บท 32: Hu Liena
The forest was dim, and the moonlight's afterglow fell upon the river, casting a hazy reflection.
On the riverbank, a mutated giant crocodile lay on the grass, its body twitching, paralyzed by lightning, with arcs of electricity still flickering on its surface.
In fact, it still had some strength left, but the lightning was highly effective against water-type soul beasts, paralyzing its flesh and making it difficult to resist in a short time.
Chen Xuan was quite exhausted and a bit weary. After taking a few deep breaths, he stood up, gripping a kunai, and approached the nearly ten-thousand-year-old soul beast.
Without any hesitation, he raised the kunai, ready to end the beast's life to avoid any unforeseen complications.
"Stop!"
However, an unexpected voice suddenly rang out from the forest, sharp and high-pitched, as if someone was pinching their throat to produce the sound. A group of men and women emerged from the woods.
"Stop, my foot!"
Chen Xuan's eyes narrowed, and he swung the kunai down without a second thought. They dared to try and snatch the soul ring he had almost secured.
*Whoosh!*
There was a sudden sharp sound in the air, and a fluffy petal floated gracefully towards him. Though it seemed soft and harmless, it moved incredibly fast.
The fluffy petal, despite its gentle appearance, gleamed coldly, making it clear that it was extremely sharp.
Chen Xuan's body tensed instantly, as if facing a prehistoric beast.
*Crack!*
The silver kunai, about to strike the crocodile, was sliced cleanly in half by the fluffy petal.
In the distance, a silver kunai was already embedded in the ground, and with a flash of golden light, Chen Xuan appeared beside it.
His expression was stern, and he was panting heavily. The overwhelming pressure he had just felt was enough to end his life in an instant.
"Little guy, I told you to stop, so why didn't you listen?" One of the people in the group spoke up, stepping forward with hands clasped behind their back, looking relaxed, as if they were on a leisurely vacation in the Star Dou Forest.
Only then did Chen Xuan turn to look at the group.
The strange man who had just attacked him had golden hair, unnaturally pale skin, and dark purple lips, all of which were heavily made up, giving him a very effeminate appearance.
Despite wearing golden armor, his thick eyebrows, large eyes, and purple lips made him look extremely peculiar.
"Little brother, this soul beast is very suitable for one of our people. Would you be willing to give it up to us?" A tall, curvaceous woman asked as she sashayed over.
Her eyes were full of allure, with a head of orangish-brown hair that just reached her neck. Her posture was seductive, exuding a captivating charm.
Chen Xuan looked at the woman, who was dressed revealingly, with much of her thighs and chest exposed. Her every move exuded a mesmerizing grace.
Though the woman was smiling seductively, Chen Xuan did not dare underestimate her. Behind that smile lay a beast.
"Who are you, and why should I give up the soul beast I hunted to you?" Chen Xuan asked fearlessly, meeting her gaze.
He had a kunai left three hundred meters away. If it came to a fight, he could always make a quick escape.
"Little brother, we are from the Spirit Hall, naturally. How about it? Would you like to join us?" The woman asked, her voice dripping with charm as she swayed her hips and walked toward Chen Xuan.
Her steps were slow, yet somehow she covered ten meters in a single stride.
"Spirit Hall?" Chen Xuan's pupils narrowed. His instincts told him that this woman was no ordinary person and that her soul power was definitely above his.
As he looked at this seductive woman, a figure emerged in his mind, gradually overlapping with hers.
"Are you Hu Liena?" He felt a headache coming on, almost certain that he had guessed correctly.
The seductive woman covered her red lips in an exaggerated motion, feigning surprise.
"Little brother, who are you, to recognize your elder sister?" Hu Liena's beautiful eyes sparkled with a hint of intrigue.
Chen Xuan tensed, feeling a mental impact, but it had no effect on him.
Since the Holy Maiden of the Spirit Hall had appeared here, the effeminate man beside her, exuding a feminine aura, must be Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan, also known by the nickname "Chrysanthemum Pass."
"Since childhood, you've been a candidate for the Holy Maiden. Who wouldn't know you?" Chen Xuan replied indifferently.
Hu Liena glanced at him, but the smile on her face remained. Her gaze was sharp, carrying a seductive charm as she looked back at him.
"Is your sister beautiful?" She asked, extending a slender, ivory-like finger that lightly brushed her red lips, which were smooth and glossy. Then, she licked her lips seductively in front of Chen Xuan.
"Quite beautiful, just like a fox," Chen Xuan replied.
Hu Liena's eyes sparkled with a pink, enchanting light as she stared directly at him.
Chen Xuan immediately realized something was wrong. His mind was being influenced by her charm—her fox-like ability to manipulate his consciousness.
He remained motionless, pretending to be under her spell, standing there as if entranced, staring at her alluring face while her eyes emitted a faint glow.
Was this a soul skill, or an innate ability?
Chen Xuan was certain that an ordinary person would have fallen for it by now. Her charm was powerful enough to control someone's mind without them even realizing it.
What surprised him the most was that Hu Liena's pupils had changed—they were now pink, with only a faint soul power fluctuation that was almost undetectable. This was not a soul skill.
"Tell me, who are you really, where are you from, and how do you know me?" Hu Liena's eyes glowed, but her smile had vanished.
Chrysanthemum Pass didn't approach, fully aware that the young man had already fallen under Hu Liena's charm.
Am I being treated as a dangerous individual? Chen Xuan thought with a bitter smile but kept his face expressionless.
He was certain that if not for his Sharingan and naturally strong mental power, he would have fallen under her charm and had his mind controlled. Her ability was indeed formidable.
This was not a full-on mental invasion but rather a hypnotic charm that could turn others into her followers, which was quite terrifying.
Chen Xuan pondered secretly. Since the soul beast was definitely out of his reach now, he decided to pretend he had fallen under her spell and answer her questions, finding a way to muddle through.
In the future imperial wars, he thought he might have further contact with or even join the Spirit Hall, so it wasn't wise to hide too much right now. It might be better to reveal a little.
Then, Chen Xuan acted as he had planned. His body tensed up, sometimes appearing dazed, while at other times, his eyes flashed with clarity, struggling desperately.
Afterward, he bit his tongue, drawing a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth, and his eyes finally brightened as he broke free from the charm.
He gasped for air, sweat dripping from his forehead, looking utterly exhausted.
"What did you do to me?" Chen Xuan asked, breathing heavily, appearing mentally drained.
Chrysanthemum Pass showed a look of surprise. The young man was only at the level of a Soul Elder, yet Hu Liena, with her fifty-three levels of soul power, could only restrain him for a short while.
This boy not only had impressive combat skills but also strong mental power. The only downside was his relatively slow soul power cultivation.
"Nana, stop," Chrysanthemum Pass said, putting an end to the farce. He had grown somewhat interested in this young man.
Hu Liena had no intention of attacking again. The light in her eyes dimmed, and she returned to her seductive smile, looking as enchanting as ever.
Chen Xuan broke out in a cold sweat. This fox spirit really had two faces, unpredictable and dangerous. He thought it was best to stay away from such people.
"Little guy, this soul beast is very suitable for our students. Could you part with it?" Chrysanthemum Pass asked as he approached, his voice soft and effeminate, as if he were speaking while pinching his throat.
Chen Xuan was speechless. Was there any chance they wouldn't take it if he refused?
He replied, "Since you need it, take it."
When under someone's roof, one has to lower their head. He decided to give them some face.
Chrysanthemum Pass smiled, pleased with how sensible Chen Xuan was.
"Don't worry, little guy. Our Spirit Hall isn't in the habit of taking things from others without compensation. As compensation, I will personally hunt a new soul beast for you. How does that sound?"
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