Qian Renxue's Big Decision, Outing, Soul Skills

She blinked her beautiful eyes expectantly. "When I reach a bottleneck too, let's go together, okay?"

Seeing her like this, Zhao Linchuan's heart softened. He nodded in agreement. "All right, then we'll go in a few days."

After agreeing, he looked at the hand still wrapped around his arm and gently pulled it away, his tone carrying a serious warning.

"By the way, Xue'er, you... stop acting cute with me all the time."

He paused, shifting his gaze elsewhere as his voice lowered. "I'm afraid that one day... I won't be able to restrain myself and might do something impulsive to you."

"Acting cute? Was I?" Qian Renxue froze for a moment, then a sly glint flashed through her eyes. She deliberately put on a stern face and teased him in a joking tone.

"As a respected teacher of noble character, how could you harbor such 'wicked intentions' toward your innocent and adorable student?"

She even pretended to wipe away nonexistent tears with her sleeve, speaking in a tearful voice.

"If you say that, you'll break Xue'er's heart. Boohoohoo~"

"Ow!"

Zhao Linchuan raised a hand irritably and lightly flicked her forehead. "At your age, who are you putting on this act for?"

"You're the one at that age!" Qian Renxue instantly bristled at those words.

Ever since realizing that she had fallen for a man nearly ten years younger than herself, she had become especially sensitive to the word "old."

She puffed up her cheeks and pointed at her flawless face. "Don't you know that girls are forever twelve years old?"

"And look at this lovely, tender little face of mine. Does it have even the slightest connection to the word 'old'?!"

Zhao Linchuan ignored her indignant stomping. He simply turned his back and walked straight out the door, leaving behind only a light remark that drifted on the wind.

"Whether you want an old cow to eat young grass, you know it in your own heart."

"I will eat it! So what?!" Qian Renxue stomped furiously at his disappearing back, but her cheeks uncontrollably flushed red. In a low voice, as though making a declaration, she said, "And I've decided to have you!"

She had almost no resistance to Zhao Linchuan.

Mystery, maturity, wisdom, and power intertwined within him, drawing her in as firmly as a magnet.

From the moment he first entered her sight, she had developed a strong interest in him.

It was only that back at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, he had always acted as though he kept everyone at arm's length.

Thinking of this, the corners of her lips unconsciously lifted into a smile, and she thought to herself:

"Ning Rongrong, Ning Rongrong, I really ought to 'thank' you properly!"

"If you hadn't personally pushed away the man who cherished you most, how could I have gotten the chance to get close to him?"

She took a deep breath, calming her excited yet slightly uneasy emotions.

Recalling Zhao Linchuan's words about "not being able to restrain himself," a trace of shyness and an inexplicable anticipation welled up in her heart.

"What if he really does something to me one day... what should I do?" she murmured, her face growing even hotter.

Her feelings were rather contradictory. She feared that he might act recklessly, yet she also vaguely feared that he... would not.

"Forget it, I won't think about it!" She shook her head, tossing aside those chaotic thoughts. A domineering, mischievous smile suddenly appeared on her face. "Anyway... if that day really comes, I have to be on top!"

Having made this "big decision," her mood instantly brightened, and she began humming a cheerful, tuneless melody.

"La la la~" Humming, Qian Renxue lightly headed toward the kitchen. "It's noon. Time to prepare 'lunch' for my dear 'teacher'~"

Several days later, Zhao Linchuan and Qian Renxue set out for the Star Dou Great Forest.

Rather than a dangerous soul beast hunt, it was more like a carefully arranged outing.

Under the protection of the two Titled Douluo—She Long and Ci Xue—the journey went far more smoothly than imagined.

They merely needed to stroll through the forest, admire the unusual flowers and trees along the way, and occasionally comment on the types of Soul Beasts they encountered.

The two Elders, meanwhile, precisely located the most suitable Soul Beasts according to their requirements, subdued them until they had only a breath left, then "invited" them over for the final blow.

This was more relaxed and pleasant than any of Zhao Linchuan's previous hunts for Soul Rings. It was as though he had merely taken a walk through a picturesque forest and accomplished his goal with ease.

In a relatively open clearing within the forest, Zhao Linchuan slowly completed a finishing gesture, and the Soul Power Fluctuation around him gradually settled.

Purple, purple, black, black, black—five Soul Rings that surpassed the optimal Soul Ring ratio sank into his body in sequence, marking his official entry into the Soul King realm.

Qian Renxue had finished absorbing hers slightly before him. She now blinked her curious eyes at him. "Lin Chuan, how was it? What kind of Soul Skill did you obtain?"

She was quite pleased with her own new Soul Skill, and her question sounded more like she was probing before showing off.

Zhao Linchuan did not hide it and said directly, "A support-type Soul Skill called Raikage Sprint."

"For a certain period of time, it increases my speed, strength, and Attack Power by one hundred percent, while also giving my Martial Soul's physical attacks a thirty percent armor-piercing effect."

"This Soul Skill suits you perfectly!" Qian Renxue praised sincerely. "You already have so many endlessly emerging Self-Created Soul Skills that you don't lack offensive methods at all."

"With a support Soul Skill like this that greatly strengthens your basic abilities, it's like adding wings to a tiger. They complement each other perfectly!"

"Indeed, that was exactly my reasoning." Zhao Linchuan nodded, then asked in return, "What about you? Seeing how pleased you look, I assume your gains were considerable?"

"Hehe~" Qian Renxue slightly raised her chin, wearing an expression that was reserved yet unable to conceal her smile. "As for the Soul Skill I obtained... it's the same type as yours, but its effect... may be just a tiny bit stronger."

She raised a slender finger and gestured a minuscule distance.

"Oh?" Zhao Linchuan raised an eyebrow, cooperatively looking curious. "Just how much stronger is this tiny bit?"

"Not by much," Qian Renxue said in an intentionally casual tone, though the pride in her eyes was impossible to hide. "My Soul Skill is called Brilliant Angel."

"While the skill is active, it grants a one-hundred-percent increase to all attributes: Attack Power, speed, strength, stamina, Soul Power intensity, elemental attacks, and Spiritual Power!"

"As expected of the god-tier Martial Soul, the Six-Winged Angel." Zhao Linchuan praised her sincerely. "Such a comprehensive enhancement Soul Skill is truly extraordinary."

"Ah, but unfortunately..." Qian Renxue abruptly changed the subject and sighed with feigned regret, secretly watching his reaction. "Such a powerful effect can only last five minutes. It's really a little too short."