Chapter 420: Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu
The Star Dou Great Forest.
Within the dense woods, ancient trees towered into the sky, and traces of soul beasts could be seen everywhere. A group of women dressed in light aqua-blue outfits advanced unhurriedly deeper inside.
Leading them was a tall woman. In the eyes of outsiders, she was an exceptionally beautiful woman, responsible for scouting the front of the team. At the rear was another woman with her long hair tied up, equally beautiful, tasked with guarding the back of the formation.
In the center of the main group was yet another tall woman, her aqua-blue long hair draped over her shoulders. Compared to the other two, her beauty surpassed theirs even more. Her gaze constantly swept across the surroundings, and the flashes of wisdom in her clear eyes added a calm, rational aura to her temperament.
Among the group, a slightly older woman watched her performance and nodded with satisfaction.
Shui Bing'er's talent was considered top-tier among her peers. Although she could not compare to the monstrous geniuses from that tournament, she was already the most promising student in the entire history of Tianshui Academy. Five years had passed, and her soul power had already broken through to level fifty-eight. With just two more levels, she would become the youngest Soul Emperor in the academy's history.
Moreover, Shui Bing'er had never become arrogant because of her talent. Instead, she remained grounded, advancing step by step, and her cultivation speed only continued to increase. The academy's dean had even directly appointed her as vice dean.
Although she and Shui Bing'er both held the title of vice dean, she knew very well that Shui Bing'er was a genius with the potential to become a Titled Douluo—someone she, a newly advanced Soul Douluo whose potential was already exhausted, could never compare to.
"Bing'er, let's stop here for today. Have everyone halt and set up camp. We'll continue the rest of the journey tomorrow," she said with a gentle smile.
The woman she addressed was none other than Shui Bing'er of Tianshui Academy.
And this group was precisely the team from Tianshui Academy that had come to hunt soul beasts.
Shui Bing'er was slightly startled. Although she was the nominal commander of this team, the elder woman was their protector on this journey and also the academy's vice dean. Her opinion had to be taken seriously. After a moment of thought, Shui Bing'er conveyed the order to set up camp.
There were dozens of them. Although they were all women, they worked efficiently without any hesitation.
In less than half an hour, the tents were set up, and the surrounding defenses were fully arranged.
As the sun set and the chill of night rose, Yu Hairou at the front and Gu Qingbo at the rear both returned to the camp to rest.
"Children, go into the tents and rest. I'll take watch tonight," the vice dean said with a smile.
These girls were no longer young. All of them had reached the Soul King level, and there was no real need for further tempering, so the vice dean chose to let them rest properly.
"Thank you, Vice Dean," the women replied sweetly, then entered the tents.
As soon as she entered the tent, Shui Yue'er sprawled onto the bedding without any concern for appearances. However, the bedding was separated from the ground by only a thin mat. Her delicate back could clearly feel the hardness beneath, and she complained uncomfortably:
"If only we were at home. Sleeping here is so uncomfortable, and the thing I can't accept the most is that I can't even take a bath here!"
Yu Hairou took off her high heels and kept massaging her sore feet. After traveling for so long, even as an agility-type soul master, she felt somewhat overexerted. Hearing Shui Yue'er's complaints, she shook her head and laughed.
"Yue'er, in the Star Dou Great Forest, our living conditions are already considered extremely rare. You're still thinking about bathing? If Bing'er hears this, just wait and see how she scolds you."
Yu Hairou's words made Shui Yue'er shiver. She feared no one—except this elder sister.
"I was just saying it casually…" Shui Yue'er muttered with an awkward smile.
Seeing her reaction, the others couldn't help but laugh. The academy's mischievous little devil still had her natural nemesis.
Xue Wu covered her mouth and smiled, summoning her martial soul as her first soul ring lit up. A faint mist of water began to gather, and the group's fatigue was immediately alleviated.
"Thanks, Xiao Xue," Yu Hairou said casually.
Xue Wu withdrew her martial soul and raised an eyebrow at Yu Hairou. Tall and voluptuous, with short gray-blue hair, she looked valiant and spirited. Teasingly, she said:
"Don't thank me. You're not young anymore. It's about time you found a man. Next time your feet hurt and I'm not around, at least there'll be someone to massage them for you."
Yu Hairou froze for a moment, then lunged viciously at Xue Wu, pinning her down.
"Well, well, even you've learned to tease me now, huh?"
Xue Wu hurriedly laughed and apologized.
After the playful scuffle, Yu Hairou finally let Xue Wu go. Glancing outside the tent, she sighed.
"What you said isn't wrong. I'm not young anymore, and my parents keep urging me. But… sigh, I just can't find a man who makes my heart stir."
Beside her, Gu Qingbo cast a meaningful glance toward the figure outside the tent, sitting across from the vice dean under the moonlight, and said lightly:
"Isn't Bing'er the same?"
The group fell silent.
Since the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament ended, Shui Bing'er had thrown herself into arduous cultivation, rejecting any contact with the opposite sex. As her closest friends, they naturally understood why.
At the tournament, that man had crushed all opposition, fought his way through countless enemies, and ultimately stood at the peak within the Spirit Hall.
Shui Bing'er could not forget him—how could they forget him either? The difference was that Shui Bing'er still had a chance of being worthy of him, while they didn't even have the courage to stand by his side.
Especially not long ago, when news arrived from the Star Luo Empire like a bombshell, shocking the entire Heaven Dou Empire into silence.
Dai Yao, leading the force he had established, traveled thousands of miles deep into enemy territory. Under the protection of a Titled Douluo, with only the cultivation of a Soul Emperor, he personally slew the Star Luo Emperor, a Soul Douluo-level powerhouse, and left safely. If the Heaven Dou Empire hadn't confirmed it, no one would have believed such news.
"I really don't know how that person cultivates. He's clearly younger than me—how can he be so much stronger…" Shui Yue'er muttered with downcast eyes.
In truth, she had been the first from Tianshui Academy to take interest in Dai Yao. But now everyone's attention was focused on her elder sister. Even though she had a good relationship with Shui Bing'er, she still felt unwilling to accept it.
"You silly girl, what are you sulking about now?" Yu Hairou scolded with a smile. "Think about it—according to the rumors, how many confidantes does Dai Yao already have? Why would you still rush over there?!"
Xue Wu said softly, "But if those women knew Dai Yao already had so many around him, why would they still go to him? If we really met Dai Yao, I don't think Bing'er could escape either…"
Suddenly, the tent flap was lifted. Shui Bing'er stepped inside, her long jade legs carrying her forward. She glanced at the women with a puzzled expression.
"What's going on? Why is everyone staring at me? Is there something on my face?"
The women looked at one another and decided to remain silent.
"N-no… nothing…"
Seeing that no one intended to answer, Shui Yue'er chose not to hold back. Some things had to be made clear. Some men were like meteors in the sky—brilliant and dazzling, yet impossible to possess. She understood this, but her elder sister, brilliant as she was, was completely inexperienced in matters of the heart.
She spoke directly.
"We were talking about Dai Yao—and about you too, Sister. It's been so long. You should let go by now."
Shui Bing'er was stunned. Only then did she understand the strange looks. But she was not the kind of woman to wallow in romantic obsession. She did have some feelings for Dai Yao, but more than that, she was grateful for his life-saving kindness.
Back then, when the academies of the Heaven Dou Empire were heading to Spirit City to participate in the tournament, they were ambushed by a group of black-clad men while passing through a valley. It was only because Dai Yao intervened that they survived. Although he had concealed his identity at the time, she pieced together the clues and realized that her savior was Dai Yao.
She smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, it's not like what you're thinking…"
At that moment, a series of crackling explosions suddenly rang out from outside the camp. The women were startled and immediately armed themselves, rushing out of the tents. In the distance, towering ancient trees in the dense forest were falling like harvested wheat. Powerful soul power fluctuations, accompanied by fierce gusts of wind, surged toward them.
"So strong… Who could this be? Choosing to fight at night—are they incredibly skilled and bold, or simply reckless?" Shui Bing'er speculated as she stared at the distant battle.
"What an idiot. Fighting at night will only attract more soul beasts. Doesn't this person know such basic common sense?" Yu Hairou cursed softly.
No wonder she was angry. Nighttime was when soul beasts were most active. Soul masters hunting in the Star Dou Great Forest would normally lie low at this time. If the disturbance grew too large, they could easily be surrounded and killed.
And the battlefield wasn't far from their camp. Such a commotion was bound to bring them trouble.
Only the Soul Douluo-level vice dean revealed an expression of extreme shock. Within the residual waves of battle, there was a presence that even she found terrifying. That ultimate evil felt like a demon rampaging through the mortal world, instantly chilling her to the bone.
"No… we have to leave immediately—"
Before she could finish, she noticed that the man in the distance had sensed their presence and was rapidly flying toward them.
That man was Dai Yao.
Dai Yao had forcibly strangled the massive soul beast to death, his right hand deeply embedded in its neck. Activating his Devour talent, the soul power within the beast flowed like water into the soul power space inside Dai Yao's body.
For several days now, Dai Yao had remained within the Star Dou Great Forest, hunting soul beasts. After days of slaughter, the soul power space capable of holding level ninety-nine soul power was already more than half full.
But at the same time, various negative emotions continued to accumulate—greed, slaughter, lust… like a volcano on the verge of eruption, desperate for release. This was why he had been brutally massacring soul beasts.
At first, he had no interest upon spotting humans. But then he noticed the women before him—and all of them were quite attractive. The desires he had suppressed for so long instantly swallowed his reason.
Or rather, this was deliberate.
Controlled by the "evil" side of himself, he was more than willing to sink deeper into the abyss.
His massive wings spread wide, blotting out the sky. These were the wings of the Dark Devil Evil God Tiger. Though slower than the Sacred White Tiger, their oppressive presence was far greater—evil, dark, domineering, and terrifying to the core.
In just a few breaths, Dai Yao arrived before the women of Tianshui Academy.
Hovering in the night sky, Dai Yao looked down at them. His black wings covered the heavens, and the single black soul ring shining on his body emitted a soul-shaking glow in the darkness.
Seeing that only one soul ring was lit on Dai Yao's body, the women of Tianshui Academy were utterly shocked. This completely overturned their understanding—how could someone absorb a ten-thousand-year soul ring as their first soul ring?
Even Dai Yao himself shouldn't have been able to do that.
Only Shui Bing'er frowned slightly, sensing a strangely familiar aura from him.
The vice dean stared at Dai Yao warily, her brow furrowed. Although he had only one soul ring, the pressure he gave off was no less than that of a powerhouse of the same level. As absurd as it felt, she chose to trust her instincts.
"Sir, our Tianshui Academy has no grievance with you. Please do not make things difficult for us."
She deliberately revealed their background, hoping the uninvited guest would hesitate. But why would someone like him fear Tianshui Academy?
Still, upon hearing the words "Tianshui Academy," Dai Yao's gaze flickered briefly before being swallowed by darkness once more.
He needed release. And since they were all women…
As he thought this, a powerful resistance surged from deep within his heart.
"Alright, alright, I really can't argue with you. Since you won't agree, I'll just take one. This is my bottom line. The other me—you don't have the right to refuse anymore…"
A cold smile curved at the corner of Dai Yao's lips.
With a flap of his wings, his body turned into a streak of light and shot toward the women of Tianshui Academy.
"Not good!" the vice dean cried out.
Before she could finish, Dai Yao was already beside Xue Wu, gently wrapping an arm around her waist.
"Xiao Xue!"
"Sister Xue Wu!"
Cries rang out from all sides.
"Let's go," Dai Yao said softly, turning his head toward Xue Wu.
Her body completely restrained, unable to move, Xue Wu stared at that face filled with sinister energy, momentarily at a loss for words, unable even to refuse.
In the next instant, Dai Yao beat his wings and shot into the sky.
The vice dean was furious, sparing no effort as she unleashed her soul power. All kinds of soul skills were hurled toward him. Yet a gray-black shield lit up around Dai Yao, blocking every single attack.
"How is this possible?" the vice dean exclaimed in disbelief. Although she wasn't known for offense, anyone capable of taking her attacks head-on had to be a Soul Douluo. And yet this man had blocked everything with just a single soul skill—utterly unbelievable.
"Vice Dean, please look after everyone. I'll go save Xiao Xue!" Shui Bing'er shouted.
As her words fell, Shui Bing'er instantly activated her martial soul. With surging soul power, the Ice Phoenix tore through the night sky, leaving a trail of white frost as it chased after Dai Yao.
"Come back, Bing'er!" the vice dean cried anxiously.
Watching Shui Bing'er leave filled her with dread. If anything happened to her, she would never forgive herself.
But once Shui Bing'er had decided to go, how could she leave any chance to be stopped? The vice dean could only watch helplessly as Shui Bing'er disappeared into the night sky…
(End of Chapter)
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