Chapter 73: Ugh, a Narcissist! Sorry—I Can't Give Up an Entire Forest for You!
Five minutes earlier.
Inside the chat group.
[Dad Douluo]: @Everyone Big news, folks! Top-tier entertainment just dropped. Live broadcast from the original plotline: "Dai Mubai attempts to rape and kill Ning Rongrong"!
[Tyrant Dragon Mom]:???
[Tyrant Dragon Mom]: For real? Does he have the guts for that?
Blue Tyrant Academy.
Liu Erlong nearly spat out the half-mouthful of tea she had just swallowed.
Who was Ning Rongrong?
The apple of the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect's eye, a delicate, noble little princess.
And Dai Mubai?
A useless Star Luo Imperial Prince who couldn't even keep his life safe after losing.
He dared to touch Ning Rongrong?
That wasn't courting death—that was begging for it!
[The Pope Herself]: What happened in the end?
Spirit Hall City.
The Pope's Bedroom.
Bibi Dong reclined lazily against a long couch, idly twirling a strand of hair around her finger.
A playful smile curved her lips.
If Ning Rongrong truly died, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would inevitably clash with the Star Luo Empire to the death.
And the Heaven Dou Empire—deeply tied to the sect—would be dragged in as well.
When that happened… heh. What a spectacle it would be.
[Dad Douluo]: What happened? He chickened out, obviously! All bark and no bite, he tucked his tail and ran.
[A Rogue Rabbit]: Bah! A limp-legged tiger. I'm embarrassed for him!
[Big-Chested Kitty]: Serves him right.
[Green Grass]: Truly detestable.
[Tyrant Dragon Mom]: Tch, so it was just loud-mouthed bravado? I knew it, he wouldn't dare even if he had ten times the courage.
[Pope Herself]: What a pity.
[Bingbing]: Tch, nobody died—what's the point? Boring.
[Bingbing]: Hey, that Ah Qing guy—I'm asking you, can soul beasts become gods or not?
Compared to human squabbles, the Ice Empress only cared about matters tied to her race's fate.
[Dad Douluo]: Oh, come on, my Bingbing~ we're in the middle of eating melons here. Don't ruin the fun!
[Bingbing]: Cut the crap! I'm asking you seriously. What do you think?
[Dad Douluo]: What do I think? I look with my eyes, of course. Soul beasts becoming gods? Not a chance! The door's sealed shut—windows welded too!
[Dad Douluo]: Alright, alright, livestream continues. Everyone watch the show—don't interrupt our melon-eating.
[Bingbing]: You!!!
[Ice and Snow Maiden]: ...
Extreme North.
Boom—!
A massive ice wall shattered as a jade-green scorpion tail swept through it, ice crystals exploding everywhere.
"I'm furious! What kind of attitude is that?!"
Cold light flashed in the Ice Empress's eyes.
"He dares to talk to me like that? I'll peel his skin alive!"
She was an unrivaled fierce beast of the Extreme North—when had she ever suffered such flippant mockery?
"Bing'er, calm down."
The Snow Empress hovered nearby, serene and ethereal, like a goddess sculpted from frost.
Her voice was tranquil. "Right now, he only sees you as an ordinary group member. He doesn't know your true identity. There's no need to be this angry."
Though she said that, Snow Empress's slender brows still knit slightly.
"What we should be concerned about is that sentence he said."
'Soul beasts can never become gods.'
"Bing'er… do you think he said it casually, or was there a deeper meaning?"
The Ice Empress's furious tail sweep halted abruptly.
It was as if a bucket of icy water had been dumped over her anger—hiss—dousing most of it, leaving behind a chill that seeped into her heart.
Yes… for soul beasts like them, that sentence was far too heavy.
"Xue'er…"
The Ice Empress's voice grew low.
"We need to ask clearly. We must ask clearly."
"Of course."
The Snow Empress gazed into the void, toward the chat group.
"But not now. We can't displease him. Once his mood passes, we'll look for the right opportunity."
…
At this moment.
Oscar scrambled up from the ground, frantically brushing dust off himself.
He let out a long breath, patting his chest—his heart was still pounding.
Earlier, Boss Dai's murderous expression had been terrifying.
After straightening his wrinkled clothes, Oscar tried to pull his face into a deep, thoughtful expression.
His eyes flicked toward Ning Rongrong, who was still standing there in a daze.
An idea suddenly popped into his head.
An opportunity!
This was the perfect moment to show off his masculinity and profound thinking!
He walked over, deliberately slowing and steadying his steps.
Stopping in front of Ning Rongrong, he cleared his throat and lowered his voice.
"Rongrong."
"I'm very disappointed in what happened today. Your willfulness pushed even Boss Dai past his limit."
His tone was carefully crafted to sound disappointed.
Ning Rongrong lifted her head. Fear still lingered in her wide eyes as she looked at him in confusion.
Oscar felt a twinge of smugness.
'See? My presence has stunned her.'
He puffed out his not-so-sturdy chest and continued his "wise discourse."
"Dean Flender wasn't wrong. You're the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect—pampered, adored, standing high above others."
He lifted his chin, angling his face to let the dim light carve out what he thought were sharp contours.
"But I, Oscar, am also a rare food-system soul master with innate full soul power. My future is limitless—one day, I might even surpass your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!"
Feeling the atmosphere was just right, Oscar finally dropped what he believed to be his perfectly polished "golden line."
"So even though I have feelings for you, you're still not worth giving up an entire forest for."
"You… should reflect on yourself."
After saying that—
He turned around.
With what he thought was a heavy yet carefree stride, he slowly walked into the darkness.
As he walked, he felt smug inside: This'll make her see me in a new light, right?
She'll definitely think I'm different from those vulgar men who only flatter her.
Maybe she'll even regret it in secret.
However—
The gaze he expected—full of reflection, regret, or even admiration—never fell upon his back.
At first, Ning Rongrong was just stunned, seemingly unable to process his bizarre words.
Forest?
What was he even talking about?
Then, all the emotions she had bottled up throughout the day—the humiliation of being scolded publicly by the Dean, the terror of Dai Mubai's death threat, and now Oscar's inexplicable, condescending "drawing of boundaries"—
Everything crashed down on her like a sudden blizzard, tearing through the last of her composure.
"Mm…"
A tightly suppressed sob escaped her throat.
Large tears rolled down without warning, tracing her pale cheeks before dropping into the dust at her feet.
Unlike Xiao Wu, she didn't dare cry out loud.
She only bit her lip hard, shoulders trembling uncontrollably.
Her slender figure looked especially pitiful in the night wind.
"Was… was I really wrong…?"
She sobbed softly, her voice broken, confusion and grievance flooding her heart.
"I was just so tired. I didn't want to run so many laps… why is everyone treating me like this…"
From the moment she was born, she had been carefully cherished by her father, Grandpa Sword, Grandpa Bone—by the entire sect.
When had she ever suffered blow after blow like this?
When had she ever been despised or threatened so cruelly?
Chat group.
[Dad Douluo]: Everyone sees that? This place called Shrek really does produce monsters.
[Tyrant Dragon Mom]: My god! What species of self-confidence monster is that, Oscar? I've got goosebumps all over!
Liu Erlong clicked her tongue at the screen.
Did that kid even know who Ning Rongrong was? Forest my ass.
Across the entire continent, there were barely a handful of girls more noble than her!
Where did he get the nerve to say something like that?
Truly—like a toad yawning at the sky.
What a huge mouth.
End of Chapter