Zhu Zhuqing: Thank You for Saving Me!

The people behind her immediately picked up their pace.

"Zhu Zhuqing, keep running!"

"You won't be leaving the Star Dou Great Forest today!"

The girl raised her head, a glint of coldness flashing through her eyes.

She braced herself against the ground and stood, one hand pressing against the wound at her waist.

Tang Yuan recognized their clothing, and his brow immediately furrowed.

"People from the Star Luo Imperial Family."

Tang Chen looked at the girl.

Zhu Zhuqing.

With her aloof temperament and the Star Luo Imperial Family personally sending people to hunt her down—

Combined with her age and cultivation—

Tang Chen quickly guessed her identity.

"Dai Mubai's fiancée, Zhu Zhuqing."

As soon as he spoke, Tang Chen stepped out of the forest.

Zhu Zhuqing and the pursuers behind her both looked over.

Tang Chen stood between the two sides.

Black hair fell over his forehead, and his clean white robes seemed utterly out of place amid the disheveled surroundings.

The lead Star Luo Soul Master stopped.

"Who are you?"

Tang Chen glanced at him.

"A group of grown men hunting down a girl. Is that supposed to be impressive?"

The Soul Master's face darkened.

"Little brat, we'll kill you too!"

He raised a hand.

"Attack!"

Several Soul Masters activated their Soul Power at once, Soul Rings lighting up beneath their feet in succession.

Rather than going around Tang Chen, they charged directly at him.

Zhu Zhuqing's expression shifted slightly.

"Get out of the way!"

"There's a Soul Elder among them!"

Tang Chen did not retreat.

He raised his right hand.

Purple-black light rose from his palm.

The Destruction Scepter slowly appeared.

The dark purple crystal at its tip lit up, twisting the surrounding air.

A dark purple Soul Ring rose beneath his feet.

The Soul Ring slowly revolved.

The aura of a Two-Thousand-Year Soul Ring spread out, instantly overwhelming the Soul Power of the Soul Masters ahead.

The Soul Master charging at the front faltered.

"A Millennium Soul Ring?"

The leader also showed shock.

"How much Soul Power does he even have?"

Tang Chen did not answer.

The Soul Ring beneath his feet suddenly blazed.

Purple-black destructive power gathered along his arm.

The crystal atop the Destruction Scepter released an intense glow.

All energy compressed into a single point.

A fist-sized sphere of purple-black light appeared before Tang Chen's palm.

"First Soul Skill."

"Destruction Judgment."

Tang Chen raised his hand and thrust it forward.

The purple-black beam crossed several meters in an instant.

The Soul Master at the front had no time to dodge, and the beam pierced straight through his body.

Destructive power spread from the wound.

His protective Soul Power shattered on the spot.

His body broke apart piece by piece before finally dissolving into a mass of black motes.

The forest fell silent for a moment.

The lead Soul Master's eyes widened.

"How is that possible?"

"A Soul Elder was killed in a single strike?"

Tang Chen withdrew his hand.

The purple-black glow on the Destruction Scepter did not fade.

"Next."

The lead Soul Master's expression turned ugly.

The third purple Soul Ring beneath his feet immediately lit up.

"Third Soul Skill, Black Feather Soul Pursuit!"

Several black light blades formed behind him, carrying powerful Soul Power fluctuations as they shot toward Tang Chen.

Tang Chen raised the Destruction Scepter.

Purple-black light spread before him.

The instant the black light blades touched the destructive power, they swiftly crumbled.

Tang Chen took a step forward.

The Destruction Scepter swept through his hand.

A purple-black blade of light slashed out from its tip.

The Soul Elder hurriedly raised his knife to block it.

The light blade struck the short knife.

The knife snapped in two.

The purple-black light blade continued onward, cleaving the Soul Elder's body in half.

Destructive power invaded his body.

His Soul Power and flesh collapsed at the same time.

The remaining Soul Masters turned pale and fled in all directions.

Tang Chen gave them no chance.

He raised his left hand.

Emerald-green light surged from his palm.

The phantom of the Life Ancient Tree emerged behind him.

Countless emerald vines burst from the ground, instantly wrapping around the fleeing men's legs.

Their bodies lost balance, and they crashed heavily to the ground.

The vines continuously tightened.

Life energy was drawn from their bodies, gathering within the Life Ancient Tree through the vines.

Tang Chen raised his right hand again.

Beams of destructive light fell one after another.

Before the Soul Masters could even use their Soul Skills, they were completely swallowed by destructive power.

Only moments had passed.

All the Soul Masters who had been pursuing Zhu Zhuqing lost their lives.

Only shattered weapons and scattered clothing remained on the ground.

Tang Chen put away his two Martial Souls.

The phantom of the Life Ancient Tree in the forest slowly faded.

Zhu Zhuqing stood where she was, watching everything that had happened without speaking for a long while.

A Soul Master in his twenties.

He had first killed a Soul Elder head-on, then swiftly dealt with the rest.

Those two utterly opposing powers left her even more unable to understand.

Tang Chen turned around.

"How are your injuries?"

Zhu Zhuqing came back to her senses.

"The wounds aren't deep. I've just used too much Soul Power."

She raised a hand and tidied her disheveled black hair.

Her damaged clothes exposed a patch of fair skin at her shoulder, while blood stained the area around her wound.

Tang Chen glanced at her.

"Sit down."

Zhu Zhuqing did not move immediately.

Tang Chen added:

"I can treat your injuries."

After thinking for a moment, Zhu Zhuqing walked beneath a nearby tree and sat down.

Tang Chen came before her and crouched.

An emerald-green leaf appeared from his left palm.

Life energy flowed from the leaf, transforming into a gentle glow that enveloped Zhu Zhuqing's body.

Warmth spread through her wounds.

The bloodstains gradually vanished.

Her torn skin rapidly healed.

As the life energy entered her meridians, Zhu Zhuqing's depleted Soul Power also began to recover.

She lowered her head and looked at Tang Chen before her.

Only now, at such close range, did she clearly see his face.

Handsome features and tranquil eyes.

Tang Chen focused on controlling the life energy, the black hair over his forehead gently swaying in the breeze.

Zhu Zhuqing's gaze lingered for a moment before shifting aside.

A faint blush touched the tips of her ears.

Tang Yuan stood not far away and saw the entire scene clearly.

The old man raised a hand and stroked his beard.

"Chen'er, the girl you saved this time is quite good."

"At this rate, your grandfather may soon have a granddaughter-in-law."

Zhu Zhuqing's body stiffened.

She instinctively looked at Tang Yuan, the blush on her face becoming even more obvious.

Tang Chen helplessly looked up.

"Grandfather, please don't disturb me."

"Alright, alright. Grandfather won't say any more."

Tang Yuan turned around and stood with his back to them.

Zhu Zhuqing pressed her lips together.

"Senior likes to joke around."

"He's always been like this."

Tang Chen continued controlling the life energy as he treated Zhu Zhuqing's injuries.

"You don't need to mind him."

Zhu Zhuqing nodded softly.

A moment later, the final wound completely healed.

Tang Chen withdrew the Leaf of Life.

"That's enough."

Zhu Zhuqing raised a hand to touch her shoulder.

There was no trace of the wound left there, and even the pain had vanished completely.

She examined her body, shock appearing in her eyes.

"My injuries are completely healed."

"Your healing ability is actually stronger than the healing Soul Masters in my sect."

Tang Chen stood up.

"It was only the power of the Life Martial Soul."

Zhu Zhuqing looked at him.

"Thank you."

"What's your name?"

"Tang Chen."

"My name is Zhu Zhuqing."

Tang Chen nodded.

"I know."

Zhu Zhuqing was slightly startled.

"You know me?"

"The Star Luo Imperial Family personally sent people to hunt you down. There aren't many people important enough to make them take such matters so seriously."

Tang Chen offered no further explanation.