First Meeting with Meng Yiran; Tang San, You Won't Take This Soul Beast

Who knew how much time had passed.

Gu Linyuan opened his eyes.

A sharp glint flashed through those pitch-black eyes, then vanished.

He slowly rose to his feet and stretched his limbs, his bones crackling crisply.

The Soul Power within him was nearly twice as robust as before, surging and roaring through his meridians like an enraged dragon that had just awakened.

Meanwhile, the Scepter of Destruction floated silently deep within his dantian, a black halo now circling its shaft.

One purple, two black.

His cultivation had broken through to level thirty-two.

Gu Linyuan took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled.

His breath shot out like a white arrow, lingering in the air and drifting several meters before gradually dispersing.

"Level thirty-two..."

"Not bad... I'm finally on the right track."

He murmured softly, the corners of his lips lifting slightly.

A few months ago, he had still been a worthless nobody mocked by everyone, his cultivation stagnant for six years.

A few months later, he possessed three Soul Rings and had broken through to level thirty-two—two thousand-year rings and one Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring.

With a setup like that, even a Title Douluo would fall silent at the sight of it, let alone a Soul Elder.

"How is it? What does it feel like?"

Qian Renxue's voice came from nearby, carrying a hint of curiosity.

Gu Linyuan turned to look at her.

Qian Renxue sat atop a bluestone not far away, her legs together and angled to one side. Her skirt draped over the stone like a blooming white flower. Moonlight fell upon her, making that incomparably exquisite face especially clear.

She still held the celadon wine flask in her hand, a faint flush on her cheeks showing that she had already had quite a bit to drink.

Her golden eyes were slightly unfocused, yet when she looked at Gu Linyuan, they remained sharp and bright.

"Not bad."

"Better than expected."

"What's your third soul skill?"

Qian Renxue blinked. With that curious look on her face, she resembled a little girl waiting to hear a story.

Gu Linyuan glanced at her but did not answer.

He raised his right hand, and the Scepter of Destruction appeared in his palm out of thin air.

The pitch-black staff, the dark-red gemstone, and three Soul Rings rose from the bottom of the scepter, slowly revolving around it.

Qian Renxue's gaze settled on the black Soul Ring, and her golden eyes narrowed slightly.

A Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring.

Gu Linyuan raised the Scepter of Destruction, and his third Soul Ring lit up.

Black light bloomed across the night sky like spilled ink. A terrifying pressure erupted from the scepter and spread outward as though tangible.

The surrounding air seemed to freeze, and even the wind stopped.

Qian Renxue's body tensed involuntarily. The Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul within her stirred restlessly, as if it had sensed some fatal threat.

It was a warning born from her Martial Soul's instincts.

Gu Linyuan's third soul skill was far more terrifying than she had imagined.

A moment later, Gu Linyuan withdrew his Soul Power, and the black glow slowly faded.

Qian Renxue let out a breath, only to realize that cold sweat had already soaked her back.

"What soul skill is it, exactly?"

She could not help asking again.

Gu Linyuan turned around and looked at her.

Under the moonlight, the boy's lips curved faintly upward, and a meaningful gleam flickered through his black eyes.

"You want to know?"

Qian Renxue nodded.

Gu Linyuan smiled.

He put away the Scepter of Destruction, slipped his hands into his pockets, and walked toward Qian Renxue.

His pace was slow and casual.

Yet with every step he took, Qian Renxue's heartbeat quickened.

He drew closer and closer to her.

Gu Linyuan stopped before Qian Renxue and looked down at her.

Moonlight spilled from behind him, shrouding his face in shadow. Only those black eyes could be seen, shining like two stars.

He slowly bent down and moved closer to Qian Renxue.

Close enough that she could see the curve of his eyelashes and feel the warmth of his breath.

Qian Renxue's body stiffened, as if she had been immobilized.

Gu Linyuan's lips moved beside Qian Renxue's ear, so close they nearly brushed her earlobe.

Then he spoke.

His voice was soft, carrying a trace of amusement.

"Not telling you."

Qian Renxue froze.

Gu Linyuan straightened up, smiling as he stepped back two paces. With his arms folded over his chest, he looked at her leisurely.

Qian Renxue's golden eyes widened round, churning with embarrassment, indignation, anger, and an indescribable flutter in her heart.

"Gu—Lin—yuan!"

She gritted out his name, each word seeming to squeeze through her teeth.

"You played me?"

"You were the one who asked." Gu Linyuan blinked innocently.

"So that's how you answer when I ask?"

"What else?" Gu Linyuan shrugged. "You're not my enemy. I can't exactly throw my soul skill at you."

Qian Renxue was left speechless, her chest heaving violently, the sliver of pale skin exposed there swaying under the moonlight in a dizzying fashion.

"All right, I'll stop teasing you. My third soul skill is a buff-type skill that doubles my combat capabilities for a short period."

"Hmph. A buff-type soul skill? That's not bad."

Qian Renxue nodded. This kind of buff-type soul skill was highly practical in actual combat.

If he used his second soul skill while activating his third, Gu Linyuan's short-term explosive power would soar to an unimaginable level.

"Did anything happen while I was absorbing the Soul Ring?"

Gu Linyuan asked.

"Yes. I sensed an incredibly terrifying roar. That beast's roar must have come from an extremely powerful Soul Beast. It may even have been a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast." Qian Renxue's expression turned grave.

"Which direction?"

Gu Linyuan asked.

Based on the timeline, it should be about time.

It was time to teach Tang San a lesson as well.

If he snatched Tang San's Eight Spider Lances right in front of him, he wondered how Tang San would feel.

Not only would he take this External Soul Bone, but he also had to make Tang San understand exactly what he had lost.

Only then would it truly stab him in the heart.

"You're not thinking of going to join the fun, are you? Are you really not afraid of dying?"

"When you can start over, you can do whatever you want." Gu Linyuan shrugged.

"You may not be afraid of dying, but I am. I only have one life." Qian Renxue shot Gu Linyuan a glare.

"It's fine. If something really happens to you, I'll have my mother collect your soul. How about becoming my maid in your next life?" Gu Linyuan patted Qian Renxue on the shoulder and said with complete seriousness.

"Go to hell!"

Qian Renxue and Gu Linyuan bickered as they hurried toward the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest.

Gu Linyuan was in a rush. He did not want Tang San to get the Eight Spider Lances first.

"Miss Meng Yiran, I yield the honor."

"According to the rules we agreed upon earlier, this Soul Beast belongs to me now."

Tang San said, taking a deep breath.

A trace of pride flashed through his eyes.

Tang San might hesitate if Gu Linyuan challenged him in something else, but when it came to hidden weapons, no one in this world could surpass him. Unless...

Tang San's eyes shifted to Zhu Zhuqing's hands. He could not see through Zhu Zhuqing's claw gauntlets.

"A bet is a bet. I, Meng Yiran, can afford to lose."

Even though she was trembling with rage, Meng Yiran could only admit that she was inferior. Dragon Duke and Snake Granny could only accept the loss as well.

Just as Tang San was preparing to absorb the Soul Ring, a voice he had never expected rang out.

"Wait."

"I have a different opinion regarding who this Soul Beast belongs to."

As the words fell, Gu Linyuan and Qian Renxue quietly appeared.