Level 50

In the end, Qian Daoliu could only watch helplessly as Qian Renxue and the others left the palace, unable to do a thing.

If he rashly followed them, he might completely turn his granddaughter against him. It just wouldn't be worth it.

He stood where he was, gazing in the direction the carriage had gone, his face filled with complicated longing and worry.

On the way to the Star Dou Great Forest, the trees around them grew taller and denser.

Dugu Bo was curious about why Qian Renxue had suddenly turned against Qian Daoliu. He hurried forward and asked in a low voice.

"L-Lord, why are you ignoring the Grand Elder?"

Qian Renxue's eyes flickered. A hint of helplessness crossed her face as she softly explained.

"Grandpa's birthday is in a few days. Knowing his personality, he definitely won't celebrate it properly, so I came up with a plan. I'll make him think I dislike him first, so he'll pay more attention to me. Then, on his birthday, I'll find an excuse to bring him over and give him a surprise."

Everyone was stunned by the plan, their expressions varied.

They hadn't expected Qian Renxue, despite her young age, to have thought so carefully about her grandfather.

An ordinary little girl would probably just have pouted and cried until her grandfather agreed to celebrate his birthday.

"Is there anything this old servant can do to help, my lord?"

A trace of emotion flashed in Dugu Bo's eyes. He spoke solemnly, determined to do his part for Qian Daoliu's birthday.

"Not for now. I'll tell you when I need help."

Qian Renxue planned to work out the details after they finished obtaining Soul Rings and returned to Spirit Hall. She would make her grandfather's birthday the most lavish and unforgettable celebration on the entire continent.

Chen Xin walked at the head of the group without saying a word, but his heart remained unsettled.

He wanted a granddaughter this thoughtful, too.

If he were Qian Daoliu and knew his granddaughter had started planning so early for his birthday, he would probably be so happy that he'd fly around the continent.

He couldn't help thinking of Ning Fengzhi's daughter, Ning Rongrong. She was just over a year old and had only recently learned to walk, yet she was already a little rascal, like a tomboy. She couldn't compare to Qian Renxue at all.

The group soon ventured deep into the middle reaches of the Star Dou Great Forest.

Ancient trees towered overhead, blotting out the sky. Their dense branches blocked nearly all the sunlight, leaving them with very limited visibility.

The damp air was thick with the smell of soil and vegetation. No one knew whether a savage Soul Beast might suddenly pounce from the next thicket.

Chen Xin carefully placed a Soul Power barrier around Qian Renxue and warned her in a low voice.

"From here on, stay close behind me. The areas ahead are mostly home to Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts. Be extremely careful."

Qian Renxue obediently nodded and followed behind Chen Xin.

Dugu Bo, Pufferfish Douluo, and Snake Lance Douluo guarded her from the left, right, and rear, keeping her under tight protection.

With a lineup this extravagant, even the scion of a great family couldn't hope for such treatment—not even a king traveling abroad.

Qian Renxue was now the safest person on the entire continent. There was no one else.

Whoosh, whoosh!

A faint rustling came from the bushes beside them. Chen Xin's gaze instantly sharpened.

He cautiously stepped forward, drew the Seven Kill Sword, and with a flash of swordlight split the entire thicket in two.

A poor Soft Bone Rabbit in the bushes had been caught in the attack and cut in half.

Only after seeing that it was an ordinary rabbit did Chen Xin relax slightly. He waved for everyone to continue.

Seeing how cautious Chen Xin was, Qian Renxue couldn't help feeling exasperated. Did he take her for a three-year-old? He couldn't even tolerate the slightest rustle.

"Roar!!!"

A deafening dragonlike Soul Beast's bellow suddenly rang out in the distance, its shockwaves rolling toward them.

Chen Xin's expression changed at the sound, and he gripped the Seven Kill Sword at once.

He could clearly sense that the Soul Beast was rapidly approaching.

Whoosh—!

A fierce gale suddenly swept over them, and the sunlight overhead was instantly blotted out.

Everyone looked up and sucked in a breath.

A gigantic Light Wing Dragon, over ten meters long, soared above them. A pair of enormous wings radiating holy light grew from its back. Its scales shimmered with a fantastical sheen in the scant light, and its cultivation was almost a Hundred Thousand Years.

A trace of doubt flashed through Chen Xin's eyes.

It was strange that such a powerful Soul Beast, one nearing a Hundred Thousand Years, had never been mentioned anywhere on the continent.

"Fifth Soul Skill: Might Shakes All Directions!"

A black Soul Ring lit up beneath Chen Xin's feet. The next moment, countless swords appeared in the sky, raining down toward the Light Wing Dragon's magnificent wings.

The Light Wing Dragon cried out sharply in pain, then angrily raised a massive claw, trying to crush Chen Xin underfoot.

Chen Xin remained composed and smoothly unleashed another Soul Skill.

"Second Soul Skill: Spirit Sword Guard!"

Clang!!

The massive claw slammed into a shield formed from sword energy, ringing like clashing metal. Yet it failed to cause any damage.

"Sixth Soul Skill: Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin!"

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Countless strands of sword energy frantically converged around Chen Xin, forming the phantom of an enormous Seven Kill Sword.

Clutching the giant sword, Chen Xin leapt high into the air and slashed fiercely at the Light Wing Dragon's head.

The Light Wing Dragon quickly curled its wings around its head to shield it.

Boom!!!

The Seven Kill Sword crashed heavily into its wings, unleashing a terrifying wave of air.

A violent shockwave spread in every direction, buffeting Qian Renxue until she swayed and nearly lost her footing.

Chen Qi reacted quickly, grabbed her by the arm, and pulled her behind him, shielding her securely.

As the smoke gradually cleared, the Light Wing Dragon's wings lay cleaved apart. Its body was drenched in blood, and it collapsed to the ground, barely alive and letting out a low, pained moan.

Chen Xin looked at Qian Renxue and spoke gravely.

"Qian Renxue, if you can absorb a Soul Ring of ninety-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine years, you can try absorbing this one."

He knew it was nearly impossible for a Four-Ring Soul Ancestor, but Qian Renxue had always defied reason. Perhaps she really could manage it.

Qian Renxue nodded, then went forward with Chen Qi and ended the Light Wing Dragon's life.

A Soul Ring, black with a red tinge, slowly rose from its enormous body.

Chen Qi crooked his finger, and the Soul Ring immediately entered his body.

Feeling the immense power welling up inside him, he sat down cross-legged and began absorbing it.

Qian Renxue also sensed powerful energy surging into her body from nowhere. She closed her eyes and began absorbing it alongside Chen Qi.

Chen Xin's eyes widened at the sight.

He had lived all these years and had never seen a Martial Soul used in this way.

Soul Beasts older than ten thousand years had already gained intelligence. Absorbing their Soul Rings required not only a body strong enough to withstand the strain, but also a soul capable of enduring a tremendous impact.

Could Chen Qi and Qian Renxue really do it?

Chen Xin couldn't help silently sweating for them.

As it turned out, they had the system to thank. It had said that only it could exist in its host's soul space, and any soul attack or attempt at possession that entered would be instantly erased.

That was why Chen Qi and Qian Renxue wouldn't be affected by the soul impact.

Time ticked by. After a full hour, a bright red Soul Ring slowly emerged beneath Qian Renxue's feet.

Chen Qi and Qian Renxue opened their eyes at the same time, then stood up and stretched.

"Wait—what? A Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring?!"

Dugu Bo was stunned.

It was his first time seeing a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring with his own eyes. Hadn't that Light Wing Dragon been one year short? How had it suddenly become a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Beast?

Chen Qi hadn't expected Qian Renxue's Martial Soul to level up directly, reaching the exceedingly rare Hundred Thousand Year tier on the Douluo Continent.

"System, what's going on?"

"Ding! The residual medicinal power of the Immortal Herb in Qian Renxue's body allowed the Soul Ring to successfully advance during the fusion process."

Chen Qi nodded. He hadn't known Immortal Herbs could have such an extraordinary effect. They truly were treasures!

Boom, boom, boom!

Nine crisp sounds of breakthrough rang out from within Qian Renxue, one after another.

After absorbing the Soul Ring, she had actually broken through straight to level fifty! In other words, she could absorb another Soul Ring now!