Thousand-Year First Ring

Xiao Wu held a century-old herb to Meng Xuanji's lips. Trusting her, Meng Xuanji swallowed it without hesitation.

Where did that trust come from, you ask? The fact that she was Xiao Wu, who had yet to develop a blood feud with Spirit Hall, was enough.

If Xiao Wu had truly wanted to kill him, she would not have needed to poison him. She could have simply watched him suffer until he slowly died.

Even if it really was poison, Meng Xuanji would accept it.

As the herb entered his stomach, the Dark Blue Silver Emperor within Meng Xuanji began refining it at high speed. Soon, a faint green glow appeared over his body, radiating a lush aura of life.

"Wow! That was fast! The herb worked so quickly!"

After swallowing the herb, Meng Xuanji's chest felt much better. He no longer looked as though he were on the verge of death.

Even the pain on Hu Liena's face eased slightly.

"Thank you."

Meng Xuanji voiced his thanks.

"You're welcome. My mother told me that when you see someone who needs help, you should lend them a hand. Since I met you, of course I couldn't just stand by and watch you die."

"Mm, you really are a kind girl. Sister Xiao Wu, my name is Meng Xuanji. It's nice to meet you."

Meng Xuanji said with difficulty, clutching his chest. Until Hu Liena finished absorbing her soul ring, he would probably have to remain kneeling on the ground in this position.

"Meng Xuanji?" Xiao Wu raised a finger to her lips. "What a lovely name. It sounds just like the starry sky."

"Cough, cough, really? As long as you think it sounds nice. By the way, Sister Xiao Wu, where are you from? Why haven't I seen you among Spirit Hall's group?"

"Um..." At the mention of her background, Xiao Wu became nervous. Her pair of fluffy white rabbit ears drooped instinctively.

"I... I live in the forest... But Mother told me not to tell strangers. You can't tell anyone else after you find out. Otherwise, otherwise I'll get angry!"

Xiao Wu raised her soft little fist in front of Meng Xuanji's face.

To Meng Xuanji, such a meaningless threat was no different from acting cute.

"Mm, I promise I won't tell anyone. Sister Xiao Wu, if you ever want to visit somewhere outside the Star Dou Great Forest in the future, you're welcome to come find me anytime. I'll definitely treat you well."

"Really?!"

Xiao Wu's eyes lit up.

"Let me tell you, I've actually always wanted to go out and have some fun, but Mother and Da Ming and Er Ming won't let me leave. I'm getting bored living in this forest."

"Where do you live? How about I find a chance to sneak out and come find you?"

Xiao Wu discreetly pointed behind her, indicating that someone was watching her.

If Meng Xuanji's guess was correct, that huge black boulder as tall as a mountain should be Er Ming.

Heh, why did his shoulders suddenly feel so heavy?

Even from several thousand meters away, Meng Xuanji could still faintly sense Er Ming's pressure, as imposing as Mount Tai itself. It felt as though he would be crushed into a meat patty if he looked a few more times.

"My home is in Papal City. If you want to come, Sister Xiao Wu, it would be best not to enter the city to look for me first."

"This is a signal flare I carry with me. If you come, light the fuse outside the city, then hide ten kilometers east of where it goes off. I'll come find you then."

Dear lady, whatever you do, don't rashly enter the city and get spotted by a Titled Douluo. I'm afraid I won't be able to save you then.

"Sounds complicated, but Mother did say that the human world is dangerous. I'll listen to you, then."

Seeing Xiao Wu accept his gift, Meng Xuanji relaxed a little.

By his calculations, Hu Liena should be almost done absorbing it, right?

Meng Xuanji could already feel a trace of power being fed back from the thousand-year soul ring.

Since he had helped Hu Liena bear the pain of absorbing the soul ring, he naturally had to collect a certain profit.

Otherwise, if the enormous power of the thousand-year soul ring had all been poured into Hu Liena at once, her small body probably would not have been able to withstand it.

"Ah!"

Hu Liena cried out toward the sky. The Nine-Tailed Fox martial soul appeared behind her, and a purple thousand-year soul ring gradually emerged around it.

Her first soul ring had succeeded.

"Finally, it worked."

A massive surge of soul power flooded Meng Xuanji's body, and his level leaped directly from level 11 to level 13.

Hu Liena's increase was even more exaggerated, jumping straight from level 10 to level 15!

Hu Liena's mind was buzzing. Looking at her purple first soul ring, her first thought was that she was dreaming.

"I really... succeeded."

Hu Liena rose blankly to her feet. Looking at that bewitching purple soul ring, the first person she thought of was that man.

"Right, Meng Xuanji!"

Hu Liena looked around in every direction.

While she had been absorbing it, she could clearly sense someone helping her withstand the pain of her martial soul's backlash. If not for Meng Xuanji, there was no way she could have subdued the Jade-faced Thunder Fox.

"I'm here."

Meng Xuanji waved at Hu Liena.

Xiao Wu had already darted behind a large tree.

Because Da Ming and Er Ming did not allow her to have too much contact with humans, meeting Meng Xuanji was already her limit.

If Hu Liena saw Xiao Wu as well, it would be hard to say whether the two of them could leave the Star Dou Great Forest alive.

Hu Liena flashed several times and arrived before Meng Xuanji. Arcs of electricity left behind by her martial soul fell in her wake, forming a brilliant purple trail.

"Thank you, Meng Xuanji."

Hu Liena threw herself into Meng Xuanji's arms, burying her head against his shoulder and hugging him tightly.

"I'm really so glad I chose to trust you. Just like you said, trusting you was the decision I'm most satisfied with."

Smelling the faint milky scent on Hu Liena's body, Meng Xuanji's hands hanging in the air became somewhat awkward.

With Xiao Wu watching from behind, it was not very convenient for him to take liberties with Hu Liena, lest it cause Xiao Wu any psychological discomfort.

"Haha, it's nothing. We're friends, after all. Friends should help each other. It's no big deal."

Hu Liena lightly stepped back half a pace. She gazed at Meng Xuanji with infatuation, a faint blush rising to her face.

"Meng Xuanji, you've helped me so much that I really feel indebted to you. So, I've decided to give you a small reward. Could you close your eyes?"

"Huh? Well..."

Meng Xuanji swept his spiritual power behind him. Xiao Wu was intently watching everything happening here. Could the sort of thing Hu Liena meant really be seen by her?

"How about we do it after we get back?"

"But, but I'm afraid I won't have the courage to do it after we get back. My heart feels so warm right now. I really want to repay you."

This is bad. This woman is getting carried away.

Meng Xuanji's first thought was that he was doomed. He desperately wished a third person would appear immediately and help Hu Liena calm down.

At the very least, stop her from doing anything improper.

"Meng Xuanji, Hu Liena, what just happened here?"

Xiang He swiftly flew above Meng Xuanji and Hu Liena. Seeing the corpse of the thousand-year soul beast, her mouth fell open in shock.

"Did the two of you do all this?"