The moment the golden petal touched the tip of Qian Renxue's tongue, it instantly melted into a stream of warmth, pure beyond compare, and surged down her throat straight into the depths of her abdomen.
As the first massive wave of medicinal power unfurled inside her, Qian Renxue was immediately enveloped from head to toe in an incredibly rich golden radiance.
Sensing the medicinal power begin to surge violently, Qian Renxue hurriedly closed her eyes and summoned the Soul Power already within her to guide this enormous force of light with all her might.
In the corner of the room, Gu Qing quietly watched Qian Renxue, now completely engulfed in golden light on the bed, his gaze carrying a hint of scrutiny.
To keep the sacred aura emanating from the Bright Heaven Grass from bursting through the roof and attracting the notice of the experts in Heaven Dou City, Gu Qing raised his right hand and gave a gentle wave.
A sturdy, transparent barrier of Soul Power instantly took shape, sealing the entire somewhat empty room inside it.
Only after taking these necessary precautions did Gu Qing have the leisure to carefully observe how Qian Renxue was absorbing the Immortal Herb.
At this moment, Qian Renxue had entered a state of deep meditation, her breathing steady and long.
Threads of light element, pure beyond compare, spilled from the remaining petals of the Bright Heaven Grass and continuously seeped into the major acupoints throughout Qian Renxue's body.
As more and more of the light energy poured into her, an extraordinarily dazzling golden radiance suddenly shone behind Qian Renxue.
Accompanied by a clear, ethereal hum, the incomparably holy Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul emerged behind Qian Renxue, entirely beyond her control.
Six enormous golden wings slowly unfurled in the somewhat cramped room, illuminating the surrounding space as bright as day and banishing every last shadow.
Gu Qing narrowed his eyes and studied this god-tier Martial Soul of legend. He could clearly see a wondrous transformation taking place across its golden wings.
The aura of light, already pure enough, was forcibly elevated to yet another level as the domineering medicinal power of the Bright Heaven Grass washed over it.
The minute impurities hidden deep within the angel's wings were being mercilessly stripped away, bit by bit, by this sacred medicinal power.
Fine beads of sweat gradually appeared on Qian Renxue's smooth forehead, and her lovely brows drew tightly together in pain.
This domineering process of stripping away impurities and purifying her Martial Soul was bound to bring excruciating pain as the meridians throughout her body were forcibly widened.
Qian Renxue clenched her teeth so hard that her lip even began to bleed, yet she stubbornly refused to make the slightest sound of pain.
Watching Qian Renxue stubbornly endure the agony, Gu Qing simply sat quietly nearby, with no intention of intervening.
Gu Qing knew very well that no outsider could help with a transformation like this. Qian Renxue could only rely on her own willpower to tough it out.
As long as she made it through this most painful stage, a tremendous leap in both strength and potential awaited Qian Renxue.
Time passed second by second in an atmosphere that was utterly quiet, yet seething beneath the surface.
The sky outside gradually brightened, and the rising sun spilled golden rays through the wooden window lattice onto the floor.
The sunlight outside mingled with the golden light radiating from the Six-Winged Angel inside, creating a scene that was both breathtakingly beautiful and sacred.
A full three hours passed before Qian Renxue's tightly knitted brows finally began to relax.
The Bright Heaven Grass that Qian Renxue had held tightly in her palm had now turned entirely into golden powder, drifting through the gaps between her fingers and settling on the bed.
As Qian Renxue absorbed the final traces of medicinal power, the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul hovering behind her suddenly erupted with a terrifying surge of energy.
A raging wave of Soul Power burst outward from Qian Renxue like a tsunami, sweeping violently in every direction.
With a casual wave of his hand, Gu Qing dispelled the rampaging waves of Soul Power before they could overturn the tables and chairs.
The light flowing across the Six-Winged Angel's six wings was now as pure and flawless as liquid gold.
Qian Renxue abruptly opened her eyes. Two beams of solid golden light flashed from her pupils, illuminating the opposite wall.
She felt an unprecedented lightness throughout her entire body.
This wondrous, reborn feeling left Qian Renxue unable to contain her elation; even her fingertips trembled slightly.
Qian Renxue hurriedly examined the state of her body, then froze in place as if struck by lightning.
The Soul Power bottleneck that had held firm for so long had been smashed through by an irresistible force in just a few short hours.
Not only that, but the total amount of Soul Power flowing through Qian Renxue's body had grown at a terrifying, explosive rate.
Such an unbelievable increase left Qian Renxue feeling as though she were dreaming, unable to trust her own senses.
"Level sixty-nine?"
Qian Renxue felt the new power surging through her like the sea, her voice full of utter shock and delight.
Before absorbing the Bright Heaven Grass, Qian Renxue's Soul Power had been stuck at level sixty-five, with a breakthrough nowhere in sight.
She had crossed four levels in one leap, reaching level sixty-nine at the peak—just one step away from becoming a Soul Saint. Such a leap was practically unheard of.
Qian Renxue could also clearly feel that the fundamental power of her Martial Soul had been greatly reinforced, and that her cultivation speed would undergo a qualitative leap in the future.
"How do you feel?"
Gu Qing's even voice came from the corner of the room, pulling Qian Renxue back from her shocked thoughts.
Hearing Gu Qing's question, Qian Renxue immediately turned her head, her gaze settling directly on his calm, composed face.
Thinking back over everything that had happened during the past half month, a powerful tide stirred uncontrollably in Qian Renxue's heart.
From their initial probing and clashes in Heaven Dou Imperial City, to gradually lowering their guard and coming to trust each other.
And now, Gu Qing had even risked his life to enter the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, all to find this peerless Immortal Herb that had changed Qian Renxue's fate.
Qian Renxue carefully tallied it all in her mind, the shock in her eyes growing stronger by the moment.
In the brief half month she had spent with Gu Qing, Qian Renxue had made as much progress in strength as she would have gained through several years of day-and-night cultivation in Spirit Hall.
The staggering contrast left Qian Renxue looking at Gu Qing in an entirely different light.
Before this, Qian Renxue had devoted all her energy to the enormous task of infiltrating the Heaven Dou Empire and had never once considered romance.
But now, Qian Renxue quietly realized that a huge crack had already formed in the heart she had once believed as unyielding as stone.
Gu Qing's presence was like a seed forcing its way into that crack, putting down roots and sprouting with an utterly unstoppable force.
Qian Renxue realized that she seemed to have truly fallen for Gu Qing—a man who was always so unruffled, yet so utterly dependable.
The moment this unfamiliar feeling surfaced, Qian Renxue's cheeks flushed bright red once more. She hurriedly looked away from Gu Qing's gaze.
"Thank you, Gu Qing."
Qian Renxue lowered her head and offered her thanks in a soft, tiny voice that only the two of them could hear.
This time, there was no trace of her usual pride or wariness in Qian Renxue's voice, only the purest gratitude.
And deep in that gratitude was a hint of girlish bashfulness that even Qian Renxue herself was unwilling to admit.
Watching Qian Renxue's awkward, uneasy manner, Gu Qing rose from the armchair and leisurely brushed the dust from his clothes.
"You think you can send me on my way with a mere verbal thank-you?"
Gu Qing walked over to the bed and looked down at Qian Renxue, whose ears were already bright red.
"Since you've gained such a great benefit, what does the Young Master plan to give me in return?"
Faced with Gu Qing's teasing words, which pressed her harder with every step, Qian Renxue's heart instantly raced to its limit.
Qian Renxue clutched the bedsheet beneath her, her thoughts boiling into a muddle. She had no idea how to respond to Gu Qing.
That budding affection left Qian Renxue utterly bereft of her usual poise and wisdom in front of Gu Qing, leaving her only flustered and at a loss.
Half a month flashed by, and the situation across the Douluo Continent underwent earth-shaking changes in those few short weeks.
Spirit City, the very heart of Spirit Hall's power, was now draped everywhere in festive red silk and lanterns. The entire city was immersed in a lively, jubilant atmosphere.
From the solemn Pope Palace to the Elder Palace, where countless powerful figures were enshrined, every broad street had been decorated in extravagant fashion.
The grand spectacle proclaimed Spirit Hall's unparalleled, profound foundation to the world at every turn.
The marriage between Gu Qing and Qian Renxue had already become the talk of the town, thanks to the Spirit Hall higher-ups fanning the flames behind the scenes.
The bombshell announcement struck like a massive meteor crashing into a tranquil lake, stirring an unprecedented uproar throughout the Soul Master World.
The higher-ups of the two great empires and the spies of the major sects sprang into action, relaying the shocking news to their respective forces as quickly as they could.
The exact date of the wedding, set to take place in half a month, became the sole focus of countless Soul Masters' discussions over food and tea.
Every tavern and teahouse throughout the streets and alleys buzzed with heated discussion about this wedding of the century.
Everyone was endlessly curious about Gu Qing, the man who would marry Spirit Hall's Young Master and rise to the top in a single bound, and regarded him with deep awe.
The mercenaries who spent their days hunting Soul Beasts in the wilderness spread countless bizarre versions of Gu Qing's origins.
Some claimed he was an unsurpassed genius from a reclusive sect; others said he was a secret weapon Spirit Hall had secretly raised from childhood.
No matter how outlandish the rumors became, the impending wedding had undoubtedly thrown the overall balance of the Douluo Continent into turmoil.
Meanwhile, inside a remote, hidden cave near the border of the Heaven Dou Empire.
The dim light barely illuminated the cave's disorderly furnishings, while the sharp, pungent smell of cheap liquor hung thick in the damp air.
Tang Hao gripped a battered, earthen-colored wine gourd and gulped down mouthful after mouthful of harsh, burning liquor.
For the past half month, Tang Hao had hidden like a rat in this dark, forsaken corner, nursing his old injuries and remaining completely unaware of the outside world.
It was only this morning, when Tang Hao had no choice but to go to a nearby town to buy strong liquor, that he accidentally overheard some idle mercenaries talking in a tavern.
The news that Spirit Hall's Young Master, Qian Renxue, was about to marry burrowed into Tang Hao's filth-caked ears, every word plain as day.
Especially when he heard the name of the groom, Gu Qing, Tang Hao's right hand froze midair around the wine gourd. He did not even notice the liquor spilling onto his tattered clothes.
Tang Hao knew all too well how terrifying the power and ambition of Spirit Hall truly were.
To Tang Hao, Spirit Hall had always been synonymous with a blood feud etched into his bones. He wanted nothing more than to tear everyone in the Pope Palace limb from limb.
His wife's tragic death and the humiliation of spending half his life fleeing from place to place were all the doing of Spirit Hall.
Now he heard that Spirit Hall's Young Master was to have such a grand, ostentatious wedding. To Tang Hao, this joyous news was the greatest mockery in the world.
Tang Hao suddenly swung his arm, hurling the half-gourd of cheap liquor and its heavy container against the cave's hard stone wall.
With a sharp crack, rough shards and murky liquor burst through the dim cave.
The stones piled nearby were instantly reduced to fine dust by the terrifying impact of his Soul Power.
Tang Hao's burly frame trembled violently as his bloodshot eyes fixed on the deep crack in the stone wall.
Images of his wife, Ah Yin, dying flashed through his mind like scenes from a lantern show.
The Spirit Hall hypocrites who held themselves above everyone else, and Qian Xunji's nauseating face, tormented his battered body without pause.
Tang Hao raised his rough, broad hands and dug his nails into his palms until fresh blood ran freely.
"Spirit Hall destroyed my family, and now they even have the nerve to throw such a grand wedding for Qian Xunji's daughter."
Tang Hao gritted his teeth and spat out each word, every syllable carrying a hatred so immense it could freeze the air around him.
A massive iron hammer, black as ink, appeared without warning in his calloused palm.
The moment the heavy Clear Sky Hammer appeared, it pressed a vast web of dense cracks into the ground.
Tang Hao slowly straightened his back, and in an instant, his once utterly dejected aura changed completely.
"So Qian Renxue's getting married? Let's see whether Spirit Hall can withstand the wedding gift I bring."
Tang Hao snatched up a tattered black cloak and draped it over himself, hiding his weathered face in shadow.
If Spirit Hall wanted to make this wedding the talk of the entire world, then on the wedding day, he would kill that little yellow-haired girl, Qian Renxue.
Tang Hao had already made up his mind: he would turn Spirit Hall's so-called grand celebration into a funeral known across the land.
His heavy footsteps gradually faded into the dark cave, leaving behind only the wreckage and that savage killing intent, which lingered long after he was gone.
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