"I took every precaution—except for the part where a female pervert shows up."
At Li Zhexian's words, Zhu Zhuqing's expression froze.
She… she was the pervert?
"You… you…!"
Zhu Zhuqing pointed at him, trembling with anger.
Raised in a noble family from birth, she had never encountered someone this shameless.
Her cold, indifferent demeanor completely shattered.
Spirit Power surged across her body. One of her eyes turned jade-green, the other sky-blue, with pupils narrowing into sharp feline slits.
Her waist-length dark hair swirled behind her, a few strands coiling atop her head like cat ears.
A long, ribbon-like cat tail materialized behind her.
Li Zhexian let out a curious hum, eyes sweeping over the now-enchanted-looking girl.
"A feline-type Martial Soul?"
Zhu Zhuqing extended her razor-sharp claws and stabbed them into a boulder the size of a human head.
With a flick of her wrist, she hurled it straight at Li Zhexian in the stream.
Li Zhexian raised his right hand, index and middle fingers together like a sword.
A sharp green blade of Spirit Power shot from his fingertips.
CRACK—
A soft sound rang out.
The rock split cleanly in two, the break smooth as a mirror.
Plop—plop.
Both halves landed in the water.
"Hm?!"
Zhu Zhuqing's slit pupils narrowed even further.
"His Spirit Power is so sharp!"
Staying in the water was basically suicide now.
Zhexian felt completely exposed. Who knew what else this cat-girl might throw at him?
"Yeah, I'm done here!"
With a backward lunge, Li Zhexian submerged fully underwater.
Ripples fanned outward.
Through the shimmering water, his form glided upstream like a slippery fish.
"You're not getting away, you pervert!"
Zhu Zhuqing crouched low like a stalking panther.
Her toes tapped lightly across the rocks along the stream, agile and precise as she chased after him.
One swimming, one leaping.
They moved upstream in pursuit and retreat.
Gradually—
Zhu Zhuqing realized, to her shock, that she couldn't catch up.
"What kind of Martial Soul does this guy have?"
"How can my Hell Spirit Cat's speed lose to him?!"
—SPLASH!
A sharp burst of water broke her train of thought.
About four to five meters ahead—
She saw a very naked figure leap onto the riverbank, snatch up a bundle of clothes, and disappear into the woods.
She saw everything.
Even clearer than before.
Zhu Zhuqing stumbled, nearly falling flat on her face.
Her fair cheeks flushed scarlet.
"Pervert!"
"If I don't teach you a lesson today, I'll never let this go!"
She didn't hesitate anymore.
Zhu Zhuqing darted into the woods right after him.
While running, she untied her bundle—
Pulled out her only spare white robe.
Li Zhexian gave his robe a quick shake, spreading it open with practiced ease. He slipped his arms into the sleeves mid-leap, and the fluttering hem fell neatly into place around his waist.
Dressed.
He tied his belt with a fluid motion.
Then turned toward the furious cat-girl chasing him, exasperated.
"Why are you still after me?"
"You were the one who saw everything. I'm not even mad—so why are you mad?"
Zhu Zhuqing stared at the now fully dressed, rain-dappled boy in white.
She opened her mouth to scold him—
But upon reflection…
He was right.
She had seen everything.
And she wasn't the type to be unreasonable.
Still—why was she this angry?
Her chest heaved with suppressed frustration.
"You…"
She clenched her teeth.
"You're strong. I want to challenge you!"
Li Zhexian turned to walk away.
"Not interested."
"I don't fight girls."
WHOOSH—
A gust of wind roared behind him.
Li Zhexian shifted just slightly to the right—
A sharp clawed hand sliced past his cheek, missing by inches.
"Really?"
He turned to look at the Spirit Power–fueled girl with a frown.
"You seriously want to fight me?"
Zhu Zhuqing's cat-like eyes sparkled, a thrill running through her.
"You're fast."
"I am Zhu Zhuqing, Spirit Grandmaster, Rank 27. I challenge you."
Li Zhexian raised a brow.
"So it is Zhu Zhuqing."
Truthfully, when she first revealed her feline Martial Soul, he'd already suspected as much.
That age. That face. That aura above Rank 20. There was only one person who matched—
Zhu Zhuqing, Hell Spirit Cat.
A thought sparked.
He plucked a leaf and slipped it between his lips, drawling lazily:
"Alright, I'll fight."
"But if I win—you owe me a favor."
Seeing the wary look on her face,
He sighed and added:
"Not that kind of favor."
"I'm a gentleman, not a scoundrel."
Zhu Zhuqing realized she'd misunderstood and blushed furiously.
"Fine. I accept."
As her words fell, her mismatched eyes flashed cold light.
Her figure blurred as she vanished like a phantom.
At the same time, two yellow Spirit Rings rose beneath her feet.
From the very first move, she used both Spirit Abilities—
Proof of how seriously she took this fight.
"First Spirit Ability — Hell Rush Stab!"
"Second Spirit Ability — Hell Hundred Claws!"
Her already swift speed soared again. Her slender body streaked forward, leaves swirling around her.
Claws rained down like a storm, tearing the air with a shrill screech.
Li Zhexian's lips curled slightly.
He spat out the leaf in his mouth.
Extending his hand—
A gleaming, three-foot-six-inch sword appeared in his grasp.
The moment the Qinglian Sword emerged—
The forest flashed with cold light.
Zhu Zhuqing's heart clenched in alarm.
"What a sharp sword!"
In the same instant,
Li Zhexian's relaxed gaze turned razor-sharp.
"First Spirit Ability — Greenblade Severance!"
The purple Spirit Ring at his feet burst with light.
The lotus pattern on the sword spine bloomed brightly.
His blade carved a mysterious arc through the air—
Where the sword light passed, every single claw strike vanished.
SHHHK—
Li Zhexian moved so fast, he became a blur.
In an instant, his sword tip hovered three inches from Zhu Zhuqing's throat.
The rush of wind tousled the loose hair on her forehead.
The glint of his sword was reflected clearly in her stunned, delicate face.
"You lost."
He sheathed the Qinglian Sword.
And the leaf he'd spat out earlier finally fluttered to the ground.
"H-How is this possible…"
Zhu Zhuqing raised her head in disbelief.
"A purple Spirit Ring? A thousand-year level?!"
"Why… why is your first Spirit Ring purple?!"
She knew many geniuses.
And all of them called her a genius.
Zhu Zhuqing had always taken pride in her talent.
But today, in the Star Dou Great Forest, this white-robed boy had shown her—
There was always someone stronger. Always someone beyond the heavens.
How should he even explain this?
That he had a Wine Martial Soul with healing powers? That he chugged wine while absorbing a near-suicidal Spirit Ring?
Li Zhexian casually made something up.
"Because purple has a… certain elegance."
Zhu Zhuqing froze.
Speechless.
"Alright then."
Li Zhexian pulled out the Clear Spring Wine Gourd from his back, and took a long, satisfied drink.
"You lost."
"Now, as promised, you owe me one favor."