Absorbing a Thousand-Year Spirit Ring

Youquan slowly emerged from the shadows and said with a smile, "Mister, thank you. I was just wondering how to deal with this Fire Cloud Tiger. To thank you, I specifically used a great deal of Soul Power to give you a painless death."

As soon as she finished speaking, Youquan plunged the dagger into the man's heart once more, eliminating any chance of an accident.

After confirming that the man was truly dead, Youquan killed the incapacitated Fire Cloud Tiger.

A purple Spirit Ring slowly floated out.

"I remember Sister Shuang saying that purple Spirit Rings are thousand-year Spirit Rings. Looks like I'm pretty lucky." Youquan stretched out her hand, and drawn by her, the Spirit Ring flew over to hover around her.

"I remember Wild Bull's Spirit Ring dissipated very quickly last time. I need to absorb this quickly." Youquan released her Soul Force and found no people or Soul Beasts nearby. She climbed a tree, began circulating the Fennel Art, and started absorbing the Fire Cloud Tiger's Spirit Ring.

Youquan sat cross-legged beneath a large tree as the Fennel Art within her began circulating through her meridians. She released her martial soul, and as the purple Spirit Ring approached the Elemental Stone floating above her right hand, an immense pressure suddenly descended upon her.

Without giving Youquan much time to react, the purple ring abruptly contracted, shrinking to the size of a bracelet before slipping over the Elemental Stone.

Youquan instantly felt as if her right hand had been plunged into magma. Scorching energy surged wildly, flooding into her body as though she had been cast into raging flames. Her body began trembling uncontrollably.

Fortunately, Youquan had once absorbed Heavenly Flames. This degree of heat was not particularly difficult for her to endure.

However, as time passed, much of the Spirit Ring's energy remained unabsorbed, and Youquan's entire body became shrouded in a red mist of blood.

Youquan had received no formal education and knew very little about the knowledge of this world. Baishuang had also never told her the maximum age limit for absorbing a first Spirit Ring, so she naturally assumed that the higher the age, the better.

Facing a Spirit Ring far beyond her limit, Youquan immediately withdrew the Soul Force she had spread out to keep watch, using all of it to protect her meridians as she carefully absorbed this thousand-year Spirit Ring that exceeded her limits.

"How could such a young child appear here alone? And she's absorbing a thousand-year Spirit Ring far beyond what she can bear. Has she never learned any knowledge related to martial souls?" A golden-haired girl stood on a tree branch, frowning as she looked down at Youquan, who was enveloped in red blood mist.

"The junior academies are backed by nobles from the two great empires. Commoner children can only enroll through work-study slots, but those slots are becoming increasingly tightly controlled. Even if they manage to get one, they will face all sorts of difficulties. Even after entering the academy, they will be bullied by the nobles. It is quite difficult for them to study properly," the middle-aged man beside the golden-haired girl answered respectfully.

"Uncle Pufferfish, I'm very curious about this girl." The golden-haired girl was none other than Spirit Hall's young mistress, Qian Renxue.

The one who had just answered was Stingray Douluo, whom Grand Elder Qian Daoliu had sent to protect Qian Renxue.

Qian Renxue had been ordered to go to the Heaven Dou Empire and disguise herself as Xue Qinghe to carry out the Usurpation Plan. She had reached a bottleneck in her cultivation and had officially become a Soul King. With Stingray Douluo's assistance, she had only just obtained her fifth Spirit Ring.

"Young Mistress wishes to help her?" Stingray Douluo was not surprised. Although his young mistress held a noble status, she had always been very kind.

Qian Renxue pointed below and said to Stingray Douluo, "Uncle Pufferfish, look. From the traces at the scene, that little girl likely used that man, who was clearly no good person, to heavily injure the Fire Cloud Tiger. Then she assassinated the man and killed the Soul Beast. She ensured her own safety while successfully obtaining a Spirit Ring. I really want to help her. I don't want such a genius to fall here. Perhaps she may become a talent of our Spirit Hall in the future."

"As you wish, Young Mistress."

Qian Renxue smiled as a golden feather drifted toward Youquan. "This feather contains the power of evolution. It can help you digest the excess Soul Power. The rest will depend on you."

Yet before Qian Renxue could act, the beads of blood on Youquan's body stopped emerging, and all the Spirit Ring's energy was absorbed. A red glow gradually radiated from Youquan's body, and a circle of constantly dancing red flames appeared around her. But they were quickly covered by a wave of icy cold. The flames vanished, and the glow gradually faded as well.

After successfully absorbing the Spirit Ring, Youquan coughed up a mouthful of blood, collapsed to the ground, and fell unconscious.

Qian Renxue stared at everything before her in astonishment. A girl of merely six had absorbed a thousand-year Spirit Ring as her first Spirit Ring—and had succeeded. This was far beyond her expectations.

Seeing the unconscious Youquan, Qian Renxue stepped forward and gathered her into her arms. She said to Stingray Douluo, "Uncle Pufferfish, humans and Soul Beasts could appear here at any time. Let's take her with us."

"Your current identity is the Heaven Dou Crown Prince. If you want her to feel indebted to Spirit Hall, it would be more appropriate to send her to the Spirit Hall Orphanage or Spirit Hall Academy," Stingray Douluo advised.

Feeling how light the girl in her arms was, Qian Renxue could not help feeling a pang of heartache. To have such determination at so young an age, you must have suffered greatly too. Big Sister will take you home.

In an unquestionable tone, Qian Renxue said to Stingray Douluo, "I've made up my mind. This child will follow me from now on. Send her to Spirit Hall? How is that any different from handing her directly to that woman, so she can raise her to deal with me later?"

Looking at Youquan, Qian Renxue thought of her own unfortunate childhood. It was why she had developed a personality more mature than others her age. If not for her grandfather, she did not know what she would have grown into. She did not want this child in her arms, who suited her eyes so well, to end up like her.

"From today onward, you are my little sister," Qian Renxue whispered to Youquan.

Time passed quickly. It was not until the next morning that Youquan slowly woke in a gently swaying environment.

Sensing the aura of a stranger, Youquan instantly became alert.

"You're awake?" A magnetic young man's voice entered Youquan's ears, making her unconsciously reach up to touch them.

"Who are you?" Youquan watched the man before her warily. He had short golden hair and wore magnificent Crown Prince's robes.

"I am Xue Qinghe, Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire. I saw you unconscious beneath a tree in the Star Dou Great Forest. Afraid that Soul Beasts or ill-intentioned people might harm you, I brought you away," Xue Qinghe explained.

"Thank you." Youquan solemnly clasped her fist in her palm and thanked Xue Qinghe.

Xue Qinghe smiled at Youquan's gesture, then took out a plate of pastries and beckoned to her. "Are you hungry? Come eat something to fill your stomach first. Once we reach the city, I'll prepare something delicious for you. Look how thin you are."

"Thank you. I will definitely repay the debt of saving my life someday," Youquan promised. I never expected that only a few days after leaving the Flame Sect, I would already owe two debts of gratitude.

"You're still young. We can talk about repaying me later. Put on some weight first." Xue Qinghe smiled and handed Youquan a pastry.

"Thank you, Your Highness. Can girls become Crown Prince in the Empire now?"