"Mmm~"
Xia Ran was pulled into another tight embrace, followed by the girl's soft, fragrant lips.
Warmth spread across his lips, and his mind went completely blank. For a moment, he had no idea what to do. He neither returned the kiss nor pushed her away...
He simply let her take what she wanted, dumbfounded.
But the more he did, the more desperate Zhu Zhuqing became.
Even if he rejected her, she couldn't bear the thought of being nothing but Xia Ran's friend for the rest of her life.
As time passed, Xia Ran's Soul Power could no longer suppress the Evil Fire in his body. His body, held tightly in Zhu Zhuqing's arms...
Feeling something unusual near her lower abdomen, Zhu Zhuqing's face instantly turned bright red.
Even so, she showed no sign of letting go of Xia Ran.
After an unknown amount of time, Zhu Zhuqing began to feel light-headed from lack of oxygen, forcing her to take a brief pause.
Their lips parted, leaving a thread of longing between them. The girl's eyes were dazed as she gasped for breath...
The faint dizziness made her head swim. She cupped Xia Ran's face in both hands and asked,
"Xia Ran, am I not pretty?"
Xia Ran's Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed. His mind was just as blank, and he answered instinctively.
"You're pretty..."
Zhu Zhuqing smiled. Her dazed gaze grew more intense as she pushed Xia Ran down onto the bed and straddled his waist...
She looked down at him with an air of dominance she had never shown before.
"Is my figure not good?"
"Mm..."
"Then do you like me...?"
"I... do..."
After getting the answer she wanted, Zhu Zhuqing tentatively slipped her hand inside Xia Ran's collar.
Her fingertips touched his chest, making her a little nervous.
At last, Xia Ran came to his senses. He'd actually been forced down by her!
Seeing the girl still trying to act composed, her soft, delicate hand trembling slightly, he couldn't help finding it amusing.
Then he caught Zhu Zhuqing by the wrist. Startled, she tried to pull away, like a kitten caught in a trap.
Xia Ran's lips curled upward. This girl... tsk, tsk...
She was so timid, yet she'd actually gone and done something like this!
"You..."
Zhu Zhuqing instinctively tried to retreat, forgetting that she had been the one to make the first move.
Seeing the girl's startled expression, Xia Ran smiled.
"What? Are you scared now?"
Only then did Zhu Zhuqing realize...
Before she could do anything else, Xia Ran rolled over, seized her by both forearms, and pinned her beneath him.
The tables had turned. Her purple hair spread across the pillow, making her pale skin look even whiter.
"Hmph~"
A soft moan escaped the girl's lips as her wrist began to ache, igniting the last flicker of reason in both their minds.
Xia Ran lowered his lips to Zhu Zhuqing's and kissed her.
His kiss was fiercely demanding, giving her no chance to react.
The girl was suddenly met with such forceful advances, and the sensation of being conquered by him thrilled her.
Her tense body gradually relaxed. She slowly closed her eyes, and her arms wound around Xia Ran's neck of their own accord...
Martial Soul Fusion Skill? I'll Have to Check First
(A bonus picture of Zhu Zhuqing in her nightdress.)
From sunrise to sunset, the silvery moonlight draped the rooftops like a veil.
Inside, Zhu Zhuqing nestled against Xia Ran. Her hair, damp with sweat, clung to her pale skin, and her breaths still trembled faintly...
Neither of them spoke. The only sound in the room was their heavy breathing.
After a long while, Xia Ran toyed with her soft flesh and teased her with a smile.
"I never would've guessed you'd be so bold today. You're always so quiet when you talk!"
Hearing the amusement in his voice, Zhu Zhuqing pulled the covers higher and snuggled closer to Xia Ran.
After a whole day of exertion, her mind had finally cleared. Thinking back to what she'd done that morning, she wished she could crawl into a crack in the ground.
The Blue Silver Emperor Soul Bone had replenished her stamina, so she didn't feel all that tired. If anything, she felt more satisfied...
Thinking of the Soul Bone, Zhu Zhuqing furrowed her brows.
"Where did you get this Soul Bone?"
As she spoke, she gently lifted her right leg and rested it on Xia Ran.
The pose made Xia Ran's thoughts wander again.
But after a whole day of exertion, even faced with such a sight, all he did was instinctively tighten his grip. The girl let out another soft moan.
"Actually, it was quite a coincidence."
"This Soul Bone belonged to Tang San's mother."
The story of Ah Yin, the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, sacrificing herself was no secret. Many people on the continent knew about it.
Xia Ran didn't hide anything. He told her about Tang San's background and how Tang Hao had given him the Soul Bone and Ah Yin that day.
When he finished, he pointed to a Blue Silver Grass plant growing in a vase on the windowsill.
"Look! Your Soul Bone belonged to her."
"As a transformed Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, she carried the hopes of the entire Blue Silver Grass Clan. She also had her own reasons for needing to become a god."
"But in the end, the person she loved betrayed her, and she sacrificed all her cultivation for Tang Hao, leaving behind Tang San."
Every time Ah Yin's sacrifice came up, Xia Ran couldn't help feeling regretful.
If he could return to that era, he would never allow anyone to treat love so carelessly.
Moved by the whole story, Zhu Zhuqing felt a sudden unease. She couldn't tell whether it was because of the Blue Silver Emperor Soul Bone or because she had always been sensitive about matters of the heart.
Now that she had fused with Ah Yin's Soul Bone, she could faintly sense Ah Yin's consciousness through her spiritual power. It was vague and indistinct, like a child's, with no clear thoughts.
It was obvious Ah Yin still couldn't understand what Xia Ran was saying. Without some special opportunity, who knew how long it would take for her to grow enough to transform again?
"I feel like this Soul Bone is so precious. Not just because of its value, but also because..."
"Xia Ran, will you stay with me forever?"
Zhu Zhuqing lifted her pale neck and met Xia Ran's gaze.
She seemed to be searching his eyes for an answer.
Xia Ran affectionately ruffled the top of her head, making his voice as gentle as he could.
"Don't worry! I'll always be by your side..."
He had thought it through. No matter what the system's future quests might be, he would stay with Zhu Zhuqing forever.
Breaking up a couple didn't mean he had to end up with the other person.
Besides, no one could say what the future would bring...
Seeing the determination in Xia Ran's eyes, Zhu Zhuqing smiled with satisfaction. The blush on her face had only just faded, but now a shy flush rose again.
Her courage had been rewarded!
The next day.
A black barrier enveloped the two people in bed. Zhu Zhuqing was still asleep, while Xia Ran had reached the final moment of fusing with the Soul Bone.
The Mysterious Cat Soul Bone shared the same origin as his Martial Soul, so the fusion went very smoothly.
The Hundred-Thousand-Year Right Leg Bone had also given him two skills:
[Teleportation: Activate the skill to teleport to any location within 400 meters (range increases as Soul Power rises)]
Xia Ran guessed that since he only had four Soul Rings, the range was limited to 400 meters. Once he obtained his fifth Soul Ring, it would probably increase by another hundred meters.
But even with a range of 400 meters, it was still a divine skill.
The other skill was:
[High Spirits: Each attack increases your speed by 10%. For every 10 stacks, you gain an additional 33% attack power. Stacks have no limit (no more than 5 seconds may pass between attacks)]
There was no denying that this skill's effects were somewhat outrageous.
With no limit to the stacks, if he had enough Soul Power, he might even be able to slay a god.
Of course, that was only in theory. The five-second limit between attacks meant this skill could reach its full potential only against opponents of the same level or not much stronger.
After all, he wouldn't be the only one moving on the battlefield. His enemies could dodge and attack, too.
As he finished guiding the final trace of energy into place, Xia Ran completed his fusion with the Hundred-Thousand-Year Right Leg Bone.
The sensation of his Soul Power surging through him made him instinctively activate his Martial Soul. The movement happened to wake Zhu Zhuqing beside him.
"Mmm~ You're awake!"
Still drowsy, the girl had only just opened her eyes when she saw Xia Ran sitting cross-legged at the head of the bed.
With his Martial Soul Possessed, his black cat ears made him look a little cuter, and the fluffy tail behind him swayed gently.
Before you continue