(Illustration of Qian Renxue)
In this life, she couldn't let history repeat itself.
Qian Renxue raised her head, her gaze much more resolute.
"Lin Jiang, why don't you come live in my East Palace?" She paused, her voice softening without her realizing it. "We can cultivate together, and I can provide you with all kinds of cultivation resources."
Lin Jiang scratched his head.
"Well... let's talk about it later."
A trace of disappointment flashed through Qian Renxue's eyes, but she didn't press him.
Watching her force herself to look composed, Lin Jiang was delighted.
It seemed Xue'er had fully accepted the existence of the "him" from the Simulator.
He cleared his throat.
"Xue'er, I have something good for you."
Qian Renxue blinked. "Hmm?"
But inwardly, she didn't think much of it.
As the young mistress of Spirit Hall and the crown prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, what rare treasures hadn't she seen?
What could Lin Jiang possibly give her?
Could it be a fish?
She glanced at the fishing rod propped against a tree by the stream, the corner of her mouth twitching.
Lin Jiang reached into his robes and pulled out a brocade pouch.
The Wish-fulfilling Hundred Treasure Pouch.
Qian Renxue glanced at it, raising an eyebrow.
"A Storage Soul Tool?"
Her tone was flat, even tinged with confusion.
Though this sort of thing wasn't exactly common, given her status, it certainly couldn't be considered a rare treasure.
Lin Jiang said nothing. He simply reached into the pouch and rummaged around for a while.
Then—
He brought out a golden lily, cradled in his hands.
Its petals unfurled like wings, and golden light rippled across its surface. It radiated a faint, pure, and sacred energy.
Tiny specks of light drifted from between its petals, circling slowly like fireflies. In the sunlight, it looked almost unreal.
Qian Renxue's pupils contracted slightly.
"Hmm?"
She stared at the flower, unconsciously holding her breath.
Holding the golden lily, Lin Jiang spoke at an unhurried pace.
"This is the Holy Light Firefly Lily."
"Its fragrance is light and sacred. Just breathing it in can calm the mind and steady Soul Power."
He paused and looked at Qian Renxue.
"It can resonate with the bloodline of the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul and forcibly purify the Angel Bloodline."
"Even—"
"Evolving the Six-Winged Angel isn't out of the question."
Qian Renxue's pupils shrank.
"Is that true?!"
Her voice rose in pitch.
Could such an Immortal Herb really exist?
She had thought Lin Jiang might offer her something good—at most, a rare ore or a high-grade Soul Bone.
Instead, he'd pulled out an Immortal Herb that could potentially evolve her Angel Martial Soul.
It seemed...
She had underestimated Lin Jiang.
She stared at the golden lily, her gaze burning.
But soon, she composed herself, and her tone turned hesitant.
"This is far too precious..."
Lin Jiang simply pressed the flower into her hands.
"Xue'er, do we really need to stand on ceremony with each other?"
Holding the flower, Qian Renxue froze.
Lin Jiang waved his hand. "There's no time to waste. Hurry and consume it, then absorb its power."
Qian Renxue looked at the Holy Light Firefly Lily in her hands, then at Lin Jiang's matter-of-fact expression.
An indescribable feeling welled up inside her.
She took a deep breath and nodded.
"All right."
She turned and looked at She Long and Chi Xue, who were standing guard some distance away.
"Come here."
The two hurried over and immediately saw Qian Renxue in her original appearance.
Golden hair, a peerlessly beautiful face, and a shimmering golden lily cradled in her hands.
Both men's eyes widened.
They looked at Lin Jiang, then at the flower, then at Qian Renxue.
What was going on?
Was this kid really something special?
She Long and Chi Xue exchanged a glance, both seeing shock in the other's eyes.
Qian Renxue said calmly, "I'm going to consume an Immortal Herb. You two will guard me."
They quickly agreed. "Understood!"
They turned and took up positions on either side of the stone pavilion, facing away from it.
Cradling the flower, Qian Renxue sat down on a stone stool.
She glanced up at Lin Jiang.
Lin Jiang smiled at her.
"Absorb it without worry. I'll stand guard."
Qian Renxue nodded and closed her eyes.
The golden petals slowly revolved in her palm, their sacred light bathing the entire stone pavilion.
She brought the Holy Light Firefly Lily close to her nose.
Its petals gleamed golden, while tiny motes of light danced between her fingers like little spirits.
She took a deep breath. An utterly pure, sacred aura surged into her body, spreading along her meridians and through every limb and bone.
Fragrant and sweet, it carried the scent of sunshine.
Without hesitation, she put the entire Immortal Herb into her mouth.
"Boom—!!"
The herb melted as soon as it touched her tongue, passing down without the slightest resistance.
The next second, a terrifying force exploded inside her!
It was so pure, utterly free of impurities, like the primordial light of creation itself. It poured straight into the Origin of her Martial Soul!
Qian Renxue's whole body shuddered!
A tremor from the depths of her soul swept through her from head to toe.
The Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul behind her resonated violently. Its six golden wings spread wide, blazing with brilliant light!
Outside the stone pavilion, She Long and Chi Xue both turned around, only to be dazzled by the blinding golden light.
"This... This is..."
Chi Xue's mouth hung open, and no words came out.
She Long was stunned too. After a moment, the two turned back around and continued guarding the pavilion.
Lin Jiang sat to one side, arms crossed and the corners of his mouth lifted.
Success.
Time passed, second by second.
The golden light grew more and more brilliant, cocooning Qian Renxue in its radiance.
Sweat slid down her forehead, soaking the golden hair at her temples before trickling off her delicate jaw.
She gritted her teeth, enduring the tearing and reshaping deep within her bloodline.
It hurt.
But it was worth it.
A full two hours passed.
Qian Renxue was drenched in sweat, her clothes clinging to her body and outlining her curves.
Her face flushed, her breathing ragged, but she never uttered a sound.
Suddenly—
"Hum—!!!"
A deep hum sounded from within her, as if something had been torn apart!
The phantom of the Six-Winged Angel behind her jolted violently!
Between the gaps in its six golden wings, two brand-new golden wings—
Ripped free!
And spread wide!
In an instant, six wings became eight!
All eight golden wings unfurled behind her, each more solid and more radiant than before!
The golden light no longer burst forth in a blinding flare. It flowed gently, like molten gold, like sunshine made solid.
Qian Renxue's eyes flew open.
Golden light blazed in her pupils!
The Soul Power within her surged like floodwaters bursting through a dam!
She sat there, golden light flowing around her as eight wings fluttered gently behind her, her sacred presence beyond compare.
Qian Renxue lowered her gaze to her hands, feeling the evolution and ascension deep within her bloodline.
Her Martial Soul really had evolved.
Six wings had become eight.
A smile slowly curved her lips. It grew brighter and brighter until she couldn't help laughing aloud.
"My Martial Soul really evolved! An Eight-Winged Angel!"
She lifted her face, sunlight reflected in her golden eyes.
"Grandpa will be over the moon when he finds out!"
She laughed, then suddenly felt a little cold.
She looked down—
The smile froze on her face.
When the two new wings had torn their way out of her back, they'd taken her clothes with them...
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