In the Lake of Life within the Star Dou Forest—
"Ahhh—!"
A piercing scream echoed through the entire forest, shaking its very foundations. It came from the Azure Bull Python, and from the center of its brow, a blinding red light erupted. The light rapidly expanded into a crimson halo that swept across the land and sky, dyeing everything in blood-red.
"Farewell... Sister Xiao Wu, Aunt Rou, Er Ming..." The Azure Bull Python slowly closed its eyes as a blood-red pillar of light enveloped its colossal body. That pillar soared into the heavens before descending upon the location of Qian Xunji. The magnetic force released from the soul beast's self-sacrifice sent the Lion Douluo and Radiant Wing Douluo flying backward dozens of meters.
Lion Douluo and Radiant Wing Douluo stared with bitterness in the direction where the Titan Giant Ape and two 100,000-year-old Soft Bone Rabbits had fled. They were visibly frustrated—originally, they stood to claim three 100,000-year-old soul bones. Working together with Qian Xunji, they were confident each of them could've walked away with one. But Qian Xunji had let them go.
Then, eight soul rings appeared in a perfect sequence around Qian Xunji: yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black.
The surging red light from the Azure Bull Python began merging into Qian Xunji's body and soul rings. Eventually, a dazzling red glow radiated from his torso as a scarlet soul ring—over a hundred meters in diameter—formed outside the previous eight rings, pulsating rhythmically with his body.
Qian Xunji had fully integrated a 100,000-year soul ring and obtained an exceedingly rare torso soul bone.
Among the six types of soul bones, torso bones were the most precious. The Azure Bull Python, being well-versed in such matters, knew exactly how to maximize Qian Xunji's satisfaction to ensure he honored their agreement not to pursue Ah Rou, Xiao Wu, and Er Ming.
Would Qian Xunji keep his word?
Of course. Now that he no longer needed to hunt for soul rings, there was no further benefit in breaking a deal. If not for maximizing gains, why would he bother making pacts with soul beasts? What, did anyone really think he was some sentimental fool like Qian Daoliu?
Agreements are no different from contracts—only valid when both parties have equal power. In a world ruled by the strong, such deals are broken the moment they lose their usefulness.
With the 100,000-year soul ring, soul bone, and the massive surge of energy from the Azure Bull Python's sacrifice, Qian Xunji's cultivation soared to Rank 93.
"Congratulations, Your Holiness!"
"Congratulations, Your Holiness!"
Lion Douluo and Radiant Wing Douluo forced down their dissatisfaction and offered their respects.
Qian Xunji said, "Fourth Worship, Fifth Worship, I know you're both disappointed that I let those three 100,000-year soul beasts go, allowing those soul bones to slip away. But have you considered—I did it for the sake of our descendants?"
Both Douluos frowned slightly. Of course they wanted soul bones to pass on to their heirs—wasn't that also thinking of the next generation?
Qian Xunji continued, "100,000-year soul rings and soul bones greatly boost personal power. But while soul bones can be passed down, soul rings cannot. For an individual, a 100,000-year soul ring offers far more—especially its potential to enhance and evolve one's martial soul."
"You both should understand that after Rank 95, increasing soul power isn't enough. What matters most is enlightenment—understanding and evolving your martial soul. In short, soul evolution. The energy within a 100,000-year soul ring can significantly push us closer to that breakthrough."
"If someday a descendant of ours awakens with innate full soul power and trains as hard as you, Fourth Worship, and receives a 100,000-year soul ring as their ninth ring—then they, like Tang Chen, will have a shot at Rank 99. They could even walk the path to godhood."
"But if we keep hunting every 100,000-year beast for soul bones, and leave no such soul rings for our descendants, aren't we failing as their ancestors?"
The two Douluos stood stunned. They hadn't even figured out how to break through to Rank 97, and here Qian Xunji was already planning for future generations—planning for them to become gods? Wasn't that a little too grandiose?
"As soul masters, shouldn't we have ambition? In this world, anyone could be the protagonist. Just like the Angel God—how can we say for sure our descendants won't have the same chance?"
Qian Xunji sighed. "I know I don't have the talent to become a god. That's why I must leave that legacy to the next generation. But if your descendants, Fourth Worship and Fifth Worship, do show divine potential, I hope they can look after my Qian Clan when the time comes."
The two Douluos were flattered and stunned. They had joined Spirit Hall to serve the Angel God's lineage, and here was Qian Xunji—acknowledging the possibility that their descendants might surpass even the Angel line. How could they not be shocked?
"Your Holiness flatters us. Your vision and magnanimity are beyond anything we've ever seen. I'm far older and more experienced, yet still narrow-minded. I am truly ashamed."
Qian Xunji bowed slightly. "You're too humble. You two are pillars of Spirit Hall. For someone of your cultivation to accept my rather presumptuous ideals—I, Qian Xunji, am honored."
With that, Qian Xunji, Lion Douluo, and Radiant Wing Douluo returned to Spirit Hall.
After this battle, Qian Xunji's leadership—defeating three 100,000-year soul beasts with a weaker force, and his far-reaching vision—completely won over the two Douluos.
When they returned to the Hall of Worship, Qian Daoliu was pleased—albeit puzzled—by the high praise the two elders had for Qian Xunji. It seemed that after five years of seclusion, Qian Xunji had truly matured.
Upon returning to the Pope's Hall, Qian Xunji secluded himself for three more days to stabilize his cultivation. Then, he issued a new order:
Three months from now, the Re-Election Conference of the Seven Great Clans will be held. The Seven Great Clans will be re-ranked.
After the great battle in the Star Dou Forest, Qian Xunji fully confirmed it:
The people of the Douluo Continent were hopelessly dumb.
What butterfly effect? What miraculous turn of fate? What "adapt and counter every move"? All nonsense.
Soul masters fought using soul skills. The only way to stay safe was to hide your abilities. But the moment you use a skill, your soul ring lights up—there's no way to conceal it.
Yes, technically that's correct. But that's a mindset borrowed from other fantasy worlds. In Douluo, there was no such thing as intricate counters or clever strategies.
Soul master battles were just about blasting big skills at each other. Whoever had more soul power, older soul rings, and stronger effects—won.
It was as simple as that. Like a bunch of single-celled organisms smashing fists.
Qian Xunji mused that soul masters in Douluo didn't even think during combat. Their minds were too busy calculating what soul skill their rings would give them next.
(End of Chapter)
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