Su Chen's absorption of the 2,000-year Soul Ring went very smoothly and methodically.
Under the suppression of the Great Sun Golden Crow, the energy of the Azure Flame Sky Luan's Soul Ring slowly merged into Su Chen's own Soul Power.
With a pop, the bottleneck at level 20 Soul Power was broken through, and his strength continued rising steadily.
About five hours later!
Su Chen opened his eyes and woke up.
The joy on his face was impossible to suppress.
Level 23 Soul Power. Absorbing a Soul Ring beyond his limit had raised his Soul Power by an additional two levels.
And there was his second Soul Skill: Golden Crow Chasing the Sun!
Its short-distance acceleration rivaled Teleportation, and when launching an attack through short-distance acceleration in a straight line, its attack power increased by 100%.
With his second Soul Skill working together with his first, killing a Soul Elder instantly would be more than easy.
"Xiao Chen, seeing how happy you are, you must have gained a powerful second Soul Skill."
Qian Renxue spoke with a smile.
Su Chen restrained his smile and nodded with great composure.
"Yes. Thank you, Sister Xue'er."
Qian Renxue sighed inwardly. Su Chen was still wary of her and always suppressed himself around her. Even at such a happy moment, he did not dare smile from the bottom of his heart.
It will still be a long journey before I can truly enter this child's heart. I will definitely win him over.
His flames merging into my Martial Soul will allow me to use Solar True Flame. With the power of Solar True Flame, I am confident that I can defeat even that woman.
Because Qian Renxue wanted to sincerely win Su Chen over, she did not even ask about the specific effects of his second Soul Skill.
Soul Skills were a Soul Master's most important secrets. Rashly asking about the effects of someone's Soul Skill was no different from asking what color their underwear was.
Gao Lu looked at Su Chen with a face full of gratification.
A 2,000-year second Soul Ring—even for an old hand in the Soul Master world like him, it was something he had never heard of or seen before.
That 2,000-year Azure Flame Sky Luan was something that he, a mere level 46 Soul Ancestor, would find nearly impossible to seriously injure.
It was time to let go!
Having figured this out, Gao Lu let out a long breath, smiled in relief, and said:
"My lords, I'll have to entrust Xiao Chen to your care from now on."
"Xiao Chen, no matter how far you grow in the future, you will always be Nuoding Academy's finest student."
"If I stay any longer, I'll only hold you back. I'll take my leave and return to Nuoding Academy first."
For Su Chen's sake, Qian Renxue remained quite gentle in her attitude. It was also her way of thanking Gao Lu for bringing Su Chen before her.
"Take care, Headmaster. I will properly look after and nurture Xiao Chen from now on. When he becomes a Titled Douluo one day, both you and your academy will be proud of him."
Gao Lu grinned from ear to ear.
If his little Nuoding Academy could truly produce a Titled Douluo, it would become renowned throughout Fasinuo Province.
Su Chen was very grateful to Gao Lu. With the day of parting arriving so quickly, he felt somewhat dazed as well.
"Headmaster, thank you for taking care of me for more than a year."
"Also, please send someone to Holy Soul Village and tell my grandfather, Old Jack, that I can't return to visit him during this year's break. I'll go back to see him in a few years, so tell him not to worry about me."
"And Spirit Hall Branch Master Su Yuntao. He awakened my Martial Soul, applied for my academy placement, and even gave me ten Gold Soul Coins for living expenses. I have never forgotten him."
"Also, tell Xiao Wu that I've gone to train with the Titled Douluo experts of Spirit Hall. She'll probably be sad, so if she knows where I went, she should feel a little better."
Gao Lu readily agreed, then turned and left the Star Dou Great Forest.
A thoughtful look flashed through Qian Renxue's eyes.
Su Chen came from Holy Soul Village and had a grandfather named Old Jack. It was obvious that Su Chen cared greatly about his grandfather.
It seemed that after returning, she needed to send someone there. If Old Jack needed anything, she would satisfy every one of his needs.
Subtly and quietly, when Su Chen returned home in the future and saw it all, would he not become utterly devoted to her?
And Su Yuntao—what had that Spirit Hall Branch been doing? Why had they not reported a genius like Su Chen?
Still, they had at least taken some measures. He could be promoted, given a raise, and offered some benefits.
As for Xiao Wu, she was probably Su Chen's companion. Forcing him to separate from his companion really did make her deeply guilty. Angel God above, she would definitely compensate him properly in the future.
Qian Renxue turned her head and saw Su Chen lowering his little head, looking dejected. His refined and handsome face wore an expression of sadness.
The sight made her heart melt.
Seventeen-year-old Qian Renxue was overcome with maternal instinct. She gently took Su Chen's hand and made a resolute promise.
"Xiao Chen, from now on, Sister will definitely treat you well!"
Qian Renxue, who usually considered herself clever, was being wrapped around Su Chen's finger by someone with even deeper schemes.
He fully exploited the advantage of his young age, causing Qian Renxue's guilt and affection toward him to soar.
Su Chen pressed his lips together, putting on an act of forced calm while appearing deeply wary of them.
He had made up his mind. If Qian Renxue did not bring out something good to win him over, he would never give her a chance to raise his favorability.
He wanted Qian Renxue to increase her sunk cost and let her know that earning his favorability was not easy.
Don't just talk. If you have anything good, bring it out early. A Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone would be nice; if not, then a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone. Or just give me more money. That's practical.
You want to raise my favorability with empty words? Qian Renxue, with those honest-looking brows and big eyes of yours, you can't possibly just make empty promises without delivering, can you?
Even if you're pretty, I'm not bad-looking either.
It was as though she had heard Su Chen's thoughts.
Qian Renxue removed a gemstone ring from her hand and personally placed it on Su Chen's finger.
"Xiao Chen, do you know what a Storage Soul Tool is?"
"As the name suggests, it is a spatial device that can store items. This gemstone ring is my spare Storage Soul Tool."
"It has approximately ten cubic meters of space inside. I usually keep some Gold Soul Coins in it for daily shopping and rewarding others."
"This Storage Soul Tool, along with the Gold Soul Coins inside it, is my gift to you."
"Try it. You only need to inject Soul Power to open it. With a thought, you can take out items or store them away."
Encouraged by Qian Renxue, Su Chen tried injecting Soul Power and sensed an alternate space.
Inside was a pile of Gold Soul Coins, numbering several thousand.
A delighted smile appeared at the corner of Su Chen's lips.
Now that's more like it. My appetite isn't good—I don't eat painted cakes. If I'm going to eat cake, it has to be real.
He smiled faintly and expressed his gratitude.
"Thank you, Sister Xue'er. I really like this gift."
Qian Renxue beamed. Her relationship with Su Chen had finally broken the ice. This was a good start, and she encouraged herself inwardly.
Sooner or later, she would completely win Su Chen over.
"As long as you like it. Once I absorb my fifth Soul Ring, I'll take you to Heaven Dou City."
Afterward, Qian Renxue held Su Chen's hand and did not let go the entire way. Under the protection of She Long and Ci Xue, they continued deeper into the Star Dou Great Forest to search for the soul beast Qian Renxue needed.
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