Her thoughts turned inward— 'That Three-Eyed Golden Lion in the Star Dou Forest has ferocious beasts protecting it. Why was this one unguarded?'
Tianmeng's voice answered, tinged with helplessness."I don't know. Maybe because the White Auspicious Fox is a benign mutation of the White Charm Fox. No one can tell if it even has the potential to evolve further. Perhaps the scouts found it right after its mutation—weak and unprotected."
Qian Renxue nodded slowly. "Maybe that's the case."Her gaze softened as she looked at the little fox nestled in her arms.
'Still… even if she's not as special as that Three-Eyed Golden Lion one, she's fated to be mine.'
Another thought flickered through her mind—'The Three-Eyed Golden Lion possesses the blood of the Golden Dragon King… that's what makes it unique.'
Tianmeng Silkworm's calm, echoing voice resounded once more in the depths of Qian Renxue's mind."Renxue, look at her. The little fox is so attached to you, but wary of everyone else. Even if I or Electrolux appeared before her, she would still bare her fangs and growl. She only trusts you."
The soft white creature was still curled in Qian Renxue's lap, tail wrapped around itself like a silken ribbon. Its third eye twitched faintly, as if sensing the presence of others. When Tianmeng's spiritual essence stirred, the fox let out a low, trembling growl that only Qian Renxue could hear.
"Grrrr…"
Qian Renxue gazed at it quietly, her expression unreadable. "I've already told you," she said flatly. "It's impossible."
She stroked the fox's fur once more, her touch gentle but final—like a judge's hammer after a verdict. "At most, what I can promise is that once I ascend to godhood, I will revive it. That's the limit of mercy I can offer."
For a moment, silence stretched between them. Then, Tianmeng's mood shifted—his tone grew lighter, tinged with relief."So you'll revive it… That's good enough for me."
He paused, and Qian Renxue could almost feel his tension dissolving in her spirit sea. "I know you don't make promises lightly. I just… this little one holds the destiny of the North's soul beasts. If it dies, the Northern balance will weaken."
Qian Renxue's golden eyes flickered for a moment. Her thoughts turned inward, her expression softening just slightly.'In the story of Douluo Dalu 2, Tianmeng never said anything like this to Huo Yuhao. He kept silent, buried his pain, and simply followed him. Maybe… it wasn't silence out of peace, but anger. Anger at those ferocious beasts in Star Dou Forest who drained his strength for ten thousand years, treating him as nothing more than a living battery.'
Her fingers stopped caressing the fox.
She closed her eyes briefly, then opened them again, determination blazing within."Don't worry, Tianmeng," she said softly, her voice like calm fire. "This fox's death won't be in vain. I'll make her power part of mine—and when the time comes, I'll give it back to her, stronger and purer than before."
She turned toward Electrolux, who was hovering silently above the shimmering expanse of her Spirit Sea. The ancient necromancer's white robe fluttered like mist, his translucent form half-merged with the golden ocean of faith beneath them.
"Teacher," Qian Renxue began, her voice calm but resolute, "I believe that condensing the next soul ring by blending it with the power of faith will yield better results. It will make the foundation purer."
Electrolux's eyes flickered like faint silver stars. "We've already tested that, haven't we? When you fused the power of faith into your first soul ring. The results were... remarkable."
Tianmeng chimed in, his tone bright but edged with awe. "Yes! I felt it too. Some kind of illusory wall was shattered that day. It was like your very soul realm expanded."
Qian Renxue nodded slightly, her golden hair rippling. "But the problem lies in the amount of faith required. The first fusion drained an immense quantity. That's why I postponed the process for the remaining rings."
Tianmeng Silkworm's usually cheerful tone grew faint. "I no longer have enough essence to raise the age of your soul rings any further. If you intend to push past the limit, faith energy may be your only choice."
"Exactly." Qian Renxue's voice was quiet, almost tender, but beneath it pulsed a terrifying determination. "That's why I must draw upon the accumulated faith stored in the angel statues. I don't know how much they contain before their reserves are emptied."
"The statues…" Tianmeng's tone grew thoughtful. "You have two, don't you? One in the Elders' Hall and another outside the Pope's Hall."
"Yes," Qian Renxue replied, cutting him off gently, "but even together their faith might not be enough. The flow of belief is limited. The people of this era no longer truly revere the Angel God. Their faith has become ceremonial, hollow."
Electrolux's gaze grew sharp, like a scholar dissecting a truth he'd already predicted. "Then you intend to drain them both? Renxue, the act of drawing divine faith is not without danger."
"I know," she said firmly, stepping closer to him within her Spirit Sea. "But as I've reached the peak of power attainable by mortals in Douluo continent, this process must be done by my own hand."
Electrolux's expression did not change, but a faint distortion rippled through his form—a subtle sign of disapproval. "Then, at least allow me to maintain a stabilizing field. I won't interfere unless—"
Qian Renxue interrupted him, her tone soft yet carrying the authority of an angel. "If I fall into danger, I will ask for your help. But this… this is my trial."
Her words fell into silence, heavy and absolute. The light of the Spirit Sea shimmered faintly, as though the world itself held its breath.
Tianmeng Silkworm, floating off to the side, sensed the invisible current passing between the two.
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