"What does he want to do?"
Hearing the little fox's words, Wang Zhong felt an inexplicable panic.
Qian Renxue was the current inheritor of the Angel God. Yet now, the little fox told him that the Angel Sacred Sword was intentionally placed in this world by a fallen angel. How could Wang Zhong not overthink this?
"How would I know?"
The little fox glared at Wang Zhong unhappily. It had been dead for tens of thousands of years; how could it possibly know what Qian Jue Ming intended to do?
Wang Zhong quickly regained his senses, chuckling awkwardly. He had been so overwhelmed by the news that he had forgotten this.
"Instead of focusing on these matters, it's better for you to seriously improve your own strength."
"As long as your strength is sufficient, no matter what the other party intends to do, they will merely be a clown. Why trouble yourself here?"
These simple words were like a splash of cold water, instantly washing away Wang Zhong's unspoken worries and rambling thoughts.
With his current strength, attempting to thwart the machinations of a god-level powerhouse was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot—utterly overestimating himself.
Since the other party had planned for thousands of years without any sign of action, they wouldn't suddenly act in these few years.
Furthermore, although Qian Renxue was the successor of the Angel God, her strength was still too weak. If Qian Jue Ming had any plans, they wouldn't involve Qian Renxue.
To ensure Qian Renxue's safety, Wang Zhong needed to do only one thing now and in the future: continuously strengthen himself until even gods dared not underestimate him.
Or, perhaps, to kill gods!
"Yes, you're right. There's still a long way for me to go before I can reach the level of gods. Even worrying about it now is like borrowing trouble from tomorrow, completely meaningless."
"Little fox, you know so much about blood qi soul rings. Do you know how to condense one?"
Wang Zhong nodded in affirmation of the little fox's words and then continued to ask about the matter closest to his heart.
The condensation of a blood qi soul ring.
If he could truly condense a blood qi soul ring, his strength would increase exponentially. At that point, even Ning Wudi, if he were present, would not be completely beyond his ability to resist.
"Yes, it's very simple."
"There are two key points: First, use your soul power to transform into flames, igniting my blood crystal, and burning yourself. Second, grit your teeth and endure."
"As long as you do these two things, with your bloodline's strength, condensing a blood qi soul ring will be absolutely no problem."
The little fox replied casually.
"That simple?" Wang Zhong was a bit surprised. Ning Wudi had spoken of how difficult and arduous it was to condense a blood qi soul ring. How could it become as easy as playing a game when it came to him?
"Simple!"
"Ha, it certainly sounds that way. I just hope you'll still think it's simple when you experience it yourself."
The little fox's tone, which seemed to smile but not smile, gave Wang Zhong a very bad premonition. He felt as if he had overlooked something.
As the sun gradually rose and approached noon, Wang Zhong stared at the sea with some confusion. He had been standing there for a long time, but the person he was waiting for had not yet arrived.
"Hai Die said she would come today, but she's not here yet. Is she busy with something?"
Because Hai Die had given him the鲛珠 (Jiaozhu - Mermaid Pearl), and with the faint connection to her through the pearl, Wang Zhong could clearly sense that Hai Die was fine.
"Since Hai Die won't be coming, I'll take this opportunity to try my best and see if I can successfully condense the blood qi soul ring."
Taking out the blood-red crystal he had acquired at the auction from his soul tool, Wang Zhong asked the little fox in his mind, "Little fox, how do I ignite this crystal?"
"I'll first wrap your right hand with my soul power. You'll cut the crystal into small pieces, swallow a piece as large as a fingernail, and I'll help you ignite it."
The little fox's voice echoed in his mind. Wang Zhong saw a thin layer of crimson soul power, like gossamer, covering his right hand.
Despite this thin layer of gossamer appearing fragile enough to be dispersed by a gentle breeze, its defensive and destructive power was terrifying.
His finger lightly grazed the crystal, and the crimson crystal, which could withstand the full force of a Soul Douluo or even a Titled Douluo's attack without shattering, was easily cut as if it were tofu.
Taking a small piece from it, Wang Zhong prepared to swallow it. At this moment, the little fox reminded him, "Wang Zhong, spit out the鲛珠 from your abdomen first."
"Otherwise, when the flames ignite, they might burn it."
"Moreover, the鲛珠 is directly connected to the mermaid's life. If it encounters any problems, it will directly affect her."
"Alright, I understand."
Wang Zhong nodded with understanding and immediately controlled his soul power to draw the鲛珠 out from his abdomen. Just as he was about to put it into his soul tool, he suddenly remembered something.
A soul tool was an independent space. Would placing the鲛珠 inside cause any issues for Hai Die and the鲛珠 itself, which could sense each other's existence?
"Give it to me."
The little fox manifested from Wang Zhong's left hand, crouching on the ground, and suggested this to Wang Zhong.
"There is an extremely mysterious connection between a mermaid and her鲛珠, a symbiotic relationship where if one is destroyed, the other perishes. Placing the鲛珠 in a soul tool would sever that connection, which is the same as destroying it for the mermaid."
"Okay."
Wang Zhong handed the鲛珠 to the little fox. The little fox then hid the鲛珠 in its glabella using a special method. As a concentrated form of soul power without a physical body, it had no problem doing so.
Only then did it say to Wang Zhong, "As I said before, swallow a small piece of my blood crystal."
"Then, sit cross-legged and prepare to mobilize all your soul power."
The little fox's tone became serious, and Wang Zhong solemnly followed its instructions, executing them with great care.
"Close your eyes, calm your mind, and guard your spirit."
"Remember, you must absolutely endure, and persist!"
"If you cannot endure, it would be a minor matter to waste your efforts, but you might never advance further in this life."
The little fox warned him sternly.
"I can do it!" Wang Zhong's expression was determined, and his voice was full of confidence.
"Very well, the flames are beginning."
As soon as the little fox finished speaking, Wang Zhong perceived that the red crystal swallowed into his abdomen suddenly ignited with flames.
The flames were only as large as a thumb, yet this small flame made Wang Zhong feel an unprecedented heat and intensity.
This was a heat that even the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Plains would struggle to match!
Within a short while, Wang Zhong was drenched in sweat, his mouth as dry as if he had swallowed sand. But this was only the beginning.
"Wang Zhong, channel your soul power into it!"
The little fox's voice echoed in his ears. Wang Zhong licked his dry lips. He now understood what he had overlooked earlier.
Because of the Eight Extremities Heaven, his resistance to ice, fire, and various elements was unimaginably high.
Therefore, when he heard the little fox talk about igniting himself with flames, he didn't think it would be a difficult matter. Wang Zhong had forgotten that these flames were kindled by the little fox's blood as the catalyst and his own soul power as fuel—a self-immolating inferno.
He could not resist or be immune to it; he could only endure it head-on!