First Meeting with Qian Renxue

With his cultivation, he should not have allowed anyone to get so close.

It was only because his mind had been focused on Li Xun just now that he had let down his guard against his surroundings.

"Please do not take offense, Senior. My elder and I were merely passing through this place; we had no intention of spying." A golden-haired, fair-skinned girl with bright eyes and pearly teeth approached in small steps, appearing before Dugu Bo.

The girl was eighteen or nineteen, like a flower bud just about to bloom.

Though she still had room to grow.

Even so, her current appearance already revealed breathtaking beauty.

Behind the girl stood a burly Red-Haired Man. Clad in Golden Armor, he exuded a faintly domineering aura with every movement.

Dugu Bo's gaze turned cold as Soul Power surged within him. The nine Soul Rings beneath his feet began to pulse slowly.

This was Li Xun's most critical moment, yet these two had come so close.

If they harbored ill intentions, the consequences could be unimaginable.

Seeing Dugu Bo acting as if he faced a great enemy, Qian Renxue smiled. "Senior, please do not be anxious. My elder and I really were only passing through. If we truly had malicious intentions, we would not have waited until now."

As her words fell.

The burly Red-Haired Man behind Qian Renxue instantly revealed his Martial Soul. Beneath his feet appeared nine Soul Rings—two yellow, three purple, and four black.

This man was actually a Titled Douluo as well, though his Soul Ring configuration was not as perfect as Poison Douluo's.

He was missing one Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring.

Dugu Bo's heart tightened, and his expression gradually grew solemn. He glanced sideways at Li Xun's condition, then slowly retreated several steps, inching closer to Li Xun.

"Senior, do you believe us now?"

Qian Renxue smiled, then stopped paying attention to Dugu Bo.

Instead, she turned her gaze toward Li Xun.

My little Junior Brother is growing rather quickly.

Qian Renxue knew of Li Xun's talent, and she also knew that his Second Spirit Ring had been a Thousand-Year Spirit Ring.

She had been shocked at first.

But as time passed and they interacted more often, she had gradually gotten used to it.

Over the past two years, whenever Qian Renxue visited the academy, she mostly spoke with Li Xun and Ning Rongrong about the state of the continent and matters concerning Spirit Hall.

It was said to be conversation.

But her true purpose was merely to test the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's attitude toward Spirit Hall, as well as reshape the views of the next generation of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Fortunately, her efforts over the past two years had not been wasted. Li Xun and Ning Rongrong seemed to have lost their wariness toward Spirit Hall.

"Little Xue, that child is absorbing a Soul Ring beyond his level. Judging from the age of that Azure Vine, it should be close to six thousand years old," Pufferfish Douluo whispered to Qian Renxue, his eyes narrowing slightly.

He was utterly shocked.

To absorb a Spirit Beast nearing six thousand years as a Third Spirit Ring—even Little Xue, with her god-level Martial Soul, had not reached such a level at Rank 30.

Someone like this could no longer be called a genius.

He should be called a monster.

"What? Close to six thousand years?"

Qian Renxue's beautiful eyes narrowed as her gaze passed over Li Xun and fell upon the Azure Vine behind him.

Other than commoners, most Soul Masters used Thousand-Year Spirit Rings as their Third Spirit Rings. That was why she had not given it much thought when she saw Li Xun absorbing one.

However, most Soul Masters could only absorb Third Spirit Rings between fourteen hundred and seventeen hundred years old.

Even the exceptionally talented could at most reach around two thousand years.

No one on the continent had ever directly absorbed one exceeding the limit by four thousand years.

"A Thousand-Year Spirit Ring as his second, and one nearing six thousand years as his third. It seems I still underestimated this Junior Brother of mine." Qian Renxue withdrew her gaze and looked at Li Xun again.

If she remembered correctly, Li Xun was only ten years old this year.

With such cultivation speed, aside from her god-level Martial Soul, he was likely the fastest on the continent.

If I can make him work for me...

Qian Renxue's eyes lit up as the thought surfaced in her heart.

Dugu Bo had been watching the pair ever since, ready to strike at any moment.

However, a battle between Titled Douluos would affect Li Xun even through its aftershocks.

That was why he had held himself back.

When he saw the two whispering to each other, their eyes fixed intently on Li Xun.

His heart tightened.

He was already prepared to unleash his strongest skill and buy Li Xun time.

"Phew—"

The three remained locked in a standoff for an hour. Li Xun let out a breath of turbid air and slowly opened his eyes.

A Spirit Beast nearing six thousand years old had already exceeded the limit his body could withstand.

Fortunately, with the support of Chakra and his self-healing ability, he had managed to endure it. Otherwise, the energy might have burst his body apart or crippled him.

Even so, his condition was far from good. Fine wounds still covered his body.

These wounds healed extremely slowly, as though they had exceeded the limits of his self-healing ability. Even Chakra could do little.

I need to find a healing Soul Master when I get back...

Li Xun thought to himself.

Though the risk this time had been great, the gains were equally abundant. His Soul Power had now reached Rank 34.

He had also gained an active skill extension. As long as he had enough Soul Power, he could control plants and make them continuously extend outward.

His Second Spirit Ring's passive ability had also improved tremendously after absorbing the Azure Vine.

The Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum must have played a part in such a huge improvement as well.

Li Xun only sensed it briefly before turning his gaze toward the golden-haired girl and the Red-Haired Man.

When he saw nine Soul Rings shining beneath both the Red-Haired Man and Dugu Bo, he froze.

"Grandpa Dugu, what happened?"

"Kid, you finished absorbing it so quickly?"

Dugu Bo was startled by his words. He let out a long breath, and the solemn look on his face gradually eased. "These two say they were merely passing through."

Since Li Xun had finished absorbing the Soul Ring, he no longer needed to worry about anything.

Even if they fought, he had nothing to fear.

"Passing through?"

Enduring the pain, Li Xun slowly rose to his feet and walked to Dugu Bo's side. "Do you two have any other business here?"

A golden-haired girl with a Title Douluo at her side—Li Xun had already formed a vague guess.

However, everything that had happened between Tang San and Spirit Hall was merely a microcosm of this world.

It was still far from revealing the full scope of Douluo.

There was no ruling out the possibility of other unaffiliated Douluos being out there.

"Hehe, my elder and I were passing through this place when we happened to see you, little brother, absorbing a Soul Ring beyond your level. That was why we stopped to watch."

"Please forgive us."

Qian Renxue gave a slight bow, then knowingly asked, "May I ask whether you belong to any sect, little brother?"

Seeing Qian Renxue pretend not to know him, Li Xun's thoughts shifted.

Considering the relationship between Qian Renxue and Bibi Dong, as well as her future plans, he decided to bring Dugu Bo into Qian Renxue's view. "I am Li Xun of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. This is my Grandpa Dugu, Poison Douluo."

"So it is Poison Douluo. I have been disrespectful." Qian Renxue bowed to Dugu Bo again. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Qian Renxue, daughter of the Previous Pope of Spirit Hall. The one beside me is a Spirit Hall worshiper, Pufferfish Douluo Bloodthorn."

Pufferfish Douluo nodded to Li Xun and Dugu Bo.

"Greetings, Miss Qian Renxue. Greetings, Bloodthorn." Li Xun hurriedly put on a surprised expression and bowed.

Some of his surprise was genuine.

Pufferfish Douluo happened to counter Dugu Bo perfectly. Though Dugu Bo was among the weaker Titled Douluos, he could at least fight back against others.

But against Pufferfish Douluo, he would be nearly defeated in an instant.

If Qian Renxue develops killing intent... Li Xun silently heightened his vigilance.

Upon hearing their identities, Poison Douluo's eyes narrowed slightly. He nodded without speaking.

At this moment, the auras of him and Bloodthorn remained restrained but ready to erupt. Neither had withdrawn his Martial Soul merely because they had exchanged greetings.