Level forty-four!
That was the terror of an Immortal Herb.
It had not only helped her break through the level-forty barrier, but had also raised her Soul Power by four levels in one stroke.
Zhu Zhuqing was now a genuine Soul Ancestor.
She rose to her feet.
Her entire body seemed to have undergone subtle changes.
Her skin had become even more delicate and smooth, while her bearing had grown colder and nobler, yet carried an indescribable allure.
Stunningly beautiful.
At that moment, Zhu Zhuqing was so beautiful that she took one's breath away.
Feeling the surging power within her, she looked at Tang Yuan with blazing eyes.
Her gratitude had long surpassed the bounds of words.
At that moment, the desire she had suppressed deep within her heart for so long finally burst forth like a breached flood.
She wanted to be acknowledged.
Not merely acknowledged for her strength.
She wanted even more to become this man's true woman.
Over the past few months, that thought had grown wildly whenever she thought of Tang Yuan late at night.
And today, she had deliberately put on this outfit that best accentuated her figure and applied a faint touch of lip rouge.
She did not want to wait any longer.
The room fell into a brief silence.
There was only the soft sound of their breathing.
Zhu Zhuqing took a deep breath, spread her long legs, and walked step by step toward Tang Yuan.
She said nothing.
Instead, she bent down directly.
Carrying a pleasant, subtle fragrance, her soft, warm, rosy lips pressed directly against Tang Yuan's.
Awkward, yet passionate.
It was as though she wanted to convey every bit of her emotion through that kiss.
After an intense entanglement.
The two slowly parted.
Zhu Zhuqing's cheeks were as red as ripe apples. She panted, gazed at Tang Yuan with misty eyes, and whispered:
"Teacher..."
"Since the day Star Luo Empire sent me here, Zhu Qing has already considered herself yours."
"Thank you for taking care of me all these years, and thank you for never looking down on me."
She reached out with both hands and gently wrapped them around Tang Yuan's neck, pressing her whole body against him.
Feeling the astonishing elasticity of her scorching, delicate body.
"Please... don't reject me."
Zhu Zhuqing's voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz, yet it carried the courage of a desperate gamble.
Looking at the ravishing woman before him, who was also utterly devoted to him.
Tang Yuan was no saint.
Since the flower had already bloomed, why spoil the moment?
He reached out and wrapped an arm around Zhu Zhuqing's slender yet explosively powerful waist. With a slight pull, he drew her into his embrace.
"As you wish."
Tang Yuan gave a low laugh.
His palm slid down along the black leather outfit, eventually resting upon Zhu Zhuqing's pair of jade-like legs that countless people had coveted.
They felt wonderful.
Firm, smooth, and full of strength.
Zhu Zhuqing gave a soft moan, her body going limp like water as she let Tang Yuan have his way with her.
That night.
Within the King's Mansion's master bedroom, springtime splendor was boundless.
Meanwhile.
Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.
Having dealt with the mountain of accumulated government affairs, Qian Renxue rubbed her aching neck.
She glanced at the night outside the window.
That man's face once again surfaced uncontrollably in her mind.
"I heard he returned today."
Qian Renxue bit her lip.
Though it was already late, she simply could not stop herself from wanting to see him.
Even one glance would have been enough.
Even if she could only use Xue Qinghe's identity as an excuse to exchange a few pleasantries.
Once that impulse arose, she could not suppress it.
She changed into casual clothes, avoided alerting anyone, and quietly slipped out of the Crown Prince's Mansion.
Relying on her formidable strength, she soon arrived outside Blue Silver King's Mansion.
However.
The guards of the mansion told her that the Prince had already retired for the night.
Qian Renxue felt somewhat disappointed, but her stubbornness flared up.
"Retired for the night?"
"I refuse to believe he's sleeping that deeply."
Avoiding the guards' line of sight, she flashed forward and vaulting directly over the high walls of the King's Mansion.
She made her way to the main courtyard with practiced ease.
She had only intended to take a quiet look before leaving.
But.
Just as she approached the room.
A series of unrestrained cries, tinged with sobs yet filled with pleasure, slipped through the gap in the window and into her ears.
That voice was far too familiar.
She did not even need to look to guess who it was.
Qian Renxue froze where she stood.
The expression on her face instantly stiffened, followed by a deep flush.
That was not embarrassment.
It was humiliation, along with a strange, inexplicable anger.
"Tang Yuan!"
"You bastard!"
Qian Renxue cursed viciously in her heart.
Here she was, working herself to the bone over Heaven Dou Empire's affairs while enduring the agony of longing.
Yet this guy.
The moment he returned from seclusion, he did not think about serious matters or about coming to see her, the "Crown Prince."
All he knew was to do this sort of thing in his room!
Listening to the increasingly impassioned sounds, Qian Renxue felt as if someone had overturned a jar of vinegar in her heart, leaving her unbearably sour.
"Is doing that really so enjoyable?"
"You can't even shut the door properly!"
Qian Renxue stamped her foot resentfully.
She glared fiercely at the brightly lit room, as if her gaze could pierce through the window paper and stab that man.
In the end.
She gave a cold snort and turned away.
This time, she left even faster than she had arrived, her retreating figure filled with thick resentment.
She could not stay in Blue Silver King's Mansion for another moment!
The days after returning from Sunset Forest were peaceful yet fulfilling.
Inside the Martial Arts Arena of Blue Silver King's Mansion.
Dust swirled through the air.
A vast aura of life mixed with sharp killing intent and ran rampant across the arena.
Countless thick stalks of Blue Silver Grass seemed to possess intelligence as they danced wildly.
They were no longer fragile blades of grass, but had transformed into giant pythons ready to devour their prey.
"Fourth Soul Skill, Life Bloom, Myriad Vine Strangler!"
A youth's clear shout rang through the arena.
In an instant, the Blue Silver vines dancing throughout the sky abruptly tightened.
Several massive ten-thousand-jin boulders that had originally served as targets were crushed to pieces in that instant.
Stone fragments flew everywhere.
Tang San stood at the center of the arena, his chest rising and falling slightly.
Looking at the terrifying destructive force before him, unconcealable delight flashed through his eyes.
It was not merely control.
It was absolute destruction.
This was the Fourth Soul Skill he had obtained under his Teacher's guidance after absorbing a ten-thousand-year Ghost Vine and a top-grade plant-type Soul Beast.
Tang Yuan stood at the edge of the Martial Arts Arena with his hands behind his back.
Dressed in white robes pure as snow, his expression was calm.
Watching the spirited youth in the arena, Tang Yuan gave a slight nod.
"Not bad."
"Your control has improved considerably from before, and the strangling force is enough to break through the armor of Defense System Soul Masters at the same level."
Receiving Tang Yuan's praise, Tang San quickly withdrew his martial soul.
He hurried over to Tang Yuan and respectfully bowed.
"Thank you for your guidance, Teacher."
"If Teacher had not taken me to hunt that mutated Ghost Vine King, I could not have obtained such a compatible Soul Ring."
Tang San spoke sincerely.
The gains from this return from seclusion had truly been immense.
The inner force of his Mysterious Heaven Skill had long been overflowing.
Now that he had obtained his fourth soul ring, that layer of shackles instantly shattered.
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