Chapter 67: Looks Like… It Really Is Because of Zhu Zhuqing!
Ning Rongrong and Shui Bing'er both looked toward Xiao An, confusion filling their beautiful eyes.
This so-called "Evil God Douluo" had never appeared in their previous lives.
Even someone as mysterious as Qian Renxue still left behind clues that allowed her identity to be traced.
But this Evil God Douluo had left behind not even the slightest bit of information.
One had to know that during this period, the number of Titled Douluo was extremely limited. A Titled Douluo with a soul power level as high as Rank 96 was even rarer.
With such strength, how could she possibly leave behind no traces at all?
Could it be… that she was connected to Wang Li's present life?
Thinking of this, Ning Rongrong and Shui Bing'er both fell into contemplation.
At the moment, this was the only explanation that made sense.
"Jealous, so jealous!!"
Shui Yue'er looked at Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao An, her eyes filled with envy.
Her mother and Shui Bing'er's mother also shared that kind of relationship.
But no matter how close their mothers were, there was no way they would give each other soul bones—let alone a soul bone over seventy thousand years old!
What's more, this Evil God Douluo had even promised to give Zhu Zhuqing a hundred-thousand-year soul bone. What kind of generosity was that?
At the very top of every soul master's dream ranking were hundred-thousand-year soul rings and hundred-thousand-year soul bones.
These were things that even Titled Douluo–level powerhouses might never see in their entire lives.
Let alone give them away as gifts.
And she was giving it to her own "rival"!
Absolutely insane!
This was only their first meeting!
'I really want a big sister like that, too. Wang Li, just accept Sister Yue'er already!'
Shui Yue'er screamed inwardly. After being taught a lesson by Shui Bing'er earlier, she had become much more obedient and didn't dare say it out loud.
Night fell.
A door that Ning Rongrong could never manage to push open was opened effortlessly by Xiao An.
"Wait, Xiao An, shouldn't you be resting properly? Why did you come to my room?"
Wang Li felt his scalp go numb as he asked.
Hadn't they already talked about that matter before?
Now was still not the right time.
"Hm?"
Xiao An froze for a moment, then ignored whatever Wang Li was thinking. She lay down directly, pulled the blanket over herself, and covered up.
"It's a bit hot. Your place is pretty cool."
Xiao An spoke frankly, her expression unchanged.
Wang Li's room really was quite cool.
Logically speaking, members of the tiger clan and soul masters with tiger-type martial souls were usually very hot, overflowing with yang energy.
But Wang Li was an anomaly. Not only did he possess the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger martial soul, but he also had the Ice and Snow Spirit martial soul.
As a result, his body temperature was always maintained at a very normal level.
"Uh… this is the hotel where Sky Water Academy is staying. Aren't you looking down on them by doing this?"
Seeing that Xiao An had no intention of leaving, Wang Li gave up resisting altogether and lay down as well.
"Their strength is too weak. This place is better."
"Oh."
As expected of the slippery Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, coming up with excuses like that!
Nothing happened throughout the night.
For several consecutive days, Sky Water Team failed to encounter any decent opponents, winning every match without even fighting.
Their opponents surrendered before even stepping onto the stage.
Victory came too easily, yet it wasn't something worth celebrating.
They wanted to make a name for themselves, to let the world see their strength—not merely win match after match without resistance.
The Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament was meant to provide the younger generation of soul masters with a stage to showcase themselves.
Without battles, how were they supposed to shine?
Not everyone was like Shui Bing'er or Shui Yue'er, with powerful family backgrounds.
Most of the members of the Sky Water girls' team were commoners.
"Don't worry. Once you win the championship, the empire will grant you noble titles."
Seeing the somewhat dejected expressions of Qiu Ruoshui and the others, Wang Li spoke up.
Noble titles?
The girls were stunned, looking at Wang Li in surprise.
Noble titles were one of the pursuits of soul masters.
Why become strong soul masters in the first place, if not to rise above others?
A noble title represented officially entering the aristocratic class.
"Under normal circumstances, once you reach the Soul Ancestor level, you can apply for a title in a kingdom or duchy."
"If you apply within an empire, there's a high probability you'll become a baron."
"But if you win the overall championship of this tournament, then regardless of what rank of soul master you are, you'll all receive the title of viscount."
Wang Li himself had no interest whatsoever in noble titles.
After all, the Star Luo Emperor intended to bestow upon him the title of a king of a different surname!
Even though it was a king without territory, it would still make him the only king in the Star Luo Empire besides the emperor himself.
The Star Luo Empire had only one emperor—no princes and no subordinate states. The empire had never split apart, and its emphasis on territorial integrity far exceeded that of the Heaven Dou Empire.
That was why the Star Luo Emperor was willing to use a royal title to win Wang Li over, yet absolutely unwilling to grant him land.
This was a matter of principle.
The Heaven Dou Empire was different. There, princes and kings possessed their own fiefdoms.
This was also why, even though Heaven Dou Empire ultimately emerged victorious with Tang San's support, it still split into two empires in the future.
Wang Li wasn't interested in even the royal title of Star Luo Empire, let alone a mere viscountship in Heaven Dou Empire.
But Wang Li was Wang Li—his mindset couldn't represent everyone else's.
For Xue Wu, Qiu Ruoshui, and the others, noble titles were still deeply appealing.
This was a chance to leap across social classes!
As "locals" and supporting characters, how could they not cherish such an opportunity?
"If it weren't for the captain and vice-captain, we wouldn't even dare to dream about the championship."
"I've already decided—whether I get a noble title or not, after graduation, I'll stay at the academy and become a teacher."
Xue Wu glanced at Shui Bing'er and smiled.
She and Shui Bing'er possessed a martial soul fusion skill (novel version), so she naturally didn't want to separate from her.
Shui Bing'er was the dean's niece and would likely become the vice-dean or even the dean in the future.
Staying at the academy wasn't bad at all.
"Alright, let's stop talking about this for now."
"If we keep going, be careful, the vice-captain might come after you!"
"It's almost like it's her fault that you can't get on stage—when in reality, it's just that the opponents are too cowardly…"
Shui Bing'er spread her hands helplessly. If she didn't have memories of her "previous life," she might have been interested in so-called noble titles.
But with those memories, worldly glory and wealth were nothing more than that.
Her goal was to become a god.
And then stay together with Wang Li forever.
"Vice-captain, you know we don't mean it like that!"
Xue Wu looked apologetically at Zhu Zhuqing and bowed deeply.
They truly didn't mean it that way.
They were just venting a little about not being able to fight on stage.
Zhu Zhuqing waved her hand, completely unconcerned.
With opponents being this cowardly, what could she do?
She couldn't possibly ask her "big sister" to threaten them into not surrendering, right?
"Our opponent today is the God Wind Team. They should—"
"Um, Feng Xiaotian chatted with me for a bit. They chose to surrender."
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes twitched, not knowing what to say.
The next day.
"Our opponent today is Blazing Fire Team—"
"Huo Wushuang held Huo Wu back. They surrendered!"
The third day.
"Our opponent today—"
"Without the vice-captain, we probably wouldn't be a match for the Thunder Team."
"So, Yu Tianxin chose to surrender, agreeing to fight again during the promotion round."
Zhu Zhuqing: "..."
Looks like… it really is because of her!
—
End of Chapter