In a secret chamber of the Body Sect, Xie Xiaoqing stood at the center, her long crimson hair cascading over her shoulders like blazing fire, her eyes burning with intensity.
Not far from her, a trembling figure was bound by iron chains.
In the corner, Xiao Wu was curled up, her charred burns still exposed on her pale skin. Once bright and clever, her pink eyes were now dull, filled only with endless fear and despair. Tears streamed continually down her cheeks like broken pearls.
She lifted her head, looking at the woman before her like a demon of flame, her voice hoarse and trembling.
"Please... let me go... I understand..."
Every word drained her strength, every day since her capture by Chen Yi had been torture. The devil had pierced her limbs and bones with thunder, shattering her meridians, before turning her over to the woman before her.
Xie Xiaoqing kept her in the room, watching daily, always asking what would motivate her to train. Who could know what Xiao Wu had endured?
"If... If I'd only listened to Da Ming and Er Ming..." Xiao Wu's thoughts drifted to the two titanic figures deep in Star Dou Forest.
"Wait until my training matures to transform... wasn't that it?" Regret gnawed at her heart like a venomous snake, but in this world, there is no "if."
Xie Xiaoqing smirked upon hearing this, stepping forward barefoot on the cold floor, each step leaving faint traces of flame.
She crouched, reached out with slender fingers, and gently lifted Xiao Wu's chin, forcing the tear-filled eyes to meet her own.
"Didn't I tell you, little rabbit," Xie Xiaoqing said, her voice strangely gentle but colder than a blade of ice.
A small flame flickered at her fingertip, its heat making Xiao Wu's cheek tingle.
"I've raised you all this time, fed and watered you every day. Today is no different, is it?"
Xie Xiaoqing's smile widened, a hunter's joy at cornering her prey.
"Don't worry," she said, lightly patting Xiao Wu's cheek as if consoling a pet, "Give me your 100,000-year soul ring and soul bone, and I promise I won't eat spicy rabbit head today."
"How's that—am I not merciful enough?"
"No... please don't..."
Xiao Wu wanted to beg, to struggle, but Xie Xiaoqing had waited too long. Her eyes suddenly sharpened, and her right fist clenched.
"Goodbye, little rabbit."
The moment the words fell, Xie Xiaoqing's fist burst with searing heat, smashing down.
Xiao Wu's pupils contracted. In her final moment, she didn't see Xie Xiaoqing's face, but that of a hideous human woman deep within her memory—the one who had killed her mother and taken her mother's soul ring and soul bone. The feud was still there, and vengeance unfulfilled. That thought flashed through her fading consciousness like lightning.
The next moment, the boy who had sworn to protect her in Holy Soul Village.. Will you avenge me...?
The light in her eyes completely faded.
In an instant, Xiao Wu's body melted and transformed in the flames, finally reverting to her original form—a petite, pink-haired Soft Bone Rabbit, lying silently in the corner, all vitality gone.
At the same time, a colossal blood-red soul ring, over ten meters in diameter, erupted from the Soft Bone Rabbit's corpse, resounding through the world like the purest ruby, radiating surges of life energy and soul power that made hearts race.
Simultaneously, two pink-glowing soul bones emerged from the body—one a complete right arm bone, the other a complete left arm bone.
Xie Xiaoqing's breathing grew ragged, eyes wild with ecstasy. She sat cross-legged without hesitation, hands clasped, as the phantom of a heart behind her exploded with terrifying suction.
"Come... my ninth soul ring!"
The blood-red soul ring was drawn in, descending slowly and enveloping Xie Xiaoqing's entire body.
Outside the room, Chen Yi and his group arrived, peering in at the scene. A few even revealed relaxed smiles.
"The rabbit's finally dead," Chen Yi muttered.
…
At the same time, a carriage sped along an official road.
Inside, Tang San sat by the window, staring blankly at the retreating scenery. Since his father Tang Hao's fall and Xiao Wu's capture, he'd become a walking corpse. Though Tang Yuehua took him in, the Clear Sky Sect's attitude was ambiguous, and revenge seemed distant.
Yu Xiaogang sat across, watching his haggard disciple, at a loss for words of comfort.
Suddenly—
"Ugh!" Tang San clutched his chest and curled up like a shrimp, his face draining of blood.
A pain like his heart was being torn apart exploded inside him, as if something most precious had been ripped from his soul.
"Xiao San! What's wrong?" Yu Xiaogang cried out in alarm, rushing forward to support him.
Tang San seemed not to hear.
"Xiao... Xiao Wu..." His voice was hoarse, like sandpaper scraping.
He clutched at his collar, nails digging deep into flesh, blood oozing out unnoticed.
"Something's happened to her... Something's happened!"
His last words were nearly a roar. He suddenly looked up, eyes blood-red, his savage expression making Yu Xiaogang's heart pound.
"Body Sect... Chen Yi..."
Tang San spat out each word through clenched teeth, his killing intent monstrous.
"If Xiao Wu is even slightly hurt... I, Tang San, swear here—"
He smashed his fist into the carriage wall, instantly splintering the wood.
"It'll be repaid in blood... to the death!!"
His frantic roar echoed through the carriage, startling the horses into whinnying.
…
Three days later.
A pillar of golden light erupted from the depths of the Body Sect.
"Boom—"
The pillar shot into the sky, painting the heavens a brilliant gold. Heroic laughter boomed like thunder, echoing across the Body Sect's entire domain.
"Hahaha!!"
Amidst the laughter, a fiery red figure slowly rose from the golden pillar, standing atop the mountain.
It was Xie Xiaoqing! Compared to three days ago, the phantom heart behind her had completely changed, no longer wrapped in gold thread but transformed into something like a golden sculpture.
Golden-Level Triple Awakening—Complete.
At the same time, nine soul rings rose from her feet: Yellow, Yellow, Purple, Purple, Black, Black, Black, Red, Red!
Having absorbed Xiao Wu's 100,000-year soul ring and completed her golden triple awakening, Xie Xiaoqing's original eighth soul ring also broke through its limit, evolving into a true 100,000-year soul ring. She became the first soul master in 10,000 years on the Douluo Continent to possess two 100,000-year soul rings simultaneously.
Nine rings appeared; double red rings shocked the world!
A terrifying, unprecedented power surged through her body. She felt an intimate connection between the elements of fire and the world. Stretching her arms to the sky, she let out a long howl.
"Today, Xiaoqing thanks you—
With a heart of nirvana, I ascend to the Title!"
She took a deep breath, the golden phantom heart behind her shining like a beacon over heaven and earth.
"Blazing Heart!"
"Congratulations to the Ninth Elder on your promotion to Title Douluo!!"
At the foot of the mountain, every Body Sect member bowed toward the peak, their voices rolling like a tidal wave across the mountains and plains.
"Congratulations, Blazing Heart Douluo!"
"Congratulations, Blazing Heart Douluo!"
"Congratulations, Blazing Heart Douluo!"
The elders' voices grew louder, filled with true joy.
The Body Sect now had another "Titled Douluo" who had completed the golden triple awakening and possessed two 100,000-year soul rings, standing at the very top of the Douluo Continent!
…
PS: Bonus chapter at 500 PS
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