Over here, upon hearing this, Qian Daoliu went straight to Tai Yi. He used Soul Power to examine Tai Yi's body and found that his physical strength was indeed just as he had claimed—it was already enough to withstand a thousand-year Spirit Ring.
Thus, Qian Daoliu said:
"Good, very good! You really can absorb a thousand-year Spirit Ring. Since you've chosen to cultivate your Golden Crow Spirit first, go back with Xue'er for now. Xue'er hasn't returned in quite some time either. We old men will first discuss what Soul Beast would be suitable for your Spirit Ring, then have someone capture it and bring it back for you to absorb."
Hearing this, Tai Yi replied:
"I understand, Grandpa. I'll leave with Xue'er for now. Remember to let me know when it's time to absorb the Spirit Ring."
After saying that, Tai Yi took Qian Renxue's hand and left the Worship Hall, heading toward his own palace.
However, what Tai Yi had not expected was that after leaving the Worship Hall, when sunlight fell upon him outside, he discovered that his Soul Power was actually growing slowly.
Though the increase was not fast, it was truly increasing. Tai Yi was delighted by this, because if that was the case, he had no idea how much faster his cultivation would be under the sun.
But now was not the time to think about that, because Tai Yi discovered that Qian Renxue had grabbed his ear. Then he heard her shout at him:
"Xiao Yi, what did you call me just now? Has it been so long since I disciplined you that you've forgotten? Call me Sister."
"I won't. I'm calling you Xue'er."
As a transmigrator who had been a university student in his previous life, how could he possibly bring himself to call a twelve-year-old girl Sister?
Hearing Tai Yi's words, Qian Renxue pretended to be angry and began playfully fighting with him.
Before long, the two returned to Tai Yi's palace. Once they arrived, Tai Yi asked Qian Renxue:
"Xue'er, how many days are you staying this time?"
Hearing this, Qian Renxue said:
"I'm leaving tomorrow. And after I leave this time, I probably won't be coming back for several years."
"Why?"
Qian Renxue explained:
"I infiltrated for three years. Throughout those three years, I constantly observed Xue Qinghe's habits and everything about him. Now that the three years are over, I've learned and understood it all, so I'm preparing to get rid of Xue Qinghe and impersonate him."
"Once I begin impersonating him, I won't be able to leave the Heaven Dou Empire as often as I used to."
At that, Qian Renxue suddenly fell into sadness. Ever since childhood, Tai Yi had been her only playmate. Since she had chosen to infiltrate in order to prove herself, her chances to meet him had become fewer and fewer. Even then, she could only return to Spirit City once every few months.
And after leaving this time, in order to avoid exposure, without the identity of Xue Qinghe giving her a legitimate reason to come to Spirit City, Qian Renxue had no idea when she would next be able to return.
"It's fine, Xue'er. I've awakened my Martial Soul now too. If you can't come back, then once I've absorbed my Spirit Rings, I'll go to Heaven Dou City to find you."
As he said this, Tai Yi thought that after going to Heaven Dou City, he could also make a trip to the Sunset Forest nearby. He remembered that it contained the original protagonist group's greatest early opportunity: the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. As for the Immortal Herbs within, Tai Yi's attitude was simple: even if he could not use them and would not absorb them, he would not leave them for anyone else.
Hearing Tai Yi's words, Qian Renxue spoke to him very seriously:
"You said it yourself. When the time comes, you must remember to come find me. Otherwise, if I get the chance, I'll definitely give you a good beating."
After that, the two continued chatting, and soon it was the next day.
When Tai Yi woke up and was preparing to go outside to cultivate his Soul Power beneath the rising sun, he saw an ordinary-looking man walking toward him. Two people followed behind the man, and Tai Yi recognized them as the Spirit Hall's newly promoted Title Douluo: Pufferfish Douluo and Snake Lance Douluo.
Seeing those two, along with what Qian Renxue had said yesterday, Tai Yi knew that this man should be Xue Qinghe. More precisely, this was Qian Renxue disguised as Xue Qinghe.
So Tai Yi called out to her:
"Xue'er, you're really ugly now."
Hearing this, Qian Renxue said:
"How did you recognize me? Grandpa helped disguise me. Unless I reveal myself willingly, 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 Pufferfish and Snake Lance Douluo behind you, and then there was what you said yesterday. Besides, this is the core area of the Worship Hall. Ordinary people can't come here, so how could I not figure it out?"
Qian Renxue said:
"I was going to fool around with you, but you recognized me. Then I won't tease you anymore. I'm leaving now. Remember to come find me after you absorb your Spirit Rings."
After saying that, Qian Renxue said to Pufferfish and Snake Lance:
"Two Elders, let's depart."
"Understood, Young Master."
Then, in the next instant, led by Pufferfish and Snake Lance, the three vanished from the area and flew toward the Heaven Dou Empire.
Not long after Qian Renxue left, just as Tai Yi began cultivating his Soul Power beneath the sunlight, he sensed two extremely powerful auras of Soul Power flying toward him.
When Tai Yi looked up, he saw Qian Daoliu and Golden Crocodile flying toward him, each carrying a Soul Beast in one hand.
Seeing this, Tai Yi understood that these two Soul Beasts were meant to become his first and second Spirit Rings.
Once the two arrived before him, Tai Yi asked:
"Grandpa, Second Grandpa, are these my first and second Spirit Rings?"
"Xiao Yi, after your other grandfathers and I discussed what Spirit Rings your Martial Soul should have yesterday, your Second Grandpa went specially to the Spirit Beast Forest to capture Soul Beasts for you, so you could absorb your Spirit Rings as soon as possible."
Golden Crocodile explained to Tai Yi.
At that moment, Qian Daoliu said:
"Xiao Yi, one is a fifteen-hundred-year Holy Radiance Sky Roc, and the other is a three-thousand-year Sun God Bird. In particular, this three-thousand-year Sun God Bird is the Soul Beast most suited to you. Don't be fooled by it being only a three-thousand-year bird—against ordinary ten-thousand-year Soul Beasts, it could still kill them. Moreover, top-tier Soul Beasts like the Sun God Bird are now rarely seen. We were fortunate to bring one back for you this time. I believe that after you absorb it, it will be of great help to you."
Hearing this, Tai Yi was deeply moved. He then said:
"Thank you, Grandpas. I can begin absorbing the Spirit Rings after making a few preparations."
Tai Yi knew about Soul Beasts, so he naturally understood how rare the Sun God Bird was. If the Golden Crow represented the sun, then the Sun God Bird was the sun's son.
From that alone, one could see just how powerful and rare the Sun God Bird was.
Tai Yi no longer hesitated. He circulated his Soul Power and struck the Holy Radiance Sky Roc, which Golden Crocodile had already restrained. The Holy Radiance Sky Roc died on the spot, and a purple thousand-year Spirit Ring appeared above its corpse.
Seeing the Spirit Ring, Tai Yi sat cross-legged and used his Soul Power to draw it toward himself, beginning his first absorption of a Spirit Ring.
Before you continue