My foolish elder sister!

Yet something bizarre happened.

Zhu Zhuyun did not dodge at all. Her third, purple Soul Ring swiftly lit up, and a seductive voice escaped her lips: "Netherworld Springfall!"

Zhu Zhuqing's Spiritual Power illusion attack collided head-on with Zhu Zhuyun's third Soul Skill. Both gave muffled grunts and staggered two steps backward.

Only now was Zhu Zhuyun truly shocked. She had never imagined that her younger sister had also cultivated Spiritual Power, let alone such powerful Spiritual Power. She exclaimed:

"You actually mastered Mother's Spiritual Power attack? How is that possible? It's only been a year!"

Zhu Zhuqing adjusted her stance again, shielding her Third Sister. Her eyes remained fixed on the figure ahead as she silently communicated with her pet.

"Hmph, nothing is impossible. If you want to kill me, go ahead and try. Just don't pick up the watermelon only to lose the sesame seeds. I have no interest in fighting you for the position of Empress!" Zhu Zhuqing said coldly.

Zhu Zhuyun threw back her head and laughed, her supple figure trembling beneath her tight leather outfit. Several blue beads had already appeared in her hand.

Her fourth, purple Soul Ring was rapidly lighting up. She intended to kill with a single blow.

"Hahaha! My silly little sister, do you think I'd believe that? Only when you're dead will there be no one left to fight me for the position of Empress!" Zhu Zhuyun roared as she charged.

"Then try it, my foolish elder sister!"

"First Soul Skill: Tiger's Roar in the Mountain Forest!"

The Chaos White Tiger behind Zhu Zhuqing roared again, its voice deafening. This roar was countless times louder than before. Clearly, even her Martial Soul was filled with fury.

They were family, yet they sought to slaughter one another. How tragic.

A strange pressure spread from Zhu Zhuqing. She unleashed the second enhancement to her chaos white tiger bloodline that she had gained when acquiring her Soul Ring.

In that instant, the concentration of the chaos white tiger bloodline within her rose to 20%.

The Chaos White Tiger behind her began transforming rapidly. The Wang marking on its forehead gradually grew distinct, and its body swiftly enlarged, losing every trace of its former chubbiness.

Now it was unmistakably a majestic white tiger-a tiger with wings of lightning.

"You..." That roar frightened Zhu Zhuyun senseless. Her entire understanding of the world was crumbling.

She had clearly learned before that her youngest sister's Martial Soul was some Nether White Cat.

How had it become a white tiger after she acquired two Soul Rings? And the overwhelming pressure from that Martial Soul had completely suppressed her own.

Her Hell Spirit Cat Martial Soul was crouching on the ground, not daring to move. What was going on?

Zhu Zhuqing had now summoned the Spirit-Summoned Azure Sky Tiger over. Girl and tiger flanked Zhu Zhuyun from both sides.

Seeing Zhu Zhuyun slumped on the ground, Zhu Zhuqing still refrained from delivering a killing blow. This woman was her elder sister, after all.

"Get lost. I don't want to kill you!" Zhu Zhuqing said coldly.

She took the blue beads that had fallen to the ground, while the Spirit-Summoned Azure Sky Tiger even stripped off Zhu Zhuyun's Storage Soul Tool bracelet.

Looking eager to please, the Spirit-Summoned Azure Sky Tiger picked up the Storage Soul Tool in its mouth and walked over to Zhu Zhuqing, hoping for praise.

"Mm, good tiger."

Zhu Zhuqing accepted the Storage Soul Tool bracelet, then rubbed the Spirit-Summoned Azure Sky Tiger's head.

The Spirit-Summoned Azure Sky Tiger happily swished its tail and even tried to nuzzle Zhu Zhuqing with its head, only to be pushed away with a slap.

"Silly tiger, go protect my third sister," Zhu Zhuqing ordered.

The Spirit-Summoned Azure Sky Tiger trudged toward the rear, head drooping. A moment later, however, it returned carrying Zhu Zhulin on its back.

Zhu Zhulin wore a mask, so no one could see her expression beneath it. The other two only heard the cold, deathly still voice that emerged from her lips:

"Zhu Zhuqing, let's go. I don't want to see her again."

Without a word, Zhu Zhuqing vaulted onto the Spirit-Summoned Azure Sky Tiger's back. The two young women rode it away toward the far right of the Star Dou Great Forest.

"Bastard!"

Bang-

Zhu Zhuyun pounded the ground, blood continually seeping from her small fists. This attempt to hunt them down had ended in utter failure.

Not only had she lost all face, but she had also lost her precious Storage Soul Tool, which contained everything she owned.

She knew her own strength was now completely insufficient to kill her two younger sisters, unless she brought together the clan's two Four-Ring Soul Ancestors.

In that brief span, she had already decided how to pursue them. If she could not catch them, she would petition the Elder Council again.

As long as those two younger sisters dared return to the clan, she would seize them both with the force of a thunderbolt, and then...

Zhu Zhuyun struggled up from the ground and shakily made her way toward a tree behind her. She needed to recover her Soul Power, then wait for the others.

A few minutes later, the two four-ring Soul Elders finally appeared. They had rushed over after hearing the tremendous roar.

Seeing Zhu Zhuyun's disheveled state, Zhu An and Zhu Long asked with concern, "Eldest Miss, are you all right?"

"All right? Do I look all right to you? Are you blind?" Zhu Zhuyun roared.

The two grown men exchanged looks, utterly speechless.

Zhu Long was more direct. "Eldest Miss, a high-level Soul Beast may have emerged from the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest. We've already seen quite a few human Soul Masters fleeing. Why don't we head back?"

"Really?" Zhu Zhuyun was somewhat doubtful.

"Yes," Zhu An and Zhu Long hurriedly replied. The panic on their faces was impossible to fake.

Zhu Zhuyun's lovely eyes shifted, ruthlessness repeatedly flashing through them. After carefully weighing the gains and losses, she finally decided to retreat for now.

"Zhu Zhuqing, just you wait! If you dare go back, I'll make you suffer!"

Within the Star Dou Great Forest, Zhu Zhuyun left that vicious threat.

Several days passed in a flash.

Zhu Zhuqing and her Third Sister had reached that narrow road. Crowds surged through the area, which was practically one enormous marketplace.

The market stretched for over a dozen li, spanning the Heaven Dou Empire, the Star Luo Empire, and the Star Dou Great Forest. It was a place under none of their jurisdictions.

To avoid drawing suspicion, Zhu Zhuqing had long since recalled her pet, the Spirit-Summoned Azure Sky Tiger.

The two walked through the enormous marketplace wearing black robes, masks, and bamboo hats.

"Radishes! Fresh radishes, just one silver coin per jin!" an odd-looking middle-aged man called as he sold radishes.

"Would you two like some flaky flatbread? It's cheap, and it's made with the meat of a hundred-year Soul Beast, a flying sky snake! Guaranteed to smell delicious, and only five silver coins! Hey, don't leave! Come have a taste!"

The fierce-looking vendor nearly chased after them. He had not earned anything for days.

But when he saw two daggers gleaming coldly, the vendor lost his nerve. He returned to his stall with a foolish smile.

"The Azure Dragon Mercenary Corps is recruiting healing-type support Soul Masters! No level restrictions-as long as you have a Soul Ring! Men and women welcome! Meals and lodging provided every day, wages paid daily!"

"Level thirty-eight Power Attack System Battle Soul Master leading a team to acquire Soul Rings! Fee: one Gold Soul Coin per day!"

"Two three-ring Soul Elders looking for a team to hunt Soul Beasts! No wages required, just Soul Beast materials!"

Zhu Zhuqing and Zhu Zhulin did not linger in the bustling marketplace. Their Storage Soul Tools held food and clothing; they lacked nothing.

The two continued walking forward. With sharp daggers in their hands, no one dared approach them to strike up a conversation.