The Road to Star Luo
"Tons… tons… tons…"
Inside the swaying, luxuriously-decorated carriage, Qin Ming's patient lecture was constantly drowned out by the rhythmic sound of gulping. The narrow space amplified it until every student flinched with every swallow.
"…If you want to become a truly excellent soul master—"
"Tons… tons… ha!"
Qin Ming's lips twitched violently. He regretted more than anything volunteering to lead this trip. When they left the academy, he remembered the other teachers' gazes—grateful smiles, sympathetic eyes, even suppressed laughter.
So that's what they meant. Teacher Qin Ming, thank the heavens it's you!
Even now, their knowing expressions haunted him like ghosts.
Qin Ming cast a tired glance. In one corner, Lu Yuan sat with Ye Lingling nestled in his left arm and Dugu Yan tucked under his right. A massive wine jar rested easily against his hip, vanishing sip by sip. He didn't acknowledge Qin Ming's existence in the slightest.
At least, Qin Ming thought grimly, they hadn't started any fights yet. Peace is a luxury I can accept.
He cleared his throat again. "Next stop—once we leave Tiandou territory, we'll enter the Star Luo Empire…"
"Tons… tons…"
[Ding! Host confirmed healthy. Right Arm Soul Bone—Force of Explosion +30 years.]
Lu Yuan grinned mid-sip. "Good wine!"
In just two days, the spirit bone that "Little Xuexue" found for him had already absorbed a hundred extra years. Although it wasn't the strongest, it matched his attributes perfectly.
That Xuexue might be stingy with his bed, but he was reliable when it counted.
The only strange thing? When he handed over the soul bone, his expression had been uneasy, almost… fearful. Lu Yuan didn't dwell on it. He woke up in bed the morning after drinking and couldn't remember anything strange anyway.
No use thinking. Drink!
Numbers on a Panel
That evening, as the carriage rolled on, Lu Yuan tapped open his System interface in boredom.
[Name: Lu Yuan]
[Level: 49]
[Martial Soul: ??]
[Spirit Rings: Purple (2100), Purple (3200), Purple (5130), Black (18,250)]
[First Skill – Surge: Boosts all attributes by 70%]
[Second Skill – Broken Air Slash: Execute 9 lightning slashes in every direction]
[Third Skill – Sword Array: Trap foes in an array of sword shadows that shred endlessly]
[Fourth Skill – Sword Will: Burns sword intent briefly, massively boosting attack]
[Soul Bone – Dark Evil Phoenix (Left Arm, 48,600)]
[Soul Bone Skill – Dark Fire: Black flames fuse with Sword Qi]
[Soul Bone – Force of Explosion (Right Arm, 31,050)]
[Soul Bone Skill – Earth Slash: Generate a massive Soul Power blade to strike forward]
(Note: Host gains special attribute bonuses while drunk!)
Lu Yuan snorted. He rarely checked this "panel." To him, numbers were dead ink. Combat was decided on the battlefield, not on a screen.
Besides, one swing of his drunken blade could chop through people ten levels higher. Qin Ming at level sixty wasn't even a challenge now—just a watermelon waiting to be split.
Still… "Sword Intent." That part puzzled him. After excessive alcohol, excess strength consolidated into "sword intent." Yet the System gave no explanation when it finally appeared.
Currently, his Sword Intent only burned for three seconds. But in that flash of time—his power skyrocketed.
A Midnight Encounter
Night fell. The group stopped in a forest to let the exhausted horses rest.
Lu Yuan yawned awake in the carriage. Pillows of soft warmth pressed against him—Lingling curled up on one side, Dugu Yan using his arm as her cushion. He shifted, freeing himself with a wince.
"Tons… tons…" A quick drink warmed him against the chill.
"The Shi brothers weigh too much," he muttered, staggering into the trees. "Even the horses collapsed. Now we have to spend the night here. Useless baggage…"
He loosened his trousers, ready to relieve himself. But before he could, his hazy eyes sharpened.
In front of him, shadows stirred. A slender figure cloaked in black emerged silently from the brush.
A girl.
The Black-Clad Girl
Her face was hidden, but her body's curves were impossible not to notice. She froze as their eyes met—him mid-relief, her mid-sneak.
Lu Yuan gave a drunken grin. "Well now, Missy… hiding skills are superb. But peeping on me while I pee… isn't that a bit much?"
"…I didn't see anything." The girl's cold voice betrayed tension.
"Ha! Pretty cutie—want a drink?" Lu Yuan swaggered forward, forcing her to retreat two quick steps, wariness flashing in her eyes.
Blood trailed down her arm.
"Injured?" His tone darkened half a degree. "Which bastard dared hurt my pretty little eyebrow?"
Before the girl could answer—
Swish!
Arrows sang through the air.
Lu Yuan growled. "Tch. Interrupting my toilet!"
The girl shifted instinctively, ducking behind a tree. But by then, Lu Yuan was already gone.
Sword Shadows
"Little sister, you're so good!" His laugh rang as he blurred forward.
The girl gasped. That speed—no drunken stagger remained. Just an afterimage, sword flashing in the night.
Shing—shing—shing—!
Sword Qi crisscrossed the forest, darkness lit by streaks of black flame.
One by one, assassins hidden among the trees dropped like broken dolls, thudding heavily into the undergrowth.
"Tons… tons… tons…"
Lu Yuan raised the jar for another sip, standing idle as corpses dropped around him. "You bastards, bullying a beautiful girl… Have you no shame?"
From deeper in the woods, another voice floated out.
"Zhuqing, imagine my surprise—you brought a helper?"
A taller girl appeared, figure even prouder than the first. Dozens of black-clad killers followed, fanning out menacingly.
Her eyes narrowed on Lu Yuan and his sword.
"This beauty…" Lu Yuan squinted at her appreciatively. "You're not here for a drink, are you?"
"Humph. Today—" She stopped cold.
Her gaze fell to Lu Yuan's spirit rings.
Four rings glowed around him: three purples… and one black.
Zhu Zhuyun's pupils shrank. Her mouth opened soundlessly, then closed again.
What kind of abomination is this…?!
The sword's pressure bore down on her ruthlessly, heavy as a mountain. She paled, trembling. In a heartbeat, all bravado shattered.
"I admit it," she spat, retreating abruptly, shaking her men off. "Smelly girl, you just wait!"
The assassins melted back into the forest with her.
Cold Gratitude
Zhu Zhuqing—her name at last—stood frozen, lips pressed tight. Her icy face betrayed flashes of shock.
Such terrifying spirit rings—completely defying common sense.
She glanced at Lu Yuan. He was watching her calmly, wine jar extended.
"Kitty, have a drink. It'll ease the pain."
She hesitated under his casually unguarded gaze. Slowly, she took the jar.
"…Thank you." Her voice remained chilly. Instead of drinking, she poured the potent liquor straight over her pierced shoulder wound.
The alcohol sizzled painfully against torn flesh. Her tense muscles finally relaxed, but dizziness overtook her. Black blurred her vision.
"Uh…" Her legs buckled. Her body crumpled toward the ground.
But strong arms caught her.
Lu Yuan chuckled. "Another beautiful girl joins the collection."
He hoisted her easily against his chest, carrying her back to camp. His smile flashed under the moonlight.
"Hold it together, little sister. We'll drink properly when you wake."
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