The Great Geng Sword Formation was peerless in might, nearly burning the Three-Headed Red Demon Hound's soul to ashes.
But at this critical moment, a blue light rose from the ground, forcibly interrupting the casting and cleaving the sword formation in two.
"This guy is a Super Douluo. How about we run?"
After being swept aside by the currents of air, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm lost his nerve again and urged him to flee.
Lin Qian said, "Run? Didn't you see he came for us?"
"That doesn't mean we should just sit here and wait to die!"
"Be honest. Are you confident you can control him for two seconds with your spiritual power?"
"No, so let's run!"
"..."
"What are you thinking?"
As a rank ninety-six Peak Douluo, Chen Xin had detected something amiss with someone from his spiritual fluctuations.
His brows furrowed, and the Seven Kill Sword moved.
Lin Qian's will to survive was in full force. "I'm in the middle of a battle between heaven and man within myself. Please don't misunderstand, Senior." He glanced at the Three-Headed Red Demon Hound. "I hunted this Soul Beast. Would you be willing to let me have it, Senior?"
Chen Xin said, "I am Sword Douluo Chen Xin. Of course I can let you have it... but do you know this is the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's territory?"
The implication was-
You'll have to pay extra!
Lin Qian pretended he had only just recognized him. "So you're His Eminence Sword Douluo! I've long admired your great name!"
Though satisfied with his attitude, Chen Xin absolutely could not give up a hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast so easily. He had to pay extra!
He answered with aloof coolness. "Mm."
In truth, the Soul Beast was secondary. Lin Qian had been waiting for someone from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Whether it was Bone Douluo or the Sword Douluo before him, he had come prepared and began negotiating-or rather, hoodwinking.
Lin Qian said, "My family has some modest assets, but with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's vast holdings, they may not catch your eye. So I promise that as long as I'm still cultivating, I will repay your sect's kindness in the future!"
This kid certainly has a way with words~
The beast is about to die anyway, and I don't need a Soul Ring. There's no point keeping it. I might as well do him a favor while the current runs my way.
Chen Xin devoted himself to the way of the sword and followed the code of the martial world. Since he admired the younger generation's abilities, he did not make things too difficult for him.
Otherwise, had it been the shrewd sect master Ning Fengzhi, he would at least have made him sign away his services and stripped a layer of skin off him.
"Very well. Absorb it first. I'll test you afterward."
After Lin Qian's savage beating and the Great Geng Sword Formation's suppression, the Three-Headed Red Demon Hound was barely breathing and looked ready to kick the bucket. Not wanting to waste the Soul Ring, Chen Xin signaled for him to absorb it first.
This truly was an unexpected delight. He had achieved his goal of establishing ties with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and even scored a free Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring. Lin Qian was both surprised and excited.
This time, he was not pretending. "Thank you, Senior!"
Without standing on ceremony, he flicked a finger at the Three-Headed Red Demon Hound and ended its life outright.
This exquisite, flawless control over Soul Power earned another surge of admiration from Chen Xin.
Hum-
A deep-red Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring slowly rose, illuminating the land for a hundred li around.
What a pity. None of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's disciples can reach Titled Douluo, so this Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring is going to an outsider for nothing.
Even as Chen Xin regretted it, he marveled at the absurdly young boy before him.
Once he finishes absorbing it, I absolutely cannot let him get away!
He made up his mind.
Hum!
With another soft hum, the deep-red Soul Ring descended under Lin Qian's guidance, then tightened the instant it touched his body.
The absorption began.
Unlike his fusion with the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm through sacrifice, this was Lin Qian's first time absorbing a Soul Ring-and a hundred-thousand-year one at that.
Slain Soul Beasts generally harbored intense resentment. Starting with ten-thousand-year Soul Beasts, the greater their age, the stronger that resentment became. The resulting Soul Shock grew proportionally more powerful as well.
Many Soul Masters absorbing Soul Beasts over ten thousand years old encountered problems at precisely this stage. In mild cases, the absorption failed and their Soul Power dropped in rank; in severe cases, they were left paralyzed for life or sent off to reincarnate.
Would this boy be an exception?
Sword Douluo could not be certain. Soul Power gradually gathered in his hand as he prepared to interrupt the absorption and save the boy's life at the first sign of trouble.
Losing strength is better than kicking the bucket. A genius like this absolutely cannot die here!
Inside the Sea of Consciousness.
"Roar!"
Drawn along, deep-red currents surged steadily into Lin Qian's body. That was its own life force draining away!
The Three-Headed Red Demon Hound Soul Spirit roared and shrieked, unwilling to die like this.
"Aaah! Get away, you mangy dog! You're so ugly you're scaring me to death!"
Tian Meng had been swimming in the sea. Upon seeing this uninvited guest, he immediately began driving it away.
After being killed and then ignored, the Three-Headed Red Demon Hound was truly enraged. With a bark, it transformed into a shock wave that raised towering waves across the sea.
The first wave of danger arrived.
This Soul Beast possessed an attribute approaching ultimate fire, some pure-blooded true dragon bloodline, and the highest hundred-thousand-year grade. Like a fighter jet among shrews, it was unbeatable once it flew into a rage.
Lin Qian's entire body convulsed from the burning. Pain filled every corner, and even with the willpower of a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator, he was caught between ecstasy and death.
"Don't be scared, little Qian-Qian! Your big brother is here to save you!"
Tian Meng wriggled his body, the ten golden markings on him blazing brilliantly as he clashed head-on with the red currents.
Two immense streams of Soul Power intertwined and collided within the Sea of Consciousness, neither yielding an inch. Under their destructive force, Lin Qian's meridians soon ruptured, leaving him drenched in blood.
"All ten-thousand-year Soul Beasts produce Soul Shock. Don't panic. Guard your mind and endure it!"
Sword Douluo took everything in and transmitted his voice through spiritual power.
By now, however, Lin Qian's Sea of Consciousness had already become a battlefield, with a worm and a large dog trading blows and tearing into each other.
Whenever the red currents ripped his meridians apart, the extraordinary self-healing ability of a high-level cultivator began repairing them.
Only after an unknown number of cycles, and after his meridians had widened several times over, did the violent red energy gradually lower its flags, still its drums, and settle down.
Was it over?
Of course not.
Pinned beneath the giant worm-Tian Meng-and taking a savage beating, the Three-Headed Red Demon Hound forcibly held on, using its remaining strength to deliver a lethal strike with everything it had.
The real Soul Shock had arrived.
It had originally planned to launch a sneak attack when its opponent's defenses were weakest. Who knew Lin Qian would be like Iron Man, utterly unmoving? And with this stinking worm interfering too, it was simply infuriating!
"Brat, let's die together!"
Burning the last of its strength and Soul Spirit, the Three-Headed Red Demon Hound charged straight into the Sea of Consciousness.
The final strike?
Lin Qian's body remained motionless, but his consciousness was perfectly clear. After seeing through the big dog's intentions, he turned ruthless as well-
"Tian Meng!"
"Coming!"
The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm understood instantly. Turning into a streak of light, he met it head-on, power against power.
A deafening boom resounded throughout the Sea of Consciousness. Waves surged and churned as though a magnitude-ten earthquake had struck.
Outside.
Sword Douluo's brows drew tighter and tighter. His right hand was poised, ready to interrupt...
"Hmm?"
He raised the Seven Kill Sword, then lowered it again.
After observing closely for a while, Sword Douluo suddenly smiled. He dispersed all his Soul Power and found a shady spot to sit down.
The most dangerous moment had passed. Now...
He only had to wait for him to finish absorbing it.