Oh My, How Does This Woman Get More Beautiful the More I Look At Her!

Facing Sea Dragon Douluo's near-provocative questioning and the surging, overwhelming pressure bearing down on him, Qian Daoliu did not even twitch an eyebrow.

He stood with his hands behind his back, his expression calm and unruffled, as if the aura that would have terrified an ordinary Titled Douluo were nothing more than a gentle breeze brushing against his face.

His brilliant golden eyes swept over Sea Dragon Douluo with indifference, finally resting on his face. His tone was peaceful, yet carried an unquestionable majesty:

"Sea Dragon, it has been many years, yet your temper remains as fiery as ever. I have not come today to pick a fight; I merely have matters that require me to see Bo Saixi."

Hearing Qian Daoliu state plainly that he wanted to see Bo Saixi, Sea Dragon Douluo's heart felt as if it had been viciously pinched. His expression darkened further, and he blurted out, "The High Priestess is not here! Go back the way you came!"

"Not here?"

Qian Daoliu's handsome, sword-like brows shifted slightly. For the first time, a look of mild interest appeared on his face as he asked, "Where has she gone?"

Sea Dragon Douluo let out a cold snort, his tone stiff: "The whereabouts of the High Priestess are not for the likes of us to question. Even if I knew, why should I tell an outsider like you?"

"An outsider?" Qian Daoliu softly chewed on the word, the corners of his lips curling into a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. The expression held an indescribable meaning that made Sea Dragon Douluo feel an inexplicable sense of agitation.

Qian Daoliu did not grow angry; instead, he spoke in an even more composed tone: "In that case, I shall wait here for her return. Surely, Sea God Island is not so stingy that it lacks even a place for a guest to rest?"

"You—!" Sea Dragon Douluo's face changed drastically. His soul power fluctuated violently, and a blue dragon-shaped phantom seemed ready to burst forth from his body.

He would never allow a "dangerous individual" like Qian Daoliu to linger on Sea God Island, nor would he grant him any opportunity to approach Bo Saixi!

Just as the atmosphere grew tense and a conflict seemed imminent, a gentle yet slightly urgent voice rang out: "Sea Dragon, wait!"

Seahorse Douluo stepped forward quickly, tugging lightly on Sea Dragon Douluo's arm while giving him a meaningful look. He transmitted his voice secretly: "Sea Dragon, calm down! Do not be impulsive! He is, after all, Qian Daoliu, the High Priest of Spirit Hall, a ninety-nine-level peerless Douluo of the same rank as the High Priestess! The High Priestess is not on the island right now; if you truly provoke him and a fight breaks out, the consequences will be unimaginable! Even if the seven of us join forces and utilize the power of the Sacred Pillars, we may not necessarily gain the upper hand, and we might instead bring disaster upon Sea God Island!"

Seahorse Douluo's words were like a bucket of cold water, instantly sobering Sea Dragon Douluo, who had been blinded by jealousy and rage.

He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms, his gaze glaring fiercely at the still-composed Qian Daoliu, his heart filled with unwillingness and humiliation.

Yet, he had to admit that Seahorse Douluo spoke the truth.

The gap between level ninety-nine and level ninety-five might seem like only four levels, but in reality, it was an unbridgeable chasm!

Even with the seven of them holding the home-field advantage, they were no match for Qian Daoliu.

Once a fight started, Sea God Island would be the only one to suffer.

Finally, Sea Dragon Douluo took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his churning anger and bitterness, and squeezed a sentence through his teeth: "...Fine! Since the High Priestess is not here, it is not our place to drive away a guest. But I ask that you respect the rules: stay only in the guest area and do not trespass into the island's forbidden grounds! Let's go!"

With that, he shot Qian Daoliu a final, venomous glare. Filled with stifled frustration, he and the other Sacred Pillar Douluos transformed into streaks of light, vanishing back into the depths of Sea God Island, leaving behind only several strands of divine sense that remained locked onto the area, monitoring Qian Daoliu's every move.

Qian Daoliu watched the direction of their departure and shook his head lightly, not taking Sea Dragon Douluo's hostility to heart.

He casually found a clean reef on the beach and sat down, casting his gaze toward the boundless blue sea. His golden eyes drifted into deep thought, though no one knew what he was pondering. He only whispered softly in his heart: "Bo Saixi... where have you gone? And that child who stirred the aura of the Sea God's inheritance—what connection does he have to you?"

Meanwhile, deep in the ocean.

After another difficult struggle, the violently fluctuating soul power around Li Qing finally began to calm down.

He opened his eyes abruptly, a brilliant purple light flashing within them, and an aura far more powerful and solid than before radiated from his body!

He had successfully absorbed his second thousand-year soul ring!

He stood up from Xiao Bai's broad back and stretched his limbs, the feeling of fullness and strength within his body making him overjoyed.

The Mysterious Origin Water-Controlling Flag hovered beside him of its own accord, its banner fluttering without wind and emitting profound water-based rhythms. Beneath the flagpole, two deep purple soul rings pulsed slowly, radiating the powerful fluctuations unique to thousand-year soul rings.

Bo Saixi had been closely monitoring Li Qing's condition, and seeing that he was unharmed, she let out a silent sigh of relief.

She examined him carefully, her tone carrying a trace of imperceptible concern: "How do you feel? Absorbing two thousand-year soul rings in succession—is there any discomfort in your body?"

This was, after all, an unprecedented feat; she could not afford to be anything but cautious.

After all, Li Qing was now the successor chosen by the Sea God, and his safety concerned the future of Sea God Island.

Li Qing's thoughts stirred, and he retracted the Mysterious Origin Water-Controlling Flag and his soul rings into his body. Feeling the surging soul power and significantly enhanced physique, he flashed a bright, sincere smile: "Thank you for your concern, Big Sister. I'm fine—I feel better than ever! This time, I owe it all to your help and Senior Xiao Bai's."

[Oh my!]

Even as he expressed his gratitude, his inner thoughts couldn't help but become active again: [This woman looks even better the closer you get. How is her skin so fair, her eyes so blue, and her temperament so peerless... If I could really marry her and bring her home as my wife, this life would be worth it!]

Bo Saixi: "..."

Hearing this incredibly bold inner monologue with such crystal clarity once again, Bo Saixi's breath hitched slightly, and two faint blushes uncontrollably bloomed across her beautiful cheeks.

She shot Li Qing a look of shy annoyance. This little guy—what kind of messy things was he thinking about all day long!

Compared to Tang Chen's silent protection and Qian Daoliu's subtle admiration from decades ago, Li Qing's unreserved, almost "childishly blunt" delusions made her feel an unprecedented sense of... helplessness.

But strangely, after several times, she seemed to have... grown a bit used to it?

At the very least, she was no longer as shocked and flustered as she had been at the beginning.

She quickly composed herself, suppressing the strange feeling, and tried to make her voice sound calm and dignified: "It is good that you are unharmed. As the High Priestess of Sea God Island, caring for the successor to the divine position is my duty."

Having said that, she didn't give Li Qing another chance to "let his imagination run wild," and turned to Xiao Bai: "Xiao Bai, the matter here is settled. Let us return."

Xiao Bai let out a joyful, long cry and flicked her massive tail fin, turning around to carry Bo Saixi and Li Qing, cutting through the waves like an arrow released from a bow toward Sea God Island.