52: Chapter 52 Jumping into the Lake, Sixth Soul Ring

The next morning, Bai Qi was sitting cross-legged on a rock beside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, drinking tea.

He hadn't expected that after staying here for a few days, he would actually grow fond of drinking tea.

After all, in his past life, he only liked drinking sodas, eating snacks, and ordering takeout, yet he had truly come to enjoy tea. Perhaps it was because of the benefits of tea, but thinking about it made him feel quite sentimental.

The fragrance of the tea mixed with the fresh scent of herbs permeated the air, making one feel inexplicably at peace.

While he was feeling sentimental, a figure sat down beside Bai Qi, casually picked up the teapot he had placed to the side, and poured some into an empty teacup Bai Qi had prepared in advance.

The movements were as smooth as flowing water, without the slightest hint of politeness.

Bai Qi glanced sideways and spoke.

"I say, Old freak, aren't you being a bit too informal?"

At this moment, Dugu Bo's expression was very relaxed; clearly, he had eased up after knowing that Dugu Yan was fine.

Even the wrinkles on his face had smoothed out a bit, and the gloom in his eyes had faded significantly.

But he wasn't in a hurry to answer. Instead, he first picked up the teacup, brought it to his nose to sniff, took a sip, and then said leisurely.

"After I went back yesterday, Yan Yan told me quite a bit. She said how delicious your tea is and that you have something to discuss with me. So, here I am today."

After saying this, he took another sip, squinted his eyes to savor it, and then said.

"I'm tasting your tea while I'm at it. Don't say, it really is quite good. Much better than what this old man brews himself."

Bai Qi chuckled at Dugu Bo's casual remarks and said.

"Old freak, we're leaving."

Dugu Bo's face stiffened for a moment, and his hand holding the tea paused. He asked.

"Leaving? Where to?"

"To school, of course. After all, we still have to participate in the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament."

Bai Qi said as if it were a matter of course, his tone as casual as if he were talking about the nice weather. Then he added.

"How about it, want to come? Come to my academy and be a Guest Elder for fun? You don't have to do anything, just have your name on the roster."

Hearing this, the stiffness on Dugu Bo's face slowly faded. He casually set the teacup aside and waved his hand.

"I'm not going. I don't like being tied down, and I have no interest in being some Guest Elder. However, I heard from Yan Yan that she invited you to the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. Why aren't you going?"

Bai Qi put the tea back on the tray, then propped himself up with both hands behind him, leaning back and closing his eyes to soak in the sun.

The sunlight filtered through the mist and fell on his face, feeling warm and cozy. He squinted comfortably and said.

"Me? Naturally, just like you, I don't like being tied down. With my talent, if I went to the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, my profile would probably be sitting on Emperor Xue Ye's desk within half an hour."

He added in his heart: And probably on Qian Renxue's desk as well.

"True."

Dugu Bo replied, looking at Bai Qi's lazy demeanor, and suddenly felt a bit sentimental.

"A genius like you would be a sought-after prize anywhere."

Having said that, he drained the tea in his hand, pushed himself up by his legs, and stood up.

"Originally, Yan Yan asked me to come for another purpose, which was to try and persuade you to go to the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy again. Since you have no intention of going, I won't bother. Saves me the breath."

As Bai Qi was sunbathing, the light was blocked once Dugu Bo stood up.

He frowned slightly, but didn't pay it much mind. He just opened his eyes, took a look, and said with a smile.

"Then you can persuade Dugu Yan to come to my academy. With me holding the fort, winning a championship would be a breeze. Also, you're blocking my light."

Hearing this, Dugu Bo stroked his small mustache, his eyes darting around as he thought: That seems like an option. Keeping Yan Yan by my side is good, but letting her go out and explore, following this Little freak, doesn't seem like a bad thing either.

Then, hearing Bai Qi's next sentence, he couldn't help but roll his eyes at him, but he still moved two steps to the side, letting the sunlight through.

After sunbathing for a while, Bai Qi also stood up and stretched.

"Old freak, you've come at the perfect time."

Bai Qi suddenly said with a smile, a hint of mischief in his tone.

Dugu Bo raised an eyebrow and looked at him askance.

"What do you mean? What kind of wicked scheme are you cooking up now, kid?"

Bai Qi didn't answer directly. Instead, he turned around, took off his coat, and tossed it to Dugu Bo.

Dugu Bo instinctively caught the coat. Before he could react, he saw Bai Qi take a plunge and leap directly into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

"Little freak!"

Dugu Bo's pupils constricted sharply. He instinctively reached out to grab him, but Bai Qi was already gone, leaving only ripples spreading across the water.

Dugu Bo stood there, gripping Bai Qi's coat, his face ashen. Having occupied this place for so many years, he knew full well the power of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Even as a Titled Douluo, he didn't dare touch it recklessly, let alone jump straight in. Was this kid suicidal?

He looked down at the coat in his hand, then at the surface of the spring. Forcing down the surging anger and worry in his heart, he plopped down on the rock from before, his eyes fixed on the water as he muttered to himself.

"Once you come up, this old man is going to give you a piece of my mind."

But his gaze never left the water, not even daring to blink.

After Bai Qi jumped into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, the spring water had no effect on him at all. After sensing it for a moment, he began to swim toward the bottom of the lake.

Upon reaching the bottom, Bai Qi sat cross-legged, right at the center between the Ice Dragon King and the Fire Dragon King.

Once settled, he entered his sea of consciousness and glanced at the Sword Intent suspended there, as well as the two red and blue light orbs that were slightly brighter than they had been two days ago.

Finally, he looked at the god-bestowed spirit ring hanging high above.

He then sat cross-legged within his sea of consciousness as well, using his Mental Energy to draw the spirit ring toward him.

He wasn't in a rush to absorb it. Instead, he first used his Mental Energy to examine his entire body. His meridians were clear, and his soul core was stable.

Only then did he truly begin the absorption. Consequently, outside the sea of consciousness, a spirit ring slowly began to appear around Bai Qi's body.

"Ten years... a hundred years... a thousand years... ten thousand years."

Even after reaching the ten-thousand-year level, there was no resistance for the current Bai Qi.

Then, Bai Qi continued to push forward.

"Ten thousand years... twenty thousand years... thirty thousand years... forty thousand years... fifty thousand years... seventy thousand years... ninety thousand years."

It wasn't until the spirit ring's color turned red that Bai Qi felt some resistance. He frowned slightly, but he wasn't satisfied and continued to push.

As the age of the spirit ring climbed higher and higher, Bai Qi's brow furrowed deeper and deeper. It wasn't until a trace of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, only to be washed away by the waters of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, that he slowly came to a stop.

He opened his eyes and looked at the sixth spirit ring encircling him, a smile slowly spreading across his face. Absorbing this spirit ring had allowed Bai Qi to get a sense of where the current limit of his physical body lay.

The three golden seals proved that this spirit ring started at at least three hundred thousand years. Moreover, this spirit ring was different from an ordinary three-hundred-thousand-year spirit ring.

Since it was a god-bestowed spirit ring condensed from the Divine Power of the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings, the surface of this spirit ring featured not only the golden seals symbolizing its age but also deep red and blue lines formed by the Divine Power of the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings, encircling the ring.

Finally, he sensed his Soul Power—Level 64. Not bad, considering his previous Soul Power had been used to condense his soul core. This level was within Bai Qi's expectations.

Then, Bai Qi retracted the spirit ring, looked up at the surface of the lake, kicked off with his legs, and swam upward.

Seeing Bai Qi swim up unharmed, Dugu Bo's pupils constricted. Then, with a dark face, he walked up to Bai Qi and slapped him on the back of the head.

"Little freak, have you lost your mind? Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

Bai Qi rubbed the back of his head and smiled.

"Look, I'm perfectly fine."

Dugu Bo glared at him, sat back down, and drained the cold tea in one gulp.

"Tell me in advance next time. This old man is getting on in years and can't take such scares."

Bai Qi smiled but didn't reply.