(A beautiful picture of Ma Xiaotao)
She wore a short black skirt that barely covered the tops of her thighs, leaving a stretch of pale skin exposed.
White stockings rose above her knees, their tops leaving faint impressions on her skin and accentuating the soft curves of her thighs.
Some unknown force had tied her hair into two round buns, one on either side of her head.
Paired with her stunning face, they gave her an unexpectedly cute look.
Ma Xiaotao was stunned.
She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but had no idea what.
The two women stared at each other. Both saw the same question in the other's eyes: You changed too?
Lin Ye stood to one side, unable to tear his eyes away.
A white blouse, a tight black skirt, fishnet stockings, red high heels, gold-rimmed glasses...
And a maid outfit, hair buns, white knee-high stockings...
What the hell is going on?
What did the system do?
He rubbed his eyes, thinking he was seeing things.
But when he opened them again, the two figures were still standing there. One was sophisticated and mature; the other, cute and alluring. Their styles could not have been more different, yet both were impossible to look away from.
Wang Dong'er and Ma Xiaotao were blushing furiously.
Shame surged over them like a tide, swallowing them both.
They glanced at each other, and the same thought struck them both:
Does she have a system too?
And does she have a destined person?
Is that person Lin Ye too?
After a moment of silence, they both turned toward Lin Ye, who stood against a tree with a dazed look on his face.
Their stares sent a chill down his spine. He hurriedly raised both hands and shook his head, looking innocent.
"Not me, not me. I don't know anything..."
Wang Dong'er and Ma Xiaotao looked away, then exchanged a glance.
Neither said another word.
It was not that they did not want to argue. They did not dare.
The system had said that if they argued again, their outfits would be cleared automatically.
What did "cleared" mean?
Neither dared to think about it.
Lin Ye, of course, had gained two chances to draw a prize.
He glanced at the number on the system panel. His system points had risen to 199—a pleasing number.
Shrek City and the Star Dou Great Forest both lay in the central region of the three great empires.
The forest was southwest of Shrek City. It was neither especially far nor particularly close.
After leaving Shrek City, the three followed the main road west, then turned south. A little over half a day later, they entered the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest.
Towering trees blotted out the sky. Their dense crowns broke the sunlight into countless flecks that fell across the leaf-strewn ground.
The air was humid and stifling, carrying the scents of earth, rotting leaves, and unfamiliar wildflowers.
Now and then, a low beastly roar sounded from deep within the woods, reminding visitors that humans had no business wandering here carelessly.
The three slowed down, keeping watch as they advanced.
Ma Xiaotao led the way, her pale pink eyes alert beneath the shifting shadows.
She might usually act boldly, but even a Six-Ring Soul Emperor could not afford to be careless in the Star Dou Great Forest.
"Lin Ye, what kind of Soul Beast do you want for your Second Soul Ring?" she asked without looking back.
Walking behind her, Lin Ye scanned the bushes on either side. After a moment's thought, he answered.
"I'm not sure which Soul Beast, exactly, but I want a Thousand-Year Soul Ring."
Ma Xiaotao's steps faltered slightly.
Beside Lin Ye, Wang Dong'er whipped her head around. Her pink-blue eyes widened in surprise. "A Thousand-Year Soul Ring?"
"That's right." Lin Ye nodded. "Dong'er, your Second Soul Ring is a thousand-year ring, isn't it? I'm sure I can do it too."
Wang Dong'er opened her mouth, then swallowed her words.
It was true. Her Second Soul Ring was a thousand-year ring.
But she had Twin Martial Souls and had taken rare natural treasures since childhood. Only because her body was far stronger than most could she withstand the impact of a Thousand-Year Soul Ring.
For an ordinary person, the limit for a Second Soul Ring was just over seven hundred years. Beyond that, the Soul Ring could backlash, damaging their meridians at best and causing their body to burst apart at worst.
Lin Ye was talented, but...
"But that would be incredibly difficult!" Wang Dong'er said, worry in her voice.
Ma Xiaotao turned to face Lin Ye, frowning slightly.
"Isn't the limit for a Second Soul Ring just over seven hundred years?"
Her gaze rested on Lin Ye for a moment before shifting to Wang Dong'er. She looked her up and down several times, a complicated expression entering her eyes.
Only then did she realize that this delicate-looking girl had absorbed a thousand-year ring as her Second Soul Ring.
What kind of body does she have?
Ma Xiaotao's lips twitched.
She respected strength, and she began to see Wang Dong'er in a new light.
Lin Ye sensed the subtle shift between the two women but pretended not to notice. He merely smiled faintly.
"Limits are meant to be broken, aren't they?"
As he spoke, he looked deep into the forest. His dark eyes seemed especially bright amid the dappled light.
Seeing the resolve in his eyes, Wang Dong'er felt something stir in her heart.
She nodded gently and said no more.
Ma Xiaotao turned away and continued leading them.
The three spent the next few days searching the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest.
They hunted for Soul Beasts by day and made camp at night.
A Soul Beast that met Lin Ye's hopes never appeared.
Some were too young; others had the wrong attributes. On the rare occasion they found one that might do, Lin Ye decided it was not good enough.
His pickiness made Ma Xiaotao roll her eyes in frustration, but she said nothing.
After all, her task was to "accompany Lin Ye and help him obtain his Second Soul Ring." What kind he wanted was up to him.
One night...
The moon climbed above the treetops. Cool moonlight filtered through gaps in the canopy, casting mottled silver patches across the ground.
Their camp was small: one tent and a campfire.
Ma Xiaotao sat beside the fire with her back against a thick tree, arms folded and eyes closed as she rested.
She was keeping watch.
Inside the tent, Lin Ye and Wang Dong'er lay side by side.
The tent was small. With both of them lying down, barely a fist's width separated them.
Lin Ye's eyes were closed, his breathing even. He seemed to be asleep.
Wang Dong'er was not.
Her eyes were wide open in the dark, fixed on the roof of the tent. There was no telling what she was thinking.
After a while, she turned onto her side to face Lin Ye.
In the darkness, she could not make out his face, only his faint outline.
Her heart began to race.
Her soft hand crept out, searching until it came to rest gently on Lin Ye's waist.
Lin Ye stiffened slightly.
He opened his eyes and looked at Wang Dong'er, surprise and confusion in his gaze.
"Dong'er? What are you..."
Wang Dong'er did not answer.
She did not pull her hand away. Instead, she slid it up from his waist and laid it against his chest.
Through his clothes, she could feel his strong heartbeat and the warmth of his body.
"Lin Ye..." Her voice was barely a whisper, trembling with shyness. "I miss you..."
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