"What are you spacing out for? Hurry up and absorb the soul ring!"
"Ah yes!"
Han Feng quickly took the dagger from Qian Renxue's hand and stabbed it directly into the brow of the Hyperactive Rhino. With surprising ease, the beast was slain.
This surprised Han Feng. The dagger Qian Renxue handed him was elegantly designed, its hilt adorned with a sapphire the size of an eyeball. Yet it was also unimaginably sharp—able to pierce the thick hide and muscle of the Hyperactive Rhino, something not even a typical Soul Exalt could do in one strike. Even by the standards of his previous life, it was a rare and exceptional weapon.
Still, Han Feng quickly cast these thoughts aside.
The moment the Hyperactive Rhino died, a bright yellow soul ring emerged from its body, instantly capturing all of Han Feng's attention.
"This rhino's horn measures 7.3 centimeters—its age slightly exceeds the limit of a second soul ring. But your soul power is purer than most at your level. You can definitely handle it—just be cautious," Qian Renxue reminded him, though she didn't sound overly concerned.
Han Feng's soul power was on par with a Soul Exalt, and the quality of his rings far surpassed the average.
Qian Renxue herself was living proof. With innate soul power at level twenty, her first soul ring already spanned six hundred years!
Han Feng nodded. He had already suspected as much. If he had just a bit more soul power, he might've even attempted a thousand-year soul ring. A seven-hundred-year one posed no issue.
In fact, with his two self-created soul techniques, Han Feng—aside from his lower soul power—was already on par with most defensive-type battle Soul Exalts.
Sitting cross-legged, Han Feng began the absorption. The Shield of Heavenly Flame rose behind him, enveloping him as the yellow ring descended and wrapped around him. Soon, he entered a state of deep meditation.
Han Feng wasn't the least bit worried. If Qian Renxue had any ill intentions, she wouldn't have needed to go to such lengths to save him from the Fire Spirit Cat.
This soul ring absorption was far easier than the first. No soul bone emerged this time, and Han Feng's face remained calm and serene, without a hint of pain.
Qian Renxue sat silently beside him, guarding him while observing his face.
At this moment, Han Feng's expression was solemn and dignified, lacking his usual playful grin. Almost instinctively, Qian Renxue reached out with her delicate finger to poke his cheek—but she held back, remembering he was still absorbing the ring.
In truth, when she casually offered to help Han Feng obtain a soul ring, it was little more than a passing comment. She had come to the Star Dou Forest to vent her emotions. But when Han Feng unhesitatingly revealed his martial soul and soul rings, she realized just how relaxed she felt around him.
No schemes of Spirit Hall.
No suffocating expectations from her grandfather.
No coldness or disdain from Bibi Dong.
She could laugh when she wanted, be angry if she wished.
As clever as she was, Qian Renxue knew Han Feng was hiding something—but so what? Had she been completely honest with him?
Her martial soul, her identity, her strength—her very name—how much of it was real?
In her heart, Qian Renxue already saw Han Feng as her younger brother, as family, as a sanctuary of purity. Beside Han Feng, she was just herself—not Bibi Dong's daughter, not Qian Daoliu's granddaughter, not the successor of the Six-Winged Angel.
She even realized that as long as Han Feng remained by her side, she would never truly become Xue Qinghe.
She had already made up her mind: no matter who Han Feng really was or what side he might be on—even if he were Spirit Hall's enemy—once the Hall's plans were fulfilled in a decade or two, she would walk away from it all and return to his side, living as "Qian Qian," simply staying by Han Feng's side.
During those years, she would still be Han Feng's "Sister Qian Qian," but also Spirit Hall's Qian Renxue and the Heaven Dou royal family's Xue Qinghe.
With her power and influence, Qian Renxue was fully confident that even without Han Feng knowing, she could ensure his safety in the Heaven Dou Empire.
That was Han Feng's luck. If they had met two years later, there'd be no way he could so easily walk into Qian Renxue's heart.
Unless someone could defeat her head-on, Qian Renxue might not even remember his name!
But Han Feng, deep in soul ring absorption, had no idea that the stunning girl in front of him had already mapped out his next twenty years...
BOOM! BOOM BOOM BOOM!
Just as Qian Renxue was dreaming of a beautiful future, the ground suddenly shook with a series of thunderous booms.
Startled, she spread her spiritual sense—and her expression instantly turned grave.
A towering figure, the size of a mountain, was charging toward them.
"Lazy Giant Ape!"
Qian Renxue's eyes narrowed sharply, tension flooding her features.
This Lazy Giant Ape had at least ten thousand years of cultivation. Despite its immense strength—capable of going toe-to-toe with a Titan Giant Ape of equal rank—it was notoriously sluggish. It slept ten months of the year, and in the remaining two months, it was either eating or on its way to eat. Eat, then sleep—never wasting a second.
Only food could rouse it.
And its favorite delicacy?
The brain marrow of the Hyperactive Rhino.
For that, it would even risk its life fighting a hundred-thousand-year soul beast!
Just one rhino brain could let it sleep peacefully for two to three years—a dream come true for it.
Normally, not even a Titled Douluo would provoke a ten-thousand-year Lazy Giant Ape. It was simply not worth the risk. But things were different now.
Han Feng was sitting right next to the rhino's corpse, absorbing the soul ring. Even if the ape didn't attack him directly, its massive body could still interrupt the absorption process.
And if a high-year soul ring absorption failed, the backlash could be severe—Han Feng would be seriously injured, at best.
And that wasn't even considering the possibility that the ape might think Han Feng was stealing its food—and slap him to death in a fit of rage!
Guilt flickered in Qian Renxue's eyes. She had known about the Lazy Giant Ape's habits—but had underestimated the timing. She hadn't expected one to wake up and come feeding right here, right now.
"I can't let it get close to Xiaofeng!"
A sharp gleam flashed in Qian Renxue's eyes.
This ape had likely just awoken and wasn't at peak strength. Judging by its aura, it had only recently reached the ten-thousand-year threshold—comparable to a typical fifty- to sixty-thousand-year beast. If she was careful, she might be able to stall it.
All she had to do was buy enough time for Han Feng to finish the absorption, then flee. The ape's lazy nature guaranteed it wouldn't pursue.
"Empty Sky!"
Without hesitation, Qian Renxue launched herself into the air. Six pairs of wings unfurled behind her, her body glowing with golden light. Her light-gold eyes turned a deep, radiant gold, and four soul rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple—flashed into view as her forty-eighth-level soul power surged to its peak.
She dared not hold back before such a beast.
Yet the Lazy Giant Ape didn't even glance her way.
Other than food and sleep, few things could attract its attention.
"Halt!"
Qian Renxue shouted coldly, divine energy from the Six-Winged Angel martial soul erupting forth. The Lazy Giant Ape suddenly froze—its entire body seized with a deep, instinctual dread. Even its bloodline trembled in fear.
For the first time in its life, the Lazy Giant Ape felt... threatened.
Even the two overlords of the Star Dou Forest's core region had never stirred its bloodline like this!
"ROAR!!"
Feeling challenged for the first time ever, the Lazy Giant Ape let out an earth-shaking roar, locking its gaze onto Qian Renxue for the very first time...