At that moment, Qian Yu had to admit that this time, he really had gone too far.
He had overestimated himself and underestimated the power of a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring.
Even with all the conditions he had now, he still couldn't withstand absorbing a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring directly.
The power it contained was beyond anything he could comprehend.
He had to admit that he'd been far too sure of himself.
Or, to put it another way, he had underestimated Douluo Continent.
Though he hadn't shown it, deep down he had always held on to the pride of a transmigrator.
"Did I push things too far?"
He felt his body slowly swelling, puffing up like a balloon.
Even with all his strength, he couldn't immediately refine the immense power contained within by circulating the Mysterious Heaven Skill.
So Qian Yu waited.
He waited for that last sliver of hope.
"Tell me honestly. Did you plan this all along?"
After sensing Qian Yu's dire condition, Qian Renxue sighed softly.
She had only just regained some of her strength and awakened.
And this boy had already done something so reckless.
He knew it was impossible, yet he'd gone ahead anyway.
Wasn't it obvious?
He expected her to save him.
But if she did, she had no idea how long she'd have to sleep afterward.
"You can choose... not to help me..."
Qian Yu endured the agony and forced the words out with every last bit of strength he had.
It was true that he had schemed against Qian Renxue to some extent.
But more than anything, he hoped he wouldn't have to rely on that scheme.
Because if he didn't, it would prove, in its own way, how strong he'd become.
Now, it seemed he had still overestimated himself.
He still needed Qian Renxue's help.
"Don't help you? Do I really have a choice?"
"If you die, I'll cease to exist, too!"
"I see what's going on. You just find me annoying and don't want me to stay awake!"
Qian Renxue's voice was full of resentment, her words practically gritted between her teeth.
At this point, she had no choice at all.
Since that was the case, she could only give in.
But she was going to make that smug little brat suffer for it.
So Qian Renxue didn't help him right away. She let the immense power run rampant through Qian Yu's body.
"Damn it. You really can't afford to offend a woman—especially a petty one..."
Qian Yu could tell that Qian Renxue was using this chance to torment him.
But what could he do now?
All he could do was silently endure it.
He had brought this on himself by scheming against her.
Fortunately, when he reached his limit, Qian Renxue immediately used her divine soul power to suppress and guide the rampaging Soul Power.
That gave Qian Yu the chance to absorb it slowly, without worrying that the Soul Power would burst him apart.
Time passed slowly. It wasn't until three days later that Qian Yu finally finished absorbing the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring.
By then, he was practically crippled.
He couldn't summon even the slightest bit of strength from within his body.
After taking stock of his condition, Qian Yu figured it would take at least half a year to a year before he could stand again.
That was truly terrible news.
But there was no time to dwell on it now.
They had better leave first.
After all, no one could be sure when the Blue Silver Emperor would show up.
Before they left, Yan started another huge fire at Qian Yu's instruction.
They set the whole Blue Silver Forest ablaze, burning it to the ground.
If the first fire had been meant to draw out the Blue Silver King, this one was meant to erase the evidence.
After all, none of them knew whether the Blue Silver Grass Clan had any special means at their disposal.
If a Blue Silver Grass Soul Beast had used some special ability to leave behind information, then Ah Yin and the others might learn their identities when they arrived. That would spell trouble.
Even so, Qian Yu still wasn't entirely at ease.
But given their circumstances, this was all they could do.
Then the group hurried away.
Their mission had been risky, but the rewards were substantial.
Qian Yu had gained not only a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, but also a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone.
It was a Head Soul Bone, too.
The value of a Hundred Thousand Year Head Soul Bone was almost beyond imagination.
Not to mention them—even the Spirit Hall of old would have struggled to produce one.
Unfortunately, they already had Head Soul Bones.
So this Soul Bone went to Xie Yue.
"This... you're really giving it to me?"
Looking at the Soul Bone in his hands, Xie Yue still couldn't quite believe it.
Soul Bones with life attributes were almost universally compatible. Even someone with a Martial Soul that had Destruction attributes could fuse with a life-attributed Soul Bone.
Xie Yue knew that Qian Yu treated some of them as closer than others.
Obviously, the Soul Bone would suit Lüzhu better, since she had the closest relationship with Qian Yu.
He had never imagined that this Head Soul Bone would end up in his hands.
"Fuse with it. We need strength right now, and you need to break through to Soul Douluo as soon as possible."
"Maybe even reach the Titled Douluo realm!"
Qian Yu lay there and urged Xie Yue, who was still hesitating.
He was perfectly clear-headed about this.
When all was said and done, they had hunted for this Soul Bone together. By the rules of the Soul Master world, it ought to go to the strongest among them.
They had simply seen too many Soul Bones lately, so everyone had grown less greedy for them.
What mattered more was who was the best fit.
But there were limits to that.
If the Soul Bone went to someone in their group, no one else would have anything to say.
But if they gave it to someone who hadn't taken part in the hunt, even if no one voiced an objection, some would still feel uncomfortable.
It might even drive a wedge between them.
Even though many of them already trusted him completely, Qian Yu never forgot his place.
For now, he was only a Soul Ancestor.
In Douluo Continent, strength was what mattered in the end.
Of course, Qian Yu had another reason for doing this.
Perhaps Xie Yue would gain a healing Soul Skill from the Soul Bone. Then Qian Yu wouldn't have to lie there for so long.
As soon as he could use Soul Power again, the Hundred Thousand Year Dark Blue Silver Grass Soul Ring he'd obtained might help his injuries heal quickly.
"Thank you!"
Xie Yue didn't refuse again. He gripped the Soul Bone tightly.
Then, in front of everyone, he fused with it.
This was a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone. Even his younger sister hadn't had a chance to obtain one back when she was the Spirit Hall's Holy Maiden.
Xie Yue had never imagined he would be lucky enough to obtain a Soul Bone of such an age.
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