Chapter 307: First Spirit Ring
Another week passed, and at last, Ling Yuan returned. During those two weeks, everyone had trained diligently, devoting themselves to mastering the cultivation techniques Dave had provided. Each member of the group had achieved a solid foundational grasp of their respective methods, and their progress was clearly evident. They frequently sparred to test their growth, and their battle instincts had sharpened significantly—enhanced even further by the combat arts granted through their bonds with the Genshin Impact characters.
Dave, for instance, had unlocked a portion of the Kamisato Art thanks to his connection with Kamisato Ayato. Specifically, he had gained access to the first stage known as Murabashi, which comprised three key techniques—Five Rapid Strikes, an Iaido-style Slash, and a Jumping Plunging Strike.
Perhaps due to their current limitation at level 10, the others had similarly only unlocked the first stage of their linked characters’ unique battle arts. Still, the difference it made in their performance was undeniable.
After Ling Yuan’s return, Dave explained how to properly consume the two rare items they had obtained. With her assistance, they processed the whale gum and the ice crystal marrow, fusing them into a gelatinous, jelly-like substance. This combined form was essential—it was the only way to safely ingest the potent materials.
The whale gum on its own, while potent in mimicking the essence of a thousand-year-old spirit beast, carried a problematic aphrodisiac side effect. By fusing it with ice crystal marrow, the negative effect was neutralized, making the concoction safe to consume while retaining its full energy potential.
With Ling Yuan overseeing the process, each member took the essence mixture and began refining it within their bodies. Gradually, their skin began to alternate between flushes of red and blue—like fire and ice competing within their veins. Dark mist seeped from their pores as impurities were expelled. Despite the outward calm, Dave could sense the storm of energy inside them, though to an untrained eye, it looked subtle and controlled.
Their bodies trembled slightly under the internal strain, but they endured, channeling the energy and fortifying their foundations. After some time, the visible reaction diminished, and Dave silently checked on them, using spiritual sense to gauge their internal changes.
"They’ve progressed even more than I anticipated," he mused internally, though his gaze drifted back to Ling Yuan. There was still one crucial step ahead—obtaining their first spirit rings.
Ling Yuan reached out and gently took Dave’s hand, closing her eyes to examine the state of his internal body condition. Her brows furrowed slightly in concentration.
"Your body isn’t yet as refined as a Four-Ring Spirit Master," she noted, "but it’s already more robust than an average Spirit Master with three rings. You should be able to safely absorb a spirit ring up to 1,800 years old."