Xiong Shaoqing turned around, his cloak sweeping a crisp arc through the cold wind, while the corners of his mouth curled wildly upward where no one could see.
A four-person Star Dou Great Forest instance? This wasn't a fucking monster hunt. This was clearly a honeymoon!
On the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, towering ancient trees blotted out the sky and sun. Even the midday sunlight could cast only scattered patches of light onto the humus-covered ground carpeted with fallen leaves and lingering snow.
The party of four made their way through the silent forest.
Xiong Shaoqing led the way, intermittently releasing the domineering presence of the Archaic Heaven-Shaking Bear to intimidate the low-level Soul Beasts lurking nearby.
Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing guarded the left and right flanks, while Qian Renxue, the "Young Master Xue" who "couldn't even truss a chicken," was protected in the very center of the group.
Qian Renxue followed behind Xiong Shaoqing, her unwavering gaze fixed on the man's broad, straight back.
Although her Soul Power was extremely high, maintaining her "Xue Qinghe" disguise meant she could not use even a trace of Angel Soul Power. She even had to deliberately suppress her light, feminine footwork.
She could only rely on physical strength, trudging unevenly through the muddy snow.
Crack.
Qian Renxue stepped on a rotten log hidden beneath the snow. It snapped instantly, revealing a natural pit whose bottom was lost from sight, filled with lethally poisonous thorns.
The instant she lost her balance, Qian Renxue instinctively wanted to summon her Soul Power to save herself, but reason firmly suppressed that impulse.
If I reveal my Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul here, everything will be ruined.
Qian Renxue gritted her teeth, preparing to endure the bone-piercing pain of the thorns.
It was as though Xiong Shaoqing had eyes in the back of his head. He whipped around and took a long stride forward, his left hand clamping precisely around Qian Renxue's slender wrist like iron pincers. His right arm shot out, and he forcibly hauled her whole body back from the edge of the pit.
Momentum sent Qian Renxue crashing heavily into Xiong Shaoqing's hard chest, even leaving the hair crown atop her head slightly disheveled.
"I told you, this isn't the Great Soul Arena, much less your back garden where you stroll around admiring lanterns."
His expression cold, Xiong Shaoqing looked down at the still-shaken Qian Renxue.
He abruptly released her and scolded her mercilessly. "You can't even walk steadily. Why come along just to get in the way? If you'd really fallen in, there wouldn't even be scraps left of a pampered, tender-skinned young master like you. Stay close and step in my footprints."
His words bristled with spears and clubs, sparing her no dignity.
Yet beneath Xiong Shaoqing's cold, heartless mask, his inner lecher was already practically bubbling with delight.
Tsk, tsk. Xue'er has really maxed out her skill at throwing herself into my arms.
That faint, lovely scent when I pulled her into my arms just now was downright intoxicating.
And to keep her identity hidden, she actually held back her Soul Power, preferring to fall and get skewered.
This girl is so stubborn it hurts.
That domineering-CEO-style rescue of a beauty, followed by a cold scolding, will definitely shatter her defenses completely.
Qian Renxue lowered her head under his scolding, two blushes blooming on her fair cheeks.
She did not argue, merely answering obediently, "Sorry for making you worry, Brother Xiong. I'll be sure to stay close."
Watching the distinguished Heaven Dou Crown Prince being scolded like a wronged little wife, Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing did not find Xiong Shaoqing rude. Instead, they exchanged a knowing smile.
Their hearts were as clear as mirrors. They knew this handsome "Young Master Xue" before them was actually the girl from the diary, burdened with heavy shackles and deserving of sympathy.
Watching her endure their big brother's awkward yet domineering "favoritism" to avoid exposing her true identity, neither felt the slightest jealousy. Instead, they could not help feeling a trace of pity and closeness toward this "Sister Xue'er."
Just then, a violent tremor suddenly shook the ground.
Thud, thud, thud.
The heavy footsteps seemed to pound against everyone's hearts.
The bushes ahead were savagely torn apart by a violent force. A gigantic ape over four meters tall, its entire body covered in dark-gold hair like steel needles, charged out roaring with bloodshot eyes.
"It's an Earthshaking Vajra Ape." Zhu Zhuqing's cool voice instantly tightened. "Judging by how much of its body that dark-gold hair covers, its cultivation has definitely reached three thousand years."
"This kind of Soul Beast possesses boundless strength. Not only does it have extraordinary physical destructive power, it can also control a gravity field. It's extremely difficult to deal with."
"Three thousand years!" Xiao Wu's expression changed too. "Big Brother is only Thirtieth Rank. Absorbing a seventeen-hundred-year Soul Ring is already his limit. This one's too dangerous. We need to retreat!"
"Retreat? Since it delivered itself to our doorstep, there's no reason to let it leave."
A sharp light blazed in Xiong Shaoqing's eyes, and his arrogant fighting spirit instantly ignited.
The Archaic Heaven-Shaking Bear Martial Soul was the absolute master of strength and the earth.
This three-thousand-year Earthshaking Vajra Ape was practically a supreme-quality third Soul Ring tailor-made for him.
As for exceeding the age limit, with the system protecting him, absorbing a ring beyond his level was nothing.
"Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, fall back. Protect that dead weight who couldn't even truss a chicken. Leave this beast to me."
Xiong Shaoqing barked coldly. Rather than retreat, he surged straight toward the Vajra Ape bearing down on him like a mountain.
"Big Brother!" Xiao Wu cried out, but Zhu Zhuqing held her firmly back. The two quickly retreated to Qian Renxue's side, shielding her between them.
As Qian Renxue watched that proud, solitary figure meet the danger head-on and heard him say, "Protect that dead weight," her heart clenched sharply.
He clearly knew this Soul Beast exceeded the limit, yet he still chose to leave her in the safest position at the rear and face that deadly fury alone.
"Roar!"
The Earthshaking Vajra Ape swung its enormous dark-gold fist, as large as a small hill, and smashed it toward the top of Xiong Shaoqing's head with a sonic boom that tore through the air.
If that punch landed solidly, even a block of refined steel would be flattened into an iron pancake.
"Just what I wanted."
Xiong Shaoqing neither dodged nor retreated. Two Soul Rings, one yellow and one purple, pulsed wildly beneath his feet.
His robust Thirtieth Rank Soul Power poured without reservation into his right fist, while the phantom of the Archaic Heaven-Shaking Bear threw back its head and roared behind him.
Boom!
The two fists, one large and one small, collided thunderously in midair.
The terrifying Forceful Qi became a visible shock wave that swept wildly outward, uprooting dozens of towering trees around them.
The ground beneath Xiong Shaoqing's feet instantly collapsed into a crater several meters across. His face paled slightly, but his straight back remained like a spear that would sooner snap than bend.
With his Thirtieth Rank body, he had actually met the full-force strike of a three-thousand-year Power Attack System beast head-on.
"Beast, you think that little strength can hurt someone under my protection? Submit!"
Xiong Shaoqing roared furiously, and the Soul Power within him erupted.
The Earthshaking Vajra Ape's enormous body abruptly stiffened, and a flicker of fear born of bloodline suppression actually flashed through its eyes.
Chapter 57: A Sudden Embrace
Xiong Shaoqing turned around, his cloak sweeping a crisp arc through the cold wind, while the corners of his mouth curled wildly upward where no one could see.
A four-person Star Dou Great Forest instance? This wasn't a fucking monster hunt. This was clearly a honeymoon!
On the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, towering ancient trees blotted out the sky and sun. Even the midday sunlight could cast only scattered patches of light onto the humus-covered ground carpeted with fallen leaves and lingering snow.
The party of four made their way through the silent forest.
Xiong Shaoqing led the way, intermittently releasing the domineering presence of the Archaic Heaven-Shaking Bear to intimidate the low-level Soul Beasts lurking nearby.
Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing guarded the left and right flanks, while Qian Renxue, the "Young Master Xue" who "couldn't even truss a chicken," was protected in the very center of the group.
Qian Renxue followed behind Xiong Shaoqing, her unwavering gaze fixed on the man's broad, straight back.
Although her Soul Power was extremely high, maintaining her "Xue Qinghe" disguise meant she could not use even a trace of Angel Soul Power. She even had to deliberately suppress her light, feminine footwork.
She could only rely on physical strength, trudging unevenly through the muddy snow.
Crack.
Qian Renxue stepped on a rotten log hidden beneath the snow. It snapped instantly, revealing a natural pit whose bottom was lost from sight, filled with lethally poisonous thorns.
The instant she lost her balance, Qian Renxue instinctively wanted to summon her Soul Power to save herself, but reason firmly suppressed that impulse.
If I reveal my Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul here, everything will be ruined.
Qian Renxue gritted her teeth, preparing to endure the bone-piercing pain of the thorns.
It was as though Xiong Shaoqing had eyes in the back of his head. He whipped around and took a long stride forward, his left hand clamping precisely around Qian Renxue's slender wrist like iron pincers. His right arm shot out, and he forcibly hauled her whole body back from the edge of the pit.
Momentum sent Qian Renxue crashing heavily into Xiong Shaoqing's hard chest, even leaving the hair crown atop her head slightly disheveled.
"I told you, this isn't the Great Soul Arena, much less your back garden where you stroll around admiring lanterns."
His expression cold, Xiong Shaoqing looked down at the still-shaken Qian Renxue.
He abruptly released her and scolded her mercilessly. "You can't even walk steadily. Why come along just to get in the way? If you'd really fallen in, there wouldn't even be scraps left of a pampered, tender-skinned young master like you. Stay close and step in my footprints."
His words bristled with spears and clubs, sparing her no dignity.
Yet beneath Xiong Shaoqing's cold, heartless mask, his inner lecher was already practically bubbling with delight.
Tsk, tsk. Xue'er has really maxed out her skill at throwing herself into my arms.
That faint, lovely scent when I pulled her into my arms just now was downright intoxicating.
And to keep her identity hidden, she actually held back her Soul Power, preferring to fall and get skewered.
This girl is so stubborn it hurts.
That domineering-CEO-style rescue of a beauty, followed by a cold scolding, will definitely shatter her defenses completely.
Qian Renxue lowered her head under his scolding, two blushes blooming on her fair cheeks.
She did not argue, merely answering obediently, "Sorry for making you worry, Brother Xiong. I'll be sure to stay close."
Watching the distinguished Heaven Dou Crown Prince being scolded like a wronged little wife, Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing did not find Xiong Shaoqing rude. Instead, they exchanged a knowing smile.
Their hearts were as clear as mirrors. They knew this handsome "Young Master Xue" before them was actually the girl from the diary, burdened with heavy shackles and deserving of sympathy.
Watching her endure their big brother's awkward yet domineering "favoritism" to avoid exposing her true identity, neither felt the slightest jealousy. Instead, they could not help feeling a trace of pity and closeness toward this "Sister Xue'er."
Just then, a violent tremor suddenly shook the ground.
Thud, thud, thud.
The heavy footsteps seemed to pound against everyone's hearts.
The bushes ahead were savagely torn apart by a violent force. A gigantic ape over four meters tall, its entire body covered in dark-gold hair like steel needles, charged out roaring with bloodshot eyes.
"It's an Earthshaking Vajra Ape." Zhu Zhuqing's cool voice instantly tightened. "Judging by how much of its body that dark-gold hair covers, its cultivation has definitely reached three thousand years."
"This kind of Soul Beast possesses boundless strength. Not only does it have extraordinary physical destructive power, it can also control a gravity field. It's extremely difficult to deal with."
"Three thousand years!" Xiao Wu's expression changed too. "Big Brother is only Thirtieth Rank. Absorbing a seventeen-hundred-year Soul Ring is already his limit. This one's too dangerous. We need to retreat!"
"Retreat? Since it delivered itself to our doorstep, there's no reason to let it leave."
A sharp light blazed in Xiong Shaoqing's eyes, and his arrogant fighting spirit instantly ignited.
The Archaic Heaven-Shaking Bear Martial Soul was the absolute master of strength and the earth.
This three-thousand-year Earthshaking Vajra Ape was practically a supreme-quality third Soul Ring tailor-made for him.
As for exceeding the age limit, with the system protecting him, absorbing a ring beyond his level was nothing.
"Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, fall back. Protect that dead weight who couldn't even truss a chicken. Leave this beast to me."
Xiong Shaoqing barked coldly. Rather than retreat, he surged straight toward the Vajra Ape bearing down on him like a mountain.
"Big Brother!" Xiao Wu cried out, but Zhu Zhuqing held her firmly back. The two quickly retreated to Qian Renxue's side, shielding her between them.
As Qian Renxue watched that proud, solitary figure meet the danger head-on and heard him say, "Protect that dead weight," her heart clenched sharply.
He clearly knew this Soul Beast exceeded the limit, yet he still chose to leave her in the safest position at the rear and face that deadly fury alone.
"Roar!"
The Earthshaking Vajra Ape swung its enormous dark-gold fist, as large as a small hill, and smashed it toward the top of Xiong Shaoqing's head with a sonic boom that tore through the air.
If that punch landed solidly, even a block of refined steel would be flattened into an iron pancake.
"Just what I wanted."
Xiong Shaoqing neither dodged nor retreated. Two Soul Rings, one yellow and one purple, pulsed wildly beneath his feet.
His robust Thirtieth Rank Soul Power poured without reservation into his right fist, while the phantom of the Archaic Heaven-Shaking Bear threw back its head and roared behind him.
Boom!
The two fists, one large and one small, collided thunderously in midair.
Before you continue