Ten Years × One Million Years ✓

The carriage left the main road and turned onto a side path leading to the Star Dou Great Forest.

Huo Yuhao lifted a corner of the curtain and watched the scenery outside change from farmland to wasteland, then from wasteland to increasingly dense woods. The trees grew taller and thicker, their branches and leaves blotting out the sky and slicing the sunlight into countless specks.

"Where are we going?" he asked.

"The Star Dou Great Forest." Qian Renxue sat across from him, idly turning an ancient-looking token in her hand. "I need a Soul Ring."

Huo Yuhao froze for a moment.

He remembered the Spirit Hall steward telling him that Soul Masters needed a Soul Ring every ten levels in order to keep breaking through. Since Qian Renxue needed one, then her level—

"Big sister, what level are you now?"

Qian Renxue glanced at him, the corners of her lips rising slightly as though she were enjoying the expression he was about to make.

"Level forty-nine," she said. "Almost fifty. If I can hunt a suitable Soul Ring this time, I'll become a five-ring Soul King."

Huo Yuhao blinked.

Level forty-nine.

Almost level fifty.

He remembered the Spirit Hall steward telling him that every ten levels in a Soul Master's cultivation was a hurdle. Level twenty was Grand Soul Master, level thirty was Soul Elder, level forty was Soul Ancestor, level fifty was Soul King, level sixty was Soul Emperor, level seventy was Soul Sage, level eighty was Soul Douluo, and level ninety was Titled Douluo.

That old man, She Long, who had stood outside the ruins, was a Titled Douluo.

And Qian Renxue, this big sister who looked only a few years older than him, was already nearly level fifty?

"You... how old are you?" he asked, then hurriedly added, "I don't mean anything by it."

He remembered his mother saying that one should not casually ask a girl her age.

Qian Renxue smiled.

There was a trace of pride in that smile, a trace of arrogance, and something complicated that could not be put into words.

"Sixteen," she said.

Huo Yuhao fell silent.

Sixteen years old. A five-ring Soul King.

He lowered his head and looked at his hands. They were small and thin, their knuckles distinct—children's hands. He was six years old this year. In another ten years, he would be sixteen too. What level would he reach by then?

Level thirty? Level forty?

Could he be like her?

"Little Yuhao, don't get hung up on it." Skydream Iceworm's lazy voice sounded. "The girl in front of you is no ordinary person. She has the aura of a god around her. I can sense that her innate soul power was level twenty."

The carriage stopped at the edge of the forest.

She Long and Porcupinefish Douluo got down first, vigilantly sweeping their surroundings. Qian Renxue rose to her feet, adjusted her robes, and looked back at Huo Yuhao.

"Wait in the carriage."

Huo Yuhao nodded.

But just as she turned around, he suddenly spoke.

"Big sister."

Qian Renxue turned back.

Huo Yuhao raised his head and looked at her. Something burned in his black eyes—not the hatred from before, but another kind of flame. A brighter, fiercer flame.

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Ask."

"I..." Huo Yuhao paused. "Can I achieve the same things as you?"

The carriage fell quiet for a moment.

Qian Renxue looked at him, surprise flickering in her eyes. She had not expected the child to ask that. Ever since leaving those ruins, he had been like that—silent, asking no questions, causing no trouble for anyone. Like a little beast that had crawled into its shell after being wounded, separating itself from the entire world.

But at this moment, that little beast had poked its head out of its shell.

Looking at the flame in his eyes, she suddenly remembered herself from many years ago. Back then, she had looked at someone the same way and asked the same question.

That person had said: You can.

And she had done it.

"You can," she said.

One word, yet more powerful than any lengthy speech.

Huo Yuhao's eyes brightened.

"Really?"

"Really." Qian Renxue walked back, crouched in front of him, and met his gaze. "Twin Martial Souls, innate full soul power, a hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring on your second martial soul—your starting point is far higher than mine. As long as you are willing to work hard, endure hardship, and keep going."

She paused, looked into his eyes, and said word by word, "Not only can you reach my achievements, you can surpass me."

Huo Yuhao looked at her.

At those golden eyes. At that earnest face. At this big sister he had known for less than two days, telling him such words.

"I will," he said.

No, he thought. My starting point isn't higher than yours. You had innate level-twenty soul power. You're God-Favored.

Qian Renxue smiled.

She reached out and rubbed his head.

"Good. I'll wait and see."

She stood, turned, and stepped down from the carriage. Porcupinefish Douluo was already waiting outside, and the two figures swiftly vanished into the depths of the forest.

Huo Yuhao sat in the carriage and watched the direction they had left through a gap in the curtain.

In the Sea of Spirit, Skydream Iceworm's lazy voice sounded. "That little girl isn't bad."

Huo Yuhao ignored it.

He simply stared outside at that forest which blotted out the sky, thinking of the question he had asked and the answer he had received.

Could I achieve the same things as you?

Even if you have innate level-twenty soul power, even if you are God-Favored.

You can.

Not only can you reach it, you can surpass it.

He did not know where that sudden confidence had come from, but he felt that he could.

He lowered his head and looked at his hands.

They were small and thin, children's hands. Yet he suddenly felt that these hands could grasp many things.

They could grasp the future.

They could grasp hope.

They could grasp—

That name, that face, that corpse pinned beneath the beam.

One day.

He clenched his fists.

Two hours later, an earth-shaking roar came from deep within the forest, followed by a golden beam of light shooting into the sky. It was so bright that it could be seen even from inside the carriage.

Huo Yuhao lifted the curtain and watched the golden light slowly fade.

Another hour later, Qian Renxue returned.

She carried a faint scent of blood, and several dark red stains marked her robes, but her eyes shone brightly and undisguised delight filled her face.

"Did it work?" She Long asked.

"It worked." Qian Renxue nodded and climbed back into the carriage.

The carriage started moving again, leaving the Star Dou Great Forest and continuing toward Spirit City.

Inside, Qian Renxue sat across from Huo Yuhao and extended her hand. Five Soul Rings rose beneath her feet—two yellow, two purple, and one black. The final black Soul Ring still carried a fresh aura, with a faint sheen flowing over its surface.

"My fifth Soul Ring," she said, a hint of satisfaction in her voice. "Ten thousand years. It suits me perfectly."

Huo Yuhao stared at those Soul Rings for a long time.

Two yellow, two purple, one black.

Five Soul Rings.

"Big sister," he suddenly said, "you're amazing."

Qian Renxue looked at him, smiled, withdrew her Soul Rings, and softly asked:

"Is your first Soul Ring really only ten years old?"

Huo Yuhao raised his head and looked at her.

Qian Renxue's gaze rested on him, carrying a trace of inquiry, a trace of confusion, and an indescribable deeper meaning.

"Earlier in the carriage, when you had your eyes closed, I sensed a very strange aura," she said. "Not the hundred-thousand-year one. Another aura. Deeper... much deeper. Like it was buried in an incredibly deep place, and even the slightest leak of it made one's heart tremble."

She stared into Huo Yuhao's eyes.

"What exactly is that white Soul Ring of yours?"

Huo Yuhao was silent for a moment.

In the Sea of Spirit, Skydream Iceworm's voice sounded. "It's fine to tell her. She has no ill intent."

Huo Yuhao thought about it, then raised his head.

"Big sister, if I said... it isn't ten years old, would you believe me?"

Qian Renxue's eyes narrowed slightly.

"How many years?"

Huo Yuhao looked at her and said, word by word:

"One million years."

The carriage was so quiet that the sound of heartbeats could be heard.

Qian Renxue looked at him for a long time.

Then she smiled.

There was no surprise in her smile, no doubt—only the understanding of someone who had expected as much.

"I knew it," she said. "I knew it couldn't be that simple."

She leaned back against the carriage wall, and the look she gave Huo Yuhao became even more complicated.

"A million-year Soul Ring, a hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring. Twin Martial Souls. Innate full soul power." She spoke softly. "What kind of monster are you, Huo Yuhao?"

Huo Yuhao did not know what to say and could only look at her.

Qian Renxue smiled and waved her hand.

"Alright, don't be nervous. This is a good thing." She paused, her expression turning serious. "But remember, this must be kept even more secret than the hundred-thousand-year one. A million-year Soul Ring—one has never appeared in the entire history of the Douluo Continent. If word gets out, it won't just be Spirit Hall. The whole continent will go mad."

She looked into Huo Yuhao's eyes.

"Can you keep a secret?"

Huo Yuhao nodded.

"I can."

Qian Renxue studied him for a moment, then smiled.

"Good. I believe you."

The carriage continued onward.

Outside, the sky gradually darkened as the setting sun painted it orange-red. Huo Yuhao sat in the carriage and looked at Qian Renxue across from him. She had closed her eyes, seemingly regulating her breathing. Eight Soul Rings slowly revolved around her, casting shifting light and shadow across her face.

He looked at those Soul Rings, at the girl who had reached eight rings at fifteen, and thought about what she had said.

Can you achieve the same things as me?

You can.

Not only can you reach them, you can surpass me.

He lowered his head and looked at his hands.

They were still small and thin, children's hands.

Yet he suddenly felt that these hands could hold many things.

They could hold power.

They could hold the future.

They could hold—

The blade of revenge.

In the Sea of Spirit, Skydream Iceworm's voice sounded again:

"Kid, remember this moment."

Huo Yuhao said nothing.

"Remember how much you want to become stronger. Remember the desire in your heart when you asked that question just now." Skydream Iceworm's voice was rarely serious. "Because the road ahead is long and difficult, and there will be countless times when you want to give up. When that happens, remember today. Remember this moment."

"Then tell yourself: keep going. Don't stop."

Huo Yuhao was silent for a long time.

At last, he softly answered in his heart, Mm.

The carriage continued onward, heading for Spirit City and an unknown future.

The last ray of sunset vanished beyond the horizon, and night fell.

Inside the carriage, Qian Renxue opened her eyes and glanced at Huo Yuhao.

The child had already fallen asleep.

He was curled up in the corner in a tiny ball, his brow slightly furrowed as though even his dreams brought him no peace.

Qian Renxue looked at him for a long time.

Then she reached out and gently draped the blanket beside her over him.

"Sleep," she softly said. "The road ahead is still long."