Two and a Half Years

"System, use the Intermediate Summoning Card."

"Congratulations, host. You have obtained Gao Lan."

Name: Gao Lan

Soul Power: Level 78, yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black

Martial Soul: Great Gold Saber

"Has Lady Luck abandoned me? Gao Lan has stronger and weaker versions too? Wasn't the one who used a saber killed by Zhao Yun in a single thrust? Is that why he's only a Soul Saint?"

Unable to make sense of it, Yang Xiu stopped trying. Either way, Gao Lan was a Soul Saint.

"Summon him, System." A burly, dark-faced man appeared before Yang Xiu.

Yang Xiu did not speak much with Gao Lan. He gave him a few brief instructions and sent him on his way. "System, show me my Third Soul Skill."

Third Soul Skill (10,000 years): Pursuit of Fate. Increases speed by 250% and guarantees evasion of one small-area attack (mental level 70 × 10%). If the opponent's Soul Power Level exceeds the user's mental level, evasion depends on the user's own strength.

That hasn't changed much. Apart from being faster, it's still the same skill.

Once everything was settled,

Yang Xiu began considering how to distribute the Special Soul Power Pills.

They had to go first to people with lesser aptitude who were just approaching a ten-level threshold. One more Soul Ring meant a qualitative leap.

After turning it over in his mind, he decided Dragon Three should get one—but not yet. Otherwise, Dragon Three might spend the rest of his life stuck at level 88 or 89. He had been level 88 for ages and might break through in another year or so. Until he reached level 89, the pill would be wasted on him. By Yang Xiu's reckoning, anyone above level 70 could gain only one level from a Soul Power Pill, even a special one. Unfortunately, Dragon Three's Innate Soul Power was only level seven. Giving him an Innate Soul Power Pill would be a waste too, let alone giving one to the brothers below him.

Xue Li needed one, but neither of them was in a hurry. Yang Xiu did not know whether Xue Li could break through to level 99 on his own.

Zhang Liao did not need one for now. He still had room to grow.

"So it looks like I'm the only one who can take these pills first. If I save them until the end, they'll just become someone else's."

With that thought, Yang Xiu claimed three free Special Soul Power Pills from the System Shop and swallowed them. His Soul Power rose four levels, bringing him to level 56.

And so, time passed in cultivation.

Two and a half years later, one day,

"Ding! Go to the Star Luo Empire, save Zhu Zhuqing from an assassin who will kill her in one month, and take her away. Rewards: Martial Soul Coordination Pill ×2, Zhu Zhuqing's favorability +30, Martial Soul Evolution Pill ×1 (exclusive to Zhu Zhuqing)."

Note: The host must complete this mission personally. Others may not intervene unless the host's life is in danger.

"Huh? Have I been loafing around so much that even the System is unhappy with me? Zhu Zhuqing's favorability?" Yang Xiu fell silent at the reward. For at least ten minutes, he neither spoke nor thought of anything.

"System, can you read my mind?"

"I admit it. I liked her in my previous life."

"I like this mission, and I'm happy with the rewards."

"But can't you leave me a few secrets?"

"The System and the host are one. We rise together and fall together."

"The host has no secrets from the System."

"Rest assured, host. The System will not harm you."

Yang Xiu's face darkened. For a moment, he did not know what to say. The System was powerful, but those words made one thing clear: however impressive its functions, it was still something without feelings.

In the end, Yang Xiu thought it over and resigned himself. So it knows. Let it know.

In his previous life, Yang Xiu had liked Zhu Zhuqing so much that he liked any girl with a similar figure. He had never considered that he might simply have been lusting after her body.

He still liked Zhu Zhuqing in this life, but he had never planned to make her his. The System's mission rekindled that spark of desire deep in his heart. Since the System had made the decision for him, he would go through with it.

"Zhang Liao!" Yang Xiu called out with Soul Power. In less than ten seconds, Zhang Liao arrived and asked,

"Did you need me, Sect Master?"

But only a few seconds later,

Hua Xiong arrived too. Yang Xiu glanced at him, then said to Zhang Liao, "Come with me to the Star Luo Empire. We're going to the Zhu Family."

"But this time, you're not to intervene unless I'm about to die. With your current strength, few people could stop you from saving me."

Hua Xiong grew anxious when he heard they were going out without him.

"Take me too, Sect Master."

"Zhang Liao is strong, but what if there are too many of them? Besides, I'm a level 95 Super Douluo now."

"You just can't sit still. If you keep this up, do you think you'll ever advance again? Whenever you have nothing to do, you run off to Shrek to see Zhao Wuji."

"Sect Master, you know what my aptitude is like. Cultivating barely helps me anymore. I might as well get out and about. Maybe that's how I'll break through."

Yang Xiu had no answer to that.

"You can come, but you're not to make a move without my permission."

"Rest assured, Sect Master. I won't." Hua Xiong chuckled.

Over the past two and a half years, the Flame Emperor Sect had grown far stronger. Xue Li had failed to break through to level 99, the rank of Limit Douluo, on his own. It was only after Yang Xiu gave him a Soul Power Pill six months ago that he broke through. Zhang Liao had become a level 96 Super Douluo. Dragon Three had finally reached level 89 and, with the help of a Soul Power Pill from Yang Xiu, entered the Secret Realm. He failed the Innate Soul Power Pill mission, though, so he was only level 91. Dragon One and Dragon Two had each gained a level, reaching levels 92 and 94, but they might never progress again.

Tang San, Xiao Wu, Bai Ling, and Hong Wu had all passed level 30. They entered the Secret Realm and gained plenty from it. Tang San in particular, following Yang Xiu's instructions, had not obtained a Soul Ring there. Instead, he secured the two Soul Ring Experience Pills Yang Xiu had sent him for: one thousand-year pill and one ten-thousand-year pill. Out of respect for his teacher, Tang San had deliberately chosen the Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma mission. Yang Xiu had not expected that; otherwise, he would never have let him do it.

Hoping it might work, Yang Xiu had Guan Sheng take Tang San into the Star Dou Great Forest to find a thousand-year Man Faced Demon Spider. Tang San truly was blessed by fortune. He obtained the Eight Spider Lances External Soul Bone in the end. Because it happened earlier this time, nothing went wrong for him. And since they had not brought Xiao Wu, Bear Two had not appeared to cause trouble either.

But Yang Xiu himself had changed the most.

Yang Xiu: Yang Xiu (18 years old)

Soul Power: Level 68 (nearly level 69)

Martial Souls: Divine Shadow Leopard (purple, black, black, black, black, black); Dragon Soul Spear

Defense: Level 81

Mental: Level 88

First Soul Skill (1,085 years): Berserk

Second Soul Skill (11,200 years): Claw of Fate

Third Soul Skill (10,000 years): Pursuit of Fate

Fourth Soul Skill (11,000 years): Shadow Clone Technique

Fifth Soul Skill (32,000 years): Fierce Leopard's Roar

Sixth Soul Skill (73,000 years): Void Force. Combat state: Deals 251% damage to enemies ahead, with a 15% chance to forcibly stun them for 1–3 seconds. Corrosion from Void Force deals continuous damage.

Stealth state: The body can merge into the void. Opponents whose mental power does not exceed the user's cannot detect him. While concealed, evasion increases by 30%; single-target attacks cannot hit, and only area attacks can affect him. He recovers 10% of his injuries and Soul Power every ten seconds.

Cultivation art: Nine Yin Manual (mastered)

Martial techniques: Snake-Coiling Seven-Feints Spear Technique, Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix, Three Soul-Reaping Spears (derived from Xue Li's trait, Three Halberds Stabilize the World)

External Soul Bone: Wind-Thunder Wings; skill: Nine Heavens Thunderclap

Soul Bone: Right leg bone; skill: Divine Movement

His Sixth Soul Skill came from a Void Phantom Cat more than seventy thousand years old. It had nearly escaped, but in the end, it became Yang Xiu's Soul Ring.

Yang Xiu left with Hua Xiong and Zhang Liao without alerting anyone. There was no great hurry, so they traveled slowly and reached the Star Luo Empire half a month later.

In a hotel not far from the Zhu Family estate,

"Have you found out what the Zhu Family's eldest daughter has been doing?" Yang Xiu asked Hua Xiong.

"Yes. She's met Dai Weisi several times recently. They're plotting to get rid of their younger siblings. Dai Mubai went to Shrek over six months ago, though. I've seen him a few times. That brat's no good—chasing women at such a young age."

"So their target this time is Zhu Zhuqing."

"But they can't do it themselves. They're contacting the Assassin Organization."

"Keep an eye on her and Dai Weisi. Zhang Liao, you watch Dai Weisi, but be careful. Don't let the royal family's experts discover you and stir up more trouble. I'd like to see which Assassin Organization dares take the job. I'll make them regret it."

"Some things aren't theirs to touch. Touch them, and they'll die."

"Yes, Sect Master."

Two days later... While Yang Xiu chatted with Zhang Liao and Hua Xiong, Hua Xiong stood by the window and saw the two Zhu sisters arrive at their hotel.

"Hm? Why has she come here?"

"Sect Master, something's happening."

At Hua Xiong's words, Yang Xiu went to the window. He looked down at Zhu Zhuqing, his eyes full of tenderness and affection, with a trace of heartache. It took him a long moment to come back to himself.

At eleven, she was already so well developed that she did not lose to her sister, who was seven years older. (Ahem. Say nothing. Yang Xiu wasn't lusting after her body.)

The sisters soon entered the hotel. Neither spoke, and before long, their food arrived.

"Tell me. Why did you ask me here?" Zhu Zhuqing's cool voice rang out.

"Don't rush. Eat first," Zhu Zhuyun said unhurriedly.

Zhu Zhuqing ignored her and prepared to leave.

"I hear Dai Mubai went to the Heaven Dou Empire. His Highness the First Prince has some ideas about that."

Zhu Zhuqing stopped.

"Why are you telling me this? Are you that eager to marry Dai Weisi?"

"What happens to Dai Mubai has nothing to do with me."

Although Zhu Zhuqing and Dai Mubai had a verbal engagement, he had left and abandoned her to bear everything alone. By now, Zhu Zhuqing had even begun to resent him.

"And how many times have you tried to hurt me? It's bad enough that our parents don't believe me, but I'm not blind."

"Heh. Angry? It won't help. I'm seven years older than you. You'll never catch up to me in this life. You can only live in my shadow." Zhu Zhuqing glared at Zhu Zhuyun with hatred but said nothing. She was only level 25. How could she compare with Zhu Zhuyun, who was already a Soul Elder? At last, Zhu Zhuqing clenched her fists.

"Hmph." She rose and left.

"What? Won't you even stay when your big sister is treating you to a meal?" Zhu Zhuyun asked calmly.

Zhu Zhuqing left without a word.