Little bunnies are nice, little bunnies need raising

Cheng Ran: Watch closely. This is what you call a smooth little combo.

Golden light blazed in Cheng Ran (Qian Renxue)'s eyes as four soul rings lit up in succession.

Yellow, yellow, purple, purple!

Angel Assault!

A golden spear of light stabbed straight at the eyes of the Three-Headed Phoenix's middle head, forcing it to tilt its head back to dodge.

Angel Defense!

The eight wings folded forward, and a golden shield of light blocked the sweeping strike of the Three-Headed Phoenix's sharp claws.

Angel Frenzy!

Golden flames enveloped her entire body, and her speed surged. She circled the Three-Headed Phoenix at high speed, delivering a slash at every turn.

Angel Descent!

An angel phantom took shape in the sky, and a pillar of holy light crashed down squarely onto the Three-Headed Phoenix's back.

The Three-Headed Phoenix let out an agonized howl, beating its wings wildly and whipping up a storm of intertwined light and flame.

Cheng Ran (Qian Renxue) deliberately approached from the front, baiting the Three-Headed Phoenix into attacking.

The instant it opened its mouth, Cheng Ran (Qian Renxue) flashed aside. The Angel Blade formed on her right arm, and its platinum edge swept across its necks.

Blood sprayed.

The Three-Headed Phoenix let out a heart-rending shriek. Only its right head still struggled, spitting out one final burst of purifying power.

Cheng Ran (Qian Renxue) tanked it head-on with Angel Defense, then pierced the Three-Headed Phoenix's heart with an Angel Assault.

The Three-Headed Phoenix's enormous body crashed to the ground, and the light in all three heads went out at once.

An ink-black soul ring rose from its corpse.

Thirty-eight thousand years. A black soul ring.

Azure Luan Douluo descended from the air. Looking at the Three-Headed Phoenix Corpse on the ground, he froze.

His lips moved, and after a long moment, he managed to squeeze out, "Young Master, are you really only Level 50?"

Cheng Ran (Qian Renxue) neither confirmed nor denied it. "Third Offering, absorbing the soul ring will take some time. Please stand guard for me."

Azure Luan Douluo nodded instinctively, then came to his senses. "Wait, you're going to absorb it right now, Young Master? A thirty-eight-thousand-year soul ring, at level fifty-won't that..."

Before he could finish, Cheng Ran had already logged off. Qian Renxue herself sat cross-legged and drew the black soul ring into her body.

The soul ring's energy poured in like a raging torrent.

Azure Luan Douluo circulated his soul power, ready to intervene and protect her at any moment.

In his experience, for a level-fifty soul master absorbing a thirty-eight-thousand-year soul ring, the Soul Shock alone was enough to destroy their spiritual world, and the energy surge was enough to burst their meridians.

But what happened next shattered this level-ninety-seven Super Douluo's entire worldview.

The soul ring's blazing fire energy poured in, only to be directly absorbed and converted by her ice and fire immunity constitution. It fed back into her as gentle soul power, and a comfortable expression appeared on Qian Renxue's face.

It was a little like soaking in a hot spring.

The light energy followed close behind, resonating intensely with the Eight-Winged Angel Martial Soul. Golden light flowed smoothly through her meridians without the slightest rejection.

The sacred energy poured in last, actively drawn in and absorbed by the Angel Right Arm Bone. The soul bone and soul ring formed a synergistic effect.

Throughout the entire process, Qian Renxue's expression remained calm, as natural as drinking water.

Standing beside her, Azure Luan Douluo began questioning his life.

When he had first absorbed a ten thousand year soul ring back then, the pain had been so excruciating that he had nearly failed to endure it.

"What..." Azure Luan Douluo muttered to himself. "What kind of monster is this girl?"

Ten minutes later, the soul ring had fully merged into Qian Renxue's body.

The instant Qian Renxue opened her eyes, platinum light erupted from the Eight Wings Angel.

Her fifth soul ring slowly revolved around her, a deep, profound black.

At the same time, a tremendous surge of energy erupted inside her, and her soul power soared like floodwaters bursting through a dam.

Level 50, level fifty-one...

Her soul power surged again and again, finally settling at level fifty-six.

Her ice and fire immunity constitution had converted all the Three-Headed Phoenix's flame energy into additional soul power. Combined with the experience points she had accumulated from grinding monsters in Sunset Forest, the energy from consuming immortal herbs, and the amplification from the Angel Right Arm Bone, these four stacked effects had propelled her straight to level fifty-six.

Qian Renxue stood up, feeling the surging power within her as the eight wings slowly folded behind her.

She raised her right hand. Her fifth soul ring lit up, and flames gathered at her fingertips, forming a holy feather of fire.

"Fifth soul skill, Angel Sacred Flame."

Platinum flames danced in her palm, possessing both purifying and scorching power.

Qian Renxue: Lord Evil God, this soul skill is so powerful! I can feel that it naturally counters the Dark Attribute and evil attributes.

Cheng Ran: Of course. The Three-Headed Phoenix's sacred attribute plus your Angel Martial Soul gives you a double dose of sacred power. When you run into evil soul masters in the future, just throw some fire at them and send them straight to the afterlife.

Qian Renxue: Wow (*❦ω❦)

Azure Luan Douluo stood to one side, watching Qian Renxue finish cultivating and rise. He was already numb inside. Comparing yourself to others really could drive you mad.

"Young Master." His voice was somewhat dry. "What level are you now?"

"Level fifty-six," Qian Renxue said calmly.

Azure Luan Douluo took a deep breath.

She absorbed a thirty-eight-thousand-year soul ring at level fifty without her expression changing once throughout the entire process. The Young Master truly possesses extraordinary endurance and resilience.

Azure Luan Douluo fell silent for a moment, then cupped his hands and bowed deeply. "I, Azure Luan, congratulate you, Young Master."

This bow was no longer made on Qian Daoliu's orders. It came from his heart.

Qian Renxue had won him over with her strength. She deserved his loyalty as Azure Luan Douluo.

Qian Renxue paused in surprise, then reached out to help Azure Luan Douluo up. "Please rise, Third Offering. You do me too much honor."

Azure Luan Douluo was a level-ninety-seven Super Douluo, the Third Offering of the Worship Hall, and one of Spirit Hall's strongest fighters.

Qian Renxue's heart jolted. Azure Luan Douluo voluntarily pledging his allegiance to her meant that the Worship Hall's military strength was truly coming under her command, little by little.

Previously, he had obeyed her out of regard for Qian Daoliu.

But from this moment on, Azure Luan Douluo would obey her because she had earned his recognition.

Qian Renxue had never imagined that a hunt for a soul ring could produce such a result.

But on reflection, Lord Evil God had said that once you displayed sufficient strength, followers would naturally be drawn to you.

Watching Azure Luan Douluo straighten up, Qian Renxue's gaze grew more solemn. "Third Offering, I'll be relying on your help a great deal in the future."

Azure Luan Douluo nodded firmly. "This old man is willing to serve you in any way he can, Young Master."

On the journey back, Qian Renxue flew through the air. Her level-fifty-six soul power made the Eight Wings Angel twice as fast as on the way there.

Azure Luan Douluo turned into a streak of azure light and followed close behind, still reflecting on what he had witnessed that day.

Cheng Ran: That's it for today. My spiritual power is almost depleted, so I'll go idle for now. Grind some monsters yourself after you get back. Don't slack off. Your level is too low. I don't even dare go too hard when I'm controlling you, in case I break you.

Qian Renxue: →_→ Understood, Lord Evil God.

After thinking for a moment, Cheng Ran added: Also, that information about Xiao Wu I asked you to look into last time-I want her file within three seconds of waking up. Got it?

Qian Renxue: Lord Evil God, are you really going to lay your hands on a little girl? Even if she isn't actually human.

Cheng Ran: Heh heh heh, who said I wanted to kill the rabbit for her bone? Xiao Xue, did I forget to tell you that Xiao Wu and her mother once saved Bibi Dong?

In Douluo OL, this was a hidden story branch quest.

Xiao Wu's mother had been devoured by a powerful soul beast from the Great Ferocious Land when she went alone to the Core Area to search for Xiao Wu's father. Bibi Dong had not killed her.

In addition, Xiao Wu and her mother had once treated a woman who emerged from the Core Circle gravely wounded, and they had learned human language from her. Later, Xiao Wu chose Taking Human Form and ventured into the human world. To some extent, this could be attributed to the curiosity about the human world that the woman's stories had sparked in her.

But Three Spoonfuls of Sugar himself had never directly revealed this woman's identity in either the main story or the side stories, leaving only enough hints for readers to draw their own conclusions.

The animated adaptation, however, had completely rewritten this part of the original story. Many players who had never read the original knew nothing about it. There was even a saying: "What the hell does Tang Jia San Shao know about Douluo Continent?"

But in the Douluo OL game Cheng Ran played, the completion Easter egg explicitly confirmed that the woman was Bibi Dong.

Before Qian Renxue could answer, Cheng Ran was already drifting off to sleep. Slurping back his drool, he said: Little bunnies are nice, little bunnies need raising. Grown-up bunnies have such long legs, so white, so big, so round, so soft...

His voice grew quieter and quieter as his consciousness began sinking into a dream of undying love between man and beast.

Qian Renxue: ...

Qian Renxue flew beneath the blue sky and white clouds. She raised her head and looked toward distant Spirit City, quietly saying in her heart, "Lord Evil God, thank you."

If possible, I don't want you to have any new believers.

Although she knew Lord Evil God could no longer hear her.