Suotuo City, top floor, open-air terrace.
The view here was exceptional, with brilliant starlight filling the night sky. The city lights were splendid, and the hustle and bustle of people coming and going could be faintly heard.
A gentle breeze blew past, lifting Zhu Zhuqing's and Dugu Yan's hair.
"You're from the Star Luo Zhu Family?" Dugu Yan spoke first, breaking the silence.
She looked Zhu Zhuqing up and down, her gaze carrying a hint of scrutiny.
Dugu Yan's stare made Zhu Zhuqing a little uncomfortable, but she still nodded and said, "That's right. My name is Zhu Zhuqing."
"What is your relationship with that White Tiger Martial Soul Soul Master?" Dugu Yan asked with a smile.
She had traveled to the Star Luo Empire before. In her impression, the disciples of the Dai and Zhu families always appeared in pairs.
Zhu Zhuqing's brows furrowed. What did her and Dai Mubai's relationship have to do with Dugu Yan?
"He is him, I am me. We are just classmates, nothing more. Miss Dugu, if you have something to say, you might as well say it," Zhu Zhuqing said coldly.
"Oh? In that case, I won't beat around the bush. Do you know someone named Lu Feng?" A mocking smile played on Dugu Yan's lips.
She had used the break during the tournament to investigate Lu Feng's activities in the Great Spirit Arena.
Before long, under Dugu Yan's monetary offensive, she had learned most of what there was to know about Lu Feng's time in Suotuo City.
Professional host... got in through connections... heartlessly abandoned a beautiful female host after becoming famous...
Fifty consecutive wins in individual matches...
Suspected of being kept by a certain wealthy young lady from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan...
Hiding a beauty in a small villa in the west side of the city...
These pieces of information were a mix of true and false, but Dugu Yan had managed to capture some useful tidbits.
Lu Feng and this big-chested girl in front of her definitely had something going on.
Hearing this, a trace of doubt rose in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes.
Could she also be Lu Feng's friend? Zhu Zhuqing wondered internally.
In Zhu Zhuqing's view, Dugu Yan's behavior was somewhat impolite. Especially her first two questions, which had touched upon her privacy.
However, considering that the other party might be Lu Feng's friend, Zhu Zhuqing didn't make a big deal out of it.
"Lu Feng is my friend," Zhu Zhuqing nodded.
At the same time, Zhu Zhuqing recalled Lu Feng's carefree appearance and the scenes of the two of them training in the small courtyard, and a faint smile touched her lips.
Her relationship with him... was perhaps just a little closer than friends.
"Hmph! Then I'm right!" Dugu Yan snorted coldly.
The next moment, she moved.
Her lotus steps shifted lightly, her right hand clenched into a fist. Surging soul power gathered in her fist as she struck viciously at Zhu Zhuqing.
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes focused, and she reacted instantly.
Tapping her toes lightly on the ground, she took several quick steps, her figure soaring into the air like a phantom. In mid-air, her Hell Civet Martial Soul instantly possessed her. A light soul power emanated as her body landed steadily on the railing.
"Miss Dugu, what is the meaning of this?" Zhu Zhuqing questioned.
Although Dugu Yan had not summoned her Martial Soul, Zhu Zhuqing could feel a faint killing intent from her.
Before the match between the two teams, Yu Xiaogang had shown Shrek the information on the Heaven Dou members.
Dugu Yan, Martial Soul Jade Phosphor Serpent, level 49 control system Soul Ancestor.
Fortunately, the Shrek team had members at the Soul Grandmaster level, which prevented Dugu Yan from participating. Otherwise, Shrek would not have stood a chance of victory against the Heaven Dou Imperial Team.
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes were fixed tightly on Dugu Yan, her spiritual power focused to the extreme.
Facing an enemy infinitely close to being a Soul King, she dared not be the slightest bit careless.
"Hmph! It really is Phantom Step. It seems Lu Feng likes you a lot," Dugu Yan snorted coldly, her expression gradually darkening.
From the moment she was born, she had been the favored daughter of heaven.
With a Titled Douluo for a grandfather, and especially as the sole heir of the Dugu family, Dugu Yan had always gotten whatever she wanted since she was a child.
Her status, compared to those princes and princesses, was even more distinguished.
Moreover, ever since she was young, Dugu Yan's soul power cultivation had always been among the best of her peers, and all sorts of resources were hers for the taking.
Because of this, when she began to see Lu Feng as her pillar, her possessiveness was also maxed out.
Although the education Dugu Yan received told her that it was perfectly normal for a man to have three wives and four concubines...
...Dugu Yan did not like the idea of her relationship with Lu Feng being shared or interfered with by anyone.
At the very least, she would not allow Lu Feng to just casually bring a woman home.
"Sou!"
Dugu Yan waved her jade hand. A colorful poisonous mist, carrying a trace of chill, instantly swept toward Zhu Zhuqing.
The poisonous mist glittered eerily under the starlight, like a giant, colorful python.
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes narrowed, and a shiver ran down her spine.
She had a premonition that if she was touched by this poison, even just a trace, the consequences would be tragic.
"Sou!" Zhu Zhuqing's first soul ring lit up, and her entire body shot into the air.
In mid-air, her first soul skill activated again. She took a step in the void, surging soul power bursting forth. Her body flipped twice, and she landed steadily behind Dugu Yan.
"Tss tss tss!"
The poisonous mist sprayed onto the railing, making a hair-raising sound, as if countless vipers were flicking their tongues.
In just a few breaths, the metal decorations on the railing were corroded by more than half.
"Clang!" Zhu Zhuqing was extremely fast. In the blink of an eye, she crossed the distance between them, appeared in front of Dugu Yan, and swiped with a sharp claw.
The wind from the claw howled, causing the surrounding air to hiss.
Dugu Yan's reaction was also not slow. She dodged to the side. At the same time, she raised her elbow, surging soul power rising from her body as she slammed violently into Zhu Zhuqing.
"Bang!"
A dull collision sound rang out.
Zhu Zhuqing immediately felt a huge force coming at her. Her body staggered back seven or eight steps before she barely stabilized herself.
Her chest heaved slightly, her breathing somewhat rapid, and a trace of solemnity flashed in her eyes.
Clearly, this blow had dealt her a considerable shock.
In contrast, Dugu Yan still stood calmly in place, not having moved much.
The corners of her mouth tilted up slightly, revealing a smug smile.
Level 32 versus level 49. A seventeen-level gap in soul power. Even though Dugu Yan had not used her Martial Soul, her fight against Zhu Zhuqing was still an overwhelming suppression.
"Damn it!" Zhu Zhuqing quickly adjusted her state. Her feet spread apart, knees slightly bent, assuming a defensive posture.
She was not one to give up easily, even if the soul power difference between them was seventeen levels.
Zhu Zhuqing's gaze was like a torch, locked tightly on Dugu Yan, preparing to receive her attack.
However, unexpectedly, Dugu Yan suddenly retracted her aura.
She crossed her arms in front of her chest and smiled faintly. "Zhu Zhuqing, cultivate well. As you are now, you don't interest me in the slightest."
Her tone shifted, and a cold light flashed in her eyes. "You'd better remember what you said. If I find out you're involved in any way with that White Tiger Soul Master, then you'd best prepare your own coffin."
After speaking, Dugu Yan turned and left the terrace without looking back.
"Huu..."
Zhu Zhuqing, seeing that she seemed to be far away, let out a long, turbid breath.
"Damn it!"
Zhu Zhuqing clenched her fists slightly and smashed one against the railing.
At this moment, Zhu Zhuqing finally understood why the other party had suddenly sought her out and then attacked so inexplicably.
"Lu Feng!"
It was obvious that the relationship between Dugu Yan and Lu Feng was definitely not as simple as just friends.
Zhu Zhuqing even detected a familiar feeling from Dugu Yan.
When she was little, she had gone to the palace to play and had seen her aunt disciplining a palace maid. Dugu Yan's aura right now was somewhat similar to her aunt's bearing back then.
"Damn it!"
Zhu Zhuqing recalled the time she spent with Lu Feng. Their relationship was not as intimate as Dugu Yan imagined.
But the moment the Nether White Tiger appeared, it was destined that the two of them would not be separated in the future.
"Hmph, Dugu Yan probably doesn't know about Lu Feng's White Tiger Martial Soul, does she? Otherwise, she definitely wouldn't be as calm as she is now."
A cold light flashed in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes. Although she didn't like to fight over things... it definitely didn't mean she liked being ordered around.