Second Upgrade

Ding, favorability change detected for Qian Renxue. Current favorability: 150/1000. Favorability threshold of 100 reached, rewarding Bloodline Enhancement *1.

Inside the bathroom, Qian Renxue was enjoying a hot bath as usual.

Outside the screen, Chen Qi sat on a wooden stool. Hearing the system's notification, he froze, not expecting such a significant increase in favorability.

This was Qian Renxue, after all—a Qian Renxue whose favorability usually fluctuated without rhyme or reason.

To gain over a hundred points in one go; was he dreaming?

"System, are you sure you didn't make a mistake? Is the favorability really at 150?"

"Ding, Host, do not question this system. If you hadn't claimed to be sent by the Angel God, the increase would have been even greater."

Even greater?

Chen Qi was puzzled. Did his deception really have that much of an impact on her?

Could it be that she was angry about being lied to?

It couldn't be that her favorability was absurdly high from the start; that would be too ridiculous.

"Chen Qi, bring me my clothes."

After soaking for half an hour, Qian Renxue was finally ready to leave and urged Chen Qi to fetch the clothes she had placed on top of the screen.

Looking at those small garments, Chen Qi felt nothing at all.

He wasn't a lolicon; he saw Qian Renxue as little more than a younger sister.

If it were the mature, older-sister version of Qian Renxue from ten years in the future, that would be a different story. If he could keep his composure then, he'd write his name backward.

"Coming, Master."

Chen Qi handed the clothes inside. A moment later, Qian Renxue pushed aside the screen and stepped out.

She stretched contentedly. She had to admit, bathing without being disturbed was truly refreshing!

"Alright, Chen Qi, Grandpa said he'd take me to test my soul ring skills today. Let's hurry!"

Chen Qi nodded. Yesterday, it had been too late after hunting for the two soul rings, so they hadn't had the chance to test them.

Outside Spirit City, in the outermost periphery of the Star Dou Great Forest, Qian Daoliu had been waiting for them for some time.

When he saw the two figures approaching, he nodded and walked up to them.

"Xue'er, are you ready?"

"Always ready!"

Qian Renxue's voice was loud, her expression resolute.

This took Qian Daoliu by surprise. In all the time he had raised her, this was the first time she had shown such spirit.

In the past, anyone with a discerning eye could tell she was just putting on an act, making Qian Daoliu wonder if he had been too harsh.

"Very well, Xue'er, release your martial soul!"

Hearing this, Qian Renxue paused and pointed at Chen Qi.

"Grandpa, my martial soul is already out, isn't it?"

"I don't mean Chen Qi in his current state. I mean the eight-winged angel Chen Qi that appears when your martial soul is awakened."

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

His hair, originally black down to his neck, lengthened to his waist and turned golden, shimmering as if he were covered in special effects.

Behind his back, wings emerged one by one, each large enough to envelop him entirely.

Qian Daoliu looked at the wings on his back and couldn't help but frown.

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

Wasn't that a character that only appeared in myths and legends?

Could it be that the game had bled into reality?

"Grand Priest, why are you looking at me like that? It's creepy."

Qian Daoliu's gaze made Chen Qi feel a chill down his spine, as if he were being targeted.

"Xue'er, have his wings always been ten?"

Qian Renxue asked, confused. Chen Qi was clearly an eight-winged angel like the first Angel God; how could he be a ten-winged angel from mythology?

"Grandpa, are you going blind? It's clearly one, two, three, four... ten?!"

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

I can't be getting presbyopia at such a young age, can I?

Qian Renxue thought to herself. Fearing she had also gone blind, she panicked and dove into Chen Qi's arms.

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

Qian Daoliu: Why did you have to add the word 'also'?

"Master, your eyes are fine. I just accidentally evolved a little."

That was far too careless.

What kind of careless evolution results in something straight out of a myth?

"Hahaha, my granddaughter is truly worthy of divine potential! Who else in this world could have their martial soul evolve automatically? This must be a blessing bestowed by the Angel God!"

Qian Daoliu understood once again. He laughed heartily, attributing everything he couldn't comprehend to the Angel God.

Angel God: I am not taking the blame for this.

In his arms, Qian Renxue looked at Chen Qi and asked in a puzzled whisper.

"You aren't actually sent by the Angel God, are you?"

"No, no, this all happened a bit suddenly. I'll explain it to you later."

"Can't you do it now?"

"No, the Grand Elder is right here."

"Does it matter that he's my grandfather?"

"I can only trust you."

In the end, Qian Renxue compromised. Since Chen Qi didn't want to share his secrets here, she would wait until they returned to talk in private.

Whether her grandfather knew or not didn't really matter.

"Alright, alright, Xue'er, don't get too lost in your joy. It's time to get down to business."

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

"Understood, Grandfather. Let's begin now!"

Facing the endless forest, Qian Renxue took a deep breath, and the first soul ring beneath her feet flickered.

A powerful surge of energy condensed in Qian Renxue's hands, radiating an intense white light. If one were to look at it without sunglasses, they would be blinded in less than half a minute.

"First Soul Skill, Holy Purification!"

BOOM!

The energy transformed into a beam of light that shot from her hands, piercing through ten trees in its path before finally dissipating into specks of starlight.

"Second Soul Skill, Holy Flame Scorch!"

The second purple soul ring rose beneath Qian Renxue's feet. She slowly raised her arm, and a brilliant white light ignited in her palm.

Above the forest in front of her, a ring of light appeared, from which streams of golden flames emerged.

They burned the forest below wantonly. In just a moment, the grove was left barren and devoid of life; even the Blue Silver Grass that covered the ground had been reduced to dust.

Qian Daoliu nodded. He was extremely satisfied with Qian Renxue's soul skills and their destructive power.

To achieve such power with only two rings—once she reached the Title Douluo level, a single flap of her wings would make the world tremble.

If he, Qian Daoliu, had possessed such strength back then, defeating Poseidon might not have been impossible.

After unleashing all her skills, Qian Renxue looked at her own hands, feeling somewhat confused.

In the depths of her consciousness, she had a feeling that her strength hadn't been fully unleashed.

A vast amount of power felt as if it were sealed away; she could sense it, but she couldn't touch or use it.

Standing to the side, Chen Qi witnessed the might of Qian Renxue's soul skills and nodded silently.

He raised his own arm, feeling as though he could also replicate Qian Renxue's soul skills.

So, he mimicked her movements and applied a small amount of force. The next second, a terrifyingly powerful force shot from his fingertips.

Wherever the beam touched, nothing remained. It struck the already barren earth, carving out a pit over six meters long and half a person deep.