Qian Renxue reacted first, grabbing Rou Shui and pulling her back.
"What was that?" Rou Shui jumped in fright. She had not noticed the thing at all before it slipped into the water.
Qian Renxue shook her head. "It was too fast. I didn't see it clearly either."
She turned to Qian Ye. "Did you see it?"
Qian Ye nodded. "Yeah. It was a Crimson Gold Carp."
Rou Shui let out a sigh of relief. It had been a false alarm. "I didn't expect there to be such a big fish in this lake."
Qian Renxue was not surprised. "The Star Dou Great Forest is the domain of Soul Beasts. Anything is possible here."
Her gaze swept over Rou Shui. "Rou Shui, I think a Crimson Gold Carp's Soul Ring would suit your martial soul quite well. I just don't know how many years of cultivation it has."
Rou Shui's eyes lit up. That was indeed true. She immediately turned to Qian Ye for help. "Brother Ye, what do you think?"
Qian Ye smiled and scratched his head. "How about this? I'll lure it out, and then we'll know."
Rou Shui had no better idea, so that was all they could do.
Without saying more, Qian Ye took out a small knife, cut down a piece of bamboo nearby, shaved off its leaves, and carried it to the lake's edge.
Then he stirred the water with it, splashing it around.
Splash, splash~
The bamboo struck the surface, sending water spraying everywhere and raising wave after wave.
Splash~
Suddenly, a golden figure shot out of the water, its mouth wide open as it pounced at Qian Ye.
"Good fellow!" Seeing that he had finally provoked it out, Qian Ye shouted and sidestepped to the left.
The Crimson Gold Carp missed and crashed onto the shore.
Without hesitation, Qian Ye flipped to his feet and arrived before it. After giving it a glance, he had a good idea of its strength.
It was the size of a newborn calf, its entire body covered in crimson-gold scales that gleamed under the sunlight.
It was rather dazzling.
"It's so beautiful!" Rou Shui could not help praising it.
She wanted this Crimson Gold Carp's Soul Ring too, but she did not know its age.
"Brother Ye, how many years does it have?"
Qian Ye studied it for a while before saying, "Mm, it has around nine hundred years of cultivation."
"Then what should we do? That's over two hundred years more than we expected." Rou Shui had planned for her second Soul Ring to be around six hundred years.
But this one was nine hundred years old, and she did not dare absorb it so casually.
Qian Renxue said nothing. This concerned someone's life, so it was not her place to make the decision for Rou Shui.
Rou Shui was still hesitating.
The Crimson Gold Carp leaped up and slipped back into the water.
Qian Ye pondered for a moment. Such an opportunity was rare, so he felt he should offer her some advice. The road of a Soul Master was filled with danger, and taking an occasional risk was perfectly normal.
"Rou Shui, in my opinion, whether it's nine hundred years or seven hundred years, it still hasn't reached a thousand years. You can absorb it."
"Of course, the additional two hundred years of cultivation do carry some risk."
"I..." Rou Shui hesitated. Should she absorb it or not?
Qian Renxue looked toward the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest. She had heard that there was a lake in the core region, where a Hundred Thousand Years Emperor Soul Beast, the Sky Azure Bull Python, lived.
There was also a giant ape there, the Titan Giant Ape.
"Brother Ye, I've made up my mind. I'm going to give it a try."
Qian Ye nodded. "Mm, good!"
After a round of strikes, he lured the Crimson Gold Carp back to the surface and knocked it unconscious.
A nine-hundred-year Soul Beast was no challenge for Qian Ye. He could have killed it instantly.
But he had to leave it alive for Rou Shui to deliver the final blow.
"Rou Shui, I'll leave the rest to you."
"Okay, Brother Ye!" Rou Shui took out her small knife and struck at the vital point of the motionless Crimson Gold Carp lying on the ground. Down came the blade, down came the blade...
Buzz~
A yellow Soul Ring immediately rose from the Crimson Gold Carp's body.
Rou Shui's eyes brightened. A nine-hundred-year Soul Ring placed enormous pressure on her, but if she successfully absorbed it, it would greatly benefit her cultivation.
"Brother Ye, can you protect me while I absorb it?"
"No problem." Qian Ye made a reassuring gesture.
Rou Shui smiled sweetly, sat down where she was, and began meditating to absorb the nine-hundred-year Soul Ring.
Qian Ye plopped down onto the grass, then lay back.
The warm sunlight fell over him, feeling wonderfully pleasant.
Qian Renxue glanced back at him, then turned around, took off her outer robe, and revealed the snowy skin of her back.
"Brother Qian Ye, can I go down for a bath?"
Uh~
As he looked at Qian Renxue's perfect, delicate body, his vision filled with white, and he could not help getting a nosebleed. "Sure!"
Qian Renxue's face flushed red. She quickly leaped up and dove into the lake, disappearing beneath the surface.
The Great Evil of the Man Faced Demon Spider
Splash, splash~
Suddenly, Qian Renxue burst from beneath the water and swam across the lake's surface like a mermaid.
Qian Ye's gaze locked onto the beauty in the water. She was over 1.7 meters tall, with long legs that appeared and disappeared beneath the water. Any man would be tempted.
"What a beauty!"
Qian Ye could not help it. His nosebleed sprayed out again.
He was tired as well. He closed his eyes and soon fell asleep.
No one knew how much time had passed when a familiar fragrance drifted over him.
Qian Ye opened his eyes and, sure enough, saw someone half-lying on top of him, asleep as well.
Looking at Qian Renxue's sleeping face and her brilliant golden hair, he reached out and touched her head. It felt nice.
Qian Renxue had already opened her eyes. She saw that he was looking at her too. They were so close that even their breaths mingled.
Her heart pounded, and her face had already turned red.
Though Qian Renxue was shy, she did not avoid his gaze.
Gradually, Qian Ye and Qian Renxue's red lips met, and they began to kiss.
Qian Renxue's first kiss was reserved only for the person she loved.
And Qian Ye was the one she loved with all her heart.
Only after kissing for half an hour did they release each other and lie on the ground, gazing at the sky.
Qian Ye's lips still carried Qian Renxue's lingering fragrance.
Qian Renxue's eyes shone as she recalled every detail of their kiss.
She felt that this was the happiest moment of her life.
"Brother Qian Ye, are you willing to be with Xiao Xue forever?" Qian Renxue suddenly asked.
"Mm. As long as you want it, we can be together forever." Of course, that was what he wanted too.
Qian Ye loved her. There was no doubt about that.
And Qian Renxue's love for him had long been carved into her bones.
She suddenly raised her head and rested it against Qian Ye's chest, listening to the sound of his heartbeat.
Qian Ye reached out and played with her long hair, counting the strands one by one.
Though he counted slowly, he was patient and completely focused.
Qian Renxue enjoyed it all. Today was what she considered the happiest day of her life.
Half a day later.
Rou Shui gradually opened her eyes. She had finished absorbing her second Soul Ring.
She was very happy. With her own efforts, she had absorbed the nine-hundred-year Soul Ring without any mishaps.
Remembering that she still had two companions, Rou Shui began searching for them.
Before long, she saw the two of them sitting ahead.
She smiled with her beautiful eyes and hurried over.
Qian Ye was very happy that Rou Shui had finished absorbing it, and he gave her a big thumbs-up.
While Qian Renxue chatted with Rou Shui, Qian Ye cleaned the Crimson Gold Carp, built a fire, and began roasting it.
Before long, the fish was ready.
The three of them immediately dug in and devoured the entire grilled fish.
They rested for a while.
Qian Ye looked at the two of them before finally resting his gaze on Qian Renxue. "Xiao Xue, you and Rou Shui should head back first."
"Why?" Qian Renxue asked.
Rou Shui stared at him as well, equally confused.
Qian Ye waved his hands, telling them not to rush. "Xiao Xue, it's like this. I still have something to take care of."
"What is it?" Qian Renxue asked seriously.
"Just a small matter!" Qian Ye found it difficult to explain clearly.
If he told her everything, Qian Renxue would not agree.
Qian Renxue fell silent. After a while, she said, "Brother Qian Ye, then be careful."
"I will," Qian Ye replied.
It was clear that Qian Renxue trusted him.
Mm~
Qian Renxue said nothing more. She turned and headed toward the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest.
"Goodbye, Brother Ye!" Rou Shui waved, then caught up with Qian Renxue and left with her.
Qian Ye watched the two beautiful figures depart and sighed.
Then he turned and headed deeper into the Star Dou Great Forest.
Before long, his figure vanished into the woods.
Half a month later.
Qian Ye gradually arrived at the core region of the Star Dou Great Forest.
The trees here were all towering giants. Trees dozens or even hundreds of meters tall could be seen everywhere.
As Qian Ye walked through the woods, the Soul Beasts here were comparatively larger than those in the forest's outer and middle regions.
Before you continue