"Second spirit ring? You're already level 20?!"
Shui Yun Xin cried out in shock, staring at Bai Mu as if she'd seen a ghost.
"It's been less than a year… and you went from level 11 straight to level 20?"
"That's way too fast!"
Even Shui Bing'er couldn't hide her surprise.
She possessed exceptional talent, with innate spirit power at level nine, yet she was only level 24 now.
And Bai Mu had jumped nine levels in a single year.
That kind of speed was simply unheard of.
As for Shui Yue'er… the girl covered her face and refused to speak.
Among everyone present, her talent was the weakest. Her innate spirit power barely reached level eight, and she had only just advanced to level 20.
Compared to the others, it was downright embarrassing.
"I just happened to encounter a few opportunities that helped me a lot, that's all."
Bai Mu answered vaguely.
"I see… that makes sense."
Shui Yun Xin let out a sigh of relief.
"For a moment, I thought someone could really jump nine levels in a year just through hard work."
"Haha, how could someone like that exist?"
Bai Mu laughed, then asked,
"Aunt Shui, could I enter the academy's library later? I want to look up information on the Mirror Shadow Beast."
"That's easy!"
Shui Yun Xin said immediately,
"Just join Tianshui Academy directly. The academy will provide all the information a genius like you needs—and even arrange teachers to help you hunt your spirit ring!"
Shui Bing'er added softly, "The Library Pavilion has a lot of records on Spirit Beasts. You should be able to find what you're looking for."
Shui Yue'er went even further, grabbing Bai Mu's sleeve.
"Stay! The academy is full of beautiful sisters—you'll definitely be super popular!"
Using that as temptation… what Spirit Master could possibly resist?
Bai Mu looked at Shui Yue'er in surprise.
But faced with the joint invitation from all three of them, he still shook his head.
"Thank you for your kindness, but for now, I don't plan to join any academy."
Tianshui Academy was a famous all-female academy across the continent, overflowing with beauties. Saying he wasn't tempted would be a lie.
But Bai Mu knew himself well.
He either caused no trouble at all—or he caused enormous trouble.
Stealing Immortal Herbs, kidnapping a prince, and in the future even attempting to steal the Blue Silver Emperor Spirit Bone—his path was destined to be anything but peaceful.
Since the Shui family cared so much about him, he couldn't bring danger to this place.
And once he formed attachments, many of his actions would become hesitant.
That was completely unnecessary.
Shui Yun Xin looked at Bai Mu and saw a level of clarity and responsibility far beyond his age.
She sighed softly.
"Since you've made up your mind, I won't force you. Coincidentally, I'll soon be taking Yue'er to hunt her second spirit ring. I'll help you with yours as well."
"That might be inconvenient… maybe I should go by myself."
Bai Mu hesitated.
Shui Yun Xin smiled calmly.
"What's inconvenient about it? It's just a small favor."
She felt Bai Mu was still too honest and considerate—unwilling to trouble others even over something as important as obtaining a spirit ring.
"Maybe we should forget it. The Spirit Beast I want to hunt is… slightly high in age."
Bai Mu pinched his fingers together, gesturing a distance the size of a galaxy.
"You child, how high could a second spirit ring possibly be?"
Shui Yun Xin laughed.
"Don't tell me you're planning to hunt a seven- or eight-hundred-year Spirit Beast?"
Bai Mu replied, "Too low."
Her smile stiffened slightly.
"Don't tell me… nine hundred years?"
"Still too low."
"You're not saying a thousand-year Spirit Beast, are you?!"
Shui Yun Xin stopped laughing altogether.
"Child, don't be foolish! Recklessly absorbing a high-age spirit ring can make your body explode!"
"You're already a genius—there's absolutely no need to risk your life just to gain a few hundred extra years."
"Don't worry, Aunt Shui. I'm not someone who doesn't know his limits."
Bai Mu said calmly.
"I won't take risks for a mere few hundred years."
"That's good…"
Just as Shui Yun Xin relaxed, Bai Mu continued, utterly serious:
"I plan to hunt a five-thousand-year Mirror Shadow Beast."
"What?!"
Everyone was stunned.
A level 20 Spirit Master absorbing a 5,000-year spirit ring?
That was an age limit only a level 40 Spirit Elder could even consider!
"Are you certain?"
Shui Yun Xin asked gravely.
"Don't act recklessly."
Shui Bing'er tightly grabbed Bai Mu's arm, trying to calm him down.
"Bai Mu—Brother Mu—this joke really isn't funny."
Even the usually carefree Shui Yue'er turned serious.
"Don't worry. I never do things I'm not confident about."
Bai Mu smiled reassuringly.
"The opportunity I obtained before greatly strengthened my physique, and…"
He hesitated for a moment, then decided to share something important.
"I once read in ancient texts that Whale Glue, when softened at high temperatures and consumed, can significantly strengthen a Spirit Master's body, increasing the maximum age of spirit rings they can absorb."
"For the past six months, I've been earning money specifically to buy Whale Glue. Absorbing a five-thousand-year spirit ring won't be a problem for me at all."
"Whale Glue? What's that?"
"I've never heard of it."
Shui Yue'er and Shui Bing'er both looked at Shui Yun Xin blankly.
"Whale Glue… that messy stuff actually has such an effect?"
Shui Yun Xin's cheeks flushed slightly.
She didn't explain further to her daughters and instead looked straight at Bai Mu.
"I'll buy some later and test it myself. If it's not true, I absolutely won't allow you to absorb a thousand-year spirit ring."
Bai Mu reminded her gently,
"Aunt Shui, for you… it might take ten-thousand-year Whale Glue to have any effect."
"Ten-thousand-year?!"
Shui Yun Xin sucked in a sharp breath.
If Whale Glue of that age were given to a bull, if it didn't explode on the spot, it would probably plow the ground until it collapsed.
Of course, the bull might collapse too.
"Don't worry. I know what I'm doing."
She steadied herself and asked,
"Do you have a place to stay in the city? There's an empty small courtyard outside the academy's east gate. It's quiet—you can stay there for now."
"Yes, yes!"
Shui Yue'er nodded enthusiastically.
"That courtyard is really close to the academy, and there's a hot spring connected to it! You can soak and relax after cultivating!"
"Then I won't be polite."
Bai Mu accepted this time.
And so, he settled down.
He entered a steady, disciplined routine of cultivation.
Every morning at dawn, he took Zygarde up a small hill to bask in the sunlight and begin cultivating.
He wouldn't even eat—once he started, he would cultivate for the entire day.
Unlike his previous Sunlight Meditation Method, he now not only guided solar energy to temper his spirit power, but also used the experience he gained from consuming the Qi Rong Tong Tian Chrysanthemum and Whale Glue to refine his physical body with violent solar energy.
Even if he never consumed another Heaven-and-Earth Treasure again, his physique would continue to grow stronger.
It sounded simple, but in reality, it was extremely dangerous.
Solar energy was violently intense—any slight mistake could burn his meridians and cause irreversible damage.
If not for his newly formed Indestructible Vajra Body and the constant support of Jungle Healing, Bai Mu would never have dared to attempt something like this.
He gave this new cultivation method a name—
Great Sun Contemplation Method