A Person in the Water—Could It Be Zhu Zhuqing?

Lin Ye was shocked to discover that the wound on his lower abdomen was healing at a visible rate!

Not only that, his muscles had become firmer, and his spiritual power had grown sharper.

The soul power that had been stalled at level twenty showed faint signs of loosening.

"This Devour skill is actually this overpowered?"

Lin Ye clenched his fist, feeling the surging power within him.

"It can not only devour attacks and soul power, but directly absorb an enemy's vitality to heal injuries and strengthen the body!"

Worthy of a god-tier martial soul! This was practically the ultimate cheat!

Lin Ye turned to look at the Sabertooth Tiger lying nearby, taking in more air than it expelled.

This seven-hundred-year Sabertooth Tiger possessed both wind and strength attributes, perfectly matching the attributes of the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger.

"You'll do."

Lin Ye stepped forward and smashed the Sabertooth Tiger's head with a punch.

A yellow Hundred-Year Spirit Ring slowly rose up.

Although the limit for a first Soul Ring was four hundred and twenty-three years, Lin Ye possessed the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger martial soul. Combined with having strengthened his body by devouring two Great Soul Masters just now, absorbing a seven-hundred-year Soul Ring would be no problem at all.

Lin Ye then sat cross-legged and guided the Soul Ring into his body.

Half an hour later.

Lin Ye suddenly opened his eyes, and a streak of violet-black lightning flashed through them.

Beneath his feet, a dark yellow Soul Ring slowly revolved.

Absorption successful!

Lin Ye rose to his feet and felt the changes within his body.

His soul power had directly broken through its bottleneck, rising two levels in a row to level twenty-two!

I wonder how powerful this first Soul Ring is. I'll test it out first!

Lin Ye stood up, and with a thought, activated his first soul skill.

"First soul skill, Evil God Thirteen Slashes!"

Lin Ye's right hand transformed into a tiger claw and slashed fiercely at a huge boulder ahead.

Swish, swish, swish—!

Thirteen consecutive slashes wrapped in black evil aura and violent wind shot forth with a howl, so fast that only afterimages could be seen.

Moreover, each of the thirteen slashes was heavier and more violent than the last!

Boom!

The three-meter-tall boulder was sliced into rubble across the ground the instant the thirteenth slash landed!

"What domineering destructive power."

Lin Ye nodded in satisfaction.

This first soul skill not only had high burst damage, but could also stack its damage. It was simply a god-tier close-combat skill.

"Now that my first Soul Ring is settled, it's time to look for my second one."

Lin Ye brushed the dust off himself, then caught the strong stench of blood and sweat on his body. His brow furrowed slightly.

"The smell is really that bad. I should find somewhere to wash up first."

Relying on the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's keen perception of his surroundings, Lin Ye quickly found a secluded water source deep within the forest.

It was a clear pool, concealed by dense shrubs. Moonlight spilled across the surface, making it shimmer.

Just as Lin Ye was about to undress, his gaze suddenly sharpened.

There was actually someone floating in the middle of the pool!

"What's going on? Someone was wild swimming in the Star Dou Great Forest?"

Lin Ye immediately became alert and silently approached the pool.

By the moonlight, he made out the figure in the water.

It was a girl.

Her black, skin-tight leather outfit had been soaked through and clung tightly to her body, outlining exaggerated curves utterly mismatched to her age.

However, this alluring body was covered in wounds of all sizes. Her blood had dyed the water around her red.

The girl's eyes were tightly shut, her face pale as paper. She had clearly fallen into a deep coma and could drown at any moment.

"That figure... that outfit..."

A name instantly flashed through Lin Ye's mind, though he was not entirely certain.

Without hesitation, he leaped into the water, wrapped an arm around the girl's slender waist, and dragged her ashore.

The moment he laid her flat on the grass, the girl seemed to sense the touch. She frowned in pain, parted her chapped lips in a daze, and murmured in a threadlike voice:

"I am... Zhu Zhuqing... Please, save me..."

Her voice came in broken fragments, carrying overwhelming despair and helplessness.

"So it really is you, big kitty."

Lin Ye raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.

He reached out to check Zhu Zhuqing's breathing. It was faint as a thread, and the soul power within her was a complete mess.

If she were an ordinary person, she would probably already be lining up for Meng Po's Soup by now.

But since she had met Lin Ye, her life was not meant to end yet.

A faint black gleam carrying the aura of life flowed around Lin Ye's fingertips. It was pure energy converted from devouring those two Soul Masters earlier.

Without holding back, he pressed that power into the center of Zhu Zhuqing's back, stabilizing her heart meridians. He then casually settled her in the clearing before turning to start a fire and roast meat.

Night had deepened, and the Star Dou Great Forest was bitingly cold at night. The campfire crackled as it burned.

"Cough, cough..."

Amid a violent fit of coughing, Zhu Zhuqing suddenly opened her eyes!

Her first reaction was to sit up swiftly and shrink backward like a startled wildcat, her hands instinctively trying to summon her martial soul.

But the moment she moved, aching pain surged through her body like a tide.

"I... I'm actually not dead?"

An extreme shock flashed through Zhu Zhuqing's cold eyes.

She looked down at herself. The fatal wounds deep enough to expose bone had miraculously stopped bleeding, and a thin layer of scab had even formed over them. Her breathing had become much steadier as well!

How was this possible?!

Just as she was filled with uncertainty, a deep voice carrying a few traces of laziness and absolute dominance came from across the fire.

"You're awake? You're quite tough, Second Miss of the Zhu Household of the Star Luo Empire."

Zhu Zhuqing's pupils abruptly contracted as she sharply raised her head.

Under the flickering firelight sat a tall, broad-shouldered youth.

His features were ruggedly handsome, as though carved by blade and axe. His deep black eyes held a rationality and ruthlessness entirely unsuited to his age.

What made Zhu Zhuqing tremble most was the aura the youth unconsciously gave off.

Even though he was merely sitting there roasting meat, the evil and dominance he exuded, like that of an ancient ferocious beast, made the Netherworld Spirit Cat martial soul within her tremble in fear!

"You... who are you? Did you save me?"

Zhu Zhuqing stared fixedly at Lin Ye. Her voice remained cold and distant, but its faint tremble exposed the profound lack of security in her heart.

Lin Ye tore off a piece of roasted meat and tossed it into his mouth, not even giving her a proper look.

"My name is Lin Ye. I saved you!"

Zhu Zhuqing bit down hard on her pale lower lip.

"Why did you save me? What do you want?"

"What do I want?" Lin Ye sneered, his deep gaze piercing straight into Zhu Zhuqing's heart.

"Please, don't think so highly of yourself. A stray dog being hunted by her own biological sister—what do you have that I would want?"

You!

Her entire body jolted as she stared at him in disbelief.

"How... how did you know my sister was hunting me?! Who exactly are you!"