Douluo Continent, Huo Yuhao who returned from Sekiro

Chapter 28: Qian Daoliu gave too much.

Qian Daoliu seemed to have expected Huo Yuhao's two questions, and smiled smugly, saying, "Kid Huo, do you know that the two questions you asked are actually the same thing?"

Huo Yuhao didn't expect Qian Daoliu to throw the question back at him again, but Huo Yuhao quickly found a way to deal with it. He spread his little hands, pouted his little face, and showed an innocent expression on his face, which was only nine years old and still a bit childish.

"Grandpa Qian, aren't you overestimating a nine-year-old child like me?"

Huo Yuhao's decisive response left Qian Daoliu speechless. Huo Yuhao's previous performance had been too mature, giving Qian Daoliu a slight misconception. So when Huo Yuhao put on a shameless act, Qian Daoliu couldn't help but chuckle.

"Alright, alright, since you don't know, then I'll explain it to you."

Qian Daoliu said: "The so-called soul ring is essentially a special energy body that can represent cultivation level. The stronger the cultivation level of the soul beast when it dies, the higher the quality of the soul ring produced. For this reason, regular soul rings are divided into five levels: white, yellow, purple, black, and red."

"Besides these five regular levels, there are two special types of golden spirit rings in this world: million-year spirit rings and god-level spirit rings. The difference between these two types of spirit rings is extremely small. A million-year spirit ring can be regarded as a spirit ring that is only one step away from god-level, or rather, it is a god-level spirit ring that is not recognized."

"If we have to explain the special existence of a million-year soul ring in a way that is easy to understand, we can roughly compare it to a powerful person who does not have a godhood but has already broken through the level 100 barrier. Of course, this analogy is only for ease of understanding and is not actually accurate."

At this point, Qian Daoliu's expression became slightly serious: "The origin of a god-level spirit ring is quite simple. Whether it is an inherited godhood or a self-created godhood, after breaking through level 100 and receiving divine power infusion, a golden god-level spirit ring will be formed. That spirit ring represents that the human spirit master has reached a peak in the path of cultivation, demonstrating his great achievements. The color of the god-level spirit ring will also be different depending on the godhood. For example, the god-level spirit ring represented by the angel godhood is pure gold, while the sea god godhood is blue-gold."

Although Huo Yuhao was unaware that the knowledge Qian Daoliu was sharing with him was priceless treasure, invaluable even to level 99 experts, Huo Yuhao, being a ninja by training, clearly wouldn't let any information slip by and memorized it all.

"Now, let's return to the spirit ring I'm giving you. In my lifetime, I was a level 99 Limit Douluo. Before I died, I ignited everything I had to break through the level 100 barrier and open the gate to the Divine Trial. Therefore, the spirit ring I'm giving you should be a million-year spirit ring. However, the power you can unleash now is too weak. Also, I did live to be over 150 years old, which is why the spirit ring under your feet is pale yellow."

"As your strength gradually increases, the power of this spirit ring will also increase. Although the color will most likely remain yellow, turning gold only when you fully activate the power within the spirit ring, the power it can unleash essentially depends on you."

At this point, Qian Daoliu's lips curled into a smile: "Now you understand why I said your two questions are actually one, right? Even the most ordinary 100,000-year soul ring can usually grant the user two soul skills. What I'm giving you is a million-year soul ring. Giving you two soul skills is nothing. If I wasn't worried that you'd bite off more than you can chew, I could have given you ten lower-quality soul skills in one go."

At this point, a hint of arrogance appeared on Qian Daoliu's face. Huo Yuhao was so shocked by Qian Daoliu's words that he couldn't say anything. A level 99 Limit Douluo in life, a super strongman who broke through the level 100 barrier before his death! His soul ring was of the highest quality, belonging to the million-year level!

Seeing Huo Yuhao's somewhat dazed and even blank expression, Qian Daoliu hurriedly said, "Young Huo, the value of soul skills lies in their quality, not their quantity. Many soul skills may look powerful, but they are actually very impractical. Although the number of soul skills I left you is not large, they are the most precious soul skills of our Holy Angel Martial Soul lineage. Don't think you've been cheated. Let me tell you, you've gotten a great deal."

Qian Daoliu's expression clearly showed some dissatisfaction, but Huo Yuhao didn't feel like he had been taken advantage of at all. He was completely stunned by the pie in his face. Although he was still wary of Qian Daoliu, his gaze towards Qian Daoliu was much more friendly than at the beginning. There was no way around it, after all, Qian Daoliu had given him too much.

"Alright, if that's the case, then most of my doubts have been resolved. But I'd like to ask, who exactly is that Outer God that you've gone to such lengths to subtly instill in me your beliefs and make me see him as an enemy? This is my spiritual sea; surely you wouldn't dare utter his name here?"

"I wouldn't dare."

Qian Daoliu's words were so straightforward that they took Huo Yuhao by surprise.

"Your spiritual sea is as thin as a sheet of paper, with no secrets whatsoever. If I wanted, I could even freely browse through your memories. If I told you the name of that Outer God too early, we would both be doomed the next moment."

"If you want to speak freely in your spiritual sea, you'll probably have to wait until your spiritual realm reaches the Spirit Sea Realm, or until a master who manipulates souls moves into your spiritual sea and actively encrypts it for you. At least for now, it's not possible."

Upon hearing this, Huo Yuhao felt even more pressure, but Qian Daoliu had not yet finished speaking.

"Ten thousand years ago, there were many powerful beings who reached level 100 and became gods, but that's only in comparison to the fact that no one has reached level 100 and become a god in the last ten thousand years. So as long as you're willing, the true identity of that Outer God has nowhere to hide. If you want to know the answer in advance, go and search in the old historical records. After all, finding the dark truth hidden under the glory from the clues in history yourself is much more convincing than me telling you it to you, isn't it?"

Qian Daoliu didn't seem to be in a hurry to instill any ideas in Huo Yuhao, which surprised Huo Yuhao. It was only then that he realized that all along, the only ones who wanted to quickly bring him to their side were the Starlight Unicorn and the 'Mother of All Spirits'. Old Master Qian had never actually taken the initiative to do anything like that. At most, he would ask Huo Yuhao whether he wanted to choose an easier path or a more difficult one.

(End of this chapter)