Hunting for a Soul Ring (Part 2)

Zhu Zhuqing followed through, plunging the dagger in her hand into the Dark Zheng Cat's neck.

"Meow!"

The piercing cry shattered the forest's silence, and the Dark Zheng Cat twisted her head around to bite behind her.

But... although some of the pink glow had faded, the restraining force was still holding her in place.

Zhu Zhuqing did not hesitate. After slitting her opponent's throat, she quickly pulled away and scrambled onto a nearby tree using both hands and feet.

The pink glow faded. The Dark Zheng Cat's neck had been cut four-fifths of the way through.

Zhu Zhuqing's body tempering was still only half done. Otherwise, she could have cut the cat's head clean off.

"Meow!"

The Dark Zheng Cat fixed a vicious stare on Zhu Zhuqing in the tree, making no attempt to hide her hatred for the little girl.

Unfortunately, she had no chance for revenge now. She took one unwilling step, then collapsed completely, all strength leaving her.

The Dark Zheng Cat was not dead yet, and Zhu Zhuqing was in no hurry to finish her off. She quietly watched the pool of blood grow.

A moment later, a purple Soul Ring emerged from the Dark Zheng Cat's corpse.

Only then did Zhu Zhuqing let out a deep breath of relief. She had lain in wait for a whole day and night for this Soul Ring.

Zhu Zhuqing looked up in Stelle's direction.

A thumb poked out of the thick grass.

Zhu Zhuqing smiled, returned the dagger to her waist, and climbed down the tree on all fours. She went over to the Dark Zheng Cat and sat down cross-legged beside her.

The purple Soul Ring floated toward Zhu Zhuqing, and a vast surge of Soul Power rampaged through her tiny body, but to no avail.

Stelle had used a great many body-tempering potions on her. What was more, she had brought them herself (in the golden trash can), having packed them up at Ruan Mei's place. Even though they had been nerfed to hell, they were still far beyond anything on this continent.

In just one hour, the Soul Ring was completely absorbed.

Zhu Zhuqing rose to her feet and looked at the purple Soul Ring beneath her.

"I... did it?"

"That's right, little kitty, you did it. A Soul Ring from an eighteen-hundred-year-old Dark Zheng Cat, and you did it even faster than I imagined."

Stelle sighed with feeling. That hunt had been perfect: no wasted movements, and a kill in a single strike. As expected of me, the Galactic Baseballer's disciple. I'm such a great teacher ヽ(*≧ω≦)ﾉ!

"But you still need to be careful. Your body tempering isn't good enough yet. You fell a little short just now."

"I understand, Sister Stelle."

"Quick, quick, let me see what your First Soul Skill is."

It was Stelle's first time seeing a Soul Ring obtained through hunting. As for her own Soul Rings? Those had come with her.

"Sister Stelle, my First Soul Skill is called Shadow Stealth Assault. It lets me merge into darkness and shadows."

As her voice fell, Zhu Zhuqing's figure gradually faded until she vanished.

"During that process, I should be in a semi-elemental state, immune to eighty percent of physical damage. At the same time, when I break out of the shadows, my speed increases by thirty percent, and my attacks gain thirty percent armor-piercing erosion."

Zhu Zhuqing appeared behind Stelle, her eyes full of delight.

This Soul Skill was far stronger than the Zhu Family's Netherworld Hundred Claws.

"Mm, the new attributes are good. It's just that fire and light types counter it pretty hard. Later, if we get the chance, we'll have to work on increasing the Soul Ring's age."

There was still medicinal power in Zhu Zhuqing's body that she had not finished absorbing, and absorbing the Dark Zheng Cat's Soul Ring had given her the perfect chance to absorb it along with the ring.

The result was that every last one of the Dark Zheng Cat's talents had been squeezed out.

"Of course, compared to your Sister Stelle, you're still a long way off."

Zhu Zhuqing nodded silently. She had seen with her own eyes just how absurdly strong Stelle was.

Was this what a genius was like?

That was right. In Zhu Zhuqing's eyes, only someone like Sister Stelle could be called a heaven's chosen, a monster. She herself... still had a long way to go.

(Other Douluo I Soul Masters: Are those human words?)

"Come on, little Zhuqing. Let's enjoy one last meal today, and then I'll take you home."

A flicker of reluctance passed through Zhu Zhuqing's eyes. She looked down at the silvery-white bracelet on her wrist, and a smile returned to her face.

"Sister Stelle, can I come find you again in the future?"

"Of course. I'll be in Tianshu City. If I'm not there, I'll probably have gone to Trailblaze a new world."

"That's amazing~ I'll definitely come find you when I get the chance, Sister Stelle!"

"Come on. The hands of a clock will always point forward, and the scenery along the way is really beautiful~"

"Where are you going next, Sister Stelle?"

"Me? I haven't decided. I'll take it one step at a time. Since I'm already here, I'm planning to kidnap a few little wives for my middle-aged geezer. If little kitty's interested, I can save you a spot~~~ My middle-aged geezer really loves petting cats~"

Zhu Zhuqing: "Huh? ／(≧x≦)＼"

The two figures, one tall and one small, headed toward the capital of the Star Luo Empire.

The Blazing Fire Goshawk circling in the sky landed atop a tree. Looking in the direction the two had gone, a trace of confusion flashed through his eyes.

If he remembered correctly... wasn't the human city in the exact opposite direction...?

Oh well, he didn't understand. The young master surely had her reasons for doing this. What he should be doing now was eating!

Looking at the three vials of reagent he had dragged over, he narrowed his eagle eyes.

He had made a killing. Maybe... he should go give the young master another egg to add to her meal? Otherwise, he felt a little bad taking so much.

(Egg: ...Do I absolutely have to die?)

Soon, three days had passed, and the gates of the capital finally welcomed two little beggars, one tall and one small.

"Boo-hoo~ Sister Stelle, can we get a map next time?"

Stelle scratched her head.

"An accident. It really was an accident. I've never been around here before, so I didn't know we were going the wrong way."

For the first time, Zhu Zhuqing felt that Stelle was a little unreliable. When she had first sensed something was wrong, she had thought Stelle wanted to train her some more.

Only when they had gone farther and farther off the beaten path did she realize that they really had taken the wrong road!

"Ahem. At least we're here now."

Staring at the gates of Star Luo City, Stelle fell into thought.

"Zhuqing."

"Mm?"

"Do you have... the fee to enter the city?"

Zhu Zhuqing felt around on her person.

"I don't think... I do."

The two girls, one tall and one small, stared at each other.

"It's fine. I have another idea. You should know the way to your house, right?"

"I do."

Zhu Zhuqing had an ominous premonition. Sure enough, she could only watch as Stelle pulled out two enormous shovels.

"Don't tell me..."

"That's right. Since we can't get in through the gate, we'll just dig our way in! (Hands on hips)"

Zhu Zhuqing: "...Oh, forget it. The sooner we start digging, the sooner we'll be done."

Mm, the truth was, they had no other choice.