Suotuo City

Seeing this, Lin Qing was somewhat surprised. Although the two of them had spent the past six years together no differently from a couple, 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 in his ears: "Snowflakes drift, the north wind howls. Heaven and earth are a vast expanse of desolation~~"

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

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

It was no wonder Xiao Wu was so eager to declare her claim. This time, Lin Qing had brought Zhu Zhuqing back only because he had happened to save her. But what about next time? Would he simply 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 all like them big." Xiao Wu looked at the two enormous peaks before Zhu Zhuqing's chest, then glanced at her own nearly flat front. No, there was still something there, but it was only a slightly raised little hill. Compared to Zhu Zhuqing's, it was utterly insignificant. To stop this woman from seducing Lin Qing, I have to make my relationship with him official no matter what!

"All right, now that you know each other, let's hurry into the city. It's getting late, and we still need to find somewhere to stay," Lin Qing said, quickly changing the subject after sensing that the atmosphere between the two girls was somewhat off.

"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 on his skin.

"Good. 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 Lin Qing deliberately concealing it, his fourth Spirit Ring did not appear. Three Spirit Rings—yellow, purple, purple—emerged beneath his feet, rhythmically rising and falling around his body.

When they saw Lin Qing's Spirit Rings, everyone present aside from Xiao Wu was utterly shocked.

"How is that possible?! Didn't Teacher say that the maximum 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 could possibly exceed the maximum limits Teacher established! How could Lin Qing absorb a thousand-year Spirit Ring as his second ring?!" Tang San could not accept it. "An illusion! Yes, it must be an illusion!"

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

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

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

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

As for Tang Hao, who was observing from afar, a trace of shock also flashed across his face. However, the vast experience of a Titled Douluo allowed him to calm down, followed by boundless delight.

"The secret of a thousand-year second ring should 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 couldn't even figure out how to absorb a thousand-year second ring. What trash!"

"As for that brat Lin Qing, he has something this good yet refuses to share it with Third Brother. And Third Brother still hasn't won Xiao Wu over." Tang Hao's gaze toward Lin Qing gradually turned hostile. "The problem lies with that brat Lin Qing. It seems I need to make a move personally. I'll force the secret of the thousand-year second ring out of him first, then kill him."

"However, now isn't the time. When you become a Soul Emperor, brat... My earlier plans were 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 bind you up, force out the secret of the thousand-year second ring, then keep you and Xiao Wu in captivity. Once Third Brother reaches the Titled Douluo rank, I'll use you to force Xiao Wu to sacrifice herself for him. Afterward, I'll kill you once you've outlived your usefulness. Brat, you're the only one worthy of making me scheme so carefully." Tang Hao indulged in his fantasies.

Lin Qing, who had just summoned his Martial Soul, suddenly felt his backside twitch, followed by a wave of cold dread.

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

However, Lin Qing did not reveal the slightest abnormality. After all, his only means of dealing with Tang Hao now was to hide inside Infinity Castle. No, Ah Yin could perhaps count as another option. Still, Lin Qing believed that if Ah Yin truly appeared, she might directly become Tang Hao's detonator. It was not worth it.

Then, the third Spirit Ring beneath Lin Qing flickered, indicating that he had used his third Spirit Skill. Lin Qing gripped his blade with both hands and swung it forcefully, cleaving an ancient-looking gate open before him. The gate swung open, revealing nothing but endless darkness within.

In truth, Lin Qing had merely summoned a door from Infinity Castle with a thought as a disguise.

Once the Unicorn Pegasus entered Infinity Castle, Lin Qing gestured for the others to head into Suotuo City.

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

When they reached a fork in the road, Tang San vaguely felt as though something was guiding him to go left. Yet Lin Qing and the other two chose to go right, because only the right path had an inn.

Tang San immediately 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 off alone, what would happen to Xiao Wu?

After a fierce internal struggle, Tang San ultimately chose to head in the direction his intuition indicated. He believed that even if he stayed with Xiao Wu now, it would be useless. 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 merely what he believed.

As for Xiao Wu, even if he left this time, there would still be chances 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 girls turned right to rent rooms.

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