His third spirit ring, "Heavenly Eye · Structure," had long since been quietly deactivated. The instant state of "Unity of Heaven and Man" during the battle just now had allowed him to see through every one of Tang San's movements.
The flow of spirit power in the Blue Silver Grass, the flaws in the transitions of Spirit Abilities, and even Tang San's deliberately suppressed breathing rhythm—he knew them all like the back of his hand.
But he couldn't win. The Intelligence Reduction Halo was still in effect, and Tang San's perception of him as a "little brother" could not be shaken.
The ten fingertip-sized metal flying needles condensed by his first Spirit Ability, "Hundred Refinements · Materialization."
Under the control of his second Spirit Ability, "Divine Mechanism · Object Manipulation," they could have pierced through Tang San's defenses in an instant. However, he forcefully changed the trajectory of the flying needles, letting them graze the edges of the Blue Silver Grass, which instead gave Tang San an opportunity to counterattack.
Tang San stood with his hands behind his back, his blue eyes filled with a well-measured restraint and pride.
He nodded slightly, his tone calm but unable to hide his self-satisfaction.
"It's just basic operations. Your Spirit Ability combination is indeed ingenious, being able to control ten steel needles simultaneously for both offense and defense, but unfortunately, your practical combat experience is still lacking."
He didn't notice at all that Fu Qin's seemingly panicked retreat had actually avoided the strongest restraint node of his Blue Silver Grass.
That trace of blood at the corner of the mouth was just Fu Qin using spirit power to slightly injure his own lip; the acting was spot on.
The vigilance he had as an outer disciple of the Tang Sect in his past life had long since been mostly eroded by the Intelligence Reduction Halo and Fu Qin's six years of consistent "admiration."
"Yes, yes, yes," Fu Qin nodded hurriedly, asking for guidance with a sincere face.
"You must give me more pointers the next time we spar. Your combat techniques are truly amazing, especially the second Spirit Ability, Parasite. Even though it's only a hundred-year spirit ring, its power is stronger than my eight-hundred-year Thousand-Eyed Locust."
These words hit Tang San's sweet spot.
His Ghost Vine spirit ring was actually only a little over a hundred years old; he had been relying on camouflage all these years to avoid being exposed.
Fu Qin's "praise" instantly made him feel that his concealment was seamless, and the way he looked at Fu Qin became a bit more satisfied, as if looking at a "teachable student."
"Practice hard. Follow me in the future, and there will be plenty of benefits for you." Tang San patted Fu Qin's shoulder, his tone carrying the charity of a superior.
Fu Qin lowered his head, a trace of imperceptible mockery flashing in his eyes, but his face remained that of someone overwhelmed by favor.
"Thank you, Brother Tang San! I will definitely work hard!"
Just then, a petite and charming figure ran over quickly, her pink skirt fluttering across the playground, leaving a trail of light footsteps.
"Fu Qin! Are you okay?"
Xiao Wu ran to Fu Qin's side, ignoring Tang San's presence, and reached out to support his arm. Her fingertips subconsciously rubbed his sleeve, her worry unconcealed and even carrying a hint of imperceptible reproach.
"Why weren't you more serious when sparring with Tang San? Your Spirit Abilities are clearly much more flexible than his."
Her voice was soft and sweet, with a unique charm, but only Fu Qin could feel the slight coolness from her fingertips and that undisguised intimacy.
The favorability number on the panel twitched slightly, stopping at 383 points.
Those few brief words of concern had actually increased it by another 3 points.
Fu Qin felt helpless.
In these six years, he had tried everything to keep his distance, but Xiao Wu's favorability was like a runaway horse that couldn't be stopped.
While normal couples had favorability in the seventies or eighties, hers was more than five times that. The way she looked at him was almost tangible, and that unconcealed possessiveness made his scalp tingle.
"Sister Xiao Wu,"
Fu Qin calmly pulled back his arm, his tone carrying a well-measured shyness.
"Third Brother is too strong; I tried my best but couldn't win. Besides, it was just a spar, no need to take it too seriously."
The distance he deliberately showed only made the light in Xiao Wu's eyes brighter.
She just loved this handsome and shy look of Fu Qin's; compared to Tang San's forced solemnity, he was a hundred times more pleasing to the eye.