Chapter 181: The Two Daughters of the Zhu Family Escape!
Afterward, Tang Xiao made a decision: "How about this? Since you've broken through, your first soul ring absolutely cannot be taken lightly."
"In a couple of days, I'll personally accompany you to the Star Dou Great Forest and carefully select the most suitable soul beast for you."
Looking at his sister, Tang Xiao pondered and said, "With the special purification properties of your Noble Circle martial soul, you should be most suited to a purely support-type path, right?"
"You've been exhausted from the journey, so rest well in the sect for a few days first."
"During these days, the elders and I will also discuss what kind of soul beast would be most suitable for your first soul ring."
In fact, the reason Tang Xiao chose to travel farther to the Star Dou Great Forest instead of the closer Soul Hunting Forest… was due to unavoidable considerations.
Because those soul-hunting forests across the continent that raise low-level soul beasts are generally heavily guarded by the Spirit Hall.
To enter and hunt soul beasts, one must present a special token issued by Spirit Hall.
But the Clear Sky Sect was currently in an extremely sensitive state of seclusion. If they entered a soul-hunting forest with a token, it would mean exposing themselves directly under Spirit Hall's watch, which was clearly inappropriate.
Therefore, to safely obtain a soul ring, it was best to go to unmanaged forests.
Such as the Star Dou Great Forest or Sunset Forest.
But since Tang Xiao, a Super Douluo, would personally escort Tang Yuehua, safety was naturally not an issue.
Thus, the first choice was naturally the Star Dou Great Forest, which had the richest variety of soul beasts and the most options.
Listening to Tang Xiao's careful arrangements and protection, Tang Yuehua smiled slightly and nodded. "Then I'll have to trouble you, brother."
...
During these few days, while Tang Yuehua returned to the sect to prepare for hunting her first soul ring…
On the other side of the continent, within the Hell Duke's Mansion of the Star Luo Empire, a major event also occurred.
Ever since that day in imperial study, when Dai Yutian issued the final ultimatum to the Zhu family…
The entire Zhu family had been shrouded in a suffocating gloom.
Dai Yutian had given Zhu Ming a full month, ordering him to investigate why the "Hell White Tiger" martial soul fusion skill of Dai Weisi and Dai Mubai with Zhu Zhuyun and Zhu Zhuqing had suddenly and completely failed without warning.
Dai Yutian made it very clear that if no answer were found within a month, the entire Hell Duke's Mansion would be held accountable.
As the current head of the Zhu family, Zhu Ming knew better than anyone… This matter had no answer from the very beginning.
A sudden mutation in martial soul origin was not something he could uncover the true cause of within just one month through conventional means.
Since failure was inevitable, and it would even drag his two talented daughters into becoming tools for the royal family's wrath…
Zhu Ming made up his mind completely. He would never allow his daughters to become sacrifices in this political vortex.
He decided to take a desperate gamble and let his two daughters find the most suitable opportunity to escape Star Luo City!
When Zhu Ming revealed this entire plan in a secret chamber, Zhu Zhuyun initially hesitated and felt worried.
Although she also wanted to escape this cage, she feared that if the two sisters simply left…
What would happen to the remaining Zhu family when the imperial family erupted in fury?
Would their father be in danger?
But regarding this matter, Zhu Ming, as the head of the family, had a calculating glint in his eyes.
He clearly already had a complete plan and a way out prepared, so they need not worry about the family's safety at all.
Time was pressing, and delays could bring trouble.
Zhu Ming decisively set the escape time on a night with extremely dim darkness.
That day happened to coincide with the shift change of Star Luo City's defenses, when security was at its weakest and the guards most likely to grow drowsy late at night.
In the back courtyard of the duke's mansion, cold winds howled.
Zhu Ming looked solemnly at his two daughters, who were already dressed in neat nightgowns and ready to depart.
Lowering his voice, his tone carried unquestionable seriousness as he gave final instructions:
"Listen carefully. The journey ahead is long and fraught with danger."
"And you only have this one night at most to escape and create distance."
"Once dawn comes, the city gates will open, and once the news leaks, the royal family pursuers will come after you."
"So your speed must be fast!"
After speaking, Zhu Ming turned around. "She will take you both and leave the Star Luo Empire overnight."
As his words fell, a black-clad figure like a ghost silently emerged from the shadows.
Zhu Ming looked at this tall figure in black, his gaze extremely cold as he issued his command:
"On this mission, you must ensure the two young ladies leave the borders of the Star Luo Empire safely."
"From the moment you step out of this courtyard, you are no longer a member of the Zhu family."
"The only thing you must do is obey the two young ladies' commands and protect them with your life. Do you understand?"
The black-clad figure knelt on one knee, absolute obedience evident in her eyes.
She nodded respectfully without hesitation, indicating she fully understood the duke's orders.
This person was one of the top-tier death soldiers secretly cultivated by the Zhu family at great cost.
She was not only loyal but also a powerful agility-attack system Soul Saint at rank seventy-six!
Most importantly, because her martial soul was not the Zhu family's Hell Spirit Cat…
Even if she disappeared together with the two young ladies today, the Star Luo royal family would find it difficult to trace her identity back to the Zhu family during their investigation.
With such a powerful and clean-background agility-attack system Soul Saint secretly escorted Zhu Zhuyun and Zhu Zhuqing overnight…
Zhu Ming felt somewhat reassured.
Afterward, the black-clad death soldier stood up and pulled down part of her face covering, revealing a delicate yet cold face.
She looked firmly at Zhu Zhuyun and Zhu Zhuqing, her voice slightly hoarse:
"Young ladies, from now on, you may call me Hongxiu."
"From this moment on, my life belongs to both of you. I will protect your safety with my life."
This death soldier named Hongxiu was one of several commoner orphans secretly taken in by the Zhu family since childhood.
Among them, Hongxiu had the best cultivation talent and the most resilient personality.
To raise her as a hidden trump card, the Zhu family had secretly invested considerable resources over the years.
Hongxiu also understood patience and concealment extremely well.
Hidden in the shadows, she had never revealed her martial soul or Soul Saint-level strength in front of outsiders.
Thus, Zhu Ming had no concern that the Star Luo royal family would uncover her background, nor would they connect her to the Zhu family's escape.
Raise soldiers for a thousand days and use them in a single moment.
Now was the time for Hongxiu to repay the Zhu family!
End of Chapter