Douluo Dalu: Transforming Soul Rings into Soul Veins

Qian Daoliu let out a long sigh in the air and entered the range of Sea God Island.

This island was in the shape of a ring. In the middle was sparkling seawater, like a bright pearl inlaid in the azure.

And in the center of the seawater, a central island five hundred meters high stood alone. At the highest point of the island was a white jade building, surrounded by a faint blue radiance.

Almost at the instant he arrived at Sea God Island, in that hall, a gentle and beautiful figure suddenly turned her head, looking towards the distant sea horizon.

"A mainland soul master?"

Bo Saixi had a head of long, white, wavy hair, looking mature and steady, and also adding a few points of charm and grace. She was dressed in a long red robe, her face exquisite, looking to be only about thirty years old.

She held a three-meter-long golden scepter in her hand, adding a point of nobility. She elegantly walked to the entrance of the Sea God Temple and gazed at the sky.

"A Titled Douluo? Such a familiar feeling. The mainland and my Sea God Island have never had much contact. Where did this expert come from? To cross such a long distance and fly to Sea God Island, why did he stop at the edge?"

As the spokesperson for the Sea God on the Douluo Continent, although her own path of ascent was also locked and she could not become a god, because the Sea God still maintained contact with Sea God Island, she was granted great authority on the island and could sense any unusual movements within its range.

At the same time, she also had the bonus of the Sea God's divine power. When necessary, she could also proactively apply for the right to use the Sea God's Trident and mobilize the power of the ocean in this area. It could be said that she was truly invincible in the ocean. Even Qian Daoliu and Tang Chen of that year were also no match for her, who held every geographical advantage.

Bo Saixi frowned slightly, transformed into a blue light, and sped towards Qian Daoliu's direction.

Qian Daoliu looked at the stream of light coming towards him with some apprehension. In his youth, he, Tang Chen, and Bo Saixi were the three strongest leading figures in the soul master world.

One was invincible in the sky, one invincible on land, one invincible in the ocean. All had transcendent strength and talent. While they had forged a deep friendship, because it was a relationship of two men and one woman, Tang San had once again arranged an emotional dispute.

This High Priestess, who followed the steps of the Sea God, had set an agreement for them: whoever could first reach level 100 and become a god, she would accept their love. It seemed to give them a chance, and Tang Chen's chance was even greater, but in reality, it was a rejection of both of them.

Qian Daoliu, because he bore the restriction of sacrificing himself for the final trial of the Angel God, had no possibility of becoming a god. And Tang Chen, although he possessed the Slaughter God Domain, the difficulty of the divine trials was not ordinary. Even if Bo Saixi was somewhat inclined towards Tang Chen, it was just giving him a little something to hope for.

In the eyes of this High Priestess, there were only two pursuits.

First was her faith in the Sea God. This faith came from the bond of her living on Sea God Island since she was young, and also from the martial soul she had obtained after being recognized by the Sea God.

Second was an extremely deep obsession with becoming a god. At the age of 68, she had already reached the realm of a Limit Douluo. Now, decades had passed, and the thought of becoming a god was deeply rooted in her heart. Although she had become the High Priestess, there was still a little hope.

Otherwise, she would not be so concerned about her own life. The opening of the Sea God's ninth trial required her sacrifice, so she would, within the rules, justifiably deal with the person who accepted the Sea God's nine trials. Even with Tang San, she had struck a killing blow.

On Sea God Island, she was the number one person in the current soul master world, a true supreme expert. For many years, her body had been filled with the energy of the Sea God. This energy had allowed her to have one foot in the divine level. With the precipitation of time, it had made her fall into an obsession with becoming a god.

After all, this was different from Qian Daoliu. She was constantly feeling the power of the divine level, and understood more deeply what this meant, understanding the gap between a Titled Douluo and a god.

It could be said that if a chance to become a god were placed before her a few years later, she would very likely hesitate between her faith in the Sea God and the path to godhood. With some guidance, there was a high probability she would choose the latter. If her lifespan were nearing its end, this possibility would be even greater.

"It's you?! Qian Daoliu."

Bo Saixi's gaze was somewhat complicated. She slowly came to a stop a dozen or so meters opposite Qian Daoliu.

Qian Daoliu nodded, a look of reminiscence and emotion on his middle-aged face. "Bo Saixi, we haven't seen each other for a long time. You are still so beautiful, without a single change from before, unlike me."

Qian Daoliu glanced at Bo Saixi without leaving a trace. Her height seemed to be about 1.8 meters. Her entire body was shrouded in a long, bright red robe. Her long white hair was draped behind her back, reaching the ground. Her gentle and beautiful face looked to be at most about thirty years old, noble and elegant, gentle and warm.

Even the current Bibi Dong would be inferior to her in terms of temperament.

Bo Saixi frowned. "You haven't changed much either. At our level, the years can no longer leave any trace on our faces. The change in your appearance should mostly come from changes in your heart. Your heart has calmed, become stagnant."

Qian Daoliu shook his head with a bitter smile. "Indeed, indeed."

After understanding that his pursuit of Bo Saixi was destined to have no result, Qian Daoliu, who had returned to the Spirit Hall on the mainland, was dejected for a long time. Before Qian Renxue's arrival, it was to guard the Douluo Hall. And after Qian Renxue's arrival, it was to regard the Angelic inheritance as the sole mission of his remaining life.

"We probably haven't seen each other for decades. Didn't Tang Chen come with you?"

Qian Daoliu shook his head. "He's missing. He went missing a long time ago."

"Is that so." Bo Saixi lowered her eyebrows and opened her mouth. Not becoming a god, not returning? Having disappeared for decades, I'm afraid he already... Bo Saixi shook her head and asked, "Then for what matter have you come this time?"

Qian Daoliu carefully observed the change in Bo Saixi's expression. "In these ten years, has Sea God Island had any contact with the mainland? Have you sent out any Titled Douluo? Or rather, have you personally come?"

Bo Saixi frowned. "My Sea God Island is separated from the mainland. As the High Priestess, I have the mission of guarding Sea God Island. How could I easily leave the island? Why do you ask this? You came all this way just to ask these few questions?"

"In these few years, you have never set foot on the mainland?"

Bo Saixi shook her head. "Why would I go to the mainland? On the contrary, your Spirit Hall has made some excessive moves in the past few years, wantonly plundering whale-type soul beasts. Don't forget, a portion of the sea soul beasts are also under the protection of my Sea God Island. If I hadn't ordered my subordinates to migrate the coastal whale-types, I'm afraid the soul beasts there would have suffered great losses."

Qian Daoliu nodded sheepishly. "My apologies. Then I wonder if you have heard the name Lin Feng?"

Seeing Bo Saixi shake her head again, Qian Daoliu sighed in his heart. It seemed it really had nothing to do with Sea God Island. Although the two had not seen each other for many years, she wouldn't go so far as to deceive him.

Once again looking at Bo Saixi with reluctance, Qian Daoliu slowly headed in the direction he had flown from. Bo Saixi was stunned, then interrupted Qian Daoliu's return process and asked, "Wait! Your current strength..."

Qian Daoliu looked at Bo Saixi, who was blocking his path, with some surprise. He hesitated for a long time and finally nodded. "Some progress. I can be considered to have touched a bit of the threshold of a god."

The existence of the soul veins and Lin Feng would eventually be transmitted to Sea God Island. It was just a matter of time. Soul masters from the mainland would also come to Sea God Island from time to time. It was perfectly normal for them to bring news.

"How did you do it?"

Bo Saixi asked curiously, a trace of surprise and confusion flashing in her eyes. In her perception, Qian Daoliu, as the inheritor of the Angel clan and the current Grand Worship of Spirit Hall, although he possessed great talent and strength, was limited by the rules of the Angel God's trials. It was impossible for him to truly step into the divine level.

Although he could briefly possess divine-level strength with the remnant grace left by the Angel God, under normal circumstances, he should not be able to touch that realm, not even a little bit of comprehension.

Qian Daoliu closed his eyes and released his martial soul.

"This... how can this be? What about your first five soul rings?!"

Bo Saixi looked at Qian Daoliu's martial soul in shock. The original configuration of eight black and one red now only had the top three black and one red remaining.

"What did you do? Why have your soul rings become like this?" Bo Saixi's voice carried a trace of urgency and worry. A change in soul rings often meant that a soul master had experienced some extraordinary event, and this event was very likely to have a profound impact on the soul master.

It was like Tang Chen's ring detonation. But even with ring detonation, the soul ring would only temporarily become faint. It would absolutely not be like Qian Daoliu at this moment, completely disappeared.

"It's related to the Lin Feng I just mentioned. He is the current Holy Son of our Spirit Hall, the most dazzling existence of this era. He proposed the Innate Soul Evolution Art, which can incorporate soul rings into one's own body, shaping them into meridians, called soul veins."

"These soul veins not only accelerate cultivation and nourish the body, but most importantly, they can enhance your comprehension of the laws within the soul veins again. At our realm, you should understand how important this point is. The improvement of my strength has also benefited from it."

Bo Saixi's sandalwood mouth was slightly agape. Has Sea God Island been isolated from the world for too long? Such a character has actually appeared on the continent, researching such a cultivation method? The soul master world has abandoned me...

Qian Daoliu casually released his Angelic Sword soul skill, letting Bo Saixi feel its might. Seeing Qian Daoliu's casual transformation of the Angelic Sword, Bo Saixi's heart couldn't help but be shocked again.

The birth of a soul skill was originally to extract the most suitable characteristics from a soul ring, derived from the laws. Looking at it like this, weren't these soul veins a return to the original simplicity?

To make an analogy, it would be the difference between directly releasing other colors and having the three primary colors of red, yellow, and blue to mix any color oneself.

No wonder Qian Daoliu, who clearly had the restriction of the divine trials, could still take a step further. And for herself, the effect should also be the same? Bo Saixi's originally emotionless tone carried a hint of excitement. "Can you teach me?"

Qian Daoliu nodded, but then shook his head again, handing Bo Saixi a booklet. "These are the paths derived from the five soul veins. Although they can't compare to the soul veins, they still have a 25% cultivation speed bonus."

"The soul veins can only be condensed by Lin Feng's martial soul now. I can't teach you."

"How... how much?"

Bo Saixi lightly covered the corner of her mouth, her beautiful eyes slightly widened. She suspected she had misheard. Swallowing her saliva, she continued to ask, "It can't compare to the soul veins? Then what about the soul veins!?"

In her excitement, she directly grabbed Qian Daoliu's arm with one hand.

Qian Daoliu looked at the fair hand on his arm, a hard-to-describe emotion in his heart. This seems to be the first time in the decades since they've known each other, apart from sparring, that they've had physical contact?

"100%"

"Ah!? You're not lying to me!?"

Bo Saixi's reaction was full of shock and disbelief. As the High Priestess of Sea God Island, she had a deep understanding and cognition of the soul master's cultivation system, but the "soul veins" described by Qian Daoliu completely exceeded her imagination.

This kind of cultivation method that could incorporate soul rings into one's own body, shape them into meridians, accelerate cultivation, nourish the body, and even enhance the comprehension of the laws within the soul veins was extremely attractive to any soul master.

"A 100% cultivation speed bonus?" Bo Saixi's voice trembled slightly. This was clearly an unbelievable number. She stared intently at Qian Daoliu, as if trying to find any trace of deception in his eyes.

Qian Daoliu sighed lightly. He understood Bo Saixi's shock and doubt. After all, this kind of cultivation method was unprecedented for the entire soul master world. He nodded again and said affirmatively:

"I am not lying to you. The soul veins can indeed bring a 100% cultivation speed bonus. This is the effect brought by the Innate Soul Evolution Art proposed by Lin Feng, and also the reason why he can be regarded as the most dazzling existence of this era."

Bo Saixi slowly released the hand grabbing Qian Daoliu's arm. She flipped through the booklet recording the first five paths for a while, her eyes becoming complicated and deep.

"Where is he?"

"Lost."

Bo Saixi's heart, which had just calmed down a little, exploded again. She pointed at Qian Daoliu, unable to speak.

"Such an important person, and you lost him? What is your Spirit Hall doing! You're not anxious at all?!"

Qian Daoliu sighed helplessly. "It was an expert who had never appeared in the world before. She came to Spirit City and took him away directly. I was on the mountain peak at that time, and Lin Feng was on the mountainside. Even so, I didn't feel a single bit of soul power fluctuation. Fortunately, she had had contact with Lin Feng long before and had gifted him many opportunities, and had stated that she would bring him back."

"Before meeting you, I had suspected it was you and came here to verify."

"She could fool you? Another Limit Douluo?"

Bo Saixi said in surprise. Where did this fellow pop out from?

"I don't know. In short, the thing I wanted to verify on this trip has been verified. For now... I'll take my leave."

Qian Daoliu nodded at Bo Saixi and headed far away in the direction of the mainland's Spirit Hall.

Seeing Qian Daoliu leave so decisively, Bo Saixi was somewhat dazed. She hadn't forgotten that Qian Daoliu had seemed to have been in love with her for decades. For him to leave so quickly, had he already let go?

Bo Saixi let out a long, quiet sigh. Looking at the booklet in her hand, she said in a low voice, "Only he can shape this thing called a soul vein? It can actually let Qian Daoliu touch the threshold of the divine level? And such a terrifying cultivation speed bonus..."

Although she couldn't break through to the divine level due to the rules, her total soul power was constantly increasing. If she had this 100% bonus, could she possibly break through the shackles before her thousand-year great limit? Qian Daoliu also had the restriction of the Angel God's trials, but didn't he still touch the realm of a god after shaping 5 soul veins?

Lin Feng, is it...

Bo Saixi's eyes shifted. She needed to stay on Sea God Island and could not leave at will. The several Titled Douluo also had to be diligent in their posts. Let Xiao Bai go? Escort a team of soul masters to the mainland to inquire?

Hearing what Qian Daoliu said, this path could be cultivated by all soul masters on the continent. Truly incredible.

Just like the great Sea God, sir, protecting the ocean, generous and benevolent.

"Lin Feng..."

A trace of a complex light flashed in Bo Saixi's eyes. She whispered to herself, "Perhaps, the possibility of breaking through to the divine level is on you?"

She admitted she was moved. When a person has possessed a false strength for a long time, they will want to make it real even more. She whispered, "Lord Sea God, you will forgive me, right?"

When Lin Feng appears again, I need to invite him here...

———

In the morning, it came again as usual.

Ling Yuan rubbed her own cheeks, trying to make her expression look natural. She looked with some worry at Qian Renxue, who was still cultivating cross-legged.

Ever since Lin Feng had been taken away, Qian Renxue had been cultivating almost forgetting to eat and sleep. Ling Yuan sighed softly. She knew the anxiety and perseverance in Qian Renxue's heart. Lin Feng's sudden disappearance was undoubtedly a huge blow to Qian Renxue, but it was also a source of her motivation for cultivation.

"Xue'er, let's go out for a walk and clear your head."

Ling Yuan persuaded. How could she not be anxious? It was just that she didn't want to show it in front of Qian Renxue. If two people were emo together, then it would really be emo.

Qian Renxue slowly shook her head. Bibi Dong was right. It was precisely because I was still too weak that someone else could snatch Xiao Feng away.

If it were the level 98 her, even if she couldn't defeat the opponent, she would most likely have been able to hold on until grandpa arrived. In that case, the situation might have been completely different. Even if grandpa was not her opponent, with the means of a Limit Douluo, there would still be capital for negotiation.

Too weak, so you get beaten, so your beloved is taken away. I hate this feeling. For matters involving Xiao Feng, my path has been smooth all along. This is the first time I've experienced the feeling of him leaving my side.

How can I not get stronger quickly?

"Sister Ling Yuan, you go out first. I still need to cultivate for a while."

Ling Yuan pursed her lips, nodded helplessly, and walked towards the outside of the room. Approaching the door...

"Huh? When did this letter get here?"

Swoosh—

Qian Renxue, who was still cultivating cross-legged, suddenly rushed in front of Ling Yuan, directly picking up the letter. Just like that day, a letter that had appeared out of nowhere.

A light flashed again in Qian Renxue's somewhat vacant eyes.

"Sister Ling Yuan, look, this letter..." Qian Renxue's voice trembled slightly. She eagerly wanted to share this sudden joy and expectation.

The two of them carefully opened the envelope. Inside was a thin sheet of paper with a few lines of words written on it. The handwriting was strong and powerful.

"Xue'er, Sister Ling Yuan, do not worry. I am well and am currently receiving a senior's guidance. When I return, I will surely be a stronger me. You two also have to work hard and not let yourselves stop. For our promise, I have seen the possibility of impacting the god level."

Qian Renxue wiped the teardrop from the corner of her eye. Just a few simple lines, yet it stirred waves in her heart. This was Lin Feng's handwriting. She was all too familiar with it.

"Sister Ling Yuan, it's Xiao Feng."

"Mmm."

Qian Renxue let out a long sigh of relief. Suddenly, she remembered Bibi Dong's reaction after Xiao Feng was taken away. This letter did not mention her name.

Hehe—

Qian Renxue pulled Ling Yuan over. "Let's go, Sister Ling Yuan. Let's go and show this letter to that good sister."

And at the same time, in the Pontiff's Hall, Bibi Dong was propping up her chin with her fair hand, looking at the letter in her hand, a very obvious smile on the corner of her mouth, almost reaching her ears, a complex light flashing in her eyes. This letter was also written by Lin Feng, and the way it had appeared in Bibi Dong's hands was exactly the same as how it had appeared in Qian Renxue's, sudden and mysterious.

"Dong'er, Dong'er, hehe~~ Xiao Feng~~"

Bibi Dong caressed her cheek, somewhat intoxicated.

Suddenly, her brow furrowed. She put away the letter in her hand and looked outside the main hall.

"Is there something?"

Bibi Dong spoke lightly, her tone very gentle. It's unknown if it was Qian Renxue's illusion, but why did she feel that the look in her eyes as she looked at her carried a color of pity?

The corners of Bibi Dong's mouth hooked up. Looking at Qian Renxue, a sense of superiority rose in her heart. Xiao Feng wrote me a letter. You didn't expect that, did you? You don't have one, right?

Qian Renxue ignored Bibi Dong's inexplicable gaze, directly took out Lin Feng's letter, raised her head slightly, and said with a smile, "Xiao Feng wrote it to me and Sister Ling Yuan. Do you want to see it together?"

Bibi Dong's smile paused. What a good Lin Xiaofeng!