Go and follow your heart

"Go, and follow your heart."

"Transform the world into the one you envision!"

Zhongli patted Wang Chen on the shoulder, speaking solemnly.

The City of Slaughter, huh?

A place where fallens and criminals are confined.

For powerful fallen, life there is far better than in the outside world.

Of course, that is also one of the reasons why criminals are drawn to willingly enter.

The "prisoners" who go in—over the course of a millennium, only eight have ever escaped. How does the outside world know about life inside?

It's nothing but deliberate propaganda, enticing people to walk in on their own.

Change your appearance, take on a new identity, and your past sins can be wiped clean?

"Thank you, Lord Zhongli!"

Wang Chen clasped his hands together in gratitude, his tone sincere.

This feeling of being understood—it's truly wonderful.

Although he never received formal education, he still understood what was right and what was wrong.

In his heart, there was a scale measuring justice and evil.

As if recalling something, Zhongli waved his hand. A golden amber energy dissolved the corpse of Shi Nian into dust, leaving behind a single object.

The item sparkled brilliantly, floating gently into Zhongli's hand.

"This is a head soul bone of a millennia level, akin to a precious gemstone. It is your spoils of battle—take it."

Without even sparing the soul bone a glance, Zhongli handed it over without a flicker of emotion.

Seeing the soul bone, Wang Chen froze slightly. It was his first time encountering such a thing.

No one had ever told him about the importance of soul bones. In fact, he didn't even know what they were.

"A millennia-level gemstone-like head soul bone?"

Wang Chen scratched his head, looking at Zhongli with some confusion.

This thing looked incredibly dazzling—was it valuable?

Zhongli, seeing this, showed no expression but instead fell into thought.

A "soul master" like Wang Chen, uneducated and untrained, was extremely rare across the entire Douluo Continent.

It was perfectly normal for him not to understand the significance of a soul bone.

To ridicule him with a laugh or a scornful gaze? Zhongli would never show such an attitude toward a pure-hearted young man.

After a brief moment of thought, Zhongli began to explain the "basics" of the soul master world to Wang Chen.

After some time, Wang Chen finally understood.

So, soul bones were that important to soul masters?

And this was even a millennia-level head soul bone!

Wait a minute—he, Wang Chen, wasn't a soul master in the first place...

"Lord Zhongli, have you ever absorbed a soul bone?"

Wang Chen asked, his eyes pure. He simply wanted to know if his role model had done so.

Hearing this, Zhongli shook his head. He wasn't a soul master.

Soul bones couldn't enhance his power.

"I have not. To me, soul bones are like fleeting clouds," Zhongli said, hands folded behind his back.

"Just a shiny object, at best, suitable for collection."

If anyone else said this, Wang Chen, who now understood the importance of soul bones, would definitely look at them with a peculiar gaze.

Shiny object?

A collectible?

Was that a joke?!

Wang Chen glanced at the millennia-level head soul bone in Zhongli's hand, then at Zhongli's nonchalant expression.

He smiled boldly and said, "Lord Zhongli, I will follow your path!"

"You have not absorbed a soul bone, and I will not absorb it either!"

"This soul bone shall be dedicated to you, to serve as another shining collectible."

"Lord Zhongli, I shall take my leave for now. I will abide by your teachings, maintain my integrity, and transform the Douluo Continent into the world you and I both envision!"

"My Lord, take care!"

After saying this, Wang Chen seemed to make a firm decision. He gave Zhongli a deep, meaningful look before striding away, never looking back.

This journey may be fraught with peril, but he had a reason he could not ignore.

Zhongli stood motionless for a long time. Only after Wang Chen's figure disappeared from his sight did he snap out of it.

Zhu Zhuqing: "..."

"Greetings, Lord Zhongli," Zhu Zhuqing said softly. Her voice carried warmth, and her usual cold demeanor had been carefully concealed.

She had long known that Wang Chen must be connected to Zhongli. The truth turned out to be exactly as she had guessed.

"Miss Zhuqing, there is no need for such formality."

Zhu Zhuqing's plight had already been revealed to Zhongli by the land, the rocks, and the very earth of this place.

To think that this young woman could see through Shrek Academy and choose to "leave" because of it.

Was her luck truly poor? Or was this a sign of great fortune?

Zhu Zhuqing's lips parted slightly. She had a lot to say, but she didn't know where to start.

This left her feeling somewhat agitated.

The person she wanted to talk to was right in front of her, yet she didn't know how to express herself.

In her dreams, she had met the Geo Lord on her way to Shrek Academy.

He had saved her when she was being pursued.

During the days they spent together, she had absorbed much from him, listening and learning.

However, at that time, she didn't want Zhongli to get involved in the Star Luo Empire's treacherous vortex, and so, they had parted ways.

Of course, due to Zhongli's personality, their relationship remained at the "friends" stage. All of Zhu Zhuqing's thoughts and feelings were entirely one-sided.

To Zhongli, saving a lonely girl and traveling the Douluo Continent together was just a coincidence.

When she decided on a new path, how could he possibly stop her from leaving?

A dream was, after all, just a dream.

"First meeting at Jialing Pass; one glance at Zhongli, and my life is forever changed."

Even in her dreams, her relationship with Dai Mubai was purely cooperative.

"If I could be like in the dream, and die by your hands...

Perhaps, for me, that would be the greatest release."

"Miss Zhuqing?"

Hearing Zhongli's questioning voice, Zhu Zhuqing snapped back to reality.

Her face reddened as she realized her lapse in thought, and she looked down at her toes in embarrassment. Unfortunately, her strength did not allow her to stay silent for long.

"I apologize, Lord Zhongli. I was distracted just now."

"I am deeply grateful to you and that young man for saving my life. Zhu Zhuqing will never forget your kindness."

She bowed slightly, her expression solemn.

If not for Zhongli and that young man, she would surely have perished today.

Unlike Tang San, she had no one willing to risk their life to save her.

Zhongli calmly put away the millennia-level head soul bone. While it could only serve as a shiny object to him, there was still some sentimental value, as it had been given by Wang Chen.

Looking at Zhu Zhuqing before him, Zhongli couldn't help but find her peculiar. From their first meeting, he had sensed something unusual about her.

Even after all this time, she still carried that same air about her.

While curious, he had no interest in prying into the thoughts of a fourteen-year-old girl—such antics were beneath him.

"I was merely passing through," Zhongli said, waving his hand dismissively.

He could downplay his own role, but whatever Wang Chen did, that was his matter to handle.

"Passing through?"

Zhu Zhuqing blinked, her beautiful eyes filled with confusion.

How could he possibly just be passing through?!

This was the middle of nowhere, far removed from the direction of the Body Sect!