Douluo Continent: Twin Souls of the Underworld, Holding the Power of Life and Death

Sunset Forest, the eye of ice and fire.

Five days later.

The morning light pierced through the poisonous miasma above the valley entrance, casting dappled shadows in the valley.

Qian Anci sat cross-legged on a blue stone by the spring, his plain white robe fluttering gently in the morning breeze.

Five days ago, after he came out of the spring, he did not rush to leave.

The fourth spirit ring had just been formed, and the Ice and Fire Dragon King's primordial power was still surging within him, requiring time to stabilize.

More importantly, the red and blue dragon pattern between his eyebrows has not completely disappeared even now.

Qian Anci closed his eyes to regulate his breathing, and four soul rings slowly pulsed behind him.

Purple, black, black, and that two-tone soul ring that's half red and half blue.

Five days of reflection have made his aura even more restrained than when he first emerged from the bottom of the spring, and his level 45 soul power has been completely stabilized.

A deathly aura of gray swirled around him, sometimes mixed with a hint of icy blue chill, and sometimes swept by a wave of crimson heat.

"Goodbye."

Xia Die's voice echoed in my mind, carrying a hint of satisfaction.

"The essence of the Ice and Fire Dragon King has completely merged with your death energy."

"Now, you are capable of fighting even against that fallen soul master from back then."

Qian Anci did not open her eyes, but only responded softly in her heart.

He could feel the dragon mark slowly seeping into the depths of his bloodline, merging with the dragonification power bestowed upon him by Polyces.

"Brother Anci!"

A childish voice came from the direction of the stone house.

Qian Anci opened his eyes and saw Dugu Yan skipping and hopping over.

Her long, dark green hair swayed gently in the morning light, her face was much rosier than it had been five days ago, and her dark green eyes were bright and sparkling. She no longer looked sickly at all.

"Yanyan, slow down."

Qian Anci leaped down from the bluestone and caught the girl who was rushing towards him.

For the past five days, apart from consolidating his cultivation, he spent most of his time playing with her in the valley and telling her about the Spirit Hall.

Over the course of five days, his relationship with Dugu Yan was actually better than that of the old man Dugu Bo.

"Brother Anci, are you leaving today?"

Dugu Yan looked up at him, her dark green eyes filled with reluctance.

Qian Anci squatted down and gently rubbed the top of her head.

"Yes, my brother has been out for long enough. If we don't go back soon, his family will worry."

"Yanyan, if you miss your brother, ask your grandfather to bring you to the Spirit Hall to find your brother. Your brother will treat you to something delicious."

"real?"

"real."

Hearing Qian Anci's assurance, Dugu Yan felt relieved and took his hand, walking towards the stone house.

"Grandpa cooked porridge and grilled fish! It smelled so good!"

Qian Anci was being pulled along by her, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

Although Dugu Bo, that arrogant old man, kept complaining that he was troublesome, he actually made sure Qian Anci ate every meal without fail.

That old man was such a smug jerk.

Inside the stone house, Dugu Bo was busy at the stove.

Seeing Qian Anci enter, he snorted without even looking up.

"You've been eating and drinking for free for five days now, and you're not even going to be polite."

Qian Anci sat down at the wooden table and said with a smile, "I am reluctant to leave because of your skill, senior."

Stop flattering me.

Dugu Bo carried the earthenware pot over and placed it heavily on the table, spilling a few drops of soup.

"Finish your meal and get out of here. This is not an inn."

Dugu Yan climbed onto the stool and obediently served Qian Anci a bowl of porridge, then put the largest grilled fish into his bowl.

"Eat more, Brother Anci."

Dugu Bo glanced at his granddaughter, a complex emotion flashing in his vertical pupils.

This girl isn't even this attentive to her own grandfather.

The meal was quite lively.

Dugu Yan chattered on and on, asking about everything from what flowers bloomed in the valley to what Martial Soul City was like.

Qian Anci patiently answered each question, occasionally glancing at the taciturn Dugu Bo.

After the meal, Dugu Yan slumped over the table, feeling sleepy, and was carried back to bed by Dugu Bo.

Qian Anci cleared away the dishes and washed them by the sink.

Dugu Bo stood at the door with his back to him and suddenly spoke.

"Kid."

"Um."

"When are you leaving?"

Qian Anci put down the bowl and chopsticks, wiped her hands, and walked to the door.

"Is this senior trying to get rid of me?"

Dugu Bo snorted coldly and glanced at him with his vertical pupils.

"I just find it strange. You seem to have it easy as the Holy Son, aren't you afraid your grandfather from the Spirit Hall will worry?"

"Furthermore, I've heard that your Spirit Hall has been making some big moves lately..."

Qian Anci remained silent for a moment.

He looked up at the swirling poisonous miasma above the valley entrance.

"Grandpa said that if the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up."

He paused, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Besides, Senior Dugu is practically one of us now, isn't he?"

Dugu Bo's vertical pupils glared.

"I did not agree to that."

"That poison from Dugu Yan..."

"you!"

Dugu Bo was speechless for a moment, unsure how to respond.

Qian Anci chuckled softly and didn't press him any further.

He walked to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well and looked down at the pool of red and blue water.

It's been five days.

It's time to go back.

"The Butterfly of Distant Lands"

He whispered in his heart.

"Um."

The gentle voice responded immediately.

"Are you leaving?"

"Um."

Qian Anci whispered in her heart.

"The Ice and Fire Dragon King's essence has been stabilized; there's no point in staying any longer. Besides..."

He paused.

"I have to go back and give Grandpa an explanation, but I don't know how that guard reported it..."

Xia Die didn't say much, she just responded softly.

Qian Anci turned around, preparing to bid farewell to Dugu Bo.

However, he had only taken two steps when Dugu Bo's voice came from the direction of the stone house.

"If you're going to leave, then leave. Stop dawdling."

The old man stood with his hands behind his back at the entrance of the stone house, his vertical pupils gazing at the distant horizon, not even glancing at him.

"Remember to come back in six months, or I don't want to come looking for you again."

Qian Anci laughed.

"Don't worry, senior, I will come back in six months."

He turned and walked towards the valley entrance.

The Grim Reaper's Scythe condensed in his palm, and four soul rings silently appeared.

A grayish-white aura of death swirled around him, enveloping him in a hazy mist.

"Brother Anci!"

Behind me came Dugu Yan's voice, choked with sobs.

Qian Anci turned around and saw the girl leaning against the window of the stone house, tears glistening in her dark green eyes.

"You promised to come see me!"

"If you don't come to see me, I'll come to you."

Qian Anci waved to her.

"must."

Dugu Yan nodded vigorously, and tears finally fell.

"Pinky promise!"

Qian Anci paused for a moment, then smiled helplessly.

He extended his little finger from a distance, and a grayish-white death aura condensed at his fingertip, transforming into a thin line that hooked Dugu Yan's outstretched finger from afar.

"Pinky promise."

Dugu Yan burst into laughter through her tears.

Qian Anci withdrew his hand and rose into the air.

A streak of grayish-white light tore through the morning light, broke through the poisonous miasma above the valley entrance, and disappeared into the horizon.

Dugu Bo stood at the entrance of the stone house, his vertical pupils fixed on the receding gray-white light, and remained silent for a long time.

"The Holy Son of the Spirit Hall..."

He murmured softly.

"That old bastard Qian Daoliu has picked up a good seedling."

He turned back to the stone house and wiped away the tears from his granddaughter's face.

"Don't cry, that kid said he'd come, and he will."

Dugu Yan sobbed, "Grandpa, will Brother An Ci lie to me?"

Dugu Bo remained silent for a moment.

"He wouldn't dare."

Why?

"Because if he dares to lie to you, Grandpa will take you to the Spirit Hall to find him."

Dugu Yan finally stopped crying, hugged her grandfather's arm, looked out the window at the sky shrouded in poisonous miasma, and whispered something.

"Brother Anci...you must come!"

The gray-white light on the distant horizon had long since disappeared.

Only the poisonous miasma above the valley entrance continues to churn.