Three days later, the grand gates of Spirit City slowly opened in the morning light.
A black carriage that looked ordinary on the outside but was remarkably spacious and comfortable within rolled silently out of this holy land of Soul Masters, drawn by eight magnificent unicorns.
Inside, the carriage was far larger than it appeared from the outside, its decor understated yet luxurious.
Qian Renxue had changed out of her usual palace robes or fitted attire. She wore a simple moon-white dress, and her long golden hair was loosely pinned up with a jade hairpin. A few wisps fell around her face, lending her an even cooler air.
She sat by the window, her violet eyes watching the scenery race past, though her gaze seemed distant, as if she were lost in thought.
Qian Daoliu sat opposite her with his eyes closed, seemingly indifferent to everything around him.
But his very presence was the carriage's strongest safeguard.
With a Peerless Douluo at level ninety-nine escorting them in person, any force on the continent would think twice before crossing their path.
Their destination was Vast Sea City, on the western frontier of the Heaven Dou Empire—the only major coastal city on Douluo Continent, and the essential gateway overseas, especially to Sea God Island, as well as its most important port.
The wheels rumbled on, carrying the future hope of Spirit Hall and a marriage that might alter the balance of power on the continent, racing toward the sea.
Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, on Sea God Island.
The morning sunlight streamed through the towering stained-glass windows of Sea God Hall, turning into shafts of dazzling color that spilled across the floor of the vast, sacred hall.
A tranquil yet boundless aura filled the hall, forming a wondrous harmony with the sound of waves crashing outside.
A figure sat quietly in the play of light and shadow at the center of the hall.
He was a boy who looked about twelve or thirteen, dressed in a simple black robe, his posture straight as a pine.
He was handsome, with sword-shaped brows, bright eyes, a high nose, and clearly defined lips. Though his features still held a youthful softness, his brows already hinted at a composure and depth beyond his years.
Most striking was his jet-black hair, which stirred faintly with each steady breath.
Beside him, a flag hovered silently.
Its pole was dark as ink, neither metal nor wood, and carried the desolate air of something ancient beyond time.
The flag itself was an unfathomably deep blue, covered in countless intricate, mysterious runes that slowly flowed across its surface, seeming almost alive and as though they held the truths of the universe.
The flag moved without a breeze, radiating a gentle yet vast halo of water vapor. Faint tidal sounds echoed around it, making the three yards around the boy look like a dragon palace beneath the sea. It was his Martial Soul—the Mysterious Origin Water-Controlling Flag.
With each breath the boy took, five Soul Rings slowly rose from beneath his feet, circling him in a steady rhythm.
Their colors were enough to leave any Soul Master dumbfounded—and perhaps doubting reality itself. His first ring was a deep purple, while the second, third, and fourth were an even darker black, radiating a terrifying pressure! Most shocking of all was the ring floating on the outside, glowing with an eerie, noble crimson—the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring!
One purple, three black, one red!
This Soul Ring Configuration defied every convention in the Soul Master World!
For an ordinary Soul Master, absorbing a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring as their fifth was already the mark of a peerless genius. Yet at just twelve, his fifth Soul Ring was a terrifying hundred-thousand-year one!
And that was without even mentioning how outrageous the first four rings were.
Soul Power surged around the boy, his aura deep as the sea, yet suffused with an indescribable vitality and vastness.
His Soul Power Level had already reached level fifty-eight—the rank of a Soul King!
From his innate twentieth level upon awakening six years ago to level fifty-eight now, he had gained more than six levels a year on average!
If word of such a terrifying rate of cultivation got out, it would be enough to scare a whole host of so-called geniuses to death.
In truth, even Bo Saixi, the High Priestess of Sea God Island and a level-ninety-nine Peerless Douluo who had weathered countless storms, often found herself speechless and shook her head with a sigh. She had personally witnessed Li Qing's rocket-like progress over the past six years—and watched his Soul Ring Configuration grow more and more outrageous.
A great deal of the credit went to a certain deity who was eager to retire.
Here was how it happened: at first, Li Qing's Soul Ring Configuration, while far beyond ordinary, was still within the realm of understandable monstrosity. After all, he had absorbed a piece of Whale Rubber before obtaining his Soul Rings.
But once he officially began accepting the Sea God Inheritance, and showed potential that astonished even the Sea God, along with a perfect compatibility with the Mysterious Origin Water-Controlling Flag, things started spiraling out of control.
Poseidon, the Sea God, was an established First-Level God in the Divine Realm. His strength was formidable, his seniority considerable, and he ranked among the Divine Realm's most renowned powerhouses.
Perhaps he had spent too long in the Divine Realm and grown deeply weary of handling divine affairs. Or perhaps there was some other reason. Whatever the cause, Lord Sea God had developed a powerful desire to retire.
And Li Qing, his successor, had appeared as if right on cue.
His talent was heaven-defying, his Martial Soul mysterious and powerful, and his temperament seemed carefree but was actually tenacious. Most importantly, he cultivated at an astonishing speed and got things done with remarkable efficiency!
This gave the Sea God hope that he could soon lay down his heavy burden and live a life of carefree leisure.
So this capricious Sea God began checking in on his successor from time to time.
Li Qing had performed outstandingly in Tidal Body Tempering?
Hmm, reward him with a slight increase to his Soul Ring's age!
Li Qing had broken the record while traversing the Sea God's Light?
Excellent, another reward: increase his Soul Ring's age!
Li Qing had successfully absorbed a rare Soul Beast Soul Ring from the sea, one with an extremely high attribute compatibility?
Wonderful. Let's optimize those few low-age Soul Rings of yours while we're at it!
Sometimes, when Lord Sea God was in a good mood, or felt that Li Qing's progress was "just a little" slow, he would find an excuse—perhaps that the weather was exceptionally fine today, or that Li Qing was fated to cross his path—and bestow a divine gift, directly increasing the age of one of Li Qing's Soul Rings or pouring in a little pure divine power to help him break through.
Most importantly, the Sea God was powerful and held a lofty position in the Divine Realm. Gods weaker than him wouldn't dare interfere. Those stronger than him were either busy dealing with their own affairs or thought that giving his successor a little special treatment was harmless. After all, what god didn't favor their own successor?
Or they simply couldn't be bothered with such a trivial matter.
The Divine Realm governed many lower realms like Douluo Planet. As long as nothing major happened that overturned the rules, everyone was willing to turn a blind eye to a few internal perks.
So, with Li Qing working diligently (under pressure), and Lord Sea God's eager (impatient) assistance, his Soul Ring Configuration raced further and further into the realm of the absurd. By the time he was twelve, he had assembled this eye-searing combination of one purple, three black, and one red, while his Soul Power had shot up to level fifty-eight like a rocket.
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