Join my Patreon to be 30 chapters ahead of the webnovel releases:
patreon.com/ZeroMoney
I would appreciate your help if you could join my Patreon and support me because it would keep me motivated.
******
"Because…"
Su Wen paused.
He didn't actually know why. It was as if a movie fan who had watched a film countless times had transmigrated into it, naturally developing a fondness for the characters and an unwillingness to let tragedy repeat. At that moment, he had just transmigrated, still feeling as if he were in a dream, not yet fully integrated into this world, as though it were all just a game.
"If you don't know, then don't seek the answer… because that in itself is the answer," Zhang Lexuan said softly.
"Mm."
Su Wen nodded, looking up at the sky with a sense of relief.
It was so blue...
Plop~
Zhang Lexuan lightly pecked him on the cheek. The moist touch made Su Wen freeze for a moment.
She drew her legs together and lay on her side beside him. From above, her legs were long and flawless, like jade, with graceful, elegant curves. From Su Wen's angle, her ink-black hair rippled in the gentle breeze. Their bodies were now closer, but with her slender, tall frame, Su Wen was still a head shorter. So when the beauty embraced him, it felt more like she was cradling him in her arms.
"Mm…"
They lay embraced on the grass, but only in an embrace.
There were no further actions.
"Senior Sister."
Su Wen felt as though not just his body but his entire heart was tightly held by this sweet yet dignified woman. He spoke softly.
"Mm?"
"Be my girlfriend."
"…"
A long silence followed.
Su Wen's ears tingled as Zhang Lexuan leaned closer, her fragrant breath brushing against him as she whispered, "You little playboy…"
The group continued their journey.
This time, however, the leader was no longer the elusive Elder Xuan but Zhang Lexuan.
Another Titled Douluo-level teacher accompanied them as well. Clearly, the academy had learned from its past mistakes. Even if Elder Xuan had been "reformed" after five years of seclusion, the academy wouldn't dare entrust the team's safety to him alone.
The Star Dou Forest was fraught with danger, but with a Titled Douluo leading the way, they encountered no obstacles for half a month.
Zhang Lexuan had put her mask back on, but she still walked beside Su Wen. Anyone with eyes could see that their relationship was very close to that of a couple, if not already.
"Boom!"
The surrounding forest quaked, and a flock of birds scattered into the sky.
Zhang Lexuan withdrew her martial soul, glancing calmly at the huge beast's body lying on the grass. Turning to one of the inner court disciples, she saw the excited nod of a young female student. "Senior Sister, this soul beast is a perfect match for me!"
With Zhang Lexuan's approving nod, the girl eagerly stepped forward and ended the Iron-Armored Crocodile's life. When the black soul ring appeared, she immediately sat down to absorb it.
"We're already deep in the core region. Everyone, be careful," Zhang Lexuan reminded softly.
"Yes!"
Everyone nodded.
Her gaze briefly swept over Su Wen before she shook her head.
Su Wen nodded in return. The Emerald Swan was extremely rare within the Star Dou Forest, and since the rise of Bi Ji, her kin were mostly by her side. The hundred-thousand-year Emerald Swan they had encountered last time was pure dumb luck. This time, after more than half a month wandering the core region, they still hadn't found a single one.
So he didn't expect to get lucky again. Besides, Elder Xuan was nearby—Su Wen had just seen him yesterday. Even if real danger arose, he could always hide the students inside his Spirit Ball.
"Brother Tianmeng, what soul ring should I choose for my second?"
Hidden within the team, Huo Yuhao mumbled softly.
With his physique, even with Tianmeng's continuous modifications, he could at best absorb a seven- or eight-hundred-year-old beast. A thousand-year one was too much to handle. But here, the core region was filled with thousand- and ten-thousand-year beasts. Wouldn't he have to miss out?
"What's the rush? With me here, we can always leave the team later to find one on our own," Tianmeng said leisurely from within the spiritual sea.
"This is the core of the Star Dou Forest. Don't forget who it was that once imprisoned you underground. If they sense your aura…" Huo Yuhao replied blandly.
"Cough, cough~"
Tianmeng coughed awkwardly. "Don't worry, Yuhao. I've been keeping watch on the surrounding soul beasts. Shrek Academy promised to help you get a suitable one anyway. The worst-case scenario is we search the outer regions on the way back."
"Fine. That's the only way, I guess," Huo Yuhao nodded.
Tianmeng clicked his tongue.
In truth, he wanted to help Huo Yuhao find a suitable second martial soul first. Once that was confirmed, he could then match it with the right Spirit Eye soul ring. The Extreme North was indeed a treasure trove, but the Ice Empress was far too dangerous. He hadn't found any proper spiritual control methods in the Shrek Academy library, even after Fan Yu helped him search all over.
The Snow Empress, though somewhat simple-minded, was still one of the three kings of the Extreme North. Without his molting, Tianmeng doubted he could restrain her.
Seeking a fierce beast seemed fruitless. So why not try their luck in the Star Dou Forest? What if they stumbled upon the perfect one? But this kid was too anxious to increase his strength and couldn't understand his deeper intentions...
"Wait!"
Tianmeng's eyes widened.
"Quick, ask to go to the bathroom! Your second martial soul is here! Hahaha!"
"Roar!!!"
From atop an ancient tree came a thunderous bellow.
The Auspicious Beast roared in fury. Once majestic and proud, she was now in a pitiful state. A deep wound carved across her abdomen exposed bone, and the dark blood around it had congealed into thick scabs. This was the result of an ambush by several black-clad men. Though she had broken free of their encirclement, the injury only worsened. Their black blades carried a corrosive energy that prevented her wound from healing.
"Damnable humans!"
"Damn Shrek!"
She spat out words, her expression seething with rage. What shocked her most was the terrifying strength of those black-robed men. They claimed to be from Shrek Academy. Even the Scarlet King who had been guarding her was suppressed by their leader. She had already broken through several encirclements, but with the spreading wound draining her strength, even walking now left her stumbling.
"No… I must find Ditian!"
The Auspicious Beast gritted her teeth against the pain and leaped to another tree.
"A bunch of useless trash!"
The leader of the black-robed men spoke in a cold, even tone that carried unmistakable fury.
"I trapped the Scarlet King, and yet with dozens of you, you couldn't even hold back one beast?!"
"Master, she is no ordinary ten-thousand-year soul beast. Her strength is absolutely above the hundred-thousand-year level. And strangest of all, her luck is terrifying. Every time, she somehow slips through our encirclement," one of the black-robed men stammered.
"Hmph! Of course. She is the Auspicious Beast—the embodiment of the entire soul beast race's fortune. If she were just another ten-thousand-year soul beast, why would I need you Titled Douluo to stop her?!" The leader's voice softened, and excitement laced his tone.
They had only come seeking a ten-thousand-year soul beast but had stumbled upon an unexpected prize… His gaze fell on the Scarlet King, who was unconscious from grievous wounds.
With a cold snort, he turned to the man at his side.
"Wuyun, you will go personally. Bring her back within half an hour. The time limit on this secret technique is approaching—if her aura leaks, the core beasts of the Star Dou Forest will sense it."
"Yes."
Swoosh~
The black-robed man called Wuyun answered calmly, then dissolved into a storm of black crows that scattered into the forest.
He was the Ninth Worshipper of the Holy Spirit Church… Crow Douluo.
(End of Chapter)