Soul Land: Heartbreak Makes Me Stronger

The moonlight shimmered faintly, casting a serene glow over the tranquil lake.

The shadows of ancient trees swayed by the lakeside, creating a peaceful and mesmerizing scene.

"Why is this place so beautiful…" Shui Bing'er murmured, her eyes sparkling with wonder.

Qin Jian shook his head lightly and said, "If I told you where this is, you wouldn't think it's beautiful anymore."

"Where are we?" Shui Bing'er asked, a trace of unease creeping into her voice.

"This is the heart of the Star Dou Forest…" Qin Jian replied with a faint smile.

"The heart of the Star Dou Forest?" Shui Bing'er's eyes widened in shock. "Isn't this where the 100,000-year Soul Beasts roam?!"

Qin Jian nodded. "Yes, we're in the core area. At any moment, we could encounter a 100,000-year Soul Beast."

Instantly, Shui Bing'er's entire body tensed up. "What… what should we do?"

"We'll just have to be cautious, avoid the Soul Beasts as much as possible, and find a way to return to the outskirts," Qin Jian said calmly.

"By the way, Qin Jian, how did we even survive?" Shui Bing'er suddenly asked.

Qin Jian shook his head. "I'm not sure what happened either. I woke up just a little before you did."

To distract her from pressing further, Qin Jian quickly added, "You don't seem to call me Captain anymore."

Shui Bing'er blinked her enchanting eyes and said softly, "I… I just don't want to be like everyone else in the team…"

"Oh…" Qin Jian deliberately drew out the sound.

"This place is full of dangers; let's keep moving!" Shui Bing'er hurriedly grabbed Qin Jian's hands and pulled him up from the roots of an ancient tree.

"Huh? What's that?"

Shui Bing'er's gaze was suddenly drawn to a faint glimmer of ice-blue light deeper in the forest.

"That…" Qin Jian followed her line of sight and asked, "Do you sense something?"

Shui Bing'er's eyes grew a little dazed. "It feels like something is calling to me…"

"Then let's go take a look."

Without hesitation, Qin Jian grabbed her delicate hand and began leading her in that direction.

"W-wait…" Shui Bing'er stammered nervously. "Is it really okay for us to wander around like this in an area where 100,000-year Soul Beasts appear?"

You're holding hands with a Soul Beast—one with a million years' worth of Soul Power…

Qin Jian secretly rolled his eyes but said softly, "It's rare for us to enter the core region of the Star Dou Forest. Who knows, you might find something you need. How can we let this opportunity slip by?"

"We'll just be extra careful."

Shui Bing'er watched Qin Jian stride confidently ahead, utterly baffled by his casual demeanor.

Extra careful? You're walking around like this is your backyard!

"Snore… snore…"

Before long, as they had ventured more than a hundred meters, a sound like rolling thunder reached their ears.

"Q-Qin Jian… what's that?" Shui Bing'er asked nervously, gripping his hand tightly.

"Probably a 100,000-year Soul Beast," Qin Jian said nonchalantly.

Shui Bing'er's pupils dilated slightly. "Then shouldn't we run? Let's not go any closer!"

"Let's check it out first…" Qin Jian showed no intention of turning back. He pulled the tense Shui Bing'er along, parting the dense underbrush.

Soon, the scene before them opened up.

Shui Bing'er looked up, stunned. "This… this is…"

"Oh… it seems to be the Titan Giant Ape," Qin Jian whispered near her ear. "If I'm not mistaken, it's the undisputed King of the Forest."

"Ah…" Shui Bing'er stammered, her voice trembling. "We… we should… leave… run…"

"Not so fast," Qin Jian said, pointing at the Titan Giant Ape sprawled out on the ground. "It's clearly asleep. For now, there's no danger."

"But what if it wakes up?" Shui Bing'er asked, though her tension eased slightly.

"For now, let's not worry about that. Look over there—isn't that the thing drawing you in?" Qin Jian pointed toward a small ice-blue flower near the Titan Giant Ape's massive hand.

"That's…"

Shui Bing'er's eyes lit up. "No wonder I felt drawn to it—that's an Ice Phoenix Flower!"

"Ice Phoenix Flower? What's that?" Qin Jian asked.

A flicker of desire appeared in Shui Bing'er's eyes. "The Ice Phoenix Flower is said to grow alongside Ice Phoenixes. It has the power to awaken and enhance Ice Phoenix Martial Souls."

"So, it's really useful for you?" Qin Jian asked, his tone brightening.

Shui Bing'er nodded. "Very useful. With it, I'll be able to activate my Ice Phoenix Martial Soul on my own without needing external support."

"Then wait here. I'll get it for you."

Before she could stop him, Qin Jian began striding toward the flower.

"No! Qin Jian, don't!" Shui Bing'er cried out, gripping his hand tightly. Her voice quivered with fear. "That's the King of the Forest! If it wakes up, we're doomed!"

Qin Jian turned back, smiling gently. "If my Bing'er needs something, I'd fetch it from the heavens or the depths of the earth. What's a Forest King to me?"

For a brief moment, the Titan Giant Ape's snores paused.

A large rabbit, peeking from a nearby tree, lost its footing and tumbled to the ground.

The ripples on the moonlit lake shimmered as if trembling in laughter.

Shui Bing'er, however, was utterly spellbound, her mind floating in a haze. When she regained her senses, she realized Qin Jian was already stealthily approaching the Titan Giant Ape's side. She clamped her hands over her mouth to stifle a scream.

Qin Jian crept toward the flower, just inches away from plucking it.

"Snore…"

Suddenly, the Titan Giant Ape let out a deep breath, shifting its massive body from lying flat to a side-sleeping position.

The Ice Phoenix Flower, now within reach, was completely covered by its enormous hand.

Shui Bing'er's heart pounded wildly as she watched the scene unfold.

But Qin Jian remained calm. He crouched down and slipped between the gaps in the Titan Giant Ape's fingers, inching closer to the flower beneath its palm.

Shui Bing'er held her breath.

Just as Qin Jian was about to grab the flower, the Titan Giant Ape twitched its fingers, scratching the ground unconsciously.

Shui Bing'er nearly screamed out loud.

Fortunately, neither Qin Jian nor the Ice Phoenix Flower was caught by the movement.

However, Qin Jian's space to maneuver had been completely squeezed shut. He couldn't move closer to the flower.

"Qin Jian… don't pick it anymore… I don't need it… I don't need it…" Shui Bing'er whispered tearfully.

She dared not speak louder, and even if Qin Jian heard her, he would have ignored it.

What he did next nearly stopped Shui Bing'er's heart.

He began pushing apart the Titan Giant Ape's massive fingers, one by one…

Finally, enough space opened for him to reach the flower. Shui Bing'er felt her heart drop back into her chest, only for a new calamity to arise.

The Titan Giant Ape shifted again, clenching its fingers unconsciously. Qin Jian was flattened against the ground under its palm, unable to move.

"Qin Jian!" Shui Bing'er almost rushed forward but froze when she saw Qin Jian subtly shake his head.

Turning his face away from Shui Bing'er's sight, Qin Jian muttered under his breath, "Er Ming, if you keep this up, I'll bring Xiao Wu next time and teach you a lesson together!"

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