Zhu Zhuqing Breaks Through

Perhaps things had been going too smoothly lately. Over on Dou II's side, Ye Guchen and Xuan Zi had spent nearly ten days wandering around the Star Dou Great Forest without finding a single suitable pet beast.

Fortunately, neither of them was in a hurry. During those days in the Star Dou Great Forest, Ye Guchen had also treated Xuan Zi to a display of his skills.

He had successfully won over this Taotie's stomach, but now he clearly regretted showing off his cooking.

"Xiao Chen, how about grilling some meat so we can eat our fill before we keep searching?"

Xuan Zi showed none of the dignity befitting a Level 98 Titled Douluo. He came up to Ye Guchen and hooked an arm over his shoulder.

"Fine, fine, fine!"

Ye Guchen wore a look of utter despair and sent Xiao Bing off to catch a ten-thousand-year deer Soul Beast.

At his words, the Ice Jade Scorpion was visibly thrilled. It had eaten plenty of delicious food these past few days, and the moment it heard Ye Guchen was going to grill meat again, it waved its two pairs of giant pincers and vanished into the forest.

Now, with Ye Guchen's Soul Power increasing, it had grown into a sixty-thousand-year Soul Beast. In this area, it was perfectly safe.

Xiao Hong was just as troublesome. No one had even called for it, but when it heard Ye Guchen was going to grill meat again, it turned into a streak of fire and went off to catch a Soul Beast on its own.

The only ones who gave him some peace of mind were the Eight-Colored Rainbow Butterfly perched on his shoulder and Big Eye, who stayed inside the Beast Taming Treasure Tome.

As its age increased, the Seven-Colored Rainbow Butterfly had also broken through its limits and reached the level of a sixty-thousand-year Soul Beast. At the same time, it had evolved into an Eight-Colored Rainbow Butterfly.

Its support abilities could now rival those of a Level 60 Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda Soul Master!

Seeing Ye Guchen's utterly despairing expression, Xuan Zi felt not the slightest bit guilty.

"Don't look so aggrieved. Once we've eaten our fill, I'll definitely find you a Golden Hawksbill Turtle to be your sixth pet beast."

Ye Guchen had heard those words more than once over the past few days.

When Ye Guchen didn't respond at all, Xuan Zi patted him on the shoulder.

"How about this? From now on, I'll find all your pet beasts for you!"

At that, Ye Guchen's mouth twitched.

"Are you just after my grilled meat, old man?"

His intentions exposed, Xuan Zi didn't look embarrassed in the slightest. He patted Ye Guchen on the shoulder.

"Then it's settled!"

Before long, Xiao Hong and Xiao Bing returned one after the other, each bringing back a gigantic ten-thousand-year Soul Beast.

Looking at the Soul Beasts before him, each as big as a small mountain, Ye Guchen pressed a hand to his forehead, pulled out a dagger, and began preparing them.

His miserable life as a caretaker had begun.

Over on Dou I's side, after putting the finishing touches on the Immeasurable Sword Array, the three of them returned to Heaven Dou City.

On the way back, he hadn't forgotten Zhu Zhuqing's third Soul Ring. He had caught a Ghost Leopard Soul Beast nearly three thousand years old along the way.

After knocking it unconscious, he had placed it inside the Bead Space.

Dugu Bo and his companion had simply assumed Ye Guchen also had a Storage Soul Tool capable of holding living things and hadn't given it a second thought.

After reaching an agreement with the Soul Guidance Department, the students had all started working overtime as soon as they heard he wanted to buy Soul Tools in bulk. Ye Guchen had also managed to stockpile quite a few.

This was the perfect opportunity to make a name for the Hundred Treasures Pavilion in the Dou I timeline.

He planned to hold a Soul Tool auction three days later.

By now, Dugu Manor had probably delivered invitations to the tables of all the various factions.

Inside the main hall of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi set the invitation on the table, sprang to his feet, and looked toward the Sword and Bone Douluos beside him, his face alight with joy.

"Uncle Sword, Uncle Bone, we've found it."

"We've found the source of that batch of offensive Soul Tools that suddenly appeared on the market."

Even as the sect master of one of the Upper Three Sects, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, he had lost his usual composure.

Sword Douluo didn't understand. Wasn't it just a batch of Soul Tools for Soul Masters below the Soul Ancestor rank?

"Fengzhi... surely there's no need to get this excited."

At that, Ning Fengzhi went over to Sword Douluo and poured him a cup of tea.

"The offensive power of those Soul Tools isn't all that high, but the good thing is that anyone with the corresponding level of Soul Power can use them. Our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Soul Masters lack offensive abilities. If we can equip them with Soul Tools suited to their level, they'll have enough power to protect themselves!"

Hearing this, Sword Douluo understood. He also realized how important this batch of Soul Tools was to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

But as a Titled Douluo, he was still far more composed than Ning Fengzhi.

Bone Douluo beside them also realized how important this auction was to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

"So what do you plan to do?"

At that, Ning Fengzhi forced down his excitement and took a sip of tea.

"There's no time to lose. Uncle Sword and I will go meet the owner of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion ahead of time. It would be best if we could arrange a long-term partnership."

The two Douluos were capable enough in battle, but when it came to the sect's future, Ning Fengzhi was the expert.

Neither Douluo objected.

The same thing was happening in the two great empires and Spirit Hall. Every side attached great importance to this auction.

Ye Guchen paid no attention to the undercurrents swirling among the various factions.

At that moment, Ye Guchen was in the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, arranging the auction with Zhu Zhuqing and a group of stewards.

"Have you all got it? This is a great chance for the Hundred Treasures Pavilion to make a name for itself. If anyone still has questions, speak up now."

"Understood!"

The stewards answered in unison.

"Good! Then go make the preparations."

After arranging everything, Ye Guchen finally turned his attention to Zhu Zhuqing.

"Zhuqing, you'll probably have to work hard these next few days."

Zhu Zhuqing rested her head on his shoulder and said nothing, replying to his concern with a simple gesture.

Smelling the delicate fragrance in Zhu Zhuqing's hair, Ye Guchen remembered that he still hadn't given her the Immortal Herb he had prepared.

He immediately handed Zhu Zhuqing the jade box containing the Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone.

"By the way, the auction starts in three days. It's time to raise the strength of the lady boss a little, too."

Hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing took the jade box, her face full of confusion.

"What's this?"

Ye Guchen patiently explained.

"This is the Immortal Herb Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone. It nourishes the muscles and bones, opens the meridians, and increases Soul Power."

As Ye Guchen handed the jade box to Zhu Zhuqing, his fingertips brushed against her palm by chance, warm and reassuring.

"Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone..." Zhu Zhuqing softly repeated the name. The jade box felt warm in her hands, and she could faintly smell a refreshing fragrance. Just holding it made her Soul Power stir, as though something were drawing it in.

"This Immortal Herb is very gentle, so there's little to worry about when taking it. Just calm your mind and guide its medicinal power through your body."

Ye Guchen led her to sit down in an inner room of the pavilion.

"I'll stay with you. Just relax and absorb the Immortal Herb."

Zhu Zhuqing looked up at him. Her usually cold, frosty eyes now held a gentle light. She gave a slight nod without saying much. The two of them had long since outgrown the need for extra words.

Zhu Zhuqing opened the jade box. A pure-white Immortal Herb, as if carved from ice and jade, lay quietly inside. A watery sheen seemed to flow around its roots, and the entire plant gave off a cool, pure aura.

Without hesitation, she took out the Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone, parted her red lips, and slowly swallowed it.

The Immortal Herb melted as soon as it entered her mouth, becoming a cool liquid that slid down her throat and into her stomach. Then a warm, surging medicinal power burst through her body, flowing toward her limbs and bones like a gentle stream.

Zhu Zhuqing sat cross-legged. The Soul Power of her Hell Spirit Cat Martial Soul began circulating on its own, guiding the medicinal power into her meridians, bones, and muscles.

The Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone's power was extremely gentle, without the slightest hint of violence, yet it flowed steadily through her like spring rain soaking the earth.

She could clearly feel her meridians growing tougher and wider as the medicinal power nourished them. A faint tingling ran through her bones as they were strengthened and nourished, little by little.

Even her skin took on a lustrous glow, and a faint fragrance seeped from her pores.

The Soul Power within her was climbing at an astonishing rate.

Level 28... Level 29...

Zhu Zhuqing's mind remained calm as she let her Soul Power surge through her body.

The Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone was not only strengthening her body; it was also laying the foundation for the road ahead.

The bottleneck that had held her back for so long quietly melted away under the warm, unstoppable force of the herb, like spring sunshine falling on ice.

Level 30!

Only when she broke through to Level 30 did her Soul Power stop rising, since she had no Soul Ring.

But her Soul Power was still there; it had simply accumulated inside her body.

The moment her Soul Power broke through, Zhu Zhuqing felt lighter all over. Her Soul Power flowed without the slightest obstruction, and her understanding of the Hell Spirit Cat Martial Soul deepened.

It took another quarter of an hour for Zhu Zhuqing to finish absorbing the Immortal Herb's medicinal power.

By then, the room was already filled with a rich floral fragrance.

Zhu Zhuqing slowly opened her eyes. They were brighter and more profound than before, and her aura had changed beyond recognition.

Seeing she had finished absorbing the herb, Ye Guchen hurriedly asked with concern, "Zhuqing, how do you feel?"

Zhu Zhuqing slowly stood and went to Ye Guchen's side. The chill in her expression had softened. She looked at him, the corners of her lips lifting slightly. "It went smoothly, and my Soul Power has already broken through to Level 30."

"Perfect." Ye Guchen smiled and took the unconscious Ghost Leopard from the Bead Space. "A three-thousand-year Ghost Leopard Soul Ring is just right for you now."

Zhu Zhuqing looked at the Ghost Leopard, its body pitch-black with faint patterns flowing across it. The resonance with her Hell Spirit Cat Martial Soul gave her a natural affinity for the beast.

She glanced at Ye Guchen, feeling a surge of warmth.

"You really did think of everything."

With that, she leaned in and kissed Ye Guchen on the lips.

A moment later, their lips parted.

Feeling the lingering fragrance on his lips, Ye Guchen rubbed Zhu Zhuqing's cheek.

"Absorb the Soul Ring first. I'll protect you."

Zhu Zhuqing didn't hesitate any longer. With a sweep of her jade hand, a sharp claw strike cut through the Ghost Leopard's throat, delivering the final blow cleanly.

As the Ghost Leopard's life ebbed away, a purple Soul Ring slowly rose into the air.

She sat cross-legged. Her Hell Spirit Cat Martial Soul appeared behind her, guiding the purple Soul Ring toward her.