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--- Chapter 534 ---
Everyone was still amazed by Xu Xiaoyan's powerful first spirit skill for a few moments before Han Tianyi changed the conversation to another topic. Yes, the absorption of 100,000-year-old spirit bones.
"What?! Xiao Yuan... you actually got two 100,000-year-old spirit bones just by taking a walk along the beach?!" Ouyang Zixin, who was sitting beside Mu Xi, couldn't help but widen her eyes in awe. "What kind of monstrous luck is that?!"
"Wow, Brother Yuan is so amazing!" Xu Xiaoyan didn't fully comprehend the terrifying value of a 100,000-year-old spirit bone, but she knew with certainty that they must be incredible treasures if he had them.
Xing Lan rubbed her fair temple helplessly. "My disciples' composure is somewhat lacking... though, in all fairness, I can hardly blame them."
"Even a Super Douluo like me would be sorely tempted by 100,000-year-old spirit bones. Obtaining two of them would drastically enhance one's physical foundation and grant four powerful Spirit Skills all at once."
"For someone at my cultivation realm, only a treasure of this level could offer significant nourishment to my cultivation."
Han Yuan suddenly interrupted the discussion, his silver gaze remaining calm. "Grandpa, do you believe in me?"
"Hmm? What do you mean, Xiao Yuan?" Han Tianyi tilted his silver head in confusion. He was examining the two 100,000-year-old spirit bones his good grandson obtained.
Han Yuan looked around at everyone in the private room before talking in a calculated, confident tone. "I might have discovered a method... to transform ordinary spirit bones into External-type spirit bones."
"WHAT?!"
Both Han Tianyi and Xing Lan stared at him as if looking at a divine being descending from heaven. The sheer shock and implications of that single sentence were too shocking—no, utterly terrifying!
Han Yuan didn't stop, continuing his explanation smoothly. "I don't know the exact moment I gained the ability to sense the origin of all things."
"Perhaps it was when I mastered Spirit Forging and unconsciously utilized my Power of Devouring to refine the hidden impurities within metals."
"Later, I assisted Sister Mu Xi in solidifying and promoting her Martial Soul's origin through the Baptism of Stars."
"Eventually... I began to ask myself a question."
"If it is possible to manipulate the origin essence within living beings and metals... why shouldn't we be able to manipulate the origin essence within spirit bones?"
"Spirit Beasts and Spirit Souls can grow stronger and evolve. Why should their spirit bones remain forever rigid and unyielding?"
"Blacksmiths nourish metals."
"Therefore, Spirit Masters should be capable of nourishing spirit bones."
Han Tianyi frowned deeply, contemplating the logic. "Your reasoning is sound... And indeed, a Spirit Master can slowly nourish spirit bones they have already absorbed into their body, gradually integrating them and eventually manifesting a spirit bone armor..."
"However, to alter the physical form and structure of an unabsorbed spirit bone from the outside..."
"You would not only need absolute control over the origin essence of the Spirit Beast it came from, but also the ability to reshape that essence to fit the human origin structure perfectly."
"I don't mean to discourage you, Xiao Yuan, but..."
"That degree of origin control... even your grandfather wouldn't dare attempt it."
"Then... We can start by doing it on lower-age spirit bones first. Even a thousand-year-old bone will do," Han Yuan replied with a faint smile, seeing that he had successfully caught their curiosity.
"Do you think it's worth a try, Han Tianyi?" Xing Lan gave Han Tianyi an amused glance, knowing full well that the older man could never refuse his grandson's request.
Sure enough, Han Tianyi let out a soft sigh and nodded. "Let's give it a try. After all, External spirit bones are ranked as the third greatest category of treasures in the world—just right beneath 100,000-year-old spirit bones, 100,000-year spirit rings, and Immortal Herbs."
Without further delay, Han Tianyi accessed the core vault of the Eastsea Spirit Pagoda with Pagoda Master Zhang's eager cooperation, retrieving three distinct thousand-year-old limb spirit bones that were designated as boss rewards for the Spirit Ascension Platform's Riot Mode.
To a powerhouse at Han Tianyi's level, thousand-year spirit bones were trivial things, but for a controlled trial of younger generations, they were ideal.
Gazing at the three limb spirit bones arranged neatly on the table, Han Yuan smiled with calm confidence. "Alright, allow me to show you what I was talking about."
Accessing the memory shared by Alpha, Han Yuan slowly extended his perception into the spirit bones, scanning their origin essences and structural blueprints down to the finest detail.
By tracing their underlying essence, Han Yuan could instantly identify the species of Spirit Beast each bone originated from, as well as the precise Spirit Skills engraved within them. All without relying on his Eyes of Truth or specialized inspection tools.
Han Yuan opened his eyes and then pointed to the first bone. "This is a Water Buffalo Crushing Leg Bone, dropped by a Water Buffalo Beast. Age: approximately 3,300 years. Spirit Skill: Water Ripple Treading Stomp."
"It's an assault movement-type skill that allows the user to cross difficult terrain, especially water, at high speeds before delivering a shockwave stomp upon making contact with the ground."
"Unfortunately, the movement distance is capped at a few meters, and the impact force is underwhelming."
He then shifted his gaze to the second and third spirit bones. "Second: Light-Chasing Wind Arm Bone, dropped by a Light Bird. Age: 2,500 years. Spirit Skill: Light-Chasing Blade."
"An offensive skill that condenses a spinning blade of light that flies in on targets. Nevertheless, it consumes a large amount of spirit power to form a single blade, and requires strong spiritual control to guide its trajectory."
"Third: Dark Abyss Leg Bone, dropped by a Shadow Stealth Snake. Age: 2,900 years. Spirit Skill: Shadow Stealth."
"A stealth skill that severely erases presence, allowing the user to blend into shadows for roughly three seconds. Useful for assassins, but lacks long-term scaling value."
Han Tianyi's eyes widened in sheer astonishment. "Xiao Yuan... did you just analyze the complete origin and backgrounds of these bones by sensing them?!"
"Mhm. By using my unique perception, I can trace their foundational origin and background," Han Yuan answered with a nod. "Though, as expected, doing so consumes a significant amount of Spiritual Power."
"Here, hurry, take these Spiritual Recovery Pills immediately!" Han Tianyi instantly produced a bottle of high-grade medicinal pills and handed them over.
Xing Lan was equally stunned by Han Yuan's analytical ability. "Hiss, Xiao Yuan... can you truly transform them then?"
Han Yuan swallowed a pill, feeling a cool surge of mental energy recover his mind, before offering a small grin. "Who knows? Let's find out right now."
He reached out and casually picked up the Water Buffalo Crushing Leg Bone, resting it gently on his palm under everyone's tense, expectant watch.
He began channeling his spirit power directly into the bone, causing it to emit a brilliant, pulsing blue radiance. Slowly but surely, he also used his Power of Devouring and origin manipulation to strip away impurities and dissolve the bone's rigid structural form.
The spirit bone began to shrink visibly, yet the density and purity of the blue energy within it surged exponentially with every passing second.
Under their breathtaking observation, the large leg spirit bone condensed and reshaped itself entirely, morphing into a polished, crystalline right toe spirit bone that radiated a tame, harmonious glow!
"I-It actually worked?!" Mu Xi cried out, her eyes shining with wonder.
"Xiao Yuan... you are amazing," Ouyang Zixin murmured, pressing a hand against her chest as her heart raced. "Is this what true, peerless genius looks like?"
"Yay! Brother Yuan succeeded! He really did it!" Xu Xiaoyan cheered, clapping her hands in delight.
"Phew..." Han Yuan let out a quiet breath of relief inwardly. It was his first time attempting Origin Manipulation on an actual spirit bone, and the process had required extreme precision.
He held out the glowing, purified toe bone and passed it to Han Tianyi for inspection. "Because I purified away the beast's residual impurities, the bone lost some of its accumulated age years."
"Still, losing a few hundred years of age is totally negligible compared to the sheer value of gaining an External-type spirit bone."
"Furthermore, as long as the Spirit Master who absorbs this External spirit bone continuously nourishes it by going to the Spirit Ascension Platform, its age and skill potency will naturally grow over time."
"Well, calling it just an External-type spirit bone is rather tactless... So, I call it an Alter-type Spirit Bone!"
"An Alter-type Spirit Bone..." Han Tianyi slowly and gently picked up the tiny, toe-shaped spirit bone, his hands trembling slightly as he felt the distinct, harmonious signature of a true External spirit bone.
"It really... it really became an External-type..."
He looked up at the silver-haired boy standing before him, his eyes filled with a complex mixture of reverence, pride, and utter disbelief.
"Xiao Yuan... you are really going to rewrite the history of the Douluo Star!"