Suotuo City

Seeing this, Lin Qing was somewhat surprised. Although the two of them had interacted no differently from a couple over the past six years, this was the first time they had truly confirmed their relationship.

"No!" The moment Tang San heard Xiao Wu say that she was Lin Qing's girlfriend, it felt as though his entire heart had shattered. A melodious song seemed to echo by his ears: "Snowflakes drift, north wind howls. Heaven and earth are vast and desolate~~"

"Xiao Wu must have been deceived by Lin Qing. Yes, that has to be it!" To keep his heart from completely collapsing, Tang San could only tell himself, Xiao Wu, just wait. I'll definitely prove to you that only I, Tang San, am sincere toward you! The next moment, Tang San firmed up again, becoming even more determined to grow stronger.

Upon hearing Xiao Wu's answer, Zhu Zhuqing's heart trembled for some reason, as though something important were slipping away from her.

It was no wonder Xiao Wu was so eager to declare her claim. This time, Lin Qing had brought back Zhu Zhuqing only because he had happened to save her. What about next time? Would he directly bring home another girlfriend? To prevent that from happening, she had to make her relationship with Lin Qing official today, no matter what.

"Besides, I heard men like them big." Xiao Wu looked at the two enormous mounds before Zhu Zhuqing's chest, then at the flatness before her own. No, there was still something there—just two slightly raised little hills. Compared with Zhu Zhuqing's, they were utterly insignificant. To stop this woman from seducing Lin Qing, I have to make my relationship with him official no matter what!

"Alright, since you all know each other now, let's hurry into the city. It's getting late, and we still need to find somewhere to stay." Sensing that the atmosphere between the two women was off, Lin Qing hurriedly changed the subject.

"Okay, I'll listen to you, Lin Qing," Xiao Wu said sweetly.

Yet hearing Xiao Wu's sugary voice made Lin Qing shudder all over, goosebumps rising across his skin.

"Alright, then let's go," Lin Qing said.

After saying that, Lin Qing turned to the Unicorn Pegasus before him. "You can go back now. You don't need to follow us into the city."

As he spoke, Lin Qing summoned his Nichirin Blade Martial Soul. With deliberate concealment, he did not release his fourth Spirit Ring. Three Spirit Rings—yellow, purple, purple—appeared beneath his feet, rhythmically rising and falling around his body.

The moment they saw Lin Qing's Spirit Rings, everyone present apart from Xiao Wu was utterly shocked.

"How is that possible?! Didn't Teacher say that the absorption limits for a Soul Master's Spirit Rings were 423 years for the first ring, 764 years for the second, and 1,760 years for the third? No one can exceed the Spirit Ring absorption limits set by Teacher. How could Lin Qing absorb a thousand-year ring as his second Spirit Ring?!" Tang San could not accept it. "A trick! Right, it must be a trick!"

Tang San could only deceive himself, because the pressure radiating from Lin Qing's Spirit Rings was unmistakably real.

"A thousand-year second ring! Is this your true strength?" Zhu Zhuqing had far fewer thoughts racing through her mind. How did he do it? If he taught me, could I do it too?

"No, Zhu Zhuqing. Lin Qing is your lifesaver. How can you pry into his secrets?" Zhu Zhuqing shook the tangled thoughts from her mind, though shock still lingered on her face.

Although Zhu Zhuqing had cast those thoughts aside, they planted a seed for her future choices.

As for Tang Hao, who was observing them from afar, a flicker of shock also passed over his face. However, his deep experience as a Titled Douluo quickly calmed him down, followed by boundless delight.

"The secret of a thousand-year second ring ought to belong to my Clear Sky Sect!" Tang Hao stared at Lin Qing with gleaming eyes. But when he thought of Tang San's first two yellow Spirit Rings, his expression immediately darkened. "That useless Yu Xiaogang can't even research a method for absorbing a thousand-year second ring. What trash!"

"As for this brat Lin Qing, he has something this good and yet didn't share it with Third Brother. And Third Brother failed to win over Xiao Wu too." Tang Hao's gaze toward Lin Qing gradually turned hostile. "The problem lies with this brat Lin Qing. Looks like I need to step in personally. I'll force out the secret of the thousand-year second ring first, then kill him."

"However, now isn't the time. When you become a Soul Emperor, brat, my earlier plan was still too merciful. I shouldn't wait until you become a Soul Sage. When you become a Soul Emperor—no, when you reach Soul King, I'll tie you up and force out the secret of the thousand-year second ring. Then I'll keep you and Xiao Wu captive, and when Third Brother becomes Titled Douluo, I'll use you to force Xiao Wu to sacrifice herself for him. After that, I'll kill you once you've outlived your usefulness. Brat, you're the only one who has made me scheme so carefully." Tang Hao indulged in his fantasies.

Lin Qing, who had just summoned his Martial Soul, suddenly twitched. A chill then ran down his spine.

"Who is it?!" As a Demon King, Lin Qing was extremely sensitive to danger. Tang Hao? Lin Qing immediately identified the source of this malice. Although Tang San also bore immense ill will toward him, Tang San's malice posed no threat to Lin Qing at all and could not even trigger his senses.

However, Lin Qing did not show the slightest abnormality. After all, his only means of dealing with Tang Hao now was hiding in Infinity Castle. No, Ah Yin could perhaps count as another option? Still, Lin Qing believed that if Ah Yin really appeared, she might become Tang Hao's trigger instead. It was not worth it.

Then, the third Spirit Ring beneath Lin Qing flashed, signifying that he had used his third Spirit Skill. Lin Qing gripped his blade with both hands and swung it forcefully, slashing an ancient-looking gate into existence before him. The gate opened, revealing nothing but endless darkness beyond.

In truth, Lin Qing had merely summoned one of Infinity Castle's doors with a thought as a disguise.

Once the Unicorn Pegasus entered Infinity Castle, Lin Qing beckoned the others and led them into Suotuo City.

After entering Suotuo City, they did not wander around. Instead, they searched for an inn all the way through the city.

When they reached a fork in the road, Tang San vaguely felt as though something was guiding him toward the left. However, Lin Qing and the other two all chose the right, because there was only an inn on that side.

Tang San fell into a dilemma. That vague feeling told him that if he followed Lin Qing and the others, he would lose an enormous opportunity. But if he went alone, what would happen to Xiao Wu?

After a fierce internal struggle, Tang San still chose to head in the direction his intuition indicated. He believed that even if he stayed by Xiao Wu's side now, it would accomplish nothing. Xiao Wu would not come to like him because of it, and Tang San also believed Lin Qing would not do anything to Xiao Wu. Of course, that was only what he believed.

As for Xiao Wu, if he left this time, there would still be opportunities in the future. But if he missed this great opportunity, it would truly be gone!

In the end, Tang San turned left to pursue his opportunity, while Lin Qing and the two women turned right to rent rooms.

As for Tang San's choice to pursue that opportunity today, although he would obtain a great opportunity for now, he would also truly lose what mattered most to him.