Just as Zhu Zhuqing was lost in a young girl's thoughts.
A commotion of footsteps came from behind the bushes not far away, accompanied by several voices that sounded somewhat frantic.
"Everyone, keep looking! Even if Zhu Qing ran into danger, she would've left some clues!"
That voice was all too familiar to Zhu Zhuqing. It belonged to the people from Shrek Academy.
Zhu Zhuqing composed herself, took a deep breath, and slowly stepped out from behind the ancient tree.
She passed through a patch of bushes and came face-to-face with the Shrek group.
They all looked battered and exhausted.
Tang San was covered in dirt. Oscar stood nearby, panting heavily, his clothes slashed open in several places by thorns.
When Zhu Zhuqing's eyes fell on the golden-haired, heterochromatic young man among them, the shyness that had been on her face vanished in an instant.
In its place was utter coldness and loathing.
Dai Mubai!
At the sight of that face, the revelations in the Chat Group flashed through Zhu Zhuqing's mind.
He had abandoned his fiancée and fled the Star Luo Imperial Family like a coward!
He'd spent his days frequenting pleasure houses in Suotuo City and fooling around with a pair of twins at the Rose Hotel!
And someone like him was actually being called a future "God of War" by the group owner, destined to become a god?
A powerful wave of revulsion rose from the depths of her heart.
A future god?
She, Zhu Zhuqing, had no interest whatsoever in such a thoroughly disgusting future god!
"Zhu Qing! I'm so glad you're all right!"
Ning Rongrong was the first to spot Zhu Zhuqing emerging from the darkness. She hurried over, delighted.
Seeing that Zhu Zhuqing was safe and sound, the others from Shrek all breathed a sigh of relief, their taut nerves easing a little.
Dai Mubai, however, strode forward, his brows tightly furrowed and his face full of irritation and reproach.
"Where did you run off to?"
"If you hadn't suddenly gotten separated from the group, we wouldn't have been chased by a pack of Soul Beasts for half an hour while looking for you!"
"Everyone was already exhausted. You've left us all in this state, all because of you. Could you please stop running off like that next time?"
Hearing him shove all the blame onto her, Zhu Zhuqing was so furious she laughed. The anger in her heart flared up in an instant.
They couldn't beat the Soul Beasts and had been chased all over the forest, and now he was blaming her for getting separated?
If this group had any sense of teamwork at all, instead of only thinking of themselves when danger struck, would that Ten-Thousand-Year Demon Spider have driven her to the brink?
Without meaning to, she began comparing Dai Mubai to Qin Feng.
When Qin Feng faced the six-thousand-year Thousand-Junction Ant Emperor, he hadn't even used his Soul Bone. Just one-tenth of his strength was enough to kill it in a single blow, while protecting her with effortless ease.
And Dai Mubai?
He could only flee in a panic when faced with a few ordinary Soul Beasts, then take his anger out on a woman afterward!
Comparing a useless man like him to Qin Feng was a grave insult to Qin Feng!
How could a scumbag who did nothing but shirk responsibility and chase after women ever become a god?
Did he even deserve to?
Zhu Zhuqing fixed Dai Mubai with an icy stare, her voice colder than frost.
"When danger strikes, can you do anything besides run away in a panic?"
"I got separated because I was being hunted by a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast!"
"You failed to protect your teammate, and now that you're being chased by Soul Beasts because you're too weak, you come here and blame me for holding you back?"
"Dai Mubai, can you do anything besides dump the blame on other people?"
Every word struck home, leaving no room for tact. She had torn away the pretense between them.
Dai Mubai was instantly struck speechless.
He opened his mouth. His face turned red, then white, but he couldn't force out a single word.
He was completely dumbfounded.
Zhu Zhuqing had always been aloof, but she had never spoken to him with such intense loathing.
Why had her attitude changed so much?
Even her eyes held contempt!
Seeing the tension, Ning Rongrong quickly took Zhu Zhuqing by the arm and tried to smooth things over.
"All right, all right. The important thing is that everyone's safe. This forest is too dangerous, so let's find somewhere safe to rest."
Zhu Zhuqing snorted. She couldn't even be bothered to look at Dai Mubai again.
She walked over to a large rock, sat down, and closed her eyes to rest.
Her heart no longer belonged to this so-called team.
Whenever she closed her eyes, all she could see was Qin Feng's domineering figure, blazing with golden light.
Several days later, in Spirit City.
Qin Feng and Hu Liena had completed their Soul Hunting trip to the Star Dou Great Forest and returned to Spirit Hall.
Their relationship had undergone a tremendous transformation during the trip.
As they walked along Spirit Hall's broad, magnificent corridor, Hu Liena was practically pressed against Qin Feng.
Her unreserved affection and dependence were plain on her face.
Feeling the astonishing softness against his arm, Qin Feng grumbled inwardly.
This little minx's affection for me must be completely maxed out by now.
If I take her back to my room, I can do whatever I want with her!
At the thought, Qin Feng's pace quickened.
He was eager to find somewhere quiet and take their discussion of life's ideals a little further.
Hu Liena seemed to sense what was on his mind. Her cheeks flushed, her eyes filled with shyness and anticipation.
But just as they reached a secluded courtyard, a tall, upright figure quietly blocked the path.
He wore plain gray clothes, and his long golden hair fell casually over his shoulders.
There wasn't the slightest trace of Soul Power around him, yet he exerted the oppressive weight of a towering mountain.
The Grand Pontiff of Spirit Hall, Qian Daoliu!
Qian Daoliu turned around and looked calmly at Qin Feng. His deep eyes held a hint of shock and admiration that was difficult to conceal.
"I've been waiting here for you for quite some time."
Qin Feng's heart gave a thump.
His fun had been interrupted out of nowhere, and he'd been a little annoyed. But as soon as he recognized the man, he composed himself.
"Greetings, Grand Pontiff!"
Hu Liena quickly let go of Qin Feng's arm and bowed respectfully as well.
Qian Daoliu gave a slight nod. His gaze remained fixed on Qin Feng as he studied him closely.
When Qin Feng and Hu Liena went to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt Soul Beasts, Spirit Hall had naturally sent elders to protect them in secret.
The accompanying Titled Douluo had witnessed Qin Feng's terrifying talent and overwhelming strength as he slew a high-year Soul Beast. The man had broken into a cold sweat on the spot.
It had been horrifying!
When the report reached Elder Hall, even Qian Daoliu had struggled to believe it.
A Soul Ancestor with just over forty levels of Soul Power could kill a sixty-thousand-year Soul Beast with one punch?
That completely overturned the common sense the Soul Master World had relied on for tens of thousands of years!
"Qin Feng."
Qian Daoliu spoke slowly, his voice calm yet powerfully resonant.
"The people secretly protecting you have reported your performance in the Star Dou Great Forest to me in full."
"I'm very curious—just how strong are you now?"