Chapter 126: A New Beginning for Bai Qingshan
Xiao Qiang used his spirit sharing ability to inquire about the Snow Emperor's soul. Although there were also 100,000-year-old immortal herbs within the Double-Duck Pot, most of them had no relation to the Bone Dragon Martial Spirit.
The only relevant one that Xiao Qiang knew of was the Earth Dragon Golden Gourd. This herb would reach 160,000 years of cultivation in another 10,000 years—meaning that, at present, it had only cultivated for 60,000 years. There was no need to travel to the Double-Duck Pot for a mere 60,000-year-old soul. As long as it wasn't a direct descendant of the Evil Emperor, capturing a 60,000-year-old soul wasn't difficult.
"Alright, which soul ring do you plan for him to absorb it into?" asked the Snow Emperor. Since it was now almost certain that a soul could be passed on normally, the Snow Emperor no longer felt resistant to the idea. More importantly, Xiao Qiang was not planning to kill a 100,000-year-old soul beast, merely to utilize its soul, which made it acceptable.
Xiao Qiang gave it some thought.
"The fifth soul ring, I think. The earlier a 100,000-year-old soul ring is fused, the greater the long-term benefit."
"Huh? The fifth soul ring, a 100,000-year-old one? That's not possible!" Tian Meng's voice rang out in Xiao Qiang's sea of spirit. "Once a person's physique reaches level fifty, the absorption limit for soul rings is only about 15,000 years. With the whale glue you have, you can stretch that to about 20,000. Anything beyond that—even with whale glue—caps out around 40,000. A 100,000-year soul ring would be impossible without a pile of soul bones like you had!"
Tian Meng couldn't believe how Xiao Qiang had done it. He had four 100,000-year-level soul bones, one 100,000-year soul ring that had refined his body, and even the Snow Emperor's Snow Pill inside him. All of these gave him the exceptional ability to absorb a 100,000-year soul. To replicate that for someone else? Inconceivable.
"I know a place that's ideal for improving physical fitness," Xiao Qiang said. "I hadn't planned to go there myself because it would slow my soul power growth over time. But it's perfect for Ah Sheng. If he stays there, he'll be able to absorb a 100,000-year-level soul at the fifth soul ring. Even if his soul power doesn't grow much in the next three years, the gains from the fifth and sixth soul rings will more than make up for it."
"You can see that far ahead? Good thing I didn't make the wrong choice. What was I thinking back then, believing that brat who hadn't even reached level 20 was strong and reliable?" Tian Meng muttered, thinking he must've been cursed by someone before choosing that weakling.
"When do you plan to send him to that place?" Bingdi asked in Xiao Qiang's mind.
"There's no rush. Let Ah Sheng first adapt to the Bone Dragon Martial Soul and his four soul skills. Before that, I have another matter to take care of."
At the Edge of the Demonic Forest
The Demonic Forest was the largest soul beast habitat in the Sun-Moon Empire—nearly the only location within the empire where one could obtain a soul ring over 10,000 years in age.
Though the appointed time hadn't arrived yet, Bai Qingshan—who had just reached level 50—was already waiting there. He never imagined that someone like him, who started off with only level 2 soul power, would one day break through to Soul King level. Even more unimaginable: he was about to obtain a 10,000-year soul ring.
In this world, a 10,000-year soul ring was the dividing line between small and medium nobility. Regardless of one's appearance or clothing, once that black soul ring was revealed, they would instantly be treated as a noble among nobles.
Why? Because hunting a 10,000-year soul beast in the Soul Hunting Forest required the assistance of at least a Soul Saint-level expert. Severely wounding—without killing—a 10,000-year soul beast required a Soul Emperor's control, not to mention restraining it after that, fending off its counterattack, and avoiding interference from nearby beasts.
Without a Soul Saint's protection, attempting to gain a 10,000-year soul ring was a gamble with death. That's why such rings symbolized status: anyone who had one was assumed to be backed by someone powerful, likely a Soul Saint—who, in this era, were often city lords or sect leaders. Thus, a 10,000-year soul ring was proof of elite connections.
Even more prestigious was obtaining a 10,000-year ring as a fifth soul ring. Most people waited until the sixth ring for something that rare. To have one at the fifth soul ring was essentially equal to being a young master of a major noble family.
Now, standing on the verge of that very transformation, how could Bai Qingshan not be overwhelmed?
Although the first four of his soul rings were of poor quality, starting from the fifth, he was about to reach the realm of nobles.
"Uncle Bai, you arrived pretty early," came Xiao Qiang's voice. He had only just arrived himself, spotting Bai Qingshan not five minutes ahead.
"You're here? Huh? Are you alone? Should we head into the Soul Beast Forest now?"
Bai Qingshan looked behind Xiao Qiang and saw no one else with him.
"No need. I've already been in the forest and caught a soul beast for you."
With that, Xiao Qiang took out the 40,000-year-old soul beast he had killed: a Sawtooth Golden Centipede, instantly frozen to death by his extreme ice ray.
Bai Qingshan stood dumbfounded.
"This… this soul beast's age… Can I even absorb it?"
"Normally, no. But I've prepared several soul bones for you."
Xiao Qiang's words shocked Bai Qingshan even more. When he laid eyes on the soul bones Xiao Qiang produced, he nearly lost his breath. Even a major noble would find such treasures scarce. Despite not knowing much about soul bones, Bai Qingshan could tell these were extraordinary. He guessed that none of them were under 10,000 years.
"Soul bones like these… they're far too valuable. You should absorb them yourself. Just being able to get one or two 10,000-year rings in my life is enough for me."
"It's fine. Go ahead and fuse them. I have my own plans."
"But what about your brothers and sisters?"
"I've already made arrangements for them. Come on, I'll guard you during the fusion. Start with the soul bones, then the soul ring."
Under Xiao Qiang's firm urging, Bai Qingshan fused four soul bones. Afterward, the 40,000-year Sawtooth Golden Centipede was turned into a wisdom-type soul ring by Xiao Qiang, and the soul was fused along with the right arm soul bone.
By then, Bai Qingshan had a complete set of soul bones—excluding only the torso—and his four earlier soul rings transformed. They changed from white, yellow, yellow, and purple, to four purples and one black, all thanks to the 40,000-year wisdom ring pulling the lower rings up in quality.
"I… I really didn't expect… that I'd ever experience something like this," Bai Qingshan said, overwhelmed as he looked at the majestic sequence of four purple rings and one black ring.
Watching this transformation, Xiao Qiang quietly shook his head.
"No, Uncle Bai. I should be thanking you."
In his past life, Xiao Qiang had been a completely ordinary person. No talent. No connections. He finished school and was tossed into the harsh reality of society, beaten down by life. Some people helped him then, but they too had their own burdens—mortgages, children, careers. Ordinary people could only do so much. They repaid favors when they could, but were often trapped by their own helplessness.
Xiao Qiang had wanted to achieve something back then. He worked hard to survive, but he could never make it to the other side. In the end, he led a plain and uninspired life.
But now, in this new world, with new opportunities and a new name—Xiao Qiang—he had the power to change everything. His name might have sounded common, even forgettable, but this time, he wouldn't let it define him.
With awakened soul power, and knowledge of this world, Xiao Qiang was no longer the helpless man he once was.
And as he watched Bai Qingshan's soul ring glow, he knew:
He had begun to rewrite his fate.
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