Rules Were Made for the Weak

Soon, Zhu Zhuqing, Ma Hongjun, and Ning Rongrong had all reached level thirty. Their martial souls had also finished upgrading and stabilized completely.

Zhao Su withdrew his Twelve-Winged Holy Angel martial soul, leaving them to gain their own insights and become more familiar with their upgraded martial souls.

Although the sacred aura radiating from the Twelve-Winged Holy Angel could help them grow rapidly,

their own cultivation was still the most reliable path.

Thus, Zhao Su had focused on upgrading their martial souls rather than rapidly raising their soul power levels.

Zhao Wuji's level was too high. Making him a Soul Douluo in one go would consume nearly half of Zhao Su's soul power.

Hundred-thousand-year soul beasts lived here, and Zhao Su had just witnessed their formidable strength. Naturally, he would not do that.

Even if he helped Zhao Wuji someday, it would not be now.

He had to ensure his own safety and keep himself out of danger.

After all, staying alive was the foundation of everything.

"Brother Zhao, how do you feel?"

Watching Zhao Wuji, the first to awaken, Zhao Su raised the corners of his lips and asked him with a faint smile.

"From now on, whatever you ask of me, Brother Zhao, I, Zhao Wuji, will risk my life without a word of protest!"

At Zhao Su's words, Zhao Wuji hurriedly rose and stepped forward to clasp one of his hands. His eyes brimmed with admiration as he looked at Zhao Su, who had utterly won him over from the bottom of his heart.

For the sake of revenge, and for his own future achievements, Zhao Wuji had made up his mind.

No matter when, no matter what happened, he would stand firmly in Zhao Su's camp.

"You flatter me, Brother Zhao." Zhao Su naturally understood that Zhao Wuji was pledging his loyalty. He took an exquisite porcelain bottle from his storage jade pendant and handed it to him. "These are Soul Gathering Pills. Take one while meditating, and you'll get twice the results with half the effort. They can also improve your constitution."

"Thank you, brother!"

Zhao Wuji accepted the porcelain bottle. The faint medicinal fragrance wafting from within made him even more excited.

Just then, Zhu Zhuqing and the other two awakened one after another.

"Wonderful! The Eight Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda!"

After awakening and seeing that her martial soul had evolved into the Eight Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, Ning Rongrong made no attempt to hide the excitement in her eyes.

Ever since her family had inherited the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, every generation had exhausted every possible method to turn it into an Eight Treasure or even a Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.

Yet no one had ever succeeded.

Even her father, Ning Fengzhi, hailed as a once-in-a-century genius of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, had tried countless methods without success.

To think she had actually succeeded! Ning Rongrong was only a twelve-year-old girl, after all. How could she not be excited?

"Cultivate diligently. When I have time in the future, I'll find a way to upgrade your Eight Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda!"

"Really? Big Brother Su, you're the best! I love you so much!"

Hearing Zhao Su's words, Ning Rongrong immediately threw herself at him, hugging him as she shouted excitedly.

Even the way she addressed him had changed.

Seeing this, a strange look flickered in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes.

Earlier, when she had been in danger from the backlash, Zhao Su had leaned close to her ear to speak. His gentle, magnetic voice still lingered in her heart.

Even if she wanted to forget it, she could not.

"Thank you, Teacher Zhao!"

Ma Hongjun spoke as well. Though he was not as exuberant as Ning Rongrong, excitement shone in his eyes.

Although this evolution had not completely remedied the flaw in his martial soul, he could feel that it was no longer as severe.

He would still have to find ways to vent his evil fire from time to time, but no longer several times a day.

This would be a tremendous help to his cultivation.

"There's no need to thank me. It's what I should do. All right, it's getting late. Let's find somewhere to rest for the night. Tomorrow, I'll help you find suitable third soul rings!"

By now, Zhao Su had become the pillar of their group.

They would not question anything Zhao Su said.

The group traveled nearly five li, by which time darkness had fallen completely.

"Zhao Su, there's light up ahead. It's probably a gathering place for soul masters who came into the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt soul beasts. Should we rest there?"

Zhao Wuji, who was clearing the way ahead, stopped. Pointing toward the nearby lights and the indistinct clamor drifting over, he asked Zhao Su.

In the Soul Master World, to make it easier to enter the Star Dou Great Forest, hunt soul beasts, and obtain suitable soul rings,

many powerful soul masters had joined forces to establish shelters throughout the Star Dou Great Forest.

These gave soul masters entering the forest somewhere to stop and rest at night.

There was also an unwritten rule in these shelters: even enemies were not permitted to fight inside.

Anyone who did would face rejection and pursuit from the entire Soul Master World.

Several powerful sects and families even provided security for these shelters.

Thus, soul masters entering the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt soul beasts would generally seek out the nearest shelter once darkness fell.

"All right, then we'll spend the night in the shelter!"

Having decided, they hesitated no longer and hurried toward the shelter where those specks of light shone.

Zhao Su's group of seven moved quickly, reaching the so-called shelter in less than five minutes.

In truth, the shelter was merely a gathering place enclosed by a simple fence, though an unwritten rule prohibited fighting inside.

Even enemies had to leave the shelter to settle their disputes.

Still, everyone had to remain on guard. Each team had claimed a position advantageous to them.

Even while resting, they needed two people standing watch at the same time, ready to respond to any sudden emergency.

"Brother Zhao, I think we're late. I'm afraid there's no room left for us here."

Zhao Wuji swept his gaze over the dozen or so teams inside the fence. They had occupied all the open space, leaving his group nowhere to stay except the entrance.

They would be guarding the gate for these people.

They would be better off finding somewhere relatively safe on their own.

"Just drive them out!"

Zhao Su spoke very casually.

"That wouldn't be appropriate, would it? After all, the rules prohibit fighting in the shelter!"

"Rules are made for the weak. We're strong enough to stay in the best spot!"

There was something else Zhao Su left unsaid.

Besides being made for the weak, rules were also made for the righteous, whereas he was a villain.

Naturally, he had no need to care about rules.

As he spoke, Zhao Su stepped inside the fence and headed straight toward the team of a dozen or so people at the far end, who were drinking, chatting, and laughing.

"I've taken a liking to your spot. Go stay by the entrance!"

Zhao Su interrupted the dozen or so people drinking and eating meat. His voice was not particularly loud, but everyone in the shelter heard him.

Everyone froze for a moment, then burst into undisguised laughter.

"Kid, do you even know what you're saying?"

Among the team Zhao Su had provoked, the burly man surrounded by the others was clearly their leader. He, too, laughed at Zhao Su's words, then looked at him with a flicker of killing intent in his eyes as he asked the question.

"I made myself perfectly clear. I'll give you one more chance. Clear out of this spot right now!"

Zhao Su's tone remained utterly casual.