Liu Erlong dropped her teasing air as well, her expression turning grave.
"Lin Qing, you must never rush your cultivation at the expense of your foundation."
"What exactly have you been through these past several months? Is your cultivation stable? You haven't suffered any lasting side effects, have you?"
More than shock, she felt concern that Lin Qing might have gained his strength through some extreme method that depleted his potential.
Warmth welled up in Lin Qing's heart as he took in their curious, worried faces.
He had no intention of keeping them in suspense or hiding anything.
They were his own people, after all. There was nothing to conceal.
"It really wasn't anything special."
"I just found somewhere fairly secluded and cultivated in seclusion for almost a year."
Everyone nodded at that.
Secluded cultivation was one of the most common methods high-level Soul Masters used. That made sense.
Then Lin Qing delivered the rest.
"While I was there, I also absorbed two million-year soul rings."
"After I came out, I saw I still had some time, so I stopped by Slaughter City on the way."
"I had a look around and took care of a level 99 Peerless Douluo who'd been possessed by a hundred-thousand-year soul beast."
"Once that was done, I came straight here to find you."
Lin Qing summed up his experiences in a few short sentences.
He spoke casually.
There were no exaggerated flourishes, no emphasis on the dangers.
Just the plainest statements of fact.
But the moment his last word fell—
The girls looked as though someone had pressed pause.
The threads of reason in their minds snapped.
Shock surged wildly in their eyes, their understanding of the world dealt a devastating blow.
What had Lin Qing just said?
Million-year soul rings!
*And two of