Inside the secret chamber, Qian Renxue looked at Qin Tian, the corners of her lips lifting slightly into a smile.
"Xiaotian, this is for you."
As she spoke, Qian Renxue took a lead box out of her Storage Soul Tool.
Qin Tian looked at the two-meter-long box. One glance was enough to make it impossible for him to suppress his excitement.
He didn't need to guess what was inside. It was a Soul Bone; he couldn't think of anything else it could be.
Seeing Qin Tian's excitement, Qian Renxue slowly opened the lead box and said solemnly,
"Xiaotian, this is a fifty-thousand-year-old Holy Light Tiger King Left Leg Bone."
Hearing Qian Renxue's words and sensing the immense Soul Power radiating from the Soul Bone, Qin Tian couldn't help trembling.
He knew exactly what a fifty-thousand-year-old Holy Light Tiger King Left Leg Bone represented.
A Soul Bone that was fifty thousand years old was already top-grade. Even in Spirit Hall, it was a rare treasure. If he fused with it, his physique would undoubtedly grow much stronger.
"Xue-jiejie, isn't this too precious?"
Hearing Qin Tian's words, Qian Renxue merely smiled calmly and waved her hand casually.
"Xiaotian, this is your reward. If it weren't for you, we wouldn't have learned the true use of Whale Rubber."
"Of course, if you think it's too precious, then work hard at your cultivation. Xue-jiejie is looking forward to seeing you become a Titled Douluo one day."
Qin Tian looked at Qian Renxue, his expression solemn and his gaze unwavering. His voice lowered.
"Xue-jiejie, no matter what happens, I'll always stand by your side. If you want to take control of the Heaven Dou Empire, I'll clear every obstacle in your way. If you want to—"
Before Qin Tian could finish, Qian Renxue cut him off. "Xiaotian, I know how you feel. There's no need to say more. Hurry and fuse with the Soul Bone. Once you're done, I'll arrange for someone to take you to obtain a Soul Ring."
Hearing this, Qin Tian hesitated no longer. He walked to the lead box, picked up the Soul Bone, and pressed it against his left leg. Guided by his Soul Power, the bone burst into light and transformed into a mass of white radiance, merging with his leg bone.
As soon as the fusion began, Qin Tian felt terrifying energy coursing through his body. The immense Soul Power expanded his meridians, tempered his bones, and refined his flesh. Qin Tian circulated his Soul Power to refine the vast energy.
Fortunately, Qin Tian's Martial Soul was the Holy Light Tiger King, and this Soul Bone had come from one as well. The two shared the same origin, so he encountered no difficulty refining it.
There was none of the pain he had expected, and he met no resistance. Everything came together as naturally as milk and water blending.
Time passed slowly. Qian Renxue watched Qin Tian from the side, concern in her eyes as she saw his brow furrow.
Although she knew that fusing with a Soul Bone wouldn't pose much danger, she couldn't help worrying. After three years together, Qian Renxue had come to regard Qin Tian as family. It was only natural to worry when someone you cared about was in danger.
"Phew!"
"I finally fused with it."
Qin Tian opened his eyes. A flash of light passed through them, and he let out a long breath before slowly getting to his feet.
Feeling his transformed body, he couldn't help smiling.
After fusing with the fifty-thousand-year-old Holy Light Tiger King Left Leg Bone, his meridians had expanded once again. The energy had tempered his bones, making them even sturdier, and his skin had grown firmer.
As he stood, his entire body crackled.
"Xiaotian, how do you feel?"
Qin Tian turned to Qian Renxue and answered at once, his voice full of joy.
"Xue-jiejie, I feel great. Fusing with the Soul Bone has greatly improved my physique, and it even gave me a powerful Soul Skill."
Hearing this, Qian Renxue smiled.
"Xue-jiejie, the Soul Skill the Holy Light Tiger King Left Leg Bone gave me is very powerful. It's called Holy Light Slash, and it's a powerful offensive Soul Skill."
Listening to Qin Tian, Qian Renxue nodded, a smile on her face as well.
"Xiaotian, we should head out. You spent quite a while fusing with the Soul Bone. I have to attend a meeting at the imperial palace later. I'll arrange for someone to take you to obtain a Soul Ring shortly. I've already had people investigate the Soul Beast you wanted. We can go hunt it as soon as you've fully fused with the Soul Bone."
Hearing this, Qin Tian could barely contain his excitement.
"Xue-jiejie, really? Let's go. I want to obtain my First Soul Ring."
Seeing Qin Tian's expression, Qian Renxue couldn't help laughing.
The two left the secret chamber and entered the room. Qian Renxue looked toward the empty air and spoke.
"Elder Snake Lance, Xiaotian is going to obtain his First Soul Ring. Go with him, and remember to keep him safe."
From the empty air, Snake Lance Douluo replied at once,
"Yes, Young Master!"
Hearing that Snake Lance Douluo would accompany him, Qin Tian turned to Qian Renxue.
"Xue-jiejie, Elder Snake Lance is supposed to protect you. How about you send someone from the Crown Prince's Residence with me instead?"
Hearing this, Qian Renxue shook her head decisively.
"Xiaotian, the Soul Ring you're going to obtain is far too remarkable. I wouldn't feel at ease sending anyone else with you. Let Elder Snake Lance go with you. I still have Elder Pufferfish here, so there's no danger."
"Besides, we have a clear target for the hunt. It won't take long."
Qin Tian said no more. After talking a little longer with Qian Renxue, he headed out of the Crown Prince's Residence.
Once he was out of the city, Snake Lance Douluo appeared.
"Xiaotian, the Soul Beast we're hunting is called the Golden Light Tiger. It possesses the Power of Light and a golden bloodline, making it an excellent match for your Holy Light Tiger King Martial Soul. You should be able to obtain a very good Soul Skill."
"There's a pack of Golden Light Tigers in Sunset Forest. That's our destination."
Hearing this, Qin Tian nodded. "Then I'll have to trouble you, Elder Snake Lance."
The Golden Light Tiger possessed the Power of Light and was also a tiger-type Soul Beast, making it an excellent match for his Martial Soul. This was the advantage of having a powerful faction backing him: he didn't even need to worry about finding a Soul Beast to obtain a Soul Ring.
Snake Lance Douluo glanced at Qin Tian, said nothing more, and grabbed him by the collar before heading toward Sunset Forest.
They flew through the sky at tremendous speed.
Qin Tian felt the wind rush against him as he soared through the air, his heart pounding with excitement. He was flying—actually flying! He had never flown before; how could he not be excited?
Sunset Forest wasn't far from Heaven Dou City. Half an hour later, the two had arrived in the forest.
"Xiaotian, there are many Soul Beasts in Sunset Forest, and danger lurks everywhere. Stay close to me."
Hearing Snake Lance Douluo's words, Qin Tian nodded solemnly.
"I understand, Elder Snake Lance."
They had a clear target, and they already knew where the Golden Light Tigers were. Along the way, Snake Lance Douluo released his aura. Under the pressure of his terrifying presence, the Soul Beasts scattered in all directions.
After walking for more than two hours, the two finally stopped outside a valley.
"Xiaotian, wait here and keep an eye on your surroundings."
As soon as Snake Lance Douluo finished speaking, he headed straight into the valley.
Qin Tian glanced around, then went to a towering tree and leapt onto its trunk. He crouched there and waited patiently, scanning the area from time to time.
A moment later, Snake Lance Douluo returned, carrying a huge Soul Beast in his hand.
Qin Tian looked up. The Soul Beast had golden fur, a king-shaped marking on its forehead, and sharp claws and fangs. At that moment, however, it was on its last breath.
"Xiaotian, this is a Golden Light Tiger. It's over four thousand five hundred years old, within the range you can absorb. Now give it the final blow and obtain your First Soul Ring."
Hearing Snake Lance Douluo's words, Qin Tian smiled.
Of course, he wasn't going to tell them that he had fused with a Soul Bone and could absorb any Soul Ring produced by a Soul Beast under ten thousand years old.
He took a sharp dagger from his Storage Soul Tool. Qian Renxue had prepared it for him.
He went to the Golden Light Tiger, crouched down, and prepared to deliver the final blow.
The Golden Light Tiger glared at him with vicious, hateful eyes, a trace of unwillingness in its gaze. If it could move, it would surely have killed Qin Tian.
Qin Tian didn't hesitate. He thrust the dagger into the Golden Light Tiger's eye and twisted it hard.
The Golden Light Tiger died for good. After its death, flecks of purple light emerged from its body and gathered in the air, forming a purple Soul Ring.
Looking at the purple Soul Ring floating in the air, Qin Tian was so excited that he took several deep breaths to steady himself. Then he sat cross-legged, stirred his Soul Power, and drew the Soul Ring toward himself, beginning his first-ever attempt to absorb one.
Qian Renxue had already taught him how to absorb a Soul Ring.
Guided by his Soul Power, the purple Soul Ring floated above his head.
Snake Lance Douluo was excited too. A thousand-year First Soul Ring—and one over four thousand five hundred years old, at that—this was a historic moment. He had witnessed history.
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