"Why?"
Mu Chen stepped forward, led Xiao Wu back to the bedroom, and looked at her with concern.
"I... I'm scared!"
Xiao Wu still didn't have the courage to tell him that she was a soul beast who had taken human form.
"Don't be afraid. Your teacher is here."
"Your teacher will protect you."
Mu Chen gently patted Xiao Wu's shoulder, soothing her softly and making her a promise.
"Teacher, what if lots of people try to kill me someday? What should I do?" Xiao Wu nestled against Mu Chen, her eyes faintly reddening.
Mu Chen's expression turned serious. "Then they'll have to step over my dead body first."
"Teacher!"
Tears streamed down Xiao Wu's face as she hugged Mu Chen tightly.
"Don't cry, don't cry~"
Mu Chen couldn't help but feel moved. He really was a beast.
Still, at least Xiao Wu wouldn't have to die by sacrificing herself as long as she stayed with him.
He wasn't interested in Xiao Wu's Soul Rings, either.
He only hoped Xiao Wu would work hard at cultivating and advance quickly, so he could receive the system's rewards.
"Xiao Wu, actually, I'm only a few years older than you. When we're alone, you can call me Big Brother Mu Chen."
Mu Chen put an arm around Xiao Wu and smiled faintly.
"Big Brother Mu Chen? That's so cheesy!"
Xiao Wu blushed as she teased him.
Mu Chen thought it was pretty cheesy, too.
Xiao Wu asked curiously, "Teacher, how much older are you than me?"
Mu Chen smiled. "I'm only six years older than you."
Xiao Wu was shocked. "Only six years?"
Mu Chen nodded with a smile. "You can't tell Xiao San about this. It has to stay between us."
Xiao Wu nodded blankly. "Okay~"
A year and a half passed in the blink of an eye.
Xiao Wu broke through to level twenty and took ten days' leave, saying she wanted to go home for a while.
Mu Chen knew the reason very well, so he helped Xiao Wu request those ten days off.
That night.
Mu Chen also learned from the system that Xiao Wu had broken through and become a Soul Grandmaster.
[ Ding--! Xiao Wu has broken through a major realm! ] [ The host has obtained the Succubus Holy Body! It comes with innate charm and is especially effective on the opposite sex! ] [ Rewarded cultivation art: Yin Yang Heart-Link Art! ] [ Soul Power increased by 1 level! Current level: 59! ] [ One innate Soul Ring! ] [ All Soul Ring ages increased by 500 years! ] [ First Martial Soul: Radiant Dragon King ] [ First Soul Ring Skill: Dragon King's Verdict! 5,400 years → 5,900 years! ] [ Second Soul Ring Skill: Dragon King's Roar! 5,800 years → 6,300 years! ] [ Third Soul Ring Skill: Holy Light Illuminates the World! 7,500 years → 8,000 years! ] [ Fourth Soul Ring Skill: Radiant Dragon Judgment! 10,000 years → 10,500 years! ] [ Fifth Soul Ring Skill: Radiant Dragon Fury! 32,200 years → 32,700 years! ]
Awesome!
Those two words instinctively surfaced in Mu Chen's mind.
A little over a month later, Tang San also broke through to level twenty and came to find Mu Chen.
The Soul Hunting Forest.
Mu Chen helped Tang San hunt a Ghost Vine that was over six hundred years old.
After absorbing the Ghost Vine's Soul Ring, Tang San advanced to level twenty-one and gained the Soul Skill Parasite.
[ Ding--! Tang San has broken through a major realm! ] [ The host's Soul Power increased by 1 level! Current level: 60! ] [ All Soul Ring ages increased by 500 years! ] [ First Martial Soul: Radiant Dragon King ] [ First Soul Ring Skill: Dragon King's Verdict! 5,900 years → 6,400 years! ] [ Second Soul Ring Skill: Dragon King's Roar! 6,300 years → 6,800 years! ] [ Third Soul Ring Skill: Holy Light Illuminates the World! 8,000 years → 8,500 years! ] [ Fourth Soul Ring Skill: Radiant Dragon Judgment! 10,500 years → 11,000 years! ] [ Fifth Soul Ring Skill: Radiant Dragon Fury! 32,700 years → 33,200 years! ]
What the hell!
Mu Chen wanted nothing more than to curse.
They'd both advanced by one major realm, so why was the difference so huge?
Tang San's aptitude was just too poor!
"Teacher, I discovered that the first and second Soul Skills have a remarkable effect when used together!"
Just then, Tang San wanted to show Mu Chen what he'd come up with.
"Let me see."
Mu Chen wanted to see what Tang San could come up with, too.
"Second Soul Skill, Parasite!"
"First Soul Skill, Blue Silver Bamboo Staff!"
"Combination Skill, Blue Silver Piercing Array!"
In an instant, the seeds Tang San had scattered earlier sprouted into bamboo stalks.
"Not bad!"
"Keep it up!"
Mu Chen smiled and patted Tang San's head.
"Thank you for the praise, teacher!"
Tang San beamed. Mu Chen's compliment even made him a little embarrassed.
The two returned to Nuoding Academy.
Mu Chen shut himself away and began absorbing the innate Soul Ring the system had rewarded him earlier for Xiao Wu's breakthrough.
In the end, the innate Soul Ring reached sixty thousand years, and Mu Chen advanced to Soul Emperor.
He became the youngest Soul Emperor in history.
Half a year later.
Star Luo City.
"Dai Mubai has probably already gone to Shrek Academy. Zhu Zhuqing is under more and more pressure now, and she's also disappointed in Dai Mubai. This is just when she needs someone to take advantage of... No, when she needs help the most. I have a duty to step in."
Mu Chen silently considered his plan.
Now that he had reached the Soul Emperor realm, he didn't take the Zhu Family, whose strongest members were only Soul Saints, seriously.
Just Soul Saints.
Although he had never fought a Soul Saint before, with his divine-level Martial Soul, the Radiant Dragon King, he figured he could defeat a Soul Saint with a high-ranking Martial Soul like the Hell Spirit Cat even if they were ten or twenty levels above him.
After finding the Zhu Family, Mu Chen easily slipped inside.
In a quiet courtyard in the Zhu Family compound, flowers of every color bloomed.
Young Zhu Zhuqing still didn't know that Dai Mubai had left Star Luo City.
At that moment.
Her older sister, Zhu Zhuyun, entered the courtyard and told Zhu Zhuqing that Dai Mubai had already left. "Little sister, your fiancé has fled to the Heaven Dou Empire. You didn't know?"
"Impossible."
Zhu Zhuqing's reply was simple and resolute. Her expression was stern, too.
"Heh... I knew you wouldn't believe me, but it's the truth."
"Your fiancé has always been a coward. He doesn't even have the courage to face Wei Si, and now he's fled to the Heaven Dou Empire. He's brought shame on the entire imperial family."
"His Majesty is furious."
Zhu Zhuyun spoke with disdain.
At her words, Zhu Zhuqing's expression turned especially cold.
"Look after yourself!"
After saying that, Zhu Zhuyun turned and left.
The courtyard was once again left with only Zhu Zhuqing. A breeze swept through, lifting petals into the air.
Mu Chen suddenly appeared.
He appeared before Zhu Zhuqing with his Radiant Dragon King Martial Soul Possessed.
Zhu Zhuqing saw the entire scene unfold before her eyes, as if a deity had descended.
"Who are you?"
Zhu Zhuqing froze, staring at Mu Chen in confusion. Her beautiful eyes blinked softly, and they were faintly reddened.
"Someone who can help you defy fate and change your life."
Mu Chen plucked a flower, tucked it beside Zhu Zhuqing's ear, then patted her head.
"Come with me. Leave this place."
Zhu Zhuqing asked instinctively, "Where?"
"Somewhere no one will ever bully you again," Mu Chen said gently.
He held out his hand to Zhu Zhuqing.
She looked at the dragon claw covered in dragon scales, hesitated, then slowly reached out her hand.
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