C3 Father's Spirit Gathering Ring

Lu Yuanmo, seated at the head of the table, saw Du Si lunge at Lu Chen and swiftly leapt to his feet.

Despite being a formidable Soul Controlling Stage expert, the distance was too great for him to rescue Lu Chen instantly.

Is this it? As Du Si charged toward him, Lu Chen didn't show a hint of panic; instead, a slight smile played at the corner of his mouth.

He had just unlocked his meridians, boosting his strength to that of a Grade Four Spirit Disciple, but his body hadn't fully adjusted yet. Lu Chen was curious to test his own limits.

Du Si, at the Grade One Spirit Transforming Stage, was the perfect opponent to gauge those limits.

"I've been here for three days; it's about time I stretched my muscles!" Lu Chen declared, his right hand suddenly enveloped in golden threads as he stepped forward to meet Du Si's advance.

"Gold Chanting Spell, Golden Threads Inch Punch!"

This was the most potent technique from Lu Chen's past life, the Gold Chanting Spell!

Spiritual cultivators were ranked, and so were martial arts techniques, divided into different tiers.

The Gold Chanting Spell was a low-grade Earth-level technique. Du Si's technique, in contrast, didn't even qualify for a ranking.

The two were close, and in an instant, they clashed!

"Boom!"

A massive surge of Spirit Force Fluctuation erupted, sending the two figures flying apart. Du Si staggered back only half a step, while Lu Chen was driven back five or six steps until a warm, sturdy palm caught him.

Turning, Lu Chen saw Lu Yuanmo, his face so dark with anger it seemed it could drip.

He was a Soul Controlling Stage expert, a patriarch of one of the four great families. The thought of a mere butler from the Du family bullying his son was infuriating.

"In a spar between peers, the stronger should emerge. But an elder's interference sours the spirit of the contest!"

"Butler Du, you owe an explanation for your actions!" Lu Yuanmo's voice was firm, his Soul Controlling Stage presence emanating from within.

The gap between the Soul Controlling Stage and the Spirit Transforming Stage was vast, and as Lu Yuanmo's aura unfurled, Du Si snapped out of his fury.

Lu Chen was, after all, the son of Lu Yuanmo. Despite Lu Yuanmo's reputation for being mild-mannered, he was undeniably a formidable Soul Controlling Stage expert. My actions earlier were tantamount to delivering a resounding slap to Lu Yuanmo.

Each step Lu Yuanmo took toward Du Si amplified the oppressive feeling weighing down on him. When Lu Yuanmo stepped in to shield Lu Chen and approached Du Si,

Du Si was shaking uncontrollably, barely able to stand. His back was soaked with sweat despite the winter chill. The overwhelming presence of the Soul Controlling Stage was more than a minor Spirit Transforming Stage practitioner like him could handle!

"Dad, I'm okay!"

Just then, Lu Chen's voice cut through the tension. Lu Yuanmo turned to see his son standing in the hall, his face impassive, as if Du Si's blow had never touched him.

How resilient was this kid? Lu Yuanmo was inwardly taken aback to see Lu Chen unharmed. The gap between the Spirit Transforming Stage and a Grade Four Spirit Disciple was vast, akin to the disparity between a stumbling toddler and a vigorous young adult.

How could a toddler possibly withstand the wrathful blow of a youth? With this in mind, Lu Yuanmo regarded Lu Chen, now a young man of fifteen or sixteen, at the cusp of his potential. His youthful face bore traces of naivety, yet it was marked by a budding valor he had not seen before.

Sigh!

Lu Yuanmo let out a soft sigh. Lu Chen, his youngest, had been overlooked by him for far too long.

"Hmph, considering my son's injuries are minor, I'll let this incident slide. However, this python bull pill will serve as compensation for my son's troubles!"

Lu Yuanmo was well aware of the Du family's current influence and knew better than to escalate the situation. With Lu Chen unscathed, it was preferable to keep the peace. After all, Lu Chen's potential for cultivation was now his primary concern.

"Thank you, Patriarch Lu, and thank you, Young Master Lu Chen!"

Fully alert now, Du Si heard Lu Yuanmo's decision to drop the matter. He quickly nodded and bowed, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, then turned and, without a second glance at the offered python bull pill, he and the still-stunned Du Dahai made a hasty retreat.

"Just wait, Lu Chen, I'll make you pay with the Moon God River Purification!"

Clutching his swollen face, Du Dahai spat out a venomous threat before slinking away with Du Si.

Lu Chen merely chuckled and turned to leave, unfazed. In his past life, none of those he had bested had ever made a comeback.

As the assembly in the hall dispersed, glances of respect were cast towards Lu Chen.

"Chen, a moment!"

Lu Yuanmo's voice halted Lu Chen's departure.

No sooner had Lu Chen paused than Lu Yuanmo's hand rested on his shoulder, and a surge of pure Spirit Force flooded into Lu Chen's chest.

"Strong Spirit Veins, profound Spirit Force. You're a Grade Four Spirit Disciple, yet nearly at the level of Grade Five!"

Lu Yuanmo's smile grew as he inquired with a touch of curiosity:

"Chen, you were once deemed incapable of cultivation due to your crippled meridian. How is it that you can suddenly cultivate?"

Lu Chen offered a wry smile, knowing it was his turn to speak.

"Yes, Father. Some days ago, I was bested and knocked unconscious. Upon waking, I discovered my blocked Spirit Vein had miraculously opened!"

He had his story ready, for the truth was not something he could share with Lu Yuanmo—it was too fantastical, and unlikely to be believed.

"Really? Such a thing happened?" Lu Yuanmo's brow furrowed. He was aware of Lu Chen's beating, but had assumed it was just another result of Lu Chen's mischief, not warranting his concern.

But to think, in just three days, Lu Chen had gone from a nobody to a Grade Four Spirit Disciple? When had such advancement become so trivial?

Sensing Lu Yuanmo's silence, Lu Chen knew the reason but struggled to elaborate. Instead, he respectfully bowed and said,

"Father, if there's nothing further, I shall proceed with my cultivation."

"Hold on, there's no rush. Remember, laying a solid foundation is paramount. Don't overreach!"

After finishing his words, Lu Yuanmo reached into his pocket and pulled out a cloth bag, tossing it to Lu Chen with a casual flick of his wrist.

"Every cultivator needs their fair share of heavenly treasures. I recently acquired a Spirit Gathering Ring from the Treasure Pavilion. Go on, take it!"

Lu Chen accepted the bag and peered inside. Nestled within was a silver ring, its surface adorned with an oval green gemstone. A wave of warmth surged through him at the sight.

Crafted from the intact root of a century-old Spirit Gathering Grass and encased in Spirit Liquid, the ring fetched a price of thirty thousand gold coins—a substantial sum even for the affluent Lu family, whose annual income barely reached a few hundred thousand.

A Soul Controlling Stage master like Lu Yuanmo had little use for such aids; his meditation alone could outpace the ring's benefits. Clearly, this gift was meant for Lu Chen.

"Dad, I..." Lu Chen began, the words catching in his throat. Despite being Lu Yuanmo's son, he carried the pride of a Grade Nine Spirit Emperor from his past life. His previous deference was born of circumstance and gratitude, but he knew that once his power was sufficient, he would leave the Lu family without a second thought.

Yet, Lu Yuanmo's actions today had touched something deep within Lu Chen, who had known only the life of an orphan before. He felt an unfamiliar emotion stirring within him.

"There's no need for words. The family's resources are there to be utilized, and you're merely claiming what was owed to you," Lu Yuanmo interjected, anticipating his son's sentiment. He gestured dismissively and continued, "Now that your Spiritual Vein is open, find some time to visit the elder in the back mountain. I'll leave you to it."

With that, Lu Yuanmo turned and strode away, his steps lighter than before, as if he had shed an invisible weight.

Lu Chen exhaled softly, contemplating the intricate web of karma. Severing such ties, he mused, surely required strength of its own.

He then focused inward, gauging the robustness of the Spirit Force within him.

Grade Four Spirit Disciple!

Merely by opening his meridians, Lu Chen had transformed from a common mortal devoid of Spirit Force into a warrior of considerable prowess. The ordeal of awakening his meridians was indeed formidable.

As the old adage reminds us, "One must eat their meal one bite at a time," the same principle applies to cultivation. The initial opening of the meridians may indeed be a daunting process, but it's a phase that only occurs at the beginning. Afterward, cultivation must proceed methodically, advancing gradually through the levels. It's time to double down on our training!