Bai Lu: Do You Crave Power? Do You Want to Change Your Fate?

"Second Miss, surrender obediently!"

"If you behave, brothers can at least give you a quick death!"

Gale Blade!

Amid the arrogant laughter, a Soul Elder suddenly swung his hand, sending wind blades tearing through the air straight at Zhu Zhuqing's back.

"..."

Zhu Zhuqing bit down on her lower lip without saying a word, her eyes showing not the slightest hint of surrender or despair.

Her First Soul Ring lit up beneath her feet. Hell Stab activated, and with her speed suddenly doubled, she evaded the attack.

Rock Demon Heavy Fist!

The middle-aged Soul Ancestor shouted, and an earthen-yellow glow condensed into the phantom of a millstone-sized fist, blocking Zhu Zhuqing's path ahead.

The other four Soul Elders launched their Soul Skills at the same time. Flames, Ice Spikes, Wind Blades, and Shadow Blades came flying in, completely cutting off all her remaining routes of escape!

Hell Hundred Claws!

Zhu Zhuqing's gaze turned cold as she twisted her foot and changed direction.

The sharp claws on her hands tore through the air, swinging out countless afterimages. Amid piercing shrieks, they barely shattered some of the Wind Blades.

She performed a tactical roll into the dense woods and fled deeper into the forest!

"Get after her!"

The middle-aged Soul Ancestor led the pursuit. Before they had rushed several hundred meters, they saw the area ahead light up.

Yet Zhu Zhuqing, whom they had been hunting, stood motionless in the clearing.

"Hahaha... Didn't you love running? Why aren't you running now?"

"Are you waiting for us to have our way with you?"

The group laughed wantonly.

However, the moment they stepped into the clearing, the smiles on their faces froze.

Looking ahead, they saw a gigantic White Tiger covered in blood and emanating a terrifying presence, watching them with amused interest.

That expression was as though he were looking at ants.

"This..."

The middle-aged Soul Ancestor's face filled with horror.

Though the White Tiger before him was severely injured, the level of his aura far surpassed that of any Soul Beast he had ever seen.

Run! He had to run!

The Soul Rings beneath his feet flashed frantically, but his body refused to obey him. No matter how hard he tried, he could not use a single Soul Skill.

"Tell me, then. How exactly were you planning to have your way with me?"

Bai Lu showed a Core Cancer-proof smile.

A... a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast?!

And a White Tiger at that?!

"S-Senior, could you be the God of Slaughter White Tiger from White Tiger Forest?"

The Soul Ancestor stammered.

"Oh? You've heard my story?"

Bai Lu looked at him with interest.

Upon receiving confirmation, the Soul Ancestor's entire body turned cold.

The four Soul Elders behind him were even paler than paper.

A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast was a legendary invincible existence, one that only a Title Douluo could contend against!

And the God of Slaughter White Tiger was the nightmare of Soul Masters throughout the Star Luo Empire!

From an ordinary Ten-Thousand-Year White Tiger hunted by others, he had slaughtered everything in his path and earned the name God of Slaughter White Tiger.

Even when Title Douluos had taken action, they had failed to capture him!

Even though Bai Lu was badly wounded at this moment, that aura still made their souls tremble.

"S-Senior, this is a misunderstanding..."

The Soul Ancestor's legs went weak as he forced out a smile uglier than a cry.

"A misunderstanding?"

A flash of Red Light crossed Bai Lu's tiger eyes. "Then I'll have a misunderstanding too."

He did not even rise or lift a claw before a streak of Golden Light tore through the air.

The Golden Light flew too fast—so fast that the Soul Ancestor only had time to see a blur.

The next second, a phantom tiger claw pierced through his chest.

Pfft!

Killing Intent nearly solid enough to take form coiled around the tiger claw, instantly shattering him and tearing him into two halves.

After his death, a hazy soul phantom like drifting dust rose from the corpse and was swallowed by Bai Lu in a single gulp!

The man was dead, yet even his soul had not escaped!

"Now it's your turn."

Bai Lu turned his gaze back to the four Soul Elders, who were trembling from head to toe in terror.

He released an invisible ripple containing his own Killing Intent, transforming it into the purest Spiritual Shock as it struck the Soul Elders.

"Spare... urgh."

Before they could even beg for mercy or scream, they all froze where they stood.

Then blood streamed from their seven orifices, and they collapsed limply to the ground.

Even Zhu Zhuqing, standing nearby, felt a wave of dizziness wash over her mind, but she forced herself to remain standing.

As the first intruder, she had actually survived until now?

Suppressing her fear, she raised her head to look at Bai Lu.

Before she could do anything, Bai Lu turned to look at her.

Those amber vertical pupils openly appraised her, as though examining something.

"Little girl, what is your name?"

Zhu Zhuqing suppressed her terror and gritted out, "Zhu Zhuqing."

"Zhu Zhuqing..."

Bai Lu repeated her name, then calmly stated her origins. "You're from the Zhu Family of the Star Luo Empire, aren't you?"

How did you know?

Zhu Zhuqing instinctively wanted to ask, but when she opened her mouth, all she managed was, "Yes."

"I helped you deal with the assassins. Have you thought about how you'll repay me?"

Bai Lu showed a faint smile. Paired with his current injuries, it made the entire tiger look terrifying.

Repay him?

What could I possibly give him?!

Zhu Zhuqing pressed her lips together and remained silent, despair radiating from her entire body.

She was only a Soul Grandmaster. She could not run, could not hide, and lacked the strength to bargain with him or promise him anything.

Even trying to talk her way out of this was impossible, since she was not good with words.

"Come here."

Bai Lu narrowed his gaze and released a trace of pressure over the young girl.

Zhu Zhuqing's body shook, and she felt as though her shoulders had been pressed down several inches.

She knew full well that she had no ability whatsoever to resist a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. She could only grit her teeth and slowly approach.

Every step was cautious and heavy.

When she was three meters away from Bai Lu, she stopped.

"You..."

Zhu Zhuqing gathered her courage and spoke. "What do you want me to do?"

"That isn't important. What is important is..."

Bai Lu did not answer. Instead, he asked in a voice like a devil's whisper:

"Do you want to live? Do you want power? Do you want to control your own fate?"

"What do you mean?"

Each of those three questions struck Zhu Zhuqing's heart like a heavy hammer.

The words "control your own fate" seemed like a key, unlocking the deepest desire in her heart.

Why had she run away? Why was she being hunted? Why had she desperately tried to grow stronger...

Was it not because she wanted to change the fate her family had arranged for her long ago, because she wanted to live openly and honorably?

"Don't ask!"

Bai Lu's cold eyes fixed on her. "Answer me!"

"Yes! I do!"

Zhu Zhuqing's nails dug into her palms, blood flowing freely.

Her cool and detached eyes stared directly into those scarlet-gold tiger eyes, wanting to see through Bai Lu's true intentions.

She did not believe anyone would help her for no reason.

Especially when the one helping her was not even human!

"Good!"

Bai Lu bared his teeth and showed a satisfied smile.

"My name is Bai Lu. I am a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. I will sacrifice myself to you and become the first Wisdom Soul Ring in the history of the entire continent."

"Sacrifice?"

Those words exploded in Zhu Zhuqing's mind like thunder.

A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast was voluntarily offering a sacrifice? How was that possible?!

"Why me?"

Zhu Zhuqing was somewhat dazed and could not help asking.

Even if Bai Lu appeared severely injured, so what?

If a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast truly wanted to sacrifice himself, could he not find a suitable "host"?

"Because I saw your unwillingness to submit to fate in your eyes."

Bai Lu's voice carried a trace of amusement and unfathomable depth.

"Moreover, your martial soul is innately compatible with mine. You can contain my power to the greatest extent, and with my help, you may have the possibility of becoming a God!"

Become a God?!

That term was far too distant for Zhu Zhuqing.

She only wanted to become stronger and live openly in this world. That was all!

"...What do I need to do?"

Zhu Zhuqing fell silent for several seconds before speaking frankly.

She knew this was likely like seeking a tiger's hide, and that death might be unavoidable. But at this moment, she had no other choice.

""

"Relax your mind, endure the pain, and accept my power."

Bai Lu's voice became solemn. "So long as you can persist, you will gain unparalleled talent!"

"I'm ready."

Zhu Zhuqing glanced at the corpses on the ground, thought of those cold faces in Star Luo City, and thought of Dai Mubai, who had run away...

It seemed she had nothing left to lose!

She took a deep breath, and her eyes grew resolute.

"I accept."