Six years passed in the blink of an eye.
Inside the Holy Son Palace.
A young man sat cross-legged, having grown far taller than the six-year-old child he once was.
Black hair fell across his forehead. The childishness had faded from his brows, and his features had gradually become clear-cut and profound.
His eyes were closed, his breathing long and even. Soul Power rose and fell around him like a slow tide.
Suddenly, three Soul Rings rose beneath his feet.
Two purple and one black, their cold glow drifting through the dim palace chamber.
Purple signified thousand-year rings, while black signified ten-thousand-year rings.
For a boy of only twelve, such a configuration was enough to shock the entire continent.
Yet the changes had not stopped.
Soul Power within Li Qinglian suddenly churned violently, like turbulent undercurrents in the depths of the sea.
His brows furrowed slightly, and a fine sheen of sweat emerged on his forehead.
The next instant, a dense black radiance seeped from his chest, slowly separating from his body and drifting toward the three Soul Rings around him.
His fourth Soul Ring formally condensed.
The black Soul Ring merged among the two purple rings and one black ring, slowly rotating before stabilizing and falling still.
Purple, purple, black, black. Four Soul Rings spread out beneath his feet in sequence.
Two Thousand-Year Spirit Rings and two Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Rings.
Twelve years old.
Li Qinglian slowly opened his eyes. Deep within his pupils, an imperceptible golden-white gleam flashed and vanished.
He lowered his head to look at the Soul Rings circling him, and a satisfied curve lifted the corners of his lips.
He was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast who had taken human form. Unlike ordinary Soul Masters, he did not need to hunt Soul Beasts to obtain Soul Rings.
When his cultivation reached the corresponding realm, the Death Divine Tree's source power would automatically condense Soul Rings suited to him.
"The first and second Soul Rings aren't far from reaching ten thousand years either."
Li Qinglian looked toward the two deep-purple Soul Rings beneath him.
Thanks to his ability to use absorbed energy to increase the age of his Soul Rings, these two Thousand-Year Spirit Rings were already equivalent to rings of around nine thousand years. Before long, they would grow into Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Rings.
The strength of his soul skills would be able to keep pace with Li Qinglian's growth.
Li Qinglian raised a hand and lightly curled his fingers.
The phantom of the Death Divine Tree gradually became distinct. Its twisted branches resembled black jade, every vein flowing with a dim, shadowy luster.
Amid those deathly black branches, several tender green flower buds were unexpectedly scattered.
They were tiny—so tiny that they would almost be overlooked without careful observation.
Yet they truly existed, like a few sparks suddenly lighting up the night sky, like the first sprout quietly emerging from scorched earth.
That hint of green was especially glaring against the Death Divine Tree's cold, grim backdrop, yet strangely brought a faint warmth to that extreme stillness of death.
Li Qinglian stared blankly at those flower buds for a long time.
Six years had passed.
During those six years, he had not rushed to break through to higher realms. Instead, he had chosen to settle himself.
He had spent much of his time comprehending his own origin, trying to understand the meaning behind death. Death was not merely an ending, nor was it simply deprivation.
It was one part of the cycle of all things, the inevitable point where the old made way for the new.
Death was not Destruction, but the herald of rebirth.
When he truly understood this, his Martial Soul quietly changed.
Those flower buds were the result of his six years of cultivation.
The Seed of Life had long since completely fused into his heart, becoming one with it and a part of his body. Li Qinglian named it the Life Heart.
His true form was the Death Divine Tree, yet he possessed a Life Heart.
Li Qinglian knew that his foundation had been established.
"Life Heart, Pure Heart Eyes..."
"If I had not taken human form, I could never have gained such blessings."
Li Qinglian murmured to himself.
As the Death Divine Tree, he would naturally reject other powers.
But after recultivating as a human, he had instead broken free of his true form's constraints.
The Dragon Clan's innate bloodline power and the Human Clan's potential for acquired growth were the fundamental reasons those two races had successively ruled this starry sky.
And now, Li Qinglian intended to bring the Human Clan's advantage to its fullest extent.
For a moment, Li Qinglian truly felt that he might have a chance to reach the level Dragon God once had.
If he became the leader of the Human Clan and relied on humanity's flourishing fortune, there was no reason a human emperor should be inferior to the Dragon Clan's leader.
The Dragon Clan had already declined and could never rise again. The future of this starry sky belonged to the Human Clan.
"It is time to go out and take a look."
Li Qinglian pushed open the doors of the Holy Son Palace.
During his seclusion, maids had brought food to his room. This was the first time in six years that he had stepped outside the palace.
But this was Spirit Hall, where time seemed to stand still.
Nothing had changed. Even the flowers and grass outside the palace remained exactly as they had been when he entered seclusion six years ago.
"Spirit Hall may be nice, but living here for too long really is suffocating."
"No wonder Bibi Dong was so rebellious when she was young."
"I don't want to stay in this damn place any longer."
Li Qinglian felt uncomfortable all over.
He preferred freedom.
He planned to travel across the continent and, while he was at it, visit the Shrek Seven Monsters.
He really was curious what kind of monsters they were for all seven of them to become gods.
He also had to make a trip to the Star Dou Great Forest and ask Gu Yuena for a few magical treasures.
Even the Goddess of Kindness had given him a grand gift. Gu Yuena ought to bleed a little too.
"Li Qinglian."
A crisp voice rang out, carrying a hint of delighted surprise.
Hu Liena hurried toward Li Qinglian, taking three steps as two.
"Hu Liena? After six years apart, you've grown much prettier."
After six years, the graceful young girl from the past had fully blossomed.
Her soft pink hair fell to her waist, its ends gleaming gently in the sunlight.
Her features had become more exquisite than they were six years ago. The innate fox-like allure between her brows had not diminished; instead, it had grown richer with time, like well-aged wine.
The corners of her eyes tilted slightly upward. When she looked at someone, it was as though her gaze carried hooks, effortlessly catching their attention.
She was dressed simply as well. A fitted white short shirt hugged her upper body, outlining her slender waist and pleasing curves; fitted white trousers accentuated her long, straight legs, while the line of her hips formed a full and smooth curve beneath the fabric.
Simply standing there, she was a sight to behold.
Hu Liena hurried up to Li Qinglian. Her pink eyes sparkled with the joy of reunion.
Hearing Li Qinglian's mutter, Hu Liena felt both pleased and bashful.
"So you mean I wasn't pretty enough before?"
"I suppose that's true."
Li Qinglian paused, then nodded.
Hu Liena's beauty was the kind that grew on people.
Six years ago, Hu Liena had not been particularly beautiful, nor had she been mature enough.
Another six years had passed, and her whole face now carried a fox's seductive charm. Only then did she possess considerable appeal.
In truth, Li Qinglian was somewhat face-blind. He had no idea whether Hu Liena was beautiful or not.
"Hmph. What do you know? Then tell me, among the women you know, am I not considered beautiful?" Hu Liena's cheeks puffed up in anger. She had waited for Li Qinglian for six years, and this was what she got?
"Uh... do you want to hear the truth or a lie?"
"Of course the truth." Hu Liena curled her lips.
At Spirit Hall Academy, she was a campus beauty, all right?
Other than Qian Renxue and her teacher Bibi Dong, who dared claim with certainty that they were prettier than her?
"Including you, I only know six women. Uh... you happen to rank sixth."
"So you're saying I'm dead last!"
Hu Liena's little face instantly turned cold.
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