Qian Daoliu's Transformation, Invincible in the Sky!

The golden light slowly faded.

Above Spirit City.

That golden sun still hung amid the sea of clouds.

Qian Daoliu stood before the Angel God Statue.

The Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul behind him had become even more solid.

The Tenth Golden Divine Halo hovered silently outside his nine Soul Rings.

Inside the Worship Hall, the seven enshrined elders bowed in unison.

"Congratulations, Great Enshrined."

Qian Daoliu put away the Firmament Sacred Sword.

His gaze fell on the Angel God Statue.

"I am another step closer to a Divine Position."

Star Dou Great Forest.

Beside the Lake of Life.

Di Tian watched the golden words gradually fade.

"Qian Daoliu's rewards are very similar to Bo Saixi's."

Xiong Jun raised his head.

"One commands the ocean, the other commands the sky."

"Neither received a Divine Position directly."

Gu Yuena stood at the center of the lake.

Silvery, shimmering water flowed around the hem of her dress.

"They already possessed Godhood Inheritances."

"The Heavenly Dao is merely strengthening their foundations."

Di Tian looked toward Spirit City.

"As he is now, Qian Daoliu can already fight a First-Level God if he is in the sky."

"He just cannot sustain it for very long."

Gu Yuena nodded.

"A Divine Body, a divine domain, a divine artifact."

"Once those three are united, his Sky Authority will no longer be merely borrowed power."

The Far North.

Snow Empress looked up at the Sky Screen.

Ice Empress asked:

"Sister Snow, is Qian Daoliu stronger than Bo Saixi now?"

"In the sky, he is stronger."

Snow Empress gripped the Heavenly Frost Sword.

"On Sea God Island, he is still no match for Bo Saixi."

"Then how does he compare to the Sky-Devouring Demon God?"

"Before he became a god, Qian Daoliu was stronger."

Snow Empress gazed toward the distant golden sea of clouds.

"The Sky-Devouring Demon God now possesses a complete Divine Body and a Divine Position."

"Qian Daoliu has yet to truly become a god."

The Demon Whale Sea.

The Sky-Devouring Demon God stood on the purple-gold surface of the sea.

He looked up at the Sky Screen.

The Angel God's origin essence, the Firmament Divine Domain, and the Firmament Sacred Sword.

All three rewards had entered Qian Daoliu's body.

The nine Divine Halos behind the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King slowly revolved.

"Invincible in the Sky."

He watched the golden sea of clouds, a measure of scrutiny entering his mismatched eyes.

"In the sky, before I became a god, I was indeed no match for him."

"But now..."

Purple-gold Divine Power spread from his palm.

The Sky-Devouring Divine Domain expanded outward.

"He has yet to truly inherit a Divine Position."

"I have already reached God Level."

Heaven Dou City.

Dugu Manor.

Dugu Yan stood before the window in the East Courtyard.

She watched the last golden words on the Sky Screen, then turned to Ning Xian.

"Senior."

"Mm."

"After receiving his rewards, can Qian Daoliu really wield the combat power of a First-Level God?"

Ning Xian lifted his wine cup.

"In the sky, yes."

"Then who is stronger, him or Bo Saixi?"

"It depends on where they fight."

Dugu Yan nodded lightly.

She looked at the wine cup in Ning Xian's hand, then at the golden sea of clouds outside the window.

"Bo Saixi commands Sea God Island."

"Qian Daoliu commands the sky."

"Their powers are both tied to their own territories."

"Mm."

"What about you, Senior?"

Ning Xian drained his cup.

"I do not need a territory."

Dugu Yan blinked.

"You are just as strong wherever you are, Senior?"

Ning Xian set down his cup.

"More or less."

Dugu Yan studied his calm face and nodded lightly.

"I understand."

She turned back around.

The golden sea of clouds outside the window was dissipating.

Only the final line of text remained on the Sky Screen.

[Fourth place on the Douluo Continent Powerhouse Ranking: Qian Daoliu.]

[Reward distribution complete.]

The golden light on the Sky Screen vanished completely.

Night enveloped Dugu Manor once more.

Inside the room in the East Courtyard, Dugu Yan withdrew her gaze.

She turned and walked to the table, picking up the now-empty wine cup in front of Ning Xian.

"Would you like more wine, Senior?"

"Yes."

Dugu Yan lifted the wine jar and filled his cup.

Clear wine poured into the cup, and its rich fragrance soon spread.

She lowered her head to sniff it, then pushed the cup toward Ning Xian's hand.

"Can you really not let me have a sip?"

"No."

"Not even half a sip?"

"You would get drunk."

Dugu Yan sat beside him.

Her emerald-green dress spread beside the chair, and her dark-green hair fell from her shoulders, its ends coming to rest right beside Ning Xian's arm.

"What would happen if I got drunk?"

"You would sleep for a few days."

She glanced at the Celadon Gourd.

"Did you sleep for a few days the first time you drank it too, Senior?"

"No."

"Why?"

"My body is stronger than yours."

Dugu Yan pressed her lips together lightly.

She reached out a finger and touched the rim of the wine cup.

A drop of wine clung to her fingertip.

Ning Xian raised his eyes to her.

Dugu Yan immediately withdrew her hand.

"I did not drink any."

"Hold out your hand."

She hid her right hand behind her back.

"I already wiped it clean."

Ning Xian raised his hand.

A strand of mystic yellow radiance landed on her fingertip and swept the drop of wine away.

The wine hovered between them, shimmering with fine spiritual light.

Dugu Yan stared at the drop of wine.

"Even this tiny amount would make me sleep for a few days?"

"This is not ordinary wine."

"It smells quite nice to me."

"You cannot drink it even if it smells nice."

Ning Xian returned the wine to the cup.

Dugu Yan watched for a while, then could only look away.

She picked up a pastry from the table and took a small bite.

"You always say to wait until I reach Level 60, Senior."

"Mm."

"Once I reach Level 60, I want to drink wine first, then go to the Fourth Layer."

"All right."

"I also want to cultivate in the Third-Layer Lake."

"All right."

"And I want you to work out a new Soul Skill for me."

Ning Xian lifted his wine cup.

"You want quite a lot."

Dugu Yan moved a little closer.

"You promised, Senior."

"I promised to teach you Soul Skills."

"You just agreed to the other things too, Senior."

She held the remaining half of the pastry in front of Ning Xian.

"Once you eat this pastry, you cannot go back on your word."

"You have already eaten some of it."

Dugu Yan glanced at the tooth marks left along the edge of the pastry.

Her fingertips paused for a moment.

"Then I will get another one."

Ning Xian lowered his head and bit into the pastry in her hand.

Dugu Yan did not have time to pull her hand back.

A warm touch brushed her fingertips.

She froze for a moment, and the tips of her ears quickly flushed red.

"Senior."

"Hmm?"

"I already took a bite of this."

"You said that just now."

Ning Xian took a sip of wine.

Dugu Yan lowered her head and looked at her fingers.

She tucked her hand into her loose sleeve, then raised her eyes to Ning Xian again.

"Senior, you don't mind?"

"No."

A smile returned to her face.

Three pastries remained on the table.

Dugu Yan picked up a whole pastry and took a bite herself.

Then she held it out to Ning Xian again.

"This one is for you too, Senior."

"Are you doing this on purpose?"

"No."

Ning Xian looked at her.

She met his gaze without withdrawing her hand.

Their gazes lingered for a moment.

Ning Xian took another bite.

Dugu Yan put the small piece left over into her mouth.

Her cheeks puffed out slightly as she slowly swallowed the pastry.

"Senior, doesn't it taste better than before?"

"It tastes the same."

"How could it taste the same?"

"They came from the same plate of pastries."

Dugu Yan gave a soft huff.

She picked up the teapot and poured herself a cup of tea.

The tea had already gone cold.

She frowned slightly after taking a sip.

"It's cold."

Ning Xian raised a finger.

Mystic Yellow Radiance fell upon the teacup.

Steam soon rose from the cool tea.

Dugu Yan cupped the teacup in her hands and took a sip.

The temperature was just right.

"Senior, your Xuanhuang Power can even warm tea?"

"Yes."

"Can it cook?"

"Yes."

"Then do you know how to cook, Senior?"

"No."

Dugu Yan set down the teacup.

"I do."

Ning Xian glanced at her.

"You do?"

"Of course I do."

"You've never set foot in the kitchen."

Dugu Yan's expression froze for a moment.

"I've watched the cooks at the manor cook."

"Watching isn't the same as knowing how."

"It's very simple."

She immediately stood up.

Her emerald-green skirt slipped down from the edge of the chair.

"Wait here, Senior."

"What are you going to do?"

"Make you a late-night meal."

"I'm not hungry."

"You should eat something after drinking."

Dugu Yan walked to the door, then turned back to look at Ning Xian.

"You can't follow me, Senior."

"Why?"

"You can look once I'm done."

With that, she walked out of the room.

Footsteps soon receded down the corridor outside.

Ning Xian glanced at the pastries on the table.

Two remained on the plate.

Half an hour later.

The door opened again.

Dugu Yan walked in carrying a tray.

A few strands of her previously tidy long hair had come loose.

A little flour still clung to her fair cheek.

Over her long emerald-green dress, she now wore a light gray apron.

The apron was tied at her waist, accentuating its slenderness.

A bowl of noodles sat in the center of the tray.

The noodles varied in length.

The broth was very dark, with a few leafy greens floating on top.

Dugu Yan placed the noodles in front of Ning Xian.

"Senior, try it."

Ning Xian looked at the noodles in the bowl.

"You made this?"

"Yes."

"Is the kitchen still standing?"

She immediately raised her face.

"Of course it is."

"What about the pot?"

Dugu Yan fell silent for a moment.

"One cracked."

"And the stove?"

"It got a little blackened."

"And the cooks?"

"They're cleaning up."

Ning Xian picked up his chopsticks.

Dugu Yan immediately sat down beside him.

With both hands on her knees, she watched intently as Ning Xian picked up a noodle.

"How is it?"

Ning Xian took a bite.

The noodle was half soft and half hard.

There was far too much salt in the broth.

Mixed into it was also a trace of the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor's Soul Power aura.

"You cooked it with Soul Power?"

"The flame was too low, so I helped it along a little."

"Your Soul Power is poisonous."

"I can already draw the poison back in."

Dugu Yan looked at the bowl of noodles.

"There's no poison in it, is there?"

"No."

She breathed a sigh of relief.

"That's good."

"It just tastes bad."

The anticipation on Dugu Yan's face froze.

She picked up another pair of chopsticks, lifted a noodle, and took a bite.

The next moment, she spat the noodle straight back into the bowl.

"Why is it so salty?"

"You added too much salt."

"I only added three spoonfuls."

"What kind of spoon?"

Dugu Yan raised her hand to indicate its size.

The size she indicated was close to that of a wooden ladle used for serving soup.

Ning Xian set down his chopsticks.

"That's a soup ladle."

"Isn't it still a spoon if you use it for salt?"

"The quantities are different."

Dugu Yan looked at the bowl of noodles.

She reached out to take it away.

"Don't eat any more."

Ning Xian held down the rim of the bowl.

"What are you doing?"

"I'll go make it again."

"No need."

"This bowl tastes bad."

"It's still edible."

Ning Xian picked up his chopsticks again.

Dugu Yan caught his wrist.

"Don't eat it, Senior."

"Didn't you ask me to try it?"

"One bite was enough."

She brought the bowl of noodles in front of herself.

"I made it. I'll eat it myself."

Ning Xian reached out and took the bowl away.

Dugu Yan's hands remained suspended in midair.

"Senior?"

A wisp of Mystic Yellow Radiance fell into the broth.

The excess salt rapidly condensed, forming a tiny crystal that landed on the table.

The moisture within the noodles redistributed itself.

The half-raw noodles also cooked through under the Xuanhuang Power.

Ning Xian picked up some noodles and took a bite.

"It's fine now."

Dugu Yan leaned toward the edge of the bowl.

She lowered her head and sniffed.

The excessive saltiness had already dissipated.

"Senior, you can even do that?"

"I only separated out the impurities."

"Are these still the noodles I made, then?"

"Yes."

A smile returned to her face.

Dugu Yan picked up her chopsticks, took a leaf of greens, and brought it to Ning Xian's lips.

"Senior, try this too."

Ning Xian ate the greens.

"How are the greens?"

"Cooked."

"I meant the taste."

"Not bad."

Dugu Yan sat closer.

The edge of her apron brushed against Ning Xian's white robes.

She propped her chin on one hand and used the other to pick bits of leaves out of Ning Xian's noodles.

"Senior, this is my first time cooking."

"I can tell."

"It'll be better next time."

"You're going to cook again?"

"Of course."

She smoothed the long hair hanging beside her face.

The flour on her cheek still had not been wiped away.

Ning Xian raised his hand and gently brushed the side of her face.

His fingertip wiped away that little patch of white flour.

Dugu Yan went still.

She looked at Ning Xian, so close before her, and her lashes fluttered slightly.

"Senior, did I get something on my face?"

"Flour."

"Is there any left now?"

"No."

She did not pull away immediately.

Only half a foot remained between them.

Ning Xian's hand still lingered beside her face.

Dugu Yan shifted forward a little.

Her soft cheek nestled against his palm.

"Senior."

"Mm."

"My bloodline reshaping succeeded today."

"Mm."

"My Soul Power also rose to rank twenty-eight."

"Mm."

"And I made noodles for you."

"So?"

Dugu Yan lifted her eyes.

"Don't you have a reward for me, Senior?"

"What do you want?"

She gave it some serious thought.

"Come shopping for clothes with me tomorrow."

"You have plenty of clothes."

"Those are different."

"How are they different?"

Dugu Yan lowered her head and looked at the emerald-green dress she wore.

"Every time you see me, Senior, I'm wearing green."

"You like green."

"I can wear other colors too."

She reached out and gently tugged Ning Xian's sleeve.

"Help me choose, Senior."

"All right."

Dugu Yan immediately sat up straight.

She untied her apron, folded it, and set it aside.

"There's one more reward."

"You only mentioned one just now."

"I just thought of a second."

"Tell me."

She turned to look at the begonia tree outside the window.

"Come plant the begonia tree on the third level with me."

Ning Xian set down his chopsticks.

"Now?"

"Mm."

"It's already very late."

"You don't need to sleep, Senior."

"You do."

"I'll sleep once we've planted it."

Dugu Yan rose and walked over to Ning Xian.

She took his hand and pulled him up from his chair.

"Senior, let's go."

"Finish the noodles first."

"We'll eat them when we get back."

"They'll get cold."

"You can heat them up, Senior."

Ning Xian glanced at her.

Dugu Yan tightened her hold on his hand and led him into the courtyard.

Petals carpeted the ground beneath the begonia tree.

She spent a long time choosing before finally finding a newly sprouted seedling beside the tree.

The seedling was only half a foot tall.

Its branches bore just a few tender leaves.

Dugu Yan crouched down, lifted her skirt, and dug away the soil around the seedling little by little.