Back in her room, Zhu Zhuqing couldn't calm her racing thoughts.
Did he really say... he could help me increase my soul power cultivation speed?
But how? Wasn't cultivation speed determined by the density of ambient soul power, one's innate talent, and meditation technique?
(Author's Note: In Douluo Dalu, soul power cultivation doesn't require specific techniques—just meditation. Some sects do possess unique cultivation methods, which can enhance training efficiency. However, such methods are exceedingly rare. Tang San, of course, is an exception thanks to his plot armor and cheat-level techniques.)
Sure, some people may get lucky and stumble upon heavenly treasures that boost their soul power instantly. But she had never heard of anyone being able to increase someone else's cultivation speed.
That was exactly what made Lin Jie's Lightning Martial Soul such a cheat. Not only could he temper his own body, but he could also use his lightning to temper other people's bodies—enhancing their soul power affinity and drastically improving their cultivation efficiency.
Take his sister Lin Ran, for example. With only innate soul power rank 4, she had already reached rank 19—all thanks to Lin Jie's long-term help using his body-tempering lightning technique.
Zhu Zhuqing sat on the bed, lost in thought. The image of Dai Mubai abandoning her to flee alone to the Balak Kingdom burned in her mind, filling her with suppressed resentment.
While they were never deeply in love, their engagement had been set since childhood. Yet he'd fled without a word, leaving her to face the dangers of clan politics alone. She'd endured countless suppressions and assassination attempts from her older sister, Zhu Zhuyun, all while fending off the pressure of her entire family.
Her heart burned with anger.
When I find him, he better be ready. Even if I don't know for sure whether he's truly abandoned me, I need to hear it from him.
Zhu Zhuqing had always been a fighter. She would never surrender. But being alone in her struggle made everything harder. All her effort—all her persistence—felt like swimming against the tide.
Yes, she longed for power. She refused to accept her fate. She would not let herself be erased from the clan just because she was weak.
But she also knew that, relying on her current cultivation speed alone, it simply wasn't enough.
Lin Jie's voice echoed in her mind once more.
Could he really help me increase my soul power cultivation speed?
And what was Lin Jie doing during all this?
Well, his room was right next to Zhu Zhuqing's. Credit where credit is due—the hotel's front desk had been smart about it.
Initially, the receptionist claimed only one room was available, but one sharp look from Lin Jie had changed his mind. The guy understood the message instantly—true professional—and arranged two adjacent rooms.
Now, Lin Jie was lounging on his bed, deep in thought.
Will Zhu Zhuqing come knocking on my door because of what I said? If she does... should I say yes? Or should I—
"Pfft, what am I even thinking…"
Do I help her or not?
And if I do… what should I ask for in return? Heh...
An hour passed, and still no knock.
Obviously, she wasn't coming.
Meanwhile, Zhu Zhuqing really was tempted.
What she lacked most was strength. And if there really was a way to boost her cultivation speed, of course she was interested.
But... they had only just met. At most, they were casual acquaintances. Why would he help her for nothing?
In the end, she chose not to ask.
The night passed without incident.
The next morning, Lin Jie woke up, washed up, and stepped outside—just in time to see Zhu Zhuqing coming out of her room as well.
The two had breakfast together, then set off toward Soto City.
During breakfast, Lin Jie didn't mention his offer from the night before. He simply chatted about mundane topics. It helped the atmosphere feel more natural.
He had expected Zhu Zhuqing to reject traveling together. To his surprise, she agreed.
He'd prepared a whole script to convince her. Now he had nowhere to use it.
On the road, Lin Jie noticed her looking like she wanted to say something but was hesitating.
Just as he was about to speak—
Zhu Zhuqing beat him to it.
"Yesterday, you said you could help me cultivate faster. What did you mean?"
"That," Lin Jie said, lowering his voice, "has to do with my Martial Soul. If you really want to know, I can explain."
"Then explain," she said in her usual cold tone—but he could tell she was genuinely curious.
"My Martial Soul is lightning—a true elemental Martial Soul," he said. "I developed a unique ability from it called Lightning Tempering. Using it, I can temper the body—boosting cellular activity and increasing affinity with soul power. That's what speeds up cultivation."
She paused. He noticed and turned back to ask, "Do you get it?"
Zhu Zhuqing's face was a picture of confusion.
Cellular activity? What's that?
Sighing, Lin Jie said, "Right... I forgot. You've never had a proper science class."
"In short, just know that I can help increase your soul power cultivation speed. That's all you need to understand."
Still suspicious, she asked, "We barely know each other. Why would you help me? And will there be any side effects?"
Lin Jie thought, Should I just say it's because I like you...?
He cleared his throat. "Ahem. Of course it's because we're friends. And soon, we'll be classmates too. Helping friends and classmates is the right thing to do!"
"As for side effects—don't worry. None at all. In fact, it improves your body, detoxifies you, and... even improves skin tone and complexion."
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes flickered at that last line—especially the part about beauty enhancement. She was clearly tempted.
Lin Jie noticed she was still holding back and sighed internally. Even with the beauty bonus, she still resisted? Her willpower's no joke...
Their rapport was improving, though, so he added casually, "You know, someone like you... I don't think Dai Mubai is worthy."
"I've heard he's living it up at Shrek Academy now, flirting with all kinds of girls."
Zhu Zhuqing's expression shifted—first anger, then hatred.
Lin Jie smirked inwardly. Clearly, their relationship isn't all that deep. There's a real chance to steal her heart.
He didn't care about original story pairings. If he liked her, he'd fight for her.
Zhu Zhuqing scowled. "I'm only looking for him to get some answers. That's all."
They chatted for a while as they walked. Half the day passed quickly. They were still about an hour from Soto City. Since they weren't rushing, their pace was more leisurely.
Lin Jie took the chance to probe her further, strengthen their bond, and get a clearer picture of her personality. So far, it was working. At the very least, she no longer treated him like a stranger.
Just before reaching Rose City, Lin Jie suddenly asked:
"Hey, do you know what my innate soul power was?"
And why did he call her Zhuqing instead of her full name?
Simple: Lin Jie had thick skin. At first, she ignored him whenever he said it. But he said it so often, she just got used to it.
Zhu Zhuqing answered with a bit of curiosity:
"You're probably innately full of soul power, aren't you?"
Lin Jie smiled. "Who said I was innately full?"
"We're the same age, but you're already a Soul Elder. If that's not innate talent, then what is?"
He sighed. "Actually, my innate soul power was only rank 4."
Zhu Zhuqing looked shocked. "That's impossible. If your innate power was that low, how did you cultivate so quickly?"
Lin Jie only smiled.
"That… I have someone to thank for."
"Without him, I'd never have become who I am today."