The roar of the Heavy Mountain Ape echoed through the valley.
The sound alone caused loose stones to tumble from nearby cliffs.
The spirit beast rose to its full height, its massive chest expanding as powerful muscles rippled beneath dark brown fur.
Crimson eyes locked onto the spirit masters surrounding it.
Instinct immediately told it danger had arrived.
The battle began without hesitation.
A yellow spirit ring beneath one of the veteran spirit masters ignited first.
Vines erupted from the earth.
They shot forward like living snakes, wrapping around the Heavy Mountain Ape’s legs.
The spirit beast roared again.
Its enormous arms flexed.
The vines shattered instantly.
The difference in physical strength was overwhelming.
Yet the attack had already served its purpose.
Another spirit master moved.
A streak of blue light crossed the battlefield.
Boom.
An explosion erupted against the ape’s shoulder.
The beast staggered slightly.
Not injured.
Merely annoyed.
The Heavy Mountain Ape suddenly grabbed a boulder larger than a human body and hurled it.
The projectile tore through the air.
Several younger spirit masters paled.
The speed was terrifying.
A veteran combat spirit master intercepted it immediately.
His martial soul activated.
A massive shield appeared before him.
Crash.
The boulder exploded into fragments.
Stone debris scattered across the valley.
Meanwhile, Lin Yuan remained near the rear of the formation.
Watching.
Learning.
This battle was ultimately for him, but charging forward recklessly would only create problems.
His task was simple.
Observe.
Wait.
Strike only when necessary.
The Heavy Mountain Ape was powerful.
Far more powerful than Wang Lie had ever been.
Every movement carried tremendous force.
Every attack could easily kill an ordinary person.
Yet despite its strength, the spirit beast was being steadily pushed back.
Not because it was weak.
Because teamwork existed.
Spirit masters attacked in coordinated waves.
One restricted movement.
Another created openings.
A third delivered damage.
Years of experience transformed individual strength into collective power.
Lin Yuan paid careful attention.
Combat wasn’t always about overwhelming force.
Sometimes it was about efficiency.
The Heavy Mountain Ape roared and slammed both fists into the ground.
Boom.
The earth shook violently.
Cracks spread outward.
Several spirit masters were forced backward.
One younger member nearly lost balance.
The ape instantly noticed.
Like all experienced predators, it targeted weakness.
The massive spirit beast charged.
Its speed surprised everyone.
Despite its enormous size, it moved like a landslide.
Fast.
Relentless.
The younger spirit master froze.
Fear filled his eyes.
Then— Han Feng appeared.
The wolf spirit master intercepted the charge head-on.
His second spirit ring illuminated.
A gray wolf phantom emerged behind him.
Boom.
His fist collided with the Heavy Mountain Ape’s arm.
The impact echoed throughout the valley.
Han Feng was thrown backward several meters.
The ape also stumbled.
Neither side gained a clear advantage.
Yet the younger spirit master had been saved.
Lin Yuan watched carefully.
Han Feng wasn’t stronger than the spirit beast physically.
But he understood timing.
Positioning.
Responsibility.
A genuine combat spirit master protected allies as much as he defeated enemies.
The battle continued.
Minutes passed.
Gradually, signs of fatigue began appearing on the Heavy Mountain Ape.
Several wounds covered its body now.
Blood stained parts of its fur.
Its breathing grew heavier.
Yet its eyes remained fierce.
It refused to surrender.
Lin Yuan felt an unexpected sense of respect.
The spirit beast knew it was losing.
Still, it continued fighting.
Not out of pride.
Not out of anger.
Simply because survival demanded it.
Eventually, Xu Mingshan moved.
Until now, the vice hall master had merely observed.
The moment he stepped forward, the atmosphere changed.
Powerful spirit rings rose around him one after another.
The spirit pressure alone stunned several younger members.
The Heavy Mountain Ape sensed danger instantly.
It tried to retreat.
Too late.
Xu Mingshan raised one hand.
Silver light flashed.
The surrounding air seemed to solidify.
The ape froze.
Its movements became sluggish.
A second later, multiple spirit skills struck simultaneously.
Boom.
Boom.
Boom.
The valley trembled.
When the dust settled, the Heavy Mountain Ape collapsed.
Silence followed.
The spirit beast still breathed.
Barely.
Xu Mingshan turned toward Lin Yuan.
“It’s time.” The words carried tremendous weight.
For years, Lin Yuan had cultivated.
For years, he had prepared.
Now the moment had arrived.
He slowly walked forward.
The Heavy Mountain Ape lay upon the shattered earth.
Its crimson eyes remained open.
No hatred.
No fear.
Only exhaustion.
For a brief moment, Lin Yuan stood before it.
The beast looked at him.
And somehow— He felt as though it understood.
Not the details.
Not the future.
Simply that its life was ending so another journey could begin.
Lin Yuan raised the dagger handed to him by one of the spirit masters.
His expression remained calm.
Then he struck.
The Heavy Mountain Ape’s body relaxed.
Life faded from its eyes.
A few moments later— A yellow spirit ring slowly rose above the corpse.
Golden light drifted through the valley.
Everyone became quiet.
This was a sacred moment for every spirit master.
The birth of a spirit ring.
Xu Mingshan looked toward him.
“Begin.” Lin Yuan nodded.
He sat cross-legged before the corpse.
The yellow spirit ring floated overhead.
Spirit power circulated through his body.
Then he reached out mentally.
The ring descended.
The moment contact occurred— Pain exploded throughout his body.
Every muscle tightened.
Every bone felt as though it were being crushed.
The Heavy Mountain Ape’s remaining will surged into him.
Pressure.
Weight.
Strength.
The beast’s entire existence seemed to crash against his consciousness.
Lin Yuan’s breathing became uneven.
Sweat appeared instantly across his forehead.
Nearby spirit masters watched carefully.
Nobody interfered.
This battle belonged to him alone.
Inside his mind, the pressure intensified.
The Heavy Mountain Ape’s strength attempted to overwhelm him.
Ordinary spirit masters often failed here.
Some suffered severe injuries.
A few even died.
Yet Lin Yuan possessed advantages others lacked.
Years of gravity refinement.
Years of mental training.
Years of enduring pain voluntarily.
His consciousness remained steady.
The Mental Battle Space activated instinctively.
Countless experiences reinforced his will.
The pressure continued increasing.
Then— Something unexpected happened.
Deep within his travel pack, the black fragment reacted.
Warmth spread from it.
A faint crimson glow escaped through the cloth.
Nobody noticed.
Everyone’s attention remained fixed on Lin Yuan.
Inside his consciousness, however, the effect was immediate.
The overwhelming pressure from the spirit ring suddenly stabilized.
Not weakened.
Controlled.
Like wild water being guided into a river.
At the same moment, the Asura Prison appeared.
Massive black chains emerged throughout his mental world.
The pressure from the Heavy Mountain Ape flowed directly into them.
Absorbed.
Refined.
Integrated.
Lin Yuan’s body trembled.
Spirit power surged.
The yellow spirit ring descended completely.
A brilliant light erupted around him.
The ground beneath his feet cracked.
Invisible pressure spread outward instinctively.
Several nearby spirit masters widened their eyes.
The sensation felt different now.
Heavier.
More complete.
More dangerous.
Minutes passed.
Then slowly— The light faded.
Lin Yuan opened his eyes.
The first thing he saw was Xu Mingshan watching him carefully.
The vice hall master smiled faintly.
“Congratulations.” Lin Yuan rose to his feet.
A yellow spirit ring emerged beneath him.
His first spirit ring.
At last.
He was no longer merely a Spirit Scholar.
He had officially become a Spirit Master.
And somewhere deep inside the Asura Prison, the first chain lock quietly opened.