New Guardian Mission, Long-Term Mission

Zhu Zhuqing stared fixedly at the enormous pair of eyes in the night, as though clutching at a lifeline in her despair. Her emotions nearly spiraled out of control as she cried hysterically, "I beg you, Senior, please help me! Zhu Zhuqing has no way to repay you and is willing to serve you like an ox or horse, even unto death!"

At this moment, she was already trapped in a desperate situation. The several Soul Masters gradually approaching her were all Soul Ancestor-level powerhouses, while she was merely a Soul Grandmaster, and only at level twenty-seven.

Facing the encirclement formed by several Soul Ancestors, she had no possible way to escape her current predicament. Left with no alternative, she could only pray that the senior silently watching from the night would lend her aid.

The several Soul Ancestors closing in on Zhu Zhuqing froze when they heard her words.

The leading Soul Ancestor burst into unrestrained laughter. "Miss Zhuqing, how could there possibly be any other Soul Masters in these desolate wilderness mountains? Rather than clinging to such unrealistic hopes and waiting for someone to come save you, you should think carefully about how to die without suffering at all!"

The Soul Ancestors instantly erupted in laughter, their voices growing increasingly sinister and terrifying. Their steps slowly moved forward as they gradually closed in on Zhu Zhuqing, looking as though they were deliberately toying with a trapped mouse.

Zhu Zhuqing watched the black-clad Soul Ancestors approach without making a single move. Her body did not shift in the slightest. She had nowhere left to run and could only place her hopes on the senior watching from the night, praying that he would save her in time!

In the night sky, Black Dragon hung high above the vast heavens. Its majestic Dragon Eye, like a bright lantern, watched everything unfolding below.

Lin Xiao stood steadily atop Black Dragon's head, his hands clasped behind his back. Gentle breezes swept past, stirring the strands of long black hair draped across his shoulders.

Listening to Zhu Zhuqing's cry for help, Lin Xiao's expression remained cold and detached. It was not that he had no intention of acting; he was simply waiting for the right moment.

Save her?

Of course he would!

But under normal circumstances, things obtained too easily were often not treasured. Only experiences that left an unforgettable mark on one's heart could make someone remember them deeply and never forget.

If he chose to help Zhu Zhuqing the moment she called for aid, she might feel grateful afterward.

Yet deep down, she would regard it as help too easily obtained, as if he had not paid much of a price and had merely resolved her trouble in passing. It would not be deeply etched into her heart.

[Guardian Mission, Long-Term Mission: The protagonist Tang San is a future enemy of Spirit Hall, as well as an enemy of the person you have chosen to protect. The protagonist's group are also Tang San's powerful helpers.]

[As a Guardian, how can you sit by and watch the protagonist's group form once again? They will become enemies of Spirit Hall and the person you have chosen to protect. Divide the members of the protagonist's group as much as possible and draw them onto Spirit Hall's chariot, thereby weakening Tang San's destiny.]

[Mission Reward: For every member of the protagonist's group whom the host successfully persuades to leave Shrek Academy, the host will receive a one-level Soul Power increase. A maximum of three may be persuaded, for a total increase of three Soul Power Levels.]

[Does the host accept the mission?]

The system's voice echoed continuously in Lin Xiao's mind. He had not expected this matter to trigger the system's mission mechanism.

The system was right. Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, Oscar, Xiao Wu, Dai Mobai, and Ma Hongjun—if he did nothing, all of them would become Tang San's powerful helpers in the future and enemies of Spirit Hall!

But how could he, as a transmigrator, possibly change nothing?!

Although the protagonist group's character was basically terrible, their talent was still quite good.

Dai Mobai and Ma Hongjun were both downright lecherous fiends, while Tang San was outrageously hypocritical and held double standards. There was no need to mention his personality, and that hundred-thousand-year-old rabbit was cut from the same cloth.

Compared to those four, Zhu Zhuqing, Oscar, and Ning Rongrong had plenty of flaws too, but they were still relatively normal beside Tang San's group.

Those three were the most suitable targets for persuasion. He could not possibly watch the protagonist group form again and become Spirit Hall's mortal enemies.

He had long considered this, though he had not formed a clear plan. Now that the system mission had arrived, it was like adding wings to a tiger. At present, Zhu Zhuqing, a future member of the protagonist group, was in danger.

He still chose to remain an observer, patiently waiting for the right opportunity to act. His purpose was to leave an extremely deep impression on her, increasing the possibility of successfully persuading her in the future to leave Shrek Academy. She did not necessarily have to join Spirit Hall, but she absolutely could not become Tang San's helper!

The system's long-term Guardian Mission was practically tailor-made for him. If he successfully persuaded three members of the protagonist group in the future, he would gain three Soul Power Levels.

This was not a three-level Soul Power increase at the Soul Saint realm, nor was it a three-level Soul Power increase at the Soul Douluo realm. It was a three-level Soul Power increase at the Title Douluo realm.

At the Title Douluo realm, the difference in Soul Power between each level was immediately apparent.

A level ninety-six Title Douluo possessed twenty percent greater Soul Power strength than a level ninety-five Title Douluo.

This meant that Title Douluos below level ninety-five found it difficult to make up for such a gap through martial soul quality, ordinary soul skills, or soul bones.

It could be said that a level ninety-six Title Douluo could suppress every Title Douluo below level ninety-six in all aspects.

A level ninety-seven Title Douluo was another twenty percent stronger than a level ninety-six Title Douluo in terms of Soul Power strength, and nearly fifty percent stronger than a level ninety-five Title Douluo.

A level ninety-eight Title Douluo was thirty percent stronger than a level ninety-seven Title Douluo in terms of Soul Power strength.

A level ninety-nine Limit Douluo possessed forty percent greater Soul Power strength than a level ninety-eight Title Douluo, and two and a half times that of a level ninety-five Title Douluo.

The gap between Title Douluo realms was far more terrifying than the gap from the Soul Master realm to a level eighty-nine Soul Douluo.

(The above only applies to ordinary Soul Masters. Cheat users do not count, such as the protagonists Lin Xiao and Tang San, or Tang Hao, who possessed the Great Sumeru Hammer with all nine rings detonated.)

Lin Xiao understood well the difference in Soul Power strength above level ninety-five among Title Douluos. This mission was tailor-made for him. He had to accept it, and he had to complete it well. Three Soul Power Levels could directly raise his Soul Power Level from ninety-five to ninety-eight.

A three-level difference in Soul Power at the Title Douluo realm could save him an unknown amount of cultivation time.

"Accept the mission," Lin Xiao silently said in his heart.

Having accepted the mission, Lin Xiao gazed indifferently at the situation below and said calmly, "Black Dragon, if she cannot hold on any longer, make sure to seize the right moment and act decisively to save her. Understand?"

Although Black Dragon was full of doubts and truly could not understand why its master wanted to save a girl he had never met, it ultimately nodded lightly with a simple, honest look.

Black Dragon's gemstone-bright eyes focused completely on every movement below. If that girl could no longer hold on, it would strike with thunderous force.