Oscar's Third Spirit Ring (2)
As Oscar stood against Yiran, a glimmer of confidence danced in his eyes. He knew that against any other opponent, his chances might have been lower, but against her, he felt a surge of confidence. With a silent acknowledgment between them, they braced themselves for the impending clash.
"Start!" Zhao Wuji's voice pierced the air, signaling the commencement of their duel. In a flurry of motion, Oscar swiftly consumed his Big Recovery Sausage, fortifying himself for the battle ahead.
As Yiran unleashed her Serpent Blades, coated in deadly poison, Oscar's instincts kicked in, his movements fluid and precise as he evaded the incoming onslaught. With a knowing smile, he observed the poison coating the blades, a detail he had anticipated.
With a skillful maneuver, Oscar created and took a bite of his Small Detoxifying Sausage, as he charged forward with confidence.
Conjuring another set of Serpent Blades, Yiran shot it toward him as she braced herself for the close combat.
Seeing the blades flying towards him, Oscar reacted with lightning-fast reflexes, he deflected the majority of Yiran's blades with his sword, his movements a blur of skill and precision. Seizing one of the venomous projectiles, he hurled it back towards Yiran, catching her off guard and forcing her into a panicked evasion.
Taking advantage of her momentary distraction, Oscar unleashed his movement technique, propelling himself forward with explosive speed. With a decisive tackle, he brought Yiran to the ground, his sword pressed against her neck in a silent declaration of victory.
But Yiran, undeterred by her predicament, challenged him defiantly. "You! How dare you touch my Serpent Blades with your hand. You're probably poisoned right now, so it's my win" she asserted confidently.
Unfazed, Oscar's smile remained "Your win? Unfortunately for you, I am not poisoned" he retorted with confidence.
Yiran's skepticism only grew. "What?! Hah, who do you think you're fooling? There's a cut on your hand, so there's no way you're not poisoned. If you concede defeat right now, I might just help you extract that poison" she countered, her tone dripping with disdain.
Realizing he needed to prove it to her, he calmly presented his Small Detoxifying Sausage to her, as he explained its effects. "My Second Spirit Ring Skill: Small Detoxifying Sausage, can grant me immunity to any type of poison for two minutes. However, it must be eaten beforehand, because unlike its name suggests it cannot detoxify poison that has already taken effect in the body prior to consumption" he explained patiently while maintaining eye contact with her.
"Wait, you're a Food-type spirit master?" Yiran asked in shock. Her eyes widened in surprise at the effect of his skill and the fact that he was an Auxiliary System spirit master. Serpent Grandmother also looked at Oscar with a glint in her eyes, clearly intrigued by this unexpected revelation. However, before she could voice her thoughts, Zhao Wuji interjected.
"Now that the battle is over, I must ask Serpent Grandmother to leave," Zhao Wuji stated calmly, a "warm" smile gracing his features.
Though visibly reluctant, Chao Tianxiang could only agree to Zhao Wuji's request. With a final warning directed, she departed, her words filled with ominous intent. "We will meet again, Acala" she threatened, to which Zhao Wuji simply grinned.
Shifting his attention to Oscar, Zhao Wuji's tone turned urgent. "Oscar, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and finish it off, then absorb the ring" he urged impatiently.
Taking Zhao Wuji's directive to heart, Oscar nodded resolutely. With a swift motion, he swiftly ended the creature's life, ensuring a swift and merciful death. As the purple ring floated towards him, he settled into a cross-legged position, ready to commence the absorption process.
Observing Oscar's absorption of the ring, Zhao Wuji signaled for everyone to take a moment to rest and prepare for the upcoming hunt for Ma Hongjun's spirit ring.
As everyone gathered together, enjoying the sausages that Oscar had prepared in advance, Sheng Jun broached the topic. "The last trace of the two-thousand-year-old Fire Spark Phoenix was seen in the Outer Area of the Great Star Dou Forest, not far from here. Unfortunately, my subordinates haven't been able to spot the Fire Spark Phoenix for quite some time. So, we can only try our luck and venture there to search for it ourselves" he informed the group.
Upon hearing Sheng Jun's words, nods of understanding rippled through the group as they waited patiently for Oscar to complete the absorption of the spirit ring.
Before long, Oscar's eyes fluttered open, a bright smile adorning his lips. Sensing his awakening, everyone congratulated him with genuine warmth. "Congratulations, Third Brother! You are now the fourth person in our group to achieve the Spirit Elder rank!" Dai Mubai exclaimed, offering a hearty pat on Oscar's shoulder. "By the way, what Spirit Ring Skill did you acquire this time?" he inquired, his curiosity piqued.
Eager to know the answer, the rest of the group turned their attention to Oscar, awaiting his response with keen interest.
Hearing Dai Mubai's words and feeling the expectant gazes of his companions, Oscar couldn't help but smile as he prepared to reveal his new Spirit Ring Skill. "When I was breaking through just now, my Heavenly Dao Sutra, which had been stuck on the third level, also reached the fourth level. As a result, my Third Spirit Ring Skill has evolved. It's better to show you guys directly," he explained.
However, as he was about to demonstrate, a hint of hesitation flickered across his expression. Sensing this, Dai Mubai offered a teasing encouragement. "We've already gotten used to your peculiar incantations. What are you so shy about?" he quipped, a trace of amusement lacing his tone.
Though Oscar acknowledged the truth in Dai Mubai's words, he couldn't help but feel a tad self-conscious. "Promise me you won't laugh, okay?" he requested earnestly before launching into his incantation. "I... your father, have a mushroom sausage!" he declared, focusing his energy as he invoked his Spirit Ring Skill.
The sight of a mushroom-like sausage with wings materializing in his hand elicited various reactions from the group. Sheng Jun's mouth twitched slightly in amusement, while Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun struggled to contain their laughter. However, Ma Hongjun's resolve crumbled first, unable to stifle his amusement as he erupted into laughter, followed closely by Dai Mubai.
As laughter filled the air, Oscar's expression tightened slightly, his forehead twitching in response. "Hmph, laugh all you want. Don't beg me to give you one later when you see its effects," he retorted, his tone laced with a hint of defiance as he glanced toward Dai Mubai.
Without further ado, Oscar consumed the sausage in one swift motion, its effects immediately manifesting. A pair of wings sprouted from his back, signaling the activation of his Spirit Ring Skill. However, his attempt to take flight ended in a comical crash against a nearby tree, much to the amusement of Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun.
Despite the laughter, Dai Mubai couldn't help but inquire, his curiosity piqued. "Third Brother, did you just try to fly just now?" he asked, observing the disheveled Oscar before him.
With a sheepish grin, Oscar nodded in affirmation, regaining his composure as he rose into the air with newfound ease. "That's right. My third Spirit Ring Skill is called the Swift Flight Mushroom Sausage. It grants the ability to fly for three minutes at the speed of the Phoenix Tail Crest Serpent. Additionally, it provides a 60% speed boost at this level," he explained proudly, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
As the implications of Oscar's new skill sank in, expressions of astonishment dawned on the faces of his companions. "At the speed of the Phoenix Tail Crest Serpent and for three minutes? Not to mention a 60% speed boost!" they exclaimed in disbelief, their voices tinged with admiration as they offered their congratulations to Oscar.
"Hehe, that's right, do you want to try it now?" Oscar asked with a mischievous grin, extending the sausage toward Dai Mubai.
"Of course!" Dai Mubai eagerly stepped forward, his eyes alight with excitement. With a swift gulp, he consumed the sausage, feeling the effects kick in almost immediately. Tentatively, he spread his wings and took flight, the sensation of soaring through the air exhilarating him.
Witnessing Dai Mubai's airborne antics, Zhao Wuji's interest was piqued, his eyes gleaming with curiosity. It had always been a dream of his to fly, and the prospect of experiencing it firsthand was too enticing to resist.
Sheng Jun, too, couldn't help but feel a twinge of yearning as he watched Dai Mubai soar through the sky. Though his Martial Soul bore avian traits, he had never experienced true flight himself. The opportunity to do so now seemed too tempting to pass up, as he walked towards Oscar ready to ask for the sausage.