Zhu Zhuqing

As the Soul Ring entered her body, Qian Renxue successfully advanced to Soul Emperor.

She Long and Ci Xue's faces lit up with joy. They stepped forward and congratulated her, "Congratulations, Young Master, on successfully breaking through to Soul Emperor."

Ci Xue said with some emotion, "Young Master is the youngest Soul Emperor on the continent. Back when I was Young Master's age, I had only barely broken through to Soul Ancestor."

To become a Titled Douluo, Ci Xue had naturally been a prodigy of his generation.

As a former genius and now a powerhouse, he could not summon even the slightest pride before the young woman standing before him.

"Yes. If not for the special nature of this mission, with Young Master's talent, even Soul Saint would not be beyond reach." Recalling the Grand Elder's instructions back then, She Long's heart was filled with helplessness.

How could Qian Renxue fail to understand what they meant?

However, she had volunteered for this matter herself. Even if it delayed her cultivation, she had no complaints.

She only hoped that her actions could truly help Spirit Hall.

"By the way, Grandpas, after I absorbed the Soul Ring, has Xiao Yan made any moves in the forest?"

She Long and Ci Xue both shook their heads. Their mission was to protect the Young Master's safety. They had no need to know about anything else, much less abandon their posts out of curiosity.

Qian Renxue was destined to become Spirit Hall's ruler in the future. The two of them were much like attendants to an emperor-in-waiting. They only needed to serve her faithfully, and when the day of her "ascension" came, all their efforts would be rewarded.

It would not be worth it to make a mistake through carelessness now.

Seeing this, Qian Renxue did not ask further.

Once she returned, she would surely have the answers concerning Xiao Yan.

Flames continuously battered Han Yu's limbs and bones. The meridians within his body were on the verge of melting from the intense heat produced by the fusion of the two flames.

The agonizing pain nearly made Han Yu pass out.

Around him, transparent flames and green flames continuously merged. An invisible force made the two flames, which should have exploded, become much more docile.

Before long, a breeze blew from somewhere, and the glazed flames suddenly surged with the wind.

The cave Han Yu was in was relentlessly scorched by the flames, and stones began melting one after another.

No one knew how much time had passed when a tall girl dressed in black accidentally wandered near the area.

The glazed flames appeared out of nowhere. The girl's eyes widened, but before she could escape, a wave of searing heat instantly sent her flying.

Her black leather outfit melted under the high temperature, revealing her snow-white skin.

Yet flames were merciless things, and in an instant, they burned her skin.

"Could some rare treasure have appeared here?" Ignoring the pain in her body, the girl slowly rose to her feet.

There was no fear of the flames in her eyes. Instead, there was a hint of anticipation.

While she had been scorched by the flames just now, she had clearly felt the Soul Power within her body being tempered by the fire in that instant.

"I want to become stronger. I want to break free from my fate."

The girl's expression was resolute as she strode forward without hesitation. She needed to use the flames' properties to make herself stronger.

Unfortunately, her luck did not seem very good. The people who had been hunting her through the forest not long ago had quietly arrived behind her.

"Zhu Zhuqing, my dear little sister, come back with your sister. I promise I won't lay a hand on you again."

That was right. The girl from before was the cat girl, Zhu Zhuqing.

Upon hearing the voice behind her, her body froze.

Her eyes were filled with terror and unwillingness.

But she knew that if she believed the other woman's lies, once she returned, the Star Luo Zhu Family would surely imprison her so Zhu Zhuyun could smoothly become empress. When the time was right, they would take her life without the slightest hesitation.

"Zhu Zhuyun, stop pretending." Zhu Zhuqing abruptly turned around. The fear in her eyes had long vanished, replaced by resentment.

She hated herself for being too weak to defeat Zhu Zhuyun. She also hated that coward Dai Mubai. If he had not fled at the crucial moment, if the two of them had supported each other in the Star Luo Empire, how could they have ended up in such a state?

"Miss, there is no need for more words. Leave it to this old man." Behind Zhu Zhuyun, a white-haired elder volunteered.

The elder possessed forty-eighth-level Soul Power. Capturing a mere twenty-seventh-level Zhu Zhuqing was effortless, so there was no reason to pass up such easy credit.

The elder deliberately slowed his pace. With every step he took, Zhu Zhuqing's fear deepened.

Am I really going to die here? Zhu Zhuqing was unwilling to accept it.

"You're Zhu Zhuqing, right? I'll protect you."

Han Yu's figure suddenly appeared behind Zhu Zhuqing.

Just moments ago, he had finished devouring the Heavenly Flames. Sensing movement nearby, he got dressed but did not immediately reveal himself.

Only after hearing their conversation did Han Yu confirm that the Zhu Zhuqing he had been looking for was among this group.

"Who are you, Your Excellency? This is our family affair. Do you intend to interfere?" the elder snorted coldly.

"Ah, I really don't like dealing with people from major powers like you. None of you know how to speak properly." Han Yu sighed and shook his head, though his eyes held more mockery than anything else.

Zhu Zhuqing tugged at Han Yu's sleeve, her eyes full of worry. "Thank you for your kindness, but you should leave. I can face this matter myself."

She could not forgive herself if an innocent person lost his life because of her.

Besides, Han Yu did not look very old, while Zhu Zhuyun had brought a Soul Emperor with her.

Han Yu smiled at her. "I said I'd protect you, and I will."

"Kid, you sure talk big. I wonder if you have the strength to back it up." The elder took several steps forward. With each step, a Soul Ring appeared beneath his feet. After four steps, three yellow Soul Rings and one purple Soul Ring appeared, and the aura of a Soul Ancestor was revealed beyond doubt.

On Douluo Continent, nearly every Soul Master revealed their Soul Rings before battle. In Han Yu's view, that was simply idiotic.

Still, he understood the principle: if you have many rings, many bones, and many skills, unleash everything at once; if you have few rings and few bones, turn around and run.

"Nothing special." A faint smile appeared on Han Yu's lips as six Soul Rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black—emerged beneath his feet.

"A Soul Emperor!" The elder's expression froze, and his right foot unconsciously took a step back.

His back was already soaked in sweat.

Heavens, this unassuming young man before him was actually a Soul Emperor.

"Who exactly are you? We are from the Star Luo Zhu Family. If Your Excellency is willing to grant us this favor, our Zhu Family is willing to honor you as a distinguished guest," Zhu Zhuyun said hurriedly after taking a deep breath.

Zhu Zhuyun did not care much about the strength of a Soul Emperor. Across the entire Star Luo Empire, Soul Emperors were little more than errand-runners, and one of the experts she had brought was a Soul Emperor. But how old was Han Yu? A Soul Emperor at such an age possessed talent far surpassing hers.

He might even be from one of the Seven Great Sects or Spirit Hall.

If that were true, any sect or family with such a genius would most likely have powerful experts hidden behind them.