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Zhongli and his group's plans were ultimately thwarted.
Return to Heaven Dou City for lunch at Seven Treasures Hotel at noon?
Well, plans could never keep up with changes!
After obtaining her first soul ring, Chiyu's soul power immediately jumped to level 20—the threshold of a Great Soul Master.
Before acquiring her soul rings, one could only sense the amount of energy within her but not her exact level.
Since she had reached level 20, and they were already here, it was only natural to complete her soul ring collection.
After half a day of searching, they finally settled on a seven-thousand-year soul beast.
The hunt was successful, and absorbing the soul ring went smoothly. Just as they were about to head back, they realized—Chiyu's soul power had already reached level 30…
She was now a quasi-Soul Elder…
Originally possessing innate eighth-level soul power, after nine years of accumulation (and due to her weak physique), her soul power growth had been slow, only reaching around level 25.
For someone with innate eighth-level talent, being at this level at fifteen and a half was… well, disastrous.
But after the "enhancements" from the Nine-Vein Purple Spirit Herb and the Jade-Like Water Immortal Bone, not to mention her physical transformation, her soul power alone had skyrocketed by over ten levels, reaching around level 35.
This barely allowed her to catch up with her peers—if she completed her soul ring absorption.
And let's not forget—she was absorbing higher-level soul rings. The energy within them would "slightly" boost her soul power.
For immortal herbs, this was a minor increase. For others? It was a massive leap!
A three-thousand-year soul ring and a seven-thousand-year one—the energy from just these two pushed her from level 35 to level 40!
So after obtaining her third soul ring, she would also need a fourth…
"Your current physique can barely withstand a ten-thousand-year soul ring. I will block the spiritual impact for you…"
The spiritual impact of a soul beast?
What even was that?
With Zhongli's strength, blocking a soul beast's spiritual attack was child's play.
If not for Chiyu and Paimon being clueless, their jaws would've hit the ground in shock.
Blocking someone else's spiritual attack?
This was something unheard of, unseen in all of history!
Ten-thousand-year soul beasts were plentiful in the core regions of the Sunset Forest. For others, tracking one down might not be so easy.
But for Zhongli? It wasn't an issue at all.
"This rabbit's speed is quite impressive…"
Before them was a Lightning Rabbit—true to its name, swift as lightning.
Among rabbit-type soul beasts, it was the god of speed!
Even Xiao Wu's Soft Bone Rabbit couldn't match its pure velocity.
Her first soul ring provided a speed and penetration boost, the second enhanced her attacks, and the third—a pure speed-type soul skill—was an excellent choice.
If she couldn't win, she could at least run…
Focusing solely on one attribute was too limiting for a soul master's overall growth.
With practiced ease, after two previous "collaborations," Chiyu delivered a single sword strike, sending the Lightning Rabbit to "sleep permanently."
Moments later, a black soul ring materialized above the rabbit's body.
Suddenly, Zhongli's eyes gleamed—aside from the soul ring, the Lightning Rabbit was emitting another pulse of soul power!
What did this mean?
It meant it had dropped loot!
A ten-thousand-year soul bone was a priceless treasure for 99% of soul masters in Douluo Continent—a treasure worth rivers of blood!
Even the weakest soul bone provided "additional enhancements" to a soul master.
This was precisely why soul bones were so rare.
And the Lightning Rabbit's quality? Far from poor!
An average person—no, an average soul master—wouldn't just struggle to kill a Lightning Rabbit; they wouldn't even touch a single hair!
The creature's speed was simply too fast!
Normally, soul masters seeking soul rings would hunt for compatible ones. But against a Lightning Rabbit of the same level? Its speed was beyond what any peer could match.
"It's a left leg bone. The quality is quite intact."
"But the age of this soul bone…"
Zhongli wasn't a soul master and couldn't absorb soul bones. Even if he could, he wouldn't bother.
Even a hundred-thousand-year soul bone would offer him negligible benefits—why bother?
But Chiyu was a soul master, a human…
For her, a soul bone was a decent "equipment" boost. And since she had absorbed the Lightning Rabbit's soul ring, she could maximize this bone's effects.
But was a ten-thousand-year soul bone suitable for her?
Was it too low-tier?
After some thought, Zhongli shook his head. This decision should be left to Chiyu herself.
"Focus on absorbing the soul ring normally. Leave the rest to me."
His voice was calm, yet it filled Chiyu with an overwhelming sense of security. She nodded obediently.
Sitting cross-legged, she began guiding the soul ring toward herself.
The soul bone wasn't urgent—it could be absorbed anytime. Even left untouched, it would remain intact for a century.
But soul rings? They would dissipate if not absorbed in time.
A ten-thousand-year soul ring was still a ten-thousand-year soul ring. Chiyu's spiritual strength wasn't sufficient to withstand it. The moment she began absorbing it, her brows furrowed in pain.
But then—
A flash of amber light illuminated her consciousness.
The massive soul of the Lightning Rabbit seemed to encounter something terrifying—panic, despair.
In the next instant, its soul, its resentment, melted away like snow under the sun, vanishing from Chiyu's mind.
What was the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's purpose?
Its first director had been personally taught by Zhongli. Dealing with souls and lingering grievances? Child's play.
As the Lightning Rabbit's soul dispersed, Chiyu's expression relaxed, and she began absorbing the soul ring's energy normally.
Time passed—roughly five hours later, Chiyu finally reopened her eyes…
Just as Zhongli had predicted, she had reached level 40.
Now, returning to the city would take even more time.
Zhongli explained the soul bone's properties to Chiyu—its advantages, its limitations—and left the decision to absorb it up to her.
In the end, Chiyu shook her head.
A ten-thousand-year soul bone was too low-tier. It wouldn't help her catch up to Zhongli's level. Wasting a soul bone slot on it would be unwise.
One more item for the collection.
After twists and turns, the trio finally left the Sunset Forest at noon the next day, looking completely at ease.
Chiyu's soul power had now reached level 48. Had she absorbed that soul bone, she might've broken through to level 50, requiring a fifth soul ring before departure.
Powerful soul rings and immortal herbs had allowed Chiyu to completely surpass her peers at this age.
This was Douluo Continent's method of defying fate.
Yet despite being on the verge of becoming a Soul King, Chiyu had never experienced a real battle.
This… was not ideal for her.
Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 115 on my patreon, go check it out and remember that if we reach the goal of 20 power stones I will publish the next chapter.