Although Qi Lin felt quite pleased deep down, he kept a calm expression and did his best to flatter the Skydream Iceworm.
"Wow, I really didn't expect it, Brother Skydream. You've had such a legendary experience."
Seeing Qi Lin's sincere admiration, the Skydream Iceworm actually felt a bit guilty.
Only he knew how much of his story had been, well... exaggerated.
For instance, he hadn't come to the Star Dou Great Forest to explore—it was more like he was running for his life after being chased by a ten-thousand-year sea soul beast.
And this was after he'd cultivated for over 900,000 years.
Even worse, not long after arriving in the forest, he was captured by a hundred-thousand-year soul beast without even being able to resist.
As for "fighting hundreds of rounds"—that was pure fiction.
Still, to maintain his wise and mighty image, the Skydream Iceworm decided not to confess. Instead, he quickly changed the subject.
"Little Qi Lin, I'm not just bragging here."
"As the one and only intelligent soul ring in the world, I may not have given you a soul bone, but I can grant you a brand-new martial soul."
"And as your body strengthens, I can help increase the age of your soul ring."
"Right now, because your body can't handle it, your first ring is only 800 years old. The rest of the power has been sealed. Once you're strong enough, I'll unlock it for you."
"Pretty awesome, right?"
Qi Lin smiled brightly and gave a big thumbs-up.
"Brother Skydream, you're amazing!"
"If Heaven hadn't given us you, soul beasts would've been left in eternal darkness!"
The Skydream Iceworm's eyes lit up at the praise, and he let out a loud, smug laugh.
"Hahaha! Little Qi Lin, I knew I liked you from the moment I saw you!"
"You really get me!"
"If Heaven hadn't birthed me, Skydream, soul beasts would be lost forever!"
"Aahahahaha!"
Once he'd finished laughing, the Skydream Iceworm asked proudly, "By the way, Little Qi Lin, what four soul skills did you get?"
"Our Iceworm clan specializes in spiritual power, so I bet your skills are spirit-based."
"Any mimicry or mental detection skills? That's our specialty."
Qi Lin shook his head and replied calmly, "I think they're all support-type skills. No mimicry or detection."
"Huh?"
"How's that possible? Soul skills usually match the beast's traits."
"So what did you get exactly?"
Qi Lin answered honestly, "Gift of Fate – Strength, Gift of Fate – Speed, Gift of Fate – Defense, and Gift of Fate – Soul. Each one boosts a corresponding attribute by ten percent."
"What?!"
"Only ten percent?!"
"These don't match me at all!"
As soon as Qi Lin finished, the Skydream Iceworm exploded in frustration.
Meanwhile, Qi Lin stayed calm and collected.
Seeing that, Skydream grew even more confused. "Little Qi Lin, aren't you at least a little upset?"
"Even though you got four skills, this still isn't as strong as a hundred-year ring."
Qi Lin just smiled. "Brother Skydream, you're overthinking it. How could a million-year ring be this weak?"
"These four skills scale with the ring's age. Every additional ten thousand years increases each boost by ten percent."
"So when I reach a million-year ring, each attribute boost will hit one thousand percent."
"By then, no support-type soul master will even come close."
"Damn!"
"I knew the skills I gave you couldn't be trash!"
"Just as I expected!"
"Ahahaha!"
The Skydream Iceworm instantly felt smug again.
But Qi Lin wasn't done. He added calmly, "Also, the four skills don't just provide temporary buffs—they grant permanent enhancement, too."
"It's limited—once a day per person—but still real."
"What?!"
"Permanent enhancement?!"
Skydream's voice cracked.
Qi Lin figured that if Skydream had a human form, his expression right now would be hilarious.
After a long pause, the Skydream Iceworm muttered with awe, "You're invincible."
"Seriously invincible."
"If even you can't become a god, then no one deserves to."
Then he sighed, before perking up again.
Once Qi Lin became a god, he could follow him to the Divine Realm and enjoy the good life!
Hehehe…
As he imagined this glorious future, Skydream's round eyes gleamed with a suspicious light.
---
Elsewhere, Su Yuntao and Sisi slowly woke up. At first, they were confused, until they remembered they had come to help Qi Lin hunt a soul ring.
"Oh no! Little Qi Lin!"
Sisi panicked when she didn't see him.
Qi Lin's voice came from behind. "Sisi-jie, I'm right here."
Sisi let out a deep breath of relief. "Thank goodness you're okay. I don't know what I'd tell your parents if something happened."
Su Yuntao also came to, his mind flashing back to the giant Iceworm. He looked shaken.
"I can't believe we're alive. That thing must've been a ten-thousand-year soul beast."
"Even though Iceworms are weak, it could've killed us easily."
"Good thing they're gentle by nature. I bet it only knocked us out because of the Wind Demon Wolf's blood."
Sisi patted her chest, visibly relieved.
Then she turned to Qi Lin with a grin. "They say great fortune follows a brush with death. Maybe you'll get an incredible soul ring out of this."
Qi Lin stepped forward and smiled. "Sisi-jie, I already absorbed a soul ring while you were unconscious."
"What?!"
"Why didn't you wait for us?!"
"Let us see it!"
Qi Lin had no choice but to show them.
A pale white soul ring slowly rose under his feet.
"A ten-year ring?!"
Sisi nearly fainted. Su Yuntao had to hold her up.
He looked at Qi Lin with disappointment. "Kid… what am I supposed to say?"
"If you'd waited for me to wake up, we could've found something so much better."
Qi Lin hesitated—should he tell them the truth?
Probably not. Who would believe it was a million-year ring?
They'd think he was just making excuses.
Still, seeing how disappointed they looked, he offered something to soften the blow.
"Sisi-jie, Brother Tao, don't feel bad. I got four soul skills from it."
That one sentence stunned them both.
"Wh-what?!"
"Four soul skills?!"