Douluo: My power increases in Two levels

"Roar…"

When it realized that its strike hadn't harmed Qian Renxue at all, the Sloth Giant Ape bared its teeth. A murderous gleam flashed in its massive eyes.

The ape pulled back its arm for a follow-up attack—a feint and strike from another angle. But Qian Renxue had already seen through its move.

Her first soul ring lit up as she shouted, "First Soul Skill: Angelic Assault! "

A golden glow surged from her body, concentrating into her fist. With a sharp punch, a radiant golden shield formed and slammed into the ape's palm. It felt its soul power being suppressed—some of it even dissolved. By the time it tried to counter with soul energy, it was already too late.

BOOM!

The Sloth Giant Ape's arm went limp—there was no follow-up attack. It was sent flying by Qian Renxue's strike!

But Qian Renxue didn't come away unscathed—she nearly collapsed from midair, her strength momentarily drained.

As she stabilized herself, the Sloth Giant Ape had already recovered. Qian Renxue had managed to avoid its strike and suppress its soul power using her soul skill, but it had left her nearly exhausted. Meanwhile, the ape was entirely uninjured.

It only felt a bit of pain—nothing lasting—but that alone was enough to enrage it.

It hadn't provoked anyone.

It had just woken up hungry. Usually, soul beasts gave way when they saw it. Back in the day, even when its father encountered the two rabbits, the giant serpent, or the great ape in the core region, he never came out worse for wear. So when had it ever been humiliated like this?

"ROARRRR!"

The Sloth Giant Ape might be lazy, but it was still a wild, prideful beast. Faced with Qian Renxue's attack, there was no way it would back down.

BOOM—BOOM—BOOM!

It raised its other arm and swatted toward her with overwhelming force. The wind pressure alone flattened an entire section of forest.

Qian Renxue's face turned pale. Her second and third soul rings lit up. Her lips were white—her soul power almost completely drained.

CRASH!

Her second soul skill, Wings of the Void, granted her near-complete immunity to physical attacks and reduced energy damage by 50%. But this time, the ape's palm was charged with full soul power.

Even halved, the remaining force was enough to severely injure her.

Qian Renxue shot into the ground like a cannonball, slamming into the earth and kicking up a cloud of dust.

She lay in a massive crater. Were it not for her third soul skill's protection, she likely wouldn't even be able to stand.

Blood dripped from her lips. Her snow-white wings were stained with crimson.

Struggling to her feet, she bit down on her lip, eyes blazing with defiance.

Han Feng was the first person she had ever truly cared about. And possibly… the last.

She couldn't let anything happen to him.

Seeing that Qian Renxue was still alive, the Sloth Giant Ape paused, visibly surprised. But its sluggish instincts left no room for reflection. Its brute mentality decided: If one punch isn't enough, try two. If two don't work, then three!

It clenched its fist again, preparing to finish her off.

But Qian Renxue, though clearly at her limit, didn't flinch. Instead, she placed her fingers on the pendant at her chest. A flash of golden light sparked—a dangerous aura.

The Sloth Giant Ape suddenly felt… uneasy.

She still had a trump card.

Had she never met Han Feng, she wouldn't have used it—not even to save her own life. But now, she didn't want to die. She was even willing to bow her head to Bibi Dong if that's what it took.

Just as she was about to activate her hidden weapon—

"Qian Qian-jie! "

Han Feng's voice rang out behind her.

Qian Renxue froze.

She had no desire to reveal her identity in front of him. That brief hesitation cost her the chance to strike back.

Han Feng had just finished absorbing his second soul ring. He didn't even have time to sense his new soul power before he saw her—battered, standing in a crater, bloodied, her glowing white wings now stained red.

Above her loomed a shadow like a mountain. A building-sized fist came crashing down.

Han Feng's eyes turned bloodshot.

Qian Renxue saw Han Feng as her guiding light. He saw her the same way—his first real friend.

That fragile figure was about to be crushed under that massive fist.

Something in him snapped.

"Second Soul Skill: Fixed-Point Guard! "

"First Soul Skill: Life's Aegis! "

His Scorching Heaven Shield flared to life. Two yellow soul rings glowed brightly. Flames wrapped around him, his hair turning a blazing red.

WHOOSH!

In an instant, Han Feng appeared in front of Qian Renxue. Her eyes widened in shock as the small figure shielded her with a flaming red shield. Her trembling body, once chilled from exhaustion, suddenly felt warm again—whether from the flames or something else entirely, she didn't know.

"Xiao Feng! Get out of the way! "

BOOOOM!!!

Qian Renxue screamed, reaching to pull him aside—but she was too late. The Sloth Giant Ape's fist slammed down on the shield.

Han Feng got lucky.

The ape wasn't even using full strength. Its blows didn't exceed Soul Emperor-level power. His Life's Aegis had a 25% chance to fully block an incoming hit—and it triggered.

The Scorching Heaven Shield, fragile-looking as it was, stood strong, completely absorbing the force.

Qian Renxue couldn't believe what she saw.

He blocked it.

He actually stopped the punch.

But Han Feng wasn't unscathed.

The blow's momentum was immense. Though it didn't break the shield, it shoved him and Qian Renxue backward. Even with soul power and reinforcement, he was still an eight-year-old boy.

He gritted his teeth, digging in, trying to resist the crushing force.

Qian Renxue immediately placed her hands on his back, channeling her remaining soul power into him.

But it still wasn't enough.

"Ahhh—RAHHHH!!"

In the midst of desperation, something awakened—his External Soul Bone activated.

A cold, ominous, bull-headed bone mask materialized on his face. His power surged. Crimson light filled his eyes.

A savage force exploded from the bull mask.

He not only held his ground—he counterattacked.

Between his horns, a dark red beam of condensed energy formed.

The moment the ape's push receded—

BOOM!

A laser burst forth from his brow:

Cero Oscuras—Hollow King's Flash!

It pierced through the Scorching Heaven Shield, blazing toward the ape's eyes.

The Sloth Giant Ape twisted its head just in time. The beam grazed its face, slicing open its cheek.

Blood dripped.

Qian Renxue stood frozen in awe.

Han Feng hadn't just blocked a punch from a ten-thousand-year soul beast. He had injured it.

With two soul rings. At only eight years old.

A feat even her full-powered strike couldn't match.