Tang Ya eyed Bei Bei suspiciously. She felt her boyfriend seemed afraid of Su Wen, treating him as cautiously as a ten-thousand-year soul beast.
But he's just a very cute, handsome boy, right?
'At least you're a fifteen-year-old Soul Elder. Can you have some backbone…?' Tang Ya muttered inside.
"Of course we can!" Tang Ya agreed cheerfully.
"…"
Bei Bei swallowed, speechless at Tang Ya. Did she know what kind of big boss she'd just invited? Still, he kept quiet. Su Wen was indeed powerful but also from Shrek's family. At worst, their alone time would be gone. The Star Dou was extremely dangerous; having such a strong teammate gave Tang Ya many more options.
"Wait…"
Bei Bei suddenly froze, eyes widening in shock.
"You've hit a bottleneck again?!!"
A Soul Elder's bottleneck—next step was Soul Ancestor.
"Something like that." Su Wen hesitated, then nodded slightly.
He was at least one or two months from level 40, but he could go to the Star Dou early to try his luck. Many cultivated inside while searching for rings.
"Great, we'll have Senior Bei Bei help hunt. I need a thousand-year ring. If we find a suitable hundred-year ring, we'll help Xiao Wen hunt one too." Tang Ya said breezily.
"…" Bei Bei's face turned awkward.
She probably thought Su Wen was here to mooch a soul ring.
After all, Bei Bei was famous in the outer court.
"Bei Bei is one of the Outer Court's Twin Stars, a fifteen-year-old assault-type battle Soul Elder. And me, Sister Xiao Ya, level 30—just one step from Soul Elder!" Tang Ya said proudly.
Bei Bei wished he could dig a hole with his toes. Awkward to the extreme.
He was about to pull Tang Ya aside to explain when two more figures walked over.
"Ah, what a coincidence~"
A young lady approached, smooth golden hair draped over her shoulders. She wore a Nine Treasure Glazed Sect–modified girls' school uniform—the changes were slight, but on her it carried a noble-lady elegance. A platinum belt hugged her slender waist, and a pale blue butterfly perched in her hair.
She wore glossy black round-toe shoes, with pearl clasps tied into bows around her ankles.
Su Wen froze for a moment at the sight.
Ning Tian?!!
This was Ning Tian?
His impression of her had always been a tomboyish look. Though her gentle features made it clear she was a girl, the change over the past year was too great!
Ning Tian put her hands behind her back and trotted over like a fawn, stopping prettily before Su Wen.
"Long time no see."
"Long time no see…" Su Wen said with feeling.
"And this silly dragon."
"You're the silly dragon—your whole family is…" Wu Feng bared her teeth at Su Wen in anger, only to be discreetly pinched in the thigh by Ning Tian. She shut up and looked away, out of sight, out of mind.
Wu Feng's long red hair flowed freely. Her figure had grown taller and more slender. In black short boots, she carried a dashing air.
"Not going to register?" Ning Tian asked with a bright smile.
"…No rush." Su Wen shook his head.
The outer court's registration period lasted more than half a month, and today was only day one. If things followed the original story, when Bei Bei and Tang Ya brought Yuhao back to register, it would still be in full swing.
"Then we won't rush either." Ning Tian stood obediently at Su Wen's side.
"We're heading to the Star Dou. Want to come?" Su Wen considered.
"…" Wu Feng snorted twice and didn't answer.
Joy flashed across Ning Tian's delicate face. "Really? I happen to need my third ring too!"
Hearing that, Tang Ya, who had been happily watching, stiffened.
Huh?!!
She didn't know Ning Tian's identity, but she was sure the girl was a first-year freshman.
An eleven-year-old Soul Elder?!!
Then what did that make her?
A fifteen-year-old…
"Uncle Cheng, you don't need to follow. We'll only be in the outer ring, not the core." Ning Tian said softly to the middle-aged man behind her.
"This…" He scratched his head. He was a Soul Sage, brought to escort the young lady to Shrek and help her obtain her third ring.
But with two Soul Elders in this party, could they really ensure her safety?
Yet Old Bamboo and the Sect Master had instructed him to obey the young lady in all things.
"Yes!" He gritted his teeth and complied.
…
Outer ring of the Star Dou Great Forest.
Endless ancient trees blotted out the sky, blocking most of the light below. The forest was humid, and in the heat of summer, the whole place was like a steamer. A breeze drifted down from above, but it did little good.
"So hot…" Wu Feng complained.
She fanned herself.
Ning Tian followed close at Su Wen's side, cheeks slightly flushed. Beads of sweat rolled from her forehead down her chin. Her once-perfect outfit now looked a bit bedraggled. The white socks inside her shoes were damp with sweat and uncomfortable. As a support type, her physique was the weakest here.
"…"
Su Wen held out a hand.
"Mm~" Ning Tian blinked, then blushed and placed her fair little hand in his.
Feeling the softness of her hand, Su Wen considered.
A surge of extreme cold rose within him. With precise control, he guided it into the girl's body.
"Mmm…"
Ning Tian let out a soft sound.
Like being dropped into an ice cellar in the dog days of summer, all the heat vanished.
"What are you doing?" Wu Feng asked suspiciously.
"Here."
Su Wen offered his hand with a smile.
"Hmph!" Wu Feng snorted proudly but, despite her words, placed her hand in his palm.
"Huh?!" Wu Feng suddenly felt refreshed. "I forgot you have an ice-type martial soul."
"You two—hot?" Su Wen smiled at Tang Ya and Bei Bei ahead.
"A bit." Bei Bei glanced at Su Wen holding both girls' hands and his mouth twitched.
Su Wen nodded.
A pale blue ripple spread from under his feet. It was as if extreme cold radiated outward. With each step, a faint frost dispelled the swelter. This degree of ice effect consumed very little soul power. Consider it a guide fee for the two of them.
"You're an ice-attribute soul master?" Tang Ya asked in surprise.
"More or less."
…
…
"Mother, I will avenge you!"
Huo Yuhao wiped the sweat from his forehead, his gaze growing firmer. He gripped the White Tiger Dagger ever tighter.
A level-10 soul master's body was somewhat enhanced. Otherwise, an eleven-year-old boy would find it hard to trek through the Star Dou for a whole day. The heat and ever-present mortal danger would be a nightmare for an ordinary person.
"Huff…"
At last, he saw a rushing stream. His taut body relaxed slightly.
"Let's catch a few fish." After sitting and resting for a bit, he noticed the fish swimming in the stream and felt the emptiness in his stomach.
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Advanced chapter here: p-atreon.com/Sajaboyzzz
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