After Chu Qing finished absorbing his Second Soul Ring, everyone from the Spirit Rhinoceros Sect felt much more at ease.
Chu Qing said:
"Elders, father, mother, I have some means of protecting myself now. I'd like to train in the outskirts while we're here. Most of the Soul Beasts there are only ten or a hundred years old, so there won't be any danger."
The elders all nodded in satisfaction.
Chu Jiazheng knew what was on his mind and said:
"Thank you for your efforts, elders. Since Xiao Qing wants to train, Lingyi and I will stay here with him for a few days, then stop by Lingdou City on our way back."
"It's time this child met some people, too. Sorry to trouble you all with the sect's affairs."
The elders headed home without further worries, and Chu Jiazheng and his wife immediately began looking around.
"First, we'll find some Soul Beasts with the four elemental attributes and raise the age of your First Soul Ring to a thousand years before we leave."
Chu Qing searched alongside them, gazing into the forest's depths and thinking of the million-year Soul Beast, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm. Unfortunately, he wasn't a spiritual-type Soul Master.
Noticing his distraction, Chu Jiazheng looked toward the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest and smiled.
"Don't worry. Someday, Dad will find a way to get you a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring."
Chu Qing knew that, with the Spirit Rhinoceros Sect's strength, they didn't have a single Soul Douluo, much less a Titled Douluo. Hunting Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts was one thing, but they could forget about one a hundred thousand years old.
He shook his head and spoke like an old hand:
"There's no need. I'll find a way to get a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring myself."
"Otherwise, you'll definitely try to sell me to the imperial family."
Xue Lingyi laughed when she heard that.
"You already have the blood of our Dou Ling Imperial Family in your veins. How can that be called selling you?"
"Hehe, we're going to Dou Ling City this time to arrange a childhood betrothal for you."
Chu Qing was rather startled.
"You know what I'm like. Once my cultivation gets strong enough, you won't be able to control me anymore."
"I advise you to have a heart and not ruin some little girl's happiness."
As though they hadn't heard him, the couple openly discussed it.
Xue Lingyi said regretfully:
"It's a shame my older sister's child is a boy. Otherwise, the Mysterious Nether Sect would have been a fine choice."
Chu Jiazheng said cheerfully:
"Ning Tian, the young sect master of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, would be a good match. She awakened her Martial Soul two years ago, and their sect has always had a tradition. With Xiao Qing's talent, we wouldn't be reaching above our station."
Xue Lingyi clearly preferred the Dou Ling Imperial Family and said:
"I think Princess Xue Li would be a better match. She inherited all the fine qualities of us Xue Family women. She's gentle and adorable. You met her last year..."
The moment doubt appeared in Chu Jiazheng's eyes, Xue Lingyi pinched his waist and asked with a smile:
"Isn't that right?"
Chu Jiazheng could only agree.
"That's right, that's right. My wife is the gentlest woman under heaven."
But he secretly sent a voice transmission to Chu Qing.
"Son, see that? You can't marry a Xue Family woman."
"Do whatever you want. I'm not going to acknowledge it when the time comes anyway."
Chu Qing spoke helplessly as he walked ahead, carefully watching his surroundings, staying alert and searching as he went.
Chu Jiazheng and Xue Lingyi had high cultivation, so they naturally had no need to worry about safety in the outskirts.
Though he could rely on the two of them without worry, it was better to form the habit himself.
Half an hour later, they found a lone two-thousand-year Gale Demon Wolf.
He might have been able to try taking on a two-thousand-year Soul Beast, but for one thing, he had no particularly lethal Soul Skills. Besides, he didn't want to waste time training right now. His main goal was to quickly increase the age of his First Soul Ring.
He turned to look at the couple strolling hand in hand behind him.
"Hey! Time to work. You can whisper sweet nothings later."
He called out to them, but after Chu Jiazheng dealt with the Gale Demon Wolf effortlessly, he regretted it a little.
"Way to go, honey!"
Xue Lingyi clapped happily at the side.
Chu Jiazheng also wore a smug expression as he dusted off his hands and looked at Chu Qing.
"Watch and learn."
Chu Qing rolled his eyes.
"I'll definitely be stronger than you someday. Go play somewhere else, you two. I'm going to absorb the Soul Ring."
He released his Soul Rings. His first, an Azure Soul Ring, pulsed slowly like breathing, drawing over the purple Soul Ring drifting out of the Gale Demon Wolf's body.
The purple Soul Ring's energy flowed steadily into the Azure Soul Ring like fine wisps of smoke.
The Azure Soul Ring's age slowly increased to over a thousand years.
As the Soul Ring's age increased, Chu Qing felt that his affinity with the four elements had grown much stronger, and his control had improved.
Flowers bloomed in his heart, and he no longer found Chu Jiazheng and Xue Lingyi an eyesore.
"Come on, let's keep looking for suitable Soul Beasts."
He spoke impatiently as he headed forward.
Sensing the energy fluctuations from the Soul Ring just now, Chu Jiazheng and Xue Lingyi were pleasantly surprised that it could gain half the Soul Beast's age.
Xue Lingyi said enthusiastically:
"Son, today we'll raise your First Soul Ring to the hundred-thousand-year level."
They hunted Soul Beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest, and after five or six days, the age of Chu Qing's Azure Soul Ring had easily risen to three thousand five hundred years.
Chu Qing could already feel resistance when absorbing.
At the same time, Xue Lingyi checked the time and said:
"No, we have to hurry to Lingdou City."
Chu Jiazheng also came back to his senses and laughed.
"We can look for Soul Beasts later. If we miss this childhood betrothal, it won't be easy to arrange another."
Chu Qing was puzzled.
"You still haven't forgotten about that? I thought you were joking."
Xue Lingyi, however, grew serious.
"Chu Qing, our Dou Ling Empire is the weakest of the four nations."
"The blood of our Dou Ling Imperial Family flows in your veins. There are things you must take responsibility for."
Chu Jiazheng stopped her and said reproachfully:
"He's still young. Why are you telling him this now?"
He turned to Chu Qing and said with understanding:
"There are things you'll understand when you're older."
"Don't worry. Your mother and I won't force you to marry someone you don't like."
"Just think of it as meeting someone your own age."
"Don't worry about anything else. Your Martial Soul is very powerful. When you become a Titled Douluo, everything will get better."
Chu Qing nodded thoughtfully.
He naturally knew that the Dou Ling Empire was the weakest nation.
The three left the Star Dou Great Forest and traveled to Lingdou City by carriage.
Chu Qing remarked:
"If only we had a Flying Soul Tool."
Although he could fly, it would surely consume more Soul Power than a Flying Soul Tool.
Chu Jiazheng replied helplessly:
"Once your new generation grows up, things may be much better."
"If there's still time."
Chu Qing's interest was immediately piqued.
"Dad, since you don't object to Soul Tools, why don't you promote them as a sect master?"
Chu Jiazheng smiled bitterly.
"You're still young. Some things aren't as simple as you think."
"For now, all I can do is have the sect's disciples exchange ideas and cooperate with Qianling Academy. After that, it'll be up to you."
Chu Qing found that rather strange.
Xue Lingyi said:
"Actually, my imperial brother has wanted to promote Soul Tools for a long time, but there's too much resistance both inside and outside the imperial palace."
"Finances and implementation are also problems."
Chu Qing nodded.
"Oh! I think I understand."
"Just sit back and wait for me to become a Titled Douluo, if you can hold out until then."