Buffet Restaurant

Xiang He's sudden appearance immediately pulled Hu Liena's thoughts back on track. Struggling, she broke free from Meng Xuanji.

Xiang He had no mind to concern herself with the feelings between the two children right now. What she wanted to know most was who had killed this Jade-faced Thunder Fox!

Two one-ring Soul Masters had hunted a thousand-year soul beast. It was simply unbelievable!

"Reporting to you, Senior, we killed it."

Meng Xuanji raised his hand and admitted it.

"Hu Liena and I were accidentally ambushed by this fox. Left with no choice, we were fortunate enough to kill it."

"What about the soul ring? Which of you saw where the soul ring went?"

"Um, Senior. The soul ring is with me."

Hu Liena displayed her martial soul to Xiang He, whose mouth immediately fell open into a huge O.

"A thousand-year first ring! What talent is this!"

Having struggled across the Douluo Continent for many years, Xiang He had never seen such a soul ring configuration before!

Even peerless experts at the Title Douluo level had never set the precedent of possessing a thousand-year first ring, had they? At least, Xiang He had certainly never heard of one.

"I am Xiang He of Spirit Hall. Greetings, Holy Maiden."

Xiang He immediately bent one knee and bowed to Hu Liena.

In her view, Hu Liena was destined to become Spirit Hall's Holy Maiden in the future. That was already an indisputable fact.

"Huh? Holy Maiden? Senior, I'm only Teacher's student right now. I'm not a Holy Maiden yet."

"You will be. Not even His Holiness the Pope possessed talent like yours in his youth. If even you cannot become the Holy Maiden, then no one in Spirit Hall ever will."

Hu Liena found herself unable to refute Xiang He. Her words did seem to make some sense.

Standing to the side, Meng Xuanji had been watching Xiao Wu's movements behind them the entire time.

After Xiang He appeared, Xiao Wu had left by herself. Facing a Soul Ancestor-level Soul Master like Xiang He, Xiao Wu could never possibly appear alone before her.

It's good that she left. Now I won't have to worry about Da Ming and Er Ming making a move, Meng Xuanji thought.

If Da Ming and Er Ming had truly wanted to kill them, they would already be dead.

The fact that he was still standing here alive was the best proof of his conclusion.

"You're called Meng Xuanji, right?"

After getting up, Xiang He turned her gaze toward Meng Xuanji beside Hu Liena.

"The Star Dou Great Forest is full of dangers right now. The Holy Maiden's safety must be guaranteed. If you have yet to obtain a suitable soul ring, I suggest that you find others to form a team with now."

"There is still some time before sunset, so there is time for everything. As for the Holy Maiden, please return to camp with me. I must ensure your safety."

"What?" Hu Liena said in surprise. "No, I..."

"Then thank you, Senior. Please make sure to protect Hu Liena. I'll find a suitable soul ring for myself, so I won't trouble you with anything else."

Meng Xuanji promptly interrupted Hu Liena.

At the same time, he gently sent a message to her ear with his spiritual power.

"Don't tell anyone this was my doing. I don't want attention yet. Don't forget, my martial soul isn't suited to stand in the open."

The Dark Blue Silver Emperor could never step onto a stage lit by spotlights.

And when that day truly came, perhaps no one on the entire continent would be his opponent anymore.

If he did not act, then so be it. Once he did, he would astonish the world.

Knowing how to endure was Meng Xuanji's greatest advantage.

"All right, then." Hu Liena could only silently accept Meng Xuanji's choice.

"Then I'll return with Senior. Meng Xuanji, be careful on your own."

As she spoke, Hu Liena handed Meng Xuanji a level-five soul tool from her arms. It was a jade slip that could be hidden beneath one's clothes and generate a soul power barrier in times of danger, blocking a fatal strike.

Meng Xuanji even raised the jade slip to his nose and sniffed it. That milky scent was even stronger.

"Mm, thank you. I'll cherish this gift."

Seeing Meng Xuanji sniff the jade pendant she had kept against her chest for years, Hu Liena's face flushed scarlet.

"You... you're so shameless. Couldn't you have waited until I left before smelling it? Did you have to tease me in front of me?" Hu Liena looked at Meng Xuanji bashfully.

"Because we're good friends, the kind of friends who can be completely honest with each other."

Meng Xuanji deliberately emphasized the words "completely honest."

Hu Liena's face grew even redder, burning hot.

"Pervert, I'm ignoring you. Senior, let's go."

With that, Hu Liena jogged toward the camp.

Xiang He was still watching from the side. If this continued, Hu Liena really would have nowhere to hide her embarrassment.

Xiang He watched the shy Hu Liena flee, then turned a scrutinizing gaze toward Meng Xuanji.

"What is your relationship with the Holy Maiden?"

"As you can see, Senior, we're only friends."

"Hmph. Then you should understand that you two are not the same kind of people. Your statuses are destined to pull you apart."

"Of course. Sooner or later, she will become the lofty Holy Maiden, looking down upon all living beings. As for me, I'll already be satisfied with earning a place behind her."

"You? Heh, let me make this clear in advance. No matter how strong childhood friendship may be, it is but drifting smoke before the interests of adults. The Holy Maiden may not even remember you in the future."

"Hehe, there's no need for Senior to concern yourself with that."

To Xiang He, Meng Xuanji was like an old fox. No matter what she said, it seemed to be within his expectations.

For a six-year-old child to possess such composure was truly frightening.

Seeing Hu Liena about to run out of sight, Xiang He could no longer concern herself with Meng Xuanji. She could only flap her wings and fly after Hu Liena.

After Xiang He left, Meng Xuanji was now completely alone.

Hu Liena, Xiao Wu, Da Ming, and Er Ming were all gone.

"Hehe, everyone's gone. Then it's time to think about myself."

Meng Xuanji took out pile after pile of Earth Demon Wolf corpses from his soul tool. The Blue Silver Emperor beneath his feet was like a starving wolf spotting lunch, wildly devouring the corpses.

It did not even spare the Jade-faced Thunder Fox's corpse.

The Symbiotic Blood Lotus standing on Meng Xuanji's shoulder drooled greedily.

He wanted to taste soul beast blood too.

Unfortunately, he could not defeat the Dark Blue Silver Emperor, so all he could do was stand to the side and breathe empty air.

"You want to eat too?"

Meng Xuanji looked at the Symbiotic Blood Lotus.

"Mm-hmm!" The Symbiotic Blood Lotus nodded furiously.

"Can I too, Master?"

The Symbiotic Blood Lotus's eyes lit up. Even the Blue Silver Emperor, which had been feeding, slowed its movements as though listening to what Meng Xuanji had in mind.

"No."

A bolt from the blue struck the Symbiotic Blood Lotus's mental defenses. Faintly, he could even hear the Dark Blue Silver Emperor's merciless laughter.

"However, you have a reward too."

To prevent the Symbiotic Blood Lotus from harboring resentment, Meng Xuanji exploited its value like a heartless capitalist.

Meng Xuanji looked toward the surrounding Star Dou Great Forest and spread his arms toward the air before him.

"This is the biggest buffet restaurant! I'll treat you to your fill of any soul beast under a thousand years old!"

A hint of madness flashed in Meng Xuanji's eyes.

He had a feeling that level 20 was not far away.

The Star Dou Great Forest was his best place to grind levels!