Sister

Zhu Zhuyun became a streak of shadowy light and lunged forward, her sharp claws aimed straight at Ling Qianyue's chest.

A surge of Soul Power came through—Level 28!

Ling Qianyue's heart sank slightly. Zhanxing's prediction indicated that he would not face any major danger, but there was no way he would passively stand there and take a beating.

Once he obtained a soul ring next time, he would definitely make his future sister-in-law regret this!

The seven acupoints along his spine lit up with starlight in succession. Tianshu, Tianxuan, Tianji, Tianquan, Yuheng, Kaiyang, and Yaoguang gleamed within the sword guard.

His attack, defense, speed, battle intent, Spiritual Power, and more were each increased by 10%.

Such an all-around enhancement raised his overall combat strength by far more than simply double.

He subtly adjusted his footing. Before Zhu Zhuyun's claws reached him, he bent his right elbow slightly, raised his left palm, and held the Shattered Star Sword before him.

Clang—

He blocked it steadily!

"What?" Zhu Zhuyun was momentarily stunned. With her Soul Power Level, even if she had held back with her First Soul Skill, it should not have been blocked so easily!

"Hmph, you're underestimating me too much, Sister!"

Zhu Zhuyun gritted her teeth. Who was this brat calling Sister?! She exerted force through her claws again, determined to press Ling Qianyue down by brute force.

Ling Qianyue twisted his body and counterattacked with the momentum, thrusting forward from a bow stance at the opening between Zhu Zhuyun's ribs.

Zhu Zhuyun reacted with remarkable speed, swiftly retreating to one side and dodging the fierce strike. She sneered, "Not bad. No wonder that little leopard with a soul ring couldn't beat you."

She changed her move again, spinning at high speed as her cat claws traced streaks of silver through the air, sweeping toward Ling Qianyue like a whirlwind.

Ling Qianyue's eyes narrowed. He lightly tapped the ground with his sword tip, borrowing the force to launch himself into the air. With a swallow flip, he arrived above Zhu Zhuyun and evaded that whirlwind-like assault.

At the same time, he turned his blade, making it skim the surface like a dragonfly touching water. He thrust out several times in rapid succession, every strike aimed at Zhu Zhuyun's waist.

"Hm?"

Zhu Zhuyun's expression changed slightly. Sensing danger, she withdrew her offensive once more and barely dodged Ling Qianyue's attacks. Yet she was still struck by one of his sword strikes.

"You brat, you—!"

A flash of anger crossed Zhu Zhuyun's eyes. Waves of weakness spread through her injured waist, and even the circulation of Soul Power there became sluggish.

"Don't you have healing medicine? Hurry up and use it." Ling Qianyue panted heavily. That all-out effort had consumed more than half his Soul Power.

Zhu Zhuyun's expression shifted repeatedly. A Soul Master who had not even obtained a soul ring had not fallen behind in a direct confrontation against a Level 28 Agility Attack System Soul Grandmaster—and she was the one who had been injured.

Even if she had gone a little easy on him, this should never have happened.

If Ling Qianyue's cultivation were equal to hers, she had no doubt that she would not last three moves against him.

"Hmph." Zhu Zhuyun exited her Martial Soul Possession state, took out healing medicine from her storage bracelet, and applied it to her waist.

"Why did your combat strength suddenly increase just now?" Zhu Zhuyun stared thoughtfully at the Shattered Star Sword's guard.

Ling Qianyue rolled his eyes. "Why don't you guess whether the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Sect Master would tell me the method of Heart Separation Control if I asked?"

"Tch." Zhu Zhuyun clenched her silver teeth. This brat was far too arrogant. Was he acting without fear because her younger sister had already fallen for him, and she could not kill him?

Sure enough, this guy was an innately evil little brat!

"Hey, hey, hey? What are you doing? I don't have much Soul Power left. Taking advantage of someone's weakness isn't the act of a gentleman!"

"I'm a woman, so gentleman my ass!"

Duang~ Zhu Zhuyun viciously punched Ling Qianyue in the chest. She did not use Soul Power, merely venting her strength.

The punch sent Ling Qianyue staggering back several steps before he fell to the ground, clutching his chest and baring his teeth in pain.

"Hmph." Zhu Zhuyun dusted herself off and tossed Ling Qianyue a red card. "There are one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins in this card."

Ling Qianyue raised his brows, picked it up directly, and placed it into his storage ring.

Zhu Zhuyun narrowed her eyes. "I gave you that money to take care of my sister. You're not planning to keep it all for yourself, are you?"

Ling Qianyue coughed. "Zhu Qing is my beloved family and friend. How could I possibly keep it all for myself? It's just that the punch you gave me really hurt. After using this little money as compensation, I'm afraid there won't be much left. You need to pay more.

Otherwise, go give it to her yourself."

"Hehe." If she could give it to her herself, would she need him as a middleman? Was this blackhearted intermediary trying to skim all the profit for himself?

So she gave Ling Qianyue another twenty-five thousand Gold Soul Coins.

"Shattered Star Sword. A fine name, and a powerful Martial Soul as well. Ling Qianyue, you already know the rules set by the Star Luo Imperial Family. Tell me, what will you do?"

"Rules are always made by the strong. Truth exists only upon the edge of a sword."

Ling Qianyue answered solemnly.

Zhu Zhuyun nodded. "A very good idea, but you do not have the time to grow stronger.

Setting aside the tests of intellect and strength, the deadline established by the family is age twenty-five—when the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament takes place, the victor will be decided.

Dai Weisi and I are seven and six years older than them respectively. By then, you will only be around eighteen. You will have no right to set the rules.

So I have only one expectation for you: protect her and take her away."

Ling Qianyue frowned. "You had been planning this for a long time, hadn't you? Forcing Zhu Zhuqing to leave, to escape the Star Luo Empire, then working behind the scenes to preserve her life."

"Sometimes, being too smart is not a good thing," Zhu Zhuyun said flatly. "Knowing too much will not benefit you.

But since you have already guessed it, I might as well tell you some things. Yes, I realized long ago that according to the Star Luo Imperial Family's rules, Zhu Qing was destined to die. I did not want to see that outcome, nor did I want my younger sister to become a sacrifice."

"Rather than letting her meet death, it was better to plant seeds of hatred in her heart early on—to make her loathe me, hate me, and gain both the motivation to become stronger and a reason to leave."

"So you chose me?"

"It was not I who chose you. Zhu Qing chose you," Zhu Zhuyun corrected. "She has an unusual degree of trust and dependence on you, and that is something I cannot change.

Besides, I believe you have the ability to protect her. At the very least, it is far better than having her face everything alone. I am not unaware of the changes within Zhu Qing. If her special Martial Soul ability can make her stronger than me, that would be even better."

Zhu Zhuyun looked at Ling Qianyue, whose eyes flickered, and said irritably, "Don't look at me like that."

"Heh." Ling Qianyue rubbed his chin. "Does this count as plotting to sell off your little sister?"

Zhu Zhuyun narrowed her eyes, stepped in front of Ling Qianyue, placed both hands on his shoulders, and smiled innocently. "Everything about me must remain exactly as it was before. You are not allowed to reveal a single word to Zhu Qing, understand?"