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Li Luochen walked with Zhu Zhuqing through the mixed zone of the Star Dou Forest. Why didn't they fly? Because flying created too much noise, and Li Luochen couldn't hide his overwhelming presence while airborne.
Such a powerful aura would scare off all the soul beasts—how could they hunt for souls then? Only hundred-thousand-year soul beasts wouldn't be frightened, but even they wouldn't fight back, let alone ten-thousand-year soul beasts.
So, Li Luochen simply walked through the forest with Zhu Zhuqing.
The air in the Star Dou Forest was refreshingly pure, as long as you weren't near a soul beast's nest or their droppings. Usually, it felt like stepping into a fairyland.
After three years, Zhu Zhuqing had grown even more radiant. Her already stunning figure had become even more striking, and her once youthful face had matured gracefully.
At seventeen years old, Zhu Zhuqing's soul power had reached Level 70. By soul master standards, this level of talent was extraordinary.
Moreover, Zhu Zhuqing now possessed both beauty and strength—a combination that made her hard not to admire. It was no wonder she wasn't just another "snowflake." (Beautiful but fragile)
"Hmm? Something's coming. Zhuqing, stay alert!"
The spiritual power Li Luochen had extended detected something approaching at incredible speed, its presence deliberately concealed.
In an instant, Li Luochen guessed that this might be the perfect soul ring for Zhu Zhuqing. After all, the combination of speed and hidden presence clearly indicated a dark-speed attribute.
Based on what Li Luochen sensed, this soul beast was over seventy thousand years old. Perfect timing!
On the other side, a pitch-black cat darted through the forest at high speed. Its eyes were yellow, and its body exuded a dark aura.
It seemed to have caught the scent of something familiar—perhaps a "heavenly treasure" suited for it—and charged forward recklessly.
This Netherworld Spirit Cat was the oldest one in the Star Dou Forest. Eight meters long and two meters tall, it appeared smaller compared to other large soul beasts, but its combat strength should not be underestimated.
This Netherworld Spirit Cat was eighty-six thousand years old, a true apex-level soul beast. Aside from rare-bloodline soul beasts and hundred-thousand-year soul beasts, it had no rivals.
Its speed was extraordinary, and it was extremely agile, making it difficult to catch. Moreover, this Netherworld Spirit Cat was different from ordinary ones—its claws were longer and sharper, and its dark aura was denser.
This Netherworld Spirit Cat was highly intelligent. As a hunter, it knew how to conceal its true strength. It had a trump card—it had once ambushed and killed a Title Douluo.
By consuming the body of that Title Douluo, its cultivation had skyrocketed recently. It was confident it could reach ninety thousand years within a few decades and break through to a hundred thousand years within a millennium!
It aimed to become the true ruler of the Spirit Cat lineage!
Today, while resting, it sensed a particularly sensitive presence. The feeling it got was clear—if it consumed whatever that thing was, its cultivation would skyrocket, allowing it to break through to a hundred-thousand-year soul beast even faster!
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In Reality
Li Luochen stood protectively beside Zhu Zhuqing, sensing the approaching soul beast. In just three breaths, a massive black cat appeared before them.
"A Netherworld Spirit Cat?!" Zhu Zhuqing exclaimed in surprise. She was very familiar with this type of soul beast—it was the same type as her martial soul.
"Mm, yes. It's around eighty-five thousand years old. Zhuqing, your luck is quite good."
Li Luochen and Zhu Zhuqing whispered quietly.
Meanwhile, the Netherworld Spirit Cat stared at Zhu Zhuqing, its eyes gleaming with greed. It sensed that the thing it sought was either on this human woman or had been consumed by her. Eating her would suffice.
However, as it glanced at the human man beside her, it detected a faint but undeniable sense of danger. As a skilled hunter, it trusted its instincts. At first glance, the human man didn't seem strong, but the dangerous aura didn't dissipate.
Thus, the Netherworld Spirit Cat hesitated to act. Compared to seizing opportunities, it valued its life more. It circled cautiously, unwilling to launch a direct attack.
But Li Luochen had no patience to wait. His soul rings erupted!
Red, red, red, red, orange-gold, red, red, red, gold.
Nine soul rings appeared—one strange configuration indeed.
The ninth soul ring, pure gold, was granted by the Golden Dragon Pill—a true god-level soul ring that bestowed four soul skills!
The dragon pill also enhanced the years of the dragon-type soul rings on Li Luochen's body. The first four soul rings were boosted to the hundred-thousand-year tier, while the fifth soul ring, already at the ten-thousand-year level, was elevated to a ferocious beast-tier soul ring.
This was Li Luochen's greatest gain after emerging from seclusion—all top-tier soul rings. On this continent, aside from gods, who could match him? Bibi Dong wielding her divine artifact was an exception, as was the Great Mother Dragon of the Star Dou Forest.
Li Luochen's current strength allowed him to defeat both the ancient black dragon of the Star Dou Forest and the giant whale of the ocean!
The ninth golden soul ring on Li Luochen's body began to shimmer, and a golden barrier suddenly extended outward.
"Ninth Soul Skill: Golden Dragon Domain!"
The Golden Dragon Domain was a field-type soul skill. Li Luochen unleashed a golden domain that suppressed his opponent's state. If the opponent was a beast, the suppression was even stronger.
In an instant, the Netherworld Spirit Cat felt its strength plummet to just ten percent of its original power. It panicked but realized there was no escape—it was doomed today.
Internally, it cursed furiously: 'Damn cunning humans! Why bother hiding your aura? Pretending to be weak only to strike later—isn't that meaningless? Bullying a tens-of-thousands-year-old youngster like me! How unfair!'
Unaware of the Netherworld Spirit Cat's inner monologue, Li Luochen directly suppressed it with his soul power, crushing its bones and leaving it severely injured.
"Zhuqing, finish it."
Upon hearing Li Luochen's words, Zhu Zhuqing summoned her martial soul, extending her cat claws and swiftly ending the Netherworld Spirit Cat's life.
In its final moments, the Netherworld Spirit Cat noticed a powerful attraction toward the human woman. It deduced that she must have consumed some kind of treasure. Additionally, it realized that this human woman was also a Netherworld Spirit Cat.
As a seasoned hunter, it had met its end today. With no mate or offspring, it had lived a solitary life—hunters didn't need companions.
Having committed to its path as a hunter, the Netherworld Spirit Cat was ultimately killed by Zhu Zhuqing's fatal blow. A pitch-black soul ring emerged from its body.
After finishing, Zhu Zhuqing glanced at Li Luochen, flashed a faint smile, and sat down cross-legged to absorb the soul ring.
Meanwhile, Li Luochen began searching for soul bones. He felt his luck should be good—since the soul ring had come to them unbidden, surely there should be a bonus. Perhaps a soul bone?
Since Zhu Zhuqing had killed the Netherworld Spirit Cat with a headshot, there was no soul bone in its skull or limbs.
When Li Luochen examined the torso of the Netherworld Spirit Cat, he detected fluctuations of soul power. He grinned—indeed, handsome people always had great luck! He chuckled softly.
Li Luochen directly cracked open the Netherworld Spirit Cat's body and retrieved a complete black torso bone. This soul bone was eighty-six thousand years old, and when paired with Zhu Zhuqing's soul ring, its power would rival that of a hundred-thousand-year soul ring.
Li Luochen grabbed the soul bone, sat down beside Zhu Zhuqing, and waited for her to finish absorbing the soul ring.
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