Ferocious

Zhu Family Dining Hall!

Eldest Sister Zhu Zhuyun needed to accompany the First Prince at the Intermediate Soul Master Academy, so she rarely came home.

As for Zhu Zhuqing and Second Sister...

Uh!

Zhu Zhuyu felt like she was simply coasting through life. Her talent was average, and so was her diligence.

With no threat to her life, she was naturally happy to take it easy.

There was no way she was going to an academy. It wasn't as if they couldn't afford a Private Tutor!

Meanwhile, Zhu Zhuqing had begun sharing Zhu Zhuyu's educational resources.

Both of them were ordinary people with innate level-five Soul Power, so there was not much difference in teaching them.

Then there was the matter of meals.

The Grand Duke's household naturally had excellent food—top-notch!

It was just...

The two girls, Zhu Zhuqing and Zhu Zhuyu, sat before a massive dining table laden with all kinds of precious ingredients.

That was right!

At mealtimes, it was only the two sisters eating together.

There was truly not much familial affection to be found in the Netherworld Zhu Family.

As for having their parents dine with them, that would have to wait until their Eldest Sister returned.

Normally, it was just these two "good-for-nothings" eating together.

Zhu Zhuyu was thirteen this year and had reached level twenty-three Soul Power.

For someone with innate level-five Soul Power to cultivate to this point, it could not be said that Zhu Zhuyu had worked especially hard. It could only be said that the Zhu Family's resources were abundant enough.

"I've reached level ten!"

Zhu Zhuqing said to Zhu Zhuyu.

As Zhu Zhuqing's Second Sister, Zhu Zhuyu handled nearly all of Zhu Zhuqing's affairs. Supposedly, this was to train Zhu Zhuyu's ability to serve as a Butler.

After all, the Zhu Family would need to provide high-quality women capable of managing households to outsiders in the future.

"Mm, judging by the time, it's about right. You're a little faster than I was back then!"

Zhu Zhuyu was not surprised. Back then, she had also reached level ten roughly this long after awakening her martial soul.

Her Third Sister's talent was "about the same" as hers, and she was a little more "hardworking" than Zhu Zhuyu had been. Breaking through to level ten early was nothing surprising.

"When will you arrange a Soul Hunting Team for me, Sister?"

Zhu Zhuqing continued.

"Tomorrow. I'll give the order today, and tomorrow I'll have the guards take you to Netherworld Gorge to hunt a Soul Ring!"

Netherworld Gorge was where the Zhu Family raised Hell Spirit Cats.

Every year, the Zhu Family captured Hell Spirit Cats from all over the world and released them into Netherworld Gorge to be raised.

Of course, the Hell Spirit Cats in Netherworld Gorge also reproduced on their own.

Fortunately, the Netherworld Zhu Family did not have many members.

Thus, since Netherworld Gorge had been established, there had never been a shortage of soul beasts.

In fact, as time passed, the number of Hell Spirit Cats in Netherworld Gorge only continued to grow.

At the very least, Hell Spirit Cats below a thousand years were no longer scarce.

There were enough to supply the Netherworld Family with one or two Soul Rings for a very, very long time.

If they developed a little further, even supplying Thousand-Year Soul Rings would not be a problem!

"Mm!"

She obediently nodded. Without a life-and-death rivalry between them, the sisters' relationship could not be called particularly good, but they would not be hostile toward each other either.

She was not worried that Zhu Zhuyu would do anything unfavorable to her.

And so, early the next morning, Zhu Zhuqing left Star Luo Imperial City under the escort of a group of guards, heading for an important Zhu Family stronghold.

Netherworld Gorge, Netherworld Gorge.

There was no need to say more to know that it was an enormous gorge.

And since it could serve as a gathering place for soul beasts, it was clear just how vast the gorge was.

It was also this unique terrain that kept the Hell Spirit Cats raised within from escaping their surveillance.

Netherworld Gorge had two entrances, and the Zhu Family stationed quite a few people at each one.

The strongest among them was a peak Soul Emperor.

The strongest soul beast within Netherworld Gorge was a Hell Spirit Cat King that had just reached ten thousand years.

Two Soul Emperors were enough to guard the entrances!

The person leading their group was a Soul King, so there was no need to worry about safety.

After greeting the guards on duty, Zhu Zhuqing entered Netherworld Gorge under the protection of the team leader and the others.

"Miss, have you decided what age Soul Ring you want?"

The Guard Captain asked at that moment.

Although they usually decided what age Soul Ring to hunt based on their own judgment, since they were all experienced hands.

Still, they had to follow the basic procedure. At least they should make a token inquiry.

"As close to five hundred years as possible!"

It was not as though Zhu Zhuqing did not want to give herself a Thousand-Year Soul Ring, but just thinking about it, she knew it was impossible!

Being one step ahead of others made one a genius, but being two steps ahead made one a monster!

On Douluo Continent, did she really think she could stand out without strength?

Did she watch all those palace intrigue dramas for nothing?

Even if she did have a persecution complex.

Before she had strength, she should still behave herself.

Still, she had to fight for what she could.

With her physical condition, absorbing a Five-Hundred-Year Soul Ring should not be a problem, right?

Besides, it was not as if there was no room for bargaining!

If she said five hundred years, they could just lower it a little!

"Alright!"

Yet the Guard Captain did not give it much thought before nodding in agreement.

The Netherworld Zhu Family were all nobles. From childhood, they had consumed all kinds of soul beast meat to temper their foundations, and they had cultivated for two years since awakening their martial souls.

Absorbing a five-hundred-year Soul Ring should not be much of a problem.

The Guard Captain's easy agreement made Zhu Zhuqing feel as though she had missed out on five million.

She felt she should have asked for a little more.

She should have said six hundred years!

Zhu Zhuqing wanted nothing more than to slap herself.

Why was she always so cautious?

As the Zhu Family's Soul Hunting Team, these people understood Hell Spirit Cats even better than many possessors of Hell Spirit Cat martial souls.

Logically, they should have remained quiet while hunting soul beasts, but because of Zhu Zhuqing's request, the team leader began explaining knowledge about Hell Spirit Cats to her as they walked.

And so, Zhu Zhuqing's understanding of Hell Spirit Cats deepened more and more.

As expected of a Soul Hunting Team leader.

His knowledge was truly extensive!

Suddenly, the team leader, who had been explaining Hell Spirit Cats one-on-one, stopped walking.

At the same time, under his command, everyone crouched down.

"Xun Feng, protect Third Miss!

The rest of you, spread out. A target has been spotted a hundred meters ahead!"

Hell Spirit Cats were skilled at concealing themselves, so they were truly difficult to find without a Targeted Soul Skill.

The Guard Captain, a soul master whose martial soul was a snake, was extremely sensitive to Heat Perception.

He was one of the best at locating Hell Spirit Cats.

That was also why he could become the Soul Hunting Team leader.

There were seven people in the Soul Hunting Team. After leaving one behind to protect Zhu Zhuqing and assist Xun Feng, the remaining five darted out.

One Soul King and four Soul Ancestors!

To capture a five-hundred-year Hell Spirit Cat, this...

Only these filthy rich people could do something like this!

Anyway, Zhu Zhuqing refused to admit that she was one of those filthy rich people!

In barely any time at all, a half-meter-tall purple cat was thrown at Zhu Zhuqing's feet.

Its tail had five yellow stripes. It was undoubtedly a five-hundred-year Hell Spirit Cat.

Looking at the Hell Spirit Cat that was barely clinging to life, Zhu Zhuqing took a deep breath and walked up to it.

Even though it was severely injured, its eyes remained filled with hatred as it stared at her. Zhu Zhuqing extended her right hand without hesitation.

The nails on her right hand instantly lengthened, purple gleams shimmering brightly across them.

Without any hesitation, Zhu Zhuqing drove them forcefully into the Hell Spirit Cat's eye.