Chapter 88: The Girl Juzi’s Promise! Elder Song’s Reminder!

"Who are you people?!"

Before the young girl could answer Zhu Ziyang, a stern shout rang out in their ears.

The Star Luo Empire soldiers had surrounded them, though none dared to make a move. Zhu Ziyang's soul rings—one yellow and two purple—were far too intimidating.

A Soul Exalt! That was a Soul Exalt! The soldiers became visibly uneasy. Though they were elite forces from the western army group of the Star Luo Empire—some among them even Soul Exalts or Soul Ancestors—most were merely Grand Soulmasters. Soul rings of a thousand years were rare among them. The sight of two purple soul rings on a boy so young inspired fear, even among those driven mad by bloodlust.

No one wanted to be the first to act—until a middle-aged man arrived.

His presence seemed to stabilize the troops. They gathered behind him, clearly treating him as their commanding officer. That fierce shout from earlier had also come from him.

The man eyed Zhu Ziyang, Jiang Nannan, and Elder Song cautiously. Even a fool could see these three were anything but ordinary—how much more so a Star Luo Empire general?

He dared not attack outright. Instead, he tried to intimidate them, putting on airs:

"Who are you people? We are soldiers of the Star Luo Empire's Western Army Group, under orders from the White Tiger Duke himself to purge Sun and Moon insurgents! I advise you not to interfere—unless you want to get burned!"

"Humph." Elder Song sneered. In an instant, her Titled Douluo aura burst forth, slamming the man to the ground with overwhelming force.

The general's face paled with fear. He activated his martial spirit, revealing one white, two yellow, and two purple soul rings—a Soul King. He struggled to rise, but the pressure of a Super Douluo was not something a Soul King could withstand. He was forced down again, trembling and nearly losing control of his bladder. With a desperate cry, he pleaded:

"Sen-senior! I-I meant no offense... I didn't recognize who I was speaking to…"

The dozens of soldiers behind him, seeing their commanding officer so humiliated, had no intention of helping. In complete panic, they turned and fled en masse.

But how could Elder Song let them go so easily? With a cold snort, her nine soul rings appeared in the air. A terrifying pressure swept across the area, crushing every soldier to the ground.

"You should count yourselves lucky you met me and not someone from the Sun and Moon Empire. Otherwise, you'd be dead before you even realized it," she said coldly. "Go back and tell Dai Hao to keep his army in line. Now get lost."

"Y-Yes! Yes!" the general gasped, staring in terror at her nine glowing soul rings. Realizing she wasn't going to kill him, he hastily agreed. Without even listening to the rest of her words, he scrambled to his feet and dragged the others away, carrying their fallen comrades with them.

Once the Star Luo troops were gone, Elder Song said, "Let's go."

Zhu Ziyang hadn't gotten a reply from the girl. He didn't mind. He had already saved her life, and Elder Song had driven off the soldiers. Whether she could survive going forward—that was her business. So, when Elder Song suggested leaving, he followed her without hesitation.

Everything had happened so fast, the girl—Juzi—had barely had time to process it. Only when Zhu Ziyang was already dozens of meters away did she suddenly snap out of it and shout:

"Can you tell me your name? I'll definitely repay you!"

Zhu Ziyang didn't even turn around. "Zhu Ziyang," he called back.

He didn't believe she could actually repay him. He replied only out of politeness. But the girl etched that name into her memory. With eyes full of determination, she shouted:

"I'm Juzi! I will repay you!"

Only after walking four or five kilometers did Zhu Ziyang suddenly realize—Juzi?

"It can't be, right…?" he muttered with a strange look.

He remembered a few fragments from his previous life about Douluo Dalu II: The Unrivaled Tang Sect. The Empress and War God of the Sun and Moon Empire was named Juzi. The girl he had just saved was also named Juzi. She was from the Sun and Moon Empire, and stunningly beautiful. Could she really become Empress in the future?

But—what if he and his group hadn't passed through that town? Wouldn't Juzi have died there? And then how could she have become Empress?

So… it must be a coincidence. Just the same name. That's what Zhu Ziyang convinced himself.

Little did he know that fate, in its subtle turning, had already arranged everything with astonishing precision.

"Ziyang," Elder Song said seriously, not noticing his distracted expression, "I hope that next time you encounter such a situation, you'll learn to control your emotions. A true powerhouse is never controlled by their own feelings!"

"Elder Song, I…" Zhu Ziyang tried to explain.

"No need," she interrupted. "I know extreme elements often affect the personality of the host. Since you possess the Extreme Light martial spirit, it naturally influences your temperament. But if you can't control it, you'll suffer for it someday."

"I understand." Zhu Ziyang nodded, thoughtful.

"This kind of reminder should have come from Elder Mu. But since we faced a situation like this, I had to step in. I hope you don't find this old woman too nagging," Elder Song smiled, pleased with his reaction.

"Of course not." Zhu Ziyang returned the smile.

Elder Song was absolutely right.

Extreme elemental attributes do influence one's personality. For example, those with Extreme Fire tend to be hot-tempered. The famous dean of the fire element department at Shrek Academy was notorious for his explosive nature.

Extreme Light, on the other hand, had many different traits. Depending on its form, it influenced people in different ways. Zhu Ziyang, under its influence, was filled with empathy and righteousness. However, he also possessed the Extreme Ice martial spirit, which subtly affected him too—though the influence wasn't yet obvious, since he hadn't cultivated that spirit fully. Its effect mainly surfaced in his occasional coldness—like the calm, ruthless way he had just slain the soldier.

"Nannan, how are you feeling?" Zhu Ziyang turned around, looking worriedly at Jiang Nannan, who had quietly followed them.

"I'm okay now," she said with a forced smile, her face still pale.

Though she was already a Soul Exalt, it was her first time witnessing such cruelty. Her mental defenses were shaken—understandably so. Many soul masters could kill soul beasts without batting an eye and even eat their meat afterward. But killing people was another matter.

Some soul masters never killed a person their entire lives. Others, after their first kill, could take weeks or even months to recover.

Why? Because soul beasts—no matter how powerful—were seen as beasts, resources, natural enemies. But humans? They were kin, the same race.

That's why those who kill without remorse, or even enjoy it—evil soul masters who treat lives as fuel for their cultivation—are true monsters. Demons. And must be exterminated.

"That won't do, Nannan," Elder Song said gently. "As students of Shrek Academy, we're meant to wipe out evil soul masters and protect the people. If you can't bear to witness scenes like that, how will you ever face evil soul masters?"

"I understand, Teacher. I'll do my best," Jiang Nannan responded with a firm and serious expression.

"Good girl," Elder Song said, affectionately patting her hair with a warm smile. "I'll help you. Don't worry."

The three of them continued into Star Luo Empire territory, just as before—performing martial spirit awakenings in the villages they passed.