Covering Sky Method

Lin Qiu spoke as he hopped off the stone bench, circling Qian Renxue while clicking his tongue in wonder.

"Is this the power of a Soul Grand Master?"

"It's amazing!"

"Big Sister, did that sword strike of yours have a special name? It was just like a bolt of golden lightning!"

Qian Renxue froze completely.

She had anticipated Lin Qiu's reaction.

He might have cried and gone to tattle, acted out in stubborn defiance, or perhaps flown into a fit of angry embarrassment.

But she had never expected this reaction from him.

That undisguised look of adoration and those sincere praises felt like feathers, gently tickling the tip of her heart.

The resentment and jealousy she had been harboring inexplicably dissipated for the most part amidst those sweet calls of "Big Sister."

She stood there at a loss, not knowing whether to lower the wooden sword in her hand or keep it raised.

Two faint blushes crept onto her cheeks.

"Th-that goes without saying."

Qian Renxue turned her head away, not daring to meet Lin Qiu's sparkling eyes, her tone softening.

"I have Innate Full Soul Power at level twenty; dealing with you... is naturally a breeze."

She paused, then couldn't help but steal a glance at Lin Qiu, muttering in a low voice:

"Just now... I didn't hurt you, did I?"

Lin Qiu shook his head immediately, a brilliant smile blooming on his face like a sunflower.

"No, not at all!"

"Big Sister has such great control, how could you hurt me?"

"Not only is Big Sister beautiful, but you're also so strong. You'll definitely become a Title Douluo in the future and protect the Martial Soul Hall!"

As he spoke, Lin Qiu reached out with his small hands, grabbed Qian Renxue's sleeve, and gave it a gentle tug.

"Big Sister, when you have time, could you teach me swordsmanship?"

"I want to become as strong as you, Big Sister."

Looking at the small hand tugging on her sleeve, the final line of defense in Qian Renxue's heart completely collapsed.

This was just... too unfair.

He was clearly someone she disliked, someone who had stolen her mother's affection.

Yet, why was it that looking at him like this, she just couldn't bring herself to be cruel?

She even felt a sudden urge to ruffle his hair.

Qian Renxue felt a wave of internal conflict, eventually settling for a haughty huff as she pulled her sleeve from Lin Qiu's grasp.

"Hmph!"

"You want to learn swordsmanship?"

"We'll see how I feel."

"Since you lost, you must honor the bet. From now on, you are not allowed to speak ill of me in front of Mother."

Although she said this, the corners of her mouth were already curling upward uncontrollably.

This feeling of being admired and needed was, damn it, actually quite nice.

Just then, the sound of footsteps approached from afar; it seemed guards were patrolling nearby.

Qian Renxue's expression shifted.

If someone saw her sparring here and it reached her mother's ears, she would surely be scolded again.

She hurriedly tossed the wooden sword back onto the weapon rack.

"I... I'm leaving now."

"Practice hard on your own; don't bring shame to the Martial Soul Hall."

With that, Qian Renxue turned in a fluster and walked quickly toward the courtyard gate.

After a few steps, she stopped and looked back at Lin Qiu.

That small figure was still standing there, waving at her with that silly, goofy smile on his face.

"Take care, Big Sister!"

Qian Renxue's heart skipped a beat; she hurriedly turned her head and fled the side hall as if escaping.

Actually, he was quite cute.

He was just a bit weak.

But that didn't matter; if anyone bullied him in the future, she would just have to stand up for him herself.

After all, she called him "older brother."

Watching Qian Renxue's silhouette disappear beyond the door, the smile on Lin Qiu's face slowly faded.

He let out a long sigh and sat back down on the stone stool.

Coaxing a child was truly exhausting work.

Especially coaxing a child like Qian Renxue, who was both extremely starved for affection and tsundere.

Fortunately, the results were significant.

This so-called "life-or-death crisis" had been resolved without a single drop of blood shed.

Just then.

That pleasant mechanical chime rang out in his mind like the sound of heaven.

[Ding!]

[Congratulations to the host!]

[Relying on your superior wisdom and courage, you have successfully survived the pursuit of a powerhouse in the Dao Palace Realm!]

[Mission completion rating: Perfect.]

[Rewards are being distributed...]

[Congratulations to the host for obtaining the supreme foundation-building technique: Dao Scripture: Sea of Bitterness Volume!]

Lin Qiu's breath hitched sharply.

The Dao Scripture!

In the world of Shrouding the Heavens, it was the supreme ancient scripture that recorded the ultimate truths of the Great Dao.

During the Sea of Bitterness Realm stage of cultivation, the Dao Scripture was universally acknowledged as the strongest in the world, bar none.

Legend had it that once the Sea of Bitterness Volume of the Dao Scripture was mastered, the Sea of Bitterness would become as firm as divine iron, indestructible, and capable of manifesting all sorts of incredible visions.

This was the very foundation-building method used by Heavenly Emperor Ye back in the day!

Compared to this, Tang San's pride and joy, the Mysterious Heaven Skill, wasn't even fit to carry its shoes.

It was the difference between a firefly and the bright moon.

The difference between an ant and a giant dragon.

Lin Qiu felt a sudden heat at the center of his brow.

A vast and ancient stream of information instantly surged into his sea of consciousness.

There was no splitting headache as he had imagined.

Those obscure and difficult golden ancient characters seemed to come alive, branding themselves deep into the depths of his soul.

Every single character seemed to carry the weight of the heavens and myriad worlds, exuding an aura that was vast and boundless.

"This is... the Dao Scripture."

Lin Qiu muttered to himself.

He couldn't wait to sit cross-legged, palms facing the sky, and began to circulate the golden Sea of Bitterness within his body according to the scriptures in his mind.

Rumble!

The moment he began to circulate it, Lin Qiu felt a heaven-shaking change occur within his body.

The once-calm golden Sea of Bitterness was now like a hurricane, churning up monstrous waves.

Yet, he felt no discomfort whatsoever.

On the contrary, an indescribable sense of comfort spread throughout his entire body.

With every surge of the golden waves, his flesh, bones, and meridians were baptized by that golden energy.

Outside.

The previously clear sky suddenly changed color as wind and clouds gathered.

Above the side hall, a massive amount of heaven and earth energy began to converge, forming a visible vortex that poured down toward Lin Qiu below.

Although the spiritual energy of the Douluo Continent was as thin as paper in the eyes of the system.

The Dao Scripture was incomparably domineering, acting like a greedy black hole, frantically plundering all the energy in the vicinity.

A faint golden glow began to emerge around Lin Qiu's body.

Within that golden glow, the sound of ancient chanting seemed to resonate, solemn and sacred.

Three inches below his navel, the location of the Sea of Bitterness.

The light was at its most intense.

If anyone were here at this moment, they would surely be stunned into speechlessness by the sight before them.

A child who had yet to awaken a martial soul and possessed no spirit rings.

The soul power fluctuations emanating from his body were climbing at a terrifying speed.

Heavy.

Solid.

The quality of this soul power far surpassed that of soul masters of the same level, even exceeding that of a Soul Grand Master.

After an unknown amount of time.

Lin Qiu slowly opened his eyes.

Two golden beams shot from his eyes, traveling a full three feet before slowly dissipating.

He clenched his fist.

The air in his palm exploded with a muffled sound.

Strong.

Unprecedentedly strong.