An Encounter with Ah Rou!

Ronan slowly opened his eyes, faint tricolored light swirling within his pupils.

"Too powerful..." Ronan murmured, unable to hide the excitement in his voice.

He could clearly feel that after condensing this three-attribute Soul Core, his strength had undergone a fundamental, transformative change.

Now, he felt terrifyingly powerful!

"As long as I obtain another hundred-thousand-year ninth soul ring and truly step into the realm of a Titled Douluo..."

"At that time, across the entire Douluo Continent, no one will be able to stop me!"

"Even Qian Daoliu of Spirit Hall, who claims to be invincible in the sky—I'll grind him beneath my feet!"

As early as two years ago, Ronan had ventured deep into the Star Dou Forest in search of suitable soul rings.

Relying on his formidable strength and concealment methods, he had successfully mapped out the exact location of the Star Dou Forest's core region.

Thus, this time, he had no need to wander about like a headless fly searching for a route. He could head straight for the heart of it.

So, without the slightest hesitation, Ronan set off.

In merely a few days, he had arrived at the Star Dou Forest.

Ronan concealed his aura and moved through the forest at an unhurried pace, like an ordinary soul master.

Yet not long after he entered deeper into the forest, a vivid splash of color that seemed utterly out of place amid the dark woods suddenly appeared ahead.

It was a woman.

A woman so beautiful that she took one's breath away.

She stood quietly beneath a massive ancient tree, as though she were a spirit born from this very forest.

Her face was devastatingly beautiful, every feature so exquisite that not the slightest flaw could be found.

Her skin was fair and delicate, like the finest white jade, gleaming softly beneath the dappled sunlight.

Her silky black hair had been carefully braided into a long scorpion braid that fell all the way to her slender, willowy waist.

She was tall and graceful, with alluring curves, dressed in pink garments that perfectly outlined her proud figure.

This attire gave her the seductive charm of a mature married woman.

Yet it also somehow blended in the sweetness and gentleness of a young girl, making her elegant without losing a touch of playfulness.

In other words, she had the charm of both a young girl and a wife!

However, Ronan's gaze lingered on her appearance for only a moment before he immediately sensed something unusual.

"She... isn't human..."

Ronan's heart stirred slightly as countless thoughts flashed through his mind.

A hundred-thousand-year Spirit Beast in human form! And judging from her clothes, that scorpion braid, and the faintly alluring aura around her...

"A rabbit... a Soft Bone Rabbit!"

A barely noticeable smile curled at Ronan's lips. He had already guessed the identity of the woman before him.

Xiao Wu's mother—the hundred-thousand-year Soft Bone Rabbit in human form, Ah Rou!

In the original course of events, this woman's fate had been exceptionally tragic.

She had been besieged by the Pope of Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong, and numerous powerful experts. In the end, she died miserably and became Bibi Dong's soul ring and Spirit Bone.

"I never expected to encounter her here so early." Ronan quietly calculated in his heart.

"Since I've run into her, I can't just pretend I didn't see her."

A bold and thrilling idea quietly took root in Ronan's heart.

He straightened his clothes, put on a gentle and refined smile, and strode directly toward Ah Rou on his long legs.

"This beautiful lady, please wait."

Ronan's voice was warm as jade, carrying an easygoing friendliness that made one feel as though a spring breeze had brushed past.

Hearing him, Ah Rou turned around and warily examined Ronan with her large, watery eyes.

Ah Rou had long grown accustomed to such sudden advances.

Ever since she had taken human form to cultivate anew and traveled through the human world, her peerless beauty and unique temperament had drawn countless lustful admirers wherever she went.

Looking at the handsome, upright young man before her, whose bearing was distinctly exceptional, she did not particularly dislike him, but she certainly felt no fondness toward him either.

"Is there something you need?" Ah Rou's voice was clear and pleasant, though touched by a coolness that kept others at arm's length.

Ronan stopped three steps away from Ah Rou, maintaining a polite distance as he smiled and said,

"This is the Star Dou Forest, a place full of dangers and rampant Spirit Beasts."

"Miss, you have ventured this deep alone. Aren't you afraid of encountering danger?"

Ah Rou sneered inwardly at his words.

Danger?

The Star Dou Forest was her home. Da Ming and Er Ming were the overlords of this forest. What danger could she possibly face here?

Still, she maintained a polite smile on the surface and said indifferently,

"Thank you for your concern, sir. But since I dared to enter alone, naturally I know what I'm doing. I have matters to attend to, so I won't trouble you further."

With that, Ah Rou turned around and lightly tapped the ground with the tip of her foot.

Like a nimble pink butterfly, she instantly shot dozens of meters forward, preparing to speed away from the man trying to strike up a conversation with her.

However, something unexpected happened.

She had barely traveled any distance when that man's warm voice reached her ears once more.

"Meeting is fate."

"Since we have both entered the Star Dou Forest, perhaps our destinations may even be the same."

"Why not travel together? We may be headed in the same direction, and we can look out for each other. What do you think, Miss?"

Ah Rou's heart jolted, and she sharply turned her head.

Ronan was walking at her side with his hands clasped behind his back, as leisurely as though he were taking a stroll through a courtyard.

No matter how she accelerated, Ronan maintained the same position beside her.

Even his breathing remained completely steady, as if he were simply taking a relaxed walk in his own backyard.

"This man... what incredible speed! What profound cultivation!"

Ah Rou's expression instantly turned grave.

Though she was currently in the juvenile stage of rebuilding her cultivation after taking human form, she still possessed the foundation of a hundred-thousand-year Spirit Beast. Her movement techniques and speed were certainly no weaker than those of an ordinary Soul Emperor.

Yet this young man, who appeared to be only a little over twenty, could keep up with her so effortlessly. He was clearly no simple person!

To get rid of this unfathomable man as soon as possible, Ah Rou's eyes shifted, and an idea came to her.

"There's no need for us to travel together."

Ah Rou stopped and turned to face Ronan.

"May I ask where in the Star Dou Forest you are headed, sir? I believe our destinations are likely not the same."

She had already made up her mind. As long as Ronan named a place, she would immediately claim that her own destination lay in the completely opposite direction, allowing them to part ways with perfect justification.

Ronan looked at Ah Rou's large eyes, filled with vigilance, and the smile at his lips deepened.

Then he said, "My destination is... the core of the Star Dou Forest."

"What?!"

Upon hearing Ronan's destination, Ah Rou's mind went blank for a moment, and a flash of undisguised shock crossed her beautiful face.