Yin Zhang's second spirit ring came from a Fire-Scaled Armored Beast, aged 1,200 years.
He was extremely satisfied with his second Spirit Ability, which he named Fire Dragon Evasion Kill.
This was a rare lock-on Spirit Ability. Once activated, it would lock onto the target, envelop Yin Zhang's entire body in dense scale armor to massively boost his defense, and then have him dive down in a devastating strike that unleashed terrifying destructive power.
Back then, Yin Zhang had begged Ma Xiunuo for a long time before finally convincing him—reluctantly—to approve this spirit ring. In the end, the results were more than worth it.
After refining the thousand-year whale glue, Yin Zhang's physical constitution had improved dramatically. Although absorbing a thousand-year spirit ring while skipping ranks came with certain risks, he ultimately succeeded without any real danger.
On top of that, the surge of pure spirit power gained from the level-skipping absorption directly pushed his cultivation from Rank 20 to Rank 22.
---
"Brother Zhang, where have you been all week?" Xiao Chenyu asked anxiously when he saw Yin Zhang return to the dormitory. "Why are you only coming back now?"
Yin Zhang didn't hide anything. Sitting down on his bed, he replied calmly,
"It's no secret. I went to hunt for a spirit ring. The Spirit Beast was a bit rare, so I stayed in the Soul Hunting Forest for a few extra days. I only made it back to Nuoding City today."
Xiao Chenyu froze.
"Huh? A spirit ring?"
"Brother Zhang… weren't you only Rank 18 when school ended last semester?"
"Don't tell me—"
Yin Zhang smiled faintly and nodded.
"You guessed right. Over the past two months, my spirit power increased by another two ranks. After absorbing the spirit ring, I reached Rank 22."
"Rank 22?!"
Xiao Chenyu shouted without thinking, startling the students in Dormitory Two next door.
"Rank 22? Who is it—one of the teachers?!"
Liu Long gulped and stared in disbelief.
"Brother Zhang… is it really Rank 22?"
Yin Zhang smiled slightly. Showing off felt just that simple—and satisfying.
"Since you still don't quite believe it, I'll let you see for yourselves."
He summoned his Charizard Martial Soul.
Beneath him, one yellow and one purple spirit ring gleamed with an awe-inspiring brilliance.
The dragon scales covering his body looked thick and solid.
From his first spirit ring to the second, Yin Zhang had clearly noticed that after each Martial Soul possession, the dragon scales became tougher and tougher. To the touch, they felt smooth and flexible—but when struck, they were astonishingly hard.
It was easy to imagine that as Yin Zhang acquired more spirit rings, the defensive strength of his dragon scale armor would continue to rise, making him increasingly difficult to harm.
"A thousand-year second ring!"
The uproar in Dormitory One quickly spread to Dormitory Two.
Aside from reminding Xiao Chenyu and the others not to spread word of the thousand-year second ring too openly, Yin Zhang didn't bother hiding anything. It was only a matter of time before the truth came out anyway—being overly secretive would only raise suspicion.
---
Yu Xiaogang learned about Yin Zhang's second spirit ring—and the fact that it was a thousand-year ring—through Dean Zhang.
Recently, Yu Xiaogang had been deeply immersed in academic research, hoping to uncover some overlooked flaw or gap in existing theories that he could refine and publish, thereby restoring his reputation.
Much like how he had once compiled and published the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Souls using materials from the Spirit Hall's library.
"Xiaogang, you didn't know?" Dean Zhang said in surprise as he sipped his tea. "This news has already spread throughout the academy. I thought you'd heard about it long ago."
Yu Xiaogang sat down, looking dispirited, and shook his head.
"No. I've been focused on research lately and haven't paid attention to anything else."
Dean Zhang nodded.
"Even I can't fully grasp just how outstanding Yin Zhang's talent is. Less than a year after his Spirit Awakening, he advanced an entire major rank—and his second ring is a thousand-year one. That's unheard of."
Yu Xiaogang never imagined that Yin Zhang would deliver him such a massive shock.
Back when he learned that Yin Zhang's Spirit Awakening had been delayed by nearly a year, Yu Xiaogang had firmly believed that Yin Zhang was not truly Innate Full Soul Power.
According to his academic theories, once a Spirit Master reached a critical point and only lacked a spirit ring for a breakthrough, they could still continue cultivating even without absorbing one. The accumulated spirit power would all erupt at once after the ring was absorbed.
In other words, Yin Zhang's innate spirit power should not have been Rank 10.
It was only because of the one-year delay that Yin Zhang had raised his spirit power to Rank 10 during that period, thus appearing to possess Innate Full Soul Power.
But now, Yin Zhang had shattered that conclusion.
Doubt crept into Yu Xiaogang's heart—and once doubt took root, it was almost impossible to erase.
He staggered back to his office, shut the door, and slid down to sit against it on the dusty floor.
Were my decades of effort… ultimately right, or wrong?
---
Time marched on relentlessly, never pausing for anyone.
In the blink of an eye, two years passed like flowing water and falling petals.
Yin Zhang was now ten years old.
Over those two years, his spirit power increased at an average rate of three ranks per year.
Now, he stood at Rank 28.
As time went on, Yin Zhang's desire to enter the Spirit Hall only grew stronger.
His reputation in Nuoding City had also soared.
Everyone knew that Nuoding Academy housed a so-called "Child Prodigy"—someone who became a Spirit Grandmaster before the age of ten.
I need to join a major power as soon as possible, Yin Zhang thought.
If my fame spreads across the continent and some faction tries to forcefully recruit me, what then?
With that in mind, he left the academy and headed straight for the Spirit Hall.
[Detected that the host is facing a decision regarding staying or leaving. Triggered options as follows:]
[1. It's not a problem—I have protagonist plot armor. Stay at Nuoding Academy until graduation, then join Spirit Hall, only to be abducted by a certain sect whose strongest member is a Spirit Saint, and die while resisting.
Reward: Protagonist Halo (Charisma +1)]
[2. Run immediately. Nuoding Academy is too dangerous—throw yourself into the embrace of Spirit Hall as soon as possible.
Reward: Spirit Power +1 Rank]
[3. Bibi Dong will soon return from a hunt and pass through Nuoding City. Leave with her at that time.
Reward: Skill Disc (Dragon Tail)]
Yin Zhang didn't hesitate and chose the third option.
[Congratulations to the host for a successful selection. Reward: Skill Disc (Dragon Tail) has been placed in the warehouse.]
[Host]: Yin Zhang
[Age]: 10
[Martial Soul]: Charizard
[Spirit Power]: 28
[Spirit Rings]: Yellow, Purple
[Spirit Abilities]: Dragon Claw, Double Team, Azure Flame Shield, Flamethrower, Fire Dragon Evasion Kill
[Spirit Bone]: None
[Warehouse]: Skill Disc (Dragon Tail)
He immediately chose to use the Dragon Tail Skill Disc.
In the next instant, a surge of powerful energy flooded into his tail.
Charizard's tail was already a formidable weapon, but with this new Spirit Ability added, it was like giving wings to a tiger.
Later that day, Yin Zhang arrived at the Spirit Hall.
He smiled and greeted Su Yuntao before asking,
"Brother Su, where's Grandpa Ma Xiunuo?"
"Grandmaster Ma Xiunuo should be…" Su Yuntao replied with a smile.
Finding Ma Xiunuo, Yin Zhang let out a soft chuckle.
"Grandpa Ma Xiunuo…"