The Little Ungrateful Wretch

None of the Soul Beasts inhabiting the Soul Hunting Forest were over five thousand years old.

To demonstrate his authority within Spirit Hall, Qian Xunji brought the two Titled Douluo, Chrysanthemum and Ghost, along to hunt Bibi Dong's First Soul Ring.

It was like using a cannon to kill a mosquito.

Qian Xunji spoke kindly to Bibi Dong at his side. "My disciple, in the history of Soul Masters on the continent, you are not the only one to possess Twin Martial Souls. But most of those Soul Masters died when their bodies exploded, unable to withstand the enormous Soul Power accumulated from the Soul Rings of both Martial Souls."

"After years of study, we at Spirit Hall finally reached a conclusion. If a Soul Master first adds Soul Rings to only one Martial Soul, then adds Soul Rings to the other once their physique has been sufficiently tempered, there's a high chance they can avoid dying from their body exploding."

Bibi Dong looked somewhat frightened.

She hadn't expected Twin Martial Souls could cause her body to explode and kill her.

Noticing Bibi Dong's fear, Qian Xunji said, "My disciple, as long as you follow your teacher's guidance, you won't be in danger."

"Mm," Bibi Dong said with a smile.

"My disciple, your Death Spider Emperor Martial Soul leans toward toxins and the physical body, while your Soul-Eating Spider Emperor leans toward the soul. To temper your body, you should first add Soul Rings to the Death Spider Emperor, then add Soul Rings to the Soul-Eating Spider Emperor after you become a Titled Douluo," Qian Xunji said seriously.

Bibi Dong said gratefully, "I'll do as you say, Teacher."

"Good disciple." Qian Xunji smiled kindly and instructed Chrysanthemum and Ghost, "Go hunt a four-hundred-year-old Crypt Spider."

The two had just started to leave.

Bibi Dong suddenly spoke. "Teacher."

"What is it, my disciple?" Qian Xunji asked.

Bibi Dong fidgeted before replying, "Teacher, I think I can absorb a Soul Ring of a greater age."

Qian Xunji chuckled and looked at Bibi Dong, still patient. "My disciple, you should know that there's a limit to the age of the Soul Rings every Soul Master can absorb. It's roughly determined by the strength of a Soul Master's body and spiritual power.

"But we at Spirit Hall have made a rough calculation of that limit. It won't exceed five hundred years, and even a five-hundred-year Soul Ring would be too much for a Soul Master to withstand."

Did Martial Uncle lie to me?

That was Bibi Dong's first thought.

But last night, Martial Uncle had said he was a level seventy-four Soul Saint, and he was only eighteen years old. He was a genius worthy of the name.

Besides, after absorbing that piece of Whale Rubber, she really had felt an improvement in her physical strength and spiritual power.

Bibi Dong remembered what Martial Uncle had said before leaving last night. Looking at Qian Xunji, she said softly, "Teacher, Martial Uncle told me that."

"Hmm?" Qian Xunji's kindly expression immediately turned serious. Chrysanthemum and Ghost, standing beside him, also looked solemn with respect. Outsiders might not know, but everyone in Spirit Hall's upper ranks knew about Qian Xunling's terrifying Soul Ring Configuration.

That was also why Qian Xunji, a Soul Douluo, couldn't defeat Qian Xunling, who was only a level seventy-four Soul Saint.

That inconceivable Soul Ring Configuration had once led Spirit Hall's upper ranks to suspect that Qian Xunling had achieved it by mastering some kind of technique.

But Qian Xunling had no desire to tell them anything and placed all the responsibility on his Martial Soul.

For Qian Xunling's Martial Soul was just as bizarre. It was called a Body Martial Soul, a Mutated Martial Soul derived from the Angel Martial Soul. Everyone else's Angel Martial Soul was an Angel God Statue, but Qian Xunling's alone was his own body.

Qian Xunling also had Innate Level 20 Soul Power.

That was enough to prove that his Body Martial Soul was comparable to the Angel Martial Soul.

So when Qian Xunling attributed everything to his Martial Soul, the others were left speechless and could only choose to believe him.

But now!?

Bibi Dong had actually said she could absorb a Soul Ring of a greater age too.

And Qian Xunling himself had confirmed it.

That made it completely credible.

Bibi Dong had originally thought that saying this would convince her teacher and the others, but she hadn't expected her teacher and the other two Titled Douluo to be stunned for so long.

"Teacher, is it still not possible?" Bibi Dong asked.

Qian Xunji composed himself and shook his head slightly, but then asked, "My disciple, was what you just said true? Xunling came to see you last night and said you could absorb a Soul Ring of a greater age?"

Bibi Dong nodded, feeling nervous at Qian Xunji's sudden look of curiosity.

Qian Xunji also knew that his expression was hardly fitting for a teacher, but there were still things he wanted to ask. After all, this was very important to him too: he could still absorb one more Soul Ring.

"My disciple, did Xunling teach you some way to absorb a Soul Ring of a greater age last night? Or perhaps a technique?" Qian Xunji asked, doing his best to sound kind.

"Teacher, you don't know?" Bibi Dong was surprised. She had thought her teacher and the others all knew.

Qian Xunji showed a trace of embarrassment, but concealed it well. Smiling, he said, "My disciple, everyone has things they excel at. Your teacher does, and you will too someday. Your martial uncle excels at absorbing Soul Rings of a greater age because he has mastered a technique, but he has never told us about it."

"But now that he's told you, it seems he no longer intends to keep it hidden. To tell the truth, I'm very curious about what this technique is." Qian Xunji adopted a slightly humble manner, a hint of expectation in his eyes.

But that expectation left Bibi Dong torn.

In that case, this is a precious gift Martial Uncle passed on to me alone. Can I just tell someone else about the Whale Rubber?

But the person in front of me is my teacher, who treats me like a father.

Qian Xunji understood Bibi Dong's predicament. "My disciple, I truly need this technique. I also promise you that, apart from the four of us-you, me, Chrysanthemum and Ghost-not a single other person will learn of it."

Bibi Dong hesitated for a long time. Her little face seemed to deflate as she made her decision, and she explained to Qian Xunji what had happened after Qian Xunling found her last night, including the Whale Rubber.

After she finished, Bibi Dong fell into introspection, her eyes actually beginning to well up. She didn't know whether what she had done was right or wrong.

Qian Xunji was somewhat delighted to learn of the technique, but when he noticed Bibi Dong's dejection, he immediately instructed Chrysanthemum and Ghost, "Go capture a thousand-year-old Crypt Spider and bring it here."

"Yes." The two left and returned quickly.

A Crypt Spider as large as a small hill lay dying before Bibi Dong. Qian Xunji comforted her, "My disciple, I owe you a favor for this. I'll explain everything to Xunling in person later. You don't need to worry about him blaming you; I'll vouch for you."

"R-really?" Bibi Dong's eyes lit up.

"Mm." Qian Xunji smiled kindly.

Now that he knew the technique, once he too absorbed a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, he would surely go show off to his dear younger brother and vent the resentment he had harbored all these years.

Having perfectly absorbed the medicinal power of the Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Glue, Bibi Dong absorbed the Thousand-Year Soul Ring without the slightest difficulty. It seemed she could have absorbed one of an even greater age.

But she wasn't greedy. At that moment, feeling her whole body brimming with strength was enough. Her Soul Power had reached level thirteen, and she smiled in satisfaction.

"It really works."

Qian Xunji nodded in satisfaction and smiled.

Just then, however, a familiar voice suddenly came from beside them. Qian Xunling was leaning against a tree, chuckling as he studied the smiles on the faces of Qian Xunling, Bibi Dong, Chrysanthemum and Ghost. He said mockingly:

"What's got you all so happy? Let me have a laugh too."

Qian Xunling's gaze shifted to Bibi Dong's little face. "I didn't expect you to be a little ungrateful wretch."

Bibi Dong's body stiffened at those words. Her little face went slightly pale as she looked at Qian Xunling, but he wouldn't meet her eyes. At once, the satisfaction she had just gained from absorbing her Soul Ring came crashing down.

Her little face turned helpless, and her lips parted, but she lowered her head. Her voice was barely audible. "M-Martial Uncle."