Watching Yu Xiaogang leave, Su Ling was speechless. Reading the Douluo novel without meeting the man, he had seemed all right. But after just one encounter, Su Ling already felt the urge to slap him dead.
In the original story, no one could threaten Tang San's standing among the Shrek Seven Devils. Although Dai Mubai was the nominal captain, the entire team actually had to listen to Tang San.
Dai Mubai had never posed any threat to Tang San's position, so Yu Xiaogang had never shown this side of himself.
Or rather, every tactical role he envisioned for Shrek Academy revolved around Tang San.
[Ding... Ning Rongrong's affection +3. Obtained White Chest ×2.]
In her room, Ning Rongrong held the bottle and murmured, "These really are amazing. If they appeared at an auction in Heaven Dou City, Dad would buy them even at a million each."
Zhu Zhuqing had reached level thirty in a very short time. Ning Rongrong had only taken one pill just now, but its effects were comparable to nearly one or two months of cultivation.
With another pill, she reckoned she could advance from level twenty-seven to twenty-eight.
"There are eight pills left in the bottle. They should be enough to get me to level thirty, right? Big Brother Su, I really owe you a huge favor. How should I repay you?"
"You don't seem to lack Gold Soul Coins, either!"
"Big Brother Su is so talented. I have to bring him into our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. But he mentioned a marriage alliance. If he only chooses me, what should I do?"
"But Zhu Zhuqing seems to like Big Brother Su, too. Sigh... this is difficult."
[Ding... Ning Rongrong's affection +5. Obtained White Chest ×2, Yellow Chest ×1.]
Two consecutive notifications of increased affection from Ning Rongrong arrived. That little girl must have taken a Beginner Soul Power Pill and experienced its benefits.
Soul Power Pills helped Soul Masters rapidly increase their soul power, and they came from Yellow Chests. In Su Ling's opinion, something so precious would not have been out of place in a Purple Chest.
He would first give these goddesses Soul Power Pills to raise their soul power and gain some affection, then use Immortal Herbs for an explosive increase.
[Ding... Huo Wu's affection +4. Obtained Purple Chest ×2, Black Chest ×1.] [Ding... Huo Wu's affection has reached 90.]
Another affection increase from Huo Wu?
At that moment, in Sunset Forest, Huo Wu had finally found a fourth soul ring she was satisfied with. The search had taken over a month.
With the help of the ten-thousand-year Huo Yun Mushroom, she refused to settle. She had to find the soul beast best suited to her.
After successfully absorbing the soul ring, Huo Wu did not stop. The ten-thousand-year Huo Yun Mushroom was still taking effect, bringing her soul power straight to level forty-four. That was why her affection toward Su Ling had increased again.
An affection score of ninety matched Zhu Zhuqing's. All skill effects increased further, and a new skill was added. However, like Zhu Zhuqing's, this new skill detected danger.
[Remaining unopened chests: White ×74, Yellow ×15, Purple ×8, Black ×3.]
Three Black Chests again?
Su Ling returned to his room. It was clean and tidy, without a speck of dust. Someone must have been cleaning it for him while he was away.
"System, open all three Black Chests," Su Ling said directly.
[Ding... Opened three Black Chests. Congratulations, host. Obtained Advanced Soul Power Pill ×3 bottles, Thirty Thousand Year Soul Bone ×1, Soul Bone Condensation Support Liquid ×1.] [Advanced Soul Power Pill: highly effective for Soul Ancestors, less effective for Soul Kings, almost useless for Soul Emperors.] [Thirty Thousand Year Soul Bone: fire-attribute left arm bone of exceptional quality.] [Soul Bone Condensation Support Liquid: usable on soul beasts under one hundred thousand years old. Drip it into the soul beast's body before killing it, wait one incense stick's worth of time, then kill it. Guarantees the formation of a soul bone, with a 10% chance of forming an external soul bone.]
Three rewards, every one of them excellent.
Su Ling could use the Advanced Soul Power Pills himself right now. The fire-attribute soul bone could go to someone else, but certainly not Ma Hongjun. His rewards had to go to the goddesses first, earning affection so he could keep getting chests.
He could either give the fire-attribute soul bone to Liu Erlong now or save it for Huo Wu.
As for the last reward, Black Chests could already yield ten-thousand-year soul bones. But a ten-percent chance of forming an external soul bone opened up limitless possibilities.
All in all, Su Ling really liked what these three Black Chests had yielded.
"Keep going. Open all the Purple Chests," Su Ling said.
[Ding... Opened eight Purple Chests. Congratulations, host. Obtained Intermediate Soul Power Pill ×5 bottles, Thousand-Year Healing Soul Skill Card ×2, Thousand-Year Blood Ginseng ×1, Intermediate Soul Power Recovery Liquid ×5 bottles, Truth-Telling Card ×1.]
Su Ling had experienced a healing soul skill card before. Thousand-Year Healing Soul Skill Cards were useful and could heal ordinary injuries.
Soul Power Recovery Liquid could rapidly restore soul power within a short time.
But what did this Truth-Telling Card do?
[Truth-Telling Card: after use, makes someone speak the truest thoughts in their heart. Note: only effective on Soul Masters below Soul King rank.]
"That's useful, too!" Su Ling murmured.
With the Purple Chests finished, Su Ling looked at the Yellow Chests but decided not to open them this time.
After all, he had already given Ning Rongrong Beginner Soul Power Pills. Once she advanced to Soul Elder, only Intermediate Soul Power Pills would have a good effect.
And hadn't he just received another five bottles of those?
Taking out a bottle of Advanced Soul Power Pills, Su Ling poured out one pill, swallowed it, and began cultivating.
Meanwhile, Zhu Zhuqing was also taking the Intermediate Soul Power Pills Su Ling had given her.
As soon as she swallowed one, its tremendous medicinal power began taking effect.
After reaching level thirty and obtaining her soul ring, she had finished her Beginner Soul Power Pills, so her soul power was already nearing the peak of level thirty-one.
Under the effects of this Intermediate Soul Power Pill, her soul power advanced again after a little over two hours.
"Level thirty-two?" Zhu Zhuqing felt as though she were dreaming. Increasing her soul power could actually be this easy.
Feeling the change in the strength of her soul power, Zhu Zhuqing was delighted.
"Big Brother Su, you're so good to me. Thank you," Zhu Zhuqing murmured.
The change on Zhu Zhuqing's side immediately produced feedback for Su Ling.
[Ding... Zhu Zhuqing's affection +1. Obtained Red Chest ×1.]
The notification jolted Su Ling out of his cultivation. Thanks to the Advanced Soul Power Pill, his soul power had reached the peak of level forty-five, hovering on the verge of a breakthrough.
That notification interrupted his cultivation.
His first Red Chest-how could Su Ling not be excited?
He immediately stopped cultivating and silently said, System, open the Red Chest.
[Ding... Opened Red Chest. Congratulations, host. Obtained supreme primordial origin scripture: basic volume, part one.]
A cultivation method?
Come on, this is a Red Chest. Do you have to be so stingy?
Being basic is bad enough, but it's only part one.
Is the Douluo World so low-level that just part one of the basic volume is more than enough?
[Supreme primordial origin scripture: basic volume, part one. Does the host wish to receive the inheritance?]
"Yes!"
A stream of obscure, incomprehensible information immediately appeared in Su Ling's mind.
This time, he seemed to have received only the inheritance's information, rather than mastering it directly.
At present, the only thing he seemed able to understand was one cultivation circulation route within it.
Following that route, Su Ling began circulating his soul power and cultivating.
He had no idea how much time passed, and no one disturbed him.
Only when the system sounded again was Su Ling pulled out of his cultivation.
[Poison detected within Zhu Zhuqing's body, over four hundred meters southwest of the host. Please rescue the goddess as soon as possible.]
"Damn it! Zhu Zhuqing's in danger."
Su Ling sprang up, burst through the door, and rushed out at his fastest speed.
He had not expected danger detection to prove useful so soon. But who at Shrek Academy had poisoned Zhu Zhuqing?
At that moment, over four hundred meters away.
Zhu Zhuqing had already begun feeling something wrong with her body.
"Dai Mubai, you... you actually poisoned me." Zhu Zhuqing felt unwell, her face flushed crimson.
Dai Mubai said flatly, "I had no choice. You brought this on yourself by getting involved with Su Ling. You're my fiancée, and I'm a prince of the Star Luo Empire. How could you do something like this?"
"So today, I have to make you completely mine. Su Ling can forget about having you," Dai Mubai said coldly.
For these past three months, he had restrained himself, hoping to win Zhu Zhuqing back while Su Ling was away.
But no matter how hard he tried, Zhu Zhuqing seemed like a different person, treating him as a stranger.
If she were merely unhappy with him, he could still have accepted it.
But Zhu Zhuqing had fallen in love with someone else-the very person he hated most. How could he rest easy?
They would soon be going to Heaven Dou City. If he did not act now, there would be even fewer opportunities later.
And the best method he could think of was to cook the raw rice into a finished meal.
So, late that night, when all was quiet, he had asked Zhu Zhuqing to meet him. She had initially refused, but Dai Mubai said he only wanted to see her once and clear things up.
If she insisted on leaving him, he would never bother her again. His only condition was that she come out and let him explain himself properly.
Hearing Dai Mubai say that, Zhu Zhuqing had wanted to end everything for good. She also did not want him constantly telling others that she was his fiancée.
There was another reason: if Dai Mubai voluntarily gave up on her, she and Su Ling might not face pursuit by the Star Luo Empire in the future.
Those two reasons had persuaded her to come out and clarify their relationship.
But she had never imagined that Dai Mubai would drug her.
"Dai Mubai, being timid and cowardly was bad enough. Now you've sunk to drugging me, using such filthy methods. It seems I was right to leave you," Zhu Zhuqing said coldly.
With that, Zhu Zhuqing ran toward Shrek Academy.
But the moment she moved, Dai Mubai was already blocking her way back.
Zhu Zhuqing immediately released her martial soul. Although Dai Mubai was stronger than her, he could not catch her in terms of speed.
But as soon as she released her martial soul, Zhu Zhuqing realized her head felt dizzy.
An inexplicable urge rose within her, her body's desire erupting.
"Zhu Zhuqing, I spent quite a few Gold Soul Coins on this drug for you. No Soul Master below Soul Ancestor can resist it. Just submit to me today. The more you circulate your soul power, the faster it takes effect."
With that, Dai Mubai shoved Zhu Zhuqing to the ground, then took out a simple tent, the kind that sprang upright as soon as it was opened.
By now, Zhu Zhuqing's consciousness was changing, and she was no longer fully lucid.
As the drug took effect, she unconsciously began trying to remove her clothes.
"Hmph. How could I let Su Ling have you? You're my fiancée. You were before, you are now, and you will be in the future. No one can steal you from me." Dai Mubai's eyes brimmed with desire.
He should have been Shrek Academy's leader, its strongest member. Everyone should have respected him most, and his fiancée should have come looking for him.
Yet Su Ling had survived his failed soul ring absorption and even defeated him head-on. Everyone respected Su Ling, and even his own fiancée had fallen in love with the person he hated most.
Everything had piled up, one incident after another, changing him.
Dai Mubai gave a wicked-eyed smile. "Don't blame me for this. Blame yourself, and that Su Ling."
"No, don't. You can't do this..." Zhu Zhuqing still retained a thread of awareness and desperately tried to stop Dai Mubai.
"Too late. Hmph!"
With that, Dai Mubai reached to pull Zhu Zhuqing off the ground and take her into the nearby tent.
Just as he bent down and reached out.
With a whoosh, an arrow pierced straight through Dai Mubai's palm.
"Aah!"
Dai Mubai let out a miserable scream as blood began flowing from his pierced palm.
"Su Ling! It's you!" Dai Mubai turned to look.
Su Ling's next arrow was already coming. Dai Mubai immediately activated Martial Soul Possession, turning his hands into tiger claws to block it. But how could he block Su Ling's arrows now the way he once had?
With a boom, Su Ling's arrow blasted Dai Mubai more than ten meters away.
Su Ling quickly strode to Zhu Zhuqing's side.
"Zhu Zhuqing, wake up."
But Zhu Zhuqing had already lost consciousness completely. With only her most primal desires remaining, she grabbed Su Ling and kissed him.
This was no time to take advantage of her. Su Ling immediately took out a Supreme Detoxification Pill and put it into Zhu Zhuqing's mouth.
"Swallow it!" Su Ling said.
But Zhu Zhuqing instinctively seemed to find the pill bitter and actually tried to spit it out.
"Sigh..."
With no other choice, Su Ling pressed his mouth to hers and used his soul power to send the pill down.
But Zhu Zhuqing's tongue kept moving inside her mouth, making it very difficult.
After roughly a dozen breaths, Su Ling finally pulled away and let out a long breath.
Meanwhile, the commotion seemed to have drawn some people over.
Noticing someone approaching, Su Ling hurriedly took off his clothes and draped them over Zhu Zhuqing, covering her exposed skin.
At that moment, Flender and Liu Erlong arrived almost simultaneously.
"What's going on?" Flender demanded loudly.
"Dean, Su Ling is a scumbag! He tried to lay hands on my fiancée. He even drugged Zhu Zhuqing so he could violate her."
"I tried to stop him, and he shot me twice." Dai Mubai immediately went to Flender's side and began airing his grievances.
Su Ling was standing beside the tent, and Zhu Zhuqing was wearing the clothes he had just taken off.
All of it seemed to indicate that Su Ling was responsible for Zhu Zhuqing's current condition, and that Dai Mubai had nothing to do with it.
With his scheme exposed, Dai Mubai had thought quickly in desperation and could only pin the blame on Su Ling.
The drug's effects would last at least four hours. To be safe, he had used an even larger dose, so Zhu Zhuqing would not recover anytime soon.
That would give him enough time to seize the opportunity and leave Shrek.
After all, with his soul power at the peak of level thirty-seven, where in this world could he not go? There was no need to stay at Shrek and suffer humiliation. Besides, this would not be his first escape!
Su Ling said, "Dean, it isn't what Dai Mubai said."
But Zhu Zhuqing had not fully regained consciousness, and Su Ling still had one hand on her. How were they supposed to judge?
"Su Ling, is what Dai Mubai said true?"
Flender's expression was grave. Beside him, Liu Erlong also released a trace of killing intent that made their hearts tremble.
Su Ling said, "Dean, I don't want to argue over who's right or wrong. Once Zhu Zhuqing wakes up, everything will be clear."
"Sister Liu, sorry for the trouble, but please look after Zhu Zhuqing."
Hearing Su Ling say that, Liu Erlong still came over. "Hmph. You'd better not be the one who did this."
With Liu Erlong looking after Zhu Zhuqing, Su Ling felt reassured.
"I've already given Zhu Zhuqing an antidote. She'll wake up soon," Su Ling said.
An antidote? Dai Mubai inwardly cursed.
But why did Su Ling have an antidote for something like this?
Su Ling had a system-produced Supreme Detoxification Pill on him. Using it against Dai Mubai's drug was like using a mighty timber to make a toothpick.
At that thought, Dai Mubai wanted to flee.
But by then, quite a few people from Shrek Academy had come rushing out.
The commotion had been considerable. First, Dai Mubai's scream had carried far through the quiet night, and then that last strike had made plenty of noise, too.
Just as the others arrived, the Supreme Detoxification Pill took effect.
Zhu Zhuqing blearily opened her eyes.
But a moment later, she remembered what Dai Mubai had been about to do to her before she lost consciousness.
Fear instantly crept into her eyes.
"Dai Mubai, stay away from me."
"Stay away!"
"Zhu Zhuqing, you're all right now. I stopped Dai Mubai. He didn't get to do anything to you," Su Ling said.
Just then, Dai Mubai turned to run. His plan had failed; he could no longer stay at Shrek.
"Where do you think you're going?" Flender stepped directly into his path.
I can't escape! Dai Mubai quickly reconsidered. Ignoring his injuries, he straightened up instead.
"Zhu Zhuqing is my fiancée. Please stay out of our affairs." Dai Mubai glanced at Flender, who stood in his way, then walked straight toward Zhu Zhuqing.
By now, Zhu Zhuqing had calmed down. The others who had arrived were still utterly confused, unaware of what had happened.
"Su Ling, why are you seducing my fiancée? You even confessed your feelings to her today. Did you think I didn't see it?" Dai Mubai demanded harshly.
At that moment, he acted as though he were the victim.
Su Ling said, "I admit it. I like Zhu Zhuqing. So what?"
"Haha, you all heard that, didn't you? You can't blame me for any of this. It's all because of Su Ling that Zhu Zhuqing stopped paying attention to me. I admit it was wrong to drug her, but I only did it to keep her, because she's my fiancée. What I do with my fiancée is none of your business!"
"Su Ling, do you think you can have Zhu Zhuqing just because you want her?"
"Let me tell you, once Zhu Zhuqing goes with you, both of you will be hunted down by our Star Luo Empire and the Hell Spirit Cat clan. You're putting her in danger. She's only safe at my side," Dai Mubai said coldly.
For a moment, he did possess a trace of a prince's commanding presence.
But what did that matter?
Zhu Zhuqing said, "Dai Mubai, I told you long ago that I don't like you. From the moment you abandoned me three years ago, there was barely any chance left for us."
"I like Su Ling. Even if you're going to hunt us down in the future, I already lived that kind of life in Star Luo City for three years. A little longer doesn't matter. What matters is being with someone I love, not a coward who only knows how to run away."
"Exactly. Zhu Zhuqing is right. Come at us if you've got the guts. I, Su Ling, have nothing to fear."
"Fine. Very good. You all saw that, didn't you?"
"Fine, then. Since that's how it is, I can't stay at Shrek anymore. I'll leave. Let's see how long you can hold out." With that, Dai Mubai turned to go.
"Did I say you could leave?"
Su Ling strode forward. Rather than let Dai Mubai take word back, he might as well kill him.
Flender said nothing. Tang San and the others had only just learned what had happened after arriving, and Tang San was actually rather pleased.
Xiao Wu had kept telling him how wonderful Su Ling was, and he had feared she would fall for Su Ling. Now everything was fine. Su Ling and Zhu Zhuqing had confirmed their feelings for each other, so his Xiao Wu was safe.
Liu Erlong said nothing. In her eyes, no matter how sweetly Dai Mubai dressed it up, he should never have drugged Zhu Zhuqing to force himself on her. Someone like that deserved to die.
Su Ling blocked Dai Mubai's way. With his Martial Soul protecting his body, Dai Mubai immediately activated his third Soul Skill, White Tiger Vajra Transformation, to face Su Ling.
Yet Su Ling remained bare-handed, without even releasing his Martial Soul.
"Not using your Martial Soul? Fine. Are you looking down on me?"
Dai Mubai threw a punch, and Su Ling punched back, unleashing the fourth punch of the Eight Desolations Fist outright. Each punch increased his punching power by 30%.
The fourth punch carried 220% of Su Ling's punching power, and his strength had long since risen far beyond what it once was. As that punch sent Dai Mubai flying, the sound of shattering bones rang out.
"Die!" Su Ling chased after him, ready to deliver the killing blow.
"Wait! You can't kill Dai Mubai!"
Who else could the newcomer be but Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang?
"Xiao Gang, why are you stopping Su Ling?" Liu Erlong asked.
Yu Xiaogang said, "Dai Mubai is the Star Luo Empire's third prince. If he dies here, the Star Luo Imperial Family will hunt us all down. There's no issue if he dies in the struggle for succession, but if he dies at someone else's hands, wouldn't that be a slap in the Star Luo Imperial Family's face? Every one of us would be in danger."
"Su Ling, you can't put everyone in danger for your own sake."
It had to be said that Yu Xiaogang had wielded that moral blackmail well. Even Su Ling had no answer.
"Boss Fu, what do you think?" Yu Xiaogang looked toward Flender.
Flender said, "Xiao Gang, you have a point."
With that, Flender looked at Dai Mubai and tossed out an old, plain box.
"I won't bother with anything else. Dai Mubai, I found this near where Su Ling absorbed his fourth soul ring. You were the one who lured that swarm of Bloodthirsty Demon Ants over, weren't you?"
"That's right. I did it," Dai Mubai said.
"Good, as long as you admit it. I won't comment on the matter between you and your fiancée. That's a private affair. But harming your fellow students is something our academy will not tolerate. From this moment on, you are no longer a member of Shrek," Flender said.
"Su Ling, deal with Dai Mubai yourself."
Su Ling did not act immediately. Instead, he turned to Zhu Zhuqing and asked, "Zhu Zhuqing, what do you think?"
"Big Brother Su, the Star Luo Empire can hunt us down, but we can't drag everyone else into it," Zhu Zhuqing said.
"All right. I understand." Su Ling walked up to Dai Mubai.
"Leave. But remember, your life is only being spared for now. Sooner or later, I'll come to collect it," Su Ling said.
Just as Dai Mubai smugly assumed Su Ling did not dare lay a hand on him, a thud rang out.
Su Ling viciously kicked Dai Mubai in the crotch.
At the unmistakable sound of something breaking, almost every male present shuddered in fright.
Two eggs had been smashed.
"Aaaah..."
Pain!
"Su Ling, we can never live under the same sky! I'll kill you! Aaaah..."
"I won't kill you today, but you'll pay for what you did tonight. We'll settle the score between us later."
With that, Su Ling walked over to Zhu Zhuqing and continued, "Zhu Zhuqing, I'll protect you from now on."
[Ding... Zhu Zhuqing's affection +3. Obtained Purple Chest ×1, Black Chest ×2.] [Ding... Ning Rongrong's affection +2. Obtained Yellow Chest ×1.] [Ding... Xiao Wu's affection +1. Obtained White Chest ×1.] [Ding... Feng Yu'er's affection +3. Obtained White Chest ×2.] [Ding... Jiang Zhu's affection +2. Obtained White Chest ×1.] [Ding... Liu Erlong's affection +5. Obtained White Chest ×2, Yellow Chest ×1.] [Ding... Liu Erlong's affection is greater than or equal to 60. Bind her?]
The string of notifications told Su Ling that he had done the right thing. At the very least, he had earned the approval of all the beauties present.
Yes. System, bind Liu Erlong! Su Ling commanded in his mind.
Before you continue