Winning Hearts Through Strategy

Time slowly passed. Three hours later, Zhu Yu Ling successfully absorbed the four-thousand-year Netherworld Wolf spirit ring, and her Soul Power reached rank 41.

"It's late. It isn't safe for Miss Zhu to take a child through the Star Dou Forest alone. Why not stay with us and wait until daybreak tomorrow before traveling?"

Lan Xiao Die took the initiative to have her stay. If the other woman left with that little girl, in this perilous Star Dou Forest, they might very well lose their lives.

"Zhu Yu Ling thanks you, my lord."

A Soul Douluo expert had taken the initiative to shelter her, leaving Zhu Yu Ling deeply moved. This was the first time she had ever received such treatment.

"No need to be polite." Lan Xiao Die waved it off indifferently.

The two slowly walked toward the cave. Lan Xiao Die looked at the woman, who was already nearly forty yet only had the strength of a Soul Ancestor, and immediately knew her status in the Zhu Family of the Star Luo Empire was very low. She just did not understand why, when obtaining her Fourth Spirit Ring, she had brought along a six-year-old girl. And that little girl only had rank 8 Soul Power. Wasn't that just dragging her down?

"Auntie..."

At that moment, Little Zhuqing ran over from ahead and threw herself into Zhu Yu Ling's arms, tears brimming in her eyes.

"Qing'er, quickly thank my lord for saving our lives."

Zhu Yu Ling held this pitiful little niece of hers, her heart aching terribly. The feeling of surviving a disaster truly left her frightened.

"Zhu Zhu Qing thanks you, my lord, for saving our lives."

Little Zhuqing immediately knelt and bowed to Lan Xiao Die. The other party was a Soul Douluo, so she did not dare neglect her manners.

"Silly girl! Hurry and get up!" Seeing how sensible the little girl was, Lan Xiao Die found it rather interesting, and reached out to help Little Zhuqing up.

"Senior sister! Dinner's ready." Just then, Su Lin's voice came from inside the cave.

"Miss Zhu, bring the child over and eat with us. After being run ragged all day, you must be hungry."

Lan Xiao Die said this to Zhu Yu Ling, then took Ye Liangchen's little hand and walked toward the cave.

"Thank you, my lord."

Zhu Yu Ling was deeply moved, and carried Little Zhuqing as she followed behind Lan Xiao Die.

The meal was very abundant. Su Lin and Lan Xiao Ling made ten dishes in all, giving everyone a feast.

"May I ask the names of my lords? That way, Qing'er and I can remember them in our hearts."

After dinner, Zhu Yu Ling helped boil hot water and wash the cookware, while also asking about Lan Xiao Die and the others' identities.

"We are teachers from Skywater Academy."

Lan Xiao Die and the other two had previously released their Martial Souls, exposing their water-blue hair and water-attribute Martial Souls. Coupled with their stunningly beautiful appearances, there was no hiding their identities anymore.

Across the entire continent, only the beauties of Skywater Academy met all three conditions. This was something everyone in the Soul Master World knew.

"So my lords are teachers from Skywater Academy."

"A few years ago, at the Spirit Master Competition in the Star Luo Empire, I was fortunate enough to see Skywater Academy's participating students. Every one of them was a beauty as lovely as a flower. It truly left a deep impression."

When Zhu Yu Ling had previously seen the three women's Martial Souls, she had already guessed Lan Xiao Die and the others' identities, especially that Ice Phoenix Martial Soul. Rumor had it that only the dean of Skywater Academy possessed such a Martial Soul.

"Skywater Academy is an academy that specifically accepts beauties. No matter where our students go, they are always the center of attention."

Su Lin smiled. As a teacher of Skywater Academy, the students she taught were all beauties with both looks and wisdom, giving her a great sense of accomplishment.

"Skywater Academy is a holy land for female soul masters. Unfortunately, you only accept water-attribute soul masters, making countless female soul masters who wish to enter the academy shrink back."

Zhu Yu Ling sighed. As a female soul master herself, surviving in this man-eating world was far too difficult, and Skywater Academy was undoubtedly a shelter for female soul masters.

"Yes! Our Skywater Academy..." Su Lin chattered away to Zhu Yu Ling about Skywater Academy's glorious history, making it sound as if Skywater Academy were the number one academy on the entire continent.

Little Zhuqing sat quietly to the side, listening to the adults talk about these things, extremely shocked. Her small mouth opened into an "O" shape. She had heard about Skywater Academy from the adults in her family, so naturally she also yearned for it. If she could enter that academy, she would be able to survive.

But she also knew it was impossible. Her Martial Soul was the Hell Spirit Cat, with not the slightest connection to the water attribute, so she simply did not meet the requirements. On top of that, she was also from the Star Luo Empire, and her identity was very sensitive.

Ye Liangchen was too lazy to listen to Su Lin and the others, those feminists, boast. After resting for a while, he went alone to the open ground outside the cave entrance and practiced the Five Elements Divine Fist for a while.

"Whoosh, whoosh..."

Ye Liangchen attached Soul Power to his fists and began practicing those moves. The wind from his punches made whooshing sounds, full of strength.

However, he still could not achieve Humanoid Transformation with Soul Power yet. He estimated he would have to practice for a few more years before he could use Soul Power to transform into the five forms of Dragon, Snake, Tiger, Leopard, and Crane.

"He's amazing!"

Ye Liangchen's movements drew Little Zhuqing's curiosity. Seeing that such a small body possessed such powerful strength left her extremely shocked.

"My lord, that little boy is?"

Everyone was drawn over by Ye Liangchen's practice, especially Zhu Yu Ling and Little Zhuqing, who were very surprised.

"He is our nephew."

"This little fellow is talented and clever, and likes to study. Normally, he enjoys researching some Martial Skills. He's just practicing blindly." The Lan Xiao Die sisters spoke lightly. In front of outsiders, they could not mention the matter of the Five Elements Divine Fist.

Douluo Continent also had Martial Skills. The soldiers of the empire who had no Soul Power often practiced killing Martial Skills, but they were very crude and not as exquisite as the Five Elements Divine Fist.

As her understanding of the Five Elements Divine Fist gradually deepened, Lan Xiao Die also understood that without detailed things like the Fist Manual, mental cultivation method, and footwork, others could not learn it. Even if these two women saw Ye Liangchen practice it, there was no need to worry they would be able to learn it.

Little Zhuqing watched in a daze, thinking, If only I had strength like that.

Ye Liangchen practiced the Five Elements Divine Fist in front of everyone with a very clear goal: he was deliberately drawing Little Cat's attention, first leaving her with a good impression.

Ye Liangchen practiced with full concentration. Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced over inadvertently and found Little Cat's envious gaze, which he found very interesting. He thought smugly, Little Cat! Envious, are you? Want strength? Want to break free from your fate? Come follow me, and I'll guarantee you soar to the heavens. Becoming God is child's play.

Zhu Zhu Qing's wish was very simple: become stronger, then survive. Ye Liangchen was now showing just a tiny bit of his strength to let her see how powerful he was, giving her one more path to choose.

As the saying went: since deep affection had never held people for long, winning hearts took a good routine.

Zhu Zhu Qing's fiancé, Dai Mu Bai, should be around nine years old right now. That guy's Innate Soul Power seemed to be at rank 8. Because he could not endure his elder brother's oppression, he fled from Star Luo Empire to Shrek and began living a decadent life. Even so, by the time he was fifteen or sixteen, his soul power still reached rank 37, which showed that his cultivation talent was quite decent too.

As for Dai Mu Bai's character, Ye Liangchen did not intend to make any judgment. This person was actually rather loyal. It was just that his line about women not counting as people, only resources, was something no one would like.

The Star Luo Empire imperial family's utterly inhuman system of competition left Dai Mu Bai powerless to resist fate, so he could only become a fallen prince drowning himself in brothels and pleasure quarters.

As for the Shrek Seven Devils, Ye Liangchen planned to poach Little Cat. He absolutely would not leave such a top-tier Goddess to that white tiger. As for the other Six Monsters, as long as Ye Liangchen intercepted the Immortal Herbs, they would have no way to grow.

After finishing his Five Elements Fist practice, Ye Liangchen took out the precious sword Lan Xiao Die had given him and practiced the Sword Techniques his father had left behind. Although that Sword Techniques manual could not compare to "Ten Thousand Plums in the Wind" or "Celestial Flight," for the Douluo World, it was already a top-tier sword art.

From Su Lin, he learned that this sword had been given to Lan Xiao Die by his mother back then, so Ye Liangchen gave it a name: Lan Yan Sword. It represented the deep sisterly bond between his mother, Liu Ru Yan, and Lan Xiao Die.

"Swish, swish, swish..."

In Ye Liangchen's hand, the Lan Yan Sword traced out one beautiful sword flower after another, incomparably dazzling, leaving everyone watching in a blur.

"He even knows Sword Techniques! He's amazing."

Little Zhuqing was stunned. Usually, at home, aside from cultivating soul power, she could only practice a few simple combat skills, and those had been taught to her by her aunt.

At this moment, seeing Ye Liangchen's exquisite Sword Techniques, she was deeply shaken. A look of longing showed in her large eyes. She thought, How wonderful it would be if I could learn that too!

"My ladies! This child has limitless prospects in the future!"

Zhu Yu Ling was stunned by Ye Liangchen's performance. She had never seen such an outstanding six-year-old child before.

Sure enough! Outstanding children always belonged to other families. Although Zhu Yu Ling had no children of her own, when she compared that little boy with Zhu Zhu Qing, it was simply like comparing heaven and earth.

"This child is also very pitiful. He lost his parents when he was only three months old."

"We only hope he can live his whole life safely. That would be enough. As for anything else, we don't dare ask for too much. We'll just let fate decide."

Lan Xiao Die and the others naturally could not casually expose Ye Liangchen's Twin Martial Souls in front of outsiders.

"He lost his parents at three months old? He really is a pitiful child." Zhu Yu Ling cried out softly, lamenting the cruelty of this world.

Little Zhuqing also sighed inwardly: He lost his parents when he was only three months old. So he's even worse off than me! But although I have parents, it's no different from having none. We're both pitiful people.

It was already late at night. Lan Xiao Die carried a large bucket of hot water over to Ye Liangchen and interrupted the little fellow's practice.

"Little Chen! That's enough practice for today. Auntie has prepared hot water for you. Hurry and take a bath. You should rest." Lan Xiao Die took the little fellow's hand and walked toward the river.

"Thank you, Aunt Lan."

After arriving by the river, Ye Liangchen took off his clothes and jumped into the large wooden tub, happily soaking in a hot bath. His whole body felt incomparably comfortable.

In the distance, Little Zhuqing watched Lan Xiao Die carefully taking care of Ye Liangchen and thought, Although he has no parents, he still has family who care for and cherish him. He's hundreds, thousands of times happier than me.

The night passed without incident. Early the next morning, everyone ate some dry rations and began leaving Star Dou Forest.

Lan Xiao Die was still worried about Zhu Yu Ling and Little Zhuqing's safety, so she directly escorted them out of Star Dou Forest and even brought them to the border of Star Luo Empire, spending another two days on the journey.

"You should be safe here. We'll be leaving first."

The group waved to Zhu Yu Ling and Little Zhuqing, then quickly hurried in the direction of Soul Hunting Town.

"Thank you, my ladies, for saving our lives." Zhu Yu Ling pulled Little Zhuqing along and bowed to Lan Xiao Die and the others.

Little Zhuqing quietly watched the figures rapidly leaving, wanting to forever remember that little boy's silhouette. Unfortunately, high-level Soul Masters were too fast, and before long, those figures vanished from sight.

"Qing'er! Do you like that little fellow?" Zhu Yu Ling looked at Little Zhuqing's expression and smiled sweetly.

"Ah...! Aunt! I don't!" Zhu Zhu Qing immediately shook her head, her face slightly red, but in her heart, she remembered that little boy named Ye Liangchen.

"Qing'er! Being born into our Zhu Family is your misfortune, and you have no chance to choose."

"But Aunt still hopes you'll live on strongly."

Zhu Yu Ling held Little Zhuqing in her arms, grieving over her fate. If no miracle appeared, this girl's life would wither at the age of twenty-five.

When the little girl awakened her martial soul, her Innate Soul Power reached rank 7. Her eldest sister then regarded her as a threat, so she secretly sent people to interfere with the little girl's cultivation, and from time to time, they would catch snakes and insects to frighten her, leaving the girl living in fear and unease every day.

Zhu Yu Ling let out a long sigh and carried Little Zhuqing as she rushed toward Star Luo Empire. Although she felt deeply sorry for this girl, her strength was limited, and she could not change anything.