I'm Done Pretending, Time to Show My Cards

(The book has returned to the Qidian channel. As for why there are only 22 chapters, perhaps it hasn't updated yet. Please don't worry, everyone—wait patiently.)

Evening was drawing near. The warm sun slanted westward, painting the horizon red.

Within the Soul Hunting Forest, towering trees stood thick with lush branches and leaves. Sunlight could no longer fully penetrate the canopy, and both the light and temperature gradually dropped.

"Hey, Ye Zhiqiu, you've been searching for an hour already. It'll be dark soon—can you even find a suitable soul beast for me? Are you planning to make me sleep in the Soul Hunting Forest tonight?" Ning Rongrong asked with a bitter expression. Her calves were stiff and aching. The roads through the middle of the Soul Hunting Forest were difficult to traverse, full of potholes and uneven ground. She was merely a pampered Support Soul Master; how could she have such good stamina?

A few steps ahead of Ning Rongrong, Ye Zhiqiu had his back to her as he cleared the way. Spirit Masters did not venture into the middle regions of the Soul Hunting Forest as often as they did the outskirts.

Vines, weeds, and similar things often blocked the path. Ye Zhiqiu could easily leap over them, but Ning Rongrong clearly lacked that ability. To accommodate this burden, Ye Zhiqiu could only helplessly slow his pace.

Ever since finishing the roasted meat, Sword Douluo had kept his eyes half-closed, his arms folded across his chest, wearing a lazy expression as though he were asleep.

Yet he still followed the two of them without falling even a step behind. His attitude made his meaning perfectly clear.

You handle my girl's soul ring. I won't interfere.

Ye Zhiqiu had no complaints about Sword Douluo's approach. He had said it himself, after all. So he had never expected Sword Douluo to help, because there was no need.

It was simply that pure strength-type soul beasts suitable for Ning Rongrong were rather difficult to find, which was why things had been delayed.

Along the way, the three of them had encountered other century-old soul beasts, but none were the pure strength-type Ning Rongrong needed, so they could only give up on them.

Although killing those soul beasts would earn Negative Emotion Value, Ye Zhiqiu did not want to kill soul beasts purely for Negative Emotion Value. That went against his original intentions.

If he could slaughter soul beasts wantonly for Negative Emotion Value today, then someday he could slaughter humans wantonly for Negative Emotion Value.

What difference would that make between him and a demon? Ye Zhiqiu had his own moral boundaries.

Of course, if they came looking for trouble themselves, Ye Zhiqiu would never show mercy. Or if the soul beast simply looked especially delicious—"Ah! Ye Zhiqiu, did you even hear me? I can't walk anymore!" Ning Rongrong began complaining loudly.

Ye Zhiqiu turned around helplessly. "If I weren't dragging along a burden like you, I'd have circled the Soul Hunting Forest three times already. This is the eleventh time you've asked. Can you keep quiet for a while? You're so loud that you'll scare all the soul beasts away."

Ning Rongrong's eyes widened. This bastard dared call her a burden? Just as Ning Rongrong was about to curse him out, Ye Zhiqiu turned around and strode back in two or three steps. Without waiting for her consent, he crouched slightly, hoisted Ning Rongrong onto his back, and gave her a couple of bounces.

Ning Rongrong was completely stunned.

Sword Douluo was also taken aback and opened his eyes. What was this brat doing? Taking advantage of his little treasure? "Hey, put me down!" Ning Rongrong said, punching Ye Zhiqiu's shoulder.

"I suggest you hold on tight, unless you want to end up flat on your back later." Ye Zhiqiu replied casually without looking back, then said to Sword Douluo, "Senior, traveling like this while looking for soul beasts is too slow. Let's change methods. Don't lose us." Ye Zhiqiu smiled.

Sword Douluo froze, inwardly finding it rather amusing. Would a dignified Titled Douluo lose track of a seven-year-old brat who isn't even a Spirit Master?

"You don't need to call me Senior. Just call me Grandpa Sword like Rongrong does. Do whatever you want; don't mind me," Sword Douluo said with a calm smile. He was curious what surprise this little fellow would bring him.

Ye Zhiqiu paused, then smiled. "Alright. Then Grandpa Sword, you'd better keep up."

After saying that, Ye Zhiqiu slowly closed his eyes as the Soul Power within his body gradually began to boil.

"Eight Gates of Dunjia. Gate of Opening, Gate of Healing, Gate of Life. Open!" Ye Zhiqiu murmured, each word leaving his lips slowly.

"Whoosh, whoosh." Transparent green-tinged energy flames rose from Ye Zhiqiu's body. His black robe fluttered without wind, and a unique pressure spread outward from him in all directions.

Ye Zhiqiu suddenly opened his eyes. Three scarlet Magatama slowly revolved in his pupils. Activating the Sharingan greatly enhanced his dynamic vision; otherwise, the high speed brought by opening three gates might make him crash headfirst into a tree.

After opening three gates, Ye Zhiqiu's skin turned slightly red and grew hot. Ning Rongrong, on his back, could clearly feel the scorching heat.

"Ye Zhiqiu, put me do—"

Boom!

Like a green bolt of lightning, Ye Zhiqiu shot forward. All that remained where he had stood was a small crater from his forceful kick and cracks spreading one or two meters across the ground.

"Holy shit." Sword Douluo stared wide-eyed and unconsciously swore. Could a Soul Scholar really do this? At that speed, even a three-ring Agility Attack Soul Elder going all out probably couldn't catch up. A four-ring Agility Attack Type Spirit Master might barely be able to keep pace.

If this brat gained a soul ring and his physique improved further, wouldn't he be unstoppable? Fengzhi, I think I've found a treasure.

Sword Douluo had no time to think further and hurriedly followed. With a faint flicker, his figure vanished soundlessly from where he stood.

A Titled Douluo indeed lived up to his reputation. Every movement displayed the bearing of a master. Judging from Sword Douluo's and Ye Zhiqiu's control over their internal energy and bodies, the gap between them was immense.

Before long, Sword Douluo caught up. However, he had no intention of moving ahead. He merely trailed the pair from roughly a hundred meters away.

He wanted Ye Zhiqiu to act freely and see whether this child could offer him any more surprises.

"Cough, cough." When Ning Rongrong had started speaking earlier, Ye Zhiqiu had suddenly accelerated. The explosive speed forced a mouthful of wind into her, making her choke until tears and saliva came out.

In retaliation, she pressed her face directly against the clothing on Ye Zhiqiu's back and wiped it clean.

Ye Zhiqiu's face darkened as he ran at top speed, and he gave Ning Rongrong's little bottom a hard smack.

"Ah!" Ning Rongrong cried out, blushing. She no longer dared act so recklessly.

Her arms circled Ye Zhiqiu's neck as she lay on his back, secretly glancing around. But with her eyesight, she could probably only make out the distant scenery. Everything nearby flashed past in an instant, retreating with swish after swish, making Ning Rongrong dizzy. Her hands instinctively tightened around him, afraid that she might be thrown off.

Along the way, Ye Zhiqiu barged through the territories of quite a few soul beasts, brushing past them.

Many soul beasts roared furiously, but when they wanted to chase after the two humans and teach them a lesson, they were suddenly dumbfounded. Where had they gone?

After searching at high speed for more than ten minutes, Ye Zhiqiu stopped on the branch of a large tree over ten meters tall beside a relatively flat clearing.

He lightly patted Ning Rongrong's little bottom. "Stop playing ostrich. This Great Earth Exploding Bear is over 380 years old. It should suit you quite well."