Xiao Wu had already heard about Dai Mubai from Luo Yan.
She also knew that after Zhu Zhuqing became his fiancée, Dai Mubai had run away by himself.
Xiao Wu hadn't expected Dai Mubai to be even more despicable than Luo Yan had described. He was actually kneading a pair of twins while giving her and Zhuqing that same greedy look.
"Xiao Wu, thanks for your concern. I'm just a little exhausted. I'm fine."
This was Zhuqing's first time speaking with Xiao Wu, and her reply was very quiet.
Hearing this, Xiao Wu nodded slightly and continued, "Zhuqing, you didn't really need to step in."
"That Dai Mubai guy just now? Even if Brother Luo Yan and Da Ming and Er Ming hadn't stepped in, I could've crushed him with one hand!"
Xiao Wu had little regard for Dai Mubai's strength.
Thinking of Dai Mubai's age and strength, she felt rather fortunate that she had met Luo Yan back then. Otherwise, she would probably be even weaker than Dai Mubai now.
But as things stood, she had already broken through to the early stage of Fifth-Rank Demon King. She could easily crush even a weaker Soul Douluo.
"No. I want to settle this myself!"
Hearing Xiao Wu, Zhuqing shook her head slightly.
After speaking, she stole a glance at Luo Yan.
After all, it had been clear from what Luo Yan had said to Dai Mubai that he hoped she would defeat Dai Mubai herself next time.
Luo Yan caught Zhuqing's glance and ruffled her long hair, reassuring her. "Zhuqing, that Dai Mubai is only relying on his age."
"If you were the same age, he wouldn't stand a chance against you."
He wasn't exaggerating. Given how hard Zhuqing worked, it was only a matter of time before she caught up to Dai Mubai.
Zhuqing said nothing. She knew Luo Yan was just trying to comfort her.
"Zhuqing, should I go out and kill him right now?" Xiao Wu was rather straightforward. She thought Zhuqing was upset because Dai Mubai had defeated her.
Hearing this, Zhuqing quickly shook her head. "No need. I'll defeat him myself someday!"
Although Zhuqing said that, she remembered Luo Yan saying that he would go to Shrek Academy when it held its entrance exam, so she could defeat Dai Mubai herself.
As they entered the city, she had also noticed that Shrek's admissions would begin in a month.
Zhuqing had no confidence at all that she could defeat Dai Mubai in a month.
After all, Dai Mubai was nearly four years older than her. Surpassing him in such a short time was basically impossible.
At the thought, Zhuqing's face paled even more.
She didn't want to embarrass Luo Yan.
Hearing this, Xiao Wu said no more. She turned and went back to her bed, leaving Luo Yan to comfort Zhuqing.
After all, she had already gone beyond her limits by saying so much.
Luo Yan's divine sense had caught every change in Zhuqing's expression. He had seen it all.
"Zhuqing, what I said just now wasn't baseless."
"I have a way to help you improve quickly. You could even surpass Dai Mubai in one fell swoop!"
"But I've never tried it, so I don't know whether the result will be what I expect."
After Xiao Wu returned to her bed, Luo Yan spoke slowly.
He didn't know what would happen if she tried this method, so he wanted Zhuqing to make the choice herself.
But with Zhuqing's obsession with strength, she would never pass up such an opportunity.
Sure enough, as soon as she heard the first part of what Luo Yan said, Zhuqing agreed before he had even explained the method.
"Luo Yan, I want to try!"
She looked at him with complete seriousness.
A hint of stubbornness lay beneath her beautiful eyes.
Seeing how decisively Zhuqing had agreed, Luo Yan fell silent for a moment.
In the end, he continued, "Zhuqing, you know that Xiao Wu and the others and I are from the Yao Clan."
"Our bodies contain a limited amount of essence blood. Like a Soul Beast's Soul Bone, it's a rare treasure. This essence blood isn't just useful to the Yao Clan or Soul Beasts. It can also help humans improve their cultivation and physical bodies, and even increase their cultivation speed!"
"But absorbing essence blood is risky. The process can cause severe pain and even put your life in danger."
These were common facts from his previous life, but Luo Yan wasn't sure whether they were true.
Still, he had transmigrated to Douluo Continent, so he figured Yao Clan essence blood probably had those effects.
But he had never tested it, so he didn't know whether it would work. Besides, essence blood was far too precious for Luo Yan to risk using it in an experiment.
"I want to try!"
Zhuqing remained firm.
"All right. Since you've decided, there's no time like the present. Get yourself into shape, then absorb my Jiaolong Essence Blood three days from now."
"If it works, Zhuqing, you should be able to reach at least Soul Elder."
"Then I'll have Da Ming take you to absorb a suitable Soul Ring. A month will be enough!"
Zhuqing's choice hadn't surprised him. Luo Yan immediately laid out a plan for her.
Hearing this, Zhuqing nodded slightly and went straight back to her bed. She began circulating her Soul Power to heal her injuries and recover her strength.
Seeing her like that, Luo Yan didn't disturb her. He turned and returned to his own bed.
Just as he was about to go to sleep, a figure slipped under his blanket.
"Mmm~"
Shrek Academy stood in the outskirts southwest of Suotuo City.
In one of the academy's rooms, a sturdy, middle-aged man who looked about fifty stood beside a bed. He had a hooked nose.
A young man lay on the bed. It was Dai Mubai, who had just been carried back.
Luo Yan had only used spiritual power to send Dai Mubai flying.
Even so, he had badly injured him. It would take at least a week of bed rest for him to recover.
The middle-aged man was Shrek Academy's dean, the Four-Eyed Cat Eagle, Flender.
"Mubai, who did this to you?"
Looking at Dai Mubai lying in bed, Flender wondered which reckless fool had dared to hurt a student of Shrek Academy.
After all, Shrek Academy was fairly well known in Suotuo City.
Anyone in the city with a bit of strength knew that their academy had a Soul Saint dean like him.
Those who didn't know probably weren't strong enough to defeat Dai Mubai.
In Flender's eyes, Dai Mubai might have been obsessed with women, but he was still strong. His Soul Power had already reached level thirty-seven, and he could hold his own against an ordinary Soul Ancestor.
Still, Flender was a little hopeful. Perhaps some local noble in Suotuo City had attacked him. If so, he could pay them a visit...
At the thought, Flender adjusted his black-rimmed crystal glasses.
Combined with the slight curve of his lips, the gesture gave him a strange, sly look.
"I don't know them. They must've been from out of town. They said they'd come back when the academy held admissions!"
Dai Mubai didn't know who Luo Yan and the others were. Of the five people in Luo Yan's group, he only knew Zhuqing.
As for Zhuqing, Dai Mubai didn't want to bring her up just then.
Ever since he had seen Zhuqing, her image had kept appearing in his mind.
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