Discussing Zhu Zhuqing, the Plan Begins

Shen Lian turned to look at her, his gaze firm and sharp:

"Why do you always place your hopes on others?"

His words were like a bolt of lightning, tearing through the darkness in Zhu Zhuqing's heart.

Zhu Zhuqing gave a self-mocking laugh, her voice full of bitterness:

"Rely on myself? I'm only a Soul Grandmaster. I'm not like you, becoming a Soul Emperor at such a young age, with such powerful Spirit Ring ratios."

At this point, Zhu Zhuqing suddenly froze, a glimmer of hope flashing through her eyes.

She recalled Shen Lian's terrifying strength and his feat of absorbing Spirit Rings beyond his level. That meant he must have some unknown secret to cultivation, or perhaps his own unique insights.

Just as Shen Lian thought she was still wallowing in self-pity, Zhu Zhuqing did something he had not expected. She suddenly struggled to her feet, then dropped to her knees before him with a thud.

Zhu Zhuqing raised her head, determination shining in her eyes, her voice carrying an intense longing:

"You're only a few years older than me, yet you're already a Soul Emperor, and all your Spirit Rings were absorbed beyond your level. Can you teach me how to become as strong as you? I want to live. I want to live by relying on my own abilities. As long as you're willing to teach me, I can pay any price."

Her hands tightly clutched the hem of Shen Lian's robe, as if she had seized her last lifeline.

Outside the window, a gust of wind swept through, stirring up the fallen leaves on the ground and unsettling the hearts of the two people within the room.

Shen Lian looked at the girl before him, her eyes burning with passion, and silently nodded to himself.

Shen Lian lowered his gaze to the hand Zhu Zhuqing had wrapped around his robe. Her fingertips still bore traces of tears that had not yet dried, while bluish-purple scratches on the back of her hand glimmered coldly beneath the moonlight.

A faint curve formed at Shen Lian's lips as a low voice slipped from his throat:

"Really? Any request?"

The rising note at the end carried a hint of probing.

Zhu Zhuqing abruptly raised her head. Her hair hung messily around her cheeks, but it could not conceal the blazing heat in her eyes.

She straightened her back. Her knees pressed against the green brick floor painfully, but she did not notice at all:

"As long as you can help me grow stronger, I'll agree to any request of yours that I can fulfill."

Her words were resolute, carrying the determination of someone staking everything on a single gamble.

Shen Lian sneered inwardly, though his expression remained unchanged.

He recalled Zhu Zhuqing's noble yet tragic status. She was the second daughter of the Zhu Clan of the Star Luo Empire. Even if she was unloved, she still had access to the study within Zhu Mansion.

Shen Lian leaned down slightly, scarlet Soul Power flickering beneath his sleeves, forming a stark contrast with Zhu Zhuqing's pale face:

"I can help you become stronger, but you must help me obtain the Star Luo Empire's military deployment map."

The words made Zhu Zhuqing's entire body tremble, her pupils contracting slightly in shock.

She opened her mouth, wanting to ask what he needed the military deployment map for, but her throat felt as though it had been gripped by the claws of a Hell Spirit Cat, and she could not make a sound.

Her instinct to survive quickly calmed her down. Thinking of the clansmen hunting her down, thinking of the vicious smiles of Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun, she bit her lip, her pearly teeth leaving deep marks upon it:

"The military deployment map is in my father's study. I can take you to Zhu Mansion, but what happens afterward will be up to you."

Shen Lian nodded in satisfaction. The hilt of the Dragon-Slaying Blade spun in his palm, casting a cold gleam:

"Fine. Once I obtain the Star Luo Empire's military deployment map, I'll teach you how to become stronger. For now, get some rest."

He turned and prepared to leave the room.

The instant he pushed open the door, the night wind, carrying Cloud-Breaking Town's distinctive medicinal fragrance, rushed toward him.

Shen Lian looked toward Yang Wudi's medicinal cottage in the distance, its lights flickering in the darkness.

Shen Lian rubbed the Storage Ring on his finger. Within it was the Heaven Dou Empire's deployment map, while the Star Luo Empire's military deployment map was now within reach as well.

At that thought, Shen Lian nearly burst into laughter, but he held it back so that no one would think he was a fool.

As for Zhu Zhuqing, Shen Lian had initially pitied her. Yet she was also someone willing to work hard in order to grow stronger and stay alive.

Secondly, when he had read novels and watched anime in his previous life, Zhu Zhuqing had attracted him. Put plainly, Shen Lian was lustful.

However, Shen Lian also understood one thing. Given his status in the Sun-Moon Empire, he could not decide his own marriage contract. At most, among the marriage alliance candidates selected by his grandfather and maternal grandfather, he could choose one he liked.

Furthermore, Shen Lian knew that even if he were not forced into a political marriage, the Sun-Moon Empire would eventually conquer Douluo Continent. His family would never agree to him marrying a noblewoman from another empire.

Therefore, Shen Lian wanted to possess Zhu Zhuqing, and if Zhu Zhuqing did not mind, he wanted to keep possessing her.

But it was still too early to speak of such things. What Shen Lian needed now was the deployment map.

Then Shen Lian remembered that Zhu Zhuqing had awakened, so he decided to speak with Yang Wudi about the Immortal Herb records and having the Breaking Clan join the Sun-Moon Empire.

Shen Lian then stepped across fallen leaves glittering like shattered gold and headed toward Yang Wudi's residence.

The bronze Xiezhi beast head at the entrance of Yang Mansion gleamed coldly in the wind as Shen Lian raised his hand and knocked on the door knocker.

"Creak—" The heavy wooden door slowly opened, and the scent of medicine mixed with the fragrance of aged wood washed over him.

Shen Lian passed through a corridor hung with drying medicinal herbs. Dark Hundred Herb Patterns were carved into the gaps between the blue bricks beneath his feet, and with every step, faint Soul Power ripples spread along the patterns.

The alchemy furnace in the center of the main hall exhaled pale violet smoke. Yang Wudi reclined in a tiger-skin armchair, his fingers tapping an ebony medicine staff now and then.

"Senior, I said that once my companion awakened, there would naturally be a generous reward. I'm here now to fulfill that promise."

Shen Lian's voice echoed through the empty hall.

Then Shen Lian flicked his Storage Ring with a finger. Two streaks of light flashed, and a level-four defensive shield Soul Tool and a spear Soul Tool clattered onto the floor.

Mysterious runes flowed across the shield's surface, while the spearhead glowed with a cold blue light, creating a sharp contrast against the warm tones of the medicinal herbs in the hall.

Yang Wudi's eyes suddenly narrowed as he said to Shen Lian:

"What are these?"

Yang Wudi rose to his feet, his palm hovering half an inch above the Soul Tools, his face filled with caution and curiosity.

"Pick them up and inject Soul Power into them."

Shen Lian crossed his arms, a confident smile curling at his lips.

The moment Yang Wudi tremblingly gripped the spear and poured Soul Power into it, the spearhead erupted with a flash of lightning more than ten feet long, instantly cleaving the medicine pouches hanging in the hall in two.

Yang Wudi staggered back half a step and knocked over the medicine cabinet behind him. Amid the sound of shattering porcelain bottles, he stared at the spear still humming in his hand, his Adam's apple bobbing violently:

"This... this is impossible!"

Bloodshot veins appeared in Yang Wudi's eyes as he continued:

"This weapon actually has such an effect!"

Shen Lian handed over the shield at the right moment. Its runes lit up with a dim blue radiance in the twilight:

"Once Soul Power is injected into this shield, it can automatically generate three layers of Soul Power barriers. Even a Soul Sage's full-force strike can be blocked for a while."