The once peaceful and tranquil Blue Silver Grass Forest erupted in a massive storm today.
Countless towering trees swayed violently in the wind, their leaves fluttering in all directions.
If someone were to look down from above, they might get the illusion of being in a blue-green ocean.
The tidal waves surged continuously, a scene almost impossible to witness.
Such phenomena usually only occur in open areas where solar radiation causes temperature differences, resulting in rapid air pressure changes and intensifying air flow to create winds of this scale.
However, in this densely vegetated area, with numerous plant-type soul beasts forming a powerful domain like a miniature world to suppress such conditions, it's impossible for a hurricane to form naturally.
But the storm here wasn't naturally formed.
At the very center of the storm, it was calm and peaceful. A tall, slender figure stood there—the true cause of the extraordinary scene.
The raging winds and waves surrounding the area didn't seem to affect this spot at all.
The black clothing on the figure was already in tatters.
It wasn't torn by the wind but by the high-concentration soul power violently running through her meridians, tearing it apart from the inside out.
The clothes were stained a dark red, making her look as though she had just been pulled out of a pool of blood.
However, from the gaps in the tattered clothing, there was no sign of anything suggestive, only horrifying wounds deep enough to see the bones.
Her body, unable to withstand the powerful soul power, had its meridians, flesh, and skin blasted into layers of blood mist.
Only the tougher bones barely held her together.
Even so, the exposed bones were covered in cracks.
The wind grew even more intense.
Zhu Zhuqing's aura had weakened to an extreme.
Her once delicate and sculpted face was now grotesque.
However, despite all this, the newly formed spirit ring had just crossed the ninety-thousand-year threshold...
More flesh silently exploded.
Countless thunders rumbled in Zhu Zhuqing's soul.
She had almost turned into a skeleton.
However, apart from her left arm, which had a light red hundred-thousand-year spirit bone from Xiao Wu, the rest of her bones glowed with a silver-gray sheen.
They shone coldly, exuding a fierce aura.
It no longer looked like a human skeleton but more like a fierce, roaring tiger.
The fierce wind whistled through the gaps in the bones, producing a sharp howling sound.
Even in death, a tiger's bones stood firm, its killing intent undiminished!
In the next moment, the sky was filled with the blood energy of the White Tiger, which then re-entered the bones, coating them with a layer of red light...
The wind gradually stopped.
The blue ocean of soul power was forcibly dispersed by another domain's light.
Su Cheng had ultimately intervened.
"Zhuqing, infuse the spirit ring with the essence of your martial soul!"
His voice seemed to echo directly in Zhu Zhuqing's soul.
The external gathered soul power had completely dissipated.
A complex, unreadable light flickered in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes. She then endured the immense pain in her body and began the process of stabilizing the spirit ring.
The forest winds dissipated, gathering only at the very center.
Watching the massive blood cocoon wrapped in a blood-colored hurricane not far away, Su Cheng's gaze was uncertain.
Could Zhu Zhuqing gain a hundred-thousand-year sixth spirit ring if she continued?
It was possible.
Though she wasn't like Su Cheng, who understood the uniqueness of the hundred-thousand-year spirit ring and knew how to imbue it with special intent to grant the spirit ring sentience, her innate talent in advancing her domain and her deeper understanding of her martial soul's essence through life-and-death battles, along with the pure, intense battle intent emanating from her body, met the conditions.
If the spirit ring's age truly broke the hundred-thousand-year barrier, it would naturally upgrade accordingly.
But it was too risky.
For her to further enhance the spirit ring, she would have to endure several more life-and-death crises.
The further she went, the greater the danger.
Her body might not hold up.
In Su Cheng's view, Zhu Zhuqing reaching this point was already impressive.
Her sixth spirit ring, though not undergoing a fundamental change, was far from an ordinary ten-thousand-year spirit ring.
It was a unique spirit ring naturally condensing perfectly suited to her.
Moreover, during the spirit ring condensation, she had infused it with her special insights, leaving room for future upgrades.
Furthermore, Su Cheng noticed that the intense battle intent Zhu Zhuqing displayed at the end was incredibly powerful.
In real combat, it's not just about the health bar determining the victor.
For ordinary soul masters, as the battle continues, the injuries, energy depletion, and mental fatigue during the fight cause their state to continuously decline.
Thus, usually, one doesn't get stronger the longer they fight but weaker.
But from now on, Zhu Zhuqing wouldn't follow the norm.
With that unique battle intent boosting her, she could indeed become stronger as the fight went on.
Simply put, the lower her health, the stronger her combat power; the more injured, the more terrifying she became.
Even after a fierce battle, as long as she survived, she could greatly enhance her strength through it.
Su Cheng speculated that this resulted from two factors.
First, the killing instinct and combat nature of the Hell White Tiger martial soul, matching with her corresponding innate talent. This was the fundamental prerequisite, unique to this god-level martial soul, similar to the purification characteristic of the Six-Winged Angel martial soul and its attached true wings.
Second, Zhu Zhuqing's arduous training in the City of Slaughter and the process of condensing her spirit ring by stimulating her bloodline, utilizing her powerful will that transcended life and death to unlock the martial soul's potential.
As the spirit ring condensation neared completion, the forest fell silent.
Blue Silver King began to release its soul skills consciously, blue light pouring out to nourish the massive blood cocoon on the ground ahead with strong life-imbued wood attribute soul power.
Su Cheng also assisted, enhancing it with his Five Elements Domain.
Time passed by, half a day quickly elapsed.
"Crack—"
With a faint sound, white light flickered as the blood cocoon's shell shattered.
A slender figure clad in a black tight-fitting dress, draped in a luxurious robe, slowly walked out.
Zhu Zhuqing was, after all, of noble birth.
Despite her family's issues, she didn't lack soul guides and had spare clothes, preventing Su Cheng from seeing anything unintended.
However, he wasn't in the mood to notice such things at the moment.
He observed that Zhu Zhuqing's appearance and demeanor had changed significantly.
Already tall, her recent advancement to Spirit Emperor had added an inch or so to her height, and her features became more mature.
The soft facial lines and slightly dark blue hair she had while in the Blue Silver Grass Forest had now completely reverted.
Her hair had a slight dark red sheen, and her facial features appeared more defined.
Her appearance had become more exquisite, yet the sharpness in her eyes was even more pronounced, almost intimidating.
It wasn't a ferocious killing intent but pure sharpness.
Like an unsheathed blade, even a glance could seemingly cut with the sharpness in her gaze.
"...Sorry."
Seeing Zhu Zhuqing approach, Su Cheng remained silent for a moment before his first words were an apology.
Though he said nothing more, Zhu Zhuqing understood his meaning.
She continued walking until she was just inches away from him before stopping.
Then, she reached out her slender, fair fingers and gently touched Su Cheng's cheek.
This unexpected gesture left Su Cheng momentarily stunned.
Zhu Zhuqing rarely took the initiative like this.
Her eyes held a light difficult to interpret.
"Su Cheng, you know, I've held a lot of resentment towards you."
Zhu Zhuqing softly said.
"It's not because of your messy thoughts or because of Qian Renxue.
"I hate that you treated me like a puppet, arranging my life at will.
"Maybe those are illusions, or perhaps you think it's for my good, but that's not what I want.
"What I want, I can strive for myself. Otherwise, it's just jumping from one prison to another."
Su Cheng opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing.
Even his recent intervention went against Zhu Zhuqing's will.
But he couldn't help it; he couldn't tolerate the other possible outcomes compared to her resentment or any effect on her.
He was inherently selfish.
In many things, he couldn't achieve the ideal unity of knowledge and action.
Yet, Zhu Zhuqing's voice rang out again, softer this time.
"But just now, I was afraid you'd let me continue being reckless, just watching me take risks. After all, I'm still an ordinary person."
A gentle smile appeared on Zhu Zhuqing's typically cold face.
"It was only just now that I realized, actually, I'd rather you interfere with me in every possible way than leave me to my own devices."
"..."
"Su Cheng, I have no other family, only you."
...
Two days later, a young man and woman walked side by side into Heaven Dou City.
The man was unassuming, with a restrained aura, showing no special traits except his calm, mountain-like presence.
In contrast, the woman beside him had an exceptionally alluring figure and exquisite beauty, though her icy demeanor and sharp gaze made it hard for people to look directly at her.
These two were Su Cheng and Zhu Zhuqing, who had left the Blue Silver Grass Forest.
After Zhu Zhuqing successfully advanced to Spirit Emperor, they resumed their journey, planning to visit the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
But before returning to the sect, Su Cheng took her to Heaven Dou City.
Although Zhu Zhuqing had successfully condensed her sixth spirit ring and her strength had undergone a dramatic transformation, her mental fatigue remained.
The multiple life-and-death experiences took a toll on her psyche.
So, before returning to the sect, Su Cheng planned to let her rest.
In simple terms, he wanted her to get some sleep.