"Brother, you're finally back!"
A soft, warm body flung itself into Tang Yin's arms, accompanied by a clear, sweet voice.
Xiao Wu's fair arms slipped naturally around Tang Yin's neck.
Suddenly.
Her lively pink eyes blinked.
She curiously studied the aloof girl following her brother and San Niang.
Her gaze swept carefully from top to bottom.
She looks so young, and her chest is so big, but her legs aren't as long as mine.
Xiao Wu muttered inwardly.
"Xiao Wu, this is San Niang's new disciple, Zhu Zhuqing."
"Huh? Weren't you two going out to train? How did you end up picking up a disciple?"
Xiao Wu was puzzled.
After a detailed explanation.
Xiao Wu grinned. "Doesn't that make me her martial aunt? Hahaha!"
"Let's keep those relationships separate. From now on, Zhu Zhuqing can call him Brother Tang Yin, just like I do, and call you Sister Xiao Wu."
Tang San Niang's eyes flickered as she made the suggestion.
"Sure! That means I won't be the youngest in the family anymore."
Xiao Wu was delighted.
Her standing in the family had received an epic upgrade.
The little rabbit was pleased with herself all over again.
Though Zhu Zhuqing was, in fact, a year younger than all three siblings.
Zhu Zhuqing was also quite satisfied with her teacher San Niang's arrangement.
After all, they were close in age.
Calling them martial uncle and martial aunt would have felt rather awkward.
Aloof by nature, she still felt somewhat reserved around her teacher's family and could only stand quietly to one side, listening to their conversation.
They were merely discussing supplies they needed to buy and preparations for their journey to Heaven Dou City.
"Now that we've collected the twenty thousand Gold Soul Coins in prize money from the Suotuo Great Spirit Arena, along with the Gold Badges, let's finish buying the remaining supplies today and set off for Heaven Dou City."
At the Great Soul Arena, every victory came with a basic reward, and the longer the winning streak, the higher that reward became.
As the holders of the longest winning streak in the Great Soul Arena's history and the youngest gold-ranked Soul Fighting competitors, the siblings had earned an astonishing amount of prize money in Gold Soul Coins.
At Tang Yin's words.
Xiao Wu cheered and hugged his neck, exclaiming excitedly, "Yay! Brother, we're rich!"
Tang Yin pinched Xiao Wu's cheek. "You're a big girl now. Stop burrowing into your brother all the time."
This little lass had loved acting spoiled since childhood, and now that she was older, she had actually become even clingier.
Fortunately, his self-control was strong. Anyone else would have found his head swelling to twice its size from the headache.
"Oh, come on, Brother~ I'm only twelve! What's so big about me?"
Xiao Wu pouted, clinging tightly to her brother's neck and wriggling her waist as she protested.
Watching Xiao Wu act spoiled, looking so sweet and endearing, Zhu Zhuqing felt a strange flicker in her eyes.
Growing up in the Zhu Family, she had never enjoyed warmth like this.
Whatever else she might be, Zhu Zhuqing was only a twelve-year-old girl, at a sensitive and fragile age. It would have been a lie to say she did not yearn for familial affection.
She had simply grown accustomed to wearing a cold expression to conceal the longing in her heart.
The Star Luo Empire had always styled itself an empire of iron and blood.
The Dai Family controlled imperial authority and the Offering Hall, while the Zhu Family controlled part of the military, government, and aristocratic forces. This political structure had been established at the empire's founding.
The Dai and Zhu families had intermarried for generations, their shared interests deeply rooted and impossible to shake.
Every generation had to endure a brutal contest of life and death.
The winners lived, while the losers' lives and deaths fell entirely under others' control.
All of this was meant to cultivate the strongest Hell White Tiger pairing and prevent internal struggles for power.
Only then could they ensure that supreme Douluo experts emerged generation after generation, preserving the empire for countless ages.
Under such a law of the jungle, the atmosphere within the Dai and Zhu families was naturally oppressive and suffocating, its cold hues devoid of any warmth.
If they treated even their own this way, the Star Luo Empire's laws for ordinary people were stricter still, to a horrifying degree.
Collective punishment, countless forms of mutilation, roads choked with prisoners in penal garb, and convicts everywhere were all commonplace.
Had it not commanded absolute military force, the Star Luo Empire would likely have long since plunged its people into misery and driven them to raise their banners in revolt.
Zhu Zhuqing lowered her eyes slightly.
"Zhu Zhuqing, what are you daydreaming about? Let's go."
Tang San Niang called to her.
The siblings were preparing to check out and leave.
"Coming, Teacher."
Zhu Zhuqing snapped out of her thoughts and hurried after them.
They arrived in the Rose Hotel's lobby.
Ning Rongrong's beautiful eyes widened in surprise. "Brother Tang Yin, you're going to study at Heaven Dou Royal Academy too?"
"That's wonderful! We'll be classmates from now on! Hehe!" Ning Rongrong was delighted. Holding Tang Yin's arm, she said excitedly, "Why don't we travel to Heaven Dou City together?"
After Shrek Academy's scandal came to light, Ning Rongrong naturally had to return to Heaven Dou City to study.
Xiao Wu raised a hand and slapped Ning Rongrong's hand, saying irritably.
"You can talk without getting handsy with my brother."
Tang San Niang froze.
Xiao Wu, those are my lines!
She realized that ever since Xiao Wu had confessed everything to her, the girl had grown increasingly bold.
Now she was practically behaving like her brother's girlfriend.
A trace of bitterness welled up in Little San Niang's heart.
How did this happen?
I'm supposed to be the little sister Brother loves most.
That one-of-a-kind love should belong to me alone.
But now Xiao Wu is enjoying it as much as she pleases. I can't accept this.
Tang San Niang clenched her small fists fiercely.
But!
Tang San Niang lowered her head in dejection.
What can I do?
The identity she had once taken such pride in-being his blood-related little sister-had now become a shackle.
She could only choose the most helpless course and endure in silence.
"Rongrong, my sisters and I plan to travel on horseback and explore along the way to Heaven Dou City."
"Eating in the wind and sleeping beneath the dew will be unavoidable. If you can bear that, you can come with us. Otherwise, you'd better abandon the idea."
Tang Yin warned her solemnly.
After all, Ning Rongrong had been showered with affection and had never endured hardship or exhaustion since childhood. If she rashly accompanied them, she might not be able to take it.
Little did he know that his words would ignite Ning Rongrong's competitive spirit.
Patting her little chest, she said, "Don't worry, Brother Tang Yin. I definitely won't hold you back."
Tang Yin frowned inwardly.
Out of respect, he could hardly say anything more.
He shot Xiao Wu a look, signaling for her to talk Ning Rongrong out of it.
Xiao Wu returned an understanding glance, then planted her hands on her slender waist and declared in a sweet voice.
"Ning Rongrong, let's get this straight. If you hold us back, don't blame me for beating you up."
"We'll be out in the middle of nowhere. You could scream your throat raw, and no one would come to save you!"
Tang Yin's face darkened.
Seriously? I asked you to talk her out of it, and you're pouring oil on the fire?
Sure enough, the little flames of Ning Rongrong's refusal to lose flared higher and higher.
"I won't hold you back! I'm from the Seven-anyway, just you wait and see."
Xiao Wu folded her arms and huffed. "Fine. If you start whining about hardship or exhaustion halfway through, I'll spank you."
"Hmph! Go ahead! This young lady won't give up halfway!"
"With your pants off."
Ning Rongrong glanced at Tang Yin beside them, and her little face reddened.
Gritting her teeth and stamping her foot, she said, "Fine!"
Tang Yin helplessly pressed a hand to his forehead.
How does this group keep getting bigger?
Come to think of it.
We seem to have four of the Shrek Seven Devils now.
Gathering the scattered remnants? Nailed it!
That afternoon, the door to an underground chamber in Suotuo City's Spirit Hall opened.
Zhao Wuji's bear-like frame slowly emerged.
A Soul Master from Spirit Hall handed him a slip of paper and whispered, "Make your move at this location."
"Understood."
Zhao Wuji's expression was indifferent.
Designating a location undoubtedly conveyed one piece of information.
That person intended to observe the battle in person.
Using a Soul Saint as a whetstone for a Soul Ancestor-aren't they afraid of chipping their teeth?
How arrogant!!!
Zhao Wuji sneered inwardly.
As he walked down the narrow, gloomy corridor.
Suddenly, a hoarse voice rang out.
"Wuji, is that you?"
"Why did Spirit Hall change my sentence to banishment to Slaughter City? Did you make some kind of deal with them?"
Zhao Wuji's steps did not falter.
"Wuji! I recognize your footsteps! Don't forget, I'm the Four-Eyed Cat Owl! Answer me!"
Bang, bang, bang!
Shackles struck the cell door, producing a series of clangs.
Memories of the past flooded his heart, and Zhao Wuji's gaze grew increasingly grave.
Flender, live on for my sake too.
Even in Slaughter City, that place they call hell-
His retreating figure gradually vanished into the darkness.
The Sword Mountain Range.
Countless peaks towered above the land, stretching endlessly like a sea of swords.
The ridges looked as though they had been carved by blades and axes, impossibly steep and treacherous.
In the western part of the Sword Mountain Range.
There was a mountain road clearly carved out by human hands, its surface paved with gravel mixed with sand and earth. Jagged rocks and tangled thorns lined both sides.
This was a vital route from Suotuo City to Heaven Dou City, called the Sword Mountain Ancient Road, roughly a hundred li from Suotuo City.
At that moment, three figures stood facing the wind atop one of the peaks.
Qian Renxue wore magnificent white robes patterned in gold, her face holy and noble. Her long golden hair was gathered into a cloud-like bun beneath a purple-gold crown.
The fierce wind pressed her splendid robes tightly against her delicate body, outlining her alluring curves. Her proud, snow-white peaks rose high and firm, a breathtaking sight.
Qian Renxue knew exactly which identity to adopt for each undertaking.
She had come here in person first to see the three siblings' true strength, and second, of course, to intervene and save them in time.
After all, even a Soul Saint whose grievous wounds had not healed was absolutely beyond the ability of a mere Soul Ancestor to contend with.
Zhao Wuji understood this too. That was why, after learning that the important figure would personally attend the battle, he had resolved himself to die.
Behind Qian Renxue, the two Titled Douluo, Pufferfish and Snake Lance, guarded her left and right.
"Young Master, they're here."
A glimmer of anticipation appeared in Qian Renxue's eyes.
The show was finally about to begin.
Before you continue