The Little Kitten in the Black Leather Outfit~

"Is this the Star Dou Great Forest?"

A young girl in a tight black leather suit suddenly burst out of the forest undergrowth. Her figure was extremely graceful, and the twin peaks on her chest were simply stunning!

A beauty of such national allure—how could anyone bear to let her come alone to obtain a soul ring?

"Zhu Zhuqing, keep it up!" The black-clad beauty nimbly leaped into a tree, constantly cheering herself on: "You have to believe in yourself. You must get a suitable soul ring."

Let alone the fact that Zhu Zhuqing was just a ten-year-old girl, even those powerful soul masters would feel a pang of fear when venturing alone into the Star Dou Great Forest.

Zhu Zhuqing was originally a member of the Star Luo Empire's royal family. If not for the empire's brutal inheritance system of survival of the fittest, she wouldn't have to risk her life alone in this den of tigers and dragons.

Rustle, rustle...

A faint scraping sound suddenly came from the canopy above Zhu Zhuqing's head. Her martial soul was the Netherworld Spirit Cat, so her hearing was naturally excellent. Without time to react, she executed a flash step and landed on the ground.

At the spot where Zhu Zhuqing had just been, a pitch-black cat was staring at her with a predatory gaze.

"Is that an Ink Flame Pouch Lion?" Zhu Zhuqing had studied cat-type soul beasts. The Ink Flame Pouch Lion's habit was to lie on tree trunks for long periods, hunting flying bird-type soul beasts or creatures resting on the branches.

Fortunately, Zhu Zhuqing reacted in time. If that Ink Flame Pouch Lion had pounced and struck her just now, her life would have ended right there.

"The age is just right." Zhu Zhuqing and the soul beast stared each other down, neither daring to make a rash move.

Waaah!

The Ink Flame Pouch Lion struck first. It leaped from the tree trunk, using gravity to boost its descent speed, aiming for a one-hit kill on Zhu Zhuqing.

But Zhu Zhuqing wouldn't let it have its way. A yellow soul ring appeared beneath her feet, and by the time she reappeared, she was already behind the Ink Flame Pouch Lion.

"First soul skill, Hell Stab!"

The pouch lion's back was torn open by Zhu Zhuqing's claws. It let out a howl, twisted its body midair, and swatted Zhu Zhuqing flying with a single paw.

Zhu Zhuqing crashed into a tree trunk. The leather suit on her right arm was ripped open in three gashes, and blood flowed unceasingly.

"I didn't expect this soul beast could turn around in midair." Zhu Zhuqing clutched her wound, marveling, "It really is tough to deal with."

The Ink Flame Pouch Lion, for its part, didn't dare underestimate Zhu Zhuqing either. It could clearly sense that this icy beauty before it had the strength to kill it.

"Hellfire!"

A lazy voice suddenly rang out from afar. The pouch lion had no time to react before it was instantly engulfed in blazing flames.

It was a fire-attribute soul beast, but before this Hellfire, its own flames seemed utterly laughable.

From the jungle stepped a young man in a white robe. He looked no more than ten years old, but the Soul Power fluctuations he displayed had already touched the level of a forty-ranked Soul Ancestor.

"Miss, is this the soul beast you were targeting?" Jiang Mian looked at the wary Zhu Zhuqing and smiled. "I have no interest in it. Feel free to obtain the soul ring yourself."

"Zhu Zhuqing thanks you, senior." Zhu Zhuqing pulled out a dagger and cleanly finished off the Ink Flame Pouch Lion, now dying from the Hellfire's burn. "May I ask your esteemed name?"

"I am Jiang Mian." Jiang Mian clasped his hands behind his back and said calmly, "Miss Zhuqing, go ahead and absorb the soul ring. I can stand guard for you here."

"Thank you, senior." Zhu Zhuqing didn't hesitate. She turned and began absorbing the soul ring.

As luck would have it, this pouch lion's attribute and age were a perfect match for Zhu Zhuqing's second soul ring. Jiang Mian leaned against a tree trunk, quietly waiting for her to finish.

Who would've thought that just by taking a stroll, Jiang Mian could pick up a stunning beauty? His luck was truly unmatched.

Now, Jiang Mian had been living in the Star Dou Great Forest for four years. His rank had risen from the ten he'd arrived with to thirty-nine, and he was about to capture his fourth soul beast.

While this was partly due to Jiang Mian's extraordinary talent, it was also thanks to Di Tian sparing no effort to find innate spiritual treasures for him to consume.

He ate all kinds of rare herbs until he was full, sometimes so nourished that his nose bled. If not for Bi Ji helping him digest the medicinal power, Jiang Mian might have actually burst from the overload.

At this moment, besides the Emperor Auspicious Beast and the Scarlet King—ranked eighth among the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts—he also had the Bear Lord, ranked sixth, guarding him.

The Bear Lord was originally the leader of the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear clan, with a cultivation of 460,000 years. His dreadclaws could even injure Di Tian.

And in terms of true strength, even two Scarlet Kings might not be able to defeat the Bear Lord.

Back then, Jiang Mian managed to capture the Bear Lord purely because the latter wanted to rapidly boost his own power. Seeing how the Scarlet King had increased his cultivation by nearly 30,000 years in just a few months with Jiang Mian's help, the Bear Lord grew fiercely envious. He begged Jiang Mian for several days before becoming his third soul beast.

Now, the Bear Lord's cultivation had reached 500,000 years, and he was soon to face a tribulation.

As his master, Jiang Mian naturally had to find a way to help the Bear Lord survive this Heavenly Tribulation. For a soul beast to endure a tribulation, raw strength alone wasn't enough—they needed innate spiritual treasures to continuously replenish their state.

"Not a bad-looking little girl." A burly man, built like a small mountain, appeared beside Jiang Mian. His grin was teasing as he joked, "Jiang Mian, don't tell me you're..."

"Bear Lord, if you keep exposing me, I won't take you to cross the tribulation. I'll just let the lightning strike you dead." Jiang Mian didn't even glance at the newcomer. He asked, "Did the Auspicious Beast go off to play again?"

"You bet." The Bear Lord stroked his bushy beard and sneered, "The Scarlet King's like a shadow, sticking to the Auspicious Beast every step of the way."

"Really can't rest easy." Jiang Mian rubbed his forehead and said wryly, "When I take you to the Extreme North to cross the tribulation, I definitely can't bring the Auspicious Beast."

"With me here, don't worry." The Bear Lord flexed his thick muscles and scoffed, "In the Extreme North, there's not a single one who can put up a fight."

"Full of hot air."

"Ah~"

As the two chatted, Zhu Zhuqing suddenly let out a charming moan. Jiang Mian looked closely and saw that she had finished absorbing the Ink Flame Pouch Lion's soul ring.

"Thank you, senior." Zhu Zhuqing was drenched in fragrant sweat, her leather suit clinging tightly to her body, making her already full and voluptuous figure even more alluring.

Staring at those two proud peaks, Jiang Mian's nostrils treacherously leaked a trickle of blood. The Bear Lord quickly wiped it off with his finger and said in alarm, "Jiang Mian, you've been over-nourished these past couple of days."

Jiang Mian said nothing, stomping hard on the Bear Lord's foot. Then, with a gentle smile, he looked at Zhu Zhuqing and said, "I'm relieved that Miss Zhuqing has successfully absorbed the soul ring."

"Thank you for your great kindness, Senior Jiang." Zhu Zhuqing dared not show the slightest negligence. She quickly cupped her hands in salute and said respectfully, "Senior's grace, Zhuqing will repay it one day."

"Don't talk about repayment." Jiang Mian waved his hand and said seriously, "We met by chance; a mere lift of the hand is nothing worth mentioning."

Hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing felt even more grateful. She was a member of the Star Luo Empire's royal family, and the Star Luo Emperor himself was a Titled Douluo, so she was all too familiar with the aura of a Titled Douluo.

The burly man beside Jiang Mian had inadvertently released an aura that was on par with a Titled Douluo's strength.

Moreover, there was Jiang Mian, who joked around with that burly man. Zhu Zhuqing felt that someone as formidable as Jiang Mian, not knowing her background yet still treating her so gently, was truly rare.

After all, Titled Douluos across the Douluo Continent were basically the same—relying on their strength to act arrogantly.

But Jiang Mian possessed the same strength as them, yet his words and demeanor were worlds apart. Anyone would inevitably develop some fondness for him.

On top of that, Jiang Mian had thoughtfully helped her stand guard. Zhu Zhuqing felt that this trip to the Star Dou Great Forest had truly let her meet a benefactor.

"Miss Zhuqing, would you like to wash up?" Jiang Mian said with a smile. "I know of a natural lake; I can take you there."

"Huh?"

A flush of red instantly appeared on Zhu Zhuqing's cheeks. Though a bit embarrassed, she felt that returning to the human world in her current state would indeed be shameful enough.

Weighing the pros and cons, Zhu Zhuqing agreed to follow Jiang Mian to that lake to bathe. She felt that Jiang Mian didn't seem like the kind of petty thief who would steal a woman's virtue.

Besides, with Jiang Mian's strength, if he wanted to violate her, he wouldn't need to go through all this trouble.

Thinking this, Zhu Zhuqing's heart relaxed a little.

Bear Lord didn't understand Jiang Mian's actions, but he didn't say much. He tactfully left, giving Jiang Mian and Zhu Zhuqing some space.

"Senior, have you always lived in the Star Dou Great Forest?" On the way to the Lake of Life, Zhu Zhuqing asked curiously.

"I've been here ever since I awakened my martial soul." Jiang Mian nodded and said, "And you don't need to call me senior; I'm the same age as you."

"You're only ten too?" Zhu Zhuqing was stunned. She couldn't believe that this senior, whose Soul Power far surpassed hers, was actually her peer.

"Don't be too surprised. If you had my luck, you could reach my level too." Jiang Mian carefully tidied a stray lock of hair on Zhu Zhuqing's forehead and smiled. "Do you want your Soul Power to advance by leaps and bounds?"

"Senior has a way?" Zhu Zhuqing's eyes lit up, and she pressed, "Would Senior be willing to help me?"

"In a few days, I'm going to the Extreme North with that big fool you saw earlier." Jiang Mian revealed his plan without concealment. "If you don't mind, you can come along and train with us."

"Thank you, Senior." Zhu Zhuqing was moved to tears, clearly very excited. With such a senior leading the way, her future path would likely be much smoother—at least when it came to soul ring configuration, she could pick the ones most suitable for her.

Little kitten, Jiang Mian thought to himself. You're the only one I find pleasing to the eye. If I'd run into any of the other Shrek Seven Monsters today, I wouldn't kill them, but I'd make them wish they were dead.

The two arrived at the Lake of Life. By then, the ferocious beasts slumbering in the lake had all awakened, each going about their own lives. The only one at the Lake of Life was Jade Swan Bi Ji, ranked fourth among the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts.

Jiang Mian bringing Zhu Zhuqing to the Lake of Life actually startled her.

"Jiang Mian, what are you doing?" Bi Ji, dressed in a green robe like a kind older sister from next door, came over and asked, "And this is?"

"Her name is Zhu Zhuqing, a soul master who came to the Star Dou Great Forest to obtain a soul ring." Jiang Mian said without hiding anything. "Sister Bi Ji, please help heal her injuries first."

As he spoke, Jiang Mian casually took Zhu Zhuqing's hand, exposing the wound on her arm to Bi Ji.

"Hello." Zhu Zhuqing was a little shy. She didn't refuse Jiang Mian's hand and let him hold it.

"Mm." A faint green glow emanated from Bi Ji's hand. She gently touched Zhu Zhuqing's arm, and the wound healed instantly, leaving not even a scar.

Raising the dead and regrowing flesh—that was Bi Ji's skill, wasn't it?

Zhu Zhuqing was dumbfounded. Her perception of Jiang Mian had risen another level. She had thought it was outrageous enough that Jiang Mian was roughhousing with that burly man earlier, but now this woman in green gave off an aura even more formidable than that man's!

She now only wanted to know just what kind of extraordinary being this handsome young man really was.

"You can wash up in this lake first." Jiang Mian pointed at the Lake of Life and smiled. "With Sister Bi Ji here, you don't have to worry about me peeking."

"Senior, you're too kind." Zhu Zhuqing's cheeks flushed. Jiang Mian quickly left the area, and Bi Ji smiled faintly, signaling Zhu Zhuqing to do as she pleased.

Bi Ji had a gentle temperament and had always advocated peaceful coexistence between humans and soul beasts, which was why she allowed Zhu Zhuqing to act freely here.

Zhu Zhuqing nodded, stripped off her clothes, and revealed large expanses of skin as white as snow.

Like a pear blossom in the snow, she complemented the forest's gloom, shimmering like a spirit.

The sight of her chest, where she couldn't even see her own feet, was something no man could resist. Zhu Zhuqing's face flushed as she gently lifted her slender jade-like foot and slowly submerged her body into the water.

"Can this lake water also boost Soul Power?"

The moment she immersed herself in the water, Zhu Zhuqing felt her Soul Power rapidly increasing. The lake water was cool and refreshing, stimulating every inch of her skin.

"Ah~"

Having just gone through a battle, Zhu Zhuqing couldn't help but let out a soft, trembling sound. The wonders of the Lake of Life went far beyond this. She felt all her fatigue melt away, letting the water lap against her as her entire body went limp.

"So comfortable." Zhu Zhuqing gently stroked her own skin.

This scene was like a white lotus blooming in the water—something to be admired from afar, never profaned!

"Bear Lord, have you packed everything?" Naturally, Jiang Mian hadn't peeked at Zhu Zhuqing bathing. First, with Bi Ji there, he still wanted to leave a good impression on her.

Second, Zhu Zhuqing would be his sooner or later anyway—why covet a momentary eyeful?

"We can set off anytime." Bear Lord appeared before Jiang Mian at some point, looking at him with some disbelief. He chuckled, "You really didn't peek at that girl bathing? Is your lower half made of iron or something?"

"She'll be mine sooner or later; no need to rush." Jiang Mian said indifferently. "You, Bear Lord, have lived for hundreds of thousands of years—why are you still so improper?"

"Heh, our Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear clan doesn't have so many twists and turns." The Bear Lord said disdainfully. "Besides, letting me favor them is their honor."

"Shameless." Jiang Mian shot the Bear Lord a glare, calculating in his mind how to obtain his fourth soul beast.

The fourth soul beast he had in mind was undoubtedly the Snow Empress—a seventy-thousand-year-old, ranked third among the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts, and the overlord of the Extreme North.

And if there was any hope, he might also trick the Ice Empress, ranked seventh among the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts, into his grasp.

After all, the bond between the Ice Empress and the Snow Empress was no ordinary thing. Though both soul beasts were female, that didn't stop them from having a hazy, ambiguous relationship.

What's more, the Snow Empress's strength was plain for all to see. The only problem was that with the Bear Lord and the Scarlet King's power, defeating her would be somewhat difficult.

That being the case, he could only rely on wit.

Jiang Mian made up his mind, ready to set out for the Extreme North tomorrow.

Boom!

A sudden loud noise from the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest interrupted Jiang Mian's train of thought. He exchanged a glance with the Bear Lord and immediately ran toward the source of the sound.