Zhu Qing's Dilemma: Ask Luo Chuan for Help?

"Heaven-sent Soul Ring?" Luo Chuan immediately concluded that it was because of the Heaven-sent Soul Ring.

His gaze turned to Xiao Wu. Right, Xiao Wu must not have absorbed a Heaven-sent Soul Ring.

"Hmph!" Tang San gave a soft snort, looked at Zhu Zhuqing right in front of him, and said, "You're out."

Zhu Zhuqing also looked at Tang San in surprise. She then focused on his third Soul Ring and discovered that its purple hue did indeed seem somewhat more noble than that of an ordinary purple Soul Ring.

"The Heaven-sent Soul Ring gave you two soul skills?" Zhu Zhuqing asked.

Tang San hesitated briefly, deciding there was no need to hide it. "The Heaven-sent Soul Rings awarded to the top nine all possess two soul skills."

Zhu Zhuqing understood. She then looked at Tang San with envy. Talent Second—such talent would surely allow him to become a Titled Douluo in the future, wouldn't it?

"You're out." Tang San raised his hand, preparing to lower Zhu Zhuqing.

However, Zhu Zhuqing shook her head. "Not yet."

"What?"

Tang San's pupils contracted. He saw golden light burst from Zhu Zhuqing's body, while the Blue Silver Emperor Binding God Lock restraining her seemed unable to bear the strain any longer, cracking apart inch by inch.

"Impossible! Impossible! My Binding God Lock can suppress every kind of power possessed by any Soul Master whose Soul Power does not exceed mine. How could you possibly break free?"

Tang San could not believe it, but Zhu Zhuqing did not explain herself. Her own power had indeed been completely suppressed, but the power of that Golden Lotus had not been affected in the slightest.

The golden lotus pedestal manifested once more. Its twelve Lotus Leaves opened slightly, like sharp blades, severing every Blue Silver Emperor vine binding Zhu Zhuqing.

Zhu Zhuqing's figure flickered as Netherworld Hundred Claws shot toward Tang San. Tang San refused to yield as well. Mystic Jade Hand, Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, Blue Silver Emperor—apart from Hidden Weapons, he unleashed every method at his disposal.

Yet he still lost. Even though Luo Chuan had merely lent Zhu Zhuqing a portion of his power, he still lost.

Has he really not made the rankings? This thought echoed not only in Tang San's mind, but also in the minds of Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Ma Hongjun, and Dai Mubai.

"Ding! Tang San and the others have once again questioned the credibility of the Heavenly Ranking's talent rankings. Reward: one Contract Stele, 'Hundred Soul Beast Analyses'!

Hundred Soul Beast Analyses: A comprehensive analysis of all martial souls and soul beasts on Douluo Continent.

Contract Stele: A loyalty contract that can be used to build a faction and ensure the loyalty of its disciples. Anyone who voluntarily drips their blood onto the Contract Stele may never betray its master for life. (Eighty percent reduction in effectiveness against gods!)"

Luo Chuan's eyes lit up. The system had issued another reward.

The first time was when Tang San and several other geniuses on the talent rankings had initially questioned the Heavenly Prodigy Ranking.

The second time was when Ma Hongjun's talent and aptitude had been altered, causing the talent ranking's displayed result to be wrong.

The third time was when Tang San and the others once again questioned the Heavenly Prodigy Ranking.

Can I keep farming rewards like this? The thought arose in Luo Chuan's mind, but he quickly dismissed it.

"It should be that, as their doubts toward the Heavenly Prodigy Ranking deepen, the system issues rewards accordingly. Nice!"

Luo Chuan wore a smile, while Zhu Zhuqing returned victorious and gave him a captivating smile.

Luo Chuan was in an excellent mood and immediately said, "The remaining power will be somewhat useful to your martial soul. It's yours. Go back and cultivate while you can."

As an innate supreme treasure, the Merit Golden Lotus naturally possessed some unexpected effects. Even a portion of the power Luo Chuan had separated out could guide Zhu Zhuqing's martial soul toward a beneficial evolution.

Zhu Zhuqing understood this deeply. Seeing that Luo Chuan had not reclaimed the remaining power, she immediately said gratefully, "Thank you."

The two sides left the arena. Xiao Wu supported Tang San, whose old injury had flared up, and glared furiously at Luo Chuan. Luo Chuan paid her no attention. He had not even made a move himself—could she really blame him?

"Alright, the spirit battle is over. Go back on your own." Flender still needed to return to his little shop, so he immediately had Dai Mubai lead everyone back.

However, Dai Mubai directly handed the task to Ma Hongjun. "Fatty, take them back. I'm not going back tonight."

"Damn, Boss Dai, take me with you." Ma Hongjun rubbed his hands together and instinctively pleaded.

Dai Mubai cast a cold look at Ma Hongjun. "That sort of thing needs to be mutual!"

As he spoke, he glanced at Zhu Zhuqing from the corner of his eye. However, Zhu Zhuqing's face was utterly indifferent. Without even looking at him, she simply said to Luo Chuan, "I'm going back first."

The power within her was fading away, and Zhu Zhuqing needed to return to the academy as quickly as possible to cultivate.

"Let's go together." Luo Chuan's expression did not change as he headed toward the academy alongside Zhu Zhuqing.

Zhu Zhuqing advanced at high speed, while Luo Chuan calmly walked beside her. Before long, they arrived at the academy gates.

Ning Rongrong sat leisurely atop a large rock, swinging her long, jade-like legs. Beside her, Oscar looked gloomy and unwilling to accept what had happened.

"Xiao Chuan, you're back. Where are the Headmaster and the others?" Oscar was clearly in low spirits. Ning Rongrong, meanwhile, wore a sweet smile and waved at Luo Chuan.

"They're behind us." Luo Chuan spoke as he headed into the academy, while Zhu Zhuqing took the opportunity to return to her dormitory.

As for what happened afterward, Luo Chuan did not pay attention to it.

What concerned him now was how he could continue to reap benefits from the Heavenly Dao Ranking in the future.

At present, the Heavenly Dao Ranking had only revealed the talent rankings. It would certainly reveal other rankings later, such as martial soul rankings and faction rankings.

Therefore, Luo Chuan had to begin making arrangements now. The Heavenly Dao was targeting him, while the system concealed his fate. Everything he did lay beyond the Heavenly Dao's surveillance.

So there was no problem with him making preparations in advance. Of course, what mattered most right now was farming more rewards from the system.

Several monsters had gathered at Shrek, so he could stay here a while longer. But during that time, he could not remain so low-key.

"Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well..." Luo Chuan pondered briefly. If he went to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, it would be safer to bring a bodyguard. After all, that old bastard Dugu Bo was not someone easy to deal with.

After making some plans, Luo Chuan entered contemplation, contemplating Great Freedom and the Great Freedom and Carefree Method. Naturally, while contemplating, Luo Chuan's Soul Power also grew rapidly. It was simply that every level-up required several times more Soul Power than an ordinary Soul Master, so the rate of his cultivation progress was not particularly obvious.

Inside Zhu Zhuqing's room, the golden radiance gradually dimmed until it finally went out completely. Yet Zhu Zhuqing still did not give up on meditation.

After a long while, Zhu Zhuqing reluctantly opened her eyes. A flash of golden light passed through them.

She looked at her hands, then circulated her Soul Power. After sensing the changes for a while, she finally summed up today's gains.

"It really can guide my martial soul toward a beneficial evolution. If every day could be like today, then in just a hundred days, my martial soul could undergo a complete transformation." A deep longing appeared in Zhu Zhuqing's cool eyes. She longed for power, and her pursuit of strength surpassed everyone in Shrek.

It was precisely because of this that her name had appeared in nineteenth place on the Heavenly Ranking. Her gaze turned toward Luo Chuan's dormitory. Zhu Zhuqing clenched her fists tightly, her Pearly Teeth biting her Red Lips.

If... if he were willing to help me, then I wouldn't need to rely on Dai Mubai to escape the fate imposed by the Star Luo Empire. But should I go and ask him?

Zhu Zhuqing was deeply conflicted. Her mind was pure, and she could not think of any reason for Luo Chuan to help her. She had nothing.