Star Dou Forest's Date

Under the gaze of four junior students—especially Xiao Wu, whose eyes seemed to pierce straight through to her soul—Hu Liena felt her face flush. She certainly couldn't admit that she was only tagging along to curry favor with this man and grind for membership experience.

She cleared her throat, put on her vice-president persona, and found a high-sounding excuse: "The academy has issued a special mission that requires us to head out. Don't ask questions you shouldn't."

"Oh, alright." Xiao Wu nodded, appearing to understand, and didn't press the matter further.

Though they didn't say it out loud, the four girls saw through her like a clear mirror.

What kind of mission required dressing like this? What kind of mission required bringing a mortal along? And with a full set of fishing and barbecue gear, no less?

It was blatantly obvious that she had discovered the secret of the Claw Machine Shop and was using the guise of a "date" to go out and farm [Membership Experience Points]!

Xiao Wu felt a bit sour. She had finally managed to reach Silver Member status, but this senior had gone and taken a giant leap, booking Brother Chuan himself for a trip. If she succeeded, wouldn't her experience points skyrocket to the heavens?

Ning Rongrong clenched her fists in secret. She had only just grasped the trick of "gaining the shopkeeper's favor," and a single kiss had only netted her 10 points.

Hu Liena was taking him straight to the Star Dou Forest—a lone man and a woman—heaven only knew what "new scenarios" she might unlock. The experience points would surely be overflowing.

No, she absolutely could not let her take such a huge advantage all by herself!

The four girls exchanged tacit glances, seeing the same emotion in each other's eyes: a sense of crisis.

However, faced with the vice-president's authority, they couldn't say much and could only watch helplessly as Hu Liena and Qin Chuan departed.

"We're heading back then," Xiao Wu said sullenly, pulling Ning Rongrong away.

"Goodbye, Brother Chuan. Goodbye, Vice-President," Zhu Zhuqing and Bai Chenxiang added politely before following suit.

Watching the four girls walk away, Qin Chuan was left feeling a bit confused. "Why are they acting so strange today?"

Hu Liena chuckled to herself, but replied, "They're probably just nervous because I, the vice-president, am here. Let's go, or we'll miss the best time."

After the two left, Qian Renxue slowly emerged from the shadows of the street corner.

She watched Qin Chuan and Hu Liena board a carriage heading out of the city, then glanced toward the direction where Xiao Wu and the others had left in a huff. Her emerald eyes were filled with bewilderment.

What was going on?

Why was this mortal named Qin Chuan so popular with the girls?

First, Hu Liena was head over heels for him, and now even the four girls from Girls' Dormitory Room 666—who had been the talk of the academy lately—showed clear signs of jealousy and disappointment upon seeing him with her.

Qian Renxue suddenly recalled the task Bibi Dong had assigned her: investigate the reason behind the abnormal strength of the four girls in Room 666 and determine if they were colluding with outside forces.

An absurd, yet seemingly logical, thought surfaced in her mind.

[It couldn't be... could this Qin Chuan be the so-called "outside force"?]

But he was clearly just a powerless mortal without even a shred of spirit power fluctuation. What kind of force could he be? Was he going to use that plain, unremarkable face of his to act as a faction?

Qian Renxue felt her logic being twisted into a tangled mess.

At this moment, the sun was bright and the breeze was gentle.

The carriage carrying Hu Liena and Qin Chuan had already driven out of the city gates, embarking on a "fishing trip" filled with unknowns and anticipation.

What they didn't know was that not far behind them, a figure dressed in ordinary gray casual clothes was following silently.

Hidden in the shade of the trees by the road, Qian Renxue watched the carriage disappear into the distance, her emerald eyes flickering with complex and determined light.

[Hu Liena, Qin Chuan, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing... all of you are connected to that Claw Machine Shop.]

[The Star Dou Forest... very well.]

[I want to see exactly what kind of medicine you are selling in this gourd.]

The carriage rattled along the bumpy dirt road, the wheels crunching over stones with a rhythmic "clatter-clatter" sound.

Inside the cabin, Qin Chuan and Hu Liena sat opposite each other. The space was small, and their knees were almost touching.

Qin Chuan held his fishing rod in his arms, his other hand resting on the grill beside him, his face full of the excitement of an upcoming outing.

Hu Liena, however, seemed somewhat distracted. She could sense the faint, pleasant scent of soap emanating from Qin Chuan, mixed with his warm breath, which made her heartbeat erratic.

"Brother Chuan, you said earlier that you can't cultivate. Is that true?" Hu Liena asked, trying to break the somewhat ambiguous silence.

"Of course it's true." Qin Chuan sighed, his tone tinged with helplessness. "I was born without a spirit. I couldn't even pass the test. In this world, I'm basically no better than a waste."

Hearing the word "waste," Hu Liena's heart skipped a beat. She waved her hands hurriedly. "No, no! Brother Chuan, how could you be a waste? You're such a good person, you're great at business, and you can fish—you're much better than those spirit masters who only know how to fight and kill!"

She said this with genuine sincerity. In her eyes, Qin Chuan was a walking "treasure chest," the embodiment of a god-level opportunity; how could he ever be described as a waste?

Qin Chuan was embarrassed by her sudden praise and scratched his head. "Haha, you're the only one who thinks so. By the way, you mentioned you're the vice-president of the Spirit Academy? You must be very powerful, then?"

"I suppose," Hu Liena smiled modestly, adding specifically, "I'm a level 79 Spirit Saint. In the academy, aside from the president and a few teachers, no one can beat me."

"Level 79!" Qin Chuan gasped.

Although he didn't understand cultivation, he had heard some common knowledge. Anyone above level 70 was a Spirit Saint, a figure at the very pinnacle of the continent. He hadn't expected this delicate, beautiful woman before him to be such a terrifying existence.

"Then doesn't that mean you'll become a Titled Douluo, or even a god, in the future?" Qin Chuan's eyes sparkled with admiration for the strong.

"Become a god..." Hu Liena's gaze dimmed slightly.

That goal was far too distant for her. If she hadn't met Qin Chuan and his Claw Machine Shop, even her next breakthrough would have been a pipe dream, let alone the ethereal prospect of reaching level 100 and ascending to godhood.

But now, looking at Qin Chuan, hope reignited in her heart.

As long as she could keep him happy and earn his "favor," becoming a god—or even a God King—wasn't entirely impossible!

Thinking of this, Hu Liena's body leaned closer to Qin Chuan involuntarily, her voice turning soft and alluring: "Becoming a god is too difficult. However, if Brother Chuan can always stay by my side to support me, perhaps... I really might have a chance."

Warm breath brushed against Qin Chuan's neck, tickling him. A scent mixed with rose wine and a woman's natural fragrance drifted into his nostrils, causing his heart to flutter.

"I... I'm just a mortal, how could I support you?" Qin Chuan asked, stuttering slightly.

"Supporting me mentally is enough." Hu Liena's peach-blossom eyes blinked, her gaze flowing as if hooked, "As long as you are happy, I can feel the power."

Qin Chuan felt confused, thinking that the powerhouses of this world all spoke in such cryptic ways.

Outside the carriage, Qian Renxue moved through the woods like a grey shadow, silent and swift.

She maintained a distance neither too far nor too close, using the carriage's jolts and the tracks it left behind as beacons for her pursuit.

She could not hear the conversation inside the carriage, but she could imagine it.

A man and a woman alone in a cramped carriage; that vixen Hu Liena must be using her usual tricks to seduce that mortal again.

A surge of indescribable irritation and disdain welled up in Qian Renxue's heart.

She looked down on the way Hu Liena lowered herself and begged for affection just for the sake of a man.

In Qian Renxue's view, power was everything. Men only slowed down her pursuit of strength.

Yet, Hu Liena's abnormal behavior was closely linked to the word "power."

That Claw Machine Shop, that mortal Qin Chuan—they must be hiding a secret that could cause one's strength to skyrocket.

This secret might even be more astonishing than her own Angel Inheritance.

Otherwise, there was no way to explain how Xiao Wu had soared from level 62 to level 70 in such a short time, nor could it explain the clear improvement in Hu Liena's soul power within a single day.

Qian Renxue's pace quickened.

She had to get to the bottom of this.

If that secret truly existed, she would find a way to seize it for herself.

She would not let anything that could make her stronger slip through her fingers.

The carriage traveled for about an hour before finally stopping at the entrance of the Star Dou Forest.

Hu Liena paid the fare, and she and Qin Chuan stepped out of the carriage.

A primitive and vast aura rushed toward them.

Towering ancient trees blotted out the sky, massive vines coiled around trunks like pythons, and the ground was covered in a thick layer of fallen leaves that felt soft underfoot.

The air was filled with the scent of damp earth and decaying vegetation, and occasionally, the roars of unknown soul beasts could be heard echoing from the depths of the forest.

Looking at the spectacular sight before him, Qin Chuan couldn't help but exclaim: "Wow, this is the Star Dou Forest? It's even more... primitive than I imagined."

"This is only the outermost perimeter." Hu Liena hoisted the tent and walked ahead, "Brother Chuan, you must stay close to me; don't get separated. We still need to walk about another kilometer to reach Star Dou Lake."

"Got it." Qin Chuan shouldered the grill and fishing gear, following closely behind Hu Liena.

The two of them, one after the other, stepped into this forest filled with fantastical colors.