Chapter 37: Rank 40, Reunion with Xiao Wu
Finally, it happened—Erlong was pregnant!
"I'm going to be a father!"
Zhou Yi's excitement was boundless, his face beaming with exhilaration. All the hardships and dedication of the past days had finally paid off.
Seeing Zhou Yi act like an overjoyed child, Liu Erlong's delicate features radiated happiness. Her jade-like hand gently caressed her lower abdomen, her face glowing with a newfound maternal warmth.
"Erlong, from today onward, you must focus on taking good care of yourself and the baby!" Zhou Yi's excitement made it hard for him to calm down. His mind was already brimming with dozens of secret recipes for pregnancy care, which he planned to prepare personally.
Before long, the news of Liu Erlong's pregnancy reached Ah Yin, Li Shishi, Li Baishi, and the others, who came one after another to congratulate her.
"Congratulations, Sister Liu!"
"Congratulations, Sister Liu!"
"Congratulations, Sister Liu!"
Seeing Zhou Yi's overjoyed expression, Ah Yin, Li Shishi, and Li Baishi couldn't help but feel envious. They, too, yearned to bear Zhou Yi's child someday.
As Zhou Yi meticulously attended to her every need, Liu Erlong was deeply touched. However, she insisted he spend the night with Ah Yin, Shishi, and the others instead.
She understood Zhou Yi's peculiar habit—he couldn't sleep without company at night. Given her current state, she could no longer fulfill that role.
Of course, there were other ways.
Zhou Yi didn't press her. He went to Ah Yin's room.
That night, Ah Yin seemed particularly motivated, perhaps inspired by Liu Erlong's news. She showed a passion and enthusiasm that Zhou Yi had rarely seen.
"You're amazing, my Ah Yin!" Zhou Yi praised her with satisfaction.
Not wanting to be outdone, Li Shishi and Li Baishi also gave their utmost, ensuring Zhou Yi experienced what it truly meant to be surrounded by love and devotion.
Zhou Yi rubbed his sore waist, grateful for his unparalleled medical skills, the restorative powers of the Sacred Heart Sutra, and his extraordinary innate constitution—otherwise, no ordinary man could endure such… devotion.
After all, there was a reason ancient emperors had such short lifespans.
One day, Zhou Yi's cultivation broke through to Rank 40. It was time to venture into the Star Dou Forest to acquire a Soul Ring. He also planned to visit that "rogue rabbit" while there.
"Disciple greets Master!"
Chen Xin approached Zhou Yi and bowed respectfully. Having already learned the Nine Swords of Dugu, his focus now lay in personal comprehension and practice. The deeper he delved into this sword art, the more awe and admiration he felt.
In the world of Douluo Continent, Soul Masters relied heavily on Soul Skills, most of which were obtained through Soul Rings from Soul Beasts. This dependence fostered a mindset of taking without effort, leaving few to explore or develop self-created techniques.
Although Chen Xin had always been dedicated to the sword, he had never encountered a systematic method for cultivating swordsmanship—until now.
The Nine Swords of Dugu was like a beacon, illuminating his path. Through diligent study and rigorous practice of this sword art, his swordsmanship could reach new heights.
If he mastered the Nine Swords of Dugu to perfection, ascending to Rank 99 as a Pinnacle Douluo would be effortless.
In Chen Xin's eyes, Zhou Yi was nothing short of divine—a true Sword Deity.
"I summoned you today to inform you that I've reached Rank 40. I will leave soon for the Star Dou Forest to obtain a Soul Ring." Zhou Yi looked at Chen Xin and continued, "During my absence, the safety of the Zhou Estate will rest in your hands."
"Master, rest assured. As long as I draw breath, no harm will come to the mistresses!" Chen Xin immediately pledged.
As for accompanying Zhou Yi to hunt Soul Beasts and acquire a Soul Ring, Chen Xin didn't even entertain the thought. Zhou Yi's strength was overwhelming; he didn't need anyone's assistance.
Although Chen Xin couldn't gauge Zhou Yi's limits, the strength Zhou Yi had already demonstrated was terrifying. Chen Xin even had a strong premonition: if he and Zhou Yi were to fight to the death, the one standing in the end would likely be Zhou Yi—not him, a Rank 96 Titled Douluo.
"Your reliability puts my mind at ease." Zhou Yi nodded. His instructions to Chen Xin were merely a precaution, especially since he had left numerous defensive measures for Liu Erlong and the others. Even if two Titled Douluos attacked, they wouldn't leave unscathed.
Leaving Notting City, Zhou Yi stepped forward and ascended into the sky, his movements as light and effortless as if he were strolling leisurely, exuding an ethereal charm.
This was the Ascending Immortal Steps.
However, its energy consumption was significant.
Thus.
Behind Zhou Yi, the Wind and Thunder Wings materialized, carrying the sounds of wind and thunder as he soared toward the Star Dou Forest.
This time.
Zhou Yi's target was a ten-thousand-year Soul Beast.
With his current physique.
Obtaining a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring as his fourth Soul Ring would be effortless.
Roar!
As Zhou Yi roamed above the Star Dou Forest, searching for a Soul Beast suitable for him, a thunderous tiger roar suddenly echoed from afar.
The soundwaves surged like a tide, deafening and overwhelming, causing one's soul to tremble and their mind to reel in pain.
"What a marvel—Soul-Tremor Roar!" Zhou Yi's interest was piqued as he swiftly moved, arriving above a golden tiger. Drawing upon his extensive knowledge of Soul Beasts, he analyzed its level.
This mutated tiger Soul Beast was approximately fifteen thousand years old.
"You'll do nicely!"
Zhou Yi hadn't planned to target it, but encountering such a beast was a fortunate opportunity he decided to seize.
Fifteen thousand years?
He could handle it.
"There's a legendary move said to descend from the heavens..."
"Swordsmanship!"
Zhou Yi unsheathed the Frost-Defying Sword. Becoming one with his blade, his presence exuded a chilling aura of death. The divine weapon seemed to embody the might of the heavens, its killing intent spreading across the land.
Roar!
The golden tiger's fur bristled in alarm. Its piercing tiger eyes widened as a dazzling sword light rapidly enlarged within its pupils.
Roar! Roar! Roar!
Sensing imminent danger, the golden tiger roared repeatedly, unleashing waves of devastating soundwaves.
The sheer force shattered trees and sent rocks flying. Each attack carried the dual essence of soul and sound, crashing toward Zhou Yi like relentless tides.
Zhou Yi remained unmoved, his heart as steady as a rock. His entire being seemed to transform into a sword descending from the heavens.
No words could capture the brilliance and majesty of this strike.
No words could describe the speed of this sword.
It was no longer just a blade—it was the wrath of a thunder god, a strike of lightning.
Boom!
The sword light pierced through the golden tiger's head, stopping ten meters behind it.
Zhou Yi's figure emerged, standing calmly with the Frost-Defying Sword in hand.
"You are the first to fall under the Frost-Defying Sword," Zhou Yi said indifferently.
"But you will not be the last."
With a resounding crash, the ground trembled as the tiger collapsed. A black Soul Ring slowly formed above its body.
Zhou Yi drove the Frost-Defying Sword into the ground and sat cross-legged, beginning to absorb the Soul Ring.
The immense soul power contained within the fifteen-thousand-year Soul Ring was formidable.
However, under the refinement of the powerful Sacred Heart Sutra, Zhou Yi effortlessly absorbed it, his cultivation surging to Rank 42.
"Tigers Roar, Dragons Cry!"
"Not bad."
Zhou Yi sensed his newly acquired Soul Skill, which was similar to the golden tiger's abilities. It combined soundwave and soul attacks, accompanied by the oppressive auras of tiger and dragon, capable of intimidating all beings.
"Little rabbit, since you're already here, why not come out?"
Zhou Yi glanced toward a nearby thicket.
As his words fell, a smooth, silky-furred pink rabbit hopped out.
Who else could it be but the hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast, the Rogue Rabbit, Xiao Wu?
Sensing Zhou Yi's presence, the Rogue Rabbit had quickly rushed over.
"Who are you calling little?!"
After her previous encounter with Zhou Yi, Xiao Wu had faintly guessed that he knew she was a hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast.
Thus.
Today, she made no effort to hide.
Recalling the time Zhou Yi had flipped her over to determine her gender, Xiao Wu was consumed by shame and anger.
"Well, compared to a rogue rabbit that's lived for at least tens of thousands of years, I suppose I am rather young."
Zhou Yi replied with a straight face.
A hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast's name referred to its cultivation, not its age.
Therefore, a hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast hadn't necessarily lived for a hundred thousand years.
"You're the rogue! You're the big rogue!"
"I'll bite you to death!"
Overwhelmed by embarrassment and fury, Xiao Wu lunged at Zhou Yi, baring her teeth and claws.
Lingxi Finger!
Zhou Yi moved like lightning. With his astonishing reflexes and the Lingxi Finger, he instantly pinched Xiao Wu's long rabbit ears.
Then, with a swift turn of his hand, he grabbed the Rogue Rabbit's ears, lifting her into the air.
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