Qian Xunqian added, "Uncle, Brother, my eye Martial Soul mutated from the Six-Winged Angel. It's called Angel Eye, a mental-type Martial Soul with effects such as seeing through illusions and purification."
"It's especially effective at countering Evil Spirit Masters who specialize in mental powers."
"Excellent! Excellent!" Qian Daoliu exclaimed delightedly.
The only right thing his useless younger brother and sister-in-law had ever done was entrust their child to him to raise instead of taking her along on their travels around the world.
Otherwise, their Spirit Hall would have missed out on another genius!
"Let's test your Soul Power!"
Qian Xunqian placed her hand on the specially made crystal ball.
"Innate Soul Power: Rank 15!"
Qian Daoliu wasn't surprised. With a god-level Martial Soul, having high innate Soul Power was perfectly normal. He himself had been Rank 15 back then.
As the thought crossed his mind, he snuck a glance at Qian Xunji and silently sighed.
Qian Xunji had been born with Rank 11 Soul Power, the least talented descendant of the Angel Family to date. After struggling all the way to Titled Douluo, he still couldn't absorb a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring.
Of course, by the standards of the outside world, a configuration of yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black already made someone a peerless genius.
But in the Angel Family, if you didn't have a red ring, your aunts and uncles would tease you mercilessly.
Fortunately, his foolish younger brother, blinded by love, had gone traveling around the world. Otherwise, seeing little Ji'er's Soul Ring configuration, where would he put his old face?
He'd probably think his big brother had grown old, could no longer lift a blade or kill a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, and could only make do with a ten-thousand-year one for his son...
Qian Xunji seemed to sense the disappointment in his father's gaze. He lowered his head slightly, hiding the gloom on his face.
The other one lost in thought was Ning Fengzhi. Over the past two years, while staying at Spirit Hall as a "hostage"—no, a fiancé!—he had observed Spirit Hall from every angle.
In his view, the rumors couldn't be trusted. Spirit Hall was still powerful and hadn't weakened as the intelligence reports claimed.
Although Qian Xunji seemed a little obsessive, like he might cause trouble, the next generation wasn't a pushover. They had a Saintess with Twin Martial Souls, as well as Qian Xunqian, whose support abilities were practically a cheat code.
Qian Xunqian's political acumen far surpassed Qian Xunji's. Once she matured and gained a say in the affairs of Spirit Hall, she could take it to even greater heights.
If Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo put in the effort, they might not reach the limit, but they could at least make it to Rank 98. And with all the Titled Douluo in the Worship Hall, it wasn't as if they would all die off anytime soon.
Sigh... Looks like I'll have to submit to the Saintess of Spirit Hall...
Qian Xunqian withdrew her Martial Soul, and her eyes returned to normal.
"Uncle, I already made plans with Uncle Sky Crocodile. We'll first go to Star Dou Forest to get my First Soul Ring, then head to the Far North to search for Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's nest."
Qian Daoliu nodded and continued asking,
"You're only taking Sky Crocodile? Won't that be too dangerous? It'd be better to bring a few more people. Chrysanthemum Douluo, Ghost Douluo, your Martial Souls are similar to Second Miss's, so go with her."
Sky Crocodile thumped his chest and said confidently,
"Big Brother, you really are getting senile! I'm a Rank 98 Super Douluo! Protecting my little niece will be a piece of cake. Don't you trust a Rank 98 Super Douluo to keep her safe?!"
Qian Daoliu thought it over. That did seem right. How could a Rank 98 Super Douluo fail to protect her? Given Sky Crocodile's fondness for the younger generation, he'd surely stay by Qian'er's side at all times.
"Uncle, I'd like you to invite someone for me. After I get my First Soul Ring, she can come with us to the Far North."
"Who?"
"Shui Xiaoer from Skywater Academy."
"Oh? But she's only a Soul Ancestor. Why not invite Shui Xin, her academy's dean?"
Qian Xunqian replied,
"Shui Xiaoer is strong enough. She's the most talented student at Skywater Academy, and she has a bright future ahead of her. Besides, she's already reached Rank 50. Helping her get a Soul Ring in the Far North would earn us some goodwill."
"With a Rank 98 Super Douluo there, we can get any Soul Beast we want. The dean of Skywater Academy surely understands that."
Qian Daoliu nodded. "Qian'er, that's not your real purpose, is it? Have you made another breakthrough in that theory of yours?"
Qian Xunqian gave a slight nod.
"I want to go too! Teacher, please allow me to leave the academy and gain some experience..."
Bibi Dong dropped to one knee and made her request to Qian Xunji.
"Fine, fine. You're not a child anymore. It's about time you went out and gained some experience..." Qian Xunji waved a hand.
Ning Fengzhi naturally wanted to see the results of Qian Xunqian's research as well, so he made the same request.
The original trio had suddenly become a group of five.
Star Dou Forest,
"Little niece, what kind of Soul Beast do you want?"
"An Illusion Fox. A mental-type Soul Beast, preferably around eight hundred years old. But I like a thrill, Uncle Sky Crocodile, so get me one that's a thousand years old!"
Sky Crocodile nodded. "So, little niece, you want to cultivate your eye Martial Soul first. But although your physical abilities are comparable to a Soul Elder's, absorbing a Soul Ring beyond your limit is still too..."
"Uncle Sky Crocodile, just trust me! Don't worry, I'm at least eighty percent sure!" Qian Xunqian pleaded sweetly.
"All right, all right," Sky Crocodile said helplessly.
Even if something goes wrong, I can interrupt the absorption. At worst, we'll just have to wait another two months.
Thanks to her Aromatic Silk Beauty Martial Soul, Qian Xunqian carried a faint fragrance even without summoning it. This made the surrounding Soul Beasts covet her.
Fortunately, the aura of a Super Douluo like Sky Crocodile kept the Soul Beasts from swarming her.
It was already like this without her releasing her Martial Soul. If she did, wouldn't she trigger a beast tide?
Still, there was an upside: they didn't have to go trudging around looking for Soul Beasts. Mental-type Soul Beasts were rare, and Star Dou Forest stretched as far as the eye could see. Finding one would be like fishing for a needle in the ocean.
After all, not everyone had Tang San's luck, finding a suitable Soul Beast after only a few attempts.
The fragrance around Qian Xunqian soon attracted a thousand-year-old Illusion Fox.
Sky Crocodile acted in a flash. He brought his fist down without even summoning his Martial Soul, leaving the Illusion Fox on its last legs.
Qian Xunqian casually delivered the finishing blow, sat cross-legged, and began drawing in the Soul Ring.
Two hours later, Sky Crocodile started to grow nervous.
Could something have gone wrong with my little niece? Though, judging by her expression, she seems fine.
As she absorbed the Soul Ring, Qian Xunqian felt its energy.
The Soul Ring contains Soul Power. What exactly is a Soul Ring? How can it gather Soul Power without letting it disperse? Never mind, the energy's about to fade. I'd better absorb it quickly.
Another hour passed. Qian Xunqian stood up, let out a long breath, and released her Soul Ring.
"Your First Soul Ring is a thousand-year Soul Ring! A rarity throughout history!" Sky Crocodile exclaimed. "Little niece, what's your First Soul Skill?"
"Uncle Sky Crocodile, my First Soul Skill is Charm. I can charm Soul Masters and even Soul Beasts. I have a theory: if I cultivate Charm to its utmost limit, could I eventually charm a Soul Beast into willingly sacrificing itself for me?"