A flush of crimson quickly spread across her delicate, aloof face. She hadn't expected that, at her age, she would still need someone to guide her hand through killing a Soul Beast that couldn't fight back.
Thinking back to how she'd desperately burrowed into Xia Ran's arms just moments ago, she wondered, Does he think I was pretending? That I did it on purpose?
Once the thought took root, it ran wild like weeds.
The more she dwelled on it, the more flustered she became, until she didn't even dare meet Xia Ran's eyes.
"What are you waiting for? Hurry up and absorb the Soul Ring before it dissipates."
"Oh... All right."
Seeing her fidget there without making any move to absorb the Soul Ring, Xia Ran broke the awkward silence.
Zhu Zhuqing quickly steadied her breathing, trying to calm herself.
Don't overthink it! Don't overthink it!
This was her third Soul Ring, a two-thousand-year one that exceeded the traditional limit for a third ring. She couldn't help feeling nervous.
Fortunately, Xia Ran had prepared her thoroughly the day before, and the Whale Rubber had improved her physical constitution.
She looked up and met Xia Ran's sincere gaze. Her taut nerves relaxed a little.
I'll succeed! I can do this!
She kept encouraging herself.
Then she sat cross-legged and drew the Man Faced Demon Spider's Soul Ring toward her head...
As for Xia Ran, once he saw Zhu Zhuqing enter the state of absorbing her Soul Ring, he turned his back to her and shifted position.
Silence settled over the clearing once more. Xia Ran stayed alert, scanning his surroundings.
Before long, Zhao Wuji and the others hurried over from behind them.
As soon as they arrived, they saw the enormous corpse of the Man Faced Demon Spider and Zhu Zhuqing absorbing her Soul Ring.
"You two? What happened here?"
Zhao Wuji was covered in dust, and he hadn't even had time to cancel his Martial Soul Possession.
Xia Ran immediately gave them a rough account of how the Titan Giant Ape had snatched Xiao Wu away.
Everyone drew a sharp breath when they heard what had happened.
Ning Rongrong curiously studied Zhu Zhuqing, who was absorbing her Soul Ring.
"If I remember correctly, Zhuqing was only Level 27 during the entrance assessment. And now she's absorbing her third Soul Ring..."
Without drawing attention to herself, she edged closer to Xia Ran, gradually leaving Dai Mubai and the others.
When Zhao Wuji first saw Xia Ran and Zhu Zhuqing, he'd thought nothing too serious had happened. But after hearing Xia Ran's account, his eyes dimmed again.
"The Titan Giant Ape! It's a forest overlord!"
"Xiao Wu's probably doomed... Sigh."
Years ago, the Spirit Hall had hunted him down, and he'd lived with his life on the line.
Even so, none of the crises he'd faced before could compare to this one.
No one could have imagined that the Titan Giant Ape, which lived in the heart of the Star Dou Forest, would appear in the outer region—and that they would happen to run into it.
Xiao Wu was only a Level 29 Soul Grandmaster. How could she possibly survive against such a terrifying existence?
And Tang San...
He hadn't protected these youngsters. When he returned to the academy, he probably wouldn't be able to stay there any longer.
"Then what happened to her? Why is she absorbing a Soul Ring here?"
It was Dai Mubai who spoke. The moment he saw Zhu Zhuqing absorbing her Soul Ring, his eyes had turned red.
He clearly remembered that Zhu Zhuqing had only been Level 27 when she entered the academy. It hadn't been long at all, so how had she cultivated so quickly? And how had he not known?
"After Tang San went after Xiao Wu, I went after Tang San, and Zhuqing came after me..."
"We happened to find a Soul Beast suitable for Zhuqing, so I killed it while we were at it."
"Oh, right, Oscar. I saw a Red Shadow Butterfly on my way here. If you want it, I can catch it for you when we head back."
"Really, Brother Ran?"
Oscar was thrilled to hear there was a Soul Ring suitable for him.
He'd even changed how he addressed Xia Ran, calling him Brother Ran despite being older.
"A Red Shadow Butterfly! Is it the kind that leaves afterimages when it flies? I heard they're incredibly rare!"
"Of course..."
"Quit changing the subject! I asked why Zhu Zhuqing managed to reach Level 30."
For some reason, Dai Mubai was panting heavily, his eyes bloodshot as he glared at Xia Ran. He looked furious.
Zhu Zhuqing was his fiancée. So far, not only had their relationship failed to improve, she'd also grown so close to Xia Ran.
And she'd managed to raise her Soul Power to Level 30 in less than a month.
Xia Ran found Dai Mubai's reaction bizarre. What did her improving have to do with him?
"Why ask me? Ask Zhuqing when she wakes up!"
He couldn't be bothered with Dai Mubai's inexplicable behavior. He turned away with a look of distaste.
In truth, Dai Mubai wasn't the only one wondering why Zhu Zhuqing was absorbing a Soul Ring now. Everyone present was curious.
They'd all learned about one another's abilities during the entrance assessment. Only a few days ago, Zhu Zhuqing had been Level 27. Even if she'd advanced since then, how could she have broken through three levels at once?
But they weren't as worked up as Dai Mubai. Just as Xia Ran had said, he could simply ask Zhu Zhuqing. No one knew what had suddenly gotten into him; he was acting as though he'd suffered some terrible injustice.
He usually avoided Xia Ran. Even after Xia Ran had knocked him unconscious with Soul Power last time, he hadn't dared say a word afterward. So what was wrong with him today?
"Zhuqing! Zhuqing!"
"You've barely known her, so what gives you the right to keep calling her Zhuqing?"
"She's my fiancée!"
The angrier Dai Mubai got, the louder he became. In the end, he roared at Xia Ran.
"Stop pretending you don't know what's going on!"
"You... Did you and Zhu Zhuqing cultivate together?"
"Pfft—"
Oscar and Ma Hongjun, along with Zhao Wuji and Ning Rongrong, all lost their composure. They hadn't expected Dai Mubai to jump to that conclusion.
Everyone stared, their attention fixed on the two of them.
As far as Dai Mubai knew, the Evil Eye White Tiger and Hell Spirit Cat Martial Souls had a dual-cultivation technique. But the imperial family had forbidden anyone to practice it, out of concern for their reputation, so the world knew nothing about this secret technique.
As the Third Prince's fiancée, Zhu Zhuqing had surely heard of it.
Naturally, he assumed Zhu Zhuqing had asked Xia Ran to cultivate with her so she could grow stronger and defeat him.
"No wonder Zhu Zhuqing said she'd defeat me when we came back."
"So it was you! You even dare lay a hand on my fiancée. Believe me, I can have you killed!"
Dai Mubai had completely lost his reason. He let all the resentment bottled up inside him spill out, saying whatever came to mind.
Zhu Zhuqing had only just begun absorbing her Soul Ring, so she could clearly hear what was going on outside. Her brows furrowed, and her breathing grew unsteady.
Xia Ran noticed what was happening and hurriedly put up a Soul Power barrier, cutting her off from the outside world.
He turned to Dai Mubai, his gaze dark.
"Dai Mubai! If you say one more word before Zhuqing finishes absorbing her Soul Ring, you can kiss your tongue goodbye!"
Chapter 31: The Third Prince of Star Luo's Presence!
Dai Mubai laughed wildly at that, almost as if he'd gone mad.
He was the dignified Third Prince of Star Luo, living in seclusion in some backwater village, and now a commoner was threatening him.
His fury mounted until he was practically out of his mind.
"Xia Ran, you're arrogant!"
"You're nothing but a commoner. You think being a little stronger makes you something? Before the truly powerful, you're not worth a fart."
With that, he rushed over to Zhao Wuji, grabbed his clothes, and stared at him in a frenzy.
"Zhao Wuji! Help me kill him! From now on, the Star Luo Imperial Family will welcome you as an honored guest. We'll guarantee your safety for the rest of your life."
Caught off guard, Zhao Wuji was stunned. He thought, Good grief, he's lost it. He's not even calling me Teacher—he's using my full name!
He was the Immovable Bright King, and he'd survived the Spirit Hall's pursuit for decades. Everyone who met him had to show him respect and call him Senior.
Now some young punk was addressing him by his full name. Zhao Wuji could barely keep his displeasure off his face.
But since this was a matter between Dai Mubai and Xia Ran, and even involved the Star Luo Imperial Family, he simply shook off the hands gripping him and turned away.
His meaning was clear.
I can't help you. Go ask someone else!
It wasn't just that Xia Ran was practically a child they'd watched grow up. Given the way Dai Mubai was acting, none of these old hands would have bothered with him.
"Fine! You won't help me!"
"Xia Ran, just you wait! Once this Soul Hunting Operation is over, I'm going back to the Star Luo Empire. If you—"
Xia Ran had finally had enough. He activated his Martial Soul Possession.
Before Dai Mubai could finish, Xia Ran flashed in front of him and clamped a hand around his throat.
"I can tell you've got a real grudge against me!"
"I told you, if you spouted nonsense again, you'd lose that tongue!"
Before you continue