Northwest of Tianhun City.
The borderlands.
The Quan Family.
Quan Cangtian led Xiao Xiao through the main gate.
Xiao Xiao followed behind, looking around curiously. She had never been to a place like this. The stone walls stood over thirty feet high, courtyards stretching into more courtyards, and the air was thick with the scent of Soul Power. Thicker than Shrek's.
Quan Cangyue stood at the gate.
His arms were crossed.
His expression was complicated.
"Young Patriarch, you've worked hard."
Quan Cangtian nodded.
He said nothing more.
Quan Cangyue watched his retreating back.
A Level 97 Titled Douluo. His bloodline was not pure enough. His level had been stuck there for twenty years without budging.
A six-year-old kid who dared to enter Shrek alone and negotiate terms. He had cured Ma Xiaotao, entered the Golden Ancient Tree, and earned Mu En's acknowledgment.
Even more ruthless than his father.
Quan Cangyue withdrew his gaze.
Then turned and left.
The main hall.
A relief of the Destruction Dragon Spear was carved into the stone wall. Its spearhead pointed downward, as if it were about to pierce the ground.
Quan Zhenshan sat in the seat of honor.
The pressure of a Level 99 Limit Douluo weighed down on the room, faint yet palpable. The air was thick as water. Even breathing took effort.
Quan Cangtian walked in.
The pressure struck him.
He did not move.
"What did that tree give you?"
Quan Zhenshan asked.
"Child of Nature."
Quan Zhenshan fell silent for three seconds.
"Good."
He did not ask for details.
But Quan Cangtian knew that his father understood what it meant. The Star Dou Great Forest. Di Tian. A bargaining chip. If the Child of Nature died, Douluo Continent would perish with him.
"What about Mu En?"
Quan Zhenshan asked again.
"He acknowledged me. But he'll keep an eye on me."
"Shrek's waters run deep."
"I know."
Quan Zhenshan glanced at him.
There was approval in those eyes, concern, and something else he could not name. He knew his son carried a secret. A power that did not belong to Douluo. But he did not press further.
The Quan Family did not ask questions.
They only looked at results.
"The Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife is in the treasury."
He said.
"Huo Yuhao's cultivation has been going smoothly."
"The Titled Douluo from Xiao Xiao's family has already arrived."
Quan Cangtian nodded.
"Anything else?"
"No."
Quan Cangtian turned to leave.
"Wait."
Quan Zhenshan called him back.
"That power on you—"
He paused.
"It does not belong to Douluo."
Quan Cangtian did not answer.
"I know."
Quan Zhenshan did not ask again.
But his gaze shifted from sharp to something more complicated. Worry? Vigilance? Or something else?
Quan Cangtian walked out.
The pressure behind him dissipated.
The air began to flow again.
The treasury.
The Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife lay on a stone platform.
Its blade was dark red.
Like congealed blood.
Fine cracks covered its edge, as if it might shatter at any moment.
Quan Cangtian picked it up.
A cold, sinister aura seeped from the hilt into his palm. It was as though something writhed inside the blade. Cold. Slick. Alive.
The dark red patterns on his arm twitched slightly.
The Fused Beast Gene reacted to whatever was inside the Engraving Knife.
He set it down.
"Leave it for now."
Huo Yuhao could not control it yet.
All thirty-seven of its previous owners had died.
This knife devoured people.
Ranked ninety-ninth among the Ranked Carving Knives. A vicious blade. Every owner had died differently. Some suffered backlash, some went insane, and some died suddenly for no apparent reason.
Electrolux could purify it.
But it would take time.
Huo Yuhao was in the Cultivation Room.
He sat cross-legged.
His Spirit Eye was slightly open, pale golden light flowing through his pupils.
Quan Cangtian walked in.
Huo Yuhao opened his eyes.
"Young Patriarch."
"Soul Power?"
"Level 14."
"Spiritual power?"
"Stronger than before."
Quan Cangtian nodded.
The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's foundation. Combined with Abundance marrow cleansing. Combined with the Quan Family's resources. Three layers stacked together.
Huo Yuhao stood up.
He was sturdier than he had been a month ago. His shoulders were broader, and his gaze was steadier. He was no longer that orphan who had been bullied.
"Thank you, Young Patriarch."
He said.
Quan Cangtian glanced at him.
"Cultivate well."
Then he turned and left.
Huo Yuhao watched his retreating back.
He knew he owed this six-year-old Young Patriarch one life. No, two. One for the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, and one for the Abundance marrow cleansing.
And the Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife.
And a place to live.
And cultivation resources.
He would repay him.
With his whole life.
Xiao Xiao stood at the doorway.
The Titled Douluo had already arrived.
The pressure on the Xiao Family had temporarily eased.
She watched Quan Cangtian's retreating back.
Her gaze had changed.
From "an interesting little brother" to "someone worth following."
Six years old.
He had cured Ma Xiaotao's Evil Fire.
Entered the Golden Ancient Tree.
Obtained the identity of Child of Nature.
Earned Mu En's acknowledgment.
This was not an "interesting little brother."
This was—
She did not know how to describe him.
Either way, following him could not be wrong.
Quan Cangtian walked over.
Xiao Xiao called out to him.
"Young Patriarch."
"Yes?"
"Thank you."
Quan Cangtian glanced at her.
"No need."
He left.
Xiao Xiao watched his retreating back.
Six years old.
Four years younger than her.
Yet his presence was stronger than hers.
She clenched her fist.
She had to work harder.
Otherwise, she would not be able to keep up.
The Cultivation Room.
Zixiao sat cross-legged in the center.
Purple-black lightning coiled around her.
Lightning patterns surfaced in her deep violet eyes.
Ten years old.
Level 34.
Far stronger than others her age.
Quan Cangtian walked in.
The lightning automatically dispersed.
Her lightning recognized him.
Zixiao opened her eyes.
She glanced at him.
Her gaze changed from calm to sharp.
"There's something on you."
"It's nothing."
"What about Shrek?"
"It's settled."
"That tree?"
"It gave me an identity."
Zixiao stood up.
Her purple-black hair cascaded down her back.
Lightning patterns flickered faintly across her skin.
She walked up to Quan Cangtian.
She was a head taller than him.
Ten years old versus six.
Her deep purple eyes fixed on him.
She held out her hand.
Her fingertips touched his wrist.
Cold.
Lightning seeped from her fingertips and coursed through his body for an instant.
She was "reading" him with lightning.
Then her brow furrowed slightly.
She sensed it—
A strange, violent force lay dormant within him.
Blue-white.
Ice and fire intertwined.
No.
It was not ice and fire.
It was something more dangerous.
"This—"
"It's nothing. I ate too much."
Zixiao withdrew her hand.
Lightning flickered twice at her fingertips.
She did not ask again.
But her gaze changed from sharp to something more complicated.
Worry?
Unease?
Or something else?
Quan Cangtian turned to leave.
Zixiao's lightning flashed behind him for an instant.
It was not an attack.
It was an instinctive reaction.
Her lightning wanted to keep him.
But she did not speak.
Quan Cangtian walked out.
The door closed.
Zixiao stood where she was.
Lightning danced at her fingertips.
She lowered her head and looked at her hand.
In that instant just now, she had sensed it.
There was something inside him.
Something very dangerous.
Blue-white flames.
Ice and fire intertwined.
"Ate too much?"
She did not believe him.
But she did not press him.
She was afraid that forcing him would only drive him farther away.
She sat there.
The lightning slowly faded.
Quan Cangtian returned to his room.
He sat cross-legged.
He closed his eyes.
He sensed his Consciousness Sea.
Electrolux was deep within his Consciousness Sea.
He was much clearer than he had been a month ago.
"Kid."
Electrolux's voice was steadier than before.
"This old man has recovered seventy percent."
"My memories are clearer too."
Quan Cangtian nodded.
"That power within your body—"
Electrolux paused.
"It does not belong to the Star God."
"Nor does it belong to Douluo."
"This old man needs time to study it."
"No rush."
Quan Cangtian said.
Electrolux did not ask again.
But Quan Cangtian could sense that strand of divine consciousness observing the blue-white flames within him.
Analyzing them.
Waiting.
"Oh, right."
Electrolux said.
"That carving knife."
"The Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife?"
"Yes."
"There is something inside it."
"I know."
"This old man can purify it."
"When?"
"When your Soul Tool proficiency is high enough."
"Alright."
Quan Cangtian opened his eyes.
Outside the window, night had already fallen.
He glanced east.
Toward the Star Dou Great Forest.
A faint trace of life force in the air seemed to be calling to him.
Child of Nature.
He could sense that the forest was waiting for him.
Di Tian was waiting for him.
The Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts were waiting for him.
Lake of Life was waiting for him.
"No rush."
He murmured.
He closed his eyes.
And continued cultivating.
Before you continue