Chapter 65: Jing Ni: I Will Give You...
"That trashy spirit ring disappearing is no big deal. It was only 50,000 or 60,000 years old, and a snake Spirit isn't suitable for you anyway. I'll give you these." Qin Xuan took out six translucent, crimson beads, each containing specks of golden light.
These were the six 10,000-Year Fixed Spirit Rings he had just purchased for 1.2 million Emotional Value.
Qin Xuan had originally planned to settle for something less, getting Jing Ni a configuration of five black and four red rings—five at 99,999 years and four at 100,000 years. That would have been just enough points. However, although there is only one year of difference, the power of a 99,999-year ring and a 100,000-year ring is vastly different. The latter also grants an extra Spirit Ability, unless it comes from a truly weak Spirit Beast, like a Soft-Boned Rabbit.
A 10,000-year Spirit Ability can never compare to a 100,000-year one, even if it's from a 99,999-year ring.
As for Jing Ni's remaining three spirit rings, he figured he could go back and bully Yu Xiaogang to death, exploiting him to the extreme. He refused to believe he couldn't squeeze out another 600,000 emotional points before Qian Xunji made his move. Besides that, he could also make a move on Ling Yuan; as long as he took her down, it would mean a million emotional points.
"This is…" From these six beads, Jing Ni felt a spirit power fluctuation far exceeding that of the Medusa's spirit ring.
"These are all 10,000-year spirit rings. Just crush them to absorb them. Of course, the prerequisite is that you can withstand a 10,000-year ring. With your previous Titled Douluo-level physique, now enhanced by an Immortal Herb, it's more than enough."
"I have seven of these. I kept one for myself as my seventh spirit ring. As for your remaining three, we can only try our luck in the Star Dou Great Forest. If we can hunt a 10,000-Year Soul Beast, that would be best. If not, we can only wait."
Qin Xuan didn't explain their origin, and Jing Ni didn't ask. Just as he had never inquired about her past, she understood that everyone has their secrets. She only needed to remember his kindness and repay him with her entire life.
Jing Ni crushed one of the beads, sat down cross-legged, and began absorbing the spirit ring. Since it was her first time, it didn't go smoothly, taking a full day and night. The second one, with the experience from the first, went much faster, taking six hours. Thereafter, the absorption time for each subsequent ring was halved.
Qin Xuan also didn't slack off. Besides leaving a clone to stand guard, he split off three more: one to look after A Yan and two for protection. His main body sat by the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, near the Inferno Apricot, circulating his cultivation technique to temper his spirit power.
Three days later, he sensed that Jing Ni had finished absorbing the last ring, and they both opened their eyes simultaneously.
"How do you feel?" Qin Xuan walked up to her.
"This power…" Six extremely conspicuous black halos pulsed up and down, their dazzling light swirling around her body. Jing Ni incredulously clenched her left hand. Her right hand quietly grasped her sword, not appearing to use any Spirit Ability.
Suddenly, a strong wind blew. Pink sword energy, like a swimming dragon, coiled around the Jing Ni Sword. Immediately, Qin Xuan felt waves of sword intent sweep past, and the ground began to tremble slightly.
Jing Ni waved her right hand, and a massive pink slash materialized, cutting through the vapor in the valley and striking a steep cliff face a hundred meters away.
Boom—
A vertical gash, dozens of meters deep and over a hundred meters long, instantly appeared on the 500-meter-high cliff. Rocks tumbled down, and dust billowed.
Jing Ni took a deep breath. "So strong. Incredibly strong. I feel like if I put on my Spirit Bone armor now and used a 10,000-year Spirit Ability, I could split this mountain in half."
"That's natural. You absorbed a complete set of 10,000-year Spirit Bones, and now six 10,000-year spirit rings. Although your spirit power is still capped at Rank 80, your speed and strength are incomparable to before. You've far surpassed me in strength."
"Then from now on, I'll protect you." Jing Ni smiled sweetly, put away her Spirit, and threw herself into Qin Xuan's embrace, her delicate face pressed tightly against his chest. The two embraced tightly, as if wanting to merge into one another.
Qin Xuan teased, "Speaking of which, this is the first time you've actively hugged me."
"Then I'll hug you once every day from now on," Jing Ni's lips parted slightly, a gentle smile on her exquisite face.
"Once isn't enough." Qin Xuan released her and lowered his head. Just as he was about to kiss her, A Yan's 'yi ya yi ya' sounds echoed nearby. Qin Xuan's clone walked over, holding little A Yan.
"Damn it, didn't I tell you to take care of her? Who told you to bring her over? You're ruining my plans!" Qin Xuan cursed, taking A Yan from his clone's hands.
The clone shrugged helplessly, its body transforming into red, flame-like energy and merging back into Qin Xuan's body.
Jing Ni covered her lips and chuckled. "I didn't realize your conscious clone was so amusing."
"Ignore him, let's continue…" Qin Xuan was about to recall another clone to take A Yan away.
But Jing Ni stopped him. "Let's wait until you've absorbed the Immortal Herbs and spirit rings. Then, I'll give you…" As she spoke, Jing Ni leaned close to Qin Xuan's ear and whispered a few words.
Qin Xuan's face broke into an interested smile, a peculiar glint in his eyes. "Is that true?"
"Mm," Jing Ni softly assented, lowering her head shyly, her teeth biting her red lips.
"Then I'll be looking forward to it." Gazing at the jade beauty Jing Ni had become, Qin Xuan licked his lips, wishing he could nibble on her doll-like face.
This guy, he wouldn't try it again in front of A Yan, would he? Worried he might act recklessly, Jing Ni quickly took A Yan from Qin Xuan's arms and gently pushed him. "Hurry up. Our agreed time with Elder Ling Yuan will be here in a few days. Don't keep her waiting."
Although A Yan was just a child, she was exceptionally intelligent and healthy from drinking Spirit Beast milk every day. Jing Ni didn't want her to grow up and one day ask what she and Qin Xuan had been doing.
Qin Xuan wasn't truly blinded by desire. He handed protection duty to Jing Ni, first spending an hour refining the Autumn Water Dew. Then, he simultaneously consumed the only two remaining Immortal Herbs, the Inferno Apricot and the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, before leaping into the spring to begin his absorption.