Inside the Soul-Hunting Grounds.
Half an hour passed quickly, and Shui Bing'er opened her eyes.
Three soul rings—yellow, yellow, and purple—rose from her body, the icy radiance surrounding her making her resemble an ethereal snow sprite.
"Thank you for helping me..."
She turned her head, intending to express her gratitude, but was momentarily stunned. "Huh? Where are they?"
"Did they leave because I was almost done absorbing the soul ring?"
Shui Bing'er stood up, a trace of disappointment in her voice. "I didn't even get a chance to thank them properly..."
At this time, Qin Jian and Ning Rongrong, who had left earlier, had already entered the primary zone.
"Brother Jian, the soul beasts here are of such high quality!" Ning Rongrong exclaimed in awe.
As they walked along, she noticed several soul beasts suitable for her. If it weren't for the special-class zone ahead, she might have already made her choice.
"In another half an hour, we'll reach the special-class zone. Hopefully, there'll be an even better match for you there," Qin Jian said with a smile. "Let's hope we don't run into any trouble along the way..."
"That won't happen! There are only Yu Tianxin and Dugu Yan in this zone. It's not like they'll fight over a soul beast and we'll just happen to bump into them again, right?" Ning Rongrong giggled as she clung to his arm.
But before her words fully landed, an angry shout echoed from deeper in the forest:
"Yu Tianxin! Instead of hunting soul beasts, why are you bothering me here?!"
Qin Jian and Ning Rongrong exchanged a glance, then simultaneously covered the backs of their heads.
"Brother Jian... I'm not jinxed, am I?" Ning Rongrong pouted.
"No, no..."
Qin Jian patted her on the head and said, "Let's go take a look."
Ning Rongrong's eyes rolled mischievously. "How about this time we just mind our own business? It's not like this has anything to do with us."
But this time, Qin Jian shook his head. "Helping Shui Bing'er earlier didn't mean much—it was just a casual act. But with Dugu Yan, things are much more significant..."
Various schemes flashed through his mind as he pondered how to establish a connection with Dugu Bo and eventually obtain the Beautiful Silk Tulip.
It was a pity they weren't in the Star Dou Great Forest. If they were, it would've been his domain...
Meanwhile, outside, the onlookers were abuzz with discussion. No one had anticipated that this soul hunt would be riddled with so many conflicts.
In the past, academy students exercised restraint, knowing how hard it was to qualify. A grudge at this stage could easily turn into a deep-seated vendetta.
"Why does it seem like Qin Jian and Ning Rongrong always run into trouble?" Sword Douluo shook his head.
Ning Fengzhi remarked, "One is Yu Tianxin, a candidate for inheriting the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and the other is Dugu Bo's granddaughter. Their clash is not something one can intervene in lightly."
Sword Douluo nodded in agreement.
Deep within the forest of the Soul-Hunting Grounds, the clash began to unfold.
"Roar!"
Yu Tianxin, clad in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's signature attire, unleashed a series of ferocious attacks on Dugu Yan. The entire forest was lit by lightning flashes, accompanied by resounding dragon roars.
"So, you're Dugu Yan? I've heard you and my cousin Yu Tianheng are both members of the Heaven Dou Imperial Battle Team. Not to mention, you two seem rather close?"
Yu Tianxin's tone carried a hint of animosity.
"And what if we are?!" Dugu Yan retorted angrily.
"Well then, don't blame me for targeting you. After all, my cousin and I are competitors for the family's inheritance!"
Yu Tianxin's attacks became even more violent.
"Buzz!"
Two soul rings on Dugu Yan's body lit up simultaneously.
"First Soul Skill: Jade Phosphor Red Poison!"
A red mist enveloped her, stimulating her nerves and increasing her attack power and speed by 20%.
"Second Soul Skill: Jade Phosphor Blue Poison!"
A blue mist sprayed from the mouth of her Jade Phosphor Serpent martial soul, numbing her senses and increasing her defense by 30%.
"Yu Tianxin, if you insist on opposing me, don't blame me for being rude!"
As the granddaughter of Poison Douluo, Dugu Yan naturally carried her own pride, especially when facing Yu Tianheng's rival!
"You dare to challenge me head-on?!"
A soul ring lit up on Yu Tianxin's body.
"First Soul Skill: Thunder Dragon Claw!"
The battle erupted in an instant.
Yu Tianxin's Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul, infused with electrifying effects, clashed fiercely with the poison-laden abilities of Dugu Yan's Jade Phosphor Serpent. Radiant flashes of light illuminated the forest.
Even the onlookers outside could feel the intensity of the fight.
"Yu Tianxin is clearly stronger. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon truly deserves its reputation as a top-tier beast martial soul."
"Dugu Yan isn't weak either. She can hold her own against Yu Tianxin's attacks while wielding her deadly poison. One mistake from Yu Tianxin, and he'll be in trouble."
"Wait—look! That's Qin Jian and Ning Rongrong. Are they planning to intervene? Who will they help this time?"
Elsewhere, Shui Bing'er, Huo Wu, and the others had successfully absorbed their soul rings and were beginning to exit the grounds.
"Yu Tianxin and Dugu Yan? Wait—is that Qin Jian?!"
Huo Wu immediately spotted Qin Jian through the light screen and scowled.
"That infuriating guy. If he dares interfere again, he won't even get a chance to enter the special-class zone!" she growled.
The others shook their heads at her grudge-holding behavior, while Shui Bing'er hesitated, conflicted yet unwilling to remain silent.
"Qin Jian must have his reasons. He wouldn't act recklessly," she said softly.
The instructor from Skywater Academy gave her a surprised look. "You're defending Qin Jian? Interesting... It seems my decision to invite him to the academy was correct. Only with him can Bing'er unlock her full potential."
"Hmph, he probably won't even dare to intervene and might just run away," Huo Wu sneered, pointing at the screen.
Shui Bing'er furrowed her delicate brows but found herself unable to refute. After all, Qin Jian did seem to be observing rather than stepping in. Could it be that he truly intended to stay out of it?
Back inside the Soul-Hunting Grounds, both Yu Tianxin and Dugu Yan noticed Qin Jian and Ning Rongrong standing a few dozen meters away.
"This is between her and me. Please, do not interfere," Yu Tianxin warned from a distance, not bothering to take Qin Jian and Ning Rongrong seriously given their lower ranks.
Dugu Yan shot them a glance but made no effort to seek their help.
Just as the onlookers expected Qin Jian to declare his stance, he spread his hands and smiled.
"Relax. We're just here to watch. We won't get involved."
Outside, Huo Wu immediately lit up with triumph. She glanced sideways at Shui Bing'er, crossing her arms smugly.
"See? I told you he wouldn't dare meddle."
Shui Bing'er frowned slightly, wanting to argue but unsure how to respond. Qin Jian indeed seemed uninterested in intervening. Was he truly just here to spectate?
--------------------------------
If you want to support me and read advance chapters, please visit:
patreon.com / igotneonlight
I would greatly appreciate your support if you choose to join my patreon 🙏