Hu Liena pouted her red lips and strode straight over to Qin Feng, deliberately lifting her proud figure.
"Hey, you've finished absorbing your Soul Ring. Shouldn't you fulfill your promise now?"
Looking at Hu Liena's expression, Qin Feng teased,
"Of course. Next, I'll help our Nana find the very best Soul Ring."
Hearing those rather intimate words, the little temper Hu Liena had been nursing vanished in an instant. Her eyes curved with delight.
So Qin Feng really does care about me!
She suddenly remembered the bet she had made with Qin Feng in the training room.
Let Qin Feng do whatever he wants...
At the thought of that bashful agreement, two red clouds instantly bloomed across Hu Liena's exquisite face. Even her fair neck was tinged with an enticing pink.
Qin Feng didn't notice anything unusual about Hu Liena and waved a hand.
"Let's go. We'll keep heading deeper and find a Soul Beast that suits you."
The three of them packed up and set off once more on their journey through the Star Dou Great Forest.
Elsewhere.
Spirit City, Pope Palace.
A delicate fragrance drifted through the air in the magnificent hall.
Bibi Dong leaned against the broad papal throne, her bearing languid yet noble.
She wore a fitted dark-purple gown that hugged her curvaceous figure.
A slit in the hem revealed a pair of long, shapely legs in premium black stockings, crossed together and radiating mature, irresistible allure.
Her exquisite face bore a deeply thoughtful expression.
Below the dais, a figure as silent as a ghost knelt on one knee. It was Ghost Douluo, who had been sent to investigate.
"Your Holiness the Pope, this subordinate has completed the investigation."
Ghost Douluo's voice was hoarse and respectful.
"Prince Dai Mubai of the Star Luo Empire did indeed flee the Star Luo Imperial Family, abandoning his fiancée, Second Miss Zhu."
"This subordinate found traces of him at the Rose Hotel in Suotuo City."
"Just as the mysterious person said, His Highness spends his days carousing with twins and frequenting places of pleasure. His conduct is debauched."
As Bibi Dong listened to Ghost Douluo's report, her expression shifted. Shock flashed through her beautiful eyes.
It was exactly as that "Douluo People Don't Deceive Douluo People" in the Chat Group had said!
Even the hotel he was staying at and the people he was carousing with matched down to the last detail!
What was going on?
Could it be that the future foretold by that mysterious group leader was all true?
Would this useless Dai Mubai really become the God of War of the Star Luo Empire—and even ascend to godhood at level one hundred?
"Why him?"
Bibi Dong abruptly sat upright, gripping the armrests of the throne tightly.
A powerful surge of unwillingness welled up in her heart.
The feeling of being toyed with by some invisible fate filled her with unbearable irritation and fury.
How could a cowardly good-for-nothing who cared only for pleasure become a god?
There had to be something she didn't know!
"Phew..."
After taking a deep breath, Bibi Dong forced down the turmoil in her heart and waved for Ghost Douluo to withdraw.
The vast Pope Palace fell silent once more.
Bibi Dong opened the Chat Group panel in her mind and stared at the nickname "Douluo People Don't Deceive Douluo People."
She was growing more and more curious about the mysterious group leader's true identity.
This person not only possessed heaven-defying means to grant others Soul Rings and top-grade Immortal Herbs but also seemed to know the course of fate itself.
Who was he?
And what was his purpose?
Bibi Dong narrowed her eyes and gently tapped the armrest with her slender fingers, lost in thought.
At the same time.
In another part of the Star Dou Great Forest.
A group from Shrek Academy was fleeing through the dense woods in utter disarray.
Since Xiao Wu was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast undergoing rebirth and could form her own Soul Ring, she had long since come up with an excuse to leave the group on her own, keeping her identity hidden.
The rest of Shrek's group, however, had run into enormous trouble.
A fierce gust roared past, forcing the surrounding trees apart with tremendous force.
A massive sixty-thousand-year Soul Beast charged after them, its eyes bloodshot.
"Teacher Zhao, why won't this beast stop chasing us?!"
Ma Hongjun sprinted as fast as his short legs could carry him, shouting at the top of his lungs. The fat on his face jiggled violently.
Zhao Wuji ran at the rear to cover them. The outfit he had once been so proud of had long since been torn into strips, and he was covered in injuries.
"Quit whining!"
He glanced back at the giant beast in hot pursuit and cursed irritably.
Tang San pulled Oscar along, his face grim as he weaved between the trees. The Mysterious Heaven Skill within him was circulating at full force.
Dai Mubai was panting hard too.
His clothes were soaked through with sweat, and he looked utterly miserable.
After finally putting some distance between themselves and the Soul Beast, they ducked into a concealed cave and gasped for breath.
As soon as they stopped, Ma Hongjun let loose all the anger he had been bottling up.
"This is all Ning Rongrong's fault!"
Ma Hongjun pointed at Ning Rongrong in the corner and loudly complained.
"If you hadn't insisted on coming this way, would we have gotten into this mess?"
Dai Mubai furrowed his brow and backed him up in a stern voice.
"Exactly, Ning Rongrong. You need to rein in that spoiled princess attitude of yours."
"Running around in the Star Dou Great Forest could get us all killed!"
Even Tang San, who was usually so steady, didn't speak up for Ning Rongrong this time. He simply tidied the Hidden Weapons in his sleeve.
At everyone's accusations, Ning Rongrong's eyes reddened with hurt.
She huddled alone in the corner, arms wrapped around her knees, feeling miserable.
I'm just a support-type Soul Master. What else can I do when danger strikes except run?
You Battle Soul Masters can't protect me, and now you're putting all the blame on me!
"..."
Tears welled in Ning Rongrong's eyes. She bit her lip to keep them from falling.
She couldn't help thinking of that miraculous Chat Group.
She thought of the mysterious group leader who could casually send out top-grade Immortal Herbs and Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings.
The group leader must be an incredibly powerful hero.
If I'd come to the Star Dou Great Forest with the group leader to hunt Soul Beasts, he would have protected me. I wouldn't have ended up in such a sorry state.
At that thought, Ning Rongrong could no longer hold back her grievances.
Boo-hoo... Great group leader, where are you?
This young lady doesn't want to stay at this lousy academy anymore!
Deep in the Star Dou Great Forest, the three kept moving without pause.
Thick vines coiled around towering ancient trees like horned dragons, while the dense canopy blocked out the sunlight completely.
The deeper they went, the more stifling and oppressive the air became.
Qin Feng walked at the front, his tall frame giving the two women behind him a powerful sense of security.
The light gradually dimmed around them. At some point, a thin layer of pale-pink mist had begun to drift through the area.