Second Upgrade

"Ding, Qian Renxue's favorability has changed. Current favorability: 150/1000. Favorability has exceeded 100. Reward: Bloodline Enhancement ×1."

Inside the bathroom, Qian Renxue was once again soaking comfortably in a hot bath, just like usual.

Outside the screen, Chen Qi sat on a wooden stool. Hearing the system's message, he froze. He hadn't expected her favorability to increase by so much.

This was Qian Renxue, after all—the Qian Renxue whose favorability could rise or fall freely, without warning or reason.

It had gone up by more than a hundred in one go. Was he dreaming?

"System, are you sure you didn't make a mistake? Her favorability really reached 150?"

"Ding, Host, do not question this system. You said you were sent by the Angel God back then, so this time you were able to gain even more favorability."

Even more?

Chen Qi was a little confused. What did his lying to Qian Renxue have to do with it?

Could she have gotten angry because he'd deceived her?

There was no way her favorability was just absurdly high from the start, right? That would be ridiculous.

"Chen Qi, bring me my clothes."

After soaking for half an hour, Qian Renxue was finally ready to leave. She urged Chen Qi to bring her clothes, which she'd left on top of the screen.

Looking at those few little garments, Chen Qi felt nothing.

He wasn't a lolicon. Looking at Qian Renxue was more or less like looking at his little sister.

If she were the mature, big-sister version of Qian Renxue from ten years later, that would be another matter. If he could keep his composure for even a moment, he'd write his name backward.

"Here you go, Master."

Chen Qi handed the clothes inside. A moment later, Qian Renxue took down the screen and walked out.

She stretched contentedly. There was no denying it—taking a bath without anyone bothering you felt amazing!

"All right, Chen Qi. Grandpa said he'd help me test my Soul Skills today. Let's hurry!"

Chen Qi nodded. Yesterday, it had gotten too late after they'd hunted for two Soul Rings, so they hadn't tested them.

Outside Spirit City, at the outermost edge of the Star Dou Great Forest, Qian Daoliu had arrived early and was waiting for Qian Renxue and Chen Qi.

When he saw the two figures, he nodded, walked over, and said,

"Xue'er, are you ready?"

"Ready at any time!"

Qian Renxue's voice rang out, her expression full of determination.

Qian Daoliu was a little surprised. In all the years he'd watched Qian Renxue grow up, this was the first time she'd seemed so spirited.

Before, anyone with eyes could tell she was just putting on an act. It had even made Qian Daoliu wonder if he was being too strict.

"Then, good girl, Xue'er, release your Martial Soul!"

At this, Qian Renxue froze and pointed at Chen Qi.

"Grandpa, my Martial Soul's been out the whole time, hasn't it?"

"I don't mean Chen Qi in his current state. I mean the Eight-Winged Angel Chen Qi from when your Martial Soul awakened."

Qian Renxue nodded. With a thought, Chen Qi's body began to change.

His hair, originally black and reaching his neck, grew down to his waist and turned golden, sparkling as though special effects had been switched on.

Wings slowly emerged from his back, each one large enough to envelop a whole Chen Qi.

Qian Daoliu looked at the wings behind him and couldn't help frowning.

He remembered Chen Qi having eight wings. How had two more appeared, turning him into a Ten-Winged Top-Tier Angel?

Wasn't that the sort of character who appeared only in myths?

Could a game have become reality?

"Grand Elder, why are you looking at me like that? You're freaking me out."

Qian Daoliu's gaze made Chen Qi feel a chill down his back, as if someone had taken an interest in him.

"Xue'er, has he always had ten wings?"

Qian Renxue asked in confusion. Chen Qi was clearly an Eight-Winged Angel like the first Angel God. How could he possibly be the Ten-Winged Angel from myths?

"Grandpa, are your eyes going bad? There are clearly one, two, three, four...ten?!"

When Qian Renxue reached the end, she realized there really were ten. She quickly rubbed her eyes and counted again, only to find there were still ten.

Am I going farsighted at such a young age?

Qian Renxue thought, believing she must have developed farsightedness too. Frightened, she threw herself into Chen Qi's arms.

"Ah! Chen Qi, my eyes are broken too! I can see ten as well!"

Qian Daoliu: Why did she have to add "too"?

"Master, there's nothing wrong with your eyes. I just evolved by accident, that's all."

That was some accident.

Who accidentally evolved and brought something out of a myth?

"Hahaha! As expected of my granddaughter, gifted with divine potential! Her Martial Soul evolved on its own—who in the world could do that? It must be a gift bestowed by the Angel God!"

Qian Daoliu understood once again. Laughing, he pinned everything he couldn't explain on the Angel God.

Angel God: I'm not taking the blame for this.

Qian Renxue, in Chen Qi's arms, looked at him and whispered in confusion,

"Were you really sent by the Angel God?"

"No, no. This happened so suddenly. I'll explain it to you later."

"Can't you tell me now?"

"No, not with the Grand Elder here."

"He's my grandpa. That doesn't matter?"

"I can only trust you."

In the end, Qian Renxue gave in. If Chen Qi didn't want to tell her his secret here, they could talk about it alone when they got back.

Whether Grandpa knew or not didn't matter.

"All right, all right, Xue'er. Don't get so carried away. We have work to do."

After finishing his laugh, Qian Daoliu looked at Qian Renxue, who was whispering with Chen Qi, and spoke.

"All right, Grandpa. Let's begin!"

Facing the endless forest, Qian Renxue took a deep breath. The First Soul Ring beneath her feet glimmered.

A powerful energy gathered in Qian Renxue's hand, radiating intense white light. Without sunglasses, anyone who looked at it would go blind in less than half a minute.

"First Soul Skill, Holy Purification!"

Boom!

The energy burst from her hand as a beam of light, piercing through ten trees along the way before turning into specks of starlight and vanishing.

"Second Soul Skill, Holy Flame Scorch!"

The second purple Soul Ring beneath Qian Renxue's feet rose. She slowly lifted her arm, and a brilliant white light shone in her hand.

A halo appeared above the woods in front of her. Streams of golden flame poured out from within it.

They burned the woods below without restraint. In just a moment, the grove had been left bare and lifeless. Even the Blue Silver Grass blanketing the ground had turned to dust.

Qian Daoliu nodded. He was very pleased with Qian Renxue's Soul Skills and their power.

To reach such power with only two Soul Rings—once she became a Titled Douluo, a single beat of her wings would make the whole world tremble.

If Qian Daoliu had possessed such strength back then, he might even have defeated Bo Saixi.

After using all her skills, Qian Renxue looked at her hands, puzzled.

Somewhere deep down, she sensed that she hadn't fully unleashed her strength.

A great power seemed to be sealed away. She could sense it, but couldn't touch it or use it.

Beside her, Chen Qi witnessed the power of Qian Renxue's Soul Skills and nodded quietly.

He raised his arm, feeling that he could use Qian Renxue's Soul Skills too.

So he clumsily imitated her and used just a little power. The next second, a terrifying force shot from his fingertip.

Everything in the beam's path was left barren. It struck the already-bare earth and gouged out a pit more than six meters long and half a person deep.