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Chapter 91 A Serendipitous Encounter with Zhu Zhuqing
Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, another six months have passed.
Deep within the dense forest on the outskirts of the Starry Sky Forest, the branches and leaves of towering ancient trees cut the sunlight into tiny, fragmented spots.
A dark figure darted swiftly through the shadows of the trees, its black outfit torn in several places by thorns, revealing faint traces of bleeding wounds.
Zhu Zhuqing pursed her pale lips, her dark eyes flashing with a cold light.
I heard a jumble of footsteps and the sound of branches snapping behind me.
"Quick! She can't have gone far!" Zhu Zhuyun's icy voice echoed through the forest. "We must take care of her today."
Zhu Zhuqing gritted her teeth and quickened her pace.
She could feel her soul power rapidly dwindling, but the instinct for survival drove her to keep moving forward.
The speed advantage granted by the Netherworld Cat Martial Soul allowed Zhu Zhuqing to move freely in the dense forest, but the pursuers remained close behind.
Suddenly, an arrow flew through the air, grazing her cheek and leaving a deep mark on the tree trunk.
"It missed!" the pursuing Soul Master shouted in frustration.
Zhu Zhuqing frowned slightly.
This was the third arrow that had "just happened" to whiz past her. But now was not the time to think; she had to focus on escaping.
A dark shadow suddenly attacked from the side.
Zhu Zhuqing hastily parried, but was forced back several steps.
"Do you think you can escape?" Zhu Zhuyun crossed her arms, a playful smile curving her alluring, fair face. "Davis has already sent people to Shrek Academy in Soto City. Dai Mubai won't live much longer either."
Zhu Zhuqing's pupils suddenly contracted.
Before she could react, Zhu Zhuyun slapped her on the shoulder. The slap seemed fierce, but the force was just right, allowing her to leap backward and create distance.
"Young Miss, should we continue pursuing them?" the subordinate asked breathlessly.
Zhu Zhuyun raised her hand to stop her: "No need. She's injured, and the Star Dou Great Forest is just ahead. It's getting dark, let the soul beasts take care of her for us."
A cold smile curled at the corner of her lips as she watched her sister's figure disappear into the darkness, a subtle, complex emotion flashing in her eyes.
Having escaped danger, Zhu Zhuqing leaned against a large tree, catching her breath. Recalling her sister's words, she suddenly understood something.
Soto City, Shrek Academy, Dai Mubai might be there.
Zhu Zhuqing wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, stood up, and took a step towards Soto City without hesitation.
...
at the same time.
Dusk was falling in the dense forest on the outskirts of the Starry Sky Forest.
A jet of blood shot out and splashed onto the withered leaves. As a large, slender rabbit crashed to the ground, a pale yellow spirit ring slowly rose.
Chu Xinghe put away his martial spirit, looked at his prey with satisfaction, and began to plan his roasted rabbit feast for tonight.
After half a year of arduous training, his soul power finally broke through to level 40. This time, he ventured deep into the Star Dou Great Forest to find a suitable dragon-type soul beast as his fourth soul ring.
Although Poison Douluo Dugu Bo was protecting him in secret, he insisted on facing the danger alone, believing that this was the only way to truly hone his combat skills.
Carrying the carcass of the soft-boned rabbit, Chu Xinghe went to a nearby stream to prepare to process his prey.
The stream babbled softly, shimmering in the twilight.
Just as he was about to squat down, he suddenly noticed a figure in the stream.
Zhu Zhuqing was soaking in the stream to wash her wounds. Her soaked clothes clung to her slender body, outlining her breathtaking curves.
Chu Xinghe held his breath, his gaze fixed on him.
"Who's there?" Zhu Zhuqing keenly sensed the movement, abruptly rising from the stream, her icy gaze shooting out like a knife.
Her fingers were already on the dagger at her waist, ready to launch an attack at any moment.
Chu Xinghe then came to his senses and awkwardly held up the soft-boned rabbit in his hand: "I was just passing by and came to the stream to process my prey."
He took a step back and gestured, "You're injured, do you need any help?"
Zhu Zhuqing gave him a cold glance, did not answer, and quickly leaped out of the stream.
The water droplets on her black outfit shimmered in the setting sun as she disappeared into the depths of the dense forest in a few leaps.
Chu Xinghe gazed in the direction she had left and smacked his lips softly.
If he didn't already have Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling, he wouldn't mind having something happen with this cold and beautiful woman.
Pulling himself out of his thoughts, Chu Xinghe squatted down and skillfully began to process the soft-boned rabbit in his hands.
He sliced open the rabbit's fur with a sharp dagger, carefully removed its internal organs, and washed his prey in the stream.
The movements were clean and efficient, clearly indicating that this wasn't the first time he had done something like this.
Suddenly, the bushes shook violently, and Zhu Zhuqing, possessed by a martial spirit, flew out.
She had a pair of black cat ears standing up on her head, and the cat tail at her waist swayed with her movements, while her long hair flowed behind her.
Zhu Zhuqing's breathing was slightly rapid, indicating that she had already run some distance.
"Hurry!" she shouted to Chu Xinghe, her voice urgent, "There are thousand-year-old Gale Wolves behind us!"
Before the words were finished, a huge Gale Wolf leaped out from the dense forest, its snow-white fangs gleaming coldly in the sunlight.
This Gale Wolf is over three meters long, and its bluish-gray fur is faintly covered with patterns formed by the condensation of wind elements, indicating that it has cultivated for over a thousand years.
Its scarlet eyes were fixed on Zhu Zhuqing, its front paws pawing at the ground, ready to attack at any moment.
Chu Xinghe calmly put down the Soft Bone Rabbit in his hand and slowly stood up.
His movements seemed casual, but his eyes had become sharp.
With a deep dragon roar, orange-red light suddenly erupted from his body.
Fine dragon scales covered his entire body like armor, his hands transformed into sharp dragon claws, and three spirit rings pulsed around him.
Two yellow and one purple – the perfect ratio for a Soul Master.
"First Soul Skill, Crimson Dragon Claw!"
Golden-red flames instantly condensed on Chu Xinghe's right claw, transforming into a giant fiery dragon claw with a diameter of over two meters.
The intense heat distorted the surrounding air, and the dragon claw roared out, carrying a scorching wave of air.
The Gale Wolf instinctively tried to dodge, but the speed of the Flame Dragon Claw was too fast. With a muffled thud, the wolf was sent flying before it could even howl, crashing heavily into a tree ten meters away.
When the smoke cleared, the demon wolf lay motionless on the ground, and a purple soul ring slowly rose from its corpse.
The whole process took only a few breaths, and a soul beast with a thousand years of cultivation was instantly killed.
Zhu Zhuqing stood there, stunned, a look of shock flashing in her eyes.
She never expected that this seemingly ordinary boy would have such strength, actually killing the Gale Wolf with a thousand years of cultivation with just one first soul skill.
Chu Xinghe withdrew his martial spirit, and the characteristics of his dragon transformation gradually faded.
He turned to look at Zhu Zhuqing, a gentle smile playing on his lips: "Are you alright? Did that beast hurt you?"
Zhu Zhuqing then came to her senses and cautiously took a half step back.
Although the other party saved her, she had to remain vigilant in a place like the Star Dou Great Forest.
"Thank you," she said briefly, her voice still cool.
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Chapter 92 Zhu Zhuqing's Predicament
Chu Xinghe shrugged dismissively, turned around and walked back to the stream to continue processing his soft-boned rabbit.
He skillfully used a dagger to skin and debone the animal, his movements clean and efficient.
"Judging from your appearance, you must be here to hunt for spirit rings too, right?" he asked without looking up. "It's dangerous to come to the Star Dou Great Forest alone."
Zhu Zhuqing did not answer, but silently observed the mysterious young man.
His strength clearly far surpasses that of ordinary Soul Masters, and his Martial Soul quality is extremely high.
The power of that attack was even comparable to the fourth soul skill of some Soul Masters.
Chu Xinghe washed the prepared rabbit meat with clean water. "Want to eat some? It's a freshly hunted soft-boned rabbit, the meat is at its most tender."
Zhu Zhuqing hesitated for a moment, then shook her head in the end: "No need."
She turned to leave, but then stopped. "Thank you for saving me just now."
Chu Xinghe smiled and was about to say something when he suddenly frowned and looked up sharply into the depths of the forest.
"Someone's coming," he whispered, "and they're quite strong."
Zhu Zhuqing immediately went into a state of alert, and her martial spirit possessed her body once again.
Just then, a green figure floated down from the treetops; it was none other than Poison Douluo Dugu Bo.
"Kid, have you had enough fun?" Dugu Bo glanced at the demon wolf corpse on the ground. "I sent you here to hunt for spirit rings, not to pick up girls here."
Chu Xinghe helplessly spread his hands: "Grandpa, I'm just preparing dinner."
Zhu Zhuqing stared in shock at the sudden appearance of Dugu Bo, her body involuntarily tensing up.
As a guest elder of the Heaven Dou royal family and a powerful figure at the Title Douluo level, Zhu Zhuqing had seen Dugu Bo's portrait. She never expected that such a powerful figure would protect this young man. Could this young man be an important member of the Heaven Dou Empire's royal family?
Dugu Bo turned his gaze to Zhu Zhuqing and nodded slightly: "Little girl from the Xingluo Zhu family? Why did you come here alone?"
Zhu Zhuqing bowed cautiously: "Senior, do you know me?"
"The Netherworld Cat Martial Soul, reaching the Great Soul Master level at such a young age, who else but the Zhu family could it be?" Dugu Bo said calmly. "Since we've met, it must be fate. Let's have something to eat together. This brat may not have any other skills, but he's quite good at grilling meat."
Chu Xinghe had already started a fire and skewered the rabbit meat on tree branches.
Flames licked the tender meat, quickly releasing an enticing aroma.
He winked at Zhu Zhuqing: "Really not going to order some? I guarantee it'll be more delicious than anything you've ever had in any restaurant."
Faced with a titled Douluo, Zhu Zhuqing could no longer refuse.
She approached the fire cautiously, but still maintained a safe distance.
A night breeze blew by, carrying the aroma of roasted meat and the unique freshness of the forest, which seemed to ease the tense atmosphere a little.
As Zhu Zhuqing gazed at the flickering campfire, her thoughts involuntarily drifted back to the Star Luo Empire.
The tradition of intermarriage between the Zhu and Dai families for generations was like an inescapable shackle, binding her fate firmly to her fiancé from the Dai family.
While the fusion skill of the Netherworld Cat and the White Tiger, "Netherworld White Tiger," is powerful, it also predetermined her life trajectory.
Zhu Zhuqing gently bit her lower lip. What feelings could there be between her and Dai Mubai?
The two grew up amidst the treacherous power struggles of the royal family, and the number of times they met could be counted on one hand.
Even if we stood in front of each other now, we probably wouldn't recognize each other.
What holds them together is nothing more than a cold and laughable marriage contract.
Dai Mubai's sudden departure three years ago made their already difficult situation even worse.
Her older sister, Zhu Zhuyun, became increasingly relentless in her pursuit, leaving her utterly exhausted with each narrow escape from death.
She trained desperately, all for the sake of winning that life-or-death duel when her sister turned twenty-four.
But as she grew older, that hope became increasingly slim. Zhu Zhuyun was not only just as talented as her, but also had six more years of training.
In the end, she had no choice but to follow Dai Mubai's example and escape that suffocating place.
"It's ready, try it." Chu Xinghe's voice pulled her back to reality.
He handed over a golden-brown, crispy rabbit leg, the fat still sizzling. "This is the hind leg meat of a century-old soft-boned rabbit, the most tender part."
Zhu Zhuqing hesitated before accepting it and thanked her softly.
The warmth from her fingertips made her feel a little dazed; she hadn't experienced being cared for like this in a long time.
"You brat!" Dugu Bo suddenly slapped Chu Xinghe on the back of the head, laughing and scolding, "You ignore your grandpa when you see a pretty girl?"
"Ouch!" Chu Xinghe exaggeratedly rubbed his head, but then tore off another rabbit leg with a grin. "How could that be! I specially saved the fattest one for you! Try it, I guarantee it'll be even more tender than the last one!"
Watching the heartwarming scene of the grandfather and grandson bickering, Zhu Zhuqing unconsciously smiled.
Such simple and pure family affection was a luxury she had never experienced before.
In the firelight, her smile was like the first melting of snow, brightening the surrounding night.
Chu Xinghe took a big bite of rabbit meat, his mouth greasy, and laughed, "Don't always have such a serious face, you look so much better when you smile. Come on, eat meat with a big smile like me, that's how you get the best taste!"
As he spoke, he generously tore off a large piece of rabbit meat and ate it with relish.
"Let me formally introduce myself." Chu Xinghe wiped his mouth. "My name is Chu Xinghe, a student of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy. This is my grandfather, Dugu Bo, a guest elder of the Heaven Dou Royal Family."
Zhu Zhuqing was slightly surprised to hear this. Isn't the Tian Dou royal family surnamed Xue?
But she quickly composed herself and politely replied, "I am Zhu Zhuqing, from the Zhu family of the Star Luo Empire."
Dugu Bo's sharp gaze swept over her: "Are you the loser in the competition of this generation of the Zhu family?"
Zhu Zhuqing tightened her grip on the rabbit leg slightly, nodded silently, and a hint of sadness flashed in her eyes.
"Oh, it's no big deal!" Chu Xinghe suddenly slapped his thigh, his voice cheerful. "How about this, you come back to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy with us! With my grandfather protecting you, I guarantee no one will dare to bully you!"
Zhu Zhuqing suddenly looked up, a hint of surprise flashing in her cold eyes.
She stared blankly at the smiling boy in front of her, forgetting to eat the rabbit meat in her hand.
This complete stranger, whom she had just met, would so readily extend a helping hand to her?
"Ouch!"
Dugu Bo gave Chu Xinghe another sharp rap on the head and sneered, "You brat, are you trying to keep Yan Yan as a mistress?"
Chu Xinghe covered his head and looked at Dugu Bo with a wronged expression: "Grandpa! What are you thinking! I saw that Zhu Qing is exceptionally talented and wanted to recruit talent for our academy!"
He rolled his eyes and added slyly, "Besides, if Sister Yanyan knew you were making fun of me like this, she'd definitely rip your precious beard off!"
After saying that, he turned to Zhu Zhuqing, winked, and said half seriously and half jokingly, "How about it? Think about it? The Heaven Dou Royal Academy offers excellent benefits, including food and accommodation, and has a Title Douluo in charge. It's much better than the backstabbing and infighting at Star Luo Academy."
Zhu Zhuqing was silent for a moment, then gently shook her head: "Thank you for your kindness, but I have important things to do."
Although she had no feelings for Dai Mubai, the engagement was still a fact.
Now that Davis has sent someone to Shrek Academy to assassinate Dai Mubai, she must go and deliver the message.
Chu Xinghe knew perfectly well that Zhu Zhuqing was going to Shrek Academy, but he didn't want her to be harmed by that ladybug Dai Mubai.
He feigned ignorance and asked, "Zhuqing, where do you plan to go next?"
Zhu Zhuqing hesitated for a moment, but ultimately chose to be honest: "I plan to go to Shrek Academy."
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Chapter 93 Zhu Zhuqing's Request
Chu Xinghe's eyes widened suddenly, and he gasped dramatically: "Wait! You said you're going to Shrek Academy? That lousy academy that doesn't even have proper school buildings?"
Zhu Zhuqing's delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, and a hint of confusion flashed in her dark eyes: "A shady academy?"
She was puzzled; with Dai Mubai's talent, how could he possibly choose a second-rate academy?
"That's right!" Chu Xinghe curled his lips, looking disdainful. "I have an old classmate named Tang San who was born with full soul power. He was completely fooled by his teacher at Shrek Academy. He taught empty theories all day long, wasting four or five years of his life at the junior soul master academy."
He got angrier and angrier as he spoke: "The last time I went back to Nottingham, this guy actually coveted the treasure I had and attacked me despite our years of friendship. After I taught him a lesson, his teacher took him and slunk away to Shrek Academy."
Chu Xinghe took a sip of water and continued his rant: "There's more! My intermediate soul master academy's teachers finally found a suitable sixth soul ring beast, only to have it snatched away halfway by a teacher from Shrek Academy!"
Zhu Zhuqing's expression gradually turned serious: "Are all the teachers at Shrek Academy like this?"
"Anyway, none of the people I've met have been good," Chu Xinghe said seriously. "If you insist on going, you must be careful. The people there are no pushovers."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded thoughtfully: "Thank you for the reminder."
Although she had her doubts, she decided to go and find out what was going on, since Dai Mubai was also there.
Dugu Bo was taken aback, his brows furrowing slightly: "Shrek Academy? I've been in the Soul Master world for many years, how come I've never heard of this Soul Master Academy?"
Chu Xinghe snorted: "They don't even have proper school qualifications. The school building is located in a dilapidated village outside Soto City."
"puff--"
Dugu Bo nearly spat out his drink, his beard bristling. "This... this is considered a Soul Master Academy?"
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes flickered slightly, and she was secretly alarmed.
She clearly remembered that she had never mentioned the specific location of Shrek Academy, but Chu Xinghe could accurately say "a dilapidated village outside Soto City." The accuracy of this information forced her to reassess Chu Xinghe's words.
It seems his knowledge of Shrek Academy was indeed not unfounded.
"You've come here to hunt for your fourth spirit ring?" Zhu Zhuqing suddenly asked, her clear, cold voice standing out sharply by the campfire.
"That's right." Chu Xinghe grinned, revealing two rows of white teeth that shone brightly in the flickering firelight. "Never seen a Soul Master who's twelve years old, have you?"
"Twelve years old?!" Zhu Zhuqing's pupils shrank sharply, and her usually calm face finally showed obvious surprise.
Even with the Zhu family's resources in the Star Luo Empire, she had never heard of a genius who had reached the Soul Master level at such a young age.
It should be noted that reaching the Soul Venerable realm at the age of twelve is already extremely rare.
Dugu Bo winked mischievously from the side, his aged voice full of teasing: "Young lady, although this boy is always acting frivolously, his talent is undeniable. How about considering making him your concubine?"
"Grandpa!" Chu Xinghe clutched his chest dramatically, feigning anguish, "You're killing me! What if Sister Yanyan finds out..."
As he spoke, he made a throat-slitting gesture, which made Dugu Bo burst into laughter.
When Chu Xinghe turned to look at Zhu Zhuqing, his expression became more serious: "However, if Zhuqing is willing to come to Tiandou Academy, I guarantee that I will arrange the best cultivation resources for you."
He paused, then resumed his playful grin. "Of course, forget about titles and such. I want to live a few more years."
Zhu Zhuqing's ear tips unconsciously flushed red, but she quickly regained her usual cool demeanor.
She glanced at Dugu Bo indifferently: "Senior is joking."
He then turned to Chu Xinghe and said seriously, "A twelve-year-old Soul Master... that's truly unheard of. If you don't mind, I'd like to witness firsthand your process of acquiring Soul Rings."
She paused briefly, then added, "Of course, I'm just a fellow traveler, nothing more."
Chu Xinghe was casually tossing a few dry branches into the fire when he heard this. He looked up, his eyebrows arching dramatically: "Oh, our cold beauty is actually interested in me?"
Zhu Zhuqing's expression remained unchanged, only her eyes turned slightly cold: "Just curious."
"Tsk tsk..." Chu Xinghe suddenly leaned closer, his handsome face flickering in the firelight, revealing a set of perfectly white teeth. "Do you even believe that yourself?"
Before Zhu Zhuqing could respond, he turned to look at Dugu Bo, who was leaning against a tree not far away, and asked, "Grandpa, what do you think of this plan?"
Dugu Bo slowly swung the wine gourd in his hand, his narrow eyes gleaming mischievously in the moonlight: "You little brat, don't embarrass this old man by bringing a young girl to hunt souls."
"Alright!" Chu Xinghe sprang to his feet, dusted off non-existent dust from his clothes, and winked at Zhu Zhuqing with his right eye. "Then don't get scared tomorrow."
Zhu Zhuqing gave a soft hum and turned her face away. The flickering flames cast swaying shadows on her delicate profile, and the night breeze lifted her cascading black hair, the ends of which were gilded with a dark golden halo in the firelight.
She appeared calm, but her heart was actually beating a few beats faster than usual.
This was not only out of curiosity about the genius boy in front of them, but also out of complex feelings about Dai Mubai, who might be at Shrek Academy.
...
The next day, deep in the forest shrouded in morning mist.
Before dawn, thick white fog flowed through the forest, blurring the outlines of the towering ancient trees.
Zhu Zhuqing stepped on the damp moss, each step as light as a real feline spirit beast.
She maintained a distance of three steps from Chu Xinghe, a distance that allowed her to respond promptly to any unexpected situations without appearing too intimate.
"Don't worry." Chu Xinghe, who was walking ahead, suddenly spoke, his voice carrying his usual laziness, "With Grandpa watching from the shadows, all the soul beasts within a ten-mile radius will have to tuck their tails between their legs and behave like beasts."
Zhu Zhuqing didn't reply, but her jaw tightened slightly.
Her martial spirit granted her extraordinary perception, and at this moment she was clearly sensing the rising and falling auras of the soul beasts in the forest.
These auras varied in strength, but all carried the wildness unique to the Star Dou Great Forest.
Suddenly, Chu Xinghe raised his hand and gestured for them to stop.
Zhu Zhuqing immediately stopped, slightly raised her toes, and entered a fighting state.
A massive black shadow was approaching from the thick fog ahead.
Heavy breathing accompanied the crisp sound of snapping branches, and a pair of eerie beastly eyes appeared and disappeared in the mist.
Zhu Zhuqing's fingertips tensed involuntarily, her soul power quietly flowing through her meridians.
She could sense that this was a soul beast that was at least three thousand years old, and the pressure it exuded caused the surrounding mist to tremble.
However, Chu Xinghe appeared unusually relaxed.
He gently twisted his neck, his joints making a crisp sound, and a carefree smile curled at the corner of his mouth: "Zhuqing, watch carefully."
His voice suddenly became low and serious: "The way a twelve-year-old Soul Master hunts souls is different from those guys who follow the rules step by step."
Before he finished speaking, a dazzling golden light burst forth from his palm.
Three spirit rings appeared one after another, with the outermost purple spirit ring suddenly lighting up.
Zhu Zhuqing unconsciously held her breath; this was the first time she had observed Chu Xinghe's martial spirit at such close range.
Unbeknownst to them, Dugu Bo was already standing on the branch of an ancient tree, a strange smile appearing on his aged face.
He muttered to himself, "That brat, he's always trying to show off his full strength in front of pretty girls."
The mist in the forest suddenly surged violently, and the thousand-year-old soul beast let out a deafening roar.
Chu Xinghe simply smiled lightly, and his figure vanished from the spot like a ghost.
Zhu Zhuqing's pupils contracted sharply; her usually proud dynamic vision was completely unable to detect his movements.
At this moment, she finally understood why Dugu Bo valued this seemingly cynical young man so much.
And now I finally understand why Chu Xinghe looked down on Shrek Academy.
When the first rays of dawn pierced through the thick fog, the battle was already over.
Chu Xinghe flicked his wrist and turned to walk towards Zhu Zhuqing.
His robes were spotless, as if the fierce battle that had just taken place had never happened.
"How was it?" he asked, tilting his head, a mischievous smile in his eyes. "Didn't disappoint you?"
Zhu Zhuqing took a deep breath to suppress the shock in her heart.
Looking at the boy's bright smile, she suddenly realized that she might have underestimated his strength.
Or perhaps, she has always overestimated the choices of some people.
"sharp."
Zhu Zhuqing finally uttered only one word, but her gaze was warmer than usual.
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Chapter 94 Soul Hunting Trial: Zhu Zhuqing's Changing Mindset
The middle section of the Star Dou Great Forest, an area where soul beasts frequently appear.
The towering ancient trees blocked most of the sunlight, with only scattered spots of light filtering through the dense foliage onto the damp soil.
The air was filled with the smell of decaying vegetation, and the low growls of spirit beasts could be heard from afar.
Zhu Zhuqing lightly leaped onto the thick branch of an ancient tree, her dark eyes fixed on the tall figure in front of her.
"They're here." Chu Xinghe suddenly stopped, a smile of excitement curving his lips.
As soon as he finished speaking, the bushes in front of him shook violently, and a huge purple-striped wolf suddenly darted out.
This thousand-year-old soul beast was covered in deep purple fur, with a row of sharp bone spurs growing on its back, and its scarlet eyes flashing with a ferocious light.
"Greymon, possess me!"
A blazing orange-red light shot into the sky.
Chu Xinghe's body rapidly transformed into a dragon, with fine scales covering his entire body like armor, and sharp dragon claws gleaming with a cold, metallic light.
Three spirit rings lit up one after another beneath his feet, with the outermost purple spirit ring radiating a heart-palpitating energy fluctuation.
The purple-striped wolf crouched low, letting out a threatening growl. Suddenly, it thrust forward with all its might from its hind legs, its massive body transforming into a purple blur as it pounced.
"First Soul Skill, Crimson Dragon Claw!"
Chu Xinghe neither dodged nor evaded; his right dragon claw was instantly enveloped in scorching flames.
A fierce claw strike met the demon wolf, and five fiery trails drew perfect arcs in the air.
With a hiss, five charred claw marks appeared on the chest of the purple-striped demon wolf, and the air was filled with the smell of burnt fur.
"Aww!"
The purple-striped demon wolf roared in pain and suddenly opened its blood-red maw, from which a beam of purple light shot out.
Chu Xinghe flashed, and the beam of light grazed his shoulder, severing a large tree behind him in half.
His eyes gleamed with even stronger fighting spirit: "Interesting. Let's try this."
"Second Soul Skill, Small Flame!"
He crossed his hands in front of his chest, and a fireball the size of a fist quickly took shape.
As soul power was continuously injected, the fireball expanded at a visible speed, and in the blink of an eye, it became a huge fireball with a diameter of half a meter.
"go!"
The fireball roared out, and the purple-striped demon wolf tried to dodge, but it was too late.
With a deafening roar, the fireball exploded on its body, engulfing it entirely in scorching flames.
When the flames subsided, the purple-striped demon wolf lay dying on the ground, its body charred black.
Zhu Zhuqing stood on the tree branch, a hint of shock flashing in her dark eyes.
This kind of powerful fire-type soul skill is difficult for even fire-attribute soul masters of level 40 or above to match.
What surprised her even more was Chu Xinghe's precise control over his soul skills; he had timed the charging of that small flame perfectly.
Just as Chu Xinghe was preparing to deliver the final blow, the ground suddenly shook violently.
A three-eyed demonic ape, as large as a small mountain, burst out of the dense forest, its blood-red third eye flashing with a mad light.
"A five-thousand-year-old soul beast!" Zhu Zhuqing's expression changed drastically. The Netherworld Cat Martial Soul instantly possessed her, and two yellow soul rings lit up beneath her feet.
Chu Xinghe, however, revealed an excited smile: "You've come at the perfect time!"
"Third Soul Skill, Tyrannosaurus Fury!"
Golden-red flames suddenly erupted from his body, and he seemed to transform into a god of fire.
The power of fire increased by 150%, and the soul power instantly doubled.
His dragon scales became thicker, the flames on his dragon claws heated up dramatically, and the surrounding air was distorted by the high temperature.
"Roar!" The three-eyed demon ape pounded its chest angrily, its thick arm sweeping across.
Chu Xinghe neither dodged nor evaded, but met the dragon claw, which was burning with raging flames, head-on.
With a muffled thud, incredibly, despite the vast difference in size, the demonic ape was actually forced back three steps in the collision.
"Again!"
Chu Xinghe pressed his advantage, swinging his claws alternately, each strike carrying scorching flames.
The demonic ape roared in anger, and a crimson beam shot out from its third eye.
"Be careful!" Zhu Zhuqing couldn't help but warn.
Chu Xinghe was prepared. He dodged the beam of light with a flash, and at the same time, a small flame that had been gathering power for a long time condensed in his right claw.
"Try this!" The fireball hit the demonic ape precisely in the eye, and the shockwave from the explosion made it cover its face in pain.
The demonic ape went into a frenzy, pounding the ground with its fists, kicking up clouds of dust. Chu Xinghe was forced back by the impact, a trickle of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. But the fighting spirit in his eyes did not diminish in the slightest; on the contrary, it burned even brighter.
"The final blow!"
He took a deep breath and poured all his soul power into his right claw.
The flames of the Crimson Dragon Claw were a dazzling golden-red color, and the temperature soared to its extreme.
Seizing the moment when the demonic ape was attacking, Chu Xinghe leaped up and delivered a fierce claw strike straight for the ape's throat.
"laugh--"
The sound of claws piercing flesh was accompanied by the shrill howl of the demonic ape.
Scalding blood gushed from the wound, the demonic ape's massive body swayed a few times, and finally crashed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Chu Xinghe knelt on one knee, panting heavily.
This battle consumed a large amount of his soul power, but the excitement in his eyes did not diminish at all.
Zhu Zhuqing landed lightly in front of him, her dark eyes flashing with a complex light: "Are you... alright?"
Chu Xinghe grinned and wiped the sweat from his forehead: "Easy peasy."
He stood up and looked at the demonic ape's corpse. "It's a pity it's not the most suitable spirit ring for me."
On the treetop, Dugu Bo nodded in satisfaction, but did not appear.
He had long recognized the strength of this demonic ape, but chose to let Chu Xinghe face this battle test alone.
...
Forest swamp area, night falls
The campfire burned quietly in the clearing at the edge of the swamp, dispelling the chill of the night.
Zhu Zhuqing took the roasted meat from Chu Xinghe and chewed it in small bites.
The firelight illuminated her delicate face, softening her perpetually icy expression.
"Your fire-attribute soul skill," she suddenly spoke, her dark eyes staring directly at the dancing flames, "doesn't seem like something an ordinary soul ring could grant."
Chu Xinghe added a piece of firewood to the fire, sparks crackling as he said, "Good eye."
He paused, then continued, "My martial spirit underwent a mutation after being tempered by immortal herbs."
"A magical herb?" A hint of surprise flashed in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes.
"Yes, a celestial herb called Phoenix Cockscomb Sunflower." Chu Xinghe's tone became unusually serious. "After taking it, it almost killed me, but after surviving, my Tyrannosaurus Beast Martial Soul gained the ultimate fire attribute."
Zhu Zhuqing asked thoughtfully, "So that's why your martial spirit is so powerful?"
"That's right." Chu Xinghe nodded.
The night breeze swept across the swamp, creating ripples.
Zhu Zhuqing stared at the flickering flames and suddenly asked, "Why are you telling me all this?"
Chu Xinghe grinned: "Because you seem really curious."
Seeing Zhu Zhuqing frown, he dropped his joking expression. "Actually... I think you're different from those guys."
"Those guys?"
"It's those people from Shrek Academy." A cold glint flashed in Chu Xinghe's eyes. "They always think they're geniuses, looking down on everyone else…"
Zhu Zhuqing was silent for a moment, then said softly, "Dai Mubai is there too."
Chu Xinghe raised an eyebrow: "Oh? You mean the prince of the Star Luo Empire with whom you're engaged?"
He glanced at Zhu Zhuqing thoughtfully. "No wonder you're interested in Shrek Academy."
Zhu Zhuqing neither denied it nor continued the topic.
She looked up at the starry sky, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible: "Sometimes, fate is not something we can choose..."
On a treetop in the distance, Dugu Bo stroked his beard, a meaningful look flashing in his eyes.
This soul-hunting journey may change the course of many things.
The campfire gradually died down, and the forest returned to silence.
But on this night, some people are destined to toss and turn, their minds filled with countless thoughts.
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#95
Chapter 95 The Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Blazing Fire Dragon Lizard
At the edge of the core area of the Star Dou Great Forest, scorching heat waves distorted the air.
On the morning of the fifth day, Chu Xinghe and his two companions finally arrived at this volcanic landscape. The dark red volcanic rocks under their feet still radiated warmth, and the muffled sounds of churning lava could be heard from afar.
"Grandpa, look over there!"
Chu Xinghe suddenly lowered his voice, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
Following the direction of his finger, Zhu Zhuqing saw a giant red lizard resting by the lava pool.
The giant lizard was over five meters long, with sharp bone spurs arranged along its back. With each breath, tiny flames shot out from its nostrils, scorching the surrounding rocks until they glowed red.
Zhu Zhuqing gasped, "This is... a ten-thousand-year-old soul beast?"
She suddenly turned to Chu Xinghe, her voice rising involuntarily, "You wouldn't be thinking of absorbing its soul ring, would you?"
"That's right." Chu Xinghe grinned, revealing his signature white teeth. "This is the fourth spirit ring I've been looking for."
"Are you crazy?" Zhu Zhuqing's dark eyes were filled with disbelief. "You want to absorb a ten-thousand-year-level spirit ring for your fourth spirit ring? That's impossible!"
Dugu Bo appeared silently beside the two, his aged face unusually solemn: "Xinghe, a ten-thousand-year soul ring will cause soul shock, this is no joke."
He emphasized, "Even a level 50 Soul King must be extremely cautious when absorbing a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring."
Chu Xinghe casually flexed his wrist: "Grandpa, don't you know me? My physique has been tempered by immortal herbs, and it's far beyond what ordinary soul masters can compare to."
His eyes gleamed with confidence. "Besides, aren't you here to protect me?"
Zhu Zhuqing noticed that Dugu Bo's brows were furrowed even more tightly.
The titled Douluo remained silent for a moment, his gaze lingering on Chu Xinghe's resolute expression for a long time, before finally letting out a long sigh: "Fine, since you insist on this..."
Before he finished speaking, Dugu Bo's figure had already disappeared from the spot.
The next second, the fiery dragon lizard suddenly let out a deafening roar, its massive body being suppressed by an invisible force and forced to lie heavily on the ground.
It struggled frantically, its sharp claws carving deep furrows in the ground, causing the surrounding lava to surge violently as it struggled, yet it could never break free from the invisible restraints.
"Go." Dugu Bo's voice came from the void, his tone unusually serious. "Remember, give up immediately if you can't hold on. Soul shock is no joke. Even I can't help you withstand it."
Chu Xinghe suppressed his smile and nodded solemnly: "I understand, Grandpa."
He turned to Zhu Zhuqing, winked, and said, "Just wait and see my performance."
Zhu Zhuqing stood there, unconsciously clenching her fists.
As she watched Chu Xinghe stride toward the subdued dragon lizard, her heart raced uncontrollably.
Although they hadn't spent much time together, she had already witnessed the boy's astonishing talent. But was it really possible to successfully absorb a ten-thousand-year-old spirit ring from a higher level?
Beside the lava pool, the fiery dragon lizard seemed to sense its fate and struggled even more fiercely.
Beneath its crimson scales flowed a magma-like light, and the flames it spewed from its mouth scorched the surrounding rocks until they glowed red-hot.
However, under the pressure of a titled Douluo, all resistance seemed futile.
Chu Xinghe stopped three meters away from the dragon lizard and took a deep breath.
His gaze became more focused than ever before, and three spirit rings lit up one after another beneath his feet, with the outermost purple spirit ring radiating astonishing energy fluctuations.
"Let's begin," he said softly, his right hand instantly transforming into a sharp dragon claw, the gleaming tip piercing precisely into the Fiery Dragon Lizard's vitals.
The Fiery Dragon Lizard let out a final, mournful roar, its massive body convulsing violently as it crashed to the ground, splashing up a cloud of scalding lava.
As life force faded, a jet-black, ten-thousand-year-old soul ring slowly rose from the corpse, radiating suffocating energy fluctuations in the scorching air.
"Grandpa, keep an eye on things for me." Chu Xinghe grinned at Dugu Bo, but a hint of seriousness flashed in his eyes.
Dugu Bo snorted coldly: "You brat, now you know how to call me grandpa?"
Even so, his emerald green soul power was already circulating around his body, and nine soul rings appeared one after another. The pressure of a Title Douluo enveloped the surroundings, building a safety barrier for Chu Xinghe.
Zhu Zhuqing unconsciously clenched the hem of her clothes, her nails almost digging into her palms.
She had never seen anyone dare to absorb a ten-thousand-year soul ring at level forty; it was practically playing with fire.
But looking at Chu Xinghe's determined back, she inexplicably believed that this young man might really be able to create a miracle.
When the pitch-black spirit ring enveloped Chu Xinghe's head, a sudden change occurred.
His body trembled violently, his muscles tensed instantly, and his veins bulged.
His once rosy complexion turned deathly pale in an instant, and large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, soaking his clothes.
"It has begun," Dugu Bo said in a deep voice, his eyes fixed intently on Chu Xinghe's every move.
He could feel the violent soul shock impacting Chu Xinghe's sea of consciousness; the pain was far beyond what ordinary people could endure.
In the realm of the mind, Chu Xinghe is facing a life-or-death struggle.
The remnant soul of the Fiery Dragon Lizard transformed into towering flames, roaring furiously as it lunged at him.
Each impact of that scorching soul fire brought excruciating pain, as if it were about to completely incinerate his consciousness.
"You mere humans dare to presume to control my power!" The remnant soul of the Fiery Dragon Lizard roared deafeningly, its ferocious face emerging from the crimson flames.
Chu Xinghe's soul struggled to stay afloat amidst the flames, his consciousness beginning to blur.
At this critical moment, a cold, mechanical voice suddenly rang in his mind: "Abnormal host vital signs detected. Digital Evolution System activated."
The voice was like heavenly music, instantly sobering Chu Xinghe up a bit.
He felt a cool energy surge from his body, forming a blue barrier in his spiritual world, blocking the remnant soul of the Fiery Dragon Lizard.
"System?" Chu Xinghe's heart stirred, and he immediately seized the opportunity.
He unleashed his full soul power, and with the system's assistance, his soul power surged, suppressing the remnant soul of the Fiery Dragon Lizard.
"No! This is impossible!" The remnant soul of the Fiery Dragon Lizard roared in unwillingness, but with the help of the Digital Evolution System, Chu Xinghe's soul power had completely gained the upper hand.
From the outside, Zhu Zhuqing saw Chu Xinghe's pained expression gradually calm down, and her clenched fists loosened slightly.
She then realized that her back was soaked in cold sweat, and she unconsciously held her breath for a long time.
Dugu Bo nodded almost imperceptibly, a hint of appreciation flashing in his eyes.
He saw it more clearly than Zhu Zhuqing: Chu Xinghe had not only successfully resisted the soul shock, but his soul power fluctuations were also steadily increasing, which indicated that the fusion process was going exceptionally smoothly.
When Chu Xinghe neutralized the last trace of soul vibration, the pitch-black soul ring perfectly merged into his body.
Four spirit rings were arranged in a row under his feet. The outermost black ten-thousand-year spirit ring exuded a heart-palpitating pressure, which was significantly stronger than the energy fluctuations of the other three spirit rings.
Chu Xinghe slowly opened his eyes, and flames seemed to dance in his golden pupils.
He stretched his limbs, his bones cracking and popping, and a familiar smile appeared on his lips: "Success."
Zhu Zhuqing finally breathed a sigh of relief, but then her face hardened again: "Do you know how dangerous that was just now?"
Chu Xinghe shrugged nonchalantly: "Nothing's wrong."
He turned to Dugu Bo and winked. "Right, Grandpa?"
Dugu Bo snorted coldly: "If you act recklessly like this again, I'll break your legs."
Chu Xinghe chuckled, then suddenly his expression turned serious: "But this time, we owe it all to..."
He stopped abruptly halfway through his sentence, shook his head, and said, "In short, I feel that the new soul skill is very strong."
Zhu Zhuqing keenly sensed his hesitation, but wisely refrained from asking further questions.
Looking at the pitch-black fourth spirit ring at Chu Xinghe's feet, she couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration.
This boy always manages to create miracles.
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