Wang Dongâer gave Huo Yuhao this fantastic feeling not because she was pretty, but because their hearts were so close together. Huo Yuhao had only gradually developed this romantic feeling after the Sea Godâs Fate, but discovered that he was improving very quickly in this aspect. He was always so happy, and he always felt so fortunate when Wang Dongâer was with him.
Perhaps Wang Qiuâer looked more like the Goddess of Light, and perhaps she also gave him a strong sense of familiarity. However, she couldnât be compared to Wang Dongâer at all, who occupied all the space in Huo Yuhaoâs heart at this moment.
The golden light radiating from Wang Qiuâer not far from them began to recede at this moment, and one soul ring after another began to rise from her body.
Two yellow, two purple, and two black soul rings! When her sixth and final soul ring rose up, the golden hues around her had completely withdrawn into her body.
It was complete!
Wang Qiuâer had completely absorbed the fifty-thousand year Bloody Baboon Kingâs soul ring. The entire process only took roughly six hours; it was an incredible and frightening speed for a Soul Emperor, and yet, she had accomplished it so easily!
Wang Dongâer whispered, âHer body is so ferocious. She can actually absorb a fifty-thousand year soul ring so quickly. Since thatâs the case, why does she have two hundred-year and two thousand-year soul rings before that?â
Huo Yuhao paused to think. Wang Dongâer was just making a casual comment, but it made a lot of sense. Wang Qiuâerâs Golden Dragon martial soul had to be the reason for her toughness and ferocity, but since that was the case, why did she have two hundred-year soul rings?
Wang Dongâer could absorb a thousand-year soul ring as her second ring, and the main reason for that was because she had twin martial souls. She had mentioned to Huo Yuhao before that her second martial soul was the Clear Sky Hammer, which greatly strengthened her body and was the reason why she could absorb a thousand-year soul ring as her second ring. Wang Qiuâer only had one martial soul, but it was apparent that her body was probably tougher than his own and Wang Dongâerâs, too! Did she have some hidden troubles she hadnât voiced?
They were observing Wang Qiuâer at the same time. Wang Qiuâer concluded the absorption process and looked over towards them. When her eyes met Huo Yuhaoâs gaze, she nodded her head faintly, but she didnât look at Wang Dongâer at all.
Her action naturally fell into Wang Dongâerâs eyes, and a look of surprise flowed from her eyes. She snapped her head back around at Huo Yuhao and said, âWhy did she nod at you?â
Huo Yuhao didnât hide anything from Wang Dongâer, and he told her about when he gave Wang Qiuâer the meat sandwich, and how he was infuriated after she had tossed the baked bread onto the ground. The only thing he didnât say was that he and Wang Qiuâer had alternately eaten from the piece of baked bread. Sometimes, white lies could avoid a lot of trouble...
Wang Dongâerâs eyes seemed to melt after Huo Yuhao told her about the story of the baked bread and of him and his mother. She didnât care about the others around her, and cuddled deeper into his embrace as she wrapped her arms tightly around his waist.
âAuntie is so nice. I wonder if I can be as good as she was. However, if the day comes when we are about die from starvation and thereâs only one piece of baked bread, then I will definitely eat it.â
âEh?â Huo Yuhao stared at the girl in his embrace in faint astonishment.
Wang Dongâer had closed her eyes by now. She used a voice that only the two of them could hear and said, âBecause, I hope you will have me by your side in your last moments. I donât wish to see you hurt because of my death, and I want to die after you so that I can take another look at youâ¦â
Her gentle words instantly filled every corner of Huo Yuhaoâs heart. He never thought that a person would express his or her love for another like that. Wang Dongâer made his heart overflow with happiness.
He subconsciously hugged her even tighter, but his throat seemed to be tied into a knot, and he couldnât speak a single word.
Wang Dongâer could feel his excitement, and the feeling of being in his embrace became very real and exceptionally warm.
Wang Qiuâer stood not far from them as she stared at them blankly. She felt a sensation that she had never felt before at the break of dawn in this dimly-lit forest. The two of them were leaning against each other, and they seemed to fuse into each other to become one, and what astounded her was the emotions that flowed between them.
The group woke up from their meditation one after another, and everyone could see the two lovebirds in an embrace. The two of them had their eyes closed at this moment, as if they had fallen asleep.
Nobody disturbed them. The forest was full of life energy at this moment, and the two of them just sitting there was so harmonious with their surroundings, as if everything was just a masterful painting.
Wang Qiuâer finally turned her eyes away from them and walked up to Zhang Lexuan.
âHowâs it looking, Qiuâer?â Zhang Lexuan asked.
Wang Qiuâer answered, âItâs alright. I know where to find soul beasts suitable for him, shall I lead the way?â
Zhang Lexuan asked, âAre you very familiar with the Great Star Dou Forest? Where is this place?â
Wang Qiuâer turned around and gazed into the distance, before she turned towards the sun that was gradually rising from beyond the horizon. âI once trained in the Great Star Dou Forest for an entire year. Iâve been to the Peripheral Regions, the Hybrid Regions, and the outer areas of the Core Region.â
âOne year, continuously?â Zhang Lexuan asked again, surprised. This was the Great Star Dou Forest, the residence of the most famous soul beasts on the Continent! More than half of the Ten Great Savage Beasts resided here, and this was not a place that could be described as peaceful or quiet.
Soul masters adventuring into the Great Star Dou Forest were normal, as this place had the most soul beast species, and the most powerful ones. This place by itself was almost enough to generate soul rings suitable for every single soul master.
However, using this place for training, and this training lasting for an entire year, was something that was almost unimaginable. It didnât mean that Zhang Lexuan didnât have the ability, or that she wouldnât have a problem living in the Peripheral Region with her cultivation. However, encountering soul beasts every single day continuously without a chance to rest or relax was just so insufferable...
Spending one or two days like this was still reasonable, but wouldnât oneâs mind just collapse if this continued for an entire year? Furthermore, higher-level soul beasts might appear in the lower-level regions; anything was possible if one lived there for an entire year. Wang Qiuâer was such a delicate and pretty lady, and yet she was able to live in this place for an entire year... it wasnât hard to imagine the effort she had to put in.
Wang Qiuâer nodded and said, âOne year by myself.â
Zhang Lexuan took a deep breath and said, âYour success hasnât come about without good reason, than. It seems like that youâre probably more familiar with the forest than every one of us here. Which soul beasts are suitable for Yuhao?â
Wang Qiuâer contemplated momentarily before she said, âThere are several species that fit the description. At least, these species are more suitable for him than the Bloody Baboon. However, these soul beasts almost all live within the Core Region, and every single one is extremely powerful. Weâll have to be very careful.â
Zhang Lexuan pondered for a while. âAlright, you take point.â Even though Wang Qiuâer had just joined the academy, she was still part of the inner courtyard. She had to have seen some things if she spoke with such confidence. The Core Region was much more perilous than the Hybrid Region, and there would be a lot more pressure on everyoneâs shoulders. However, this team at their strength could definitely venture inside for a little while, and they should be fine as long as they didnât enter the Slaughtering Grounds. The truth was that there were hardly any soul masters who had walked into the Slaughtering Grounds and returned alive.
Huo Yuhao and Wang Dongâer finally woke up from their sweet moment. They were a little embarrassed when they noticed everyoneâs stares, but when they looked back into each otherâs eyes and they saw their own reflections, all that unspoken love and affection returned.
Zhang Lexuan altered the formation when they got back on the road. Everybody was astounded when they saw that Wang Qiuâer was now standing in front of the group. She had taken over Zhang Lexuanâs position, while Zhang Lexuan took over Wang Qiuâerâs initial position.
In terms of martial souls, Zhang Lexuan was an assault-type soul master, but she was most adept with mid-range to long-range attacks, and close-combat wasnât her forte. Not even Huo Yuhaoâs Ultimate martial soul could compare with Wang Qiuâerâs Golden Dragon in terms of close-combat. Of course, the Golden Dragonâs element was pure strength, and the Golden Dragon itself was thus an Ultimate martial soul. If Wang Qiuâerâs cultivation was the same as Zhang Lexuanâs, she would undoubtedly be the most suitable person to be standing in front.
Nobody objected to Zhang Lexuanâs new arrangement, and everyone was more careful and vigilant when they got back on the road. The previous nightâs problems and disturbances gave them personal experience with the Hybrid Regionâs dangers and perils, while what they had to do next was to proceed forward and venture deeper into even more hazardous areas.
Wang Qiuâer walked in front of the group. She had taken down her veil, and her blue wave-like hair was woven into a ponytail. Everyone looked on in surprise as she retrieved a weapon from her storage-type soul tool.
A soul masterâs best weapon was his or her own martial soul. Soul engineers typically used weapons, but soul masters hardly used any. In the end, weapons werenât a part of oneâs body like a martial soul was, and there would be a negative backlash if one didnât have complete control or coordination with his or her martial soul.
Wang Qiuâerâs weapon was a long spear. It was about 3.6 meters long, and had a brilliant golden color that was identical to her martial soul. However, her weapon didnât contain any metal at all, it seemed to be made from wood. The spear emanated a life energy so dense and strong that the feeling was comparable to Huo Yuhaoâs Life Gold. Even though it wasnât as strong as the Life Goldâs life energy, it contained a stranger and more peculiar element.
Wang Qiuâerâs spear was different from typical spears. It was sharpened on both ends, and its entire body was like a long and narrow shuttle, while Wang Qiuâerâs hands were gripping it in the center.
Wang Qiuâerâs icy aura became even sharper when she took out the spear. She stood at the very front of the group and raced forward, and didnât seem like she had any intention of slowing down.