Xiao Xiao's eyes, with her external spirit bone activated, were indeed beautiful.
Moreover, after advancing to the Fourth Ring, her body had clearly undergone another growth spurt. Thinking back to over a year ago, this little girl was barely 1.2 meters tall; now, she was at least 1.5 meters.
Although still not considered very tall, no one would call her a little loli anymore.
"Xiao Xiao, you must diligently develop this external spirit bone. It is extremely important for your future," Yuwen Tuo said softly.
The preciousness of an external spirit bone was far beyond what ordinary spirit bones could compare to. If the chance of an ordinary spirit bone appearing was one in a thousand, then an external spirit bone was less than one in ten thousand.
In the spirit master world, there was a ranking for the most precious items for spirit masters, called the Spirit Master's Dream List. Among them, external spirit bones consistently ranked second on the Spirit Master's Dream List, second only to the 100,000-year spirit ring and spirit bone, which held the top spot.
This had not changed for ten thousand years. The most special aspect of external spirit bones was their ability to evolve as their owner's spirit power increased. Therefore, the earlier one absorbed an external spirit bone, the better.
Of course, external spirit bones like Yuwen Tuo's Heart of the Snow Empress, which started at 700,000 years, didn't count. For spirit bones of that caliber, it was never too late to absorb them.
Under Xiao Xiao's explanation, the two learned that her external spirit bone currently possessed two abilities.
One was common to all spirit bones: a full-body attribute amplification, especially for spiritual power and perception, which were strengthened to a terrifying degree.
There was also an actively released offensive spirit ability called Golden Flame Scorching Soul. It was a mental attack that could make an opponent's soul feel as if it were in raging fire, delivering a fatal blow. However, this move consumed a great deal of spiritual power, with a single use almost depleting half of Xiao Xiao's current spiritual energy.
These two abilities were, in fact, only what appeared on the surface. Most importantly, both her 100,000-year spirit bone and her external spirit bone were located in her head. If she could merge the abilities of these two spirit bones, then both her current spiritual power intensity and her methods of spiritual attack would undoubtedly see significant improvement.
Xiao Xiao had certainly gained a tremendous advantage this time. Furthermore, due to simultaneously absorbing an over-limit spirit ring and spirit bone, her level had also risen to approximately forty-three.
"Let's go, we'll continue deeper, to a more remote area," Miao Xin said.
Helping Xiao Xiao acquire her spirit ring was only one objective. More importantly, there was Yuwen Tuo. His fifth spirit ring was extremely crucial.
For an ordinary spirit master, the importance of the fifth ring was self-evident. Only upon entering the Five-Ring Spirit King realm could one truly begin to establish a certain status on the continent. The fifth ring was also the lowest standard for conventional spirit masters to access 10,000-year spirit rings.
Although Yuwen Tuo's situation was special, he couldn't overlook the importance of this fifth ring.
As long as he found a suitable spirit beast to advance to Spirit King, it was highly probable that a Spirit Saint would not be his match unless they activated their Martial Soul Avatar. Even if they did, he might not necessarily lose.
After all, he possessed a stronger core martial soul. Miao Xin knew that once Yuwen Tuo advanced to Spirit King, his core cultivation could deepen further, allowing him to begin the second awakening of his core martial soul.
As long as he reached the silver level, the amplification from his second awakening would be no weaker than the so-called Martial Soul Avatar.
It was just a pity that suitable spirit beasts for Yuwen Tuo were not easy to find. The main reason was that his requirements for himself were genuinely too high.
Not only did he require a minimum of 50,000 years of cultivation, but the spirit beast also had to possess an extremely strong fire attribute.
It couldn't be like the Flame Blade Demon. Although its fire attribute wasn't weak, its true power lay in the innate attack power of the blades on its body, not the might of its flames.
What Yuwen Tuo was looking for this time was a spirit beast that genuinely fought using flames.
This was because if he wanted his Fire Elephant Martial Soul to possess both pure and strong powers in the future, such a powerful elemental spirit ring would absolutely be indispensable.
But the trio searched until midnight and still found nothing.
In truth, after dusk, fire attribute spirit beasts rarely appeared; they didn't like gloomy places.
Coincidentally, a torrential downpour suddenly began at that moment. The three, left with no choice, had to quickly find a cave to rest.
"Looking at this heavy rain, it's estimated it will last until tomorrow morning at least. Fire spirit beasts will be even less likely to come out," Xiao Xiao said, leaning her head on Yuwen Tuo's shoulder, listening to the patter of rain outside.
"It's alright. If we can't find one in Sunset Forest, I'll take you to the Star Dou Great Forest. There are more spirit beasts there, so we're sure to find a suitable one," Miao Xin comforted.
Yuwen Tuo, however, smiled faintly, "Not necessarily, if this rain didn't fall, I might truly be out of ideas. But now, I've thought of a very special spirit beast, and perhaps there's a way to attract it. I wonder if Sunset Forest has it?"
Yuwen Tuo was a scholar of spirit beasts. In any situation, he had good ways to find spirit beasts.
Miao Xin and Xiao Xiao both looked at him curiously. Yuwen Tuo, however, kept them in suspense, pulling Xiao Xiao into his arms and saying, "Xiao Xiao, get some good sleep first. Tomorrow morning, I'll show you something very beautiful."
"Mmm!" Xiao Xiao nodded, finding a comfortable position in Yuwen Tuo's arms, leaning against his chest, and slowly falling asleep.
This scene made Miao Xin exclaim, "My eyes are burning!"
She had brought two children out to hunt for spirit rings, not to watch a display of affection. If she had known, she wouldn't have just focused on cultivation back then, ending up without ever having experienced a romantic relationship until now. At this rate, her youth would pass by.
Should I just snatch Yuwen Tuo?
Miao Xin's head stirred with the thought, but she quickly dismissed it. Yuwen Tuo was indeed very handsome and talented, but he wasn't her type. He had too many tricks up his sleeve; even her mind-reading couldn't see through him. For her, Yuwen Tuo could be a friend, or a beloved junior, but never a lover.
Besides, she liked Xiao Xiao so much, how could she take what Xiao Xiao loved?
Furthermore, Yuwen Tuo clearly had the face of a scoundrel. Who knew how many other girls he would attract in the future? As a dignified Titled Douluo, Miao Xin's man had to be completely devoted to her.
The two were not suitable. A honeycomb briquette should be paired with a solid brick. For example, Yuwen Tuo with Xiao Xiao: one full of cunning schemes, the other a simple, naive girl.
So, if she, a honeycomb briquette, were to find someone, she needed to find a solid brick that was easy to handle.
A type completely opposite to Yuwen Tuo.
In truth, within the Body Sect, solid bricks weren't hard to find; one could even say there were plenty of honest, simpletons. Unfortunately, those guys were either too old, like the Elder Council members who were all decades, even over a hundred years, older than her—the generation gap was too vast.
Or they were ordinary disciples who wouldn't see her as a woman, but rather as an elder, an esteemed figure, treating her with full respect. She didn't want this kind of familial affection in love.
Out of sight, out of mind. Miao Xin simply closed her eyes and cultivated, but she didn't fall asleep, nor did she enter deep cultivation. After all, this was a spirit beast forest.
As a Titled Douluo and an elder, her primary concern was naturally the safety of the two children.
Therefore, her Mind Martial Soul continuously sensed every rustle of the wind and grass around them. At the slightest unusual movement, she could immediately react.
Fortunately, it was a peaceful night.
The heavy rain continued until early the next morning before stopping. The sun reappeared, and sunlight spread across the land.
As there was no poisonous mist nearby, the air after the rain was incredibly fresh.
The three walked out of the cave, breathing in the crisp air.
Yuwen Tuo looked up and chuckled, "Good weather. It's truly a good day to lure that spirit beast out."
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