First Soul Ring

After all the energy within the Blazing Fire Scale Python had been absorbed by the Silver Dragon Spear, Jun Xuehan's injuries had completely healed. A yellow soul ring flew out from the Blazing Fire Scale Python's body and settled onto the martial soul, the Silver Dragon Spear.

Jun Xuehan only felt an extremely scorching energy surge from the right hand gripping the Silver Dragon Spear and enter his body. With no time to think further, he sat cross-legged and began refining and absorbing the energy produced by the soul ring.

"No matter how the soul ring's energy assaults your body, as long as you stay conscious, there won't be any problems." As Qian Renxue finished her last sentence, Jun Xuehan had already closed his eyes, his consciousness entering his Spiritual Sea.

An incomparably scorching energy instantly spread through every part of his body. It felt as though he were standing in a sea of flames, as the searing heat continuously battered his body.

His Spiritual Sea suddenly lit up. Jun Xuehan seemed to see an ocean formed of flames stretching endlessly outward. At the very center of that fiery sea, the Silver Dragon Spear stood silently. No matter how the sea of fire crashed against it, it could not shake it in the slightest.

No one knew how much time had passed when the figure of the Blazing Fire Scale Python appeared within the sea of flames. The Blazing Fire Scale Python slithered through the fire, climbed directly onto the Silver Dragon Spear, and coiled around it. Boom! The Blazing Fire Scale Python transformed into a yellow soul ring, flashing continuously around the Silver Dragon Spear. The surrounding sea of flames also turned into streams of warm current that flowed into the Silver Dragon Spear.

After the sea of flames was completely absorbed, Jun Xuehan's Soul Power rose to the thirteenth rank of Soul Master. He also gained his first soul skill: Blazing Fire Striding Cloud.

First Soul Skill: Blazing Fire Striding Cloud. The Silver Dragon Spear was imbued with scorching flames, possessing formidable attack power. Repeatedly striking the same target could inflict a burning effect.

Jun Xuehan opened his silver eyes and rose from the ground. A yellow Hundred-Year Soul Ring flashed beneath his feet. His gaze swept over the surroundings. Dawn had already begun to break, while Qian Renxue leaned against an ancient tree, watching him with a smile. She Long, meanwhile, was resting with his eyes closed not far away.

When she saw Jun Xuehan awaken, Qian Renxue slowly said, "Xuehan, you're now a true Soul Master. You'll need to cultivate diligently from now on. At your age, it's precisely the time to build a solid foundation, so you must never slack off in your cultivation."

Qian Renxue smiled faintly as she considered how to arrange things for Jun Xuehan. He knew far too much now. Before she could win him over completely, she absolutely could not let him leave her sight.

His personality was cold and detached, yet he was exceptionally clever and skilled at concealing himself. Ordinary people would never be able to keep watch over him. Only by keeping him at her side could she truly rest easy.

After all, if she had not heard his inner thoughts, she would never have imagined that he knew of her scheme against the Heaven Dou Empire. Nor would she have imagined that a child of only six years old could be so adept at hiding himself.

"Thank you for the reminder, Sister Xue'er. I will keep it firmly in mind and never forget it." Gratitude appeared in Jun Xuehan's eyes, but it vanished in an instant, quickly returning to their usual cold, crystalline clarity.

What he meant by keeping it firmly in mind was not only what Qian Renxue had just said, but also the debt he owed her for saving his life, for Awakening Martial Soul, and for hunting the soul beast.

Without Qian Renxue, he might have died by the little river long ago. Without Qian Renxue, he did not know when he would have been able to awaken his martial soul, much less obtain a Hundred-Year Soul Ring.

Although Spirit Hall awakened martial souls for the children in villages free of charge each year, that required the village chief to lead them there. At a Spirit Hall Branch, however, one needed a certain status before undergoing Martial Soul Awakening.

Thus, all of this was a debt of gratitude. No matter what Qian Renxue's motives were, it was still a kindness. And since ancient times, debts of gratitude had been the hardest to repay.

Hearing this, Qian Renxue merely smiled and nodded. "All right. Now that you've obtained a soul ring, it's better for us to return as soon as possible. There's no need to linger any longer in Sunset Forest."

Qian Renxue led Jun Xuehan toward the outskirts of Sunset Forest, while She Long quietly followed behind them, watching Jun Xuehan with a smile.

To be fair, She Long felt that aside from being somewhat cold and not very talkative, there was nothing bad about the child. His talent was also exceptionally high.

After leaving Sunset Forest, Qian Renxue and Jun Xuehan entered the carriage, while She Long sat at the front and drove it onward.

"Head to a clothing shop in Heaven Dou City. Xuehan's clothes are rather worn, so get him a few new outfits." Qian Renxue looked into Jun Xuehan's eyes, hoping to see an emotion other than coldness within them.

Yet she was somewhat disappointed. Other than the fleeting gratitude from earlier, Jun Xuehan's eyes were almost always cold and detached, as though there were no second emotion beyond that coldness.

"Understood, Young Master!" After She Long answered, the carriage gradually picked up speed.

Upon returning to Heaven Dou City, the carriage stopped before a lavishly decorated clothing shop. Qian Renxue and Jun Xuehan stepped out of the carriage and walked directly inside.

Qian Renxue swept her gaze around the shop and said, "Xuehan, just take whichever ones you like. There's no need to be polite."

Jun Xuehan looked at the price of one garment, and his eyes narrowed slightly. His body, which had been about to move, stopped. A single outfit cost tens of thousands of Gold Soul Coins. That was outrageously expensive.

One Gold Soul Coin was enough to cover a family of four's expenses for an entire year, yet a single piece of clothing cost tens of thousands of Gold Soul Coins.

This price is absurdly high. I'd better not take things at random. Debts of gratitude are the hardest things to repay. Jun Xuehan muttered inwardly, remaining quietly where he stood without any intention of moving.

Hearing the voice that suddenly rang out in her mind, Qian Renxue merely smiled and did not think much of it. Still, he truly knew quite a lot.

Qian Renxue waved over a shop attendant and said, "Bring out the clothes in your store made from cloud brocade, silver thread, silk, and brocade feathers. Remember, not too many decorations. A simple, antique style will do."

The attendant revealed a professional smile. "Certainly, Miss. Please wait a moment." With that, the attendant turned and went to fetch the garments Qian Renxue had requested.

Qian Renxue then brought Jun Xuehan to sit in a resting area, quietly waiting for the attendant to bring over what she needed.