Douluo Continent: Starting with the Tiger Emperor Template

Ye Guyi walked ahead angrily, her long golden hair swinging back and forth on her shoulders with each hurried step.

She took a few steps and then turned back to glare at Lu Ren. Her gaze was like that of someone looking at a fool who was about to be taught a lesson. There was a hint of disdain mixed with disappointment, and a hint of worry that she herself did not realize.

Her feelings were extremely complicated at this moment.

This idiot looks like he's just another person his age.

At the age of fifteen or sixteen, how high can one's cultivation level be?

Can your cultivation level be higher than Sister Shangguan's?

Sister Shangguan is an eight-ring Soul Douluo, a top-tier powerhouse in the Mingdu underground forces, not to mention she has the Sun Moon Royal Family as her background.

This mere brat, so ignorant and arrogant, dares to boast that he will bring down the entire Ordinary Alliance.

Since they're in such a hurry to die, she won't stop them.

but……

This guy doesn't seem to have any real malice towards her; from beginning to end, nothing he did was harmful to her.

If what he said is true, if he wanted to kill me, I would have died ten thousand times over.

With that bizarre ability to put people to sleep or make them move at will, he could do anything while she was unconscious.

But he did nothing.

"Forget it, at most he'll get a beating. If Sister Shanggong really wants to kill him, she can plead for him herself."

Thinking of this, Ye Guyi let out a soft, ambiguous hum from her nose, quickened her pace again, and distanced herself from Lu Ren behind her.

Lu Ren walked behind, his gaze sweeping over Ye Guyi's swaying golden hair before turning his head to give Ji Juechen a mischievous smile.

"Old Ji, if Shangguan Weier makes a move later, should I make her dance first or embarrass her in public?"

"I've heard she's a very famous beauty. It would be a treat for us to dance for her. Or, if things escalate and cause a conflict, I can just ruin her reputation in public, how about that?"

Ji Juechen carried two unconscious evil spirit masters in each hand, shaking his head expressionlessly.

The bodies of the two middle-aged men swayed slightly in his hands with his steps, their heads and toes bouncing up and down, creating a rather absurd scene.

"I don't know, don't ask me."

His answer was as brief as a knife cutting tofu, because his attention was now entirely focused on the impending potential conflict.

If the Ordinary Alliance really attacks them, how many rounds can they withstand?

That Shangguan Wei'er is an eight-ring Soul Douluo, and the alliance is full of experts. This fight will definitely be a nine-out-of-ten chance of death.

But for some reason, the thought of "nine deaths and one life" made his blood feel slightly hot.

Perhaps, he was born to fight.

Only by breaking down the old and building up again, by surviving the most desperate situation, can he truly enjoy the most luxurious feast.

As for Lu Ren's bizarre question about whether the alliance leader should dance or bark like a dog, he had no interest in it whatsoever.

They were even a little afraid that Lu Ren would actually do that.

After all, this guy could use "take a dump" on two Soul Saints without batting an eye, so what else couldn't he do?

Thinking of this, Ji Juechen's gaze towards Lu Ren became subtle.

The image of the master who cleanly and decisively defeated him in the ring, making him submit with absolute strength, in his memory has been shattered in just two days by "Taobao".

In his eyes now, Lu Ren is less a genius to be admired and more a human-shaped natural disaster who might resort to all sorts of underhanded tactics at any time.

Lu Ren seemed to have read his thoughts, his steps unwavering, his tone casual as if he were chatting:

"That's just everyone's style, I guess. I'm different from you; I don't enjoy the thrill of combat."

"For me, efficiency is the most important thing. If I can finish a battle in one second, I will. If I have the means to control others, why not use it?"

He paused, the smile on his lips fading slightly, and his tone becoming more serious:

"Have you ever considered that in a real life-or-death struggle, every second that is delayed increases the chances of things changing?"

"The opponent may use stronger methods, may send out distress signals, or may use some kind of suicide method to take you down with them. Ending the battle as quickly as possible is the only way to take responsibility for your own life."

Ji Juechen fell silent.

He spent his entire life pursuing the ultimate in swordsmanship, seeking the exhilaration of crushing his opponent with sword intent in direct combat.

For him, battle was an almost sacred ritual, a dialogue between swords, a clash between wills.

Winning by using tactics like "take a dump" is a desecration of the fight itself.

But what Lu Ren said seemed to make some sense.

His thoughts were in turmoil, his brows furrowed involuntarily, and his expression revealed a rare, subtle state between confusion and uncertainty.

"Speaking of which, your taste is really strange."

Ye Guyi, who was walking ahead, suddenly turned around and abruptly interjected with a remark.

Her eyes glanced past Lu Ren and towards the courtyard they had already left, a faint hint of mockery playing on her lips.

"That little girl was quite pretty, and she looked to be the same age as you, yet she called you 'master.' You're really disgusting."

She thought of Nana's pretty face, the blush on the girl's cheeks when she respectfully called Lu Ren "Master," and the affectionate way Lu Ren patted her head before leaving. A strange sense of disgust welled up in her heart.

This aversion isn't because of jealousy, absolutely not.

Rather, it's the discomfort with the title "master" itself.

Why should a girl of similar age call someone her own age "master"?

It would be strange if there weren't some shady dealings going on here.

Lu Ren glanced at her:

"That's because I saved her, and she called me master to repay me."

"Okay, go on, I'm listening."

Although Ye Guyi said that, her face clearly said, "I don't believe you."

Her lips curled up slightly, her eyes filled with mischief and skepticism.

Looking at her expression, Lu Ren suddenly didn't want to explain anymore.

His relationship with Nana was completely open and honest from beginning to end. He destroyed the branch altar of the Holy Spirit Cult, performed rites for the souls of Nana's parents, and gave her freedom and the means to live.

Nana calling him master was her own choice.

He accepted the title because he knew that for these people who had just crawled out of hell, having someone to look up to and follow was more reassuring than vague expressions of gratitude.

But even if I told Ye Guyi these words, she wouldn't believe me.

This girl's worldview has been warped beyond recognition by her dark experiences of being hunted by evil spirit masters. In her eyes, any kindness hides a knife, and any goodwill comes with a price tag.

So Lu Ren changed his approach:

"Perhaps, I am just such a dirty person."

His voice suddenly deepened, and a meaningful smile appeared at the corner of his mouth:

"After all, I have quite a few evil thoughts in my heart. For example, what I most want to see is a holy angel having its wings torn off and falling into depravity, then being wantonly violated and tortured, yet still maintaining its holy and proud appearance..."

Ye Guyi's body suddenly shivered.

She turned around abruptly, her eyes wide with surprise:

"Aren't you talking about me?!"