Starting from Douluo to Capture Goddesses

Last night, Xu Ran and Xiaowu arrived in Soto City.

They found a hotel to rest for the night and then left Soto City from the south gate, heading south.

Soto City was located in the Barak Empire, a kingdom situated at the borders between the Xingluo Empire and the Tiandou Empire. Whenever the two empires waged war, the Barak Empire would be the front line of the Tiandou Empire's battles.

As the second-largest city in the Barak Empire, Soto City wasn't particularly large, but it wasn't small either. For Xu Ran, the most critical point was that this place was not too far from Xingluo City, Tiandou City, and the Aquipeia Forest.

In this place, it was quite cost-effective to run three routes.

After all, his current identity was a member of the Zhu Clan, and he would inevitably need to visit the Zhu Clan in the future. The Tiandou City, which was teeming with major powers, would be a frequent destination for him. And there was the Aquipeia Forest—as soon as the true nature of his Auspicious Beast was revealed, he would certainly have to make a few rounds there.

Most importantly, with the status of an Auspicious Beast, setting up a "Harem" in Xingluo would be somewhat easier. Gu Yuena, Bi Ji, Zi Ji, the Three-eyed Golden Lion—all were living Skill Points. Moreover, if he could win Gu Yuena's heart, it would definitely be ten thousand Skill Points, no doubt about it. And as for the Three-eyed Golden Lion, being an Auspicious Beast herself, it wouldn't be difficult to pursue her.

"Brother Xu Ran, where is the Shrek Academy we're heading to? Isn't it in Soto City?" Xiaowu complained as they had been walking for a long time after leaving Soto City, only passing by vast fields with no buildings in sight. She couldn't believe there would be an advanced Soul Master academy in the vicinity.

An advanced Soul Master academy, no matter how bad, wouldn't be built in the countryside, right?

"You are not mistaken, Shrek Academy is indeed in the countryside. It is precisely because Shrek Academy is located in the countryside that I dare to send you there. If it were in a bustling city, how unsafe would that be? If we encountered a powerful being, you could run into a lot of trouble. But the area around Shrek Academy is absolutely safe." Xu Ran smiled, the most important thing being that the temperament of the teachers at Shrek Academy was quite good. Those who could confidently let go of their statuses as Soul Saints and Soul Emperors to start an academy in the countryside, their characters wouldn't be too bad.

"What do you mean by sending me here? Aren't you going to study at Shrek Academy, too?" Xiaowu asked, unable to hold back her unease upon hearing Xu Ran's words. What if Xu Ran left her alone at Shrek Academy after bringing her here?

"I will also come to Shrek Academy, only I will arrive a little later. I still have some minor matters to deal with."

"Actually, you should know that, like you, I also have my own human identity. Not only that, but I also have a fiancée. She is about your age now and currently in the Xingluo Empire, named Zhu Zhuqing." Xu Ran spoke frankly, revealing his relationship with Zhu Zhuqing.

"Fiancée?" Xiaowu's complexion changed, she stood frozen in place, gazing at Xu Ran with wide eyes. She had never imagined that Xu Ran already had a fiancée.

"Brother Xu Ran, you're so mean." Xiaowu said, pouting and looking at Xu Ran with eyes brimming with grievance, and her unhappiness was plain to see on her face. Over the past few days with Xu Ran, she had come to regard him as the closest person to her.

But now, the person she held dearest in her heart already had a fiancée – how could she not feel upset? These past days, she had tacitly accepted some of Xu Ran's actions, which was tantamount to recognizing his identity.

"Why are you crying?" Xu Ran said, his voice full of affection as he wiped away the tears at the corner of Xiaowu's eyes.

"What do you mean, why am I crying? It's because you're bullying me. You have a fiancée outside, so why are you so nice to me?" Xiaowu glared at Xu Ran, pinching the soft flesh around his waist forcefully. After seeing the pain on Xu Ran's face, she felt a bit of relief.

"I'm so wronged. Is it a mistake to be nice to you?" Xu Ran protested. He had been very decent these past days, not doing anything untoward to Xiaowu.

"Hmph, no excuses." Xiaowu said sternly, still showing signs of displeasure. Brother Xu Ran was really shameless. He already had a fiancée and yet he was so lecherous. He had touched her and still pretended to be clueless.

Now that he had made her feel this way, he was thinking of walking away.

"I'm tired and don't want to walk anymore, carry me." Xiaowu stamped her foot, saying petulantly.

"Okay," Xu Ran nodded, bending his upper body slightly forward, as Xiaowu leapt onto his back. Xiaowu was light, and for Xu Ran, she was no burden at all.

"Brother Xu Ran, no dirty thoughts allowed," Xiaowu said as Xu Ran carried her on his back, immediately regretting her decision. She and Xu Ran weren't that close yet, so wasn't her previous action akin to acting spoiled?

But then, remembering that Xu Ran already had a fiancée, she felt an irresistible anger and began to pound lightly on Xu Ran's back with her small fists.

Xu Ran, with Xiaowu on his back, continued walking southward.

And Xiaowu kept silent, her face flushed, which was seemingly an acquiescence to Xu Ran's behavior. She didn't know if it was because she felt an urgency after learning about Xu Ran's fiancée or it was due to some other reason.

Unknowingly, Xu Ran's position in her heart had become very important.

Xu Ran helped her uncover Tang San's "true face," he was an Auspicious Beast, and he would also help her avenge her mother in the future. Both emotionally and rationally, Xu Ran had become the most important person to Xiaowu at present.

After her relationship with Tang San broke down, Xu Ran became the only person to fill the emotional void left by Tang San in her heart. Furthermore, in Xiaowu's eyes, Xu Ran was much more perfect than Tang San, not to mention, as a soul beast and an Auspicious Beast, he could also help her avenge her mother.

Thus, influenced by numerous factors, Xu Ran had indeed become the only person Xiaowu trusted and relied upon in the human world.

And under the influence of these factors, Xiaowu's relationship with Xu Ran was evolving at an astonishing pace. Although there were no substantial changes yet, how long had they known each other? Just a few days?

By the time Tang San returns to Shrek Academy, everything will probably have settled. By then, Xiaowu will wholeheartedly like Xu Ran. It will be too late for Tang San to do anything to win her back.

Because of Xu Ran's interference, Xiaowu had developed a shadow over Tang San.

When Tang San arrived at Shrek Academy, Xiaowu might even stay on guard, worrying that Tang San had deliberately followed them to monitor and could attack them at any moment to take their Soul Rings and soul bones.

This was Tang San's current pathetic plight.

No matter what he did, Xiaowu would suspect the worst.