What did it mean to absorb a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring at twelve years old?
It represented not only extraordinary strength, but also limitless potential. A Soul Ring Configuration like that put even 99% of Titled Douluos to shame.
Take Sword Douluo himself, for example: his nine Soul Rings were yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, and black. Not one was a hundred-thousand-year ring. Once Lin Qian's strength reached the requisite level, he could fight even him.
Never mind him-even across the entire Douluo Continent, no one would dare believe such news.
A day and a night.
Defying Sword Douluo's expectations yet again, Lin Qian soon finished absorbing it and awoke.
Aside from broadening his meridians and strengthening his physique, the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring had only raised him by half a level, bringing him to level eighty-five and a half.
Too little, far too little!
If he could, he really wanted to roar out his dissatisfaction.
Unfortunately, with Sword Douluo here, he could only silently swallow those words and maintain his image.
"Little Qian-Qian, aren't you going to thank your big brother for fighting tooth and nail for you just now~?"
With the dog dead (meaning the Three-Headed Red Demon Hound), he was back in form at once, spinning around with the Soul Bone the Red Demon Hound had dropped.
A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast was guaranteed to drop a Soul Bone upon death, and one the Soul Master lacked at that.
The left leg bone of Hell Lie Yan.
Looking at what the Red Demon Hound had left behind, Lin Qian snatched it from Tian Meng's hands and absorbed it directly.
"Hey, hey, hey, be gentle! You're hurting me!"
Tian Meng protested.
Lin Qian scoffed. "Thanks. If you hadn't been fighting the Three-Headed Red Demon Hound just now, I would've finished absorbing it ages ago."
In the outside world.
Waking from his absorbed state, Lin Qian looked at the level ninety-six powerhouse opposite him and cupped his fist in salute. "Thank you for making this possible, Senior!"
Aside from the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's interference, that day and night had also been a performance for Chen Xin. Otherwise, he would have finished absorbing it in an hour or two.
Even genius had its limits. If he was too dazzling, he would be a monster-the sort that made people consider killing him on the spot.
Especially since he had taken a Soul Beast from their territory. There was nothing wrong with being cautious.
"Young man, I'm very taken with you. Would you be willing to join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"
See, see, see? Here it came!
Having prepared somewhat, Lin Qian did not panic in the slightest and remained humble in his bearing. "I really ought not to refuse your kindness, Senior."
Hearing the unspoken "but," Sword Douluo narrowed his eyes, the Seven Kill Sword poised to strike. "You want to go back on your word?"
He did not intend to kill him; he merely wanted to give him a fright so he would recognize the difficulty and retreat, thinking carefully before speaking.
Of course, Lin Qian knew there was no peaceful way out of this today. He would have to reveal some secrets.
He smiled as lightly as drifting clouds and a gentle breeze. "Please instruct me, Senior."
"Hmph!"
Seeing that he would not give up until he reached the Yellow River, Sword Douluo snorted coldly, and boundless Soul Power pressure surged down over his head.
Knowing full well how difficult this boy was to handle, Sword Douluo did not underestimate him. He unleashed the might of a level ninety-six Peak Douluo right from the start.
Lin Qian stood where he was without so much as swaying, and even had strength to spare, reflecting some of the pressure back at him.
"Hm?"
Sword Douluo was genuinely astonished.
What did level ninety-six mean? It meant an existence stronger than ordinary Titled Douluos-there were not even ten to be found across the entire continent (the Clear Sky Sect had sealed its mountain, and the Worship Hall remained hidden from the world, so they were not included)!
Could this boy have regained his youth, and actually be some old monster who had stayed out of the world for a hundred years?
How else could he explain a child withstanding the pressure of a Peak Douluo head-on without using Soul Power?
"Judging by your bone age, you're definitely no older than twelve. Boy, I'm growing more and more curious about you."
With his pressure ineffective, Sword Douluo dropped the pretense and swiftly released the Seven Kill Domain, enveloping the entire forest. In short, there would be no running away!
Lin Qian found it amusing. "You misunderstand, Senior. I have no intention of running. As I said just now, I owe you a favor. Please take me to meet your sect master!"
This time, it was Sword Douluo's turn to laugh. "Young man, you seem to have misunderstood something. Right now, I want to fight you. Come, release your Martial Soul!"
It had been years since he had encountered a worthy opponent. Chen Xin's competitive spirit would not allow him to let this rare opportunity slip away. No matter what, they would fight first, so he could see just what extraordinary abilities this boy possessed!
"In that case, please forgive my offense."
Still humble, Lin Qian bowed once more, and his Body Martial Soul possessed him.
"Your Martial Soul is yourself?!"
Sword Douluo's eyes widened as he searched his mind for similar cases... yet there were none. It was one of a kind!
An even greater surprise followed. Watching the four Soul Rings slowly rise (there were actually only two), Sword Douluo's mouth nearly formed an O.
Black, black, black, red.
Three black rings and one scarlet ring shone, dazzling enough to blind a person's damned eyes.
"Could I truly be getting old, unable to keep pace with the times?"
He had grown tired of saying the word "genius." The miracles Lin Qian brought kept raising Sword Douluo's expectations without limit, making him think the young Soul Masters of the Douluo Continent were all this outstanding.
"Lin Qian, Body Martial Soul, level forty-nine Power Attack System Battle Soul Master. Please instruct me!"
Amid his fabrications, he did his best to give a level that would not be too shocking. Yet he was simply overthinking it. With that extraordinary Soul Ring Configuration and the foundation of being a twelve-year-old genius, Sword Douluo's heart was as still as water; he actually found it quite reasonable.
A twelve-year-old Four-Ring Soul Ancestor-only a hundred million times more ordinary than ordinary~
Seeing that Sword Douluo believed him, Lin Qian also breathed a sigh of relief. This time, the problem lay not with Sword Douluo, but with himself.
A level eighty-five Soul Douluo-apart from Bibi Dong and a handful of others, he had concealed it even from Spirit Hall Academy. There was even less chance he would let Chen Xin know.
After all, however much they wanted to recruit him, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect were ultimately outsiders and might not keep his secret. Especially that slippery old hand Ning Fengzhi-until Lin Qian had won over his daughter, Ning Rongrong, he would not dare feel completely at ease.
"Chen Xin, Martial Soul: Seven Kill Sword, level ninety-six Power Attack System Titled Douluo."
Displaying the bearing of a grandmaster, Sword Douluo gave his opponent ample respect and introduced himself as well.
"Boy, Lin Qian, bullying the weak with my strength would hardly be an honorable victory. I'll give you three moves!"
Unexpectedly, Lin Qian shook his head. "Thank you for your kindness, Senior, but there's no need. How about we stop short of doing real harm and each use only our strongest move?"
I know you're strong, but that's only among your peers. I'm a full-fledged Titled Douluo. Wouldn't my strongest move be my ninth Soul Skill?
Even with his jaw practically dropping, Chen Xin still did not believe Lin Qian could withstand that move.
His brows drew as tightly together as they could. "Are you certain? Once my ninth Soul Skill is unleashed, even I cannot pull it back in time."
He still cherished talent and did not want a moment's carelessness to send a genius to his grave.
Fengzhi would blame me.
At those words, Lin Qian wasted no more breath. He circulated his Soul Power, and flames faintly swept across his right arm.
"Senior, are you ready?"
Sword Douluo did not back down either. The Seven Kill Sword materialized out of thin air, and he took an opening stance. "Come!"
As his words fell, flames instantly filled Lin Qian's entire right arm. His Body Martial Soul slowly rose, and heaven and earth trembled at it.
Second Soul Skill-
"Hell Demon Flame Sky-Splitting Slash!"