Did You Fall in Love with Me at First Sight?

The Blood Pig Tiger's terrifying, berserk charge came to an abrupt halt, its massive body forcibly pressed downward!

Its enormous head was pinned firmly beneath a fair hand with well-defined knuckles and slammed hard into the damp ground carpeted with rotting leaves!

The Blood Pig Tiger's four hooves scrabbled madly, gouging deep furrows in the ground and sending dirt flying, but no matter how it struggled, it could not budge the hand pinning its head...

It could not even lift its head!

It could only let out muffled howls of pain as blood poured from the wound in its neck. Its massive body twisted futilely, nailed to the ground.

Wu Yingying landed lightly on a thick branch jutting out from a tree, but the sight before her instantly lodged the words on her lips in her throat. Her bright, wide eyes rounded in disbelief.

Before her stood a handsome, black-clad youth, casually standing beside the berserk Blood Pig Tiger and holding it down with one hand!

The youth had not even swayed, as though what he held down was not a ferocious beast, but a restless stray dog.

Holding down a berserk Blood Pig Tiger with one hand?!

Wu Yingying felt her understanding of the world take a blow.

This was the Spirit Road, where spiritual energy was forbidden. Everyone could rely only on physical strength!

Although the Blood Pig Tiger was a low-ranking spirit beast, its strength was enough to shatter rocks. Once it went berserk, even someone in the Spirit Movement Realm might not dare meet its charge head-on...

How powerful did his body have to be? Was he even more outrageous than my brother?

Or had he already awakened a second-level spirit body or higher in the short time since entering the Spirit Road?

Countless thoughts flashed through Wu Yingying's mind, with wariness and curiosity rising together.

The youth looked calm, even a little thoughtful, as though he paid no mind whatsoever to the beast struggling beneath his hand.

As if he had only just noticed her arrival, he raised his eyes and looked over.

Their gazes met in midair.

She really is quite pretty. She might even be a match for Qian'er!

Looking at the blue-clad girl on the branch, whose face was full of uncertainty and suspicion, Mu Chen could not help feeling a little admiration. He gave his wrist a gentle flick.

Crack!

The grating sound of bones breaking rang out clearly.

The Blood Pig Tiger's final whimper cut off abruptly. Its struggling limbs stiffened, then slumped limply. The light faded from its scarlet eyes, and it fell completely silent.

A faint blood-red glow drifted out of the Blood Pig Tiger's corpse. Mu Chen took out his token and drew the soul essence into it.

He felt strength flow back into him, making his body a little stronger. Not much, but something was better than nothing.

Successfully killing the spirit beast had awakened his first-level spirit body.

The more spirit beasts he killed, and the higher their ranks, the faster his spirit body would advance. The higher his spirit body's level, the greater the benefits of the spiritual energy infusion he would receive.

Having dealt with his gains, Mu Chen finally turned leisurely toward Wu Yingying and smiled at her.

Wu Yingying came to her senses and leaped down from the branch, landing several yards away from Mu Chen, the curiosity in her eyes deepening.

"Mu Chen, from the Hundred Spirits Continent," Mu Chen introduced himself with a smile, looking at her calmly. "And you, miss?"

Wu Yingying froze for a moment, then answered instinctively, "Wu Yingying, from the Heavenly Martial Continent."

After answering, she could not resist asking, "You already have a second-level spirit body?"

"How could it happen that quickly? I was just born with extraordinary strength," Mu Chen replied, before changing the subject. "Still, you're quite lucky."

"Hm?" Wu Yingying could not follow the abrupt turn.

"You're the first person I've met since entering the Spirit Road," Mu Chen said, his gaze sweeping over her face in frank appraisal. "Since you're pretty, I won't kill you."

"You may go."

Wu Yingying: "..."

Her lovely face first froze, then gradually flushed red-not from shyness, but from anger.

The girl's reddened face said it all!

A burst of fury flared from the bottom of her heart and shot straight to her head.

What did he mean, "Since you're pretty, I won't kill you"?

What did he mean, "You may go"?

This guy... how could this guy be so full of himself!

She, Wu Yingying, was a favored daughter of heaven on the Heavenly Martial Continent. Not only was her grandfather the Martial Heavenly King of the Martial Spirit Academy, but her own talent and strength placed her among the best of her generation!

When had anyone ever treated her with such a condescending, charitable tone?

If they really fought, who knew which of them would win... all right, she would definitely lose.

But she couldn't lose in spirit!

"You!" Wu Yingying stamped her foot in anger and pointed at Mu Chen. "Who asked you to go easy on me?! Who wants you to spare them because... because of a reason like that?! If you've got the guts, fight me for real!"

Mu Chen looked at her puffed-up expression, like a cat with its fur standing on end. He shook his head, ignored her, and turned to leave.

When someone was too weak, even their anger looked like an attempt to act cute. Wu Yingying was a perfect example right now.

"Hey! Stop right there!" Seeing that he really meant to leave, Wu Yingying grew even angrier and chased after him. "You'd better explain yourself..."

Listening to Wu Yingying chattering beside him, Mu Chen suddenly rubbed his chin and said, "You're so determined to follow me. Did you fall in love with me at first sight?"

Wu Yingying's breathing stopped for an instant.

She stared at Mu Chen, a whole array of expressions crossing her beautiful face-first astonishment, then embarrassed indignation, before all of it became blazing fury.

"What did you say?!" She practically forced the words through gritted teeth.

Mu Chen seemed not to notice her expression. He remained as breezily unconcerned as ever, even tilting his head slightly as though seriously considering the question. "I asked whether you fell in love with me at first sight, and that's why you keep following me."

Wow, this guy was so full of himself. What a turnoff!

"Who likes you?! I'm following you because... because..."

Wu Yingying suddenly faltered.

Right, why was she following this guy?

Because she was angry? Because she refused to accept it? Or because... she wanted to see just how strong he was?

Even Wu Yingying herself was getting confused.

Watching her flustered expression, Mu Chen's eyes flickered with amusement.

He spoke unhurriedly, his voice as calm as if he were stating a fact. "I already let you go, yet you insisted on chasing after me. Other than being interested in me, I can't think of another reason."

"Don't flatter yourself!" Wu Yingying's face flushed red. "I just... just can't stand that attitude of yours!"

"Oh?" Mu Chen raised an eyebrow. "What attitude?"

"That... that 'I'm number one under heaven, and you should all be on your knees' attitude!" Wu Yingying finally found the words. "Who do you think you are?!"

"I'm nobody, really," Mu Chen said. "But at least for now, I'm stronger than you."

Wu Yingying clenched her fists. She could not argue with that.

"So what if you're stronger?" She lifted her chin, struggling to maintain her pride. "The Spirit Road Trial isn't just about brute strength. It's about who can make it to the end!"

"Exactly." Mu Chen actually nodded. "That's why I gave you a chance."

"But are you disrespecting me like this because you've decided I'm softhearted and lustful, that I won't strike a pretty girl hard, and that you can therefore provoke me without restraint?"