Star Luo City's center.
On a busy street.
After parting with the two women, Qin Xuan didn't return to Spirit City right away. Instead, he wandered alone through this city, which felt both familiar and strange.
When he passed a grand mansion, he stopped.
Two bold, flowing characters were carved prominently across its plaque: "Zhu Mansion."
I wonder if Zhu Zhuqing is still inside. And I wonder how my mother is doing now... As Qin Xuan pondered this, the black-armored soldier guarding the entrance approached and asked:
"Young master, may I ask whom you're looking for?"
"Is the Zhu Family's second young miss inside?" Qin Xuan asked calmly.
"Who are you to the second young miss?" The black-armored soldier grew wary at his words.
"I'm her friend. I've come specifically to repay a kindness from years ago. Sorry for the trouble, but please pass on the message." As Qin Xuan replied nonchalantly, he swept his spiritual power through the mansion.
Then he shook his head slightly, his expression turning melancholy.
"So you're a friend of the second young miss. My apologies for not recognizing you!" the black-armored soldier said obsequiously.
With Qin Xuan's appearance and attire, anyone could tell at a glance that he was a young master from some great family.
Even though the black-armored soldier didn't know Qin Xuan's true identity, he still wouldn't dare show him the slightest disrespect.
Qin Xuan was no longer the little beggar anyone could bully, as he had been years ago!
Seeing the black-armored soldier's troubled expression and how he remained silent, Qin Xuan demanded sharply, "The second young miss isn't in the mansion?"
The black-armored soldier nodded slightly and replied, "The second young miss left the mansion two days ago."
"Two days ago..." Qin Xuan murmured, then turned and strode away without looking back.
He had already learned that Zhu Zhuqing wasn't inside when he swept the mansion with his spiritual power.
Asking the guard afterward had only been a way to fish for useful information.
But it was clear that the guard didn't know where Zhu Zhuqing had gone, either.
Qin Xuan furrowed his sword-like brows as he walked, lost in thought. His pace gradually quickened.
It can't be such a coincidence, can it?
Could Zhu Zhuqing have gone to look for Dai Mubai two days ago?
If so, wouldn't Zhu Zhuqing be in grave danger right now?
After all, given the Zhu Family's cruel rules of succession, Zhu Zhuyun would certainly send Soul Masters to hunt Zhu Zhuqing down!
Since she left two days ago, my Nine Nether Evil God Tiger should be fast enough to catch up!
With that thought, dark energy enveloped Qin Xuan. A thunderous sonic boom rang out, and he shot toward the outskirts of Star Luo City like a cannonball.
The Nine Nether Evil God Tiger could fly, but that didn't mean the Soul Master themselves could. It was different from Martial Souls like ordinary birds and beasts.
For example, Ma Hongjun's Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul could only fly temporarily after he gained his third Soul Skill, Phoenix Wing Soaring.
Based on his Martial Soul's characteristics, Qin Xuan believed he would have to reach at least Soul Saint before he awakened the ability to fly for extended periods without restriction.
Three days later.
In a forest on the outskirts of the Star Luo Empire.
Four men and two women—six Soul Masters in all—were hunting down a young woman dressed in black leather. She had a flawless figure and a cool, aloof face.
Her leather outfit was already badly torn in several places. Clearly, she had been on the run for a long time.
"Damn it! These people have been chasing me for five whole days. They're like dog-skin plasters—I can't shake them no matter what I do!"
She glanced back and cursed under her breath.
The Soul Masters chasing her jeered at her:
"Second young miss, you might as well give up. Maybe we'll let you die quickly!"
"Looks like our second young miss is heading for the Heaven Dou Empire!"
"Could that good-for-nothing Dai Mubai be hiding somewhere in Heaven Dou?"
"Hahaha! Does our second young miss think finding Dai Mubai will let her escape her fate?"
"Stop! Don't you dare keep running!"
"..."
As their taunts ended,
Soul Skills of various colors shot through the air toward Zhu Zhuqing.
"Damn it!" Zhu Zhuqing saw them coming and turned to unleash Nether Hundred Claws to block them.
Roar—
Just then, a heaven-shaking tiger's roar rang out.
A black tiger more than eight meters tall came crashing down from the sky.
"Self-Created Soul Skill, Evil Tiger Claw!"
The black tiger moved like a phantom, weaving among the radiance of the six Soul Skills.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A series of collisions rang out.
The black claw marks shattered all six Soul Skills with ease!
At the sight of this, the leading Meteor Hammer Soul Ancestor and the five Soul Elders all stopped in their tracks.
Zhu Zhuqing halted as well, staring in astonishment at the black tiger blocking her way.
"Who dares interfere in the affairs of the Zhu Mansion?" the leading Meteor Hammer Soul Ancestor shouted.
"Heh..." Qin Xuan sneered and returned to his human form. Four Soul Rings rose one after another from his feet—purple, purple, black, black.
"Two Thousand-Year Soul Rings and two Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings!"
"Y-You! Who are you?"
The Meteor Hammer Soul Ancestor shuddered with fear and began edging backward.
"This young master has no desire to explain!"
"Forget it. You might as well go in peace!"
"Black Flame Lotus, appear!"
As Qin Xuan spoke, a black lotus appeared in his pupils, spinning rapidly.
A moment later,
A black lotus the size of an egg took shape in front of Qin Xuan's face.
He flicked it forward with his left hand, sending it straight toward the leading Meteor Hammer Soul Ancestor.
The black lotus looked delicate and fragile. It gave off no trace of energy—not the slightest heat, nor the faintest chill.
Yet the Meteor Hammer Soul Ancestor sensed that the attack couldn't be so simple. His expression turned grave, and he hurriedly unleashed his strongest Soul Skill to defend himself:
"Fourth Soul Skill, Meteor Shock!"
The Meteor Hammer in his left hand swelled by four meters as he swung it around.
Then he whipped the iron chain and hurled the hammer at the little lotus.
But the lotus seemed transparent. It passed straight through the Meteor Hammer and sank into the Soul Ancestor's forehead!
"Ah!!!"
"Please, spare my life!"
His anguished screams echoed through the forest.
The Lone Fiend Black Flame was burning his soul from within, bit by bit.
In less than ten seconds, the screams abruptly stopped.
"Hehehe..." The Meteor Hammer Soul Master stared blankly ahead, chuckling as he bumped into a nearby tree. He had clearly been reduced to an idiot!
"It took one move to kill a Soul Ancestor. We're no match for him—run!"
The Venom Snake Woman Soul Elder came to her senses and was the first to flee in the opposite direction.
The other Soul Masters bolted toward different directions as well.
"Five little mice—do you think this young master can't be in five places at once?" Qin Xuan asked, his expression calm and utterly unruffled.
The black lotus flew out of the Meteor Hammer Soul Ancestor's body, then split into five and pursued the remaining Soul Elders.
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