He took another step, heading deeper into the forest.
High-level Spirit Beasts were indeed scarce in the Sunset Forest. Li Yifei searched for a while before finding one with a cultivation close to twenty thousand years.
He dealt with it in an instant as well.
Li Yifei sat cross-legged and absorbed this black spirit ring.
A vast surge of spirit power poured into his body, rapidly assimilated and absorbed.
A moment later, he opened his eyes.
Then, he retrieved the god-bestowed spirit ring he had obtained as a Chat Group management reward from his System space.
With a thought.
[Replace current second spirit ring with god-bestowed spirit ring (upgraded version)?]
Confirm.
A golden god-bestowed spirit ring materialized, slowly descending and overlapping with the newly absorbed black ten-thousand-year spirit ring.
The black spirit ring melted away like ice and snow.
Replacing it was that radiant golden spirit ring shimmering with a Holy Light.
Another surge of immense, pure spirit power appeared out of thin air, flooding into Li Yifei's limbs and bones.
Li Yifei carefully sensed the changes within his body.
Just as expected.
First, absorb an ordinary spirit ring to gain one spirit power boost.
Then, replace it with a god-bestowed spirit ring to gain another spirit power boost.
It was essentially getting the energy of a spirit ring for free.
Although this amount of energy was negligible to him, for the others in the group, it was a tremendous benefit.
He opened the Chat Group and directly tagged Shui Binger.
[Li Yifei: @Little Ice Cube, once your Rank is sufficient, you can first absorb an ordinary Spirit Beast's spirit ring, then replace it with a god-bestowed spirit ring. This way, you can gain the spirit power from absorbing a spirit ring twice.]
The message was sent, and the group instantly fell silent.
A moment later, Shui Binger's message popped up.
[Little Ice Cube: Thank you, Brother Yi Fei.]
Immediately after, the entire Chat Group exploded.
[Worlds Number One Princess:!!! It can be done like this?!]
[A Little Wild Goose: My heavens, isn't this just a double experience card?]
[Little Fox Demon: This... this is practically cheating!]
[Bunny is So Cute: Brother Yi Fei is amazing, to even know a method like this!]
[Is Jade Not Jade: Tsk tsk, god-tier move, noted.]
Bibi Dong sat in her carriage, looking at this message. A trace of astonishment appeared on her usually calm face.
It could be done like this?
Elsewhere, Dugu Yan had also completed absorbing her spirit ring.
She stood up, feeling the spirit power within her body that had surged to Rank 45, and her brand new ten-thousand-year spirit skill. Uncontainable joy was written all over her face.
She ran to Li Yifei's side, about to say something, but then she saw two golden spirit rings rise from beneath Li Yifei's feet.
"Two... god-bestowed spirit rings?"
Dugu Yan's gasp caught in her throat. She stared dumbfounded at the two dazzlingly brilliant halos beneath Li Yifei's feet, unable to stop herself from thinking.
Could it be that Brother Yi Fei plans to use god-bestowed spirit rings for all the spirit rings of both his Spirits?
Li Yifei paid no heed to her shock. He was merely sensing the spirit power that once again flooded into his body after replacing the spirit ring.
Good, the method works.
He turned around and left a sentence for Dugu Yan.
"Wait here for me."
Before his words faded, his figure had already vanished deep into the forest.
Dugu Yan stood rooted to the spot, taking a long time to regain her senses.
Not long after, two brief, muffled booms came from deep within the forest, then everything returned to silence.
A moment later, Li Yifei's figure reappeared.
He sat down cross-legged. Floating before him was a black ten-thousand-year spirit ring.
Absorption, complete.
He opened his eyes and, without the slightest pause, retrieved the god-bestowed spirit ring belonging to the group owner reward from his System space once more.
Mental confirmation.
[Replace current fourth spirit ring with god-bestowed spirit ring (upgraded version)?]
Confirm.
Golden light reappeared. The newly absorbed black spirit ring instantly dissolved, replaced by a third dazzling golden spirit ring.
Another surge of spirit power materialized out of nothingness, pouring into his body.
Li Yifei slowly stood up, feeling the surging power within him.
Rank 49.
Among them, the first, second, and fourth spirit rings were million-year.
Only the third spirit ring, due to a shortage of god-bestowed spirit rings, had to make do with a ten-thousand-year spirit ring for now.
There were still three spirit power boosts unused. Using them could directly raise him to Rank 79.
From Awakening his Spirit until now, it was only the second day.
This speed was acceptable.
As his spirit power reached this level, he could finally barely sense that the increase in spirit power produced a faint, weak enhancement to his vast mental force.
Although this tiny enhancement was better than nothing to him, it proved one thing.
spirit power could indeed nourish the spirit.
This path was viable.
He walked up to Dugu Yan, who was still in a daze, reached out an arm, and pulled her into his embrace once again.
"Let's go."
"Huh? Oh..."
Dugu Yan was picked up by him. Her body stiffened, then she instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.
A streak of light shot into the sky, flying towards the manor on the outskirts of the Sunset Forest.
...
By the time the two returned to Dugu Bo's manor, the sky had completely darkened.
The manor was quiet, without a single light.
"Grandfather hasn't returned yet?" Dugu Yan was somewhat puzzled.
Li Yifei set her down gently and released his hold.
He walked into the living room and saw a note placed on the table.
"I'm going to the Star Luo Empire to have a good 'exchange' with an 'old friend'! Will be away for a while."
The handwriting was bold and unrestrained, exuding a sense of carefree ease.
Dugu Yan leaned over to take a look, and a blush instantly spread across her cheeks.
She knew perfectly well that her grandfather had no such 'old friend' in the Star Luo Empire.
This was clearly an intentional effort to create an opportunity for them to be alone!
A lone man and a lone woman, sharing a room...
Dugu Yan's heart began to race. She secretly lifted her eyes, stealing a glance at the man beside her, her heart filled with a certain shy anticipation.
However, Li Yifei simply put the note down calmly.
"I have something to do tonight, need to go out for a bit."
The blush on Dugu Yan's face instantly faded, anticipation turning into bewilderment.
"Something to do?"
"Mhm."
Li Yifei responded with a sound, offering no further explanation. He turned and walked towards the door.
Dugu Yan subconsciously followed a couple of steps. Watching his resolute back, she opened her mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.
He walked into the courtyard, bent his knees slightly, and shot straight up into the sky.
In the blink of an eye, he turned into a black dot, disappearing into the deep night.
Dugu Yan stood there dumbly, looking up at the empty night sky.
Her heart felt clogged with something, sour and astringent.
Grandfather went to such trouble to create this opportunity...
And he just... left like that?
...
Heaven Dou City, within the bedchamber of the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace.
All the maids, guards, even the two Spirit Hall Titled Douluos who usually hid in the shadows responsible for close protection, had been dismissed.
The vast bedchamber now held only one person.
Qian Renxue.
She stood before a full-length mirror. She was no longer wearing the luxurious court robes symbolizing the Crown Prince's status.
In their place was a holy, gilded long dress.