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Zhu Zhuqing's face turned even redder. She made a token struggle but obediently leaned against him, softly complaining:
"What... what little wife... I'm just your fiancée..."
"Yes, yes, fiancée, future little wife."
Dai Chengfeng smoothly went along, wrapping his arm around her slender yet elastic waist and gently pulling her into his embrace.
Zhu Zhuqing's body stiffened slightly, but feeling the warmth and reassuring presence emanating from Dai Chengfeng, she quickly relaxed, gently resting her head on his shoulder.
The tent was silent, with only the steady sound of their breathing and each other's heartbeats.
Holding the fragrant softness in his arms, Dai Chengfeng felt much of his inner fatigue dissipate. Unusually, he didn't make any moves but closed his eyes, savoring this rare tranquility.
However...
Late at night, as Dai Chengfeng was half-asleep, an unexpected change suddenly occurred!
Deep within his sea of qi, the three-eyed golden lion representing his second martial soul suddenly trembled slightly, emitting a peculiar fluctuation mixed with excitement and agitation.
"Hmm?"
Dai Chengfeng was somewhat puzzled and woke up from his sleep. Then, addressing Qiu'er who appeared in the tent curiously, he asked:
"Qiu'er, what's wrong with you?"
"Dai Chengfeng! Dai Chengfeng! It's Sister Xiao Wu! I sense Sister Xiao Wu's presence!"
"Xiao Wu? How could she be here? Isn't this the central area of the Great Star Dou Forest?"
Due to the immense consumption of spiritual power from using the Divine Ultimate Kill, Dai Chengfeng's perception range had greatly diminished, so he hadn't detected any abnormalities at all.
Qiu'er's voice was full of certainty: "Yes! It's definitely Sister Xiao Wu's presence, and it's very close!"
"And... and the presences of those two big dummies, Da Ming and Er Ming, are also here!"
Xiao Wu? Da Ming? Er Ming?
For a moment, Dai Chengfeng narrowed his eyes.
Previously, Dai Chengfeng had been somewhat disdainful of Xiao Wu's hundred-thousand-year soul ring, as it wasn't a perfect match for his White Tiger martial soul.
But now, he possessed Qiu'er as his second martial soul!
Qiu'er was the Imperial Auspicious Beast, kin to the essence of the soul beasts of the Great Star Dou Forest. If they could obtain the sacrifices of the Titan Giant Ape and Sky Azure Bull Python… it would be a match made in heaven!
Moreover, Xiao Wu, as a hundred-thousand-year Soft Bone Rabbit, her soul ring and soul bones, if absorbed by Qiu'er, would undoubtedly have high compatibility.
If Tang San could have them, why can't I, Dai Chengfeng?
Thinking this, Dai Chengfeng glanced at Zhu Zhuqing still sleeping soundly in his arms, carefully moved away, gently laying her flat on the cushion and covering her with a thin blanket.
Zhu Zhuqing unconsciously smacked her lips in her sleep but did not wake up.
Dai Chengfeng quietly stood up, "Qiu'er, lead me to them."
"Alright!" Qiu'er responded excitedly.
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Dai Chengfeng suppressed all his aura, silently slipping out of the tent, following the direction indicated by Qiu'er in his mind, and sneaked into the dense forest beside the camp.
The moonlight was fragmented by the dense canopy, casting dim light in the forest.
After walking for about the time it takes to burn one stick of incense, passing through a dense thicket, the view suddenly opened up to reveal a small clearing.
On the clearing stood a young girl quietly.
She wore simple clothes, had a slender figure, long hair reaching her hips, and a pretty face—it was Xiao Wu!
Behind her stood two enormous figures.
To the left, one had a towering physique like a mountain, covered in black muscle resembling rock, with extraordinarily long arms—none other than the King of the Forest, the Titan Giant Ape Er Ming!
On the right, one was half bull, half python, covered entirely in azure scales, with a single horn on its head, exuding a terrifying presence like an abyss—it was the Sky Azure Bull Python Da Ming!
The three seemed to have been waiting here for some time.
And with Dai Chengfeng's arrival, their gazes simultaneously fell on him as he stepped out from the shadows of the trees.
Instantly, Xiao Wu's eyes lit up with anticipation, joy surfacing.
She almost skipped forward with delight, her voice filled with the happiness of a long-awaited reunion:
"Dai Chengfeng! Long time no see!"
Looking at this still lively and spirited girl, he smiled faintly and responded warmly:
"Yes, Xiao Wu, long time no see."
At this moment, Xiao Wu had already fixed her gaze on Dai Chengfeng, more precisely, on Qiu'er perched on his shoulder.
Her smile widened, carrying a hint of intimacy: "Qiu'er! You're here too!
I thought your presence felt strange; turns out you've been with Dai Chengfeng all along…"
However, before her words ended, she paused herself.
She blinked her big eyes, carefully "sensing" Qiu'er's presence, her delicate brows furrowing slightly.
Not just her, but behind her, the huge animal pupils of Da Ming and Er Ming also flashed with an undeniable trace of surprise.
Something's wrong!
Very wrong!
Qiu'er was standing right in front of them, the unique presence of the Imperial Auspicious Beast, the energy and essence fluctuation originating from the fate force of the Great Star Dou Forest—they couldn't possibly mistake it.
But…
In their perception, Qiu'er in front of them was more like a "soul entity" condensed with all her essence and consciousness, as if…
This state, for a spirit beast, usually only meant one thing—
After death, the soul hasn't completely dissipated.
Yet Qiu'er's soul was not only incredibly solid but also carried lively emotional fluctuations, completely defying common sense.
The boundary between life and death became blurred on Qiu'er, presenting an eerie state they had never seen or could understand.
"Qiu'er… you… what happened to you?"
The smile on Xiao Wu's face disappeared, replaced by deep confusion and a trace of unease.
"Why do I feel… feel like you're only a soul now?"
"Where is your body?"
Titan Giant Ape Er Ming also let out a low growl, his voice heavy like thunder, carrying suppressed anger and confusion.
Sky Azure Bull Python Da Ming's massive bull head also slightly lowered, his deep eyes locking onto Dai Chengfeng.
"Dai Chengfeng, what did you do to the auspicious beast?"
Feeling the almost tangible hostility and pressure from Da Ming and Er Ming, Dai Chengfeng's expression remained unchanged.
Qiu'er, however, smiled and explained: "Sister Xiao Wu! Da Ming! Er Ming! Don't rush, don't misunderstand Dai Chengfeng! It was my choice!"
"Your choice?"
Xiao Wu, Da Ming, and Er Ming were all stunned at once.
"Yes, my choice!"
Qiu'er's soul projection nodded vigorously, "Things aren't what you think."
"I decided to sacrifice myself to Dai Chengfeng after discussing with him!"
"Sacrifice?!"
Upon hearing these two words, Xiao Wu's face paled, and the auras of Da Ming and Er Ming became dangerously sharp.
Sacrifice held great significance for hundred-thousand-year spirit beasts, often meaning the spirit beast burning their life to give everything to the soul master, while their souls mostly fade away, rarely surviving.
"Let me finish explaining first!"
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