Thinking about it, everything made sense.
In Slaughter City, spirit abilities were sealed and could not be used at all. Cultivation was equally impossible.
After every battle, one still had to remain vigilant against those fallen beings who lurked in the city, waiting for a chance to launch sneak attacks. Exhausted both physically and mentally, one could only return to their room, wash up, and collapse into sleep. There was simply no extra time—or energy—for cultivation.
Under such conditions, spirit power could only grow naturally through constant combat and survival.
---
Slaughter Domain: Increases the user's aura. Within the domain, enemies are automatically weakened by ten percent, while the user can exert one hundred and ten percent of their full strength.
Moreover, the Slaughter Domain could continue to evolve.
But its growth required one thing—slaughter.
At its peak, the amplification could reach twenty percent.
For a Spirit Master, this was unquestionably a terrifying ability.
Yin Zhang felt genuinely pleased. Since Hu Liena had been grounded by Bibi Dong during these days, this was the perfect opportunity to properly accompany Qian Gu Yunying and help her recover from the tense, oppressive state she had endured in Slaughter City.
In the original records, after Tang San left Slaughter City, he still needed to learn etiquette at Moon Pavilion to suppress the killing intent on his body. But for Qian Gu Yunying, things were far simpler.
Within the Hall of Worship, Qian Daoliu's Seraphim Spirit was more than capable of accomplishing this.
All it required was for Qian Daoliu to mobilize his spirit power and spirit—nothing more.
To others, such a request might sound like pure fantasy.
But for Qian Gu Yunying, it wasn't an issue at all.
Her two grandfathers were themselves the Seventh and Eighth Consecrated Elders. Even setting aside Yin Zhang's teacher, Golden Crocodile Douluo, she had practically grown up under the watchful eyes of the Spirit Hall's Consecrated Elders. Though they rarely interacted closely, they all knew her and held her in good regard.
Using a bit of spirit power to help her cleanse her aura was the easiest thing in the world.
Naturally, Qian Daoliu would not refuse.
---
"Hm, I gained quite a few opportunities during this trip," Yin Zhang said with a smile. "I wanted to tell you about them. After that, even in terms of spirit power rank, I'll be higher than you. If you run into any trouble in the future, just come to me."
He gently took Qian Gu Yunying's slender hand and sat down beside her.
The moment their hands touched, Yin Zhang could feel it clearly.
The muscle density in Qian Gu Yunying's body had increased significantly. It was obvious she had mastered a far deeper understanding of her Flame Plundering Spear. A faint yet sharp spear intent constantly flowed along the surface of her body.
Qian Gu Yunying smiled and explained:
"When I was in Slaughter City, I met someone who was extremely skilled with the spear. I learned from his techniques and guided the spear intent within my body outward. Now, even without summoning my martial soul, I can condense spear intent on my body's surface to form a Flame Plundering Spear and fight with it. It's quite effective."
As she finished speaking, Yin Zhang's eyes lit up.
This reminded him of an animated series he had watched before transmigrating—Fox Spirit Matchmaker.
In it, Wangquan Wumu condensed his sword intent into the Wangquan Sword, an existence of terrifying power.
Now, Qian Gu Yunying had reached a similar stage.
This was undoubtedly a major breakthrough on the path of the spear.
As her boyfriend, Yin Zhang was genuinely happy for her.
"Sister Yunying, congratulations," Yin Zhang said sincerely. "You've taken another step forward on the path of the spear. In the entire Douluo Continent, you should already be the Spirit Master with the deepest understanding of spear techniques, right?"
Qian Gu Yunying chuckled and waved her hand lightly.
"Not necessarily. I still need to visit Yang Wudi, the head of the Yang Family. His spear techniques are the best in the entire clan—and he's also the Spirit Master with the most exquisite spear skills on the entire continent. I want to challenge him using only spear intent and see who truly stands higher."
Yin Zhang smiled and didn't comment further.
He pulled Qian Gu Yunying gently into his arms and began recounting everything he had experienced over the past few months—the various opportunities he had encountered, and even his meetings with more than one hundred-thousand-year spirit beast.
Qian Gu Yunying was stunned.
When she heard that Yin Zhang had killed an eighty-thousand-year Crimson Flame Roaring Tiger and a hundred-thousand-year Scarlet Flame Roaring Tiger Emperor that had already transformed into human form, she was utterly shocked.
Thinking back, those spirit beasts had once escaped the encirclement of two Title Douluo-level experts—yet they were now slain just like that.
And from Yin Zhang's description, everything had gone smoothly.
Qian Gu Yunying couldn't help feeling both fortunate and regretful.
While Yin Zhang had lived such a vibrant, eventful life, she had missed it all—spending months immersed in nothing but blood and slaughter in Slaughter City.
Fortunately…
Because of Yin Zhang's gift—
She let out a soft, helpless sigh.
Yin Zhang was just about to ask what was wrong when a system panel suddenly appeared before his eyes.
---
[Qian Gu Yunying has returned from Slaughter City. The blood and killing aura on her body is too heavy and requires quiet refinement.]
[Triggered choices:]
[Option One: Help Qian Gu Yunying wash away the blood and killing aura on her body.]
[Reward: Fifty-thousand-year age limit spirit ring upgrade card]
[Option Two: Ignore it and allow Qian Gu Yunying to slowly wear it off herself.]
[Reward: Fifty-thousand-year age limit upgrade card]
[Option Three: …]
Yin Zhang glanced over it quickly.
The rewards were the same—both offered a fifty-thousand-year age limit upgrade card.
And the task itself was simple.
The first option didn't even require him to personally do anything. All he needed was to bring Qian Gu Yunying to Qian Daoliu and let him cleanse the blood and killing aura from her body.
Yin Zhang muttered inwardly, "System, I choose the first option."
---
[Congratulations, Host. Choice completed successfully.]
[Reward: Fifty-thousand-year age limit upgrade card has been deposited into the System Warehouse.]
[Host]: Yin Zhang
[Age]: 15
[Martial Soul]: Charizard
[Spirit Power]: 75
[Spirit Rings]:
Black, Black, Black, Black, Black, Black, Black
[Special Traits]: Blaze, Hard Claw
[Spirit Abilities]:
Dragon Claw, Double Team, Azure Flame Shield (Spirit Ring), Flamethrower, Fire Dragon Evasion Kill (Spirit Ring), Dragon Tail, Crimson Flame Roar (Spirit Ring), Solar Beam, Mirror Move, Roost, Fire Dragon Flying Slash (Spirit Ring), Dragon God Transformation (Bloodline Spirit Ability), Dragon Rush, Dragon Meteor, Outrage, Mental Storm, Golden Python Flow, Teleportation, Paragon Golden Body
[Spirit Bones]:
Fire Wing Dragon Palm Bone (68,000 years): Storage, Phantom, Dragon Might
100,000-Year Soft Bone Rabbit Left Arm Bone: Paragon Golden Body, Teleportation
100,000-Year Scarlet Flame Roaring Tiger Emperor Spine Bone: Blazing Dragon Emperor God Claw, Dragon Emperor Strangulation
[Domain]: Fire Dragon Domain
[Items]:
Charcoal (Amplification), Holy Grail (Equipment), Charizard X Mega Stone (Equipment), Famous Sword Siming (Equipment Item), Overlord Reboot (Equipment Item), Keystone (Amplification Item)
[Warehouse]:
Black Tortoise Bead, Hundred-Thousand-Year Spirit Beast Detection Bracelet, Spirit Ring Collection Bottle (100,000-Year Soft Bone Rabbit Spirit Ring), Fifty-Thousand-Year Age Limit Upgrade Card
---
Qian Gu Yunying spoke softly once more:
"Xiao Zhang…"