In the simulator, Su Chen had killed gods, slaughtered beasts, and schemed against all living beings. Yet when it came to the subject of "love," his progress bar remained at—zero!
This sudden soft, fragrant embrace left him even more flustered than a full-powered strike from the Titan Snow Demon King!
This was Zhang Lexuan, after all!
Shrek Academy's eldest sister, the "white moonlight" in countless people's hearts!
An embrace offered by such a mature, intelligent, and warm older sister had the lethal force of a nuclear bomb!
Who could withstand that?!
After a long while.
Only then did the warmth in his arms reluctantly depart.
Zhang Lexuan slowly released him and stepped back half a pace, her beautiful eyes drifting over his face.
When she saw that his usually cool little face had turned as red as a ripe apple, she burst out laughing.
"What's wrong? Blushing already?"
She reached out a slender finger and gently poked his forehead, amusement written all over her face.
"With skin this thin, what will you do if you meet a girl you like someday? You won't even dare to talk to her!"
Though she sounded concerned, seeing Su Chen looking so adorably awkward brought her great satisfaction as his older sister.
Zhang Lexuan secretly decided that she'd have to help her little brother "toughen up" that paper-thin skin of his more often!
Before long, Zhang Lexuan left, humming a cheerful little tune.
Her room was right next door. Su Chen hadn't even had his fill of her pleasant humming before she had already returned to her boudoir.
Su Chen stood where he was, dazed for quite some time.
Looking at the firmly shut door, he rubbed his nose and sighed with mixed emotions.
"So this is the legendary 'sincerity is the ultimate weapon'? Its power really is terrifying..."
Su Chen shook his head.
"What was that? I just stepped outside and got my first kill stolen by a big sister?"
That gentle assault struck straight at the soul. It dealt true damage that ignored defense!
Even with King Crimson, which could erase time, and Epitaph, which could foresee the future, there was no way to dodge it!
He'd just been solo-killed by a big sister.
After calming himself down, Su Chen turned and headed for the back mountain.
That was Du Busi's secluded cultivation ground, as well as the most heavily guarded place in the entire Body Sect.
Along the way, the Body Sect disciples he encountered all stopped to greet him.
"Greetings, Young Sect Master!"
"Good to see you, Young Sect Master!"
Their voices held not only respect, but also a fervent admiration.
In their eyes, he was the future hope of the Body Sect—a living legend.
Su Chen smiled and nodded to each of them, maintaining the Young Sect Master's cool yet approachable manner.
He had only just entered the back mountain when, before he could get near the residence—
Whoosh!
A burly figure appeared out of thin air in front of him.
Du Busi!
As a Level 98 Super Douluo, his ability to sense auras had long since reached the pinnacle.
But when his spiritual sense swept over Su Chen, his cloudy old eyes instantly blazed with light!
"Quasi... Quasi-Soul Ancestor?!"
Du Busi sucked in a sharp breath and stared at Su Chen as if he were a monster.
Two days! He'd advanced four levels in just two days!
An average of two levels a day!
If this had been anyone else, Du Busi would have cut him open and studied him to see if he was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast reincarnated.
But when he remembered that it was Su Chen... Du Busi immediately relaxed.
Well, he was a future god. So what if he gave himself a little cheat? It was basic stuff. No need to make a fuss; everyone, take your seats.
He'd already witnessed even more ridiculous things.
An eight-year-old Level 40 Soul Ancestor—and the Young Sect Master of his Body Sect, not to mention his own disciple!
That was nothing. Nothing at all.
"Teacher, let's go inside and talk."
Su Chen made no attempt to explain his sudden increase in cultivation, despite Du Busi's feverish gaze, which looked as if he might devour him.
There was no need to explain.
In this world, no one understood the art of "filling in the blanks" better than Du Busi.
"Good, good, good! My precious disciple, come on in!"
Du Busi grinned from ear to ear, grabbed Su Chen, and led him inside, chattering all the while:
"Just tell me what you need! Once we're done talking, I'll personally take you to hunt your fourth Soul Ring! Do you want a ten-thousand-year one or a hundred-thousand-year one?"
"Something that flies in the sky, swims in the water, or even lives in the Core Circle of the Star Dou Great Forest—just say the word, and I'll tear a hole in the heavens to catch it for you!"
Forget absorbing a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring. If Su Chen asked him to hunt a Ferocious Beast right now, Du Busi wouldn't hesitate either.
He wouldn't even wonder whether Su Chen could absorb it. Instead, he'd worry that the beast wasn't old enough.
They ought to go kill the Sea Princess in the ocean, who was a full six hundred thousand years old.
That was what trust looked like.
As long as Su Chen dared to ask, Du Busi dared to do it!
Hesitate for even a second, and it would mean he didn't trust Su Chen!
"..."
Su Chen's mouth twitched.
"Teacher, there's no rush about the Soul Ring."
The two went inside and took their seats.
With a flip of his hand, Su Chen produced a strange Immortal Herb in his palm.
It was a snow-white herb shaped like a swan's neck, crystalline and translucent. A faint fragrance drifted from it, along with an almost deadly allure.
Before Su Chen could introduce it—
Du Busi's eyes widened. He blurted out the answer:
"Snowy Swan Kiss!"
He knew this thing all too well!
In his "memories"—or perhaps through some powerful intuition—this was the very Immortal Herb that had helped him condense an unprecedented Second Soul Core with a poison attribute, break through his limits, and reach the long-dreamed-of realm of a Level 99 Limit Douluo!
"That's right, Teacher."
Su Chen nodded and handed the herb over.
"This Snowy Swan Kiss can amplify the potency of poison hundreds or even thousands of times. I hope you can use its power to condense a Second Soul Core and break through to the Limit Douluo realm!"
"Ha ha ha ha! My precious disciple! What a fine disciple you are!"
Du Busi trembled with excitement as he took the herb and patted Su Chen hard on the shoulder, nearly knocking his bones apart.
"Um... Teacher, don't get too excited just yet."
Su Chen rubbed his numb shoulder and spoke solemnly:
"The Snowy Swan Kiss is extremely potent, and its method of use is very particular. You have to..."
"I know!"
Du Busi waved a massive hand, cutting off Su Chen before he could finish.
"I know the method for taking the Snowy Swan Kiss by heart! There's no need for my disciple to explain!"
"..."
Fine. So now he was even finishing Su Chen's sentences for him?
Su Chen shrugged helplessly.
"Since you already know, then let me congratulate you in advance on breaking through to the Limit Douluo realm and reaching the pinnacle of the continent."
Seeing Du Busi eager to enter seclusion, Su Chen felt reassured.
Having Du Busi break through to Level 99 was the most important part of the plan.
The Body Sect was Su Chen's home base. With a Limit Douluo guarding it, the sect would have an unshakable pillar of support.
That sense of security would let Su Chen focus wholeheartedly on growing stronger as he made his way to godhood.
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