She stopped bringing up Bibi Dong.
But every now and then, when the night was deep and still, she would stare blankly into the darkness.
Qian Anci knew, but he never called her out on it.
The day he broke through to level thirty, Qian Anci once again went alone to the Star Dou Great Forest.
Gu Yuena was already waiting beside the Lake of Life.
Her silver hair flowed like a waterfall, and her bare feet rested on the grass by the lakeshore. Her gaze was gentle as water.
"Anci, your aura is much heavier than it was last time."
Qian Anci bowed respectfully.
"Sister, I've reached level thirty."
Gu Yuena smiled faintly.
"Then I'll give you a gift."
She raised her hand. The lake churned, and a gigantic shadow slowly rose from its depths.
It was a massive turtle, its entire body pitch-black.
It was enormous, and its shell wrapped tightly around its body like a shield.
"The Nether Dragon Turtle, a subspecies of the Dragon Clan that feeds on the souls of the dead." Gu Yuena's voice was calm. "It's been cultivating for thirty-eight thousand years."
A glint flashed in Qian Anci's eyes.
Another Soul Beast perfectly suited to death!
"Thank you, Sister."
He sat cross-legged, and the Scythe of Death coalesced in his palm.
Gu Yuena raised her hand. Before the fierce giant turtle could even resist, it was refined in an instant.
Gray-white mist and the Soul Ring intertwined, slowly merging beneath the reflection of the Lake of Life.
His third Soul Ring was complete.
Scythe of Death's third Soul Skill: [Yellow Springs Ferry].
As the scythe blade swept past, it could summon the waters of the Yellow Springs in the underworld, corroding the vitality of all things.
Those struck would continuously lose Soul Power, and their wounds would not heal until their life force ran dry and they died.
Shadow of Pollux's third Soul Skill: [Dragon Transformation].
You offer death to the Death Dragon, and the Death Dragon repays you with the body of the Dragon Clan.
When Qian Anci opened his eyes, Gu Yuena nodded in satisfaction.
Gu Yuena nodded in satisfaction.
She stepped closer and lifted his chin with a slender fingertip. A flicker of surprise passed through her silver eyes.
"Anci, the bloodline within you... is growing stronger."
Qian Anci froze. "What do you mean, Sister?"
"As your level continues to rise, the Dragon Clan bloodline in your body is growing stronger too. Perhaps once you reach the Super Douluo level, you'll be able to regain your true form."
Qian Anci's heart tightened.
He called softly in his mind, Castorice, what's going on?
After a brief silence, that gentle voice rang out from deep within his soul.
"As your Soul Power increases, Pollux is gradually transforming you as well. It's extracting the Dragon Clan bloodline from your Soul Rings bit by bit and integrating it into your body. Why else do you think your third Soul Skill was Dragon Transformation?"
Qian Anci's pupils contracted.
Half-dragon?
"Don't worry. It's a good thing. The Dragon Clan's physique, lifespan, and affinity for the elements will all be yours to use. Besides..."
She paused, a hint of amusement in her voice.
"Doesn't this make your Silver Dragon King sister dote on you even more?"
Qian Anci was speechless.
How had he not noticed that Castorice had been speaking with a sour note lately?
He looked up and met Gu Yuena's complicated silver eyes.
"No matter what, you're still my little brother," Gu Yuena said softly. "Go on. Train hard. Your big sister will be waiting here for you."
Three years later.
Spirit City, Saint Son Palace.
Morning light spilled over Qian Anci as he sat cross-legged, Death Qi slowly circulating around him.
Three Soul Rings rose from beneath his feet: purple, black, black.
He could feel that the barrier blocking him before level forty had grown as thin as a cicada's wing.
All he needed was the right opportunity to step into the Soul Ancestor realm.
"Your Highness." Ya Yi's voice came from outside the palace doors. "The Grand Worship Elder has summoned you to the Worship Hall."
Qian Anci slowly opened his eyes, rose to his feet, straightened his robes, and stepped out.
Inside the Worship Hall, Qian Daoliu stood by the window with his hands behind his back.
"Grandpa."
Qian Daoliu turned around and looked him over with approval.
"Level thirty-nine."
"Yes."
Qian Daoliu took a letter from his sleeve and handed it to him.
"Word has come from the Heaven Dou Empire branch. A group of Fallen Soul Masters is causing trouble. Their leader is probably around the Soul Saint level, and he has a dozen or so men under him."
His voice was low.
"Grandpa wants you to take Ya Yi and deal with them."
Qian Anci took the token. It was cold in his hand.
"Why me?"
"Because you need an opportunity." Qian Daoliu's gaze burned. "You can't break through from level thirty-nine to forty by staying cooped up and training. Real combat, combat where life and death hang in the balance, is the fastest path."
He paused.
"Besides, as the Saint Son of Spirit Hall, you need to carve out a name for yourself on the mainland."
A flicker passed through Qian Anci's eyes.
Combat where life and death hung in the balance?
Though his combat experience was now every bit as good as Ya Yi's and the others', he had yet to draw blood.
"I understand, Grandpa."
Qian Daoliu gave a slight nod. "Go. Pack your things and set out at once."
Qian Anci bowed respectfully and left the hall.
He didn't return to Saint Son Palace. Instead, he turned toward Qian Renxue's residence.
The palace doors stood ajar. He knocked lightly a few times.
"Come in," Qian Renxue called from inside.
Qian Anci pushed the door open and saw her sitting by the window, holding an ancient book. Her golden hair fell loosely over her shoulders.
"Leaving?" She looked up at him, her expression calm.
"Yeah." Qian Anci walked over to her. "I'm going to the Heaven Dou Empire to hunt down a group of Fallen Soul Masters."
Qian Renxue closed the book and asked, "How long?"
"Two weeks at the earliest, a month at the latest."
"Oh." She answered softly and set the book aside. "Be careful."
"Are you worried about me, Sister?"
"Who's worried about you?" Qian Renxue turned her face away and gazed out the window. "I just don't want you to fail to keep the promise you made me."
Qian Anci simply watched her in silence.
"I'll come back."
Qian Renxue's fingers paused.
"...Do as you please."
Qian Anci turned to leave. Suddenly, her voice came from behind him.
"Anci."
"Yeah?"
"Stay safe."
Qian Anci paused, but didn't turn around. He waved a hand over his shoulder.
"Okay."
He left the palace and headed straight for the main gate of Spirit City.
Ya Yi was already waiting outside the city gate, wrapped in a black robe. No emotion showed on his gaunt face.
"Your Highness."
"Let's go."
Meanwhile, in the Worship Hall.
The doors swung open, and Qian Xunji stepped inside, unable to hide his excitement.
"Father."
Qian Daoliu didn't turn around.
"What is it?"
Qian Xunji walked up beside him and lowered his voice.
"I found a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast about to give birth near the border of the Heaven Dou Empire."
Qian Daoliu's hand paused.
"A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast?"
"Yes. A Blue Silver Emperor. She's taken human form and coupled with a Soul Douluo from the Clear Sky Sect named Tang Hao. She's pregnant and about to give birth. If her pregnancy hadn't exposed her aura, our people wouldn't have found her so quickly."
He paused.
"That Tang Hao is only a Soul Douluo. I want to personally lead people to hunt down this Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. It's just..."
"Just what?"
"It's just that Tang Hao is guarding the Blue Silver Emperor, and the Clear Sky Hammer is formidable. This trip will probably take some time," Qian Xunji said gravely. "While I'm gone, I'll have to trouble you to manage Spirit Hall for the time being."
Before you continue