Under the expectant gazes of Yu Qingfeng and the other two, Yu Yan raised his hand and summoned the slightly altered Ice and Fire Twin Fish, guiding the yellow spirit ring onto his Spirit.
After absorbing a spirit ring, a Spirit always changes to some extent; that's perfectly normal.
The Ice Fish within the Ice and Fire Twin Fish shimmered with light as its First Soul Skill, Ice Scale Armor, activated.
A biting chill spread out, condensing into a seamless set of frost armor around Yu Yan. The armor was pure ice-white and bore clear features of the Ice Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard.
'This frost armor, formed through the Ice Fish, boosts my physical defense and cold resistance. At full power it can even frost-burn anyone who fights me up close.'
'Besides the full set, I can also manifest the frost armor as individual parts.'
Yu Yan shifted the Spirit Ability; the frost armor dispersed into cold mist and re-condensed as a single scale vambrace on his arm, showing it to the three onlookers.
'As expected of a technique from a near-limit Spirit Beast—truly impressive.'
Watching the display and comparing it to his own First Soul Skill, Yu Qingfeng sighed, regret flickering across his face.
In that instant he genuinely wished he could swap his own first ring for a yellow century ring.
People are forever ensnared by what they can't have.
Yu Qingfeng wasn't alone; Li Rong and Ma Zhiyu felt the same envy and wistfulness.
'Xiao Yan, how tough is your Frost Scale Armor?'
The attentive Li Rong always asked the key questions the others overlooked.
'Its defense should be pretty solid.'
Yu Yan took the dagger that had killed the Ice Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard, slipped off the ice-scale vambrace, laid it on the ground, and stabbed it with all his strength.
The blade sank halfway in, failing to pierce completely.
'Let me try.'
Equally curious, Yu Qingfeng stepped up, activated his First Soul Skill, and punched the vambrace.
The first punch left only hairline cracks.
The second punch widened them, yet the armor held.
The third punch shattered it into chunks of ice.
'That defense is no joke. I put Spirit Grandmaster force into the second strike and it still didn't break at once.'
Hearing the result, everyone present was startled.
Ma Zhiyu picked up a shard and squeezed, testing the ice's strength.
'At the Spirit Master stage, very few could break through that vambrace.'
After crushing the shard in his hand, Ma Zhiyu offered the same verdict.
'Xiao Yan, you said you've got another technique—show us.'
Once he understood this skill, Yu Qingfeng wanted to see the other one.
'My other technique is called Blazing Breath. It lets me—or the fire fish—spit a small jet of flame that deals burn damage.'
With the explanation done, Yu Yan triggered the fire fish technique of his first ring; a tongue of flame shot from the fire fish and landed on the ice.
The flame met the ice, hesitated a second, then melted it to water.
No explanation was needed; the mere sight of Frost Scale Armor melting proved Blazing Breath's power.
A First Ring skill set—one offense, one defense—remarkably potent and nearly perfect.
Yu Yan was delighted with the pair, and an even stronger Martial Soul Fusion Skill remained untapped.
'Both techniques from the Ice Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard are excellent. Once you master them, you'll probably have few rivals among First Ring Spirit Masters.'
After witnessing the twin forms of the Ice and Fire Twin Fish, Yu Qingfeng recalled every First Ring Spirit Master he'd met and realized he'd never seen anyone as outrageous as Yu Yan.
One ring, two skills—innately one more than anyone else. The higher the cultivation, the wider the gap.
If Xiao Yan could Cultivate to Spirit King, he'd have five more skills than his peers—just thinking of it was terrifying.
The more Yu Qingfeng thought, the more envious—and relieved—he felt.
Anything beyond Spirit King he didn't dare imagine.
'These two skills are indeed powerful. Thank you, Brother Yu, Sister Li, Brother Ma. Without your full help I couldn't have absorbed the Ice Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard's spirit ring.'
Agreeing that the skills were formidable, Yu Yan thanked the trio yet again.
'Enough courtesy. Let's talk once we're out of Sunset Forest.'
Li Rong cut off the chatter, pointing out what they should do next.
Yu Yan, already of the same mind, nodded.
Carrying the Ice Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard's corpse, they retraced their steps out of Sunset Forest.
In a small town outside the forest they sold the body, and Yu Yan asked for the horn on its head.
He wanted the horn to measure its length and confirm the beast's exact age.
He suspected the lizard's age was off… After resting, the four of them set out for home.
Three days later the carriage driven by Yu Qingfeng appeared outside Balak City.
Seated at the front, Yu Qingfeng brightened at the sight of Balak City; after a week away he missed his son dearly.
'Brother Yu, just drop me here.'
Once inside the city Yu Yan asked to get out.
'Why get off? I'll take you straight to Balak Junior Soul Master Academy—saves trouble.'
Yu Qingfeng kept driving, refusing to let him out.
'I want to stop by Spirit Hall to certify my Rank, then head back to the Academy. You're not going that way, so no need to escort me.'
He added, 'You've been gone so long—hurry home to Little Fish.'
At the mention of his son Yu Qingfeng's eyes flickered; he'd talked about the boy several times on the road.
That was one reason Yu Yan wanted to get out—so Little Fish could see his parents sooner.
After thinking it over, Yu Qingfeng halted. 'All right. You're a Spirit Master now; a small matter like this won't trouble you.'
'Relax. Even if I weren't a Spirit Master, something this minor couldn't stop me.'
'Brother Yu, bye—I'm off.'
Already familiar with Yu Qingfeng, Yu Yan cracked a small joke and waved goodbye.
Walking through Balak City again, Yu Yan felt a pang of nostalgia; a change in status always changes one's mindset.
After so many days away, he wondered, did Xiao Wu miss me?
At the sight of a stick of candied haws, Xiao Wu came instantly to mind.