Hearing that heavenly sound in his mind, Xiong Shaoqing could not help swearing inwardly, pleasure tingling across his scalp.
Level twenty-four. All he had done was fight in the ring, protect his wife, and cop a little feel along the way, and his Soul Power had shot up as easily as drinking water.
This catgirl's waist is so soft and slender. I really want to hold her a little longer.
No, no. I can't let my aloof persona crumble. Hold it in. Let go.
Xiong Shaoqing forcibly suppressed the lecherous flutter in his heart, his expression still as cold as frost.
He set Zhu Zhuqing down steadily, casually brushed nonexistent dust from his sleeve, and swept an indifferent gaze over the two remaining Wind Blade Demon Wolf Soul Elders opposite him, who were already scared out of their wits.
"Still want to fight?" His voice was utterly level, yet carried a suffocating pressure.
The two Soul Elders glanced at their captain, whose fate was unknown. Their legs gave way, and they dropped to their knees with a thud. "N-no more! We surrender!"
Only then was the deathly silence in the stands finally shattered.
The spectators were like ducks seized by their throats, sharp gasps rising one after another.
"One punch... without a Soul Skill? He took out a level thirty-five Power Attack System Soul Elder in one punch?"
"Goddammit, who said he was a pretty boy living off women? What family let this peerless monster loose?"
"Level twenty-three, instantly beating someone at level thirty-five! With those looks, that strength, and that domineering way of protecting his women, I'd throw myself at him too if I were those two beauties!"
Hearing the astonished remarks around her make a complete about-face, Xiao Wu proudly raised her chin.
Zhu Zhuqing quietly moved beside Xiong Shaoqing. Although she deliberately kept half a step away, the faint pink at the roots of her ears betrayed her unsettled heart.
Under everyone's gaze, Xiong Shaoqing turned and walked off the platform with an indifferent expression, leaving them all with an inscrutable, aloof, and haughty view of his back.
But the instant he turned, he let out an exuberant whistle in his heart.
He had pulled that flex off beautifully.
The night was black as ink, and thick wooden doors shut out Suotuo City's clamor.
Back at the Listening Snow Inn, Xiong Shaoqing pushed open his room door expressionlessly and casually hung his cloak on a wooden stand.
Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing's soft conversation drifted from the neighboring room. Clearly, tonight's victory at the Great Soul Arena had put both girls in excellent spirits.
Xiong Shaoqing went to the desk, poured himself a cup of cold tea, and gulped it down to suppress the heat in his heart that had yet to fully subside.
Time to get to work today.
He closed his eyes, sank into his Sea of Consciousness, and summoned the Destiny Diary.
To make those two distant "premium cash cows" feel the shock as well, he deftly wove tonight's disparity in combat strength into his heartfelt words:
[The air in the Great Soul Arena is always thick with nauseating greed and bloodshed.]
[In that moment today, when I saw those poisoned wolf claws closing in on Zhu Zhuqing's back, even my breathing seemed to stop for an instant.]
[Facing that level thirty-five Agility Attack System Soul Elder, I had warned myself countless times that, on this continent riddled with danger, I must keep my trump cards hidden until the very last moment. But when their safety was at stake, all that so-called reason and deliberation were not worth mentioning.]
[So what if I exposed my level twenty-three strength ahead of time? To protect her, so what if I had to cross a twelve-level chasm in Soul Power to forcibly finish my opponent in a single blow and draw even greater wariness from the Great Soul Arena?]
[If I could not even protect the women willing to fight by my side, then as a God King cultivating anew, I would be a complete joke. There is too much malice in this world. All I can do is use this body of flesh and blood to shield them from every spear in the open and arrow in the dark.]
The words slowly took shape.
Xiong Shaoqing severed his mental connection, a satisfied smile curving his lips.
This time, he had subtly humblebragged about his heaven-defying feat of instantly defeating a level thirty-five opponent at level twenty-three, while making his fiercely protective persona as immovable as Mount Tai.
This balancing act was simply perfect.
In the girls' room, just one wall away.
Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing were sitting on the bed, sorting the Gold Soul Coins they had won that night. As golden words appeared in their minds, both stopped moving.
Reading the line "even my breathing seemed to stop for an instant," Zhu Zhuqing involuntarily raised a hand and gently touched her slender waist.
The searing warmth of his palm as he held her in the Soul Fighting ring seemed to linger there.
"Big Brother always puts us before himself." Xiao Wu cupped her cheeks, her large eyes shimmering. "Little Sister Zhu Zhuqing, we have to work even harder at cultivating from now on. We can't always let Big Brother stand in front alone."
Zhu Zhuqing said nothing, merely nodding firmly. Feelings gentler than spring waters surged in her cool eyes.
Meanwhile.
Spirit City, the Papal Palace.
Under the dim candlelight, Bibi Dong looked at the diary in her mind, her slender fingers abruptly tightening around her solid-gold scepter.
Level twenty-three, crossing a twelve-level chasm in Soul Power to forcibly kill a level thirty-five Soul Elder in a single blow?
A trace of shock she could scarcely conceal flashed through Bibi Dong's purple eyes. As one of the Douluo Continent's foremost powerhouses, she knew all too well what that twelve-level gap meant.
Such heaven-defying combat strength, which ignored the barriers between ranks, was something even Spirit Hall's supreme talents, known as the Golden Generation, could never achieve.
But immediately afterward, when she read the line "shield them from every spear in the open and arrow in the dark" in the diary's latter half, Bibi Dong snorted coldly and forcibly looked away.
Possessing such world-shaking talent, yet spending all his thoughts on this tedious romantic attachment. Utterly foolish.
Bibi Dong paced back and forth through the empty hall, voicing her merciless scorn.
Yet that heart of hers, frozen for so long, grew restless in a way she could not suppress, all because of the diary's pure, reckless protectiveness.
Why should such unreserved protection exist in this world? Why should those two little girls make a God King disregard even his life and trump cards?
She abruptly swept her sleeve. Terrifying Soul Power blasted several cracks into a stone pillar in a corner of the hall, yet could not disperse the complicated bitterness in her heart.
The Heaven Dou Empire, the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace.
As Qian Renxue read the diary, the vermilion brush in her hand paused in midair. A drop of red ink fell onto a memorial, but she remained utterly unaware.
Chapter 44: Qian Renxue Could Not Wait
An instant victory across twelve levels...
Qian Renxue drew a sharp breath, a startling gleam erupting in her golden eyes.
What a fallen God King. With such terrifying foundations and strength to fight above his level, you couldn't find even half a monster to rival him if you searched the entire Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
Qian Renxue tossed aside her brush and leaned against her chair, the smile on her lips growing ever deeper.
If she had previously found Xiong Shaoqing merely "interesting," then now, his genuine, heaven-defying combat strength, coupled with that perfectly natural, domineering protectiveness, had thoroughly aroused her deepest desire to investigate.
No wonder those two women are so devoted to him. A man with such strength and boldness truly has what it takes to make people fly into the flame like moths.
Qian Renxue stood, her burning gaze turning toward the pitch-black sky outside the window.
It seems I'll have to deal with these state affairs faster.
I really can't wait to visit Suotuo City myself and see just what sort of three-headed, six-armed figure this Xiong Shaoqing is.
Inside the Listening Snow Inn.
Xiong Shaoqing was about to undress and go to bed when a series of deafening system notifications suddenly exploded in his mind!
[Ding! Detected extremely complicated shock, bitterness, and jealousy in Bibi Dong. A slight crack has appeared in her state of mind!] [Ding! Detected intense curiosity and a desire to investigate in Qian Renxue. She urgently longs to meet the host!] [System Feedback Mechanism activated. Collecting premium emotional value across spatial regions!] [A massive influx of bond Soul Power. The host's Soul Power has broken through the level twenty-five barrier!] [Current Soul Power: level twenty-five!]
At this string of notifications, Xiong Shaoqing froze briefly, then could not help laughing aloud on the bed, his deep black eyes brimming with the cunning of someone whose scheme had succeeded.
Well, well. Those two usually lofty big bosses haven't dropped any gold for quite a while. I thought they'd gone numb from reading the diary.
Feeling the robust Soul Power in his body rise once more, Xiong Shaoqing stretched contentedly, utterly at ease.
Looks like in any world, domineering wife-protection plus heaven-defying victories over stronger opponents is a nuclear weapon that works on every woman.
Even a ruthless character like Bibi Dong, who's severed all love and attachment, and a deeply calculating crown prince like Qian Renxue were stunned by this twelve-level victory and blind protectiveness.
He pillowed his head on his hands and crossed his legs, wearing a smug smile exclusive to lechers.
Now this is fucking winning while lying down. No need to suffer through secluded meditation deep in the mountains and ancient forests, or keep hopping back and forth on the edge of death.
All I need is to clock in every day and write my diary, be a conscientious master of balancing everyone's interests, and give the goddesses some emotional value. Then my Soul Power shoots up like a skyrocket.
Xiong Shaoqing happily burrowed under the covers, his hands behind his head, feeling wonderfully relaxed.
At this rate, it won't be long before I break through level thirty and get my third Soul Ring.
Tang San's toiling away carrying rocks and running laps in that lousy village, while I can gain two levels just by writing a diary and living off women at an inn.
That pure-as-ice-and-jade Third Young Master Tang will never understand the joy of crushing someone from a higher dimension.
Two nights later, the moon was dark and the wind high.
Outside Shrek Academy's dilapidated wooden fence, three shadows used the cover of darkness to vault skillfully over the wall and head straight for Suotuo City.
Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun walked in front, their mouths full of dirty jokes and their eyes openly excited.
Tang San followed behind. Looking at their backs, deep contempt flashed in his eyes.
Two worthless fools ruled by desire. If they didn't still have some value to exploit, why would I, Tang San, associate with the sort who haunt brothels?
Tang San judged them coldly in his heart while remaining silent on the surface.
At the entrance to Suotuo City's bustling red-light district, Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun impatiently ducked into a brothel reeking of powder and perfume.
"Little San, you really aren't coming? Boss Dai brought plenty of gold today." Dai Mubai looked back with an arm around two heavily made-up women and asked drunkenly.
"No, Mubai, Fatty, you two go ahead. I'll take a look at the Great Soul Arena." Tang San put on a gentle, upright expression, waved, and turned to disappear into the night.
The moment he rounded the corner, the gentleness on Tang San's face vanished completely, replaced by chilling malice.
He quickened his steps toward the Great Soul Arena. Tonight, he had to find the Bloodhand Mercenary Corps' contact and confirm whether the task lodged like a fishbone in his throat had been completed.
The Great Soul Arena was a boiling sea of voices, and a wave of heat struck him in the face.
But when Tang San reached the underground black market's contact point, he found the Bloodhand Mercenary Corps' station completely deserted.
His brows knitted tightly. Just as he was about to find someone in charge to ask, the main arena host's hoarse shout suddenly reached his ears.
"Let us congratulate the 'Heaven-Shaking Phantom' team for once again sweeping away all opposition, defeating a higher-ranked level thirty-five Soul Elder team and claiming their fifth consecutive victory!"
Hearing this, Tang San instinctively raised his head. His gaze passed through the crowded spectators and landed on the enormous central platform.
One look was enough to send all the blood in his body seemingly rushing backward, his blood pressure instantly soaring.
On the platform, Xiong Shaoqing, whom he considered a thorn in his eye and flesh, who should have been hacked into pulp, stood completely unharmed beneath the spotlight.
Beside him stood not only Xiao Wu, smiling sweetly, but also that cold, beautiful girl dressed in black with a sizzling figure.
How is this possible? He actually didn't die.
Tang San clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug deep into his flesh, the jealousy and murderous intent in his eyes almost erupting.
He stared fixedly at the two Soul Rings beneath Xiong Shaoqing's feet, one yellow and one purple, sensing the fluctuations of Soul Power emanating from him.
Level twenty-five. A mere two-ring Soul Grandmaster had not only survived an assassination by ten Soul Elders, but could even defeat a team of Soul Elders above level thirty in the ring.
Tang San gritted his teeth, frantically running through the possibilities. Everyone in the Bloodhand Mercenary Corps had lost contact. Most likely, they had all been wiped out.
There's definitely something very strange about this brat. Hidden strength, or some bizarre trump card? No wonder he's fooled Xiao Wu so completely.
A dangerous person this calculating, with an unknown background, absolutely cannot be allowed to remain.
Every extra day he lives puts Xiao Wu in greater danger. For Xiao Wu's sake, I must personally eliminate this hidden threat.
Tang San dressed his murderous intent in lofty righteousness, as though he were a saint ridding the people of a menace.
Just then, he heard the spectators beside him talking excitedly.
"That catgirl in black is so badass. What did the host say her name was again? Zhu Zhuqing?"
"Right, Zhu Zhuqing! That figure, that speed-absolutely incredible!"
Zhu Zhuqing?
Tang San's pupils abruptly contracted.
He had heard Dai Mubai angrily curse that name in their dormitory a few days ago while drowning his sorrows in drink. Wasn't she Dai Mubai's fiancée, the one who despised his degeneracy and simply ran away?
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