Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect
On the road leading to the Sunset Forest, the atmosphere was anything but calm.
"This is outrageous! Absolutely outrageous!" the Second Elder exclaimed, pointing furiously at the image displayed on the Heavenly Curtain. "So many Spirit Bones! Even if they're only ten-year and hundred-year Spirit Bones, you simply handed them over because he asked for them?"
As he spoke, his sharp gaze repeatedly shifted toward Yu Yuanzhen.
The expression on his face made it seem as though someone had robbed his own family treasury.
Yu Yuanzhen could only smile helplessly.
"Second Elder, why are you staring at me? None of this happened in our world."
Why are you using someone else's affairs to scold me?
Do you have no sense of fairness?
Then he looked at the Yu Yuanzhen within the Heavenly Curtain.
If my own son were even half as capable as that Xiaogang...
Forget a few ten-year or hundred-year Spirit Bones.
I'd gladly let him use a thousand-year Spirit Bone.
I'd even do everything possible to secure a ten-thousand-year Spirit Bone for him.
Looking at his counterpart's dissatisfied expression, Yu Yuanzhen suddenly had the urge to rush into the screen and punch him.
You have such an outstanding son, yet you don't know how to appreciate him.
You should try living my life for a while.
Thinking of his own disappointing reality, Yu Yuanzhen couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
Why am I the one who has to suffer like this?
Seeing the argument beginning to drift off course, the Grand Elder cleared his throat.
"Enough."
"The events shown in the Heavenly Curtain aren't our biggest concern."
"The most important matter is preparing for the upcoming struggle over the Spirit Bones."
"We need to decide on our objectives now."
His words immediately brought everyone back to reality.
Yu Yuanzhen and the Second Elder both became serious.
"The Sunset Forest is Dugu Bo's territory," the Grand Elder continued.
"He'll undoubtedly obtain the torso Spirit Bone first."
"We shouldn't waste our efforts trying to compete for it."
He paused before asking,
"If I remember correctly, Dugu Bo already possesses a Skull Spirit Bone, doesn't he?"
The Second Elder nodded.
"That's correct."
"The information came directly from Chrysanthemum Douluo of Spirit Hall."
"Good."
The Grand Elder slowly nodded.
"In that case, our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect must secure one of the two ten-thousand-year Skull Spirit Bones."
"As for the remaining Spirit Bones..."
"We'll judge the situation when the time comes."
"If the circumstances aren't favorable, we'll withdraw immediately."
"There is no need to be greedy."
He looked around the room.
"Does anyone object?"
"No."
Yu Yuanzhen shook his head.
Everyone understood that this competition would be far from ordinary.
Being overly greedy would only invite disaster.
Of course, not aiming for every treasure didn't mean they lacked ambition.
As one of the Upper Three Sects, setting their sights on even a single ten-thousand-year Spirit Bone was already a very modest goal.
The remaining elders also expressed no objections.
Although they weren't determined to fight over every ten-thousand-year Spirit Bone, that didn't mean they had no interest in the thousand-year ones.
Very few people present possessed Spirit Bones.
Obtaining even a single thousand-year Spirit Bone would greatly strengthen the sect.
---
The Heavenly Curtain continued...
After thoroughly searching the underground cavern and confirming there was nothing else worth taking, Yu Xiaogang, Yu Yuanzhen, and Bibi Dong reluctantly left.
The moment they emerged from the cave and felt the warm sunlight once again, Yu Xiaogang stretched comfortably.
He looked back at the hidden cave with obvious reluctance.
This treasure hunt had finally made him understand why adventurers loved exploring ancient ruins and searching for hidden treasures.
The thrill was simply irresistible.
Who could have imagined that a tiny treasure map would ultimately lead to a secret vault containing more than a hundred Spirit Bones?
The original owner of the map truly had terrible luck.
If that Spirit Saint had only waited for the Radiant Elemental Dragon to leave in search of food before entering the cave, he would have discovered this incredible treasure.
Had that happened, the Douluo Continent might have gained another powerful Spirit Douluo.
Perhaps...
Even another Titled Douluo.
Unfortunately, after being relentlessly hunted by the Radiant Elemental Dragon, the man had completely lost his confidence.
His fighting spirit had been shattered.
Eventually, he stuffed the treasure map into his storage soul tool and never looked at it again.
After leaving the cave, the three began making their way back through the Sunset Forest.
Yu Yuanzhen walked in front, while Yu Xiaogang and Bibi Dong followed behind.
Yu Xiaogang glanced sideways.
Bibi Dong was still holding the Spirit Bone tightly in both hands.
He couldn't help shaking his head.
"Hey."
"You should put that Spirit Bone away."
"We're traveling."
"Keeping it in your hands the whole time isn't exactly a good idea."
"Huh?"
Bibi Dong blinked in confusion.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean..."
"Put it into your storage soul tool."
Yu Xiaogang pointed at the Spirit Bone.
"The way you're carrying it around..."
"You look like a village aunt who's never seen the outside world."
"You finally got something valuable, so now you're afraid to let go of it."
His expression remained perfectly serious.
Bibi Dong stared at him.
Then she looked at the Spirit Bone in her hands.
A vein immediately appeared on her forehead.
"What does that have to do with you?"
"I'll hold it however I like!"
With an angry snort, she marched straight past Yu Xiaogang and walked ahead of Yu Yuanzhen.
Yu Xiaogang stood there in complete confusion.
"What did I say wrong?"
Watching his son's bewildered expression, Yu Yuanzhen silently rolled his eyes.
This kid...
He's unbelievably dense.
Just as Yu Yuanzhen was about to explain something—
Bibi Dong suddenly stopped walking.
Everyone immediately became alert.
Looking ahead, Yu Yuanzhen quickly spotted the reason.
A massive Spirit Beast was lying peacefully atop a huge boulder, fast asleep.
Its crimson-red fur shimmered like burning flames.
Even while sleeping, the beast radiated a powerful aura.
One glance was enough to tell that it wasn't something ordinary.
Yu Yuanzhen narrowed his eyes.
"A Crimson Flame Tiger..."
He carefully examined its tail.
Wrapped around the fiery-red tail were seven distinct white rings.
"Seven white rings..."
"That means it's approximately seventy thousand years old."
His expression immediately became serious.
"We're taking a detour."
"There is no need to fight it."
Neither Yu Xiaogang nor Bibi Dong objected.
Quietly, they began backing away, taking great care not to wake the sleeping tiger.
Before leaving, however, Yu Xiaogang took out a detailed map.
He carefully marked the Crimson Flame Tiger's location.
The Crimson Flame Tiger possessed the fire attribute, one of the most common Spirit attributes among Spirit Masters.
A seventy-thousand-year Crimson Flame Tiger would make an outstanding eighth or even ninth Spirit Ring.
Normally, Spirit Beasts of this age could only be reliably found within the Star Dou Great Forest.
Finding one inside the comparatively safer Sunset Forest was incredibly rare.
For Spirit Masters searching for a high-level fire-attributed Spirit Ring, this information alone was priceless.
After carefully recording the location, Yu Xiaogang smiled in satisfaction.
"Another valuable piece of information."
"More pocket money."
Chuckling to himself, he rolled up the map and stored it inside his storage soul tool before quietly following the others as they continued their journey through the Sunset Forest.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)