A Purely Supportive Martial Soul?

The night grew deep.

Three youths sat around the campfire, the atmosphere once again sinking into a subtle silence.

Lin Yi silently added firewood to the flames, his heart still tangled in the matter.

[Two troubles, one big trouble, and one even bigger trouble.]

[Forget it, forget it. Since I'm here, I might as well make the best of it.]

[Anyway, I'm planning to slip away the moment I drop the little rabbit off deep in the Star Dou Forest. I'll just find a chance to ditch Zhu Zhuqing then, too.]

As for Lin Yi wanting to ditch them, Xiao Wu was long past being surprised.

After all, throughout this journey, Lin Yi had spent almost all his time pondering how to get rid of her.

But Zhu Zhuqing was different; her heart was currently churning like a stormy sea.

Lin Yi actually planned to ditch both of them?

If Lin Yi wanted to ditch her, it wouldn't have been that surprising.

The key was, he wanted to ditch Xiao Wu as well?

Zhu Zhuqing stole a glance at Xiao Wu, but no matter how she looked, she couldn't find anything amiss.

No, the only thing off was that Lin Yi called Xiao Wu "little rabbit"?

But that wasn't strange either; after all, Xiao Wu's Martial Soul was a rabbit. It was perfectly normal.

Then the only explanation was that Lin Yi simply wanted to be rid of them, simply feeling that having them follow him was a nuisance?

Was this person not a bit too strange?

Clearly appearing gentle and polite, yet his heart was so... contradictory?

Zhu Zhuqing shook her head inwardly, deciding not to dwell on these things for now.

She was more concerned about the matter of fate, but would asking about it intentionally seem too abrupt?

After pondering for a moment, she spoke up: "Lin Yi, Xiao Wu, what are your plans for the next step?"

[Plans?]

[Of course, the plan is to ditch you two.]

The words reached the tip of Lin Yi's tongue, but they turned into a vague, "Well... we'll see how it goes."

Xiao Wu had long expected him to answer this way and immediately took over, saying, "Our plan is to first help me find a suitable third soul ring, then go to Heaven Dou City to take a look."

She winked at Lin Yi as she finished.

The corner of Lin Yi's mouth twitched slightly.

[Why is this little rabbit winking at me? Did she get sand in her eye?]

[Though, her third soul ring really does need to be arranged. She's been stuck at level twenty-nine for quite a while now.]

[Come to think of it, my Myriad Star Core Martial Soul's second soul skill is 'Starlight Charge'. It can charge others and quickly replenish soul power consumption...]

[If a teammate has no soul power consumption, could it help them break through?]

[Although I haven't tested it, theoretically, it's possible.]

The moment this thought surfaced, Zhu Zhuqing, sitting opposite him, felt her eyelashes flutter slightly.

Starlight Charge?

An auxiliary-type Martial Soul could have this kind of function?

Waves surged in her heart, but on the surface, she maintained her cold, elegant expression, though a hint of imperceptible scrutiny entered her eyes as she looked at Lin Yi.

Xiao Wu naturally heard Lin Yi's inner voice as well. A flash of surprise crossed her eyes, but she quickly suppressed it, pretending to be nonchalant as she poked at the campfire.

"Going to Heaven Dou City?" Zhu Zhuqing asked softly, "I heard there are the best Soul Master Academies on the entire continent there."

"That's right!" Xiao Wu immediately grew excited, "Heaven Dou Royal Academy is a place many Soul Masters dream of. Not only that, but Heaven Dou City also has many other excellent academies."

As she spoke, she snuck a glance at Lin Yi: "Lin Yi, what do you think?"

She had learned all of this from Lin Yi's inner voice.

Including things like how Skywater Academy was entirely female Soul Masters, and so on.

Lin Yi was busy calculating the matter of his second soul skill in his heart and replied casually, "Mm, Heaven Dou City is indeed not bad."

[Provided I can ditch you two troublemakers.]

[But then again, if I really use my second soul skill, Starlight Charge, to help Xiao Wu break through, would it be too conspicuous?]

[After all, my displayed soul power is only level nineteen. A level nineteen auxiliary-type Soul Master shouldn't even have a second soul skill yet, so how could I possibly have a skill that allows a Soul Master to break through?]

[If I don't use it, do I really have to waste time with her in the Star Dou Forest, waiting for her to break through naturally?]

[That would be even more troublesome...]

The more Lin Yi thought about it, the more his head ached, and he couldn't help but rub his temples.

Zhu Zhuqing took in his small gestures, becoming increasingly certain that this youth was hiding a massive secret.

A level 19 support-type Soul Master is actually considering helping a level 29 Soul Grand Master break through?

This is simply inconceivable.

Unless... he isn't level 19 at all.

This thought made Zhu Zhuqing's heart beat slightly faster.

Coming from the Zhu family of the Star Luo Empire, she had seen many methods of disguising soul power, usually employed by great clans to protect their gifted descendants.

Could Lin Yi also be a descendant of some reclusive family?

"Lin Yi." Zhu Zhuqing spoke suddenly, her voice remaining cold and detached. "Is your Martial Soul... purely support-type?"

Lin Yi was stunned for a moment, then smiled. "That's right. Aside from illumination and some minor buffs, it's not much use."

Illumination? That's just my most low-key way of putting it.

If I really unleashed my full power, the buff effect would reach at least twenty percent.

And my second soul skill, Starlight Charge, is basically a mobile power bank.

But I can't say these things out loud. If I do, I'll never be able to shake them off.

Although Zhu Zhuqing didn't fully grasp the specific meaning of the strange term "power bank," she could guess the general idea—it likely referred to an ability that increased or replenished soul power.

Her shock deepened even further.

Capable of buffing and replenishing soul power?

This wasn't "not much use" at all; this was clearly the kind of ability only a top-tier support Martial Soul possessed.

Watching the subtle shift in Zhu Zhuqing's expression, Xiao Wu chuckled inwardly.

It seemed this young lady from the Star Luo Empire had also been startled by Lin Yi's inner voice.

However, she wasn't worried about Zhu Zhuqing leaking the secret. After all, judging by Lin Yi's thoughts, Zhu Zhuqing had enough troubles of her own; she hardly had the energy to concern herself with others.

"A purely support-type is quite good, too," Zhu Zhuqing said after a moment of silence. "A team will always need a support Soul Master."

She said this with genuine sincerity.

In the cruel, competitive environment of the Star Luo Empire, an excellent support Soul Master could often change the outcome of an entire battle.

Thinking of the Star Luo Empire brought to mind the struggle between the two brothers, Dai Weisi and Dai Mubai.

Thinking of Dai Mubai brought to mind the "left and right embrace" and the twins that Lin Yi had "mentioned."

A series of scenes surfaced, causing Zhu Zhuqing's once-bright eyes to dim.

Lin Yi didn't notice Zhu Zhuqing's change in demeanor. Hearing her words, he couldn't help but grumble in his heart again.

Need is one thing, but who wants to be a tool that hides in the back and heals forever?

I want to charge to the front and slaughter everything, too, you know?

It's a pity I have no cheat codes, no background, and not enough strength. Exposing my Twin Martial Souls is just asking for death.

Especially now that I'm followed by two troublemakers... this combination is a living target wherever we go.

Thinking of this, Lin Yi couldn't help but sigh again.

Forget it, thinking so much is useless. I'll just take it one step at a time.

I'll see if I can find an opportunity later to head out and get this second soul skill business sorted.

As for Zhu Zhuqing, I hope she leaves on her own so I can avoid any more trouble.