The night was black as ink, dotted with stars.
Chen Jue and Hu Liena stood side by side in the wilderness, letting the cool night breeze brush gently over them, as though it could blow the dust from their hearts.
"I can't believe I really reached level forty!"
Hu Liena's words held both amazement and a faint, almost imperceptible bitter amusement.
An intoxicating smile graced her rosy cheeks!
"I told you, didn't I? Trust me!"
A touch of smugness colored Chen Jue's voice.
"You thought I was just playing around with you... but I was actually raising your soul power level."
Hearing this, Hu Liena glanced sideways at him, a sly gleam flashing in her eyes as her lips curved slightly.
"Hah, I don't believe you!"
After all, raising one's soul power level through a method like his was simply too shocking to believe!
Hu Liena merely felt it was the result of her recent diligent training.
After three days of consolidation, it was time for a breakthrough!
Chen Jue smiled helplessly. No one would believe his explanation anyway.
He could only let the stream flow steadily and take things slowly!
Hehe!
"Absorb the Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring I gave you! I'll stand guard beside you!"
"Mm-hmm!"
Hu Liena nodded and began absorbing the Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring.
Meanwhile, Chen Jue sat beside her, recalling the original story.
Tang San and the others should be heading to the Star Dou Great Forest to obtain Soul Rings soon.
And on this trip to the Star Dou Great Forest, Tang San would obtain the strongest cheat of the early-to-middle stages.
The Eight Spider Soul Bone.
This was the first step toward Tang San's meteoric rise.
But...
With me, Chen Jue, around, how could something this good go to Tang San?
I have to snatch it out from under him!
And there's Meng Yiran, too. She's another rare beauty!
While he was lost in thought, Hu Liena had already finished absorbing her Soul Ring!
The Soul Ring's lack of side effects made her absorption nearly ten times faster than normal.
And there was no risk whatsoever!
Looking at Chen Jue, who was thinking about who knew what, she paused where she was and began studying him.
Which loose woman is he thinking about now?
Give him an inch, and he takes a mile.
And he calls this standing guard for me?
If someone abducted me, he probably wouldn't even notice!
Time flew, and several weeks slipped quietly away like sand through their fingers.
During those weeks, under Flender and Zhao Wuji's personal supervision, physical training pushed them to a new level.
Tang San, Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, and Oscar all broke through to Soul Elder.
After discussing it with Flender, Zhao Wuji would lead them to the Star Dou Great Forest to obtain their Soul Rings.
That afternoon.
"Little Monsters, it's time to get your Soul Rings!"
"Gather here in one hour. We're heading to the Star Dou Great Forest!"
The sun sank westward, its lingering rays bathing the training grounds as Zhao Wuji's deep, powerful voice pierced the still air.
"Hooray!"
Everyone cheered and leaped with delight, their faces brimming with unconcealed joy and excitement.
After all, once they successfully obtained their Soul Rings, they would officially enter the ranks of Soul Elders.
As Instructor Zhao Wuji turned to pack his belongings and prepare for the journey back, Ning Rongrong fluttered to Chen Jue's side like a graceful butterfly, anticipation sparkling in her eyes.
She gently tugged at Chen Jue's sleeve, her voice carrying a barely perceptible tremor and a coquettish lilt.
"Brother Chen Jue, could you help me hunt a soul beast that suits me later?"
Her hands naturally wrapped around Chen Jue's arm as she pleaded with him in an affected, cutesy voice.
At the sight, ripples stirred in the other three women's eyes, a tangled mixture of jealousy and resentment.
Their gazes seemed to become invisible arrows aimed straight at Ning Rongrong, conveying silent protest and displeasure.
Such a fake, cutesy voice. Such a scheming little innocent.
Over the past half month, they had chatted every day as though they were the best friends in the world.
In truth, whenever Chen Jue came up, the four women instantly began battling both openly and in secret.
But Ning Rongrong won every time. What could they do when she knew how to chat and flirt?
She even knew how to put on that cutesy voice...
That was only how they saw things, though. Chen Jue had not favored one over another.
He simply interacted more with Ning Rongrong in front of them.
That was what gave them this false impression.
In fact, Chen Jue had shared plenty of private interactions with each of them.
"Sure!"
Chen Jue's answer held an unmistakable seriousness. His lips curved slightly, while his gaze inadvertently skimmed over someone.
My efforts over the past half month weren't wasted!
They finally got a little bigger, though only a little.
The three beauties nearby refused to be outdone and crowded around, enclosing Chen Jue so tightly that not even water could get through. A faint air of jealousy and competition hung around them.
Each brought every trick she had into play, some parting their red lips to coax him in voices as tender as water.
Others brimmed with confidence, eager to display their unique charms and advantages.
"Brother Chen, I want a Soul Ring too..."
"Sure..."
"Brother Chen Jue... I want one too..."
"Sure..."
"Brother Chen, I want one too..."
"Nana, stop joining in... You're only level forty-four..."
Chen Jue felt as though his head had swollen to twice its size. Perhaps this was the trouble that came with having a harem!
It was also something Tang San and the others would never experience!
Oscar watched Rongrong, the girl he liked, beg Chen Jue in such a sweet, delicate voice.
His heart ached unbearably.
It felt as though it might shatter.
Comparing yourself to others could drive you to your grave.
Whenever he had tried to strike up a conversation with Ning Rongrong, she had always answered him in a "savage," impatient tone.
I could cry myself to death...
Seeing Chen Jue so happy, Tang San and Dai Mubai instantly felt miserable too.
They now had just one guiding principle: if Chen Jue suffered, they were happy.
If Chen Jue was happy, they suffered.
Seeing Xiao Wu plead with Chen Jue so meekly finally made Tang San too furious to hold back.
Fuck!
Doing it in secret is one thing, but isn't doing it right in front of me going too far?
And he keeps shooting me provocative looks!
I can't take this anymore!
Just as Tang San was about to step forward, a firm force came from beside him and gently held him in place. It was Dai Mubai, steady as a mountain.
"Little San, we have to keep our cool!"
"Making a move now wouldn't be wise!"
Tang San protested, unable to conceal his agitation and resentment.
"I really can't take it anymore. This bastard flaunts his romances in front of us every day, especially with the girls we like!"
"Every time I try to slip him poison and kill him, you stop me. If we don't act soon, people will think we're spineless!"
Helplessness and indignation mingled in Tang San's words.
Although Dai Mubai's expression remained calm, inwardly he wanted nothing more than to tear Chen Jue into ten thousand pieces.
After all, he had heard that Zhu Zhuqing had already been broken in by Chen Jue...
As her fiancé, he felt as though a lush green field of cuckoldry covered his head.
But he was, after all, a member of the Royal Family. His specialized training had given him greater endurance than ordinary people.
"Don't rush. Killing him now will only create more burdens for me! There's a good chance the investigation would lead back to us!"
"But what if it happened in the Star Dou Great Forest?"
"If we trip him up there, we can pin the blame on soul beasts, can't we?"
"And we can also use soul beasts to kill Chen Jue!"
Hearing this, Tang San's emotions instantly settled, like a lake suddenly brushed by a cold wind.
Dai Mubai's words made him realize how badly he had lost his composure.
I'm still too impulsive!
He slowly steadied his breathing, his gaze gradually gathering into a deep, cold gleam fixed on Chen Jue.
That gaze held not only an indescribable chill, but also plans and resolve for what lay ahead.
Just you wait, Chen Jue.
You won't leave the Star Dou Great Forest alive. Enjoy your life while you still can.
Chen Jue!!!
Before you continue