Douluo: Poisonous Tongue, Loves Telling the Truth

A flush of crimson quickly invaded her exquisite, cold face. She hadn't expected that, at her age, she would need someone to hold her hand just to kill a soul beast that had no power to resist.

Recalling how she had tried to shrink into Xia Ran's embrace just moments ago, she thought: He wouldn't think I did that on purpose, would he?

Once this thought took root, it grew uncontrollably like wild weeds.

Her mind became increasingly chaotic, and by the end, she didn't even dare to meet Xia Ran's eyes.

"What are you waiting for? Hurry up and absorb the soul ring before it dissipates."

"Oh... right."

Seeing the girl fidgeting there with no intention of absorbing the soul ring, Xia Ran finally broke the awkward silence.

Zhu Zhuqing hurriedly adjusted her breathing, trying her best to calm herself down.

Don't think about it! Don't think about it!

This was a two-thousand-year third soul ring, exceeding the traditional limit for a third ring, and she felt a bit uneasy.

Fortunately, Xia Ran had done his homework for her yesterday, and the Whale Rubber had significantly boosted her physical constitution.

Looking up and meeting Xia Ran's sincere gaze, Zhu Zhuqing's tense nerves relaxed slightly.

I will definitely succeed! Come on!

She kept cheering herself on in her heart.

She then sat cross-legged and guided the Man Faced Demon Spider's soul ring toward the top of her head...

On Xia Ran's side, seeing that Zhu Zhuqing had entered the state of absorbing the soul ring, he turned around, stood with his back to her, and adjusted his position.

Silence returned to the clearing as Xia Ran remained vigilant, his eyes scanning the surroundings.

Before long, Zhao Wuji and the others arrived in a rush from behind them.

As soon as they arrived, they saw the massive corpse of the Man Faced Demon Spider and Zhu Zhuqing in the middle of absorbing her soul ring.

"You two? What is going on here?"

Zhao Wuji looked travel-worn, and he hadn't even had the chance to deactivate his Martial Soul Avatar.

Xia Ran immediately gave a rough account of how the Titan Giant Ape had snatched Xiao Wu away.

Everyone gasped in shock after hearing his words.

Ning Rongrong, meanwhile, curiously sized up Zhu Zhuqing, who was currently absorbing the soul ring.

"If I remember correctly, Zhuqing was only level 27 during the entrance exam, yet now she is absorbing her third soul ring..."

She moved closer to Xia Ran's side without a sound, gradually drifting away from Dai Mubai's group.

When Zhao Wuji first saw the two of them, he had hoped nothing major had happened, but after hearing the account, his eyes dimmed.

"The Titan Giant Ape! That is a creature at the level of a forest overlord!"

"I'm afraid Xiao Wu is in grave danger. Sigh~"

In his younger years, he had been hunted by the Martial Soul Hall and had lived on the edge of a blade.

Even so, none of the crises he had experienced in the past were as severe as this one.

No one could have expected that a Titan Giant Ape living in the heart of the Star Dou Forest would appear in the outer region, and that they would happen to run into it.

How could Xiao Wu, a level 29 Soul Grand Master, possibly survive in the presence of such a terrifying existence?

And then there was Tang San...

Having failed to protect these little ones, he knew that once he returned to the academy, he likely wouldn't be able to stay on.

"Then what about her? Why is she absorbing a soul ring here?"

It was Dai Mubai who spoke; the moment he saw Zhu Zhuqing absorbing the soul ring, his eyes turned red.

He clearly remembered that Zhu Zhuqing was only level 27 when she enrolled. How much time had passed since then? How could she have cultivated so quickly, and how was it that he hadn't known anything about it?

"Well, Tang San went to chase Xiao Wu, I chased Tang San, and Zhuqing chased me..."

"I just happened to see a soul beast suitable for her, so I killed it for her."

"Oh, right, Oscar. I saw a Red Shadow Butterfly on the road I just came from. If you want it, I can help you catch it when we head back later."

"Really? Brother Ran!"

Oscar was incredibly excited to hear that there was a soul ring suitable for him.

He even changed how he addressed him; despite being older than Xia Ran, he started calling him Brother Ran directly.

"A Red Shadow Butterfly! Is that the butterfly that leaves afterimages when it flies? I heard it's extremely rare!"

"Of course..."

"Stop interrupting! I'm asking you why Zhu Zhuqing has reached level 30!"

For some reason, Dai Mubai was panting like an ox, his eyes bloodshot as he glared at Xia Ran, looking furious.

Zhu Zhuqing was his fiancée, and up until now, not only had she not eased their relationship, but she had also grown so close to Xia Ran.

Moreover, she had managed to raise her soul power to level 30 in less than a month.

This scene looked extremely bizarre to Xia Ran; what did it have to do with him that someone else's strength had increased?

"Why are you asking me? Zhuqing is awake, why don't you ask her yourself!"

He couldn't be bothered to deal with Dai Mubai's inexplicable behavior, turning his head away with a look of utter disgust.

In truth, it wasn't just Dai Mubai; everyone present was curious as to why Zhuqing had chosen this specific moment to absorb a spirit ring.

When they had all assessed each other's strength during the entrance exam, she had clearly been at level 27 just a few days ago. Even with a breakthrough, it shouldn't be possible to jump three levels all at once.

But they weren't as agitated as Dai Mubai. As Xia Ran had said, it would be simple enough to just ask Zhuqing. They had no idea why Dai Mubai was suddenly acting like a madman, as if he had suffered some great grievance.

Usually, he went out of his way to avoid Xia Ran. Even the last time he had been knocked unconscious by Xia Ran's spirit power, he hadn't dared to say a word afterward. What had gotten into him today?

"Zhuqing! Zhuqing!"

"We've only just met, what right do you have to keep calling her Zhuqing?"

"She is my fiancée!"

The more Dai Mubai spoke, the angrier he became, and the louder his voice grew. By the end, he was roaring at Xia Ran in a fit of rage.

"Stop playing dumb with me!"

"Did you... did you practice dual cultivation with Zhuqing!"

"Pfft~"

Oscar, Ma Hongjun, and even Zhao Wuji and Ning Rongrong couldn't hold it in anymore. They truly hadn't expected Dai Mubai to jump to such a conclusion.

Everyone's eyes widened, and they all turned their attention toward the two of them.

In Dai Mubai's mind, the Evil Eye White Tiger and the Hell Spirit Cat did indeed possess a dual cultivation technique. However, the Imperial Family had banned everyone from practicing it to save face, so the world at large was unaware of this secret art.

As the fiancée of the Third Prince, Zhuqing must have had access to such things.

He naturally assumed that Zhuqing had taken the initiative to ask Xia Ran to practice dual cultivation with her so she could increase her strength and defeat him.

"No wonder Zhuqing said she would defeat me when she returned."

"So it was you! You dare to touch my fiancée? Do you believe I'll find someone to kill you!"

At this moment, Dai Mubai had completely lost his reason. He was venting all the repression he had been holding inside, saying whatever came to his mind.

Zhuqing had just begun absorbing the spirit ring and could clearly hear the noise outside. Her brows furrowed, and her aura became extremely unstable.

Xia Ran noticed the situation and hurriedly cast a spirit power barrier to cut off her connection to the outside world.

He turned to look at Dai Mubai, his eyes cold and dark.

"Dai Mubai! If you dare to say another word before Zhuqing finishes absorbing her spirit ring, you can kiss that tongue goodbye!"

Chapter 31: The Aura of the Star Luo Third Prince!

Hearing this, Dai Mubai laughed wildly, almost manically.

He was the dignified Third Prince of the Star Luo Empire, hiding away in a backwater mountain village, and now a commoner was actually threatening him.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, until he nearly lost his mind.

"Xia Ran, you are so arrogant!"

"A mere commoner, thinking you're something special just because you have a bit of strength? In front of real power, you aren't even worth a fart."

As he finished speaking, he ran over to Zhao Wuji and grabbed his clothes, his expression frantic.

"Zhao Wuji! Help me kill him! From this day forward, you will be an honored guest of the Star Luo Imperial Family, and we will ensure your safety for the rest of your life."

Zhao Wuji, suddenly being addressed, was stunned. He thought to himself:

Good grief, he's truly lost it. He's not even calling me teacher, just shouting my full name!

He, the Immovable Bright King, had survived for decades under the pursuit of Martial Soul Hall; who didn't address him as a senior upon meeting him?

Now that a young brat was calling him by his full name, Zhao Wuji's displeasure was practically written on his face.

However, because this was a matter between Dai Mubai and Xia Ran, and even involved the Star Luo Imperial Family, he simply shook off the man's hands and turned his head away.

The meaning was clear.

"I can't help you! Go find someone else!"

Not to mention that Xia Ran was someone they had watched grow up, even if it were any of the other old fellows here, none of them would bother with Dai Mubai in his current state.

"Fine! You won't help me!"

"Xia Ran, you just wait! Once this spirit hunting mission is over, I'm returning to the Star Luo Empire. If you..."

At this point, Xia Ran had truly reached his limit. Martial Soul Avatar.

Before he could finish his sentence, he flashed in front of Dai Mubai and grabbed him by the throat.

"It's clear you have a lot of resentment toward me!"

"I told you, if you dare to spout any more nonsense, you can kiss that tongue goodbye!"