"Why?"
The delight on Ah Yin's face gradually faded, replaced by deep confusion.
She furrowed her brow, her gaze shifting back and forth across Zhao Linchuan's face as she tried to read something in his expression.
"You've been so good to me. What are you really after?"
Zhao Linchuan didn't answer. Instead, he turned to Zi Nu and Nong Yu and said casually:
"I'm taking Zi Nu and Nong Yu out to hunt Soul Beasts. Stay here and cultivate by yourself for now."
"Of course, if you want to run away, that's fine too."
"When that happens, I'll go to the Blue Silver Ancestral Land and wreak havoc on all your people."
"You—!"
Ah Yin's expression instantly twisted with fury. Her eyes widened as if they were about to shoot flames.
She pointed at Zhao Linchuan, her finger trembling.
"You're despicable! Shameless! Vile! You bastard!!"
"I can be an even bigger bastard."
Zhao Linchuan suddenly stepped close, moving so fast that Ah Yin had no time to react.
He lifted her chin, dipped his head slightly, and kissed her on the lips.
"Mmm...!"
Ah Yin's mind went completely blank. Her eyes widened, Zhao Linchuan's face reflected in her pupils, so close she could almost touch it.
She could feel the warmth of his lips, smell the faint masculine scent on him, and hear her own heart pounding—thump, thump, thump—as if it were about to leap out of her chest.
Time seemed to stand still.
Who knew how long it took? By the time Ah Yin came back to her senses, Zhao Linchuan and the others had already disappeared.
Ah Yin stood where she was, frozen as if someone had pressed an acupoint.
Moonlight spilled through the window and fell across her face, turning her stunned expression pale.
She slowly raised a hand, trembling as she extended her index finger and lightly touched her lips.
"Ah—!"
She let out a scream, then flew into a rage.
"Zhao Linchuan!! You're despicable! Shameless! Vile!! You bastard—!!!"
Ah Yin's voice echoed through the empty loft as she stamped her feet and swung her fists, her face twisted with anger and irritation, embarrassment and fury.
"Just you wait! Once I become a Titled Douluo, I'll make you regret this—!!!"
After a long while, in the outside world, Sunset Forest.
The cries of night birds rang out from the depths of the forest, long and mournful, echoing through the silent night sky.
A ten-thousand-year Red-Eyed Cobra, about seven meters long, was coiled in a clearing.
Its body was as thick as an adult's waist, covered all over in fine, dark green scales that gleamed coldly in the moonlight.
Its blood-red eyes were like a pair of lanterns, fixed on the uninvited guests before it. Its scarlet tongue flicked in and out as it hissed.
This was a highly venomous and extremely aggressive serpent-type Soul Beast, a ruler of this area.
It had a fiercely territorial nature and would attack any intruder without mercy.
Now, it was on high alert, its body taut like a bow drawn to its limit, ready to strike a deadly blow at any moment.
Zhao Linchuan stood not far away, the moonlight outlining his figure with striking clarity.
He glanced at the giant snake, then turned to Zi Nu beside him and said indifferently, "It's a good fit for you."
As soon as the words fell, golden light flashed.
The Supreme Ease Golden Edge appeared in his hand, golden light flowing along the blade while the gem in its guard reflected the cool moonlight.
Zhao Linchuan raised his hand and slashed. A golden sword aura shot forth like a bolt of lightning tearing through the night sky, illuminating the silent forest.
The wind from the sword swept past, sending dead leaves flying.
The ten-thousand-year Red-Eyed Cobra let out a shrill, piteous squeal that echoed through the forest, startling countless Soul Beasts lurking in the shadows.
Its body was instantly severed into four pieces. The cut surfaces were smooth and even, and foul-smelling blood gushed from the wounds, staining the ground dark red.
Its massive body crashed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Zhao Linchuan withdrew the Supreme Ease Golden Edge and said flatly:
"Go on. Kill it and make it your Soul Ring."
"Yes, my lord."
Zi Nu answered. A flash of purple light appeared, and the Purple Cloud Spirit Snake Sword was in her hand.
It was a slender, flexible sword, its blade gleaming with a faint purple light like a spirit snake beneath the moon.
She walked up to the giant snake, whose pupils were already beginning to glaze over, and stopped. Reversing her grip, she pointed the sword tip down, grasped the hilt with both hands, and thrust it down with force.
The blade sank into the giant snake's head with a dull thud.
After a faint, almost inaudible moan, the ten-thousand-year Red-Eyed Cobra gave up its life completely.
A black Soul Ring slowly condensed above its corpse, turning slowly beneath the moon and radiating a cold glow.
Zi Nu glanced back at Zhao Linchuan. He nodded to her.
She turned around, sat cross-legged, laid the Purple Cloud Spirit Snake Sword across her knees, closed her eyes, and began to channel her Soul Power, drawing the Soul Ring toward her to merge with it.
The black Soul Ring slowly descended and began to circle her body. Its light grew brighter and brighter, enveloping her in a dim, shadowy halo.
Standing beside Zhao Linchuan, Nong Yu watched the scene, a trace of wonder in her eyes. A thought rose unbidden in her heart.
This lord... he really is so strong.
The thought was like a seed falling into fertile soil, quietly taking root.
Staying by his side in the future wouldn't be such a bad place to find warmth and belonging...
Two days later, inside a tavern in Spirit City.
Zhao Linchuan sat on the sofa by the window, eyes closed as he rested, enjoying a rare moment of leisure.
Their two-day Soul Hunting trip had come to an end.
Zi Nu's Soul Ring Configuration was: black, black, black, black, black, red, red.
Five ten-thousand-year Soul Rings and two Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings—such a configuration would drive any Soul Master wild with envy.
Nong Yu's Soul Ring Configuration was more conservative: purple, purple, black, black, black.
There was no helping it. She was a support-type Soul Master, and her constitution was naturally weaker. She couldn't withstand Soul Rings with such high age limits.
Besides, Zi Nu cared for her and didn't want her taking risks, so they chose the safer option.
It was worth mentioning that the five Soul Beasts Nong Yu had killed had dropped a full four Soul Bones.
Zhao Linchuan had been dumbfounded at the time. Her luck was simply heaven-defying!
Unfortunately, all four Soul Bones were low in age. Even the oldest was only forty thousand years old.
After looking them over, Zhao Linchuan had Nong Yu put them away without letting her absorb any of them.
"The competition is about to begin."
Zhao Linchuan kept his eyes closed, enjoying Nong Yu's massage.
"You can mingle with the crowd and go watch the matches. It'll give you a chance to learn how Soul Masters in this world fight."
"Understood, my lord."
Nong Yu answered softly, her fingers moving from his shoulder to his neck, gently kneading the muscles.
"I'll learn from Big Sister Zi Nu and help you manage the Jinyiwei."
Before you continue