Chapter 61 - 61: Phantasmal Black Panther

Within the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, a fight between a beast and several youths was going on.

*Rawr!*

"Nice kitty... Don't you f.u.c.k.i.n.g scratch my face again you hear me!" Dai Mubai quickly said as he evaded a black giant claw passing by his terrified face.

"What the f.u.c.k did I just say damn it?!" Dai Mubai angrily said as his first yellow spirit ring lit up and a layer of white light covered his body, increasing both his defense and strength.

*Growl!*

A beast, least 1.8 meters tall, stood in front of Dai Mubai. Its body is as big as a panther. As its skin and fur looked as if it were made from darkness itself. While the limbs are as thin as human a.d.u.l.t t.h.i.g.hs, with all four of it's claws was so sharp that it could easily cut through iron.

This spirit beast is a two thousand year old Phantasmal Black Panther. A spirit beast known for it's great speed, evasion and having one of the rare elemental attributes in the world, darkness.

It's small beady yellow eyes was locked on Dai Mubai's form for a moment, letting out a beastly growl, before looking around to find itself surrounded.

Every students of Shrek had it cornered in every direction, with all of their spirits and spirit rings out as they watched the movements of the Phantasmal Black Panther.

Excessive? Yes. Though in doing so, their guards are up and ready to retaliate any attacks from the Phantasmal Black Panther or any other spirit beasts in that given matter in the area, if they decided to sneak attacked them.

Though that wouldn't be really needed as a certain bear sage was standing back behind the students, acting as their guardian for any attack from spirit beasts beyond their level.

This was strange though. Now normally after that life scarring event of meeting the terrifying spirit beast king of Star Dou Great Forest, anyone would have already been gone now.

Sadly, one of the two tasks the Shrek members has in this forest wasn't completed yet.

"Boss Dai! Remember, don't kill the spirit beast, that's for Oscar!" Xiao Yan, with his Heavy Xuan Ruler on hand, said towards Dai Mubai, quickly reminding him again of their mission so they could go home.

"I know! Don't keep reminding me dammit!" Dai Mubai replied, irritated as he slowly moved his body towards the spirit beast, intending to grapple it in his arms.

Though how are they to be blame? Just several hours within the forest and they found themselves confronted by the freaking forest king, the Great Titan Ape!

Finding spirit beasts is easy within a wild spirit beast forest, but finding a suitable spirit beast for a food system spirit master? It takes more than several hours just to find one, they got to be lucky to find one under a day.

Needless to say, Xiao Yan was shocked. But considering the changes already done in this world, his shock lessened.

'Did me and Ma Xiaotao's slight stop with the group caused the meet up with the Dragon Duke and Serpent Grandmother, otherwise known as the Unrivaled Dragon Serpent, to not happened? The two are a married couple and are known to have a Spirit Fusion ability called the Serpent Dragon Joint Assault, that even Titled Douluos would be careful in confronting the pair.' Xiao Yan thoughts wandered as he think about the implications of the divergence of the story once more.

'Flame Emperor didn't f.u.c.k.e.d with canon, I did as well when I lit the determination up of both Tang San and Xiao Wu and helped them with their cultivation pace. It's totally official, I can't count on most of the information that I have anymore. Whatever, I'll just make my own path along with my friends.' Xiao Yan shook his head and focused at the task in hand.

Capturing the spirit beast in front of him.

Now, anyone might be wondering why they chose this particular spirit beast for Oscar's third spirit ring, despite it going over the optimal spirit ring configuration, well, it was Xiao Yan's idea.

He had chose this particular spirit beast for Oscar's third spirit ring because for it's speed. The Phantasmal Black Panther is infamous for both it's monstrous speed and ferocity, but mostly it's speed.

Even at a thousand years of age, it can outrun a speed system spirit king! The reason why it was cornered by the Shrek students is because Tang San's poison and toxin paralysis from his spirit, Blue Silver Grass, had already invaded the Phantasmal Black Panther's system.

They'd been chasing this spirit beast for an entire hour and the affects of Tang San's paralysis had already taken its effects.

As for the issue of Oscar's body and mind not being able to take it, well big bro Xiao Yan got his back.

To be frank, Xiao Yan's glad that Oscar didn't get the Phoenix Tail Crest Serpent from canon. Why? Well it's only use was for anyone to eat Oscar's third spirit ring ability, the mushroom sausage, to fly for only 1 minute with the speed of a Phoenix Tail Crest Serpent.

That spirit ring ability is amazing without a doubt. As food system spirit masters would have that kind of spirit ring ability when they get their sixth spirit ring but even then, it wouldn't be as fast as Oscar's.

But here's the problem, Xiao Yan got a technique, and few others, that he would soon share with the others that can make them fly indefinitely as long as they have spirit power.

What Xiao Yan's talking about was a special energy control and manipulatipn that makes the user grow wings on their back's and let them fly, it was a special ability for certain people when they reached a certain level of power in Flame Emperor's old life. (1)

So really, that canon's Oscar third spirit ring ability is practically useless for them as Xiao Yan already has flight technique for them.

When they get this spirit beast for Oscar's third spirit ring, Xiao Yan is sure that it would be an increased in speed and a small probability of getting a darkness like attribute bonus skill set.

Combined that spirit ability with the flight technique Xiao Yan would give them, it's practically a more awesome version than the canon Oscar's third spirit ring ability.

'Truthfully I wanted a pink panther for Oscar's third spirit ring ability but oh well. I guess we'll go for the king, may he rest in peace.' After giving a silent prayer for a certain king, Xiao Yan unsummoned his Heavy Xuan Ruler and activated his second spirit, the Fire Dragon King.

Darkish-red scales replaced most of Xiao Yan's human skin, he grew taller by about several inches and his body seemed to be a bit more bulkier. His teeth jagged, pupils turned into slits, and his nails turned into claws.

Strangely, two red golden rings appeared behind Xiao Yan's back. Surprising the others around him at the sudden new addition of a spirit ring to his second spirit.

Ma Xiaotao was more surprised than the others, after all, she's been with Xiao Yan most of the time since they've gotten here and she's never seen him hunt another spirit beast for his second spirit.

'Did that strange second spirit ring come from his second spirit?' Ma Xiaotao theorized but then shook her head and decided to think about it later. As another thought entered her mind, and it's about the strange glances she's been getting from Xiao Yan.

As someone who's used to people giving her some certain looks due to her figure, Ma Xiaotao knew that those glances that she's been getting from Xiao Yan was different.

It was like he wanted to talked to her about something very important but was undecided to do so.

'Hm. I'll talk to him later on about it.' Ma Xiaotao decided.

Unknown to Xiao Yan, a woman's intuition to things about a man was so terrifying, that he didn't have to come and talk to her. Because she would be the one to do so.

*Growl!*

The Phantasmal Black Panther growled more widely than ever as it sensed the sudden spiked of danger coming from the dragonian human.

Xiao Yan decided to use his newly unlocked second bloodline spirit ring at the Phantasmal Black Panther to test out his new bloodline spirit ring's ability.

He would have like to used his Heavy Xuan Ruler's third spirit ring ability to test it out as well, but, the resulting aftermath of using it was too devasting and awesome for him to use it anywhere near his friends.

Xiao Yan's second red golden spirit ring shone in a crimson light and a sudden oppressive pressure was brought down upon the shocked Phantasmal Black Panther, who now struggled to stand.

[Second Bloodline Spirit Ring Ability: Fire Dragon King's Might]: Oppressing those with beast related spirits, and spirit beasts as well, and giving them debuffs of 50% decreased in strength, defense, speed, spirit power, fire resistance and lightning resistance. While amplifying Xiao Yan with 100% increased in strength, defense, speed and spirit power.

The Phantasmal Black Panther had been chased after, and tired out, by the Shrek members for an entire hour that it was far from it's prime state.

Now with the suppression of bloodline and given debuffs by Xiao Yan, still surrounded by spirit masters, the Phantasmal Black Panther didn't have any choice but surrender it's fate.

Seeing this chance, Dai Mubai didn't hesitate to grapple the spirit beast with his two big arms around its neck.

Feeling that the Phantasmal Black Panther was no longer moving, DainMubai looked towards Oscar and shouted.

"Little O, now!" Oscar nodded his head like a pecking chicken and quickly he rushed towards the Phantasmal Black Panther neck with a dagger, courtesy of Tang San, and killed it.

The Phantasmal Black Panther struggled wildly for a few moments, the life on its eyes quickly vanishing, until finally, it completely stopped moving.

Purple energy came out of the spirit beast's body and condensed on top of it's carcass, a two thousand year old spirit ring appeared.

Everyone let out sighs of relief and celebrated with each other. Hunting that spirit beast was tedious after all.

Letting a deep breath out of his mouth, Oscar smiled for a moment before turning towards Xiao Yan with a worried expression.

Oscar asked.

"Xiao Yan, are you sure I would be able to absorbed this spirit ring?"

Xiao Yan, deactivating his FDK(Fire Dragon King) spirit, smiled confidently and gave a double thumbs up at Oscar.

"Don't worry Oscar, leave it all to big bro Xiao Yan."

'I'm older than you by a year though!' Oscar inwardly complained.

Xiao Yan's storage ring lit up and two pills appeared on his hand.

One is pure milky white in color while the other is a glossy pink.

"This here is a tier 3 Mental Strength Pill. It would temporarily raised your spiritual power by an entire tier above, hence making your mind capable of handling the burst of spirit power from the spirit ring."

Then he raised the second, and explained.

"Then this here, is also tier pill called the Physical Strength Pill. It would temporarily empowered you body to handle the strain from the spirit ring's amount of spirit power."

"When you completely absorbed the spirit ring, the after effects of the two pills would helped condensed the remnants of spirit power within the spirit ring to refined and changed your external and internal body to fit its usage."

"This, Oscar, is how you absorbed a spirit ring above the optimal configuration set."

Everyone, except Zhao Wuji, Tang San, Xiao Wu and Xun Er, turned silent but their eyes was set on the two pills on Xiao Yan's hands.

'If we eat this pills, then does that mean we would be able to absorb ten thousand year spirit rings without any repercussions...' A certain light entered their eyes.

As if knowing what were their thinking, Tang San shook his head and said.

"I suggest you all only eat one of each pills every once in a while as it would damage your foundations and destroy your futures."

Hearing Tang San's words, everyone's heads cooled down.

Xiao Yan nodded and further explained.

"Tang San's right. You can only take these two pills every once in a while and I would strongly suggest to not eat these again when absorbing a spirit ring above your own limits after already doing so once. Got it?" Seeing them nod in understanding, Xiao Yan continued. " Good, after all, these pills are merely external factors and not something to be reliant about. What true strength and power truly is, comes from oneself. Sure you can depend on someone or something every once in a while, but in the end, you will always depend upon either yourself or your comrades. For that is how you survive and rise towards the peak of this world!"

Everyone was silent. They stared at Xiao Yan in silence before Xiao Wu started clapping with a completely gobsmacked face, saying.

*Clap* *Clap* *Clap*

"Holy shit bro, since when did you become so deep and teacher like?"

"Since 10 seconds ago. Now Oscar, eat these pills and let's go home. Cause I'm craving for some pies right about now."

....

"Hmm... The students should be back in a day or two." Flender muttered with a chuckle as he arranged a few scattered papers around him.

He was in his office, stamping some taxes and debts silently when he was interrupted.

*Knock* *Knock*

"Hm?" Flender raised an eyebrow as he looked towards his door, wondering on who could it be.

It was late afternoon and he was certain that he said that he wanted to be alone to his colleagues.

'I hope this is important.'

"Come in!" Flender said out loud.

As soon as he said that, the door opened and a unfamiliar man; wearing red a robe tied with a black sash, a necklace around his neck with a golden dragon ornament on it, walked in revealing a very handsome face in his early thirties. Long black over shoulders hair, black eyes that seemed familiar to Flender, he had a small smile on his face.(2)

Confused, Flender had both of his eyebrows raised and asked.

"You are...?"

The strange man tilted his head to the side and his smile turned into a grin that was strangely nostalgic to Flender.

He opened his mouth, and a voice that can only remind Flender of a certain friend of his, said.

"What? Flender, are you not going to welcome your old brother in all but blood?"

Flender stood up from his seat in shock

"X-Xiaogang?!"

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(1) In Flame Emperor's original world, or otherwise known as the Dou Qi Continent and BTTH, people whose cultivation reached Dou Wang or Dou King, will be able to form Dou Qi wings to fly in the sky and even draw Dou Qi from around themselves.

(2) Image but without the red umbrella and his eyes are black.