Qian Qizhou watched him calmly, neither angered by Tang Hao's suspicion nor fazed in the slightest. He simply stated, "I have no reason to deceive you."
In Tang Hao's current state, even if he was a Titled Douluo, he had no strength to resist.
"I have no need to weave lies, much less waste words on you."
"I'm making this deal simply because it's the choice I prefer, not because it's my only option."
Tang Hao fell silent for a long while. The only sounds were the baby's faint cries and his own ragged, pained breathing.
His eyes brimmed with indescribable grief and anguish.
And a trace of despair—the desperation of someone driven to the brink by cruel reality, forced to grasp at any faint glimmer of hope.
Trembling, he slowly, painstakingly reached into his robes and took something out.
It was a translucent Soul Bone, suffused with warmth and surging life energy, its entire surface glowing with a soft blue-gold light.
Within that radiance, one could almost sense the undying love and will to protect that had remained until death.
This was the Soul Bone left behind by the Hundred-Thousand-Year Blue Silver Emperor, Tang Hao's wife, Ah Yin—the only relic she had left.
With a heavy heart, he held the Soul Bone out to Qian Qizhou. "Take it. I hope you'll keep your promise."
Even if this man was lying to him, he couldn't keep the Soul Bone safe.
Ah Yin was already dead. He could die too, but their child couldn't die here...
Qian Qizhou accepted the Soul Bone and gave a slight nod, examining it with interest for a moment. "So this is a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone? Truly extraordinary."
Seeing this, Tang Hao hurriedly reminded him, "What about your promise?!"
The youth didn't answer right away. With a thought, he put the precious Soul Bone into his Storage Soul Tool.
Then he looked up at Tang Hao and said calmly, "Don't worry."
As soon as the words left his mouth, three Soul Rings appeared beneath his feet—purple, purple, black!
Tang Hao's pupils contracted sharply as he stared at the youth before him in disbelief.
That Soul Ring configuration... How was it possible? He was only a Soul Elder, yet he could withstand a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring?
But the shock was immediately swept away by overwhelming joy and hope!
If he was so extraordinary, perhaps he truly possessed power beyond all imagination?
Then, under Tang Hao's expectant gaze, Qian Qizhou drifted backward and slowly rose into the air.
As the third Soul Ring beneath his feet suddenly lit up, he raised his hand and aimed his palm at the Blue Silver Emperor sapling stubbornly swaying amid the ruins. "King: Poem of the Dawning."
In an instant, the entire sky seemed to be painted by an invisible brush, turning a pure, warm gold.
A gentle breeze sprang up from nowhere and swept softly across the devastated land. Wherever it passed, the scorched earth began to show the faintest signs of life.
Gentle golden energy streamed from Qian Qizhou's palm like a flowing brook, pouring continuously into the tiny Blue Silver Emperor sapling.
This was the only non-attacking Soul Skill he currently possessed.
Poem of the Dawning could instantly transform a certain area into a domain that was absolutely advantageous to him.
As long as they were inside it, he and his allies would be immune to all negative effects.
It would also increase every attribute of all allies within the domain by 50%, while continuously restoring their Soul Power and vitality.
All forms of enemy attack would have their power reduced by 20% upon entering the domain.
With this boost, the feeble Blue Silver Emperor sapling began to brim with vigorous life once more, its growth visible to the naked eye!
However, he hadn't designated Tang Hao as an ally.
After all, they were strangers. If he healed that man's injuries, there was no guarantee he wouldn't fight back.
If Tang Hao went back on his word, wouldn't Qian Qizhou be in danger facing a Titled Douluo?
As time quietly passed, the golden domain shrouding the valley slowly faded, and the sky returned to its original colors.
Qian Qizhou withdrew his Soul Skill. The brilliant wings of light around him and the phantom crown above his head vanished as well.
He landed lightly on the ground, his face somewhat pale. Maintaining a domain of this scale had clearly consumed a great deal of energy.
The moment he steadied himself, Tang Hao asked anxiously, his voice full of apprehension, "How is she?!"
Qian Qizhou didn't answer. Instead, he glanced at the Blue Silver Emperor, now over a meter tall, its entire body glowing with abundant blue-gold light and its leaves crystalline-clear. The corner of his mouth twitched.
He turned to Tang Hao and gave him a look of near exasperation. "How is she? Can't you see?"
He gestured toward the vibrant plant. "Our deal is done. I restored her life force and preserved her most fundamental spiritual consciousness."
"But the sacrifice burned away all of her hundred thousand years of cultivation. I can't just conjure it back for her."
The meaning was clear: her life was saved, but he couldn't do anything else.
If Tang Hao wanted her to return to how she used to be, he would have to wait.
"What you need to do now is find somewhere safe, transplant her, and nurture her carefully."
Qian Qizhou estimated, "At this rate, by the time your son is in his teens, she should have accumulated enough spiritual awareness to communicate with you in simple terms."
"As for when she'll be able to take human form again..." He shook his head. "I have no idea."
At this, Tang Hao immediately focused on sensing the Blue Silver Emperor's condition.
Although she had become like this, that familiar trace of her soul was undeniably real!
Overwhelming joy swept away his tightly held defenses in an instant.
Ignoring his grievous injuries, he struggled to express his gratitude to Qian Qizhou. "Thank you, sir! Thank you!"
As long as Ah Yin could come back to life, that was enough. He could wait for her forever and stay by her side.
To him, as long as there was hope that his wife might return, no matter how long he had to wait, it was far better than losing her forever.
Standing off to the side, Qian Qizhou watched Tang Hao gaze at the Blue Silver Emperor, his expression filled with complex emotions he could hardly put into words: grief, tenderness, and the joy of having found what he had lost. A flicker of confusion passed through Qian Qizhou's eyes.
He'd known about this for a while, but still... for a Soul Beast—a plant-type Soul Beast, at that...
Maybe this world was simply mad. He certainly couldn't understand this kind of love that crossed species...
But as far as he was concerned, the deal was done, and he had kept his promise.
He looked up at the sky, now gradually darkening with dusk, and didn't linger. He said to Tang Hao, who was still overwhelmed by his emotions, "There was a battle here. Leave as soon as you can. Good luck."
With that, he said nothing more. He summoned his Martial Soul, stirred the Soul Power around him, and flew away moments later.
Reminded by Qian Qizhou, Tang Hao came back to his senses as well.
Indeed, a battle had just taken place here. Although the people from Spirit Hall had temporarily retreated, they could return at any time—or attract other prying eyes.
He endured the agonizing backlash from his shattered Soul Rings and the weakness of his body, struggling to summon the little strength he had recovered.
After digging Ah Yin out of the ground, Tang Hao fled with his wife and child.
Before you continue