Qian Renxue's Departure

Qian Daoliu heard this and walked directly over to Tai Yi. He probed Tai Yi's body with his soul power, only to discover that Tai Yi's physical constitution was indeed as he had claimed—it was fully capable of withstanding a thousand-year soul ring.

So, Qian Daoliu spoke up:

"Good, very good. It truly can absorb a thousand-year soul ring. Since you have chosen to cultivate the Golden Crow Spirit first, you should head back with Xue'er. It has been a while since she returned, and we old fellows will help you decide which soul beast to hunt for your ring. Once we have it brought back, we will let you absorb it."

Hearing this, Tai Yi replied:

"I understand, Grandfather. I will head out with Xue'er now. Remember to notify me when it is time to absorb the soul ring."

After speaking, Tai Yi took Qian Renxue by the hand, left the Elder Palace, and headed toward his own palace.

However, to Tai Yi's surprise, the moment he stepped out of the Elder Palace and the sunlight touched his body, he discovered that his soul power was actually growing slowly.

Although the rate of growth was not fast, it was indeed increasing. Tai Yi was quite happy about this; after all, he wondered how fast his cultivation would be under the sun.

But now was not the time to think about that, because Tai Yi realized his ear had been grabbed by Qian Renxue. Then, he heard Qian Renxue shout at him:

"Little Yi, what did you just call me? Has it been too long since I disciplined you? You need to call me Sister."

"I won't call you that. I'll just call you Xue'er."

As a transmigrator who had been a college student in his previous life, how could he bring himself to call a twelve-year-old girl "Sister"?

Hearing Tai Yi's words, Qian Renxue feigned anger and began to playfully scuffle with him.

Soon, the two returned to Tai Yi's palace. Upon arriving, Tai Yi asked Qian Renxue:

"Xue'er, how many days are you staying this time?"

Hearing this, Qian Renxue said:

"I have to leave tomorrow, and after I leave this time, I might not be back for several years."

"Why?"

Qian Renxue explained:

"I have been undercover for three years, observing Xue Qinghe's habits and everything about his life. Now that three years have passed, I have learned everything I need to know, so I am preparing to eliminate Xue Qinghe and take his place."

"Once I start impersonating him, I won't be able to leave the Heaven Dou Empire as often as I used to."

At this point, Qian Renxue fell into a melancholy mood. After all, from childhood to the present, her only playmate had been Tai Yi. Ever since she chose to go undercover to prove herself, her opportunities to see Tai Yi had become fewer and fewer, even though she could return to Spirit City every few months.

And after leaving this time, in order to avoid exposure, she didn't know how long it would be before she could return to Spirit City without the identity of Xue Qinghe.

"It's alright, Xue'er. Now that I have awakened my Spirit, if you can't come back, I will come to Heaven Dou City to find you once I have finished absorbing my soul rings."

As he said this, Tai Yi thought that once he went to Heaven Dou City, he could also take a trip to the Sunset Forest nearby. Tai Yi remembered that it contained the greatest opportunity for the original protagonist group in the early stages: the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Tai Yi held the mindset that even if he couldn't use the immortal herbs or absorb them, he certainly wouldn't leave them for anyone else.

Qian Renxue, hearing Tai Yi's words, looked at him very seriously and said:

"You said it yourself. You must remember to come find me when the time comes, or I will definitely give you a good lesson if I find the chance."

After that, the two continued to chat until the next day arrived.

When Tai Yi woke up and went outside to cultivate his soul power under the rising sun, he saw a plain-looking man walking toward him. Behind this man followed two others whom Tai Yi recognized: the newly promoted Titled Douluos of Spirit Hall, Pufferfish Douluo and Snake Spear Douluo.

Seeing these two, combined with Qian Renxue's words from yesterday, Tai Yi knew that this man must be Xue Qinghe—or more accurately, Qian Renxue disguised as Xue Qinghe.

So, Tai Yi called out to her:

"Xue'er, you look really ugly right now."

Hearing this, Qian Renxue said:

"How did you recognize me? Grandfather helped me with this disguise. Unless I voluntarily reveal myself, even a Super Douluo wouldn't be able to tell the difference between me and Xue Qinghe."

Tai Yi replied:

"I didn't recognize you, but I recognized the two Douluos, Pufferfish and Snake Spear, behind you. Plus, there was what you said yesterday. Not to mention, this is the core area of the Elder Palace; ordinary people can't get in here, so how could I not guess?"

To this, Qian Renxue said:

"I was just going to trick you for fun, but since you figured it out, I won't tease you anymore. I'm leaving now. Remember to come find me after you absorb your soul rings."

After speaking, Qian Renxue said to Pufferfish and Snake Spear:

"Two Elders, let's depart."

"Understood, Young Mistress."

Then, in the next second, led by Pufferfish and Snake Spear, the three disappeared from the spot and flew toward the Heaven Dou Empire.

Not long after Qian Renxue left, just as Tai Yi had resumed cultivating his soul power in the sunlight, he felt two extremely powerful auras of soul power flying toward him.

When Tai Yi looked up, he saw Qian Daoliu and Golden Crocodile both carrying a soul beast as they flew toward him.

Seeing this, Tai Yi understood that these two soul beasts must be his first and second soul rings.

Once the two landed in front of him, Tai Yi asked:

"Grandfather, Second Grandfather, are these my first and second soul rings?"

"Little Yi, after I discussed with your other grandfathers yesterday what kind of rings your Spirit should have, your Second Grandfather and I went to the Soul Beast Forest specifically to catch these for you so you could absorb them as soon as possible."

Golden Crocodile explained to Tai Yi.

At this moment, Qian Daoliu spoke up:

"Little Yi, here is a 1,500-year-old Holy Radiance Sky Roc and a 3,000-year-old Sun God Bird. The 3,000-year-old Sun God Bird, in particular, is the most suitable soul beast for you. Don't let its 3,000-year age fool you; even an average ten-thousand-year soul beast would perish at its hands. Furthermore, top-tier soul beasts like the Sun God Bird are rare these days. We were lucky to bring this one back for you, and I believe it will be of great help once you absorb it."

Hearing this, Tai Yi felt deeply moved and replied:

"Thank you, Grandfathers. I will prepare myself and begin absorbing the soul ring."

Tai Yi understood soul beasts well, so he naturally knew how rare the Sun God Bird was. If the Golden Crow represented the sun, then the Sun God Bird was the son of the sun.

From this, one could see just how powerful and rare the Sun God Bird truly was.

Without further hesitation, Tai Yi circulated his soul power and struck the Holy Radiance Sky Roc, which was already being restrained by Golden Crocodile. The Holy Radiance Sky Roc died instantly, and a purple thousand-year soul ring appeared above its corpse.

Seeing the soul ring, Tai Yi sat cross-legged, used his soul power to draw the ring toward him, and began his first soul ring absorption.