Chapter 30: While We're at It, Unify the Continent — Any Problem? | Matching You with an Evenly Matched Opponent!
The sky was clear, and the breeze was gentle.
Yet the girl's expression was anything but pleasant.
"What? Seeing your former fiancé hugging two girls at once made you angry?"
Bai Lu smiled playfully.
"No."
Zhu Zhuqing shook her head slightly and replied inwardly,
"I was just thinking about how my past self was dragged along by my family's fate. It feels… a little tragic."
"There's nothing tragic about it. If you truly dislike it, then grow strong enough to change it."
Bai Lu's tone turned serious.
"As long as you're strong enough, you can reshape the entire world into whatever form you like."
"Reshape it at will…"
A trace of yearning flickered in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes.
"How far would I need to go?"
"This road is long. It may not even have a true end. But we can set a small goal first."
Bai Lu paused and clenched his fist.
"For example, let's absorb a few hundred-thousand-year soul rings."
"A few? That's a small goal?"
The girl stared at him strangely.
Bai Lu countered, "For you, is that a problem?"
"…It doesn't seem like it."
Zhu Zhuqing thought seriously about it. It truly didn't sound like an impossible dream.
At the latest, once she became a Titled Douluo, with a body full of soul bones, could she really not kill a few hundred-thousand-year soul beasts?
Besides, wasn't there still that lively rabbit spirit hopping around in Shrek Academy?
If she found the right opportunity, she could simply capture it and keep it at her side.
"Exactly!"
Bai Lu nodded approvingly.
"If that's no problem, then taking control of the Star Luo Empire in the future and becoming a generation's Empress—any problem?"
Zhu Zhuqing shook her head. "Doesn't seem like it."
"If you're already Empress, then conquering the 'hypocritical' Heaven Dou Empire—any problem?"
She shook her head again. "Doesn't seem like it."
"Then, after that, suppress the 'evil' Spirit Hall, and while you're at it, unify the entire continent. Any problem?"
"Doesn't seem li—huh?!"
Zhu Zhuqing froze mid-sentence, her eyes suddenly clearing.
Wait. How did this suddenly escalate to unifying the continent?
Wasn't that even harder than becoming a god?
Her small face tightened as she asked,
"Are you serious?"
"The higher your heart aims, the higher the sky becomes."
Bai Lu looked utterly certain.
"You just keep flying forward. I'll support you unconditionally."
"…Alright."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded solemnly.
"For now, continue resting. In three days at the latest, head north to Heaven Dou Empire. Seek new opportunities. Understood?"
Bai Lu remembered that in the original story, after hunting their soul rings, the Shrek group underwent three months of "devil training" before heading to Heaven Dou Empire.
There was still plenty of time.
"Understood."
After a simple breakfast, Zhu Zhuqing entered a tailor shop.
To avoid having her clothes shredded again by the Eight Spider Lances in the future, she needed to commission new outfits.
After paying the deposit, she put on a mask and headed straight for the Suo Tuo Grand Soul Arena.
She had killed enough soul beasts.
Now, she wanted to test herself against other soul masters.
To examine her strength and temper her combat skills through real battle.
Even though it was still early, the Grand Soul Arena was already bustling with noise.
"Hello, Soul Master. How may I assist you?"
A staff member approached respectfully.
"Register. Sign me up."
Zhu Zhuqing was concise.
"Certainly. Please fill out your personal information."
He handed her a simple registration form.
She was about to fill it out honestly when Bai Lu's voice echoed in her mind:
"When you're out in the world, identity is something you give yourself. There's no need to be so truthful."
"Give myself?"
She paused for two seconds. Beneath the mask, the corner of her lips curled upward.
She wrote:
Name: Xiao Yue
Age: 18
Place of Origin: Spirit City
Martial Soul: Hell Spirit Cat
Girls matured early, and after absorbing soul rings and soul bones, her body had already fully developed.
With the mask concealing her youthful features, her true age was nearly impossible to guess.
And after martial soul possession, Hell Spirit Cat and similar feline-type martial souls were difficult for ordinary people to distinguish.
Even so, after testing her soul power, the staff member couldn't hide his astonishment.
"My lady, you're only eighteen and already Rank 39?!"
"Is there a problem?"
Zhu Zhuqing cast him a cold glance.
"N-No… I was just surprised by your extraordinary talent."
He clicked his tongue inwardly.
Eighteen years old at Rank 39—at this rate, even if she advanced only one level per year, she would still qualify as a core member of most academy teams in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament.
He steadied himself.
"Would you like to register for sparring, life-and-death duels, or gambling matches?"
"Sparring first."
"Please wait. We will match you with an evenly matched opponent."
She nodded lightly and moved to a shadowed corner, closing her eyes to rest and cultivate.
The moment she activated the White Tiger Slaughter Art, her spiritual body manifested within the Slaughter Space.
At a glance, the space was filled with wandering souls.
Their levels were similar, but their colors varied: gray, white, yellow, and purple.
Soul quality was determined by cultivation, species (martial soul) grade, and spiritual power. The higher the quality, the stronger the resulting undead spirit.
Through killing, devouring one another, and nourishment within the Slaughter Space, these souls could also evolve.
"Come."
Zhu Zhuqing ignored the purple-glowing Vigorous Vajra Bear, Vajra Tiger, and Stormwind Demon Wolf King.
Instead, she beckoned toward the pack of Nether Wolves.
"Awooo."
The wolf pack surged forward, engaging her in fierce battle.
Amid the intense fight, her spiritual power began to rise steadily.
At the same time,
Flender and Grandmaster led the Shrek group toward the Grand Soul Arena.
"Starting tomorrow, I will begin your devil training."
Grandmaster's stiff face showed no expression.
"To ensure you can fully understand your own changes, today you may freely participate in soul battles to further assess your strength."
"Yes, Teacher!"
Tang San responded earnestly. The others seemed somewhat distracted.
At the back of the group, Ma Hongjun nudged someone.
"Boss Dai, why do you look so absent-minded? Still reminiscing about last night's intense battle?"
"Reminiscing? Reminisce my foot!"
Dai Mubai snapped back.
The moment he closed his eyes, he saw Zhu Zhuqing's gaze from that morning—the way she looked at him like he was trash.
It was driving him insane.
"Oh? Then what?"
Ma Hongjun grinned lewdly.
"Boss Dai, don't tell me the twins drained you dry? Don't go weak in the knees during the soul battle!"
"Weak in the knees? Impossible!"
Dai Mubai forced a grin.
"Today, I'll show you what a real man in a soul battle looks like!"
A few minutes later, a staff member's voice rang out:
"Soul Master Xiao Yue, please proceed to Arena One to prepare for your match."
Zhu Zhuqing opened her killing-intent-filled eyes, then quickly suppressed the aura and walked toward the arena.
"What a dense killing intent… Was I mistaken?"
Tang San turned his head but saw only a familiar, alluring back figure.
"Brother! What are you looking at?"
Xiao Wu suddenly leaned in.
"Nothing. Maybe I was mistaken."
Tang San shook his head.
"They've matched you with an opponent. Hurry and fight!"
Xiao Wu pulled him toward the arena.
"Alright."
Looking at her back, Tang San smiled fondly.
Arena One.
"Welcome to the Grand Soul Arena! Today, the two contestants are quite special."
The host's voice echoed throughout the venue.
"One has just registered and is making her debut, while the other has previous victories and has just broken through to Soul Elder!"
"What kind of sparks will fly between them? Let us wait and see!"
Just broke through to Soul Elder?
On one side of the arena, Zhu Zhuqing's cool eyes flashed with speechless resignation.
After all that matching… is this what you call evenly matched?
On the other side,
"Brother! Good luck!"
Xiao Wu waved her fists excitedly.
"Your opponent is just a newcomer. Make sure to crush her!"
"Leave it to me."
Tang San smiled confidently.
This soul hunt had taken nearly ten days, but he had successfully broken through to Soul Elder.
Though he never said it aloud, he was proud.
Even without using hidden weapons, the current Dai Mubai might not necessarily be his opponent.
As for a mere newcomer?
Victory was assured.
End of Chapter