White Tiger Light Wave, Arrow of the Scorching Sun

Sword Douluo Chen Xin, who had been observing in silence, finally spoke, his voice like the soft chime of a blade: "This child is not simple."

"The forging technique he used yesterday appeared basic, yet with every strike, his soul power permeated the material's texture with perfect uniformity."

"His efficiency in refining the raw material is exceptionally high. Judging solely by these fundamental forging skills, he is already on par with a High-Level Blacksmith who has spent years honing his craft."

"What?" Gu Rong was stunned.

Ning Fengzhi also wore a look of shock: "Uncle Sword, are you certain?"

"A High-Level Blacksmith... in all of Suotuo City, there is only one on record, isn't there? This Ji Feng, he looks to be no more than twelve years old..."

Chen Xin's gaze was profound as he nodded: "I saw it clearly. The way he circulates his soul power is vastly different from an ordinary blacksmith."

"It seems... to carry a unique 'rhythm' that can stimulate the material's properties more thoroughly. His talent in the art of forging is likely far beyond our imagination."

Gu Rong opened his mouth, but this time, he did not refute.

He merely looked in the direction where Ji Feng had disappeared, his expression turning one of suspicion and uncertainty.

A twelve-year-old High-Level Blacksmith? If this news were to spread, it would surely cause a massive tremor in both the Spirit Master and Blacksmith worlds!

Ji Feng paid no mind to the internal shock of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Carrying the joy of having upgraded to a High-Level Blacksmith and a clear forging goal in mind, he returned quickly to Suotuo City and headed toward the Rose Hotel.

Just as he reached the relatively quiet street near the hotel, he saw a girl in black leather with a fiery figure.

She was walking out of the hotel entrance, looking utterly dejected. Her beauty was breathtaking, but her face was pale, her eyes hollow, and she was biting her lower lip—it was Zhu Zhuqing.

In her mind, the scene she had inadvertently glimpsed outside the hotel room just moments ago kept flashing back: Dai Mubai, arms around two scantily clad women, laughing and frolicking...

That grating laughter pierced her heart like a needle.

Anger, disappointment, grievance, and a trace of stinging pain she refused to admit even to herself were all intertwined.

She even had an absurd thought: Why should he be allowed such indulgence while she had to uphold that ridiculous engagement and bear the pressure all on her own?

But as soon as this thought arose, she forcibly suppressed it, leaving only a deeper sense of disgust and coldness.

"Filthy..." she whispered to herself, wanting only to leave this place quickly, completely unaware that she had walked into the middle of the street.

Just then, the sound of rapid hoofbeats and a coachman's shouting erupted!

"Move! Get out of the way!"

A gorgeously decorated carriage, seemingly spooked, was barreling toward the spot where Zhu Zhuqing stood!

The coachman pulled desperately at the reins, but the carriage was moving too fast; it was about to collide with Zhu Zhuqing, who seemed not to have reacted in time!

At the critical moment!

A black shadow swept in from the side at incredible speed! It was Ji Feng!

He had no time to think; he instinctively reached out, wrapped his arm around Zhu Zhuqing's slender yet supple waist, and with a burst of soul power beneath his feet, he retreated several steps to the side!

Zhu Zhuqing's form was soft.

Her waist was slender.

Especially her full chest, which was pressed against him as he held her.

That soft, squeezing sensation made Ji Feng's scalp tingle for a fleeting moment.

"Ah!" Zhu Zhuqing gasped, feeling the scent of a strange man wash over her.

She had instantly fallen into a powerful embrace.

The carriage roared past with a gust of wind, brushing against the hem of their clothes before coming to a halt more than ten meters away.

Safe.

Zhu Zhuqing's heart was still pounding, her shock yet to subside.

Then, she suddenly realized she was being held tightly in the arms of a stranger.

Her cheek was pressed against his solid chest, and she could even hear his steady heartbeat.

Having never had such intimate contact with a man before, a flush of red instantly bloomed on her cheeks, and a hint of panic flickered in her usually cold, icy eyes.

"Let go!" she hissed, struggling with force.

Ji Feng immediately released her, stepped back half a pace, and lowered the hood that had been covering his head: "My apologies, it was an emergency; I meant no offense."

His tone was calm.

Zhu Zhuqing straightened her slightly disheveled collar and took a deep breath.

She tried to regain her usual coldness, but her slightly trembling fingertips betrayed her inner turmoil.

She glanced at Ji Feng and whispered: "...Thank you." Her voice was as faint as a mosquito's hum.

However, just as the atmosphere turned subtly awkward, a voice of extreme rage thundered at the entrance of the Rose Hotel:

"Zhuqing! You... what are you two doing?!"

Dai Mubai had appeared at the entrance of the Rose Hotel at some unknown moment.

His clothes were slightly disheveled, and a flush from his recent carousing still lingered on his face.

Yet, at this moment, those evil eyes were filled with disbelief and monstrous rage!

He had just sent those two women away, wanting to step out for some air and see if Zhuqing had truly left.

He never expected to see a scene that made him want to cough up blood.

His betrothed, the one he had claimed, was actually being held in the arms of a boy in a black robe!

Although it appeared to be for the sake of saving her, the sight of such intimate contact was enough to make this Star Luo Prince, with his extreme possessiveness, lose his sanity!

"Brat! Daring to touch my woman, you have already found your way to death! Go to hell!"

Dai Mubai completely snapped, no longer caring about any sense of decorum. He roared, and the second soul ring beneath his feet flared with brilliant light!

"Second Soul Skill: White Tiger Intense Light Wave!"

A white beam of light, brimming with destructive power, erupted from his mouth.

Carrying a sharp whistle, it shot straight toward Ji Feng!

Dai Mubai's level thirty-seven soul power was unleashed without reservation; this strike was clearly intended to kill Ji Feng on the spot!

At this moment, Ji Feng's soul power was at level thirty-six, seemingly only a one-level difference.

But one was an assault-type Battle Soul Elder, and the other was a long-range archer. Being ambushed at such close range put him in an extremely disadvantageous position.

However, there was not a trace of panic in Ji Feng's eyes.

Facing the incoming White Tiger Intense Light Wave, he did not choose to take it head-on, nor did he attempt to dodge completely—doing so might have endangered Zhuqing standing nearby.

His reaction was as swift as a ghost!

His feet shifted, and his body slid to the side by a hair's breadth.

At the same time, his right hand gripped the air; the Hou Yi Martial Soul did not fully manifest, but an invisible ripple of soul power instantly locked onto Dai Mubai!

"Fourth Soul Skill: Arrow of the Scorching Sun!"

Hou Yi's ultimate move.

One hundred percent stun!

"Hm?!" Dai Mubai felt his head go "buzz."

It was as if he had been struck hard by an invisible heavy hammer, and the release of his soul skill suffered an extremely brief moment of rigidity.

His consciousness blurred for about one second! It was in this one second that the White Tiger Intense Light Wave he spat out deviated ever so slightly, grazing the edge of Ji Feng's black robe and slamming into the ground behind him, blasting out a shallow crater.

Taking advantage of this brief gap, Ji Feng's soul power surged again, his figure drifting backward like the wind, landing lightly on the stone steps of the Rose Hotel and putting distance between himself and Dai Mubai.