After flying at high speed for an hour, Tang Feng and Zhu Zhuqing arrived at the outer edge of the Star Dou Great Forest.
The two landed in the Thousand-Year Soul Beast Zone, their spiritual energy spreading out like a tide as they began searching for suitable Soul Beast. Nighttime is the most active time for dark-attribute Soul Beast, and after searching for less than half an hour, they locked onto a three-thousand-year-old Netherworld Ghost Leopard, which was currently lurking in the shadows, hunting.
Time was of the essence, and Tang Feng had no intention of delaying. This time, he did not use the Golden Cudgel, but instead summoned the Clear Sky Hammer and quickly unfolded the Flame Dragon Wings. In order to deal with a very fast Netherworld Ghost Leopard, he had to use his External Soul Bone and Fourth Soul Skill to avoid any unexpected changes.
Seeing the massive, dark golden hammer in Tang Feng's hand, radiating a heavy aura, Zhu Zhuqing's eyes widened in disbelief. "That's... that's... that's the Clear Sky Hammer!"
Ignoring her surprise, Tang Feng immediately used his Fourth Soul Skill, ' Flame Dragon Soul-Chasing Break '. The mark instantly locked onto the Netherworld Ghost Leopard Netherworld Ghost Leopard, and he instantly rushed in front of it. Taking advantage of its hesitation, he struck its spine with his hammer.
The poor Netherworld Ghost Leopard hadn't expected this person to be so fast. It didn't even have time to use any skills before its spine collapsed with a dull cracking sound. Its entire body went limp and collapsed. The hunter's cunning still lingered in its black beast eyes, but now it had turned into the fear of facing death.
Tang Feng's entire process was executed flawlessly, from locking onto the target to crippling them, all in just three breaths.
Zhu Zhuqing was left questioning her life choices. Hunting Soul Beast? It couldn't be this simple?
Tang Feng put away the Clear Sky Hammer and immediately reminded the still bewildered Zhu Zhuqing, "Let's finish it."
Zhu Zhuqing took a deep breath, steadied herself, and drew her short sword, precisely piercing the Ghost Leopard's brow, ending its suffering. A deep purple Soul Ring slowly rose up.
She sat down cross-legged and began to absorb the Soul Ring. Threads of Soul Power Entanglement around her body, and her face alternated between deathly pale and flushed red amidst the intense pain, clearly indicating that this Soul Ring had reached the limit of her body.
An hour later, Zhu Zhuqing opened her eyes. The three Soul Ring beneath her, one yellow and one purple, were slowly pulsating, with the Third Soul Ring shining brightly in purple.
Tang Feng immediately asked, "How is it?"
" My Soul Power has reached level thirty-three!" Zhu Zhuqing exclaimed with barely suppressed excitement. " My Third Soul Skill is called Netherworld Shadow Clone. It increases speed by fifty percent and allows me to create two physical clones, each possessing seventy percent of the original's combat power."
Upon hearing this, Tang Feng nodded approvingly. "Excellent. Combined with your Soul Bone Skill ' Hell Ghost Shadow,' almost no one below the Soul Ancestor can attack you, while you can attack whomever you want. It can be said that you are invincible among those of the same level."
Zhu Zhuqing stood up, walked to Tang Feng, and her lips moved slightly, as if she wanted to say something.
Before she could speak, Tang Feng interjected, "No need for thanks. I don't need anything in return. I just hope you'll have a good future."
Zhu Zhuqing paused, swallowing back the thousand words that were about to come out, and only uttered three firm words. "I will."
She wanted to say something more, but Tang Feng had already turned around, his dragon wings unfurling once more, the firelight illuminating the darkness before dawn. "Let's go, it's almost daylight, I'll take you back to Suotuo City."
Zhu Zhuqing silently grasped Tang Feng's outstretched arm. With a flap of their dragon wings, the two soared into the air. Looking down at the land rushing past, Zhu Zhuqing hesitated for a long time before finally whispering in Tang Feng's ear, "You... are you from the Clear Sky Sect?"
"Yes." Tang Feng turned to look at her and replied. Their cheeks were very close, and the atmosphere was a bit ambiguous. Tang Feng immediately composed himself and looked ahead.
Seeing that Tang Feng didn't say anything more, Zhu Zhuqing didn't ask any further questions.
When the two landed, the morning mist over Suotuo City was just rising, as if the city was shrouded in a light veil.
Tang Feng stopped on a deserted mountaintop outside the city. Tang Feng was exhausted. He had been flying continuously with someone on his back and had used his Fourth Soul Skill, which consumed a lot of energy. His Soul Power was now down to only 30%.
Tang Feng didn't escort her any further. He looked at Zhu Zhuqing and said, "I'll stop here. You can go back to the academy."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded, but did not move. She simply stood there, her black clothes appearing thin in the morning mist.
Tang Feng's voice softened, a rare occurrence, as he continued, "After I return to my sect, I'll be going to some training ground. It might take several years, or I might never come back. I hope we'll meet again someday!"
After saying that, Tang Feng turned and left, his figure leaving a resolute silhouette in the morning mist before quickly disappearing from sight.
Zhu Zhuqing stood there stunned for a long time, the morning dew quietly wetting the ends of her hair.
Only when the first ray of sunlight pierced through the clouds, turning the horizon golden red, did she slowly turn around and walk step by step toward the academy.
When she stepped into the academy gates, Shrek's morning assembly had already begun.
On the playground, the Shrek Six Monsters stood in formation, while Yu Xiaogang stood on a high platform, speaking with great enthusiasm and dramatic intonation, "The essence of teamwork lies in absolute obedience! Any selfish behavior is a betrayal of team spirit!"
The six people in the audience listened with varying expressions.
Tang San and Meng Yiran were engrossed in the conversation, with Tang San nodding occasionally, looking every bit the model student and outstanding class leader.
Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun, on the other hand, were forcing themselves to stay awake, their faces contorted with constipation. They clearly loathed this long-winded speech, but dared not interrupt because of Flender's relationship with Tang San.
Ning Rongrong and Oscar stood at the very end of the line, one idly playing with her nails and the other secretly yawning, completely ignoring the Grandmaster's words.
Although the trainees had been divided into two groups for training, Flender still insisted on gathering every morning to "unify their thinking."
As Zhu Zhuqing approached the group, Ning Rongrong, with her sharp eyes, instantly noticed her slightly disheveled hair from flying, as well as a faint red mark on her neck from a branch scratched in the forest.
She glanced at Dai Mubai, her eyes darting around, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. She deliberately raised her voice, shouting, "Hey~ Zhu Zhuqing, you didn't come home last night, did you? What, were you with Brother Feng last night? You've really forgotten your sisters now that you have a lover!"
These words were like a drop of ice water falling into a pot of boiling oil, causing an instant uproar across the entire playground.
Zhu Zhuqing's mind went blank for a moment, and her cheeks instantly turned red to the roots of her ears.
She opened her mouth, about to retort, but for a moment she didn't know how to explain. She had indeed been with Tang Feng last night, but it wasn't the kind of "being together" Ning Rongrong was implying! But how could she explain that? The only thing she could do was make things worse!
Most importantly, she did stay in Tang Feng's hotel room for over an hour and even took a shower... How could anyone not have impure thoughts?
Upon hearing Ning Rongrong's words and seeing that Zhu Zhuqing offered no explanation, Dai Mubai's face visibly turned a deep liver color, and the veins on his forehead bulged.
He whirled around, trying to grab Zhu Zhuqing's shoulder, but Zhu Zhuqing dodged. Dai Mubai could only angrily shout, "You bitch! Is what she said true?!"
Upon hearing this, a resolute glint flashed in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes. She didn't even bother to lift her eyelids to glance at Dai Mubai, and silently stood next to Ning Rongrong. This posture was tantamount to a pre-arranged decision.
Upon seeing this, Dai Mubai flew into a rage. His Soul Power exploded, and the phantom of a white tiger roared behind him, "Fine, very well! I thought you were so high and mighty, but it turns out you've already hooked up with another man! Zhu Zhuqing, don't forget, your surname is Zhu, and you'll never escape the control of the Star Luo Imperial Family in this lifetime!"
"Enough, Dai Mubai, tone it down!" Flender roared.
Dai Mubai had already lost his mind. His bloodshot eyes glared at Zhu Zhuqing, and he said angrily, word by word, "I want to see how long that man can protect you!"
Zhu Zhuqing finally raised her eyes, her icy gaze fixed on Dai Mubai, and said disdainfully, "My affairs are none of your business."
He then left the group and walked towards the girls' dormitory with Ning Rongrong.
The ordinary morning meeting ended abruptly amidst this farce, and the seven people split into two groups to train separately.
Meanwhile, Tang Feng quickly checked out of the hotel and then went to the post office in Suotuo City to mail the pre-prepared letter to the Breaking Clan.
No one could understand the contents of the letter except Yang Wudi, who had agreed on a secret code with Tang Feng.
After everything was settled, Tang Feng arrived outside the city, took to the air, and flew towards the Clear Sky Sect.
He streaked across the sky like a real shooting star, his crimson-gold tail leaving a long trail in the clouds.