Brilliant sunlight lay just ahead.
They were about to leave the dim Star Dou Great Forest behind. The sisters supported each other as they walked; they had traveled for so many days that they could no longer remember exactly how long it had been.
They had thought leaving that large marketplace would bring them into the Heaven Dou Empire, but never had they imagined that it was merely an entrance to and exit from the Star Luo Empire.
Sunlight fell upon the sisters, warm and soothing. After so many days in the gloomy Star Dou Great Forest, they had almost begun to grow mold.
By the riverbank.
Zhu Zhuqing and Zhu Zhulin washed their faces with clean water and rinsed their hair while they were at it. Their pet, the Spirit-Summoned Azure Sky Tiger, had already been released to keep watch, so they felt completely at ease.
"Sis, are you really not going to study at a Soul Master Academy?"
Zhu Zhuqing used her soul power to dry her black hair and casually tied it into a half-up style, then turned to her sister with a puzzled question.
Perhaps because they were far from their family and the Star Luo Empire, smiles had begun to appear more often on Zhu Zhulin's face.
She smiled and said, "Yes, I've made up my mind. When you go to school, I'll open a clothing shop just outside your academy. Whenever you want something pretty to wear, I'll make it to order for you."
"Besides, I'm already eleven. Junior Soul Master Academies won't accept me anymore, and going to a senior Soul Master Academy would mean being separated from you. I'd worry about you."
Zhu Zhuqing felt it was a pity that her sister did not want to attend school, but it was her own decision. At worst, when the time came to go to Shrek Academy, she could spend a little money to get her sister admitted alongside her.
Fasinuo Province, in the southwest of the Heaven Dou Empire.
Nuoding City.
Although Nuoding City was not considered a large city in Fasinuo Province, its proximity to the Star Luo Empire drew a particularly large number of merchants.
All sorts of goods were transported here from both empires.
Merchants from the Heaven Dou Empire wanted to sell their goods to merchants from the Star Luo Empire, while those from the Star Luo Empire also wanted to sell their empire's specialties to the other side.
Nuoding City prospered as a result, drawing commoners from nearby cities and villages to settle in the surrounding area. They all wanted a slice of the pie.
The village next to Holy Soul Village-Douluo Village!
Two unexpected visitors arrived and soon received a warm welcome. Once they explained why they had come, Village Chief Grandma came out to greet them in person.
The village mainly grew various kinds of fruit, which were sold together in Nuoding City to supplement the income of every household.
Apparently, Douluo Village had once produced a Soul Douluo. That was what Village Chief Grandma said.
As she spoke, she cast a contemptuous look toward the neighboring "Holy Soul Village."
"Zhu Zhuqing, our Douluo Village once produced a Soul Douluo, you know. We're far better than Holy Soul Village. You two should settle down here. Ah, with war and turmoil everywhere, life can't have been easy for two little girls like you."
Village Chief Grandma was very hospitable and treated Zhu Zhuqing and Zhu Zhulin just like her own granddaughters. She was no fool; neither girl dressed like an ordinary commoner. They had most likely fled here for refuge after their family fell on hard times.
"Zhu Zhuqing, how old are you? Have you awakened your martial soul?" Village Chief Grandma asked with a smile.
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes shifted, and she told a little lie with a smile. "Village Chief Grandma, I'm six years old this year. I haven't awakened my martial soul yet."
The old village chief's eyes immediately lit up. Tomorrow happened to be the day of the village's martial soul awakening.
If this little girl awakened some remarkable martial soul, their Douluo Village would become famous.
"Innate full soul power, but a useless martial soul like Blue Silver Grass. What's there to brag about? Hmph!"
Last year, that Old Jack from the neighboring village had bragged for ages. Every so often, he even came to their village to make a racket, nearly provoking everyone into cursing him out.
"And you, Zhu Lin?" The old village chief hoped for another six-year-old, but looking at Zhu Zhulin's height, she did not dare guess.
Both boys and girls on the Douluo Continent developed early, so height alone told her nothing.
Zhu Zhulin was already nearly 1.6 meters tall. If not for her youthful face, she could easily have passed for one of Zhu Zhuqing's elders.
"Oh, Village Chief Grandma, I'm already eighteen. I've had my martial soul tested, but my soul power didn't meet the requirements," Zhu Zhulin lied.
"Oh, that's all right, that's all right. Have your little sister take the test tomorrow. If she awakens a martial soul, we can send her to school."
"Come, I'll take you to pick out a house. There's one that happens to be empty. It's just a little shabby, so please don't mind."
Village Chief Grandma was not discouraged. The village was short of labor to begin with. Even if the younger girl failed to awaken a martial soul, she could help grow fruit, and the older one was already old enough to work.
And just like that, Zhu Zhuqing and her third sister, Zhu Zhulin, settled into the little village without spending a single coin.
The house was rather shabby, but it was not much different from the dilapidated house they had lived in at the Zhu Family estate. Neither of them minded.
The sisters had already begun decorating the humble house.
Their several Storage Soul Tools held no shortage of furniture and household supplies.
With a creak, the door closed.
Zhu Zhulin looked nervously at her little sister. "Zhu Zhuqing, you've already awakened your martial soul. After lying like that, will you be able to pass tomorrow's martial soul test?"
Zhu Zhuqing smiled without answering and simply took her third sister's hand, leading her into the room.
She slowly extended her right hand. Soul power surged through her, and the Golden Miniature Bow gradually emerged from her palm.
"How is this possible? You actually have twin martial souls!"
Zhu Zhulin's lovely eyes widened enormously, and she clamped both hands over her little mouth. She simply could not believe that her little sister possessed twin martial souls.
Such talent was one in ten thousand. She had only ever seen it mentioned in textbooks.
The only known wielder of twin martial souls on the Douluo Continent was Bibi Dong, the Supreme Pontiff of Spirit Hall. Her talent was that of a genius.
Could my little sister be an extraordinary genius too?
Zhu Zhulin stared at her little sister in astonishment. She felt as though she no longer quite knew her. That ability to endure and conceal herself was every bit as formidable as their eldest sister Zhu Zhuyun's.
More importantly, she was still so young. Once she grew up, she would surely become someone who could stand alongside Bibi Dong, the Supreme Pontiff of Spirit Hall.
Zhu Zhuqing had only shown her third sister because she truly considered her the person closest to her. Now, she merely pressed her right index finger against her sister's lips, signaling for her to calm down.
Only after a long, long time did Zhu Zhulin recover from her shock. She hugged her little sister tightly.
The words her little sister had once spoken in jest gradually surfaced in her mind.
"Sis, I'll definitely become a Titled Douluo someday!"
"Sis, I'm going to change our family and the rules of the Star Luo Empire, so our family can be normal again."
"Sis, I'll become a god in the future. When that happens, shall I bring him back to life for you?"
Tears gradually clouded her eyes, then slowly slid down her cheeks and dripped onto Zhu Zhuqing's back. At that moment, Zhu Zhulin's heart was filled with hope.
Through her blurred vision shone a light-the future.
Zhu Zhuqing likewise hugged her third sister tightly, her only true family. She had long since forgotten their cold-blooded parents. She had no desire for parents who allowed their own children to slaughter one another.
That night, the sisters slept peacefully, far away from their cold, scheming family.
Only the poor Spirit-Summoned Azure Sky Tiger lay at the doorway on guard, gazing pitifully at the warm bed.
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