Taking Zhu Zhuqing to Wutan City

"Are you sure just one level of Soul Power will do?"

"That's right. Have you decided?"

"Yes. What do I need to do?"

Lu Chuan's eyes lit up, and he immediately began preparing the transaction.

The next second, golden light flashed out of nowhere. A virtual contract covered in intricate patterns and glowing faintly appeared before Zhu Zhuqing.

Lu Chuan spoke with excitement:

"It's simple. Just press your handprint onto the contract, and the deal is done."

Hesitation flickered in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes. After a moment, she slowly placed her palm against the floating contract.

Buzz—

A faint vibration sounded, and the contract burst into dazzling white light.

The instant the transaction was completed, Zhu Zhuqing felt the Soul Power inside her suddenly drain away. An entire level had been forcibly taken from her.

The abrupt loss left her hollow and weak. Her limbs felt unsteady, and she frowned at the discomfort.

Lu Chuan, on the other hand, felt a pure, warm current surge through him. It flowed through every part of his body, sweeping away his fatigue and leaving him refreshed.

So this is the power of Soul Power? It really lives up to its reputation. An ordinary person can't compare.

Ding! Congratulations, host. Your first transaction is complete. Battle Through the Heavens has been unlocked.

"Hold my hand. We're about to travel through space, and I don't want the spatial turbulence sweeping you away."

Suspicion showed in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes.

But she had already given up a level of Soul Power. If she backed out now, everything she had paid would be for nothing.

After a moment's hesitation, she gently placed her hand in Lu Chuan's palm. He gripped it tightly.

Before Zhu Zhuqing could say another word, a powerful sensation of weightlessness swept over her. Everything around them twisted and blurred.

When she opened her eyes again, she found herself on a plain.

In the distance, a massive city stood at the edge of the flatlands, its outline clearly visible.

Zhu Zhuqing instinctively sensed her surroundings.

It was just as he had said: she could not sense the slightest trace of Soul Power.

In its place was an utterly unfamiliar, unusual energy that seeped through her skin and into her body.

Her expression changed almost at once.

"Wait! The Soul Power inside me is being converted!"

Zhu Zhuqing immediately pulled her hand free and sat cross-legged to examine herself. Her Nether Civet Martial Soul appeared behind her.

Lu Chuan did not know if he was imagining it, but he could have sworn her Martial Soul looked pleased.

Does a Martial Soul have a mind of its own?

Lu Chuan scratched his head, then looked toward the distant city. His eyesight, enhanced by Soul Power, let him read the words on its walls.

[Wutan City]

Well, look at that. The starting town. That works out nicely. The people here aren't very strong; otherwise, I might not be able to protect Zhu Zhuqing.

By then, Zhu Zhuqing had finished adjusting and risen to her feet, excitement flashing in her eyes.

This really is a treasure trove! My gamble paid off!

Judging by how she absorbed this so-called Dou Qi, one day of training here was worth a week on Douluo Continent.

She wanted to sit down and train for a full day, but she knew that was unrealistic. Even three days here would not make up for the level of Soul Power she had lost.

"Where are we going next, senior?"

Lu Chuan rubbed his chin. As if something important had just occurred to him, he asked her a question instead.

"Zhu Qing, have your Spirit Skills changed? Can you still use them?"

Zhu Zhuqing paused, then activated Martial Soul Possession without another thought.

Her pupils narrowed into slits, her nails lengthened, and two yellow, century-old Spirit Rings slowly bobbed around her.

"First Spirit Skill, Hell Stab."

A dark blur shot forward. She was still remarkably fast.

"Senior, I can use my Spirit Skills normally. Thanks to the Dou Qi, they're quite a bit stronger, too."

"Is the Spirit Skill boost still percentage-based?"

"Yes."

Lu Chuan's eyes lit up. It seemed the Soul Master System worked in this world too.

Many boosts in Douluo World were percentage-based. In a world like Battle Through the Heavens, where raw power mattered so much, that was practically a divine tool!

Lu Chuan also noticed that Zhu Zhuqing's status panel had changed.

Ding. Client name: Zhu Zhuqing

Place of origin: Douluo Continent

Current Soul Power Level: 26

Current Dou Qi level: six-star Dou Qi

Time remaining in Battle Through the Heavens: 23 hours, 40 minutes

At twelve years old, reaching six-star Dou Qi made her a minor prodigy in a remote town like Wutan City.

He could use what made Zhu Zhuqing different to trick... no, to attract others into trading with him.

According to Battle Through the Heavens, the Dou Qi stage was for building a solid foundation. Medicinal Pills were too potent and could easily damage the meridians.

It seemed Zhu Qing could not use Medicinal Pills either. She would have to rely on the Foundation Establishment Spiritual Liquid Yao Lao made for Xiao Yan.

As his first client and future girlfriend, Zhu Zhuqing deserved the best arrangements he could make.

He could expand his business while he was at it. Gu Xun'er was a wealthy young lady with plenty of good things, making her a promising prospect.

As for Zhu Zhuqing's safety, he was not worried. If things went wrong, he could send her straight back to Douluo Continent.

"Zhu Qing, let's go into that city and find something good for you. This is special treatment, you know. If it were anyone else, I'd drop them off and leave them to it."

Lu Chuan raised an eyebrow and pointed toward the city.

"Thank you."

Zhu Zhuqing nodded slightly, deeply grateful.

As they walked, Lu Chuan told her about this world.

"The levels in this world are Dou Qi, Dou Zhe, Dou Shi, Da Dou Shi, Dou Ling, Dou Wang, Dou Emperor, Dou Zong, Dou Zun, Dou Saint, and Dou Di.

"Of course, because of the difference between worlds, a mere Soul Grandmaster like you only corresponds to the lowest level, Dou Qi."

"There's no Soul Power meditation here, and no Spirit Skills. Instead, there are Cultivation Methods for improving your strength and Dou Techniques for combat. They're ranked Heaven, Earth, Profound, Yellow. Heaven is the highest and Yellow the lowest.

"And there's also..."

Lu Chuan went on at length. Zhu Zhuqing nodded frequently beside him, committing everything to memory.

She was secretly stunned by how powerful the people here could become. As a level 26 Soul Grandmaster, she would be nothing more than an unknown passerby in this world.

And those who reached Dou Zong or beyond could tear open the void and create worlds. Could human beings really attain such power?

Before long, the two of them entered the city.

Zhu Zhuqing could not help looking around at the lively, bustling scene.

Stalls lined both sides of the street. Pedestrians streamed past without end, and vendors called out over one another.

Every conversation seemed to be about Dou Qi, Dou Techniques, medicinal herbs, or Magic Cores.

Zhu Zhuqing looked at the somewhat rough-looking spheres displayed on one stall.

She turned to Lu Chuan and spoke softly.

"Senior, could I buy a Magic Core to take back and study?"

Lu Chuan waved a hand, unconcerned.

"Go ahead. I won't restrict what you buy."

"Thank you."

With his permission, Zhu Zhuqing relaxed. She walked over to the stall and began choosing carefully.

On Douluo Continent, Soul Beasts only left behind Spirit Rings and Spirit Bones. She had never encountered anything like a Magic Core. She was curious what kind of energy it held and what it could be used for.