After returning to the hotel, Lu Shiyuan was in no hurry to leave Star Luo City.
He had already obtained his third soul ring, and he needed to absorb it as soon as possible.
The soul fighting earlier had barely drained his soul power. His Star-Shattering Fist had been devastating, but it was a skill granted by a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone, after all. Its cost was laughably low.
Absorbing the ring took two full days. Lu Shiyuan was determined to push straight past the ten-thousand-year mark with his third soul ring.
His second soul ring was already six thousand years old. If his third failed to reach ten thousand years, wouldn't that be a huge waste?
Lu Shiyuan had consumed two immortal herbs and tempered his body in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Over the past few months, he had also endured grueling battles. In terms of physical strength alone, he had already surpassed a Soul King.
In his previous battles, even Soul Kings had lagged far behind him physically unless their martial souls specialized in bodily strength.
With such a solid foundation, only a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring would do him justice.
Two days later, Lu Shiyuan finished absorbing the soul ring.
He slowly opened his eyes. His Heterochromatic Twin Eyes, one gold and one blue, had grown even more fathomless. A close look would occasionally reveal a vortex within each.
The vortices appeared infrequently, only surfacing now and then when he channeled his soul power.
Lu Shiyuan let out a long breath. Taking stock of his body's condition, he felt ready for another ten soul fighting matches.
If he faced that Brute Bull Martial Soul master from his forty-ninth match again, he would no longer need to struggle so hard to win.
"Xiao Yuan, what level are you now?" Sensing that Lu Shiyuan had finished cultivating, Xiao Feiyu pushed open the door and entered.
"Level thirty-six." The Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring alone had raised him four full levels. The remaining two levels were the result of more than half a year of cultivation.
"Not bad." Xiao Feiyu offered a word of encouragement before asking, "What's your third soul skill?"
Lu Shiyuan's third soul ring was roughly twelve thousand years old, and its soul skill was called Dragon Eye Gaze.
Once activated, it could briefly raise his spiritual power to 200% of its normal strength and forcibly stun opponents with lower spiritual power than his for three seconds. This effect could not be cleansed.
Stunned enemies would suffer a 30% reduction in defense, and the next attack they received would deal 20% more damage.
It was a control-type skill. With it, he could lock down even a Soul Emperor for three seconds if he caught them off guard.
Soul Kings stood even less of a chance. Even prepared, they could do nothing against his spiritual power at 200%.
Combined with his first two unpredictable soul skills, it was no exaggeration to say that Lu Shiyuan could now kill any opponent below Soul King with a glare.
With his mission complete and his third soul skill secured, Lu Shiyuan had no reason to remain in Star Luo City.
After lunch, he suggested leaving.
"It is time to head back. I thought we'd only be away for a few days, but it's been over half a year." Xiao Feiyu could not help sighing. Plans simply could not keep pace with change.
Things had already diverged slightly from her previous life.
Fortunately, the trip had been immensely rewarding. Lu Shiyuan and Xiao Wu had both advanced from level-twenty Quasi-Soul Grandmasters to level-thirty-six Soul Elders.
At the gates of Star Luo City, Yun Qingluo could not help asking, "Xiao Yuan, aren't you going to say goodbye to that girl?"
Lu Shiyuan kept walking. "No need. She's an open-minded girl. Going to see her now would only disturb her. I'm sure we'll meet again someday. Whatever I have to say can wait until then."
Yun Qingluo pressed her lips together with a soft chuckle. He certainly had a clear perspective.
But that little kitten clearly did not share his view, nor could she take it so calmly.
Over the past few days, Yun Qingluo had spotted Zhu Zhuqing near the hotel more than once.
Even now, it was the same.
Not far outside the city gates, Zhu Zhuqing stood quietly, her gaze all but glued to that distant figure.
During lunch, she had received word from Yun Qingluo that they would be leaving Star Luo City today.
The anxious little kitten had lost all interest in eating. She had abandoned her bowl and chopsticks and rushed to the road they would have to take just outside the city.
Even if she could not say goodbye in person, she would at least watch Lu Shiyuan leave.
"Shiyuan, have a safe journey," Zhu Zhuqing murmured. "The next time we meet, I'll make you see me in a whole new light. When that day comes, I won't run away again..."
The breeze swallowed her remaining words. Her eyes brimmed with reluctance to part.
Just as she sank into the sorrow of farewell, a cool voice suddenly rang out.
"What a pitifully adorable little kitten. If you hate to see him go so much, why not follow him?"
Zhu Zhuqing instantly grew wary, staring unblinkingly at the woman who had appeared behind her without warning.
"Who are you!" Thanks to Lu Shiyuan, the circumstances she had grown up in had changed, but her wariness would not simply disappear.
"Tsk, look at that stubborn little gaze." The woman gave a bewitching smile and gently tipped Zhu Zhuqing's chin up with a finger.
Zhu Zhuqing tried to channel her soul power and escape, only to discover in shock that it was heavily suppressed. It felt as though it had sunk into a mire, and her body could no longer move either.
"Who... are you!" Zhu Zhuqing stubbornly raised her head, gritting her teeth as she looked up at the woman.
"Hehe, such a stubborn little kitten. Training you would be so satisfying." The woman's finger slid down from Zhu Zhuqing's chin to her shoulder, threatening to wander lower still.
Suddenly, her body stiffened, and she cast a plaintive look in the direction Lu Shiyuan had gone.
Only after a moment did she mutter, "What a spoilsport. My tastes are perfectly normal."
After muttering that, she released her restraints and said with a smile, "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Ye Youying, and I'm your future teacher."
Zhu Zhuqing looked utterly bewildered. Where had this woman come from, and why was she spouting such incomprehensible things the moment they met?
Ye Youying paid no heed to what she might be thinking and simply released her martial soul.
Zhu Zhuqing's pupils contracted. "A Titled Douluo!"
"Well? Am I qualified to be your teacher?" Ye Youying asked with a smile. "Xiao Yuan has already reached level thirty-six. If you want to keep up with him, becoming my disciple is your best choice."
Zhu Zhuqing did not hesitate in the slightest.
"Teacher."
"Good girl." Ye Youying's smile broadened.
So what if you get to stay by Xiao Yuan's side? I've landed myself a fine disciple.
Ever heard of a master-disciple double serving? How are you going to compete with that!
The ultimate winner will be me, Ye Youying, of course.
If Zhu Zhuqing had known that this was why Ye Youying had taken her as a disciple, she would surely have fled for her life.
Fortunately, she had no idea. What had prompted her decision was what Ye Youying had just said.
As long as I follow Teacher, we'll surely meet again someday, won't we?
Zhu Zhuqing's gaze gradually grew resolute. The next time they met, she would make Lu Shiyuan see her in a whole new light.
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