Chapter 34: Zhu Zhuqing: "Don't Judge a Tiger by Its Eyes!" | Ning Rongrong Invites You to Team Up!
"Ho~ You're actually disappointed?"
"If you want the recording, practice it yourself!"
Bai Lu found it rather amusing and directly tossed the spiritual recording of the earlier battle to Zhu Zhuqing.
"Don't look down on me, I'll do it myself!"
Zhu Zhuqing snorted softly, almost instinctively.
As one of the strongest prodigies of this era, even if she was only an acquired genius, she still carried her pride deep within her heart.
They were merely two self-created soul skills. With her unparalleled talent and relentless effort, mastering them would only be a matter of time!
"Oh? Is that so?"
Bai Lu teased, "Let's see how hard you work, little clever kitten."
Zhu Zhuqing steadied her mind and activated the recording, beginning with an analysis of [Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track].
The footwork was unfathomably mysterious. It appeared casual on the surface, yet every single step concealed exquisite force application techniques and precise soul power circulation.
"So like this… then that… then this… and finally, like this…"
After watching for a while, Zhu Zhuqing snapped the projection shut with a crisp pop.
Her brain declared: That's it? Nothing special. I've got it!
Brimming with confidence, she found an empty corner of the Soul Arena and began practicing.
She stepped out with the first move, and her figure swayed.
Second step, her center of gravity wobbled.
Third step—
Bang!
The young girl scrambled up awkwardly from the ground, rubbing her aching knee.
Her feet declared: No! You can't!
"Have you learned it yet?"
Bai Lu's teasing voice rang out again. "Are you actually capable, little kitty~?"
"No rush. I'll try the other one first."
Zhu Zhuqing's expression remained calm as she turned to study [Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon].
The technique was astonishingly refined. With a single pull and push, it could even alter the trajectory of an opponent's attack.
Her brain assessed: A bit difficult, but I've got it!
She decided to test it on a stone.
Soul power surged, palm thrust forward—
Boom!
The stone's silent message: Dear family, I've cracked!
Her hand responded: No! You can't!
"…"
After several attempts, Zhu Zhuqing stood in silence, her face utterly composed, without the slightest ripple of emotion.
Then, she cast a longing gaze into the spiritual sea.
Three bold words were written in her eyes:
Bai Lu, add points!
"Where did your backbone go? Your confidence? Weren't you the unrivaled genius?"
Bai Lu laughed in exasperation. "Does Tiger Eye still look down on people now?"
"…"
Zhu Zhuqing calmly looked up at the sky as if nothing had happened.
But soon, she concluded—
Backbone and confidence are important, yes. But sometimes, reaping rewards effortlessly is also a form of great wisdom.
Let professionals handle professional matters. Copying these two soul skills, she'd leave that to him.
"666!"
Bai Lu rolled his eyes dramatically.
"I'm done with you! Listen to yourself—twisted logic one after another. Who taught you that?"
Zhu Zhuqing remained silent, simply staring at Bai Lu within the spiritual sea.
"Why are you looking at me? I taught you?"
"Out of all things to learn, you learned this?"
His tone suddenly shifted. "Want me to teach you something more… Stimulating?"
Hearing that, Zhu Zhuqing quietly withdrew her gaze.
Retreat. Tactical retreat!
With her failed attempt at self-learning soul skills concluded, Zhu Zhuqing returned to the main hall, preparing to continue new Soul Arena matches.
However—
The staff member said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Soul Master. Each participant may only engage in one battle of the same type per day.
Today, you may only participate in 2v2 matches or 6v6 team battles."
"Is there such a rule?"
Beneath her mask, Zhu Zhuqing frowned slightly. "Then sign me up for a life-and-death match and a wager match."
"Are you certain?"
"I'm certain."
"Very well."
The staff nodded. "However, these two battle types have fewer participants. You may need to wait longer. Are you willing to wait?"
"That's fine."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded indifferently.
At that moment, a crisp voice, clear as wind chimes, suddenly sounded from beside her:
"Hey hey hey~ Soul Master, you're here to participate in Soul Arena battles too, right?"
Zhu Zhuqing turned her head and saw an extremely familiar-looking, pure and lively young girl smiling at her. Two adorable dimples adorned her cheeks.
She might not know the girl's exact identity, but she knew this much—
The girl was a member of Shrek Academy.
And even though she wore a mask, Zhu Zhuqing could sense that the other party had already recognized her.
"What do you have in mind?"
Zhu Zhuqing inclined her head slightly.
"My name is Ning Rongrong. My martial soul is the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. Girl helps girl, so how about we form a team?"
As she spoke, Ning Rongrong openly sized up the disguised Zhu Zhuqing.
For some reason, her gaze lingered a little too long on Zhu Zhuqing's chest before she subconsciously glanced down at her own toes.
Oh no. Completely crushed.
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda? Don't you have other classmates?"
Zhu Zhuqing looked at her twice more and spoke frankly.
If she remembered correctly, among the six members of Shrek, there were four battle soul masters.
No matter how one looks at it, it shouldn't be the turn of a support soul master to approach her.
"This… I just don't want to team up with that guy!"
Ning Rongrong's face darkened immediately.
Setting aside Tang San and Xiao Wu, who were practically inseparable, the remaining battle soul masters were Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun.
The former was a Soul Elder. If she teamed up with him, she would be forced into the Soul Elder bracket, missing one soul skill and walking straight into being crushed.
And besides, she did not like the way that so-called lecherous tiger looked at her.
As for the latter—
A dead-fatty. Utterly lewd and disgusting. Just looking at him annoyed her.
As for Oscar…
"Ah…"
Ning Rongrong sighed inwardly.
Now she understood why her sect required direct-line disciples to marry battle soul masters.
When real danger and combat arrived, no matter how talented you were, support and food-type soul masters truly lacked the necessary strength.
The Soul Arena battle hadn't even begun for the day, yet her favorable impression of Oscar had already dropped noticeably.
Compared to that, teaming up with Zhu Zhuqing was entirely different.
Even if they entered the Soul Elder bracket, there were still differences among Soul Elders.
Zhu Zhuqing could fight Dai Mubai as a Soul Grandmaster and beat Tang San into silence as a Soul Elder. With her, the "strongest" support boosting her, climbing ranks would absolutely not be a problem!
"Alright. Let's team up."
After a moment's thought, Zhu Zhuqing nodded.
Coincidentally, she was also curious about how powerful the legendary strongest support martial soul, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, truly was.
"Mm-hmm! Good sister, let's work hard together!"
Ning Rongrong smiled brightly as the two approached the front desk to register their team.
"Please provide a name for your team."
The staff member asked without looking up.
Ning Rongrong turned to Zhu Zhuqing. "Any ideas?"
"Up to you."
Zhu Zhuqing had no interest in naming things.
"I've got it!"
Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up. "Let's call ourselves Gemstone Cat!"
"Mm."
After registering, the two headed toward the waiting area.
Along the way, Ning Rongrong, who had been holding back her curiosity for quite some time, finally couldn't resist asking in a low voice:
"Zhuqing, are you really already rank 39?"
"…"
Zhu Zhuqing glanced at her and gave a slight nod without speaking.
"How did you even manage that?"
Ning Rongrong pressed on, then joked,
"Don't tell me you encountered a hundred-thousand-year soul beast offering itself in sacrifice?"
"…"
Zhu Zhuqing's movements stiffened almost imperceptibly.
"Good luck," she replied succinctly. "I encountered a heavenly treasure."
"…I'm so jealous… I want to painlessly jump nine levels too!"
The envy in Ning Rongrong's eyes was practically overflowing.
Painless?
Zhu Zhuqing couldn't help recalling the scene when Bai Lu had fused the soul bone and offered the sacrifice for her.
Painless?
Her body had been flooded with Bai Lu's power like a cream puff stuffed to bursting. She had nearly been broken by it.
End of Chapter