Zhu Zhuqing's Breakthrough

Perhaps because things had been going too smoothly lately, Ye Guchen and Xuan Zi had been wandering the Star Dou Great Forest for nearly ten days in Dou II without finding a single ideal pet.

Fortunately, neither of them was in a hurry. During these days in the Star Dou Great Forest, Ye Guchen had also put on a bit of a show for Xuan Zi.

He had successfully captured the Taotie's stomach, but now, he clearly regretted showing off his culinary skills.

"Little Chen, why don't we make another round of barbecue and eat our fill before we continue the search?"

Xuan Zi showed none of the dignity expected of a ninety-eighth-level Titled Douluo, leaning in toward Ye Guchen and nudging his shoulder with an elbow.

"Fine, fine, fine!"

Ye Guchen's face was a mask of existential despair as he signaled for Xiao Bing to go catch a ten-thousand-year deer-type soul beast.

Upon hearing this, the Ice Jade Scorpion was also filled with excitement. It had eaten plenty of delicacies over these past few days, and the moment it heard Ye Guchen was going to barbecue again, it waved its two large pincers and vanished into the forest.

Now, following the growth of Ye Guchen's soul power, it had grown into a sixty-thousand-year soul beast; in this region, it was perfectly safe.

Xiao Hong was equally troublesome. Even though it hadn't been called, the moment it heard Ye Guchen was going to barbecue, it transformed into a streak of fire and consciously went off to hunt a soul beast.

Only the Eight-Colored Rainbow Butterfly on his shoulder and Big Eye, who stayed inside the Treasure Tome, were somewhat reassuring.

With the increase in its age, the Seven-Colored Rainbow Butterfly had broken through its limits, entering the sixty-thousand-year soul beast level and evolving into the Eight-Colored Rainbow Butterfly.

Its auxiliary abilities were now enough to rival a sixtieth-level Seven Treasure Glazed Pagoda soul master!

Watching Ye Guchen's look of utter despair, Xuan Zi felt not a shred of psychological burden.

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

This was not the first time Ye Guchen had heard this sentence over the past few days.

Seeing Ye Guchen remain unresponsive, Xuan Zi patted him on the shoulder.

"How about this: from now on, I'll help you find all your pets!"

Hearing this, the corner of Ye Guchen's mouth twitched.

"Are you just eyeing my barbecue, old man?"

Seeing his intentions laid bare, Xuan Zi didn't feel the least bit embarrassed and patted his shoulder again.

"Then it's decided!"

Before long, Xiao Hong and Xiao Bing returned one after another, each carrying a massive ten-thousand-year soul beast.

Ye Guchen looked at the soul beasts, which resembled small hills, and reached up to rub his forehead before pulling out a dagger to begin processing them.

The life of a miserable nanny had begun.

Back in Dou I, after wrapping up the Immeasurable Sword Array, the three of them returned to Heaven Dou City.

On the way back, he didn't forget about Zhu Zhuqing's third soul ring, catching a nearly three-thousand-year Ghost Leopard soul beast along the way.

After knocking it unconscious, he placed it into the Bead Space.

Dugu Bo and the others simply assumed Ye Guchen possessed a storage Soul Tool capable of holding living creatures, and they thought nothing more of it.

After reaching a cooperation agreement with the Soul Guidance Department, the students, upon hearing that he wanted to acquire a large quantity of Soul Tools, worked overtime to produce them, and Ye Guchen had accumulated quite a collection.

Now was the best time to establish the reputation of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion in the Dou I timeline.

He prepared to hold a Soul Tool auction in three days.

By now, Dugu Manor must have already delivered the invitations to the tables of every major faction.

Inside the main hall of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi placed the invitation on the table, stood up abruptly, and looked toward Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo at his side, his face glowing with joy.

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

"The source of that batch of offensive Soul Tools that suddenly appeared on the market has been found."

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

Sword Douluo expressed his confusion. Wasn't it just a batch of Soul Tools used by Soul Ancestors and lower-level soul masters?

"Fengzhi... there's no need to be this excited, is there?"

Hearing this, Ning Fengzhi walked over to Sword Douluo and poured him a cup of tea.

"The attack power of those offensive Soul Tools is indeed not high, but the advantage is that they can be used by anyone with the corresponding level of soul power. Our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect soul masters lack offensive capabilities; if they could be equipped with Soul Tools of the corresponding level, they would have enough power to protect themselves!"

Hearing this, Sword Douluo immediately understood, and at the same time, he realized the importance of this batch of Soul Tools to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

But as a Titled Douluo, he remained much calmer than Ning Fengzhi.

Bone Douluo, standing to the side, also realized the importance of this auction to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

"Then what do you intend to do?"

Hearing this, Ning Fengzhi suppressed the excitement in his heart and took a sip of tea.

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

The two Douluos were fine when it came to fighting, but when it came to the future of the sect, Ning Fengzhi was far more professional.

Hearing this, both Douluo offered no objections.

The same thing was happening across the two great empires and Martial Soul Hall; all parties attached great importance to this auction.

As for the undercurrents surging among the various factions, Ye Guchen remained completely indifferent.

At this moment, Ye Guchen was in the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, arranging matters for the auction with Zhu Zhuqing and a group of managers.

"Have you all remembered? This is a golden opportunity for our Hundred Treasures Pavilion to make a name for itself. If anyone has any questions, speak up now."

"Understood!"

The managers responded in unison.

"Good! Then go and prepare yourselves."

After settling all the arrangements, Ye Guchen turned his gaze toward Zhu Zhuqing.

"Zhuqing, I'm afraid you'll have to work hard these next few days."

Zhu Zhuqing leaned her head against his shoulder, remaining silent, responding to Ye Guchen's concern only with her actions.

Breathing in the faint fragrance wafting from Zhu Zhuqing's hair, Ye Guchen suddenly remembered that he had yet to give her the immortal herb he had prepared.

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

"Right, the auction starts in three days. As the lady boss, it's time to boost your strength."

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

"This is?"

Ye Guchen explained patiently.

"This is the immortal herb Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone. It has the effects of nourishing tendons and bones, clearing meridians, and increasing soul power."

Ye Guchen placed the jade box into Zhu Zhuqing's hands, his fingertips inadvertently brushing against her palm, carrying a reassuring warmth.

"Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone..." Zhu Zhuqing whispered the name. The jade box felt warm and smooth in her hand, and she could faintly smell a refreshing fragrance. Just holding it made the soul power in her body stir, as if pulled by some unseen force.

"This immortal herb is extremely gentle. There are no strict taboos when consuming it; you only need to calm your mind and guide the medicinal power to circulate through your body."

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

"I will stay with you. Just absorb the immortal herb with peace of mind."

Zhu Zhuqing looked up at him. Those eyes, usually as cold as frost, were now shimmering with a soft light. She nodded gently without saying anything more; words were no longer needed between them.

Zhu Zhuqing opened the jade box. An immortal herb, snow-white and as exquisite as if carved from ice and jade, lay quietly inside. A water-like luster could be faintly seen at the roots, and the entire herb exuded a cold, pure aura.

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

The immortal herb melted upon contact, turning into a cool liquid that flowed down her throat into her abdomen. Immediately after, a warm and majestic medicinal power exploded within her, surging toward her limbs and bones like a trickling stream.

Zhu Zhuqing sat cross-legged, the soul power of her Hell Spirit Cat martial soul circulating automatically, guiding the medicinal power to seep into her meridians, bones, and muscles.

The medicinal power of the Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone was extremely gentle, devoid of any violence, yet it was as fine and persistent as spring rain nourishing all things.

She could clearly feel her meridians becoming increasingly tough and wide under the nourishment of the medicine. A faint tingling sensation spread through her bones—that was her bone structure being strengthened and nourished in a subtle, transformative way.

Even her skin began to glow with a lustrous sheen, and a faint fragrance seeped from her pores.

Meanwhile, the soul power within her was climbing at an astonishing speed.

Twenty-eight levels... twenty-nine levels...

Zhu Zhuqing calmed her mind, letting the soul power surge and gallop within her.

The Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone was not only strengthening her physical body but also serving as the cornerstone for her future path.

The bottleneck that had held her back for so long quietly melted away under the impact of this warm, unstoppable medicinal power, much like spring ice meeting the warm sun.

Thirty levels!

Upon breaking through to level thirty, the soul power stopped rising due to the lack of a soul ring.

However, the soul power remained, merely accumulating within her body.

The moment her soul power broke through, Zhu Zhuqing felt her entire being become lighter. The circulation of soul power within her was no longer obstructed, and her understanding of the Hell Spirit Cat martial soul deepened significantly.

It was not until an incense stick later that Zhu Zhuqing finished absorbing the medicinal power of the immortal herb.

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

Zhu Zhuqing slowly opened her eyes. They were brighter and deeper than before, and the aura around her was a world apart from what it had been.

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

Zhu Zhuqing slowly stood up and came to Ye Guchen's side. The coldness on her face had softened considerably. She looked at Ye Guchen, her lips curling slightly upward: "Very smooth, and my soul power has already broken through to level thirty."

"That's perfect." Ye Guchen smiled and took the unconscious Ghost Leopard out of the Bead Space. "A three-thousand-year Ghost Leopard soul ring is just right for you now."

Zhu Zhuqing looked at the jet-black soul beast with faint dark patterns flowing over its body. The resonance of her Hell Spirit Cat martial soul gave her a natural sense of affinity with this Ghost Leopard.

She glanced at Ye Guchen, feeling a wave of warmth in her heart.

"You really are quite thoughtful."

Having said that, she leaned in and pressed her lips against Ye Guchen's.

A moment later, they parted.

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

"Go ahead and absorb the spirit ring; I will stand guard for you."

Zhu Zhuqing hesitated no longer. With a flick of her slender hand, a sharp claw-light slashed across the Ghost Leopard's throat, the final blow clean and decisive.

As the Ghost Leopard's life faded away, a purple spirit ring slowly rose into the air.

She sat cross-legged, her Hell Spirit Cat martial soul manifesting behind her, and began guiding the purple spirit ring toward herself.