Ma Nuo exhaled sharply, then nodded. "We'll escort you. We're done here—Li Shen has already obtained his first ring."
Yu Xiaogang blinked, glancing at Li Shen. His eyes widened in recognition—that boy… the same one who mocked me when I offered to help him...
"How old is your spirit ring?" he asked, unable to keep the bitterness from his voice.
Ma Nuo was just about to answer proudly, but Li Shen stepped forward first, calm and unshaken.
"You'll find out in the upcoming competition," he said simply.
The remark stunned Yu Xiaogang into silence. He simply nodded, his pride wounded, unable to respond. Beside him, Ma Nuo narrowed his eyes slightly. There's still that bet… he remembered—the wager between Li Shen and the blue-haired Tang San. Better to keep Li Shen's power hidden for now. Let the surprise come when it matters most.
Ma Nuo stepped beside Yu Xiaogang and said quietly, "We'll keep it quiet for now."
The group moved through the dense forest, only the soft crunch of leaves beneath their boots breaking the silence. The morning mist lingered, curling around tree trunks like ghostly fingers. Li Shen walked up ahead, riding on Su Yuntao's shoulders, who laughed and chatted alongside Ma Nuo and Sisi.
Sitting high, Li Shen let the wind brush through his hair as he chewed on dried fruit—relaxed, yet thoughtful.
Behind them, Tang San walked alongside Chen, who supported the limping Yu Xiaogang. Tang San's expression was unreadable, but his eyes occasionally flicked toward the front—toward Li Shen and his companions walking in warm camaraderie.
Chen tried to ease the tension by cracking jokes, but the awkwardness lingered. Meanwhile, Sisi laughed freely at one of Su Yuntao's quips, causing the usually stern-faced Yuntao to smile brightly.
Tang San looked at Li Shen's carefree state, then at his own situation, and couldn't help the envy state of Li Shen.
At Spirit Hall...
They finally returned to Spirit Hall. Tang San and Li Shen were taken by Ma Nuo to test their spirit power after absorbing their rings, while the other deacons escorted Yu Xiaogang to the medical bay, where a healing-type Spirit Master began treating him.
"This is the Spirit Measuring Orb. Just place your palm on it, and it will show your current spirit power level," Ma Nuo explained.
Tang San stepped forward confidently. After all, he had absorbed an almost 500-year-old spirit ring—not to mention his Mysterious Heaven Art cultivation. He expected excellent results.
He placed his hand on the orb. It glowed softly, and a number appeared: Level 13.
Ma Nuo nodded approvingly. "It seems you absorbed a quality spirit ring."
Tang San smiled proudly and glanced toward Li Shen, expecting a reaction.
However, Li Shen didn't even look at him.
Tang San frowned slightly.
"Alright, Li Shen, your turn," Ma Nuo said.
Li Shen stepped up and placed his palm on the orb. The orb glowed much more brightly this time before revealing: Level 15.
It was actually but he used some points to alter the result as not to mention Tang San, there is Tang Hao also there, and Ling Yuan is not here currently, so he decided to hide his true strength. As for why its is level 20, its simple, with 100,000 year bone and as well as 4100 spirit ring, it pushed him to peak of Level 20.
As even Tang San just absorbing a almost 500 year ring got level 13 power.
Ma Nuo's eyes widened slightly. A 4,100-year-old spirit ring could certainly explain such a massive leap—but it was still extraordinary.
Tang San, startled, pointed at Li Shen. "Why is your spirit power so high after just absorbing one ring?"
Ma Nuo was about to answer, but Li Shen cut in smoothly, "My master gave me a special herb. That's why."
Ma Nuo blinked, immediately understanding that Li Shen wanted to keep the truth of the ring a secret, and nodded in agreement. "Yes, before the spirit ring absorption, Li Shen's master—a Titled Douluo—gave him a rare herb to strengthen his body."
Tang San couldn't help but feel envious again. One master gave nothing but lectures. The other handed out heavenly treasures. The difference was too vast.
"Come. Here's your Spirit Master subsidy—one gold coin," Ma Nuo said, handing the certification and subsidy to both of them.
Tang San quietly accepted it and made his way to the medical bay, where Yu Xiaogang was still being treated.
Inside the medical bay...
Resting on the bed, Yu Xiaogang looked up weakly. "Tang San, what's your spirit power now?"
"Level 13," Tang San replied.
"Haha! Good!" Yu Xiaogang smiled and nodded proudly. But then he asked curiously, "What about that Li Shen boy? How did he do?"
Tang San hesitated for a moment. "...Level 15."
Yu Xiaogang's eyes nearly popped out of his head. "Impossible! How is that possible? There has never been such a case!"
"He said his master gave him a body-strengthening herb before the absorption," Tang San added softly.
Yu Xiaogang nodded slowly. "I see... So it was like that."
But then his face grew stern. "Tang San, you must not follow his path. Anything outside of one's own cultivation and orthodox spirit ring absorption is dangerous. He may have reached Level 15 now, but he may have ruined his future potential."
He said it with conviction, arms crossed.
Tang San, a bit unsure, asked, "But Master, don't many people use heavenly herbs to boost their strength?"
Yu Xiaogang frowned. "Heavenly herbs? I've never heard of such things!"
Tang San only grew more confused.
When he left the room, he made a mental note to search the library for anything about alchemy or Heavenly herbs. But he would soon discover nothing. In the Douluo Continent, there were no known alchemists, and cultivation was built on grit, training, and luck—with almost no records of spirit medicine or herbology.
Meanwhile, on Li Shen's side...
He returned to his room, shutting and locking the door behind him. With a deep breath, he sat on the edge of his bed, eyes fixed on the empty air in front of him.
"Okay, Genesis," he said. "Now tell me everything. What were the full notifications when I absorbed the spirit ring earlier?"
He had ignored them in the forest—too many eyes, too little time.
Now, finally alone, he was ready.
[Displaying System Logs...]
****
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