Douluo: Martial Soul White Tiger, I am the White Emperor of Heaven

Chapter 323 Zhu Zhuqing's Change of Heart
Level 40... Level 9?
Zhu Zhuqing felt a buzzing sound in her ears, and her mind went blank.

The impact of advancing nine levels in these two months is a thousand times stronger than when I heard "level forty" just now!
Level 40 was still within her comprehension; desperately cultivating might allow her to struggle to reach the edge of her limit under certain conditions. But Level 49… in just two months… this was completely beyond the scope of what “cultivation” could explain!

For a moment, Zhu Zhuqing stared blankly at Dai Chengfeng, as if she were truly getting to know her nominal fiancé for the first time.

Hu Liena then quickly added, "Of course, if it involves any core secrets of cultivation, or things that the teacher told you not to tell, you are perfectly free not to tell me."

"I'm just so curious!"

After saying that, Hu Liena blinked her big eyes with a sincere look.

It seems to be saying that he had no malicious intent to spy.

Dai Chengfeng smiled, his gaze sweeping between Hu Liena's beautiful face, which seemed to say "Tell me quickly," and Zhu Zhuqing's shocked and aloof face.

He smiled slightly, "It's not exactly an absolute secret; I can say a part of it."

He picked up a slightly warm teacup from the coffee table next to him and gently blew on the tea leaves floating on top. "I was quite lucky this time when I went to Tiandou City and had some unexpected encounters."

He took a sip of tea, put down the cup, and continued, "By chance, I obtained a special inner core."

"That inner core..."

"The effect is quite remarkable, greatly enhancing my soul power. As for the specific effects and their source," he paused, glancing at Hu Liena and Zhu Zhuqing's inquiring eyes, and then casually glossed over it, "it's not convenient to reveal that."

An extraordinary encounter! An inner elixir!
A look of understanding flashed in Hu Liena's eyes, followed by a mixture of relief and unavoidable disappointment.

She let out a soft sigh: "I knew it..."

She had long suspected that Dai Chengfeng must have encountered some incredible adventure, which led to the surge in his soul power, as this was the only reasonable explanation.

But when it was actually confirmed, she couldn't help but feel disappointed.

After all, a serendipitous encounter means that it is something that can only happen once and cannot be sought after or replicated.

"Hey……"

Hu Liena stood up, shaking her head with a hint of regret: "Well, since it was a fortuitous encounter, I can only be envious."

"My curiosity has been satisfied, and I should go now."

As she spoke, Hu Liena smiled politely at Zhu Zhuqing, who was still in shock, and said, "Excuse me, Miss Zhu Zhuqing."

Then, her gaze lingered for a moment on Qiu'er in Dai Chengfeng's arms before she turned and walked towards the door. But as she opened it, she stopped, turned back to Dai Chengfeng, and said:
"Oh, right, don't forget about your promise to train with me in the Martial Soul Fusion Technique! I'll come find you tomorrow!"

“Yes, I remember,” Dai Chengfeng replied.

As Hu Liena gently closed the door, only Dai Chengfeng and Zhu Zhuqing remained in the room, along with Qiu'er, who had found a more comfortable position in Dai Chengfeng's arms.

At this moment, Zhu Zhuqing's gaze was fixed on Dai Chengfeng, and deep within her cold eyes were intense turmoil and unprecedented complex emotions.

After the initial shock, a strong emotion mixed with doubt, inquiry, and curiosity followed.

After a while, Zhu Zhuqing finally spoke, her voice still clear and crisp, yet carrying a barely perceptible tightness:

"Dai...Dai Chengfeng, your...your soul power has really...really reached level forty-nine?"

Dai Chengfeng nodded calmly, picked up his teacup again, and took an elegant sip. "Of course." Having received Dai Chengfeng's affirmation, Zhu Zhuqing fell silent, but her eyes held a hint of confusion as she recalled Dai Chengfeng from her memories…

In Xingluo City, there was a rampant rumor—that Dai Chengfeng was an incompetent and ignorant person…

Zhu Zhuqing had been somewhat skeptical before, but now she suddenly felt a strong sense of absurdity.

How could someone deemed "unlearned and incompetent" reach level 49, a level that ordinary Soul Masters would struggle to achieve in their entire lives, before the age of fifteen?
How could someone deemed "unlearned and incompetent" achieve a breakthrough in soul power to the ninth level within two months?
If this is considered "ignorance and incompetence," then what about Zhu family's "genius" who has been cultivating diligently and is now only at level 30?
A clown?
Previously, she had felt a distance, indifference, and even underlying resentment towards Dai Chengfeng based on rumors...

When the truth is partially revealed, everything seems so ridiculous.

A strong sense of shock from the stark contrast, along with admiration for Dai Chengfeng's strength, rose in Zhu Zhuqing's heart, even causing a slight change in the way she looked at him...

Beneath that indifference and detachment, for the first time, there was genuine curiosity, scrutiny, and a hint of something she herself was unaware of...

admire!

Dai Chengfeng, what kind of person is he?

How did you get to this point amidst so much doubt and unfavorable rumors?

What is his true strength?

This thought grew uncontrollably in Zhu Zhuqing's mind.

At the same time, Zhu Zhuqing had one last thing she wanted to confirm...

While the rumors about Dai Chengfeng's lack of learning and skills are just that—rumors—there is one thing that even Emperor Dai An of the Star Luo Empire personally admitted.

Every time I think about it, I feel regretful and disappointed that they haven't lived up to their potential.

That is because Dai Chengfeng was willful, he did not choose to acquire the soul rings according to the inherent order left by the Dai family ancestor. Instead, he chose other soul rings, which caused his soul rings to conflict with his own White Tiger Martial Soul.

Previously, Zhu Zhuqing would have been completely convinced that Dai Chengfeng's soul skill was definitely not powerful enough, and his potential would inevitably be damaged...

But now, Zhu Zhuqing is suddenly less confident.

She really wanted to try it out: Did Dai Chengfeng's spirit rings really conflict with his martial soul? Were his spirit skills really that weak?
Zhu Zhuqing wants to have a match with Dai Chengfeng!
She wanted to see if Dai Chengfeng's level 49 soul power would be merely a facade due to his choice of soul rings.
Or……

Is the so-called "conflict" between spirit rings and martial spirits just another kind of absurdity?
However, just as Zhu Zhuqing opened her mouth, about to speak...

Tuk-tuk-tuk.

A clear knock sounded on the door again.

Immediately afterwards, Zhu Hongxiu's voice, carrying just the right amount of gentleness and joy, came from outside the door, "Chengfeng, Zhuqing, lunch is ready, shall we eat?"

"Especially Chengfeng, you just got back, you must be hungry, right?"

Upon hearing this, Dai Chengfeng put down his teacup, picked up Qiu'er, and stood up. "Yes, Mother."

Zhu Zhuqing watched as Dai Chengfeng got up, carrying the golden ball of fur, and walked towards the door. In the end, she simply got up silently, suppressing the unspoken words, "Let's have a match," back into her heart.

"No rush, there will be plenty of opportunities..."

(End of this chapter)