Chapter 200: The Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud Acquired
Qian Renxue got straight to the point. "The commotion caused by the sacrifice of that 100,000-year Soft Bone Rabbit has drawn the attention of all Heaven Dou City. I'm here as a representative of Emperor Xue Ye and Ning Fengzhi. Since we got along well during the Soul Master Tournament, they jointly entrusted me to gather information. Should I tell them the truth when I return?"
"Sure, go ahead!" Xiao Yu shrugged indifferently. "The Nine Star Hall is expanding rapidly. Let them help spread the word about my 100,000-year seventh soul ring. It'll only make our name even more renowned!"
"That's true," Qian Renxue nodded. "Although Ning Fengzhi and Emperor Xue Ye aren't aware of Saga's existence, with the Titled Douluo who displayed their strength during the trip to Spirit City, no one would dare have any bad ideas about you."
Curious, Qian Renxue asked, "A 100,000-year soul ring is a huge boost for any Soul Master. Can you tell me what your soul power level is now?"
Xiao Yu saw no reason to hide anything from his own woman. "That foolish rabbit used an extremely domineering sacrificial method, burning all her 100,000 years of cultivation into the soul ring. After absorbing it, my soul power broke through directly to level 74!"
"Level 74!"
Qian Renxue's eyes widened in disbelief. Even though Xiao Yu was her man, her competitive nature made her feel a pang of jealousy. Realizing that Xiao Yu had far surpassed her, she couldn't help but feel a bit sour.
Noticing her mood, Xiao Yu wrapped his arm around her slender waist and said gently, "Xue'er, as I've said before, the tedious political affairs of the Heaven Dou Empire only distract you and hinder your cultivation. I still suggest you step away from them as soon as possible."
Qian Renxue leaned against Xiao Yu's chest, rubbing her temples. "Do you think I don't know that? But I've been undercover in the Heaven Dou Empire for nearly 20 years. I'm just waiting for Xue Ye to pass away so I can ascend the throne smoothly. Giving up now feels too much like defeat."
"I'm not asking you to abandon the Xue Qinghe identity!"
Xiao Yu chuckled, realizing that Qian Renxue had a tendency to overthink things. He gently tapped her forehead. "You've used a substitute before during the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Tournament, haven't you?"
Qian Renxue rolled her eyes. "Do you think I haven't considered that? But this substitute doesn't have the head soul bone that allows me to disguise myself flawlessly. It's fine for a few days, but if they appear for long periods, even the royal family's Soul Douluo-level enforcers, let alone Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo, would notice something's off."
"Why didn't you say so earlier!" Xiao Yu slapped his thigh. "The Nine Star Hall has developed disguise-type soul tools. While they can't compare to your soul bone, they're effective enough to avoid detection from anyone below the level of Sword or Bone Douluo. Don't worry—Sword and Bone Douluo don't have the time to waste staring at you all day!"
Qian Renxue still shook her head. "Ever since Bibi Dong's ambush against you, the Hall of Worship and the Pope's Hall have been at odds. A simple substitute wouldn't withstand the Pope's Hall's pressure. If the substitute suddenly defected to Bibi Dong, all my efforts would be for nothing."
"I can assign one or two Titled Douluo from the Nine Star Hall to protect the substitute in secret," Xiao Yu said seriously. "Not to mention, I recently discovered a trial site—a secret realm. It not only hones combat skills and practical abilities but also accelerates cultivation. It's a critical asset for our future plans. If you're willing to join me, I can guarantee that once you emerge, you'll complete the Angel God's trial in the shortest time possible."
Qian Renxue's Seraphim possessed holy and light attributes, making her a nemesis of underworld creatures. Combined with the martial soul fusion technique between her and Xiao Yu, whose soul power was already in the seventies, their joint power was something even Super Douluo would avoid confronting.
For this reason, Qian Renxue was Xiao Yu's first choice as a companion for this Netherworld challenge.
"Let me think about it," Qian Renxue said, her interest piqued but still hesitant to make a final decision.
"Almost Forgot—This Is the Real Reason I Came"
Qian Renxue's delicate hand flipped, and a small, palm-sized, translucent blue object in the shape of a three-dimensional triangle appeared in her palm.
The moment it emerged, a peculiar energy fluctuation radiated from her hand. Circles of blue light shimmered, casting a faint, precious glow throughout the room.
"The Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud!"
Xiao Yu immediately recognized the object. From the moment it accepts its user and grants recognition, the Sea God's trials begin.
"You've managed to acquire it so quickly! Isn't the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud considered the national treasure of the Heaven Dou Empire? Giving it to me so easily—won't this attract the royal family's ire? Prince Xue Xing, that old schemer, is always watching for a chance to see you slip up!" Xiao Yu asked Qian Renxue with a hint of concern.
"At least you have some conscience, worrying about me first."
Qian Renxue flashed a satisfied smile and reassured Xiao Yu. "Don't worry. While the Heaven Dou Empire does treat it as a national treasure, no one has ever been able to gain its recognition or use it. It was just sitting in the treasury as a glorified good luck charm. I had someone craft a fake for five gold soul coins and swapped it out."
She paused before continuing, "After I obtained the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, I tried injecting soul power into it to understand its workings. But no matter how much power I poured in, it remained as lifeless as a dead object."
"The Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud contains a sliver of the Sea God's divine consciousness. It likely sensed your identity as the Angel God's inheritor, so the Sea God must have used his divine power to counteract your soul power."
Xiao Yu chuckled. "But it's a pity. No matter how cunning this Sea God is, he'll end up drinking my foot wash!"
"You have a solution?"
Qian Renxue's face lit up with joy. The Sea God was an accomplice in killing the first Angel God. Any plan to undermine him, no matter the method, was something Qian Renxue would happily support.
"Of course!" Xiao Yu replied confidently. The Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, also known as the Heart of the Sea God, was a token of the Sea God's inheritance. It allowed the Sea God to invoke divine power within the permissible range of the Divine Realm. As such, unless it was Tang San—the preordained heir—others could never use it.
Originally, Xiao Yu's plan was simply to secure the Heart of the Sea God, severing Tang San's opportunity to inherit the Sea God's legacy.
But the emergence of the Netherworld provided Xiao Yu with a new hope. By entering the Netherworld and escaping the Douluo Star's confines, the Sea God's divine power would no longer be able to interfere. What could a mere sliver of divine consciousness accomplish in isolation?
(End of Chapter)
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