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"By the way, Xiao Wu," Chu Chengzhou quickly switched topics to avoid her digging deeper, "what's the age of your eighth soul ring?"
As expected, the classic "topic diversion" technique worked like a charm—especially when the target was Xiao Wu.
The moment the words left his mouth, her expression lit up with pride. In a flash of pink soul light, her Soft Bone Rabbit martial soul manifested, and eight radiant soul rings encircled her: yellow, yellow, purple, black, black, black, black… and red.
But this red wasn't just any hundred-thousand-year ring—within its vivid crimson glow shimmered two golden patterns.
Chu Chengzhou raised an eyebrow at the sight.
Just as he'd suspected—the limit of Divine Bestowed Soul Rings wasn't merely 100,000 years. It likely capped at 999,999 years, or even a full million years.
"Bro~," Xiao Wu tilted her chin up smugly, "my eighth soul ring is over 200,000 years old! How's that? Am I amazing?"
"Absolutely!" Chu Chengzhou nodded earnestly. "My Xiao Wu is the strongest—heck, even I don't have a soul ring with that kind of age!"
"Right, right!" Xiao Wu beamed, then immediately turned cheeky. "Xiao Chu, you're absolutely correct! Your Xiao Wu big sis is Level 87 Soul Douluo now—so what about you?"
Flushed with confidence from her sudden power spike and her extraordinary 200,000-year eighth ring, Xiao Wu had reverted to her usual sassy self.
"Uh… I really think you shouldn't ask," Chu Chengzhou warned gently.
Sure, the Sea God's Light was basically a cultivation cheat code—but he wasn't just using cheats. He was running full-on hacks.
"Shouldn't ask?" Xiao Wu narrowed her eyes playfully. "Little Chu~… don't tell me you've been slacking off lately? Your strength hasn't improved at all, so you're too embarrassed to say?"
She knew his obnoxious habit of bragging—if he'd made real progress, he'd never hide it. The only logical conclusion? This little slacker had been lazy for the past six months!
"Well… a lot's happened recently," he hedged, not wanting to crush her spirit. "I haven't focused much on soul power cultivation—but my level isn't low, either."
Technically, it wasn't a lie. He hadn't poured energy into direct soul power training since leaving the island.
His leap from seven-ring Soul Saint to Level 99 Limit Douluo in just half a year? That was all thanks to soul bones, whale brain essence, and Nine Breaths Qi Absorption.
Unfortunately, he'd learned the hard way that god-tier techniques weren't easily mastered. Despite teaching Qian Renxue and Tang Yuehua without holding back for three months, neither had grasped the "cannibalistic" depth of Nine Breaths Qi Absorption—they'd only just scratched the surface of its golden-tier basics.
"Really?" Xiao Wu blinked skeptically.
But she didn't press further. After all, her level had originally been higher than his—and with the Sea God's Light boosting her, she assumed even diligent training wouldn't let him catch up.
Then, glancing at her three sisters still meditating on the stairs, Xiao Wu grabbed Chu Chengzhou's hand and pulled him into a nearby wooden cabin used for rest.
Half a year without… meat? Even Sister Xiao Wu was feeling peckish.
Of course, given they were on sacred Sea God Island—and they'd never gone "all the way" in reality—Sister Xiao Wu refrained from physical indulgence. Instead, she slipped into a shared illusionary realm.
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Soon, night fell.
Just as Chu Chengzhou was enjoying himself in the illusion, he sensed approaching footsteps outside the cabin.
A sweep of his spirit consciousness revealed his other three girls descending from the mountain.
Thinking quickly, he split his focus—pulling the "big kitty" (Zhu Zhuqing) and the "little demoness" (Ning Rongrong) into separate illusions of their own.
"Eh? What's this…?"
In a fragrant, bird-filled illusion, Ning Rongrong regained awareness and immediately spotted Chu Chengzhou. She dashed toward him for a hug—
—but halfway there, she skidded to a halt, turned her back, and pouted: "You jerk! You only show up after half a year? I'm mad at you!"
(Translation: I'm mad! Come quick and spoil me!)
Chu Chengzhou chuckled, wrapped his arms around her from behind, and whispered, "Rongrong… I'm here now."
Reunited after so long, a few sweet words later, he'd already soothed her into submission. Lips met, clothes fell, and their "harmony of love" began in earnest.
Meanwhile, in another illusion, Chu Chengzhou was already luxuriating in the "magnificent embrace" of his big kitty.
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Back in reality—slightly earlier:
"Huh? What's with you two?"
Outside the cabin, Hu Liena stared baffled at Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing, who'd suddenly frozen in place like statues.
Before she could ponder further, two arms snaked around her waist from behind, pulling her into a familiar embrace.
"Nana… I'm here~"
That voice—so intimately familiar—sent shivers down her spine. Hu Liena spun around and melted into a passionate kiss with the man who'd haunted her thoughts.
When they finally parted, she lowered her head and murmured shyly:
"I'm hungry~"
Chu Chengzhou: "…."
Right. A woman who's truly tasted "meat" has a hunger no maiden can match.
Thankfully, his physique was extraordinary—and his recovery speed, miraculous. Otherwise, he'd have been hollowed out long ago.
Truly, leveling up that passive cultivation technique to unlock body-forging secrets was the wisest decision of his life!
He scooped up the illusion-tranced Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing in each arm, guided Hu Liena inside, and sealed the cabin with a soul-force barrier.
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Atop Sea God Mountain – Sea God Temple
Bo Saixi, sensing the sudden barrier rising from the cabin below, instantly scowled.
Outrageous! To engage in such… indecent acts within the sacred Sea God sanctuary? Unforgivable!
…Yet, despite her indignation, she made no move to intervene.
They're young, she reasoned. Half a year apart—I understand. And as an old maid… it wouldn't be proper for me to interrupt their… reunion.
"Tch!"
She spat internally, banishing the intrusive thoughts.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, Bo Saixi let out a soft sound of surprise.
Judging by the quality of that barrier… this young man was remarkable!
She'd assumed the girls' trial training would let them surpass him—but clearly, she'd underestimated him.
Then again… only someone truly exceptional could keep the Sea God's chosen heir and three other top-tier trial candidates in harmonious "polyamorous" balance.
"Scoundrel!"
Bo Saixi muttered under her breath, then withdrew her gaze. The solemn Sea God Temple fell silent once more.
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