[The system shop accepted two types of currency:] [1. Bond Points: obtained by increasing the unwavering loyalty and dependence of Instance holders (heroines).] [2. Face-Slapping Points: obtained by plundering the children of destiny (villains) and crushing their opportunities and mental fortitude.]
Upon hearing this answer, Xiong Shaoqing's eyes instantly lit up with astonishing brightness. That trace of affected compassion in his heart was immediately replaced by a merchant's shrewdness.
It unlocked at level forty, with Bond Points and Face-Slapping Points used for exchanges.
Xiong Shaoqing drew a deep breath of icy air, his chest suddenly swelling with lofty ambition and confidence.
Wasn't this right up my alley?
He discreetly glanced at Xiao Wu beside him, her face brimming with emotion as she looked at him like a savior, then thought of Tang San fleeing like a homeless dog last night. An irrepressibly "nuclear-friendly" smile curled his lips.
The road ahead was already clear.
The girls' rabbit fur, cat fur, and fox fur all needed to be fleeced hard-fleeced to death.
As for that hypocrite Tang San...
Xiong Shaoqing let out a sinister cackle in his heart.
For the sake of my grand Spirit Pagoda enterprise, I'll have to slap that face of Tang San's hard, in all sorts of ways, right on schedule every day.
Having made up his mind, Xiong Shaoqing swiftly stilled the turbulence in his heart.
The trace of illusory compassion and emotion on his face vanished completely, and he once again wore that icy, unapproachable expression.
He tightened the somewhat thin old cloak around himself. Without sparing Xiao Wu another glance, he spoke in a flat, even slightly stiff tone:
"Lead the way. Find a strength-type one. Let's finish this quickly."
Chapter 18: A Pillow Arrives Just as Drowsiness Strikes
Looking at his icy demeanor, Xiao Wu felt no disappointment whatsoever. Instead, the tenderness in her eyes only deepened.
Big Brother's habit of saying one thing and meaning another really was getting worse.
Xiao Wu secretly delighted in it. He was clearly grieving over the fate of Soul Beasts just now, feeling utterly miserable, yet now he insisted on pretending to be cold and heartless.
Hmph, I won't expose him. Let's see how long he can keep acting so prickly.
She nodded obediently, the rabbit ears atop her head bobbing energetically. "All right, follow me."
Walking one behind the other through the snow, the two officially entered the outskirts of Star Dou Great Forest.
The deeper they went, the more the ancient trees blotted out the sky and sun. Dead branches and fallen leaves concealed beneath the snow gave off a primal scent of decay.
Although the subtle presence emanating from Xiao Wu, this ruler of the forest, deterred ordinary low-level Soul Beasts from approaching, Star Dou Great Forest never lacked mindless, bloodthirsty Ferocious Beasts that acted solely on their instinct to kill.
The two had just passed through a quiet conifer forest when the snow ahead suddenly began shaking violently.
"Roar!"
Accompanied by an utterly savage roar, a massive beast the size of a small hill violently smashed through three cedars thick enough to encircle with both arms. Carrying swirling snow and a bloody wind, it lunged straight at Xiong Shaoqing's face.
It was a giant bear, dark brown all over, its fur standing on end like steel needles.
Its eyes were scarlet, and dark-gold blades half a foot long protruded from its enormous paws. Shreds of flesh from some unknown prey still clung to the corners of its mouth.
"It's a Bloodthirsty Mad Bear!"
Xiao Wu's gaze sharpened, and she instantly identified the Ferocious Beast. "Be careful, Big Brother. This kind of bear Soul Beast has no reason and loves torturing its prey to death. Judging by its size and fur color, it should be between four hundred eighty and five hundred years old."
Between four hundred eighty and five hundred years old, with pure strength and berserk attributes.
Xiong Shaoqing stood motionless. Outwardly, his expression remained still as water, his deep eyes fixed firmly on the lunging behemoth, but inside, he was already wildly banging gongs and drums.
Holy shit, a pillow delivered just as I was getting sleepy!
I was just worrying about not wanting to slaughter innocents and ruin the compassionate God King persona I'd just established, and this blind ironheaded idiot delivered itself right to my door.
Xiong Shaoqing practically wanted to award this Bloodthirsty Mad Bear a silk banner in his heart.
Around four hundred eighty years old-utterly perfect.
Although the theoretical limit for a first Soul Ring on Douluo Continent was four hundred twenty-three years, Xiao Wu and the other heroines had been showering him with rewards these past few days. In particular, the qualitative transformation in feedback from Xiao Wu's vow to protect him to the death had strengthened his physique enormously.
Absorbing a five-hundred-year Soul Ring would carry absolutely no risk of backlash bursting his meridians. Instead, it would maximize his gains.
More importantly, this Bloodthirsty Mad Bear's attributes were practically a match made in heaven for his Archaic Heaven-Shaking Bear Martial Soul.
As the Ferocious Beast was about to reach them, a trace of killing intent flashed through Xiao Wu's eyes.
A mere five-hundred-year Soul Beast actually dared act so brazenly before a hundred-thousand-year ancestor like her. She was just about to unleash Waist Bow and kick this stupid bear's skull to pieces.
"Stand back."
But Xiong Shaoqing suddenly barked coldly, grabbed Xiao Wu's wrist, and pulled her behind him.
Xiao Wu froze, staring blankly at the broad back shielding her.
"Big Brother..."
Ignoring Xiao Wu's astonishment, Xiong Shaoqing abruptly raised his head. A terrifying, superior being's oppressive might instantly erupted from his previously calm black eyes.
"Since you've come seeking death, you can't blame me."
"Archaic Heaven-Shaking Bear, possess me!"
Boom!
With Xiong Shaoqing's low shout, a vast, ancient, terrifying ferocity, seemingly from the primordial age, burst from his thin body like an erupting volcano.
When the previously arrogant Bloodthirsty Mad Bear sensed this ultimate bloodline pressure, of the same origin yet countless dimensions above its own, a remarkably human flash of extreme terror appeared in its scarlet eyes.
Its enormous lunging body abruptly stiffened, and more than half its momentum instantly withered away.
Bloodline suppression. A pure dimensional strike.
Seizing the half-second the Ferocious Beast remained rigid, Xiong Shaoqing kicked hard off the ground with his right leg. Amid exploding snow, he shot forward like a cannonball, advancing instead of retreating and charging straight toward that enormous bear paw.
There were no flashy Soul Skills, only physical strength tempered to a terrifying degree through the system's feedback.
"Bang! Crack!"
Xiong Shaoqing's fist, wrapped in dark-gold currents of chaotic Qi, slammed into the Bloodthirsty Mad Bear's chest with the overwhelming force of smashing rotten wood.
Accompanied by a tooth-aching crack of bones, the five-hundred-year Ferocious Beast weighing a thousand jin was actually sent flying more than a dozen meters by that seemingly tiny fist. It smashed through two large trees before crashing to the ground.
The Bloodthirsty Mad Bear twitched twice, blood flowing from all seven orifices, and stopped breathing entirely.
An instant kill with one strike.
Specks of yellow light began gathering above the Ferocious Beast's corpse, gradually forming a bright yellow Hundred-Year Soul Ring.
Watching this, Xiao Wu stood behind him with her rosy little mouth slightly open in surprise.
She knew Big Brother's Martial Soul was powerful, but she had never expected a body with only level-ten Soul Power and not even a single Soul Ring to instantly kill a five-hundred-year Ferocious Beast of its own kind with one punch.
But immediately afterward, Xiao Wu's eyes grew even gentler.
Big Brother must have held back all this time because he didn't want to take the initiative to hurt those kind Soul Beasts.
Only when this murderous mad bear attacked us did he strike like thunder and kill it.
Xiao Wu furiously won herself over in her heart, even becoming so moved that tears shimmered in her eyes.
Not only does he have a compassionate heart, but the moment danger arrived, he immediately shielded me behind him...
His strength clearly hasn't recovered yet, but he still instinctively wanted to protect me.
Meanwhile, Xiong Shaoqing slowly withdrew his fist. Looking at that floating yellow Soul Ring, he exhaled a long breath of white mist and let out a satisfied sigh in his heart that no one could hear.
Awesome. This tenfold physique enhancement really is the real deal.
Now I've secured my Soul Ring and shown off in style.
Next, it's time to keep working the diary and absorb this first Soul Ring.
He turned around and looked at Xiao Wu's slightly reddened eyes, his brows knitting almost imperceptibly. In a tone of disdain mixed with helplessness, he said coldly, "What are you still standing there for? Guard me."
On the snow-swept outskirts of Star Dou Great Forest, a bright yellow Soul Ring hovered quietly above Xiong Shaoqing's head. With his steady breathing, strands of pure power continuously flowed into every limb and bone.
Xiao Wu stood guard vigilantly beside him, her lightning-sharp gaze sweeping their surroundings. Even the most ordinary snow hare that approached would be frightened away by her killing intent.
Meanwhile, atop the crown of a towering ancient tree dozens of zhang from the pair, Bibi Dong stood silently with her hands behind her back, dressed in a brilliant golden gown.
Chapter 19: First Meeting with Bibi Dong
Her violet eyes, filled with nobility and indifference, studied Xiong Shaoqing sitting cross-legged below with interest, along with that Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring she so coveted.
So this was the so-called Reborn God King. He actually needed a Soul Beast to guard him while absorbing a mere five-hundred-year Soul Ring. A contemptuous sneer curled Bibi Dong's lips.
She did not strike immediately.
As the exalted Pope of Spirit Hall, she possessed absolute confidence in herself.
There was not even a respectable high-ranking Soul Master within a hundred li. This Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast was already in her bag.
She utterly disdained doing something as underhanded as ambushing someone while they absorbed a Soul Ring. She would wait-wait for this "God King" to awaken and personally witness his pitiful expression of despair and helplessness.
Half an hour later.
Xiong Shaoqing abruptly opened his eyes, a dark-gold gleam flashing through their depths.
The yellow Hundred-Year Soul Ring then disappeared into his body. He felt filled with explosive strength, as though he could punch through a city wall with one blow.
Finally level ten. This first Soul Skill...
Xiong Shaoqing was just about to rejoice inwardly when an immense pressure, seemingly capable of freezing even the surrounding space, descended from the sky without warning.
Like a deity from the highest heavens, Bibi Dong stepped through the wind and snow, slowly landing on the snowy ground less than ten zhang from them.
"Who's there?"
Xiong Shaoqing reacted extremely quickly. Almost instinctively, he pulled Xiao Wu behind him and stared fixedly at the stunning woman before him, who radiated a deadly threat, like a Ferocious Beast protecting its young.
"Who are you? What do you want?" Outwardly, Xiong Shaoqing's expression was grave, as though facing a formidable enemy. Even a few perfectly timed drops of cold sweat seeped from his forehead.
But inside, his heart had long since burst into delighted bloom.
Holy shit, Bibi Dong! The Pope of Spirit Hall really came charging over!
That presence, that beauty, that pressure-absolutely incredible.
Come on, come on. It's time for the pinnacle of acting. Today, I'll show you what a fallen God King who would rather die than yield looks like.
Bibi Dong completely ignored Xiong Shaoqing's questions. Her gaze passed over his shoulder and locked firmly onto Xiao Wu, the greed in her eyes no longer concealed.
She strode forward on her long legs, approaching step by step with suffocating pressure.
Nine zhang... five zhang... three zhang...
The instant Bibi Dong stepped within one zhang of the pair.
[Ding!]
A crisp system notification suddenly rang out deep within Xiao Wu's and Bibi Dong's minds simultaneously.
[Social System triggered: detected goddesses possessing Instances meeting within a one-zhang radius.] [Would you like to add each other as friends?] [Note: after successfully adding each other as friends, both parties will receive the bond bonus "Soul Power purity permanently +5%" and automatically join "Xiong Shaoqing's Notes Instance Gossip Group." This unlocks numerous functions, including "Letters" and "Trading."]
Xiao Wu froze completely.
Hiding behind Xiong Shaoqing, her beautiful large eyes instantly widened into perfect circles.
A diary Instance? Add as a friend? She... she also has Big Brother's diary?
Xiao Wu stared fixedly at the glaring name on the system panel: Bibi Dong.
As a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, how could she possibly not have heard that name?
No, it was more than merely having heard it.
When she looked through the wind and snow and clearly saw that woman's noble yet icy face, that scene from the depths of Star Dou Great Forest, like a living hell, instantly exploded in her mind.
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