Han Bing said nothing. He just stared at Dugu Yan in astonishment. Truly, when a man was outstanding, beauties naturally threw themselves into his arms.
Hu Liena, sitting in the front row, was practically gnashing her teeth with anger, but there was nothing she could say just then.
After class, though, it was a different story.
"Hey, new girl. What were you whispering to Han Bing about back there?"
Hu Liena demanded, but Dugu Yan only gave a cold laugh, then gazed at Han Bing with open admiration and deliberately said:
"Nothing much!"
But Dugu Yan's eyes told a different story. Hu Liena's lips trembled, and she gave a snort.
"Just you wait for this afternoon's sparring match!"
The air was thick with hostility.
Caught between them, Han Bing had no idea what was going on, so he immediately returned to the Worship Hall.
As for the academy, it didn't really matter whether he went or not. With his Soul Power already at rank fifty, he could come and go as he pleased.
So Han Bing decided not to go.
Instead, he cultivated alone in the Worship Hall.
A year passed like this, and Han Bing's Haki grew stronger still, reaching the advanced stage.
By now, his strength was no different from that of a Titled Douluo.
It was time to hunt a Soul Ring for his Second Martial Soul. With his current physique, absorbing a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring was no longer a problem.
So five of the seven enshrined elders came along: Jiang Mo, Qian Jun, Azure Luan, Xiongshi, and his master, Guang Ling. This was a truly fearsome lineup.
Han Bing's target was the two Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts in the heart of the Star Dou Forest.
With advanced Observation Haki, he could predict even a Titled Douluo's attacks.
Han Bing stood at the center and set off toward the middle of the Star Dou Forest.
He wanted to spar alone with a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, while the five Super Douluos naturally kept watch from the shadows, just in case.
And so, they headed for the center.
He had taken only one step when his Observation Haki sensed a girl's cry of distress ahead.
Han Bing hurried toward the sound. He saw a twenty-thousand-year Soul Beast, a Flying Fire Bird, swooping toward a woman dressed in blue.
The woman was clearly badly injured and couldn't get to her feet.
Han Bing took a closer look. Wasn't that Shui Bing'er?
Why was she here alone?
Since he was passing by, Han Bing decided to help. He braced himself and tried out the new special move he'd developed!
"Cold Shadow Art!"
Ice pillars burst out around Han Bing. With a loud shout, they shot forward in an instant, hurtling straight toward the Flying Fire Bird.
It was killed in a single blow!
Han Bing rolled his neck. It hadn't stood a chance. Only a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast was strong enough to fight him now.
He was doing this to improve his strength and raise his Haki to the highest level as quickly as possible.
Shui Bing'er was stunned. Who was this person? He was so powerful, killing a twenty-thousand-year Soul Beast with a single move. And the Flying Fire Bird was the very thing that countered ice-attribute Martial Souls.
This person's Martial Soul seemed to be ice, too!
And it seemed to resonate with hers!
Shui Bing'er's own Martial Soul was among the finest ice-type ones, so she could naturally sense the connection with Han Bing.
She was just about to thank him, but Han Bing spoke first.
"Miss, if you're all right, hurry back. It's too dangerous to be alone!"
With that, he left!
Shui Bing'er was a little stunned. He was so abrupt! Still, she struggled to her feet and hurried back despite her injuries.
As luck would have it, she was chased by another Soul Beast.
And, as luck would have it, Han Bing killed it with one blow again!
His Observation Haki now had a very wide range. He looked helplessly at Shui Bing'er and asked:
"Why are you alone in the Star Dou Forest? Where are your teammates?"
Shui Bing'er pursed her lips and said:
"You're a strange person. You saved me, but you sound like you didn't want to. I came here alone!"
Han Bing smiled. "I can tell you had a falling-out with your family. Master, arrange for someone to take her back. I still have things to do!"
Then he immediately left!
Shui Bing'er stared after him. Were there really people this strange?
Just as Han Bing disappeared from view, Jiang Mo Douluo emerged, startling Shui Bing'er.
"A Titled Douluo? A Titled Douluo?!"
Her legs gave way, and she sank to the ground. Jiang Mo Douluo picked at his ear and said:
"What did Han Bing say just now? Take her back? All right!"
And so, Jiang Mo Douluo hauled Shui Bing'er back and delivered her to Han Bing's residence.
Han Bing had no idea.
He had only stopped to help her along the way, and continued onward.
Then he heard another cry for help up ahead.
Han Bing was speechless. Had he left home without checking the almanac? Why was everyone crying for help today?
Well, saving a life was worth more than building a seven-story pagoda!
Following the sound, Han Bing looked ahead and saw a speed-type Soul Master fleeing from a ten-thousand-year Soul Beast.
Blood ran down her body. She was already injured and couldn't hold out much longer. If no one helped her soon, the Soul Beast would kill her.
So Han Bing tried out another new special move he'd developed using his Devil Fruit.
He gathered strength in his left hand, thrust out his palm, and shouted:
"Ice Palm!"
An ice pillar shot forth and transformed into a gigantic hand. In an instant, it killed the Soul Beast!
The woman was finally safe. She wiped away her sweat and looked around to see who had rescued her. She saw a young man with blue hair and azure eyes, handsome and dashing.
Han Bing was just as surprised when he saw her.
Wasn't this Zhu Zhuqing? Why was she alone here?
Zhu Zhuqing said, "Thank you for saving me!"
Seeing that they were about the same age, she asked:
"Benefactor, what's your name? You look about my age, yet you killed a ten-thousand-year Soul Beast with a single move. That's amazing."
Han Bing answered:
"My name is Han Bing. And you?"
He asked merely out of courtesy.
"Zhu Zhuqing. Thank you for saving me!"
Han Bing nodded, then asked the question on his mind. "Why are you alone in the Star Dou Forest? It's very dangerous here!"
Zhu Zhuqing lowered her head. She had come out looking for Dai Mubai, but he had disappointed her so badly. He was nothing but a womanizer. So, in a fit of anger, she'd run off by herself, only to be chased by a ten-thousand-year Soul Beast. That was how things had ended up this way.
But she didn't explain all that. Instead, she said:
"I came out for a stroll by myself!"
That sounded almost exactly like what Shui Bing'er had said. Han Bing didn't call her out on it. He didn't want to get involved in her mess, so he planned to let her go back on her own.
But then he thought about it. Shui Bing'er had been too badly injured to make it back, and Zhu Zhuqing was in the same condition. If she went back alone and got chased by another Soul Beast, he'd have to rescue her all over again. Forget it. He called out:
"Master, sorry for the trouble. Please arrange for someone to take this girl home, too!"
Then he said goodbye to Zhu Zhuqing. "Zhu Zhuqing, wait here. My master will arrange for someone to take you back!"
With that, he set off again!
Zhu Zhuqing stared at him in confusion.
"Master? What kind of master is he?"
She turned around and saw a tall man standing before her, gripping an imposing staff. It was Qian Jun Douluo.
Zhu Zhuqing was dumbfounded. "A Titled Douluo?"
Qian Jun Douluo rolled his neck. "This one needs taking home, too? Understood. Come along, young lady!"
Faced with a Titled Douluo, Zhu Zhuqing naturally didn't dare resist, so she obediently followed him!
Before you continue