Confessing to Zhu Zhuqing

Hearing Shi An's words, everyone seemed to finally come to their senses.

Right, with a Soul Master whose healing ability ranked first on the entire continent here, why were they asking a brat?

They had really been so anxious that they lost their heads.

Ye Lingling's mother gave Shi An an interested glance, then looked at the hopeful gazes around her and nodded.

"Meridian damage is somewhat troublesome, but I can still heal it."

"Many thanks, Doctor Ye!"

Everyone gathered around Ye Lingling and her mother.

The three education committee members breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, there was a solution.

Otherwise, if Dugu Yan's grandfather, Dugu Bo, and Yu Tianheng's grandfather, Yu Yuanzhen—those two Title Douluo—started making trouble, the entire Heaven Dou Empire probably would not know peace.

At that thought, Meng Shenji shot a resentful glance at the devastated Qin Ming.

So close.

That old man had come so close to being dragged into this.

After living this long, all he wanted was a peaceful retirement. Why did this have to turn into something so exciting?

In the end, the disturbance came to an end.

News of Qin Ming's actions reached Xue Ye's ears.

The emperor was enraged and had the culprit Qin Ming thrown into prison, where he was harshly interrogated over why he had wanted to harm his students.

Qin Ming died unjustly. This was clearly a training plan he had learned from Shrek Academy—how had it turned out like this?

The prison cell was incomparably dark. A pungent stench and the scent of decay filled his nostrils. Qin Ming gazed at the bright moon beyond the narrow gap in the iron-barred window, his eyes empty and numb as he ended his life.

Because of this incident, all of Heaven Dou City remained abuzz for several days.

The academy also gave the members of the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy Team a few days off. Xue Ye even sent them some nourishing supplements to help them recuperate and regulate their breathing.

Inside Shi An's courtyard.

The two were sitting cross-legged in the courtyard, cultivating, when someone suddenly knocked on the gate.

Shi An had actually known someone was coming long ago. After all, no fluctuations within two kilometers could escape his senses.

The image entered his mind. There were three people in total: one dressed in splendid robes and two clad in armor.

Zhu Zhuqing opened her eyes, glanced at Shi An, who was still cultivating, then rose and went to the front courtyard to open the gate.

"Sister Zhu, long time no see. Is Brother Shi home?"

Seeing that Zhu Zhuqing had opened the door, Xue Qinghe asked with a warm smile.

"He's in the courtyard." Zhu Zhuqing gave a slight nod and welcomed Qian Renxue inside.

The two Gold-Armored Guards stood watch at the gate, their eyes vigilantly scanning the pedestrians on the street.

Footsteps approached. Shi An slowly opened his eyes and looked at Qian Renxue.

"Brother Xue, what brings you to your little brother's place today?"

He spoke with a smile, rose, went to the stone table, and brewed a pot of tea.

"Ah, things have been too chaotic these past two days. I've been busy for quite a while too."

Qian Renxue sat across from him and said with a bitter smile, "We also have Brother Shi to thank. Otherwise, the foundations of those academy team members would have been damaged."

"I came here for two reasons. First, I haven't seen Brother Shi in a long time, so I came to catch up and chat."

"Second, my father sent me to deliver a token of thanks for exposing that harmful Qin Ming."

"Not at all, not at all. I merely happened to sense that something was wrong." Shi An spoke modestly, but his expression was extremely pleased with himself.

In front of Qian Renxue, he had to act like a gifted but arrogant genius.

A performance had to be convincing from start to finish. Seeing Shi An's smug expression, Qian Renxue's lips curled upward slightly.

She took a wooden box from her storage Soul Tool, placed it on the stone table, pushed it before Shi An, and said with a smile,

"This is the reward Father has bestowed upon you. Besides the item in this box, there is also the title of baron and ten thousand Gold Soul Coins."

Shi An opened the box and inspected it. The corner of his mouth immediately twitched.

"This..."

Qian Renxue smiled outwardly, but inwardly she cursed repeatedly.

"This is a premium ten-thousand-year Whale Rubber. Father learned that when you were in Vast Sea City, you had taken a liking to Whale Rubber, so he retrieved this piece from the treasury as part of the reward."

As she spoke, she also glanced at Zhu Zhuqing beside them.

Upon hearing what was inside the box, Zhu Zhuqing's face immediately flushed.

"Heh... heh heh." Shi An put on an embarrassed expression, though his eyes gleamed.

Seeing this, Qian Renxue secretly spat in her heart. Lecher.

They had not chatted for long before Qian Renxue noticed Shi An's distraction and took her leave.

Inwardly, she sneered, So impatient in broad daylight. Just because he has a little talent, he acts so unrestrainedly. He will never amount to much.

After seeing Qian Renxue off, Shi An shut the gate.

Zhu Zhuqing stood behind him. Seeing Shi An put several locks on the gate, she felt nervous and afraid.

Yet for some reason, she could not feel the slightest disgust.

Shi An turned around and saw Zhu Zhuqing's flushed face and her bashful, fidgeting manner. He asked in confusion,

"What's wrong with you?"

"Tea... Teacher, if you want to... Zhuqing can."

Shi An raised his brows. Looking at the little cat standing prettily in place, her fingers twisted together, a mischievous smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"Really?"

"Mhm..." Zhu Zhuqing closed her eyes, looking as though she would let him do as he pleased, and answered softly.

Several seconds passed, yet Zhu Zhuqing did not feel Shi An make a move. She opened her eyes in confusion.

Then she saw Shi An looking at her with a teasing expression.

Zhu Zhuqing's face grew even redder, like a red apple, utterly enticing.

"Alright." Shi An rubbed her head and said,

"There is no need to rush."

"I accepted this Whale Rubber not for that sort of thing."

"Everyone only knows that Whale Rubber is used as an aphrodisiac, but they do not know just how heaven-defying its true effects are."

Zhu Zhuqing looked at him in confusion. Did Whale Rubber not only have aphrodisiac and virility-enhancing effects?

She did not ask. She felt too embarrassed to bring it up.

Seeing her curious yet hesitant expression, Shi An smiled and spoke, no longer continuing to hide it from her.

Zhu Zhuqing had already offered herself to him. She had certainly fallen for him.

It did not matter if he told her about Whale Rubber's effects. He had never relied on Whale Rubber anyway, but on his own strength.

"When others consume Whale Rubber, they only cut off a small piece at a time. Its effects can only be used to enhance virility and arouse desire."

"But consuming an entire piece is different. The energy within the Whale Rubber flows from the abdomen into the limbs, organs, and bones."

"It can make the bones harder and the body tougher."

Shi An extended his right hand, and a dull gray stone appeared, no different from the stones by the roadside.

Zhu Zhuqing froze for a moment. The next second, her eyes widened instantly.

Soul Power suddenly erupted from Shi An's body. The terrifying fluctuations of his Soul Power made her feel an incomparably heavy pressure.

Yellow, yellow, purple, black, black—five Soul Rings descended. The two black Soul Rings were profound and dazzlingly dark.

Zhu Zhuqing was not shocked by the black Soul Rings. What shocked her was that Shi An, who was about her age, was already a Soul King.

She was astonished that the ratio of his Soul Rings surpassed everything she knew.