Wine Is the Soul of the Sword, Li Zhexian's Second Soul Ring

Zhu Zhuqing had yet to recover her senses.

She had returned to her human form, her beautiful eyes staring blankly at Li Zhexian.

His first Soul Ring was already a thousand-year one!

No one would believe it if they heard!

What kind of monster was this man?!

"Enough."

Li Zhexian raised a hand and waved it in front of Zhu Zhuqing.

"Come back to your senses."

"I'm saying, according to our agreement, you have to promise me one thing."

"Hm? Mm."

Zhu Zhuqing nodded.

"Since I promised you, I'll naturally do it."

"As long as you don't make any strange requests."

Li Zhexian curled his lip.

"You wish."

Seeing the embarrassed anger on Zhu Zhuqing's pretty face, he continued with a smile.

"I want you to help me obtain my Second Soul Ring."

Zhu Zhuqing was initially stunned, then a glimmer flashed through her beautiful eyes. She nodded without hesitation.

"Alright."

Her easy agreement caught Li Zhexian off guard.

After all, hunting Spirit Beasts carried considerable danger.

After giving it some thought, Li Zhexian said,

"Let me make this clear beforehand. My target is a thousand-year Spirit Beast."

"If you find that difficult, I understand."

Zhu Zhuqing's pretty face remained calm as she started walking forward.

"I've already made up my mind."

She naturally knew it was dangerous.

But compared to the danger, she was more curious about how this youth had managed to absorb a Soul Ring beyond his level.

After taking several steps—

She realized Li Zhexian had not followed.

Zhu Zhuqing turned her head, frowning.

"Even I, a girl, agreed. What are you hesitating for?"

Li Zhexian pointed in the opposite direction.

"You're going the wrong way."

Zhu Zhuqing: "..."

"My name is Li Zhexian."

Li Zhexian tilted back his head and took a swig of wine.

"You're helping me this time, so I owe you a favor."

Zhu Zhuqing recovered from her earlier embarrassment and said calmly,

"I promised to do something for you."

"Besides, you're much stronger than I am. I'm afraid I won't be able to help much."

Li Zhexian smiled but said nothing more.

The two continued onward for some time.

Seeing that wine never left Li Zhexian's hand, Zhu Zhuqing finally could not help asking,

"Drinking like that, aren't you afraid you won't be able to hold your sword steady later?"

Li Zhexian wiped the corner of his mouth, swaying his head as he spoke.

"You don't understand."

"To me, Wine is the soul of the sword."

"The more I drink, the wilder I become; the drunker I am, the sharper my edge."

Zhu Zhuqing stopped and watched the youth's carefree, unruly back. A trace of wonder surfaced in her beautiful eyes.

After walking for about the time it took to burn an incense stick—

The towering trees grew even taller, and the vegetation's leaves had turned a deep, inky green.

This meant the two had gradually entered the deeper reaches of the Star Dou Great Forest's outskirts.

A faint, fishy stench lingered in the air.

It was a warning from the Spirit Beasts to foreign intruders.

Zhu Zhuqing vigilantly scanned the surroundings.

"Li Zhexian, what Spirit Beast are you targeting?"

Li Zhexian frowned slightly.

Even he himself was conflicted.

He had long planned out a perfect path for his Soul Rings.

However, his first Soul Ring had unexpectedly become a thousand-year one.

It had awakened his ambitions and overturned his previous plans.

"My target is the Sword Scorpion."

The Sword Scorpion was a Spirit Beast that lived in dark places.

Unlike ordinary scorpions, its Scorpion Tail was like a sword—nonpoisonous, yet extremely sharp.

According to the books, a Sword Scorpion could sweep its sword-like tail once and instantly kill a Spirit Beast of comparable age.

Its combat power could only be described as terrifying.

Li Zhexian wanted his Azure Lotus Sword Martial Soul to follow a path of ultimate offense.

The Sword Scorpion was the best choice.

"Sword Scorpion?"

Zhu Zhuqing's delicate brows furrowed.

She had never heard of this Spirit Beast.

But from its name alone, she knew its combat strength must be extraordinary.

"Then let's speed up and search for it."

"Once night falls, the Star Dou Great Forest will be far too dangerous."

Finally—

Half an hour later—

A valley hidden behind dense woodland appeared in Li Zhexian and Zhu Zhuqing's sight.

A cold wind carrying a faint stench blew from the valley entrance, making a mournful, sobbing sound.

Li Zhexian warned,

"Be careful. This valley is well suited for Sword Scorpions to inhabit."

Zhu Zhuqing nodded solemnly.

The two cautiously entered the valley.

Inside, the valley was around four or five zhang wide, with damp shrubs growing wildly throughout.

Deep ravines crisscrossed the rock walls on either side of the valley, a horrifying sight to behold.

Li Zhexian reached out and touched one of the gouges.

It was completely smooth to the touch, without the slightest resistance.

This showed just how sharp the thing that had carved those ravines was.

"Not bad, not bad!"

Li Zhexian praised repeatedly.

Without question, these gouges had been left behind by Sword Scorpions.

And the sharpness of their tail weapons exceeded even his expectations.

"The Sword Scorpion truly suits a sword Martial Soul."

"If I absorb a Sword Scorpion's Soul Ring, the Azure Lotus Sword's power will surely rise to another level."

With that thought in mind—

Li Zhexian looked at Zhu Zhuqing, whose little face was taut, and smiled.

"Zhu Zhuqing, if you regret this now, you can still leave the valley."

Zhu Zhuqing shot Li Zhexian a glance.

"Hmph. Don't underestimate me."

"Whatever I, Zhu Zhuqing, promise, I always follow through."

Li Zhexian was just about to reply—

When a rustling sound came from deep within the valley, drawing closer.

Li Zhexian's expression shifted slightly.

He quickly grabbed Zhu Zhuqing and hid behind a massive boulder.

Looking at her small hand held in Li Zhexian's, Zhu Zhuqing's cool little face flushed red.

She wanted to pull free.

But then she immediately heard Li Zhexian's voice.

"Look!"

Zhu Zhuqing followed Li Zhexian's gaze.

Then she saw half-meter-long scorpions pouring out from the depths of the valley like a tide.

These scorpions were entirely dark blue-black. Their raised tail weapons resembled longswords, and one could even see a glint of cold light at the tips.

They reached an open area in the valley, swung their sword-like tails, and attacked the rock walls.

Screech—!

Screech—!

Under the Sword Scorpions' tail weapons—

The solid rock walls were as fragile as thin paper.

Stone chips fell in a shower.

"W-what do we do next?"

The two were too close.

Their bodies were almost pressed together.

Zhu Zhuqing's voice trembled slightly.

Li Zhexian did not notice anything unusual about Zhu Zhuqing. All his attention was on the Sword Scorpions, and he felt somewhat puzzled.

What are these Sword Scorpions doing?

Training together?

Weren't they a little too disciplined?

Seeing that Li Zhexian did not respond, Zhu Zhuqing could no longer bear the youth's scent lingering at the tip of her nose.

Her pretty face burned as she tried to shift slightly.

"Li Zhexian, you..."

The words had barely left her mouth—

When Li Zhexian suddenly covered Zhu Zhuqing's little mouth.

"Mmph..."

Zhu Zhuqing's beautiful eyes widened as she stared at Li Zhexian.

Li Zhexian slowly shook his head, his expression grave.

Zhu Zhuqing understood.

After a brief pause, the two looked toward the valley.

They saw...

The Sword Scorpions had stopped training.

Their heads were lowered, their raised tail weapons dropped. They rapidly retreated to both sides in fear, leaving behind a spacious path.

Then—

Amid a rolling stench-laden wind—

A ferocious beastly figure slowly crawled out.