Little Zi Yan

After leaving Su Qian, Shen Luo headed straight for the mountains behind the Inner Academy.

His late Spirit Realm soul power spread out in an instant, covering all of Jia Nan Academy.

Within a few breaths, he had locked onto his target.

A purple-haired girl whose strength was around the Dou Wang realm lay lazily atop a towering tree, holding a red fruit and taking great bites out of it.

Her other hand held a broken branch, with clusters of fruit dangling from it.

As she ate, she kept glancing behind her like a seasoned thief.

The corners of Shen Luo's mouth lifted slightly.

At Jia Nan Academy, who else could a purple-haired female at the Dou Wang level be but Zi Yan?

If any other woman on the Dou Qi Continent could stand toe-to-toe with Gu Xun'er, it could only be Zi Yan.

With the Ancient Void Dragon Clan backing her, a father who was a Peak Nine-Star Dou Saint, and her own ancient Dragon Emperor bloodline, she was unquestionably the richest heiress on the Dou Qi Continent.

Suddenly, Zi Yan seemed to sense something. She snapped her head up, unfurled wings formed from Dou Qi, and shot into the sky.

A three-meter-tall Red-maned Demon Bear crashed down where she had just been. The terrifying force snapped the ancient tree into several pieces and left an enormous crater in the ground.

The Red-maned Demon Bear's eyes were scarlet. His sharp gaze swept over the fruit-laden branch in Zi Yan's hand, then her little mouth, which was still chewing. His fury erupted instantly.

He had guarded this Spirit Tree for years. Its fruit had only ripened recently, and before he could enjoy any himself, this purple-haired girl had beaten him to it-even breaking off a branch. How could he not be furious?

With an enraged roar, the Red-maned Demon Bear opened his bloody maw, Dou Qi surging wildly through his body as he charged toward Zi Yan in the air.

Hidden high in the void, Shen Luo watched the battle between dragon and bear with interest.

It seemed this girl was using her treasure-hunting gift to swindle and cheat her way around again.

Zi Yan currently looked about sixteen or seventeen, her long purple hair not quite reaching her waist.

Her features were delicate and exquisite, giving her the appearance of an adorable little girl.

Shen Luo nodded in satisfaction.

Sweetly innocent, gluttonous, lively, and soft and cute-she was far more interesting than Gu Xun'er.

Besides, Zi Yan might be a little girl now, but once she grew up, she would be a mature beauty.

Sweet or sultry-what could be better?

"What are you staring at? Your name isn't written on this tree! What makes you say it's yours?" Zi Yan pouted and stuck her tongue out at the Red-maned Demon Bear, a flash of guilty unease flickering through her purple eyes.

But a moment later, she waved her little pink fists in front of her chest. "I only broke off one branch! I didn't take everything! Why are you roaring so loudly?"

The peak fifth-tier Red-maned Demon Bear grew even angrier.

Although this purple-haired girl was weaker than he was, a faint, elusive pressure always lingered around her, making him wary. That was why he had never dared strike to kill.

But now, seeing that the girl in purple not only refused to admit her mistake but waved her fists in provocation, he cast aside his misgivings and lunged at Zi Yan with a roar.

Zi Yan froze, swallowed, and opened her little mouth to roar back.

Yet her voice remained the shout of a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old girl, without the slightest intimidating force.

Zi Yan seemed to realize her cry was unsuitable and had only further stoked the bear's anger. She hurriedly shut her mouth and swung her fists to meet the Red-maned Demon Bear.

Bam!

The mighty collision between the two magical beasts thundered through the mountain range.

Zi Yan staggered back several steps. Her opponent was stronger than she was; she was relying entirely on brute strength and her tough body to withstand him.

Her eyes darted about, and powerful Dou Qi surged from her body as though she intended to fight the Red-maned Demon Bear to the death. Then, while the bear gathered his strength, she greased her soles and sped away into the distance.

"Trying to run?"

The Red-maned Demon Bear roared, his massive body bursting forth with astonishing speed as he chased relentlessly.

Although Zi Yan was nimble, her cultivation was still slightly inferior. Within a few breaths, he had closed the distance.

The Red-maned Demon Bear swung his enormous paw, sending a furious gale sweeping toward her. Forced to turn and take the blow head-on, Zi Yan was hurled backward, her petite body smashing through two large trees before she barely steadied herself.

A trace of blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, and panic finally appeared in her purple eyes.

"It's only a few pieces of fruit. Do you really have to fight so desperately...?" she muttered, though she knew she was in serious trouble this time.

The Red-maned Demon Bear gave her no chance to catch her breath and lunged again. This time, he clearly intended to kill. Dou Qi gathered around his sharp claws, which flashed coldly as they went straight for Zi Yan's throat.

Zi Yan's pupils abruptly contracted.

An eerie purple light enveloped her body, immediately causing her aura to surge.

Just then, a gentle yet unquestionable voice came from the void.

"Wretched beast, you've gone too far!"

Shen Luo appeared out of thin air before Zi Yan. He did not even use Dou Qi. With a slight lift of his hand, an invisible force froze the Red-maned Demon Bear in midair.

The three-meter-tall bear remained suspended in his pouncing posture, unable to move a muscle, his scarlet eyes filled with terror.

Shen Luo gave him an indifferent glance. "It isn't easy for a magical beast to cultivate to the peak fifth tier. You'll make a fine supplement for my tyrant body."

As his words fell, the Red-maned Demon Bear felt a terrifying surge of soul power invade his sea of consciousness. His awareness instantly plunged into darkness.

His enormous body fell from the sky, already utterly dead.

Zi Yan slumped onto the ground. Sensing that the Red-maned Demon Bear had lost all signs of life in an instant, unprecedented panic flashed across her face. Her large purple eyes blinked as she stared at the man who had suddenly appeared before her.

"Y-you... who are you?"

Shen Luo turned around and looked at Zi Yan with a broad smile.

But to Zi Yan, his smile was even more terrifying than the Red-maned Demon Bear's bloody maw.

Instinctively, Zi Yan extended her hand, offering the branch laden with spirit fruit to Shen Luo.

"H-here!" she said timidly. Then she caught herself and shrank back warily. "I'm telling you, the fruit on this branch is really tasty..."

Shen Luo could not help chuckling. "It's only fruit from a Spirit Tree. I'm not interested."

Zi Yan tilted her head as she studied him, her purple eyes darting about.

This man subdued the Red-maned Demon Bear so easily. He must be really, really strong.

Only that old fellow Su Qian had this kind of presence in the Inner Academy.

"Then what do you want?" Zi Yan asked, a hint of caution in her voice.

Shen Luo took a pill from his Storage Ring. This time, it was a fifth-grade pill, perfectly rounded and rich with medicinal fragrance, gleaming alluringly in his palm.

Zi Yan's nose twitched twice of its own accord. Her eyes fixed on the pill, and she swallowed.

"My name is Shen Luo. I'm a new elder of the Inner Academy," Shen Luo said gently. "I hear your name is Zi Yan?"

Zi Yan nodded, her gaze never leaving the pill in his palm.

"Follow me from now on, and you can have all the pills like this you want." Shen Luo waved the pill in his hand, coaxing her patiently. "Whatever fruit you want to eat, I can help you find it too. How does that sound?"

Zi Yan abruptly looked up at him, her large eyes filled with disbelief.

Could such a wonderful thing really happen? All she wanted? Was she dreaming?

"Really?" she blurted out, then coughed, forcing herself to appear composed. "Well... I'm not that easy to buy off."

"Forget it, then." Shen Luo made to put the pill away.

"Wait!" Zi Yan darted up to him, tilted her head back, and seized his sleeves with both hands. Her face practically screamed I want it, her feigned reserve shattering all over the ground. "I agree! I agree!"

Smiling, Shen Luo placed the pill in her palm. Zi Yan immediately stuffed it into her mouth, her cheeks bulging and her eyes curving into crescents of bliss.

"Then it's settled! You're my boss from now on!" Zi Yan said through her mouthful, patting her flat little chest. "I, Zi Yan, keep my word. I'll never go back on it!"

Shen Luo reached out and ruffled her messy purple hair. Zi Yan did not dodge. Instead, she nuzzled his palm like a little animal, clearly for the pill's sake.

"Refine the pill first." Shen Luo stood up and began skinning and deboning the Red-maned Demon Bear.