Zhu Zhuqing's Love! A Tenderness Never Before Seen!

Tang Chen said calmly, "The Life Ancient Tree and the Destruction Scepter can both assist cultivation."

"When these two powers work together, cultivation naturally becomes faster."

Tang Yuan looked at his grandson before him, the satisfaction in his eyes nearly impossible to conceal.

"Faster?"

"This is no longer just a little faster."

"At this rate, in a few years, Grandpa will only be able to stand by and pour you tea."

Tang Chen laughed.

"Grandpa is a Soul Douluo now."

"So what if I am a Soul Douluo?"

Tang Yuan raised his chin.

"This Soul Douluo was saved by his grandson using Immortal Artifacts and Immortal Herbs."

"If you truly surpass Grandpa, Grandpa will only be happy."

Tang Chen did not continue teasing the old man.

He raised the Soul Rings beneath his feet.

The first Soul Ring was a deep purple.

The second Soul Ring was pure black.

Tang Yuan's gaze fell upon that black Soul Ring, and the smile on his face gradually froze.

"This is..."

Tang Chen said, "The age of my second Soul Ring has increased to over ten thousand years."

Tang Yuan extended a hand but did not touch the Soul Ring directly.

The old man carefully sensed the aura within it, his expression changing repeatedly.

"A Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring?"

"You are only level thirty. How could your second Soul Ring possibly reach ten thousand years?"

Tang Chen said, "I do not know either."

"Perhaps it is because my Martial Souls are special."

That was indeed the most convenient explanation.

Naturally, he could not tell anyone about the system.

Tang Yuan fell silent for a moment.

He had once been a Soul Douluo. He had seen many geniuses and knew the limits of Soul Masters absorbing Soul Rings.

A first Soul Ring of two thousand years and a second Soul Ring of nine thousand years were already shocking enough.

Yet now, the second Soul Ring had risen to twelve thousand years.

There had never been such a case anywhere on the continent.

Tang Yuan raised a hand to stroke his beard, and the satisfaction in his eyes gradually turned into pride.

"What special Martial Souls indeed."

"Although the Clear Sky Hammer is known as the number one Tool Martial Soul in the world, compared to my grandson's Life Ancient Tree and Destruction Scepter, it still falls far short."

"Those people drove you out of the sect back then. The ones who suffered the loss were them."

Tang Chen withdrew his Soul Rings.

"Grandpa, let us make preparations."

"Now that I have broken through level thirty, I need to find my third Soul Ring."

"This time, Grandpa will go with you."

Tang Yuan set his wooden staff aside.

"With Grandpa there, at least we will not have to worry about high-level Soul Beasts suddenly attacking."

Just then, footsteps came from the distant woods.

Zhu Zhuqing walked over from the other side of the mountain path.

She wore a fitted black short top, its fabric rising and falling gently with her steps.

A black belt cinched her slender waist, making her appear even more nimble.

She wore black trousers suited for movement, and her long legs looked straight and well-proportioned beneath the sunlight.

Her long hair was tied behind her head, with several strands resting against her fair cheeks.

After a year of cultivation, Zhu Zhuqing's temperament had become even colder than before.

Yet when she saw Tang Chen, a trace of softness still appeared in her eyes.

She approached and first glanced at Tang Yuan.

"Grandpa Tang."

"Zhu Qing, you are back."

Tang Yuan nodded, then looked at the medicine basket on her back.

"Did you gather quite a few medicinal herbs again today?"

"Mm."

Zhu Zhuqing set down the medicine basket.

During this period, she often entered the nearby mountains alone to search for medicinal herbs that could aid cultivation and restore Soul Power.

Most of those herbs were not particularly precious, but they made the daily cultivation of the three of them much smoother.

Tang Chen looked at her.

"Thank you for your hard work."

Zhu Zhuqing shook her head.

"I only looked for them along the way."

After saying that, her gaze fell upon Tang Chen.

After a year apart, Tang Chen had changed noticeably.

His figure had become more upright. His features remained handsome and refined, but his aura had grown far deeper.

As he stood before the cave, Tang Chen carried an oppressive presence that could not be ignored.

Zhu Zhuqing's gaze lingered for a moment before shifting to beneath his feet.

Two Soul Rings slowly rose.

The first was deep purple.

The second, however, was pure black.

Zhu Zhuqing froze where she stood.

"A black Soul Ring?"

Tang Chen nodded.

"My second Soul Ring is ten thousand years."

Zhu Zhuqing looked at that black Soul Ring and did not avert her gaze for a long time.

She knew very well what a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring represented.

Many Soul Masters did not dare absorb a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring even after reaching the Soul Ancestor or even Soul King realm.

Tang Chen had just reached level thirty, yet his second Soul Ring had already entered the ten-thousand-year tier.

Zhu Zhuqing raised her eyes to Tang Chen.

"How did you do it?"

"I do not know either."

Tang Chen repeated the system's explanation once more.

"Perhaps my Martial Souls are special."

Zhu Zhuqing fell silent for a moment.

"Your Martial Souls truly cannot be judged by common sense."

Tang Yuan laughed from the side.

"Zhu Qing, you do not need to find this strange."

"Others absorb ten-year Soul Rings, while he absorbs Millennium Soul Rings."

"Others gain two levels in a year of cultivation, while he gains seven."

"Now his second Soul Ring has merely become a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring. It is not a big deal."

Zhu Zhuqing looked at Tang Yuan.

"Grandpa Tang, are you trying to comfort me?"

"Grandpa is telling you the truth."

Tang Yuan patted Tang Chen's shoulder.

"You will slowly see just how impressive my grandson is in the future."

Zhu Zhuqing pressed her lips together, a little more amusement appearing in her eyes.

Tang Chen put away his Martial Souls.

"I have reached level thirty."

"We are preparing to head to the Star Dou Great Forest to find my third Soul Ring."

Zhu Zhuqing picked up her medicine basket.

"I will go with you."

Tang Chen looked at her.

"Do you need to obtain a Soul Ring as well?"

"Not for now."

Zhu Zhuqing shook her head.

"I want to search for some medicinal herbs in the forest."

"Besides, it is safer to travel with you."

Tang Yuan picked up his wooden staff and said with a smile, "Then let us go together."

"With Zhu Qing taking care of Chen'er along the way, Grandpa can relax a little too."

Tang Chen glanced at the old man.

"Grandpa, I do not need anyone to take care of me."

"You do not need it, but it is enough that Zhu Qing is willing to take care of you."

Zhu Zhuqing's ears reddened slightly.

She did not refute him and merely adjusted the medicine basket on her shoulder.

The three of them quickly packed their things and left the mountains.

Several days later.

The Star Dou Great Forest.

Ancient trees blocked out the sky, and damp air filled the woods.

The three of them advanced along a hidden path.

Tang Yuan was responsible for determining their direction.

Zhu Zhuqing often stopped to pick medicinal herbs growing between tree roots and rocks.

Tang Chen walked at the front.

His Mental Power spread through the surroundings, and no faint movement could escape his perception.

Over the past year, Zhu Zhuqing had grown accustomed to cultivating alongside them.

She did not speak much.

Most of each day was spent cultivating Soul Power or honing the combat techniques of her Nether Civet Martial Soul.

Tang Chen had never looked down on her because of her identity, nor had he asked further about her relationship with the Star Luo Imperial Family.

He had promised to protect Zhu Zhuqing.

Over the past year, no matter what happened, he had always kept that promise.

Zhu Zhuqing looked at the figure ahead.

His white robes stood out clearly amid the shifting light and shadows of the forest.

Tang Chen did not walk quickly, yet he always kept her and Tang Yuan behind him.

Whenever she encountered an attack from a Soul Beast, Tang Chen would strike first.

Whenever she encountered problems in cultivation, Tang Chen would also explain them to her seriously.