Sorry for not uploading yesterday. To make up for it, I'll be releasing one more chapter today.
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Seeing Qian Renxue approach, Lan Si immediately displayed the flustered expression typical of his age. He stood there for a moment, appearing slightly dazed, then blushed with embarrassment. He stammered, "Um... Miss, hello, my name is Lan Si. I'm sorry about what just happened. It was because..."
Noticing Lan Si's bashful and nervous demeanour, Qian Renxue took another good look at him. Feeling a bit triumphant, she covered her lips with her jade-like hand and laughed softly. She pointed at the corpse of the Soul Devouring Spider in the pit and teased, "Are you trying to say that you were chasing this Soul Devouring Spider and accidentally drove it to where I was absorbing the soul ring, nearly disturbing me, right?"
Qian Renxue was quite confident in her looks. Apart from that one woman, she believed no other woman's appearance could compare to hers. Lan Si was merely an adolescent boy experiencing his first feelings of love. It wasn't surprising for him to be shy and flustered upon seeing her beauty.
"That's exactly what happened. I'm truly sorry," Lan Si said, standing up straight and bowing slightly without straightening up.
Seeing Lan Si's 'sincere' apology, a faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared on Qian Renxue's beautiful face. Nodding, she replied, "You didn't do it on purpose, and the Soul Devouring Spider didn't harm me. Besides, you even protected me while I was absorbing the soul ring. Let's consider this matter settled."
She then walked over to the Soul Devouring Spider's side and casually asked, "Your name is Lan Si, right? If I'm not mistaken, your soul power has reached level 30, and you intend to absorb the soul ring from this Soul Devouring Spider, correct?"
"Yes," Lan Si replied, nodding slowly and standing beside Qian Renxue.
"I advise you not to do this. You were impressive to kill it with just your level 30 power, but this soul beast's age has long exceeded 2,000 years, ranging between 2,000 and 2,500 years. This far surpasses the limit for a third soul ring. If you try to absorb it recklessly, you may be overwhelmed by the immense energy contained within the soul ring," Qian Renxue sighed lightly, trying to dissuade him.
Knowing that Lan Si possessed twin martial souls and had left a good impression on her, Qian Renxue couldn't help but feel some fondness for him. If possible, she didn't want this talented boy with twin martial souls to perish.
"I understand," Lan Si said solemnly.
"Then why..." Qian Renxue furrowed her delicate brows. Before she could finish, Lan Si interrupted, "I know you mean well, but in my opinion, danger and opportunity often coexist. Besides, the limit for the third soul ring applies to ordinary people."
"I've read many theories about soul masters absorbing soul rings. In my opinion, the maximum age of a soul ring that a soul master can absorb is related to the strength of the soul master's physical body. The stronger the body, the higher the limit of the soul ring that can be absorbed. This is why, as one's cultivation level increases, the limit of the soul rings they can absorb also increases—because their physical body is continuously strengthening with the rise in soul power."
"I have always placed great importance on tempering my body since I was young. My first soul ring was a Crimson Eagle aged between 420 and 450 years, and my second soul ring was a Shadow Splitting Beast of 900 years. Both exceeded the known limits in the soul master world, so I am confident."
Qian Renxue nodded repeatedly after hearing this and couldn't help but ask, "Who is your teacher?"
"I taught myself," Lan Si replied with a smile.
"Pfft, if you don't want to say, then don't. I don't care to know anyway," Qian Renxue retorted, feeling unusually relaxed as she pouted.
"What's your name? I can't keep calling you Miss," Lan Si asked, glancing at the darkening sky as he sat down beside the corpse of the Soul Devouring Spider.
Qian Renxue pondered for a moment before slowly replying, "Leng Xue." She gave a fake name.
"Leng Xue?" Lan Si raised an eyebrow slightly and smiled. "It suits you."
"Why?" Qian Renxue asked curiously.
"You're so beautiful, with skin as fair as snow, and you have a rather cold demeanor. 'Leng Xue,' cold and snowy—it fits you perfectly," Lan Si said with a smile.
"You really are an interesting person," Qian Renxue said, a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. Her expression then turned serious as she asked in a deep voice, "Are you really going to absorb this soul ring?"
Lan Si nodded slowly.
"Aren't you worried that I might harm you while you absorb the soul ring?" Qian Renxue's eyes focused on Lan Si, who was sitting beside the Soul Devouring Spider, ready to absorb the soul ring.
"To say I'm not worried would be a lie, but I'm just a little Soul Elder while you're a Soul Emperor. If you wanted to kill me, any random ten-thousand-year soul skill could easily do so. Besides, I already apologized to you, and you forgave me. You don't seem like the type to kill innocent people without reason. You wouldn't attack me without cause," Lan Si shrugged.
"You can't be sure. What if you're wrong about me?" Qian Renxue covered her lips with her jade-like hand, a faint smile playing on her lips.
"Then I'll just consider myself unlucky. I can't fight, and I can't run," Lan Si replied, looking helpless.
"Fine, you win. Before you start absorbing the soul ring, I want to ask you one last question," Qian Renxue said.
"Ask away, ask away. Why make it sound like a final farewell?" Lan Si pouted.
"Don't take my kindness for granted. I just want to know where you live in case the soul ring from the Soul Devouring Spider bursts you. Then I can inform your parents to collect your body," Qian Renxue replied, rolling her eyes at Lan Si.
"Don't worry about that. My parents passed away long ago. But if you want to know my background, you can inquire in Nuoding City, a thousand miles to the northwest. It's not something I need to hide," Lan Si said lightly as he closed his eyes, activating his supreme cultivation technique and starting to absorb the soul ring.
He spoke calmly, but he was also uncertain in his heart. Facing a Soul Devouring Spider over 2,000 years old, even up to 2,500 years, claiming full confidence would be a lie. However, in the original story, Tang San managed to absorb a 2,000-year-old Man-Faced Demon Spider with the Mysterious Heaven Technique.
If Lan Si, equipped with two complementary top-tier techniques, couldn't do the same, he might as well die. How else could he become stronger and reach the pinnacle?
Watching Lan Si enter the state of absorbing the soul ring, Qian Renxue's smile slowly faded. After a moment of silence, she suddenly spoke in a voice as clear and melodious as a bell, bringing a peculiar sense of tranquility.
"Come out."
As her words fell, two shadows—one thin and one plump—mysteriously emerged from a large tree behind her. They were none other than the Snake Spear Douluo and the Porcupinefish Douluo, who had been secretly protecting her.
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If any of you find any error in the chapter, please point it out in the paragraph comments and I will correct it as soon as possible.