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*****
After fully absorbing the Ice Emperor's spirit ring, Qian Renhan lowered his head and looked at the cold marrow formed from Xue Di's body. Activating his Fallen Angel Martial Soul, he sat cross-legged and began absorbing it. He intended to fully assimilate the power and essence Xue Di had accumulated over tens of thousands of years—a massive and painstaking undertaking.
Two and a half months passed in the blink of an eye. Qian Renhan had absorbed more than half of the cold jade marrow that Xue Di had transformed into, and he remained in seclusion.
The Extreme North regained its calm after this period. The Titan Snow Demon King and Ice Bear King seemed to have accepted the deaths of the Ice and Snow Emperors, their expressions returning to peace. They designated the place where Qian Renhan cultivated as a forbidden zone.
Hatred doesn't disappear—it simply transfers. Due to Qian Renhan's overwhelming strength, no soul beast could challenge him. As a result, the soul beasts of the Extreme North vented their immense fury on human soul masters hunting beasts in the Icebound Forest outside the region.
Previously, human soul masters could enter the Icebound Forest and its outskirts, but the beast army's retaliation made the Extreme North—except for Qian Renhan's secluded area—a complete no-man's-land for humans, effectively becoming a forbidden zone.
If this situation had occurred before Qian Renhan's rise, Qian Daoliu would have likely brought the Angelic Holy Sword, the Elder Hall, the Worship Hall, and a group of Titled Douluo to negotiate with the soul beasts of the Extreme North. However, Qian Daoliu was still hiding deep in the mountains and forests—he couldn't come even if he wanted to.
Even if he did come, Qian Renhan would have dragged him back before any negotiations could begin. As long as the soul beasts didn't cross into human territory and take the initiative to attack, Qian Renhan would never allow the Spirit Hall to shed blood without reason.
During these two and a half months of wilderness survival—
"Bo Saixi, stop following me! I can't take your antics anymore. This cave and the shelter—just take them!"
Qian Daoliu, now with short golden hair, spoke impatiently to Bo Saixi. His brows were furrowed, and fatigue was written all over his face.
Bo Saixi clutched Qian Daoliu's arm with both hands and pleaded, "Qian Daoliu, I didn't do it on purpose—I really didn't! Please don't drive me away. Please don't leave me here alone—I can't survive on my own!"
"I'm not driving you away. I'm the one leaving."
"You can't survive? Well, if you keep following me, I won't survive either. I almost died because of you last night!"
Qian Daoliu spoke wearily. He truly felt he had gone above and beyond. He hadn't asked Bo Saixi to do much—just tend to the fire while he handled everything else.
But what happened? The first time she tried tending the fire, it rained. Bo Saixi failed to move the fire in time, accidentally burned her hand, and the fire got extinguished by the rain.
Qian Daoliu didn't blame her—instead, he found herbs to treat her burns, bandaged her wounds, restarted the fire, and patiently taught her how to move it properly.
The second time, Bo Saixi overdid it and burned down most of the shelter, leaving only two beds. Qian Daoliu had to spend most of the afternoon gathering materials and rebuilding it.
The third time happened at dusk, while the two were resting. Although Bo Saixi didn't move the fire too close to the tent, she still placed it too deep into the cave.
Qian Daoliu had told her from the very first day that fire placement must be moderate. The oxygen flow in a cave isn't as smooth as in the open. If left unattended, the fire's smoke would eventually cause them to suffocate.
Luckily, the wind shifted toward the cave. Exhausted from the day's labor, Qian Daoliu lay on the bed, but as the smoke thickened, he sat up, saw where Bo Saixi had placed the fire, and nearly exploded in rage. He had to get out of bed and move the fire again himself.
In these two and a half months, Bo Saixi had been fattened up under Qian Daoliu's care, while Qian Daoliu had been tormented to the brink of exhaustion—he was almost reduced to skin and bones.
So, the next morning, Qian Daoliu made a firm decision to leave Bo Saixi. If he didn't, he might end up dying because of her. He didn't even know how long it would take for his spirit power to recover—what if it took years? After all, that scoundrel Qian Renhan had even locked up his own father, Qian Xunji, to work a sewing machine in prison for two whole years.
When weighing emotions versus the Qian family's legacy, Qian Daoliu had no hesitation in choosing the latter. He hadn't seen Qian Xunji try to father another child yet, so he couldn't die just like this.
"Qian Daoliu, I'm begging you. I can wash your clothes, go out and gather wild fruits—I can do anything I'm capable of. Just don't leave me!"
Bo Saixi clung tightly to Qian Daoliu's arm, her eyes shimmering with tears. Over time, she had realized she couldn't live without him. To put it plainly, she had been pampered into helplessness like an overgrown little girl, spoiled rotten by Qian Daoliu.
Of course, this helplessness only existed while her spirit power was gone. Once it returned, Bo Saixi would transform back into the elegant and dignified High Priestess.
Qian Daoliu turned and saw the teary-eyed Bo Saixi—so pitiful and vulnerable. He let out a deep sigh and said, "One last time. For old times' sake, this is the final time. During these past few days of searching, I found a bigger cave with better ventilation. We're moving—take down the shelter."
Bo Saixi immediately nodded. "Okay, okay. You move the shelter—I'll carry the two beds and the bamboo containers."
Early in the morning, Qian Daoliu and Bo Saixi began relocating.
Bo Saixi carried the beds and followed behind Qian Daoliu, who was hauling materials. They went back and forth three times and even stopped for lunch. After spending most of the day, they finally settled into the new cave, which was three times the size of the previous one and seemed to have been a beast's former den.
On the last trip, Qian Daoliu slipped and accidentally dropped some of the materials, forcing him to go back and look for them. Bo Saixi didn't dare slack off like before and followed behind to see if she could help.
"What kind of fruit is this? Why does it look so strange?"
As they passed a patch of land, Bo Saixi looked up at a palm tree bearing a massive fruit. It resembled a pelvis in shape and was completely pitch black.
"Let's take it back and have a look." Bo Saixi leapt into the air, jumping five meters high to pluck the fruit and bring it back to the new cave.
After some time, all the necessary materials were finally prepared. Qian Daoliu resumed constructing the shelter, while Bo Saixi sat to the side, increasingly parched. In the past, she would've simply asked Qian Daoliu to light a fire and boil water, but now she didn't dare to act so brashly.
"Qian Daoliu, let me ask you something—can this fruit be eaten?" Bo Saixi lifted the bizarre-looking fruit she had picked.
Qian Daoliu turned his head to glance at it. "What a strange fruit. I feel like I've seen it somewhere before."
He thought for a moment but couldn't recall exactly where. Taking the fruit from Bo Saixi, he noticed several places where it had been gnawed on by bugs. "It's edible, but you'd better wash it first. I don't know if it has insect eggs inside."
Bo Saixi nodded, took out some clean water, and carefully washed it before taking a big bite. Sweet juice instantly flooded her mouth.
"Mmm! This fruit is so sweet! Qian Daoliu, do you want some?" Bo Saixi asked, having devoured three bites already.
"I'm not thirsty yet, but thank you," Qian Daoliu replied without even looking back.
Bo Saixi took a few more bites, then tore off a piece and set it on a bamboo tube so Qian Daoliu could have some later if he got thirsty, before continuing to gorge herself on it.
Half an hour later, Bo Saixi began to feel something wrong with her body. A burning sensation ignited in her lower abdomen, gradually spreading heat throughout her entire body.
Another quarter of an hour passed. Sweat poured from her brow, and in a daze, she asked, "Qian Daoliu, don't you think it's gotten a bit hot in here?"
Hearing this, Qian Daoliu—also sweating—became annoyed and turned to snap at her. "You've been resting the whole time! How could you possibly feel hot?"
But before he could finish his sentence, Qian Daoliu froze. In front of him, Bo Saixi's face had turned an alluring shade of red. Her fair skin glowed with a faint blush, and her body was twisting unnaturally. Even her once-clear eyes had begun to cloud with hazy longing.
Qian Daoliu swallowed hard. "Bo Saixi... what's wrong with you?"
"Qian Daoliu... I feel so hot~" she whispered, her voice soft and sweet, sending a jolt through his mind.
Blinking rapidly, Qian Daoliu picked up the half-eaten fruit left on the bamboo tube and examined it closely. Then, his mind exploded.
Damn it. This was the Passion Fruit—the same one his old scoundrel friend Tang Chen had found back in the day when they roamed the continent together. Tang Chen, annoyed at his gentlemanly, upright demeanor, had purposely fed him this thing!
That guy claimed it was a rare delicacy and even ate half of it right in front of him. Qian Daoliu, after inspecting it briefly and noticing no issues, had foolishly eaten the rest. The fruit's nutrients were indeed rich—but the more you ate, the stronger the hormonal stimulation. It was a favorite among the upper-class nobles.
Tang Chen had instantly suppressed the effects with his soul power and expelled the toxins, but Qian Daoliu wasn't so lucky. By the time he realized something was wrong—seeing Tang Chen's smug grin—it was already too late. If it weren't for his Angelic Martial Soul's purifying ability, Qian Xunji might've ended up with a new little brother.
Usually, nobles only took a single bite before heading off for some "exercise" at night. Bo Saixi, however, had eaten half the fruit! The aftermath was sure to rival Qian Daoliu's old misadventure. And unlike him, she had no purifying ability—meaning she was done for.
Just then, Bo Saixi—now nearly mindless—pounced on him, murmuring, "Tang Chen... Tang Chen..."
Before he could react, her soft lips pressed against his, and her slender arms wrapped tightly around his neck.
Hearing her call Tang Chen's name doused Qian Daoliu's desire like a bucket of cold water. He, Qian Daoliu, even if he liked Bo Saixi, would never let her mistake him for someone else in a moment like this.
Without hesitation, he pushed her away and bolted out of the cave, grabbing the bamboo tube of water along the way and splashing it over Bo Saixi like a drenched chicken.
But for someone lost in a blaze of passion, a few buckets of water meant nothing. Honestly, she needed a whole refrigerator.
"Bo Saixi, don't come any closer! I'm not Tang Chen!" Qian Daoliu cried, panicked, dashing toward a nearby lotus pond, hoping to use the water to extinguish the fire raging in Bo Saixi.
But Bo Saixi, completely dominated by desire, couldn't understand a word. She chased after him, crying out, "Tang Chen! Don't go—I missed you so much!"
The sound of her voice getting closer scared Qian Daoliu out of his wits. He wished he had grown two more legs. But how could his tired, overworked body—after hours of labor—outrun a fully-rested Bo Saixi surging with adrenaline?
She caught him in no time, tackled him from behind, and lifted him up.
"Ah! Bo Saixi! Let me go! I'm not Tang Chen!" Qian Daoliu shouted, thrashing in her grip, his sense of shame peaking.
But Bo Saixi heard none of it. With Qian Daoliu hoisted over her shoulder, she sprinted back to the cave. With each step she took, a mysterious liquid dripped to the ground.
As the saying goes: Thirty like a wolf, forty like a tiger, fifty vacuums the floor, sixty sucks through walls, seventy devours the bones, eighty makes even the gods cry. Bo Saixi was already over 120 years old—a real ancient baby. What kind of storm this would bring was anyone's guess.
One thing was certain: the "matchstick-man" version of Qian Daoliu was about to go online.
From inside the cave came a furious roar:
"Qian Renhan! You've ruined me! I swear I won't forgive you!"
"Ahhhh—!"
Another voice screamed—but this time, it wasn't his.
(End of Chapter)