"Bang!"
The one-armed Soul King flew backward and slammed into a large tree behind him, the tremendous impact snapping its trunk clean in two.
"Pfft!"
He spat out a mouthful of blood, instantly suffering severe injuries.
He struggled desperately to his feet and ran!
By now, the one-armed Soul King had been scared out of his wits by the two Titled Douluo concealed in the shadows.
Without any time to think of anything else, the one-armed Soul King darted about like a headless fly.
But the terrifying auras of the Titled Douluo seemed to be everywhere, driving the one-armed Soul King to the brink of madness.
Finally, after he had run two or three li, the two Titled Douluo's auras gradually faded, and the one-armed Soul King finally had a chance to catch his breath.
Yet just as he thought he had escaped with his life, the one-armed Soul King turned around and saw two men.
One wore white, his skin as delicate as a baby's. His bewitching features gave him a peculiar air; if not for the Adam's apple on his neck, probably no one would have thought he was actually a man.
The other was the complete opposite, his entire body shrouded in a black robe that made it impossible to make out his appearance.
"Who are you?"
The one-armed Soul King had a faint premonition that he might die here today.
"Hehe."
The man in white chuckled softly, then flicked a golden-yellow chrysanthemum toward the one-armed Soul King.
The one-armed Soul King could only watch as the golden chrysanthemum slowly grew larger in his eyes, unable to move so much as an inch.
At death's door, the one-armed Soul King finally realized that the two men before him were probably also Titled Douluo-level experts.
Together with the two who had just protected the little girl, he had actually provoked four Titled Douluo at once!
But to die at the combined hands of four Titled Douluo meant that the one-armed Soul King had at least gotten his death's worth!
After leaving Ning Rongrong's side, Lu Qian did not hide in the shadows again to protect her, but instead risked returning to the place where the two groups had just fought.
When Lu Qian saw the white bones strewn across the ground, he felt considerably reassured. Just as he had guessed, someone was indeed secretly protecting either him or Ning Rongrong.
Since that was the case, Lu Qian simply no longer needed to worry about Ning Rongrong's safety.
After all, compared to him, Ning Rongrong was more likely to have someone secretly protecting her.
Lu Qian also happened to want to wear down Ning Rongrong's temper, so he might as well simply disappear. They would meet at Shrek Academy eventually anyway.
Besides, since he had met Ning Rongrong on the road, perhaps he could run into Zhu Zhuqing too.
If he would not pass up Ning Rongrong, that went doubly for the voluptuous Zhu Zhuqing!
Especially since Lu Qian already knew about the conflict between Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing, this should be very easy to accomplish.
To give himself a chance of running into Zhu Zhuqing, Lu Qian even deliberately took a detour to enter Suotuo City from the direction of the Star Luo Empire.
Unfortunately, however, Lu Qian did not encounter Zhu Zhuqing as he had hoped.
Somewhat disappointed, Lu Qian entered the much-talked-about Suotuo City and looked around.
After strolling around for less than half an hour, Lu Qian discovered that this place truly lived up to its status as one of the Balak Kingdom's two major cities. With the added draw of the Soto Great Soul Arena, Suotuo City was extraordinarily lively.
In particular, it was no exaggeration to say that trade flowed through here in an endless stream. Its shopping streets were even somewhat more prosperous than those in Spirit City.
Of course, not just anyone could enter Spirit City; access was heavily restricted.
But even this alone was enough to demonstrate how bustling Suotuo City was.
When Suotuo City came up, the first place Lu Qian thought of was naturally the Rose Hotel, because this was where Tang San and Dai Mubai met.
So Lu Qian quite naturally headed there and booked a room in advance, ready to enjoy the show.
However, it was not yet time for the school term to begin, so he would probably have to wait another couple of days for that show.
Then Lu Qian thought of his second destination in Suotuo City. It was neither Shrek Academy nor the Soto Great Soul Arena, but the street of brothels that Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun frequented!
A man himself, Lu Qian was very interested in this place.
After going out and asking for directions, Lu Qian strolled leisurely over.
In Lu Qian's memory, this street of brothels naturally had its own tiers, with good establishments and bad ones, superior ones and inferior ones.
Ma Hongjun, for example, was too poor, but still needed to vent his fire, so he could only choose the worst places.
By comparison, Dai Mubai, the second prince of the Star Luo Empire, operated on a much higher level.
For instance, on his very first appearance, he had brought a pair of pretty twin sisters back to the hotel!
Before long, Lu Qian arrived at Suotuo City's brothel street.
Before Lu Qian could take a good look at the girls, he saw a little fatty scurrying away with his hands over his head as a group of thugs chased him.
The little fatty had not even put on his outer clothes properly, and he kept babbling:
"Stop hitting me, stop hitting me! If you keep hitting me, I'll fight back!"
Unless I'm mistaken, this guy must be the sort who tries to get it for free. So there are people like this everywhere. He deserves that beating!
Shaking his head, Lu Qian continued forward.
Yet Lu Qian had barely taken a few steps when he actually heard a phoenix's cry behind him!
"Huh?"
Lu Qian slowly turned around and discovered that the fellow he had just mocked, who had been chased by a group of thugs, seemed to be Ma Hongjun, one of the Shrek Seven Devils!
By now, Ma Hongjun had released his martial soul, the Evil Fire Phoenix.
The Phoenix Martial Soul not only granted its host the ability to fly, but also bestowed powerful fire-attribute offensive strength, making it one of the finest power-assault martial souls.
Purplish-red light surged out of Ma Hongjun's body. His short hair suddenly lengthened and gathered toward the center, forming a Mohawk.
No wings appeared, however. As soon as the purplish-red light emerged from his body, it released intense heat.
At the same time, two yellow soul rings rose from beneath his feet, long feathers extended from his exposed, thick arms, and his hands turned into claws.
"It really is him."
Lu Qian nodded.
Yet although Lu Qian had thought Ma Hongjun would fight back against these thugs, he had never expected that the fellow had released his martial soul just to flee faster.
"Ugh, what a disgrace to soul masters."
Utterly speechless, Lu Qian pressed a hand to his forehead.
After thinking it over, Lu Qian felt that someone like Ma Hongjun, who had no power backing him, should be worth trying to win over.
And the way to win him over was very simple. For now, he could just throw money at him.
He would take Ma Hongjun to the brothels every day!
Right, it absolutely was not because Lu Qian wanted to go himself!
With that thought, Lu Qian immediately chased after him.
Before you continue