Zhu Zhuqing's Favor, External Soul Bone!

"Zhuqing, let me help you to the cafeteria."

Zhu Zhuqing glanced at Dai Mubai and suddenly found him incredibly hypocritical.

He had abandoned his fiancée and fled the Star Luo Empire to evade responsibility.

Yet here at Shrek, he drank and reveled, indulging himself to the fullest.

What was with this act of deep affection now?

"Heh!"

With a cold laugh,

Zhu Zhuqing struggled to her feet on her own and staggered toward the cafeteria.

Before, she had had no choice.

Now that she had a better target, she wanted absolutely nothing to do with someone like Dai Mubai.

Dai Mubai watched Zhu Zhuqing's departing back, his expression shifting constantly.

Guilt, anger, confusion.

Oscar and Ma Hongjun exchanged a look. There was definitely a story here!

But seeing that Dai Mubai was in a bad state, neither dared to pry.

Supporting each other, they slowly made their way toward the cafeteria.

Tang Lan also came to Xiao Wu's side and held out his hand to her.

Xiao Wu happily grabbed Tang Lan's hand, then jumped straight onto his back after getting up, waving her little hand—

"Giddyup!"

Tang Lan smiled indulgently, supporting her bottom as he headed toward the cafeteria.

When they passed Tang San, he even stopped to look at him.

Tang San decisively shook his head—he still had some pride. He did not need Tang Lan to support him.

Tang Lan had only been putting on a show anyway. He nodded and quickly left.

He soon caught up to Zhu Zhuqing, and just as he was about to pass her—

Zhu Zhuqing stumbled and fell toward the ground.

What a coincidence?

Although Zhu Zhuqing had fallen in the opposite direction, Tang Lan darted forward and caught her shoulder with one hand.

"Th-thank you." Zhu Zhuqing said softly, "I can walk on my own. You can let—"

Xiao Wu jumped off Tang Lan's back and supported Zhu Zhuqing from the other side.

"Come on, we're a team now."

"Let's go!"

"Time to eat!"

Seeing this, Zhu Zhuqing did not refuse.

Tang Lan changed from holding her to supporting her.

And perhaps Zhu Zhuqing was too exhausted, because she did not notice.

She did not express anything at all until they sat down in the cafeteria.

No, that was not quite right.

The host has gained Zhu Zhuqing's favor, pushing Dai Mubai down and becoming her first choice, causing Tang San to lose the support of the Hell White Tiger. Seized a small amount of Tang San's Luck!

Reward: "2,000-year External Soul Bone: Double Pupils"!

Oh?

An External Soul Bone, ranked second on every Soul Master's dream list?

Though it was only a mere 2,000 years old.

The reason External Soul Bones made people flock to them was because they possessed "growth potential"!

Just look at Tang San.

His External Soul Bone, the Eight Spider Lances, had accompanied him from a Three-Ring Soul Elder all the way until he became a god, evolving into the divine artifact Sea God Eight Wings.

That alone showed how precious External Soul Bones were.

After hastily finishing his meal,

Tang Lan found an excuse and returned to the dormitory first.

System, retrieve the reward!

A ball of light appeared out of thin air. Inside it was a crystal-like eyeball radiating purple brilliance.

Not a pair?

Excellent!

He could still get another eye-type External Soul Bone later!

Without hesitation,

he pressed the Double Pupils onto his left eye.

Then he decisively activated the Blue Silver Domain, sending his consciousness into the various Blue Silver Grass plants.

He severed most of his connection to his physical body.

—The process of fusing an External Soul Bone was far from pleasant.

Even so,

Tang Lan still felt his left eyeball swelling, aching, and burning.

If he had endured it directly—

Tsk!

Just thinking about it made him shudder.

More than an hour later, his left eye finally returned to normal.

Only then did Tang Lan's consciousness return to his body. He blinked.

The Soul Bone Skill surfaced in his mind—Copy!

Copy a Soul Skill, store it within the Double Pupils, and instantly release it when needed.

It was basically a "custom skill slot."

But one should not forget that External Soul Bones could grow.

As the age of the Double Pupils evolved, the range of things it could Copy would also increase.

Soul Bone Skills, Self-Created Soul Skills, even other people's abilities.

Or even—

Copy Martial Souls!

Use one Martial Soul as two, artificially creating Twin Martial Souls!

Tang Lan was extremely satisfied with this.

Using the Soul Bone Skill, Copy,

he stored the Third Soul Skill: Life Burial of the Life Spirit Blue Silver Emperor inside the Double Pupils.

This Soul Skill was already powerful. Previously, he had needed to summon his Martial Soul and Soul Ring before he could use it.

Now, he could cast it instantly.

Even if a Titled Douluo came, they would have to get bound first.

Tang Lan was greatly pleased.

"Knock, knock, knock—"

A knock sounded at the door.

"Come in."

The dormitory door opened, and a golden-haired Dai Mubai walked in.

"Xiao Lan, am I disturbing you?"

"It's fine." Tang Lan asked in confusion, "Did you need something?"

Dai Mubai pursed his lips.

The reason he had come was because of what he had seen earlier.

But he could not bring up his past experiences—it was too humiliating.

That made it difficult for him to speak.

After several seconds of silence,

he changed his words. "I'm planning to move back in too. Could you help build a dormitory room for me as well?"

"Oh, that? Easy."

Tang Lan snapped his fingers. Dense scraping noises came from outside, along with Oscar's cry of "Holy shit!"

"Done," Tang Lan said. "Anything else?"

Dai Mubai shook his head.

He turned and left, closing the door behind him.

Tang Lan let out a mocking laugh.

He could not even bring himself to fight for his own fiancée.

Served him right for having her stolen away.

That was good too.

Otherwise, if Dai Mubai had confessed everything, Tang Lan really would not have known how to answer.

But now—

Hehehe!

Tang Lan opened the Blue King, poured out the parts he had hammered out that afternoon, and began assembling them.

A heavy weapon of mass destruction gradually took shape.

It was 1,447.8 mm long, with the barrel alone measuring 736.7 mm, taking up half its length.

It was the M107A1 semi-automatic anti-materiel sniper rifle!

The famous Barrett, also known as a cannon!

One of the world's most powerful sniper rifles!

Its effective range was 1,850 meters, and its maximum range was 2,500 meters.

Only, due to limited conditions, he could not make its original M3 Optical 10x Super Scope.

Still, there was no rush.

Tang Lan had the Blue Silver Domain. He could aim directly with Mental Power, which was practically like using an aim-lock cheat.

Besides,

Tang Lan had prepared another batch of Gunpowder, striving to restore the Barrett's power as closely as possible.

The specialized Sniper Armor-Piercing Bullets were a full 99 mm long.

They were nearly as wide as Tang Lan's palm.

After loading it,

Xiao Wu also sneaked over. Her eyes lit up when she saw the handsome Barrett Sniper Rifle!

The Uzi was only a little bigger than the Python Revolver, yet its power was so much greater.

This big fellow looked powerful at a glance!

"Brother! Is this a toy for me too?" Xiao Wu asked excitedly.

But Tang Lan pressed down on her head, not allowing her to get close.

—He had not even gotten to play with it himself yet!

"This is far too powerful."

"If it hits someone, it can blow them apart."

"Once you've trained, I'll make one for you too."

Xiao Wu shrank back at that!

Blow someone apart?

Even with her Eight Stage Throw, she could not achieve that.

This Soul Tool could do it?

She suddenly became even more interested!

She immediately clung to Tang Lan and began acting spoiled.

Her pleading voice nearly melted his bones.

"Alright, alright!" Tang Lan conceded. "Tomorrow, I'll take you out to test it. If everything goes well, I'll make you a new one."

"Yay!" Xiao Wu cheered. "Brother is the best! I want a pink one!"

Tang Lan smiled at her indulgently.

He could never refuse Xiao Wu when she was this happy.

Early the next morning,

Xiao Wu dragged Tang Lan to the cafeteria bright and early for breakfast.

Unexpectedly,

someone had arrived even earlier and was already clearing away the dishes.

Tang Lan was not surprised to see Zhu Zhuqing.

But—

"Ning Rongrong, you're up this early too?" Tang Lan asked in surprise.

That made Ning Rongrong extremely displeased.

What did he mean, "too"?

Zhu Zhuqing was here too. Why was he not surprised about her?

If it had been before, she would have already started cursing.

Now then.

With a toss of her head, she left.

This Princess wouldn't hold it against you!

Even Tang Lan was a little surprised. She had actually reined in her temper?

"How strange." Xiao Wu said, "I was all ready to protect Brother, but I didn't expect her not to blow up."

"You can't let someone turn over a new leaf?" Tang Lan teased. "Hurry up and eat. Teacher Shao! Less meat!"

"Less for me too!" Xiao Wu hurriedly added.

This time, they had reminded him early enough, so the two of them didn't have to walk away propped against the wall.

As they walked out of the cafeteria,

Zhu Zhuqing surprisingly had not left yet. She approached with catlike steps.

"Do you need something?" Tang Lan asked.

"Your movement technique yesterday was very good. Can you teach it to me?" Zhu Zhuqing got straight to the point.

She had her eye on the Lingbo Microstep?

That made sense.

A movement technique adept at swift turns and evasive shifts held a deadly allure for agility-attack soul masters.

But—

Tang Lan and Zhu Zhuqing had no relationship to speak of right now.

He certainly could not teach her for nothing.

"The Lingbo Microstep is my Self-Created Soul Skill. What price are you willing to pay for me to teach you?" Tang Lan asked.

Zhu Zhuqing fell silent.

She had fled the Star Luo Empire and come alone to Shrek.

Other than the clothes on her back, all she had left was herself.

But—

Selling herself in exchange for a Self-Created Soul Skill?

She could not do that.

"Sorry to disturb you."

Zhu Zhuqing offered an apology and turned to leave.

Tang Lan did not stop her.

Xiao Wu's reaction, however, was somewhat subtle.

"Zhuqing asked me a lot about Brother."

"She probably likes Brother."

"Brother, how about I play matchmaker for you?"

Tang Lan lowered his head to look at her.

Xiao Wu tried hard to put on a "sincere" expression.

But after living together day and night for six years, how could Tang Lan fail to see through her probing?

"Sure." Tang Lan said, "I'll leave the matter of my lifelong happiness to you!"

Xiao Wu's lips puckered!

Just as she thought!

Brother liked girls with big chests too!

She bared her teeth on the spot. "Brother, you're the worst!"

Her ponytail flew as she trotted away.

Tang Lan did not go after her.

If she refused to say what was on her mind, then she could not blame him for pretending not to understand.

—He would not indulge that bad habit.

Honestly.

Xiao Wu was adorable. He was determined to have her.

But—

He did not want to let a top-tier girl like Zhu Zhuqing slip away either.

As for Ning Rongrong—

That could wait.

Although Douluo Continent mostly practiced monogamy, neither of the Two Great Empires had any explicit rules on the matter.

How many spouses one could have depended entirely on one's own abilities.

He strolled leisurely toward the training ground.

Along the way, he ran into Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Tang San, who were coming to eat.

Ma Hongjun had fallen behind again.

Tang Lan felt no particular reaction.

If that fatty refused to work hard himself, then there would conveniently be one fewer member of the Shrek Seven Devils.

When he reached the training ground,

Xiao Wu spotted him from afar, snorted, and turned her head away.

She ignored Tang Lan.

Tang Lan raised an eyebrow. As if he was the only one with a temper?

With a turn,

he walked over to Zhu Zhuqing, drawing a curious look from Ning Rongrong—there was gossip to watch!

Yesterday, she had been the subject of gossip. Today, she got to watch someone else's.

Fair enough!

Zhu Zhuqing looked over with cool eyes, silently asking why Tang Lan had come.

"I can teach you the Lingbo Microstep." Tang Lan said. "I want to establish a sect. Join my sect, and aside from the Lingbo Microstep, I can also teach you the Undying Imprint Technique and Dragon Grasping Hand."

This was the plan Tang Lan had thought up last night.

His cultivation methods and firearms were all revolutionary things to Douluo Continent.

Hiding them away like Tang San did could never maximize the benefits.

But revealing them risked being exploited for free.

So he would establish a sect!

Douluo Continent had a very strong concept of sect loyalty.

Once one entered a sect, one belonged to it in life and remained its ghost in death.

Moreover—

A sect's secret techniques could not be passed on lightly!

Take the Nine Wonders of Haotian and the Great Sumeru Hammer. Even though Tang Lan had displayed monstrous talent, Tang Hao still had not taught them to him.

He had to receive the Clear Sky Sect's permission before they could be taught.

Otherwise—

It would be considered betraying the sect, and they could openly put out a bounty and hunt him down!

This way,

Tang Lan could maximize the benefits of his cultivation methods and firearm weapons while minimizing the risk of them being leaked.

Perfect.

"The Undying Imprint Technique and Dragon Grasping Hand you mentioned are also your Self-Created Soul Skills?" Zhu Zhuqing asked for confirmation.

Tang Lan nodded.

"The Undying Imprint Technique can temporarily convert the Soul Power from any attack for one's own use."

"It can both weaken the damage of an attack and replenish oneself."

"As for Dragon Grasping Hand—"

Tang Lan turned his gaze toward Xiao Wu, who had her ears perked up to eavesdrop.

He made a clawing gesture and pulled!

"Roar—"

A Golden Dragon wrapped around her waist, dragging her backward through the air toward Tang Lan, where he caught her in his hand.

"It's a technique for taking things from a distance, and it can also temporarily restrain enemies," Tang Lan explained.

Zhu Zhuqing's eyes lit up!

Tang Lan's talent was rare in the world!

Most importantly—

"I can learn all of these Self-Created Soul Skills?" Zhu Zhuqing confirmed.

Tang Lan did not answer.

He stroked Xiao Wu's ears and said, "Show your roommate."

"Hmph! Now you remember me?"

Though she was sulking.

Xiao Wu still used the Lingbo Microstep. Her figure split into several ghostlike afterimages, impossible to grasp.

Then she reached through the air and grabbed at Zhu Zhuqing!

"Roar—"

This Golden Dragon was much thinner than Tang Lan's.

It dragged Zhu Zhuqing forward in a stagger for a few steps before dissipating.

Though it was not as domineering, it still had a restraining effect!

She really could learn it!

Light blossomed in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes!

"As long as you aren't afraid of the trouble behind me, I can join your sect!"

"Oh?" Tang Lan prompted. "What trouble? Tell me about it."

Zhu Zhuqing did not hesitate and told them her story.

"I was born into the noble Zhu Family of the Star Luo Empire. Our family Martial Soul is the Hell Spirit Cat, while the Martial Soul of the Dai Family, the Star Luo Empire's imperial family, is the White Tiger. For generations, there has been a Martial Soul Fusion Skill known as the Hell White Tiger."

"Because of this, the descendants of the Zhu Family and Dai Family are betrothed from a young age to cultivate their feelings and increase the compatibility of their Martial Soul Fusion Skill."

"The one my family arranged for me to be betrothed to was Dai Mubai."

Good grief!

That bombshell shocked Xiao Wu so much that she forgot to be angry.

She blurted out, "So Zhuqing, you came this time to find—"

She stopped herself just in time.

But Zhu Zhuqing did not mind. She nodded openly, then shook her head a moment later.

"That was my original reason, but it is no longer."

As she spoke, she looked Tang Lan straight in the eyes.

The implication was obvious.

The curiosity Xiao Wu had just developed instantly vanished—I thought you were my good sister, but you want to steal my Brother!

Suddenly!

Ning Rongrong voiced a question that struck at the soul, diverting Xiao Wu's attention once again.

All they heard was—

Two chapters, 8,000 words!

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