Lin Xuan carefully examined the black bead in her hand. Three colors—cyan, blue, and silver—were rendered on it, exuding a demonic aura.
"A soul core? No, an inner core?"
Lin Xuan's eyebrows twitched. "This guy wasn't a simple soul beast, was he? The power contained in this bead is neither comparable to an ordinary soul core, nor is it like any inner core I've ever seen.
What on earth is it? Why does it carry a trace of a god's aura? And it's a very evil kind. It seems to have some self-awareness too, to actually know to come out and escape only after I've been gone for a while."
"Forget it, whatever. I don't care what it is, I'll take it first." She winked at the Profound Jade Knife behind her. The Profound Jade Knife understood and stored the bead produced after the Dark Devilgod Tiger's death into an alternate space.
"I'll take it back for Daddy to see. He's knowledgeable and will definitely be able to identify the origin of this thing. U-la-la~" Lin Xuan continued to hum an unknown tune and took out several spherical objects from her pocket.
She picked up one, drew it with her soul power, and then threw it into the lake.
Boom—
With a loud bang, the moment the spherical object touched the water, it exploded like a miniature bomb, splashing up a huge spray of water and circles of spreading ripples.
In the spray of water, several fish that had been blasted dizzy floated to the surface with their white bellies up, clearly the innocent victims of this sudden "fish bombing" operation.
Seeing this scene, Lin Xuan couldn't help but giggle. Her laughter was crisp and pleasant, with a hint of mischief and pride.
"Ho ho, the soul tool bomb experiment was a success. This young lady is quite talented with soul tools~"
Lin Xuan smiled and scooped up a few stunned fish from the lake. She skillfully skewered them on a long, thin branch, then found a flat stone to sit on, preparing to grill the fish on the spot.
She took out some seasonings from the small bag she carried with her, sprinkled them evenly on the fish, then snapped her fingers, and a fire rose up on the spot.
"A family heirloom skill, hmph hmph." Lin Xuan hummed a little tune proudly, placed the skewered fish over the fire, and slowly roasted them. In a short while, the aroma of the fish meat wafted out with the curling green smoke, making one's mouth water.
Di Tian: ...silently took out a fruit from his pocket and took a bite. He was really fed up with this nanny's life.
"By the way, where was that bead trying to run to just now?" Lin Xuan asked the Profound Jade Knife floating in front of her as she took a big bite of the grilled fish.
The Profound Jade Knife hummed a few times.
"Oh ho? This thing can actually cross planes? This tiger's attainment in the laws of space is quite strong. Which plane was it trying to run to?"
The Profound Jade Knife hummed a few more times, seeming to convey more specific information. Lin Xuan narrowed her eyes and listened intently, then a playful smile appeared on the corner of her lips.
"The Haomiao Continent? It's very close to the Douluo Star. Daddy probably won't blame me for running around, right? Ehehe~"
Lin Xuan put the rest of the grilled fish into her storage soul tool and pointed a finger at the sky. "Let's go, Little Xuanji! We're going to that continent to have a look!"
The Profound Jade Knife trembled slightly, emitting a crisp hum.
Di Tian: ...?
!!!
"Wait!—"
Di Tian instantly revealed himself and shouted hastily, but Lin Xuan had already impatiently taken a step forward. Her figure drew a graceful arc in the air as she stepped into the teleportation formation leading to the Haomiao Continent.
Di Tian's shout echoed in the air, but he could only watch helplessly as Lin Xuan's figure gradually blurred and was finally completely swallowed by the power of space.
"I..."
Cold sweat continuously trickled down Di Tian's forehead. He stood there in a daze, staring at the place where Lin Xuan had disappeared, his mind in utter chaos.
If anything happened to Lin Xuan on another plane, would he be getting a death sentence?
Lin Xuan was the child of Bibi Dong and Lin Feng, but he had no doubt that if anything happened to her, Gu Yuena would be the first to tear him to shreds...
Just as he was burning with anxiety and about to head directly to the Divine Realm, Lin Feng's figure suddenly appeared beside Di Tian, patting him on the shoulder.
"Don't worry."
"My—" Di Tian was startled.
Lin Feng's face was full of black lines. He shot a look at Di Tian. "I've been watching in secret all along. If Xuan'er wants to go and play, just let her. That plane is also very weak. Your mission is complete. Have a bowl of chicken soup."
Di Tian's expression returned to its usual lack of emotion. He took the bowl of chicken soup from Lin Feng's hand and drank it in one gulp. A majestic energy instantly flowed into his limbs and bones.
He clasped his hands in a salute. "Congratulations to the Revered One on forging the Divine Star."
"Mm. Remember to say hello when you come to the Divine Star. I brought back some dragons from other planes. You can go and train them, haha."
Lin Feng's figure gradually dissipated.
—
Heavenly Jewel Change world, Haomiao Continent.
Heavenly Bow Empire, outside Heavenly Bow City, Star Forest.
Zhou Weiqing walked on the road to the forest with an arrogant swagger. "The weather is so hot. I should go for a dip in the ice spring. A pile of annoying things, I shouldn't even think about them."
Zhou Weiqing hummed a little tune, in a rather pleasant mood, completely unaware of the dangers lurking in the Star Forest he was about to enter.
He left the main road and walked into the dense forest. Soon, a cool breeze blew towards him. Zhou Weiqing's eyes lit up; the small lake was not far away.
It was a clear little lake surrounded by huge rocks and trees, with thin wisps of mist rising from the water's surface.
"The water from the underground ice spring. Taking a dip in this hot weather, what a beautiful death~"
He took off his clothes and looked at the water's surface by the lake. "Holy crap, I'm so damn handsome!"
"Oh?"
He suddenly stared intently. Not far in front of him, a pink-haired young girl went into the water. White, tender, and round...
Zhou Weiqing's drool was about to flow out. "Turn around, hurry up and turn around!!!"
"Princess, be careful! Someone's here!!"
"Ah—"
Two and a half seconds later, the marshal's son, the viscount who could not cultivate, Zhou Weiqing, was brought to justice on the spot by Princess Difuya of this country and her court guard, Niya.
Niya's sword hovered at Zhou Weiqing's throat, its tip trembling slightly, reflecting his eyes which were wide with terror.
Zhou Weiqing's heart pounded like a drum, and cold sweat dripped from his forehead. He had never expected that a momentary greed and lapse of composure would lead to such a result.
"Princess, he... how should he be dealt with?" Niya's voice was cold and firm, but the tip of her sword did not advance any further. She was clearly waiting for Princess Difuya's instructions.
Princess Difuya walked out of the water and put her clothes back on, covering her proud figure. Her eyes were filled with anger.
"It's you?" Difuya frowned.
"It's you!" Zhou Weiqing exclaimed in pleasant surprise. "Quick, quick, let me go! You're my fiancée. Let's not say I didn't see anything. Even if I did, so what?"
Difuya looked at the shameless, grinning Zhou Weiqing, and her frown deepened. A trace of disgust and confusion flashed in her eyes.
"Shut up! The husband of this princess must be a dragon among men. A despicable, lewd, and shameless scoundrel like you is worthy?"
"Niya, do it! Kill him! This princess will take responsibility!"
Niya was speechless.
Zhou Weiqing was suddenly enraged. The fawning look on his face turned to anger. "Damn it, so what if I looked? So what if I'm despicable, lewd, and shameless? You're my fiancée in name. So what the hell if I looked?
The law can't touch me either. If it weren't for my congenitally blocked meridians, you would have already been eagerly lying in my bed, helping me undress! Damn it, you brain-dead, smelly woman!"
When Difuya saw her fiancé's attitude change so quickly and how he spoke so arrogantly, insulting her, feelings of unwillingness, resentment, grievance, and anger surged up in her heart all at once.
She bit her lower lip, and her left hand instantly shot up. Two dazzling red gems appeared.
These were Elemental Jewels, gems that controlled the elements. Along with the Physical Jewels that strengthened the body, they were the cultivation method of this world.
"Go to hell!" Two fireballs the size of human heads instantly flew towards Zhou Weiqing.
"Princess, no!!!" Niya was greatly alarmed. If this hit, she didn't know if Zhou Weiqing would die, but she would definitely be in trouble. If the marshal's son had an accident, wouldn't she be the one to take the fall?
Boom—
The fireballs, with a splendid fiery light, cut through the air and slammed directly into Zhou Weiqing's back, sending him flying several meters. His back was a piece of scorched black, and the smell of burning came from it. It was clear he wouldn't survive.
"You... you..."
Zhou Weiqing's head lolled to one side, and he fainted.
"What... what have I done? I didn't mean to..." Difuya was at a loss and froze.
Niya pulled Difuya and was about to leave. "Let's go back to the city quickly, Your Highness. I'll go find a life-type Elemental Master."
Just then, the sky suddenly turned gloomy. Dark clouds gathered, and thunder rumbled, as if heralding an extraordinary event.
A strange light cut across the sky and fell directly into the Star Forest. Where the light dissipated, a young girl in strange clothes and carrying a divine knife on her back slowly appeared.
"Huh? Where is this? Little Xuanji, are we there yet?" Lin Xuan looked around, her eyes sparkling with curiosity and excitement. The Profound Jade Knife trembled gently beside her, as if in response to her inquiry.
Lin Xuan took light steps and walked towards the ice spring surrounded by huge rocks. As soon as she got close, she heard a commotion not far away, as well as the faintly visible scorched marks, the unconscious Zhou Weiqing, and the two stunned women.
"Yo! Hello there!"
"He-hello?" Difuya stammered in response. This suddenly appearing young girl had left her at a loss. Niya, on the other hand, stood guard in front of Difuya, her hand gripping her sword tightly, ready to deal with any possible sudden situation.
Lin Xuan looked at their nervous appearance and couldn't help but laugh. "Don't be so nervous. I'm not a bad person. My name is Lin Xuan, and I come from a very distant place. I just got here and ran into you."
The hidden Lin Feng's divine sense: Using real name. Points deducted.
"Why is he lying on the ground? The ground is so dirty. Sniff, sniff, smells burnt...
I'm not very familiar with this place since I just arrived. Is it the custom here to roast oneself and then lie on the ground?"
Lin Xuan's words left Difuya and Niya stunned. They clearly didn't understand what Lin Xuan's sudden strange question meant. Niya frowned and was about to ask, but was beaten to it by Difuya.
"He... he didn't roast himself. It was... it was me..." Difuya explained haltingly, her face a little pale. She was still frightened and at a loss about what had just happened.
"This... Senior? I wonder if you can save his life? My Heavenly Bow Empire will definitely reward you generously." Niya mustered her courage and requested of Lin Xuan.
She could see that although Lin Xuan's words and actions were a bit strange, the aura she exuded made people feel trustful. Moreover, with Zhou Weiqing's life now in the balance, they could only pin their hopes on this suddenly appearing young girl.
Lin Xuan blinked and looked at the anxious expressions of Niya and Difuya. A playful smile appeared on the corner of her lips. "Senior?"
"Mmm, hmm, Senior, hehe." Lin Xuan giggled.
"That's right, it is I, Senior! If heaven had not given birth to me, Lin Xiaoxuan, the vast universe would be like an endless night!"
She suddenly turned her back to Niya and the other, her hands behind her back, putting on a profound and unfathomable appearance.
Difuya and Niya looked at each other, not knowing how to respond for a moment.
This senior, who had torn through the void to arrive and whose background was unknown, was she really a child? Or was she a legendary expert with a youthful appearance?
But what she said sounded very impressive...
Difuya looked at the unconscious Zhou Weiqing on the ground and frowned slightly. "Senior Lin Xuan, can you save him? He... he is, after all, the son of the marshal of our Heavenly Bow Empire. If he dies just like this, I'm afraid none of us will be able to explain it. Whatever reward you want, we can do our best to get it."
Lin Xuan looked down at Zhou Weiqing. "Save him? It's not impossible, but I have to see if he's worth saving first.
Mmm..."
As she spoke, Lin Xuan squatted down, her fingers gently resting on Zhou Weiqing's wrist. A gentle soul power slowly flowed into his body, checking his injuries.
A moment later, Lin Xuan frowned. "How are this guy's meridians so strange? They seem to be congenitally blocked? So he's an ordinary person. No wonder he ended up like this after taking a hit from you."
"By the way, why was he injured by you like this?" Lin Xuan looked up at Difuya curiously, a trace of curiosity flashing in her eyes.
Difuya's face reddened slightly, and she lowered her head in embarrassment. "He... he was peeping at me while I was bathing. I was angry for a moment, so I..."
"Oh~ so that's how it is." Lin Xuan drew out her voice and looked at Zhou Weiqing with disgust. "Then this guy got what he deserved. Peeping at a girl bathing, hmph hmph, he might as well be dead."
After saying that, she stood up directly, no longer caring about Zhou Weiqing's life or death, and was about to turn and walk into the forest, seemingly full of interest in exploring this unknown continent.
"Senior, Senior! Please wait!" Seeing this, Difuya hurriedly shouted. She didn't want Zhou Weiqing to die just like this. After all, he was the marshal's son. If the matter blew up, they wouldn't be able to get away with it.
Lin Xuan stopped and turned to look at Difuya, raising an eyebrow. "What? Is there something else?"
Difuya gritted her teeth and said, "Senior, I beg you to save him. Although he was in the wrong, his crime does not deserve death. Moreover, if he dies just like this, our Heavenly Bow Empire will definitely be in chaos.
I am also at fault in this matter. I was the one who spoke harshly first, angering him, and then I was so angry by his insults that I lost my head..."
"Hmm?"
Lin Xuan frowned. She crossed her arms and looked at Zhou Weiqing, then at Difuya and the other.
She sighed and took out a wheel-shaped soul tool from her pocket. This was made by Lin Feng, and it had the power of time and space added to it, able to replay what had happened within a thousand-meter radius within a day.
"Senior, what is this?" Niya subconsciously thought it was for saving people.
"Let me take a look first."
Lin Xuan waved her hand. Soul power prompted the wheel to slowly rotate, emitting a faint light. Scenes appeared within it, showing the entire process of Zhou Weiqing peeping at Difuya bathing, their argument, and Difuya striking out in anger.
Lin Xuan watched carefully, her brow sometimes furrowed, sometimes relaxed. When the scene had completely finished playing, she sighed softly and put the wheel away.
"I roughly understand the situation." Lin Xuan looked at Difuya and Niya, her tone carrying a hint of helplessness. "This guy is indeed a bastard. And you, Princess Difuya, did indeed strike too hard.
Hmm?"
Lin Xuan suddenly frowned and took out the Dark Devilgod Tiger's inner core from the alternate space. At this moment, the bead was flashing with a strange light towards Zhou Weiqing, and Zhou Weiqing on the ground also seemed to sense it and twitched.
"Trying to run into this person's body? In your dreams, hmph hmph."
Lin Xuan expressionlessly put away the inner core. "Both of them are at fault, so I'm not helping either of them. Besides, this guy is already dead. See you later~~~"
"Sen—"
"Aiya, so annoying!"
Lin Xuan pouted. "Thunder, come!!!"
With a light shout from Lin Xuan, the originally gloomy dark clouds in the sky seemed to have heard a summons. Suddenly, there was a flash of lightning and a roll of thunder. A thick bolt of lightning cut across the sky and fell directly on Zhou Weiqing's position.
Rumble—
The corpse of Zhou Weiqing instantly turned to charcoal.
"There. Now you can report back. Run along now, and don't bother me."