A Chance Encounter with Zhuqing, a Chivalrous Intervention

Deep within the mixed region of the Star Dou Great Forest, the ancient trees grew ever more towering, their branches and leaves weaving together into an impenetrable canopy that shattered the sunlight, leaving only mottled, swaying patches of light across the thick layer of humus. The air was damp and stifling, heavy with the pungent scent of decaying vegetation and the foul odors left behind by various soul beasts, each smell silently proclaiming ownership over its territory.

Qin Yuan still led the way, appearing leisurely and at ease, yet an invisible, imposing aura radiated from him, causing many powerful soul beasts with keen senses to retreat long before they drew near. Qin Mo followed closely behind, his Spiritual Power intensely focused like a precision radar as it continuously scanned and distinguished the complex currents of nearby auras, searching for the cold, savage fluctuations belonging to the Mandala Snake Emperor.

Bing'er and Yan'er kept to either side, vigilantly watching their flanks and rear. The mixed region was far more dangerous than the outskirts; even with their ultimate Martial Souls, they did not dare let down their guard in the slightest.

"Rustle... crack..."

From deep within the dense forest ahead came an unusual sound amid the mournful wind passing through the canopy and the distant roars of unknown soul beasts—a rapid succession of footsteps snapping dry branches, something heavy dragging across the ground, and rough curses interspersed with a stifled, pained groan.

Qin Mo paused slightly, his brows drawing together. This did not sound like soul beasts fighting.

Qin Yuan also stopped. A flicker of understanding passed through his eyes, but he said nothing. He merely looked toward the source of the sounds, as though waiting for Qin Mo to decide.

"Let's take a look." After a brief moment of thought, Qin Mo made his decision. In this perilous forest, human soul masters could sometimes be more dangerous than soul beasts, but since they had come across this, he did not mind finding out what was happening.

The three silently crept forward, using the dense vegetation to conceal themselves. Before long, the scene ahead came into view through gaps in the branches and leaves—

In a small clearing among the trees, two burly, vicious-looking middle-aged men were attacking a girl dressed in black from both sides.

Three soul rings—white, yellow, and purple—shone beneath both men's feet. They were actually two Soul Elders! One had activated his Martial Soul, thick gray fur covering his arms as his nails lengthened into sharp claws, making him look like some wolf-like beast. The other wielded a heavy bone shield, clearly possessing a defense-type Martial Soul.

The girl under their assault staggered unsteadily, evidently having suffered serious internal injuries. A streak of bright blood ran from the corner of her mouth, making her pale, cool features appear even more fragile, yet lending them a stubborn, unyielding air. Her hands had partially undergone Martial Soul Possession, becoming claws covered in black fur. She moved with tremendous speed, darting and twisting as she did her best to evade their attacks, but against the combined efforts of two Soul Elders, she was in grave danger. Her defeat was only a matter of time.

It was Zhu Zhuqing, who had escaped her clan and encountered an ambush on the way to Heaven Dou City!

"Heh, little bitch, you're pretty good at running! Surrender obediently and come back with your big brothers. You'll suffer less that way!" The wolf-clawed Soul Elder grinned viciously and swiped his claw, sending five sharp gray Wind Blades flying to cut off Zhu Zhuqing's escape.

"Be careful, Brother. Don't actually kill her. This chick's Martial Soul is top-grade—she's only worth money alive!" The shield-wielding Soul Elder supported him from the side, easily using his shield to block Zhu Zhuqing's occasional counterattacks.

Zhu Zhuqing clenched her teeth, her eyes cold as frost. She did not say a word, only desperately circulating her Soul Power and pushing the Hell Spirit Cat's speed to its limit. She narrowly dodged the Wind Blades, but the hem of her clothes had already been torn, leaving several bloody cuts.

"Tsk. Ganging up on the weak and bullying the few. Looks like you gentlemen have mostly forgotten the rules of the Star Dou Great Forest." A calm yet faintly icy young voice abruptly rang out across the clearing, breaking the rhythm of the battle.

The two Soul Elders were startled and swiftly leaped backward to open up distance, warily looking toward the source of the voice. Three figures slowly emerged from the forest to one side. At the front stood an elegant, ordinary-looking old man, while the one who had spoken was the black-haired boy before him, dressed in fitted black clothes and appearing no older than six or seven. Behind the boy stood two beautiful girls with vigilant gazes.

Seeing that it was merely three children and an old man, the two Soul Elders visibly relaxed, contempt and savagery returning to their faces.

"Where did these little brats and this old bastard come from? You dare meddle in the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group's business?" The wolf-clawed Soul Elder spat and cursed viciously. "Get lost while you still can! Otherwise, we'll butcher you along with her. You'll make a nice little snack for us!"

Zhu Zhuqing also looked toward Qin Mo and the others. A tiny flicker of surprise crossed her cool eyes, but there was more despair and numbness within them. She did not believe these sudden arrivals could change anything, especially that boy at the front, who seemed even younger than she was... Their appearance might only add a few more innocent souls to the count.

"Bing'er. Yan'er." Qin Mo could not even be bothered to look at the two Soul Elders again. He merely spoke the two names indifferently.

"Yes, Young Sect Master!" The two attendants had long been ready. Upon hearing his command, they instantly activated their Martial Souls!

The icy-blue phantom of an Ice Phoenix and the flaming-red phantom of a Fire Phoenix appeared behind them. Two utterly opposing yet equally terrifying auras—ultimate cold and ultimate heat—erupted at once and swept through the clearing! Two perfectly matched yellow soul rings rose beneath their feet. Though their Soul Power fluctuations were not as immense as those of Soul Elders, the pressure of their ultimate attributes made the two Soul Elders' expressions change drastically!

"W-What Martial Souls are those?!" The shield-wielding Soul Elder was filled with alarm. From those icy and fiery auras, he sensed a lethal threat!

"First Soul Skill, Ice Prism Rain!" "First Soul Skill, Fire Feather Arrow!"

Bing'er and Yan'er's sharp cries rang out at the same time, giving their opponents no chance to react! Countless sharp ice spikes shot toward the wolf-clawed Soul Elder like a torrential storm, while several arrows burning with blazing white flames screamed toward the shield-wielding Soul Elder!

Before the attacks even arrived, the ultimate chill and scorching heat had already warped the air with explosive crackles!

The two Soul Elders turned pale with terror and hurriedly unleashed their soul skills with all their might to defend themselves. "Third Soul Skill, Mad Wolf Wind-Splitting Strike!" "Second Soul Skill, Fortified Barrier!"

A gray wolf-shaped cyclone and a heavy earthen-yellow shield of light appeared instantly!

Yet the anticipated violent clash did not last. The ultimate Ice Prism Rain froze and tore apart the cyclone, while the ultimate Fire Feather Arrows burned through and shattered the light shield! The terrifying suppression of their attributes was displayed in full!

The two Soul Elders were shaken until their blood and qi churned, forcing them to stagger back repeatedly. Their faces were filled with stunned disbelief! These two little girls were clearly only Soul Grand Masters—how could their soul skills be so terrifyingly powerful?!

At the instant their minds reeled and their footing faltered—

Qin Mo moved.

He did not even take a step forward. The first deep-purple soul ring beneath his feet suddenly lit up! That dazzling purple radiance, utterly defying common sense, instantly stabbed at the eyes of everyone present!

"First Soul Skill, Demon Spider Summon."

A flash of ghostly light appeared. Accompanied by a spine-chilling shriek, a massive, ferocious Man Faced Demon Spider radiating the savage aura of a Hundred-Year soul beast materialized out of thin air!

Its eight compound eyes instantly locked onto the wolf-clawed Soul Elder, who had only just steadied himself. Without the slightest hesitation, it transformed into a bolt of black lightning and pounced wildly, carrying a thick stench and deadly poisonous mist!

"A t-thousand-year soul beast?! No! A summoned beast! A purple soul ring?! How is that possible?!" The wolf-clawed Soul Elder was scared out of his wits, his voice breaking in terror! He desperately swung his wolf claws to attack, but the demon spider's carapace was incredibly hard. Its venomous fangs and spider legs lashed wildly, forcing him into a frantic struggle in an instant!

The other shield-wielding Soul Elder was terrified out of his mind and wanted to rush over to help, but Bing'er's continuously forming Ice Walls and Yan'er's unending fireballs held him firmly at bay. He could not cross the line at all!

Zhu Zhuqing stood frozen, her cherry lips slightly parted, her cool eyes filled with unprecedented shock and confusion. She looked at the black-clad boy, who had not moved a single step from beginning to end; at the unbelievable purple soul ring beneath his feet; and at that incomparably fierce Hundred-Year summoned beast...

Everything had completely overturned her understanding!

Who exactly was this boy who looked even younger than she was?!

The battle held no suspense.

Under the attribute suppression of the ultimate Martial Souls and the frenzied attacks of the Hundred-Year Human-Faced Demon Spider, the two Soul Elders quickly collapsed. The wolf-clawed Soul Elder was paralyzed by the Man Faced Demon Spider's venom and fell unconscious, while the shield-wielding Soul Elder was severely wounded by the Ice-Fire Combination Attack and knocked to the ground, losing all ability to resist.

Only then did Qin Mo slowly step forward, his gaze falling on Zhu Zhuqing, who was still stunned and absentminded.

He took out a jade bottle and handed it to her, his voice calm and detached. "Healing medicine. It will help with internal injuries."

Zhu Zhuqing stared blankly at him, then at the jade bottle in his hand. After hesitating for a moment, she finally extended a slightly trembling hand to take it. She poured out a fragrant pill and swallowed it. As soon as the pill entered her stomach, its gentle medicinal power rapidly spread, soothing the intense pain within her body.

"Thank you," she said softly. Her voice was cool, but it carried a barely perceptible trace of emotion that had not been there before.

"Why were they chasing you?" Qin Mo asked.

Zhu Zhuqing pressed her pale lips together, and her eyes dimmed. After a moment of silence, she said quietly, "They... are mercenaries. They wanted to capture me and sell me." Her pride made it difficult for her to speak of her clan and marriage arrangement to a stranger.

Qin Mo nodded without pressing for details. He merely looked at her stubborn, lonely eyes, at the yearning for strength and unwillingness to submit to fate hidden deep within them.

Something stirred in his heart, and he said, "My name is Qin Mo. I am preparing to establish an academy. If you have nowhere to go, would you be willing to travel with me?"

Zhu Zhuqing abruptly raised her head and met his calm yet profound gaze. An academy? Coming from this boy's mouth, the word seemed to carry an extraordinary power.

With almost no hesitation, she nodded firmly. "I am willing to join. As long as you can make me strong enough."

"Very good." Qin Mo smiled faintly.

This encounter in the Star Dou Great Forest changed the course of the Hell Spirit Cat's fate.