Star Dou Forest.
Just as Zhou Tong was making his way back to Green Mountain Town, several figures racing past caught his attention.
"Boss, who would've thought we'd find a breathtaking beauty wandering alone in a dangerous place like Star Dou Forest? Looks like we're in for some fun."
"What fun?"
"We'll take her back and sell her to an auction house. The big shots are bound to like her. We can make at least two hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins."
A tall, lean Soul Master and a short, stout Soul Master, both dressed in black, were hot on the heels of a stunning blue-haired girl who looked about ten years old.
"You dare attack the Nine-Heart Begonia Family? If anything happens to me, my family will hunt you down to the ends of the earth."
"Leave now, and I'll let this go!"
The blue-haired girl fled in a panic, hurling a few threats at the criminals.
The two criminals, however, paid her no heed and showed no sign of changing their minds.
"The Nine-Heart Begonia?"
"Ye Lingling?"
Hearing their conversation, Zhou Tong frowned and quietly followed them.
"I shouldn't have wandered off while Mom was absorbing her Soul Ring."
Ye Lingling was so frightened by the two fearsome men that she was on the verge of tears.
She had come to Star Dou Forest with her mother to hunt spirit beasts.
While her mother was absorbing a Soul Ring, Ye Lingling had spotted a pretty rabbit and wanted to catch it as a pet.
She had secretly followed it for a while, but the rabbit got away, and she couldn't find the path back.
Instead, she had run into two vicious criminals.
"What Nine-Heart Begonia Ye Family? Never heard of it," the lean Soul Master said coldly. "Grab her and take her to the auction house. We'll make some Gold Soul Coins."
"Sure thing, boss!"
At that, the short, stout Soul Master grew excited.
"Wild Boar, Possession!"
As soon as he spoke, he transformed into a wild boar covered in black bristles, its tusks bared. One white and two yellow Soul Rings appeared around him.
"Oink, oink!"
After completing his Martial Soul Possession, the Soul Master looked just like a black wild boar, huge and bulky.
"Little girl, be a good girl and surrender. If you get hurt, you won't be worth as much."
"No! Leave now, and I'll pretend this never happened. The Nine-Heart Begonia Family has powerful guards."
"Aren't you afraid the Nine-Heart Begonia Family will take revenge?" Ye Lingling said nervously. These were the words her family had taught her to save her own life.
But the two low-ranking Soul Masters had limited experience and had never heard of the great family.
"Quit wasting time. Grab her, before someone shows up."
The tall, lean Soul Master spoke coldly.
"Right away, boss."
The black boar Soul Master didn't hesitate. He charged straight at Ye Lingling.
"Don't come any closer!"
Ye Lingling was so frantic that tears were about to spill from her eyes.
She was an auxiliary Soul Master with no means of defense. Terrified, she squeezed her eyes shut and screamed.
Just as the boar Soul Master's greasy hand was about to grab Ye Lingling, a streak of golden lightning shot toward him.
"Ah!"
The golden lightning slammed into the boar Soul Master, instantly leaving a huge burn on him.
The terrifying current coursed through his body, making every black bristle stand on end.
In the blink of an eye, the boar Soul Master had lost control of his bowels and bladder. His eyes rolled back, and he collapsed to the ground.
The stench of burning flesh drifted on the breeze, making Ye Lingling feel sick.
The tall, lean Soul Master turned and bolted. "Brother, I'm taking off. You hold them off..."
But another streak of golden lightning shot out and struck the tall, lean Soul Master, who had betrayed his partner.
The man was instantly roasted until he was crisp on the outside and tender on the inside, his whole body charred black...
Ye Lingling's beautiful eyes were full of disbelief. She had been on the verge of falling into the criminals' clutches, but everything had suddenly turned around.
"May I ask who my hero is?" Ye Lingling asked timidly.
She looked around, searching for the person who had saved her.
The person who came into view was a handsome young man dressed in white, with long hair and a golden lightning mark between his brows.
"Thank you, hero."
As soon as Ye Lingling had finished thanking him, Zhou Tong turned into a flash of lightning and raced toward the tall, lean Soul Master, who was struggling to escape.
"First Soul Skill: Thunderbolt!"
"Second Soul Skill: Blue Silver Tyrant Emperor Armor!"
A yellow Soul Ring appeared around Zhou Tong, its golden light flashing. Surging lightning wove around him, instantly forming a blue-and-gold suit of armor made of Blue Silver.
"Whoosh!"
Ye Lingling heard a rush of air beside her ear. In the next instant, Zhou Tong had appeared in front of the lean Soul Master, sending out a blue-and-gold vine that swiftly wrapped around him.
The tall, lean Soul Master was about to flee. Before he could react, he felt himself trembling from head to toe, every hair on his body standing on end.
"Crackle, crackle!"
A series of sharp electric bursts rang out. The tall, lean Soul Master stared in terror at Zhou Tong, who had appeared before him like a ghost.
He wanted to summon his Martial Soul and fight back, but the lightning had already numbed him.
The tall, lean Soul Master toppled over stiffly, thick black smoke pouring from his mouth. He was completely lifeless.
"Th-thank you. My name is Ye Lingling."
After witnessing the terrifying scene, Ye Lingling's face had gone pale. She watched the young man before her with some fear.
"My name is Zhou Tong!"
"I was just passing through. I saw someone in trouble, so I stepped in."
Zhou Tong dusted off his hands and looked calmly at Ye Lingling.
"Are you all right?"
Zhou Tong spoke, but Ye Lingling was still stunned, staring blankly at him without a word.
"I'm all right." Realizing she had been staring, Ye Lingling blushed with embarrassment and quickly replied.
Just then, a voice called out.
"Lingling, I found you!"
A graceful, beautiful woman in a teal dress hurried over, followed by five or six guards.
"Are you hurt?"
The woman was Ye Lingling's mother, Ye Xiyue, head of the Nine-Heart Begonia Family.
Seeing the scene before her, Ye Xiyue looked surprised and immediately checked Ye Lingling for injuries.
Only after confirming that she was unharmed did Ye Xiyue breathe a sigh of relief.
"Who is this young man?"
Ye Xiyue glanced at the bodies on the ground, then looked at Zhou Tong with suspicion.
"Mom, those two criminals were going to grab me. This young man saved me."
Hearing that, Ye Xiyue relaxed and turned to Zhou Tong. "Thank you, young man. You've done the Ye Family a great service."
This boy, who didn't look very old, had actually taken down two men who seemed to be at least Soul Grandmasters.
He was definitely a talent.
"It was nothing. I was just passing by, saw some criminals causing trouble, and lent a hand."
Zhou Tong said mildly.
He really had just been passing by. Saving someone along the way and earning the Ye Family's goodwill seemed like a pretty good deal.
Besides, Ye Lingling was a student at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy. He would surely have to deal with her once he enrolled.
It was nice to make her acquaintance by chance.
Maybe one day he could use this connection to get to know Dugu Bo and, through him, obtain the Immortal Herbs at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
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